Kneader's Sugar Cookies

I first saw this recipe on HungryRunnerGirl. She says it is her most favorite sugar cookie.  I am kind of a snob when it comes to sugar cookies, but I knew Kneader's has a good reputation, so I made them.

Taste test results.  The cookies are great.  The recipe I normally use has to be chilled at least 3 hours.  I usually chill them overnight. So these work for me because they are faster and even softer than my traditional recipe. The frosting was not a hit with anyone.  I made a batch of my own vanilla buttercream recipe (at bottom).

So here is the recipe.  Icing at your own risk.



Kneaders Sugar Cookies found here
adapted by From Cupboard to Cupboard

2 cups butter
2 ¼ cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup milk
7 ¾ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp lemon flavor ( I used 1/4 tsp lemon extract)
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 Tbsp honey

1. Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.
2. Add eggs, then milk.  Scrape the sides of the bowl often.
3. Stir in remaining ingredients.  Dough will be soft and sticky.
4. Place dough on well floured pastry cloth or workspace.
5. Knead in just enough flour to make dough workable.  Dough will be very soft.  It is best to knead with a rolling motion so you have a smooth surface and you will not get cracks on the tops of your cookies.
6. Gently roll out to 3/8 inch thick.
7. Cut into desired shapes and place on baking sheet lined with parchment.
8. Bake at 325 for 10-12 minutes (12 minutes was perfect for me) or until just the edges barely start to change colors. Makes approx. 4 dozen.


Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
3/4 c. butter
3 1/4 powdered sugar
2 T. milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Refueling the Wrong Way

After  the gym today, all I wanted to eat was white bread toast with butter. So I did.  I know, it's not healthy, but it tastes good every once in a while.

 

Franz Bakery

 

I got asked to make sugar cookies for Thanksgiving.  The kids will get to decorate their own cookies for dessert.  I have a go to sugar cookie recipe, but I am going to try a new one.  If it disappoints, I won't post it.  If it is great, I will post it for sure.

Workout:

10 minutes--AMT--warm-up

40 minutes--lifting

• assisted pull-ups
• captain's chair leg lift (abs)
• 20 lb. single arm snatch
• lateral raise
• single arm shoulder press
• kettlebell swing--single arm and double
• plank with shoulder taps

27:30 minutes--treadmill--3 miles easy with 1.0 incline

 

Sometimes Church Is Awesome!

It seems like every time we are about to go to church the little guy starts to throw a fit. Yesterday was as bad as it has ever been.  Just when you think you want to find some duct tape, the most awesome thing comes screaming out of his mouth.

"I got to go poop!"

Not once or twice, but like 10 times!  He is still in diapers and has only used the potty a few times.  Yes, church is awesome...awesomely embarrassing!



Workout:

20 minutes--AMT--16/18 Interval
10 minutes--lat. pulls, rows
10 minutes--single-legged jumping, side to side and back and forth
                  --one-legged squats
40 minutes--treadmill--Fartlek sprints (4.5 miles)
15 minutes--stretch

Things You Might Not Know--Growing Up

Starting way back in Kindergarten.

• I wanted to be a professional basketball player or a brain surgeon.
• I used to take requests on the bus and sing the whole way home.
• I used to wear my church shoes to school and kick boys in the shins when they bugged me.

1st-2nd grade

• Played soccer with the boys almost every recess.

In 3rd-4th grade

• I wore hot pink spandex capris my mom sewed for me and loved them.
• Obsessed with Debbie Gibson and NKOTB.
• Loved 4 square.

5th-6th grade

• Got 2nd place in the Spelling Bee. Missed word--committee.
• Cried when this boy I didn't like hugged me on the playground.  I had to go to the principal's office and face the hugger.

7th-8th grade

• Won the Spelling Bee. Redemption.
• Mickey Mouse obsessed. Watches, clothes, drawing him on my book covers.
• Basketball MVP. These 2 guys called me "Baby Shaq."
• Helped get caged pop machines so we could buy pop at lunchtime. ASB Pres.

High School

• Loved Basketball.
• Played recorder with my nose for team talent show.
• Almost failed my driving test.
• Toilet papered my husband's car when he had out of town football games.
• Put $80 worth of pennies into our class jar so we could win 1 competition for homecoming.
• Worked on a farm, at an RV park, and a soil lab.

Cookies & Cream Popcorn

Super easy and fast.  Give to neighbors for the holidays.  Tastes great!



 

Cookies & Cream Popcorn

 

1/2 c. popcorn

1 lb. vanilla melties or white chocolate chips

1 ream of Oreos (15 cookies)

dash of salt

 

 

Directions

Pop popcorn and separate unpopped kernals.

Crush Oreos with cup or rolling pin.
I like to crush each cookie on one side, then flip it over and crush again.
That way the chunks are still large and not too powdery.

 

Melt chocolate in microwave--2 min. at 70% or use double boiler. Pour chocolate over popcorn, add salt and large crushed Oreos. Stir till coated.

 Pour on greased pan or wax paper to cool.

 

 

*This is one of my favorites to receive or take to gatherings. Everyone I have given it to has loved it.

 

 

Too Cold

It was 12 degrees at 8 am.  I checked the weather again and the high at 10 am was supposed tbe be 24 degrees. So I skipped the race.  Not sad about it at all.  But I do want to do a race.  I think 32 degrees is the threshold for coldness.

My husband and I went to the gym instead.  It was pretty empty which is nice when you want to lift weights.  I did a short ARMS workout and then ran a 5K.

The goal was sub 24. I ran 23:40.  Not bad.

 

Post-"race"

 

 

I started my Christmas shopping online last night.  I am not sure if I want to go out on Black Friday.  I do want to get the $500 gift card from Sports Authority. I probably have to get up a 3 am to have a chance at any gift card.  I have been waking up at that time anyway.  I haven't looked for any deals yet.

 

 

What deals are you looking for on Black Friday?

Iron Rhino

I saw this on Facebook. IRON RHINO click this link for video demos.
The hardest part was the Burpees.  I did 50 and then I was done.

Workout:
Warm-up
50 jump rope or high knees
20 squats
50 jump rope or high knees
20 push-ups
50 jump rope or high knees
20 V sit-ups (alt. legs)


Circuit 1
200 deep body weight squats (100-150 for beginners)


Circuit 2--3 rounds of 50 reps
50 crunches
50 sec plank
50 shoulder press w/ 10# weights (I did 6 # for the last 2 rounds)


Circuit 3--Do as many cycles as you can in 1minute, Repeat 4x, with 30 second rest between round
10 Mountain climbers
10 Speed skaters
10 Uchi Mata push-up


Circuit 4--Timed Challenge
100 Burpees w/o push-up


300 abs--I just did several different ab moves up to 300 total