Here's My Secret Recipes!

Not so secret anymore...

I have had SO many requests for my cookie and frosting recipes these past 6 months. I use the frosting for everything and these are the ONLY cookies I ever make from scratch! Please Enjoy!!!

Frosting used on my Pumpkin Cakes for our Halloween Party

Christmas Cookies for my goody trays using both the cookie and frosting recipes

We made 75 of these mini hearts for Valentines Day for Kannin's Pre-School Class using the cookie and frosting recipe.

Sugar Cookies
2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Butter (softened)
1 HEAPING Cup Sour Cream
2 Eggs
4 1/2 Cups Flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 tsp Almond Extract
1/2 tsp Lemon Extract

Mix all ingredients together ( I find it sets up better if you refridgerate dough, covered with plastic wrap, overnight...but it isn't necessary) Extra flour will be needed to roll out the cookies because dough gets a little sticky. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes (depending on how thich you cut the cookies) Thin cut 8min...Thick cut...10 min.




Wedding Frosting
1 Cup Shortening
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp CLEAR Vanilla
1/4 tsp Almond
1/2 Cup Water
8 Cups Sifted Powdered Sugar

Mix Shortening, Water, Vanilla, Almond, HALF of the Powdered Sugar with a mixer 5-10 minutes, which is VERY important.
Add the rest of the powdered sugar after the 5-10 minutes of mixing. Then mix in any desired food coloring for color.

*Water can be added for consistency in decorating...(decorating bag or spreading)

PLEASE...EVERYONE ENJOY. THESE RECIPES ARE NOT REALLY SECRET...BUT THEY ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO THINK THEY ARE!

Carol's Birthday

It is amazing how a simple invite for cake turns into a MINI Party! We invited Grandma Carol (my mother-in-law) over for cake on Sunday since her birthday is this coming Wednesday! Uncle Simon & Aunt Shena surprised us by showing up while we were eating supper and Leon and Carol were shortly behind them. I made a big supper for just us but I think everyone sampled a little. Crazy how a NOT planned Party turns into an all out BIRTHDAY BASH!!!

(L-R) Birthday Girl Grandma Carol, Leon & Matt enjoying supper. Simon & Shena having chips and dip. Family style...around the TV!!!

I made mini bundt brownies...with my Demarle bakeware from Carol! Drizzled with Frosting topped with a Hershey Kiss! Mmm!! They were so nummy!!!

Ryder keeps Grandma company while we sing "Happy Birthday!"

Everyone was silent because the Brownies were so good!

Ryder had so much fun decorating Grandpa with bows from Grandma's gifts! "Look Grandma... Grandpop has hair!!!"

More Valentines Day

It was so hard all morning, for the boys, to look at the pretty packages on the fireplace without being able to open them. I had to put them up high! Out of reach of snoopy little hands! It was hard for them to wait until Daddy got home from cleaning the office to tear into them. REALLY HARD!!!

Daddy got to open his gift first...a complete IPOD accessory kit with workout armband.

Ryder was next and LOVED EVERYTHING!!!

Kannin was in AWE over all of the chocolate and had most of his gone with-in the first hour as you can see by his stuffed chipmunk cheeks!

Tysen gives Kannin a Valentines kiss with his Chocolate Lips!!

What a wonderful Valentines Day!!!

Valentines 2009

We made more heart cookies and pink frosting than I knew what to do with this year for Valentines Day! It seemed like the decorating never ended. I made 75 frosted mini hearts (silver dollar sized) cookies for Kannin's Pre-School Class. Ryder & I made and decorated 25 large frosted heart cookies for Tysen's class and 30 more large ones for all Ryder & Kannin's little friends on the street and EXTRAS for us too! What a busy couple of days prepping all of that...but very fun!

75 Mini Hearts for Kannin's Class.

Big & Little Cookies for the neighborhood friends.

Ryder D. shows off our works of art.



Valentines Morning...The little boys beg & plea to open their Valentines!

We have to eat a special breakfast first...

Heart Shaped Pancakes!! Num Yummy!!!

11:30 AM Every Day At Our House

Kannin attends a special pre-school every day of the week with other Autistic children. He rides the bus to and from his classroom leaving the house at 7:50 am and home by 11:30. Ryder waits all morning for him to get home. When Kannin walks in the door...the following occurs...

Kannin purposely falls to the floor and Ryder removes his socks and shoes.

Then the backpack gets taken off.

"Let me help you un-zip your coat Kannin."

Ryder loves to help Kannin & is so excited when he gets home!

What A Smarty Pants!

Last week Ryder brought me this piece of paper and asked me what it said. I read it outloud to him and asked him where it came from. He said "I wrote it Mommy!" I was shocked! He is not quite 5 yet! What a big boy. I recognized the sentences from a stool that is in his room. He copied it letter for letter. He is definately ready for Kindergarden.

Ryder's Work of Art

The stool he copied it from!

They DO get along!!! Sometimes!!!

Tysen & Ryder butt heads more than any boys I know. They were in Ryder's room last night for over an hour...being very quiet! When I realized this...I thought for sure one had mamed the other. I went to check on them and to my amazement...they worked together, quietly and built this cabin. What good boys............................WELL....

Just when I thought they could co-exhist in the same room...Ryder knocked the cabins down by kicking them and then Tysen pushed Ryder down to the floor a 1/2 hour after they built it. Screaming ensued = They both were sent to bed!

More Disney Live

More Disney Live...

The Whole Gang takes the stage for the final dance/song number

Confetti and String Cannons Shoot all over for the Finale! We were covered with string...even found some in my purse when I got home!

Ryder wanted to take all the Confetti String Home!!!

All in all...we had a great time. We finally met Mickey and the $132 worth of tickets was worth the smiles, laughs and dancing from the boys! Great Memories! Tysen stayed home and will get to go the the Monster Trucks the next time they come to Billings!

DISNEY PLAYHOUSE LIVE!!!

Last night (Feb 7th) Matt and I took the little boys to Playhouse Disney LIVE! Ryder made a calendar a week ago and marked off the sleeps we had until the big day! They both wore their "Red Mickey Mouse" shirts...yes they are cute to match...but we dress them the same when we go into crouds...so we can keep track of the same colored kids!Daddy Matt and his boys...Kannin 3 3/4 & Ryder D. will be 5 next month!

The Little Einsteins...are ready to explore.

One of Kannin's Favorites...Handy Manny and his friends from Sawdust Lane

Darby helps Winnie The Pooh & Tigger compose a song for Mickey's Music Party

"Meeska...Mooska....Mickey Mouse!!!"...Donald, Mickey, Goofey & Minnie take the stage

End of a LONG day

At the end of the day it is so nice to get home and crawl into WARM jammies. Ryder has a new pair of SpiderMan Jammies.

These little guys played so hard today. We let them watch a movie in our room while we watched our movie on the big screen. They lasted about 10 minutes before they passed out!

Afternoon Out

On Friday afternoon Ryder wanted to go to his 2 favorite places...

The Carwash...

Kannin looks a bit unsure of the big brushes. The carwash is a hit or miss with him. He either loves it or is scared of it.
Ryder, on the other hand...LOVES IT!!!

THEN...OFF TO MCDONALDS!!!
The boys have to have their "Burger, Fries & Chocolate Milk"...creatures of habbit they are. They always want the same thing!

Ryder & Kannin...Playing on the slides.

When it is time to go...they crawl to this part of the equiptment...they think that I can't get to them there!