Fast Cut-out Cookies
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
2 & 3/4 cups flower
Cream butter and sugar in mixer. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add baking powder and flour (one cup at a time). Mix after every cup. Roll to ½ inch thick. Dip cutters in flour or powdered sugar and cut out shapes. Bake at 400 for 6-7 minutes.
To make chocolate add 3 oz. melted unsweetened chocolate.
Butter Cream Frosting
½ cup butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 to 3 tbsp milk
Food coloring (optional)
In a large bowl, beat together butter, vanilla, and sugar. Add milk until smooth. If necessary add more milk or powdered sugar until frosting is spreading consistency. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring. Mix everything well.
Chocolate frosting- add ½ cup Hershey's cocoa
Santa's Spy
My friend Bradley told me about a tradition that her family does. She has a plush elf doll that she hides somewhere in the house. It watches over the kids being naughty and nice during the month of December. Every night the spy reports back to Santa and hides somewhere new. Every morning it is a race to find where Santa's spy has hidden that day. I think that sounds like great fun!
Family Fun Week (Valentine's Day)
A few years ago, the kids decided that they wanted to celebrate Valentine's Day as a family. They were tired of being left out of all the dating fun. We came up with the idea to have a week full of family dates. We have tired going to the movies, having a painting party, family game night, going bowling, making Valentine cards, decorating cut-out cookies, camp out in the family room, karaoke night, making chocolates, playing at the park, a family disco night, etc... The kids have loved spending the time as a family and coming up with new ideas for family dates. Now they don't complain when my husband and I go out without them. If you have any fun ideas to add to our Family Fun Week collection, please email them to us.
Groundhog's Day Fun
February 2nd is always Groundhog's day. A couple years ago the kids decided that we should add this day to our regular celebrations. We make a poster of every one's predictions, Shadow or No Shadow. (If the groundhog sees a shadow, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole. If the day is cloudy and, hence, shadow-less, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground.) The kids decorate cupcakes with chocolate frosting, crushed Oreo cookies, and little chocolate animals (check out the Valentine candy). We have "groundhog" meatloaf, mashed potato mounds, and carrots. We have also done "groundhog" burgers. My husband and I love to watch the movie Groundhog's Day. For more about Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and the history of Groundhog's Day go to: http://www.groundhog.org/
The Green Rabbit
My dad's family use to have this tradition that revolved around a puke green UGLY rabbit cookie jar. I don't know how this got started or how it ended a couple of years ago, but it was part of our family for over 20 years. The green rabbit would suddenly appear at weddings, birthdays, front porches, family reunions, etc... There would always be a poem attached explaining where the rabbit had been and why he came for a visit. It was one of my favorite family jokes. For my family it was a great way to stay connected to our extended family who lived far away.
Secret Santa
My kids have been Secret Santa-ed every night for the past week. A small gift bag was left on our front door handle with a note and small gift for each child. My kids have absolutely loved this. The gifts have included things like: two Pokemon or Webkins cards, a hot chocolate packet, stickers, party favor games, play jewelry, etc... I am amazed by the thoughtfulness of whomever is doing this. While the gifts/notes may not have cost much in the way of time or money, they are priceless to my children. Just goes to show you that the love put into the present is the true gift.
Hint: If you are not going to identify who you are, you may want to stick to prepackaged treats instead of homemade. Sad but true that you have to be careful of things like that nowadays.
Hint: If you are not going to identify who you are, you may want to stick to prepackaged treats instead of homemade. Sad but true that you have to be careful of things like that nowadays.
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