Dress up your tailgate

So it’s that magical time of year, the air cools down, leaves change color and for so many college football time.  My husband for one loves football.  I can’t say that I am a big fan…in fact, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that I don’t really know very much about football…at all.  I’ve grown up around surrounded by SEC football, but I guess it’s not one of those things that you learn by osmosis.

Now that we have established that I am hopeless when it comes to my basic knowledge of football, let’s get to the real reason for this post!  My friend Erin from Worthy of the Prize  is hosting a 31 Days to Dress Up Your Tailgate.  She asked if I would be a guest blogger, so I agreed.  Now what am I going to write about???  Check out her blog on Friday to find out!!

Scripture cards

I’ve been working on some scripture cards for my kiddos.  A simple (and pretty) way for them to have weekly verses to memorize.  I plan on printing them out and rotating them on a weekly basis.  Here is the first one!!

 

 

Updates

If you are interested in more frequent updates please check out the sew. hip. mama. facebook page.  I find that I don’t always get a chance to sit down and spend tons of time blogging these days, but I can post a quick photo or update there.  Lately I’ve been making some new things.

  Like these fun pillows.

And this lovely bag.

And many more things that I haven’t taken pictures of yet!!  So check us out on facebook to see more!!

Because when I am weak

He is strong.

(soure)

New for 2012

 

We are so excited to share some of our new products with you!!  Here’s a sneak peek…

Double Chocolate Peppermint Spritz cookies

I have a love/hate relationship with spritz cookies.  I love them when I can actually get them to extrude correctly.  Most of the time it takes about 10 or 100 tries before they come out right, and then the dough runs out and I have to reload and start the process all over again, thus the hating them part.  They’re such a cute cookie, especially when you add a fun and bright color to the dough.  Not to mention that they are the perfect size to eat and lose track of how many you’ve eaten because they’re addicting.  I saw this version and knew that I had to try them since they were CHOCOLATE!!!  Yes, please!!

What you need:

• 3/4 C. semisweet chocolate chips

• 1/4 C. butter cubed

• 1/2 C. packed brown sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1 1/2 C. all-purpose flour

• 1/8 tsp baking soda

For the glaze:

• chocolate chips or bar etc.

• peppermint oil

• shortening (optional)

How you make them:

In a large microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth.  Stir in butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla.  Add flour and baking soda and mix well.

Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until easy to handle.

Using a cookie press fitted with the disk of your choice, press dough 2 inches apart .  Bake at 375° for 7 minutes.

Cool completely.  Meanwhile melt your chocolate, add a few drops of peppermint oil.  Use a small amount of shortening (if desired) to thin the chocolate.  Drizzle over cookies.  Let dry.

soft sugar cookies

I really like soft sugar cookies.  The crunchy ones are good too, don’t get me wrong, but there’s just something about a light fluffy sugar cookie.  This recipe certainly yields a nice airy cookie.  It’s an easy recipe, great for making with the kids.  The recipe suggests that you refrigerate the dough overnight, but I didn’t I just put it in for a couple of hours and it was just fine.  They’re great with or without frosting.

What you need:

• 1 cup margarine
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

How you make them:

1. Cream the margarine and add the sugar gradually. Beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at time, mixing well after each addition.
2. Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt gradually to the creamed mixture, stirring in by hand. Cover and chill dough overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
4. Roll dough out on a floured surface to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick and cut into your favorite shapes. Place cookies onto the prepared baking sheets.
5. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 6 to 8 minutes or until cookie has a golden appearance.

Russian Tea Cakes

What can I say about these cookies?  I love them…I may or may not have eaten about 80% of these myself.  I would highly recommend that after you read the recipe that you go and make these immediately.  There’s no shame in eating the entire batch at once, I won’t tell anyone.

What you need:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 6 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar for decoration

How you make them:

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. In a medium bowl, cream butter and vanilla until smooth. Combine the 6 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar and flour; stir into the butter mixture until just blended. Mix in the chopped walnuts. Roll dough into 1 inch balls, and place them 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. When cool, roll in remaining confectioners’ sugar.

White Chocolate Cranberry Snickerdoodles

I ran cross this recipe awhile back.  I was intrigued because it uses a cookie mix.  i typically don’t by them, but I liked the sound of the cookie and thought “hey that might be a nice quick cookie recipe to have on hand.”  After making these cookies, I sent them to my husbands office, and forgot to take a single picture of them. Sorry!!  Everyone at this office really liked the cookies!

Preheat your oven to 375º
Ingredients:
1 pouch Betty Crocker snickerdoodle cookie mix
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon water
1 egg
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips

Beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Open cookie mix.
Set aside cinnamon sugar packet.

Add water, egg and cookie mix to cream cheese mixture.
Stir until soft dough forms.
Add in cranberries and white chocolate chips.

Cover & refrigerate 30 minutes, then drop rounded spoonfuls of dough into cinnamon sugar.

Roll to coat.

Place two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake a 375º for 8-9 minutes until edges are set.
Cool one minute then transfer to cooling rack.

Cool completely.

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies

My husband loves thumbprint cookies, he grew up making them with his mom.  I guess it’s a combination of the flavor and the memories. I’ve never been one for fruit/jam cookie, so it’s not one that I usually make.  When I asked him what some of his favorite Christmas cookies were this was the first cookie he mentioned.  Although the one that he grew up with wasn’t shortbread and the cookie was rolled in nuts before the thumbprint and jam were added.  I found this recipe and thought I’d give it a try.

The ingredients are simple.  All you need is…

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam  (apparently this didn’t make it into the picture!)

For the glaze:

• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, cream together butter and white sugar until smooth. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Mix in flour until dough comes together. Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, and place on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Get a small helper or two to assist with step 4.
4.  Make a small hole in the center of each ball, using your thumb and finger, and fill the hole with preserves.
5. Bake for 14 to 18 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Let cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet.
6. In a medium bowl, mix together the confectioners’ sugar, 3/4 teaspoon almond extract, and milk until smooth. Drizzle lightly over warm cookies.

Everyone enjoyed these.  I hope you do too.