April is a special month for me. Not only is it my birth month, but it conjures up real signs of spring. When I think of spring, I'm reminded of rain showers, warmer temperatures and fresh flavors. One of my most favorite flavors is lemon.
This month's cookie is a simple lemon sugar cookie with lemon butter cream frosting. I gave samples of these cookies out, and the response was so positive. I packaged them up in a fun spring treat bag, and was like the cookie fairy of Oneonta. It was fun and very satisfying, the bonus was the recipients really really liked them :)
cookie dough (yields about 3 dozen)
2 Sticks of butter
1 C.
Sugar
2 Eggs
3 Egg
Yolks
1 Tbsp. Vanilla
zest of 1 lemon
1/4 tsp.
salt
1 1/2
tsp. baking powder
3 1/2 C.
Flour
Cream butter &
sugar until fluffy, then add eggs. Blend well, add vanilla, lemon zest, and dry ingredients.
Divide dough into two discs, wrap in plastic & refrigerate at least 2 hours.
On a well floured counter, roll out dough to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut desired
shape and place on greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 degrees for
10 to 12 minutes. The cookie will be pale (do not overcook), let rest on cookie
sheet for 5 minutes, then move to a cooling rack.
butter cream frosting
1 stick butter, softened
3 c. powder sugar
juice of 1 lemon, plus the zest
1 tsp. vanilla
water to thin if necessary
In a large bowl, cream butter with sugar until smooth. Add the vanilla, lemon juice, and zest. Continue to mix until smooth. If necessary, thin the frosting with water, one teaspoon at a time. Frost the cooled cookies, and store in an airtight container.
Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Happy Spring!
It is the first day of spring!!! I love the changing of the seasons. By the time I am tired of one season, the next one is normally right around the corner. Now, I have to say we were really lucky this winter (I'm still waiting for the blizzard to hit, and in New York State, it's still possible;).
I thought I would re-post two links. The first is for a strategy to clean your house. I know a lot of people are ready to tear into the house for "spring cleaning". Sometimes over ambition, tends to lead to burn out. So here's how I clean my house on a regular basis, and it holds true for spring cleaning as well.
House Cleaning Schedule
The second item is my tip for ridding your house of spiders. Tis the season where they are waking up, making a nice new home in the corners of your house. This is an all natural spider spray that you have the ingredients for right in your kitchen.
Spider Spray
Happy Spring and Happy Spring Cleaning!!
I thought I would re-post two links. The first is for a strategy to clean your house. I know a lot of people are ready to tear into the house for "spring cleaning". Sometimes over ambition, tends to lead to burn out. So here's how I clean my house on a regular basis, and it holds true for spring cleaning as well.
House Cleaning Schedule
The second item is my tip for ridding your house of spiders. Tis the season where they are waking up, making a nice new home in the corners of your house. This is an all natural spider spray that you have the ingredients for right in your kitchen.
Spider Spray
Happy Spring and Happy Spring Cleaning!!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
The Winner Is: Cinnamon Swirl Cupcake
This was the first cupcake featured in Cupcake Spotlight, so it does feel right that it is the winner.
2 c. cake flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter, room temperature
1 c. sugar
3 large eggs
3/4 c. whole milk
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. cinnamon
Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon; set aside. In a large bowl cream together butter, sugar, and eggs. Add milk and vanilla. Slowly add the dry ingredients.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with paper cups. Fill each cup about 2/3 full. Bake for 18 to 21 minutes. Test with a toothpick, if it comes out clean, it's done. Allow to cool.
Frosting
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. butter, softened
2 c. powder sugar
1 tsp.vanilla
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Combine all the ingredients, until smooth and fluffy.
Caramel Drizzle
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. brown sugar
2 tbsp. milk
1 c. powder sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
pinch of salt
Melt butter until light brown and add sugar. Stir until dissolved and just comes to a bubble. Remove from heat, add milk, powder sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Whisk until smooth. Allow to cool a bit, drizzle over frosted cupcakes.
2 c. cake flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter, room temperature
1 c. sugar
3 large eggs
3/4 c. whole milk
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. cinnamon
Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon; set aside. In a large bowl cream together butter, sugar, and eggs. Add milk and vanilla. Slowly add the dry ingredients.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with paper cups. Fill each cup about 2/3 full. Bake for 18 to 21 minutes. Test with a toothpick, if it comes out clean, it's done. Allow to cool.
