I’m not into letting my kids be babysat by the TV, but the other day I was desperately trying to finish a post before school pickup, so I turned on Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood for Valentine, who’s almost 2. She was so excited and sat down on the couch, ready to be entertained. I was working over at the kitchen table. After several minutes, without looking up, she calls over in her tiny voice, “Like it, Mommy. Like it.” Then after a few more minutes, with her eyes glued to the screen, she said, “Happy, Mommy. Happy.” I’m pretty sure this kid’s going to get more screen time than the rest of her siblings combined if she keeps this up. What is it about Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood though?? I found myself looking up from my computer more often than I should have been, just to watch him buy a pair of shoes at the store. It’s oddly calming, kind of like how you feel watching Bob Ross paint. It’s the voice I think. Eric and I watched the new documentary about Mr. Rogers a few months ago and I’m in love with the show all over again. The guy was a genius.
How to make perfect Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Have you ever made bad sugar cookies? By bad I mean, crunchy, too-thin, flavorless, not-worth-the-calories cookies. It’s a tragedy that happens far too often. I spent a long time perfecting my recipe for The Softest Sugar Cookies of Your Life (That Hold Their Shape) and now I’m excited to present you with the chocolate version. These cookies are just as soft (yet sturdy) as their counterparts, but have tons of chocolate flavor in the cookie, perfect paired with vanilla or chocolate buttercream. Here are some tips for how to get perfect, soft chocolate sugar cookies:
chill the doughroll it out SUPER thick; measure it the first time so you get a feel for it. You want your rolled dough to be 3/8 inch thick.Under bake the cookies slightly. You want the shine from the top of the cookies to just barely have vanished when you pull them out of the oven.Let them set for 5 minutes on the pan, transfer to a wire rack for a couple minutes, then move them to a covered tupperware right away so that they stay soft.Ice with buttercream frosting. It just tastes better that the hard royal stuff, guys.
How to make spider web cookies
Now let’s talk holidays! I want to show you two ways to get this fun spider web design for Halloween. They are both so easy, and everyone will think you are amazingly talented when really you are not (I know you ;) Draw a few circles and drag that toothpick right through the icing. I used black decorating icing, with tip #5. Don’t look too closely for mistakes. They are not perfect. Sometimes I think we trip ourselves up thinking that every single cookie has to be “Pinterest-perfect.” But no one is looking that closely. If you present a plate of these cookies to someone, they are going to be impressed with the overall appeal, not nit-picking about whether the curves on your web are perfectly concave. I learned this concept years ago as a teenager. I was volunteering as a server at a fancy dinner one time, and me and a few other girls were topping brownie slices with whipped cream, a raspberry, and a sprig of mint. We were running out of mint and whipped cream and were wasting time time making sure every brownie looked perfect before it got sent out on the food cart to be delivered to the guests. The caterer in charge of the kitchen came in and told us not to worry about each brownie; focus on the overall presentation. If you roll up a cart full of brownies and MOST of them have enough whipped cream, that’s good enough. It’s actually a concept that I’ve had to re-learn over the years. I listened to a podcast on productivity recently and the podcaster said that “B minus work” is her mantra. Instead of doing A+ work on everything ever, just get the job done, even if it’s not your best work. I repeat this to myself every morning while applying eyeliner, and every night while loading the dishwasher.
Chocolate Sugar Cookies for Christmas
Nothing says Christmas quite like frosted sugar cookies, right?? One of the best parts about this recipe is how well the cookies hold their shape. They are not going to come out of the oven unrecognizable. They will be just a smidge puffier than the shape that you cut them out to be: This cookie is only about 3-4 inches across, but you can still see the intricacies on the side. Chocolate sugar cookies are perfect for serving without any frosting at all, because the cookies themselves are so flavorful. I brushed my cookies (very lightly) with equal parts corn syrup and water mixed together, then dipped in sugar. Isn’t it pretty? I think it adds variety and interest to a plate of cookies to include simple ones like this, alongside cookies decorated with frosting and sprinkles. You could use any color sanding sugar that you like. Hopefully you can see in this photo just how soft and tender the center of these cookies are! There is no greater crime than dry, crunchy sugar cookies. These ones are THICK and SOFT, not to mention chocolatey. They are perfect!! What are you waiting for!! Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram One year ago: Cream Cheese French Toast CasseroleFour years ago: Bacon, Gouda, and Spinach FrittataSeven years ago: Pumpkin Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes Here is the recipe for the Best BUTTERCREAM FROSTING For Sugar Cookies: Never enough cookies!! The SOFTEST Sugar Cookies of Your Life (That Hold Their Shape) Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies « I love these! Soft Cinnamon Cookies with Maple Pecan Frosting « perfect for Christmas! You will love these cookies from other bloggers! Iced Oatmeal Cookies from Shugary SweetsFlourless Chocolate Cookies from Recipe GirlHot Chocolate Cookies from Love in the Oven
