apparently, i can bake

this is not exactly up my typical healthy recipe alley – but if you’re going to go for it, GO FOR IT!

it’s a special occasion, splurge a little!  that whole mentality goes along with my “intuitive eating” lifestyle.  granted, i seldom even buy white flour-based anything, let alone white sugar cookies – but i made these to share.  i had one at home to make sure they didn’t suck, and one at the party… and that was all i needed… for now 🙂

so, i went to a wonderfully relaxing and superbly quintessential 4th of july BBQ last night – laid back summer night on the patio with the smell of the grill blowing in the wind, a cold beer in my hand, a perfect sunset and fireworks blaring in the distance — the city of denver decided to maintain their firework display this year, but many did not due to fire activity.

i was extra excited to bring a dish to said BBQ since i have had so much fun playing in the kitchen lately.  however, i was struggling with ideas that were theme-based, so when i stumbled upon a recipe for a “fruit pizza” i got extra excited to try to make one!  shortly after, i sadly discovered that i do not own a round baking sheet – and although it crossed my mind to make a fruit pizza FLAG, i was so adamant about making sure each person could get a nibble of both fresh strawberries and blueberries with each bite, that i opted for this audrey-invented cookie version.

i think they turned out pretty cute… oh, and delicious.

i was super scared to try my hand at baking, since it appeared in the past that i couldn’t even make brownies out of a box… but looking back, i’m pretty sure they were just really crappy brownies… in fact, i’m certain of it.  i think they were a lousy conventional brand that had most likely been sitting in my roommate’s cabinet for a long time and one night i just really really wanted something chocolate and it was the only thing in the house.  they turned out so horribly dry and hard and so i haven’t tried to bake anything since…

which is a shame, because – apparently, i can bake… from scratch!

well – i mean, it’s not like i’m making anything too crazy.  sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting – a little hard to “screw up”, i agree.  but these are major strides, folks – HUGE, for a non-baking gal like me. 😉  and i know i’ve said i’m not a big holiday girl, and i’m not.  but i can’t help but be festive. the colour, the food — i can’t give that up!

i found a super easy sugar cookie recipe online – most are the same, just depends on how many you want to make.  my batch yielded about 2 dozen cookies – i managed to get  30 because i made mine kind of small. here are the ingredients :

for cookies :

– 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour

– 1/2 cup softened butter

– 3/4 cup sugar

– 1 small egg

– 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

– 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

– 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

– pinch of salt {optional}

for cream cheese frosting :

– 1 package cream cheese {softened}

– 1 lemon

– more vanilla extract

– strawberries {or raspberries} and blueberries

preheat oven to 375 degrees.

start by blending your dry ingredients together – flour, baking powder, baking soda.  in a separate bowl, mix together your butter and sugar until creamy. now gradually stir in your egg and vanilla, then slowly mix in your dry ingredients.  blend together well until it forms your dough.  i set mine in the fridge for just a little bit, but it wasn’t necessary – this actually formed the perfect pliable dough.

form into ping-pong size balls and place on an ungreased  baking sheet. when the oven is heated, pop them in for about 8-10 minutes.

meanwhile, whip together your softened cream cheese, the juice of a lemon, and vanilla extract to taste {start with 1/4 teaspoon and add more as you need} set this in the fridge for a moment while you chop up your berry toppings.

so patriotic.

remove cookies from the oven when done and let them cool.

once ready, top them with the cream cheese frosting and berries and get ready to sing the national anthem 😉

and impress everyone at the holiday party you’ll be attending…

when i walked in to the party i was blessed to enjoy last night, someone said, “you’re so festive!” 🙂  and i like that.

HAPPY FORTH OF JULY WEEKEND EVERYONE!

Tags: cookies, festive, food, holiday, summer, sweets