Frosting
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. butter, softened
2 c. powder sugar
1 tsp.vanilla
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Combine all the ingredients, until smooth and fluffy.
Caramel Drizzle
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. brown sugar
2 tbsp. milk
1 c. powder sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
pinch of salt
Melt butter until light brown and add sugar. Stir until dissolved and just comes to a bubble. Remove from heat, add milk, powder sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Whisk until smooth. Allow to cool a bit, drizzle over frosted cupcakes.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Somewhere In The Middle
Everyone has struggles in life. Whether it's an addiction, family conflict, or just basic unhappiness. My struggle is and always has been my weight.
I started to notice my weight was at an undesirable number when I was in middle school. I can remember being weighed in PE class and the teacher telling me, "You better watch it honey or your weight will get away from you!" I was in the 7th grade and really started to have poor body image. As I got into high school, you can imagine it only got worse. My peers were really cruel and at some point I gave up. I just let myself go.
This behavior continued through college. In my early twenties I got to my heaviest. I tipped the scales at waaaayyyy over 200 lbs. I isolated myself from relationships, and then when I was in a relationship it wasn't healthy. I finally took charge of my life at about 24 years old.
I joined Curves, and started eating a healthy diet. The weight finally started coming off. I lost a total of 88 lbs. in a period of a year. I kept it off for several years. I was finally into single digits in clothing size. However, I still saw the heavy person in the mirror. Looking back at it now, I wish I could have been happy about my success.
Over the next several years, I got married, had two babies, and put weight back on. We also moved out of town and with depression I put on even more weight. I still wasn't at my heaviest, but I was getting there.
So where am I now??? Somewhere in the middle. I am about 20 lbs heavier than my skinniest, but only about 10 lbs away from my goal weight. The goal weight was decided upon by my doctors, and what is right for me. I won't lie, I still obsess about the number on the scale, but more importantly I want to be healthy for my boys.
So why blog about this??? I wanted to share my story and put a voice, name, face to weight struggles. I will continue to keep everyone updated on our progress. I would also love to hear about other victories in conquering their own issues, whatever they may be.
Oh by the way, I finally got my "special pans", so I am working on a new bread recipe. Coming soon, I promise!!!
I started to notice my weight was at an undesirable number when I was in middle school. I can remember being weighed in PE class and the teacher telling me, "You better watch it honey or your weight will get away from you!" I was in the 7th grade and really started to have poor body image. As I got into high school, you can imagine it only got worse. My peers were really cruel and at some point I gave up. I just let myself go.
This behavior continued through college. In my early twenties I got to my heaviest. I tipped the scales at waaaayyyy over 200 lbs. I isolated myself from relationships, and then when I was in a relationship it wasn't healthy. I finally took charge of my life at about 24 years old.
I joined Curves, and started eating a healthy diet. The weight finally started coming off. I lost a total of 88 lbs. in a period of a year. I kept it off for several years. I was finally into single digits in clothing size. However, I still saw the heavy person in the mirror. Looking back at it now, I wish I could have been happy about my success.
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| One of the few pictures at my heaviest |
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| I was a size 8 here and thought I was still heavy |
Over the next several years, I got married, had two babies, and put weight back on. We also moved out of town and with depression I put on even more weight. I still wasn't at my heaviest, but I was getting there.
So where am I now??? Somewhere in the middle. I am about 20 lbs heavier than my skinniest, but only about 10 lbs away from my goal weight. The goal weight was decided upon by my doctors, and what is right for me. I won't lie, I still obsess about the number on the scale, but more importantly I want to be healthy for my boys.
| Somewhere in the middle, this December |
I want to teach my children about eating healthy, exercising, and living a good life. I am happy to report, that both Jay and myself have had a great first week at the gym (we even got a workout in together). There are some naysayers about this change in our lives. I won't let it discourage us :)
So why blog about this??? I wanted to share my story and put a voice, name, face to weight struggles. I will continue to keep everyone updated on our progress. I would also love to hear about other victories in conquering their own issues, whatever they may be.
