Happy New Year!

Happy new year!  I realized my last post was on November 27th, so I guess I should make a New Year's resolution to post more?  Although looking back, December was quite busy.  We made two trips to Ohio to visit family, recovered from bronchitis and then stomach flu, finished out school for the year (Master's work and the job), celebrated Christmas, worked on some home projects, and managed to spend some time for just us.  My goal is to be more regular with posting recipes, but no promises here.

All that said, I did do plenty of cooking and baking during my blogging hiatus.  And even though Christmas is over, who said we can't still make Christmas cookies?  Actually, I've made these cookies for a number of occasions.  They are a favorite recipe of mine, and I recently discovered an easy frosting recipe to go along.

Basic Sugar Cookies

(makes 3 dozen)

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.
3. Gradually add flour mixture until combined.
4. Divide dough in half and flatten into disks.  Wrap in plastic and freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.  (This dough can also be frozen up to 3 months in a zip-lock bag.  When you are ready to use, thaw in the fridge.)
5. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Spray cookie sheets with cooking spray.  
6. Let dough disk stand for 5 to 10 minutes before rolling to 1/8 inch thickness.
7. Cut cookies in desired shapes and bake on prepared cookie sheets for 10 to 18 minutes, depending on cookie size.  Let cool on wire racks before decorating.

Simple Cookie Frosting

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

2-5 tablespoons half-and-half

food coloring (optional)

1.  Combine sugar, salt, and vanilla in mixing bowl.
2. Gradually add half-and-half until frosting is the right consistency. Add food coloring, if desired.
3. Spread on Basic Sugar Cookies and add sprinkles.

Enjoy!