Oh by the way, I finally got my "special pans", so I am working on a new bread recipe. Coming soon, I promise!!!
Monday, January 2, 2012
January Cookie Corner
I know I promised a new cookie every month, but I honestly can't even think of cookies right now. I over indulged through the holidays, that I need a break both mentally and physically. So what I decided to do was do a review of what has been featured so far.
If you go to the Cookie Corner tab, you will find a link to all the cookies from July to December. Cookie Corner will be back for February.
Also tune in tomorrow for a home made bagel recipe. This recipe does use a bread machine to prepare the dough. Happy 2012!!!
If you go to the Cookie Corner tab, you will find a link to all the cookies from July to December. Cookie Corner will be back for February.
Also tune in tomorrow for a home made bagel recipe. This recipe does use a bread machine to prepare the dough. Happy 2012!!!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Happy Holidays!
I thought about doing some last minute blog posts, but then the furnace keeps kicking out and I am trying to pack for our trip home. I decided to take a break from blogging for the next week or so. My Little Blogspot will return on January 1st for Cupcake Spotlight (hoping I can get a WI-FI connection).
I have several wishes for this holiday season. I don't think Santa will grant my biggest wish, but I will take the wish of health and happiness for the new year. I wish that for all my followers, friends, family, and everyone else in the bloggy world.
Here are some pictures of the boys and our little tree. Happy Holidays!!!!! See you next year!
I have several wishes for this holiday season. I don't think Santa will grant my biggest wish, but I will take the wish of health and happiness for the new year. I wish that for all my followers, friends, family, and everyone else in the bloggy world.
Here are some pictures of the boys and our little tree. Happy Holidays!!!!! See you next year!
Friday, July 30, 2010
What inspires you???
A fellow blogger has posed the task of posting a question on our blogs. Her question was, "Why did you start your blog?" My answer is simple, to connect with other people and share what has been useful in my life. My question is: What inspires you?
Inspiration for me comes from everywhere and everything. Post your comments below of what inspires you. You don't have to have a blog to play. Maybe one of your inspirations will make it to a future post! :o)
My inspiration for today are my boys.
Inspiration for me comes from everywhere and everything. Post your comments below of what inspires you. You don't have to have a blog to play. Maybe one of your inspirations will make it to a future post! :o)
My inspiration for today are my boys.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Good Morning All!

Allow me to introduce myself and my little blog. My name is Lisa and I am currently the CEO of the Nowak Corporation. Which is a fancy was of saying stay at home mom and wife. I believe that running a household is a lot like running a company. There are budgets to follow, HR issues (mainly a cranky husband and children), and at the end of the fiscal year, you hope to turn a profit.
Recently I was turned onto a wonderful blog, http://thegourmandmom.wordpress.com/, and have been inspired to share some of my "wisdom", and useful or useless knowledge. When I was fourteen, I started doing craft shows and from there I opened my own gift basket business. I have had numerous jobs over the years, one being working in a very busy floral shop. As I got older my love of cooking and baking came to the surface. Over the years I have picked up some "tricks of the trade" and wish to share them.
I'm not quite sure if there will be any rhyme or reason to the posts. I'll probably tackle the blog the same way I take on life, day by day. I hope to post recipes, gift ideas as the holidays approach, and maybe some general mommy tips that I have found to work with my boys. So check back daily so you don't miss a thing.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I will. Please feel free to email me with your ideas and suggestions.
Recently I was turned onto a wonderful blog, http://thegourmandmom.wordpress.com/, and have been inspired to share some of my "wisdom", and useful or useless knowledge. When I was fourteen, I started doing craft shows and from there I opened my own gift basket business. I have had numerous jobs over the years, one being working in a very busy floral shop. As I got older my love of cooking and baking came to the surface. Over the years I have picked up some "tricks of the trade" and wish to share them.
I'm not quite sure if there will be any rhyme or reason to the posts. I'll probably tackle the blog the same way I take on life, day by day. I hope to post recipes, gift ideas as the holidays approach, and maybe some general mommy tips that I have found to work with my boys. So check back daily so you don't miss a thing.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I will. Please feel free to email me with your ideas and suggestions.
p.s. please bear with me as I enter into the world of posting and editing
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