Best Ever Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread
(File Photo)

It's March! It's also that time of year to bake an Irish Soda Bread! You know, that yummy bread that is just filled with plump raisins. The bread that tastes so good with every bite. Add Buttermilk and unsalted Butter to your grocery list this weekend, so you can bake this delicious bread, too. Add Raisins to your list, also. 

The first time I baked it I realized that it was just the best Irish Soda Bread that I had ever baked or tasted! Many are too dry. Many do not have many Raisins. Many are not baked with Butter. This bread is the best!! Yum!!

Bake this bread this weekend and enjoy a slice on St. Patrick's Day!! Heating a slice a few seconds in the microwave = yummy plus!!

For the Irish Soda Bread recipe click here. 

Remember to soak the Raisins before adding to the batter!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

     

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies!

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
(File Photo)

Add Sour Cream to your grocery list if you do not have it in your fridge! It is one of the ingredients in Sour Cream Sugar Cookies! Nutmeg is too! These Sugar Cookies are prepared in a 2 step process. On Day 1 the dough is prepared and placed in the fridge to use the next day. On Day 2 find your rolling pin, rolling mat, favorite cookie cutters and colored sugars. Day 2 is the day to have fun rolling out, baking and yes sampling these yummy light cookies. They are so good!!

After the cookies are baked/ cooled they can be packaged and placed in your freezer. Defrost the needed amount to share for the upcoming holiday. Your family and guests will enjoy biting into this cookie and taste the hint of Nutmeg. These are the best sugar cookies!!

*****I use Unsalted Butter and Fat Free Sour Cream when preparing the dough. If Margarine is used the dough is sticky and difficult to roll out.  

Click here for my recipe for Sour Cream Sugar Cookies. Delicious!! 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

~Best Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies~

Best Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies
(File Photo)

It's the time of year to add unsalted Butter and Sour Cream to your grocery list!  You just might think that these ingredients are some of the ones used to make a special dessert.  You are correct and it is special!  The dessert is Best Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies!

Imagine holding a pretty cut out sugar cookie and then taking a bite of it.  The taste of Nutmeg pops out while you are chewing this cookie.  It's delicious!  Now, imagine that you will be baking a batch of these wonderful light yummy cookies and enjoying them with your family and friends during the holidays.       

These cookies are made in 2 steps! 

Day 1- Prepare the dough and refrigerate it.

Day 2- Take out your rolling pin, rolling mat, cookie cutters, colored sugars for decorating and remove the dough from your fridge.

On Day 2 the fun will begin deciding which cookie cutter to use first.  The aroma in your kitchen will be so good while these cookies are baking!  A "taste test" always takes place when I bake these treats!

Rolling out the dough!
(File photo)

An added plus to baking these cookies before the holidays is that they freeze very well!  When you plan on serving them, take the cookies out of the freezer to defrost and enjoy.

Bake a batch of Best Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies! Click here for my recipe! 

Just remember to add unsalted Butter and Sour Cream to your grocery list!  Add decorative colored sugars and Nutmeg, too, if you do not have these ingredients.  These cookies are so delicious!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
(File Photo)

It's that time of year! The time of year to bake a batch of Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies!  You know, the sugar cookies that are made with sour cream and there's also a hint of nutmeg with every bite.  I have been baking a batch or two of these cookies at this time of year for ... well... 4 decades.  Four decades?  You may ask that question. It is true! 4 decades.

These cookies are just the best!  The easy part about baking a batch is that the dough is prepared one day- on Day 1. Then wrapped and placed in the fridge overnight.  The next day- on Day 2- take out your rolling mat, your rolling pin, cookie cutters and colored sprinkles.  You are ready to go!  Every year before the holidays I bake a batch in December.    

After baking and the "taste test" has happened some of the delicious cookies are placed in our cookie canister.  Not too many.  Most are stacked and placed in freezer bags to be labeled/ dated and stored in our freezer.  The cookies are so yummy, we do share them with family members. 

At this busy time of year I am sharing a post with the ingredients and the recipe here.  Click to view.

Add sour cream to your grocery list to bake a batch of these delicious cookies!  If you do not have Nutmeg, add it to your list, too!  If you do not have a chance to bake a batch in the next few days, bake a batch next week! These cookies are truly the Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies!

Enjoy!
Yummy! 

~Best Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies~

Best Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies
(File Photo)

Imagine biting into a soft sugar cookie that's decorated with colorful sprinkles and you taste a hint of nutmeg.  The nutmeg is not overpowering, it's just a hint. The cookie could be in the shape of a star, a reindeer, a tree, a wreath, a snowman or some other shape.  It's so yummy you want to take another bite, so you do!  If  I've offered it to you, it's a Best Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookie!  This is the time of year when I bake a batch of these delicious cookies during the beginning of December. 

These yummy cookies freeze very well!  Later in the month it's great to reach into the freezer and take out the needed amount to defrost.

They are made in 2 steps.  On Day 1 you prepare the dough and refrigerate it overnight.  On Day 2 take out your rolling pin, rolling mat, cookie cutters and colorful sprinkles.  Cookies will be baked! 

Rolling out the cookies!
(File Photo)

 After these Best Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies are baked there is always "taste testing" going on!  At least that is the reason given for enjoying 2 or 3 of them while they are still slightly warm.  Who can resist a freshly baked slightly warm homemade cookie??  Click here for the recipe for these yummy cookies!  

Add Sour Cream to your grocery list this week.  Ground Nutmeg and colored sprinkles also if you do not have any.  You will be on your way to bake a batch of the Best Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies!  

Enjoy!
Yummy!

         

Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
(File Photo)

It's the time of year to find your cookie cutters and rolling pin!  Colored sugar sprinkles are needed, too!  Add unsalted  Butter and Sour Cream to your grocery list.  It's time to bake a batch of the Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies!  I'm talking about cookies that are usually baked for special occasions.  It's not that they cannot be enjoyed at other times of the year, but they are so good that we always enjoy them at Christmas.

After taking a bite of this cookie, suddenly a hint of Nutmeg is recognized.  That spice gives these cookies a special flavor along with Sour Cream and unsalted Butter. 

***I always use (unsalted) Butter in this cookie batter.  If you use Margarine, the dough is difficult to roll out.***          
These cookies are made in 2 steps: 
    On Day 1 the dough is made, wrapped and refrigerated.

    On Day 2 it's time to use your rolling pin, cookie cutters and colored sprinkles.

The weekend is a great time to bake these, because we all know that when you roll out dough and you also use cookie cutters it takes a little more time than just dropping a spoonful of dough on a baking pan/ sheet.  But, it is a special occasion and these cookies are really good!  They are the best Sugar Cookie I've ever tasted!

Making the Cookies!
(File Photo)

After baking the cookies and they have cooled, I freeze them in Ziploc Freezer Bags.  Oh, that is not to say that there is not sampling going on.  Of course there has to be a taste test! 

The only time I can remember being limited on the amount of cookies used in the taste test was when I baked them for our younger son's and DIL's Welcome Bags for their wedding guests.  Four batches of hearts and bells were prepared and baked.  We needed 250 cookies.  They were packaged and frozen.  Two days before they were needed, they were defrosted and packaged to be included in their guests' Welcome Bags.

This year I have not been in a rush to bake them, because we will be celebrating a "Zoom" Christmas.  It has been challenging enough sending/ mailing gifts.  I'll wait on mailing special cookies to our family.  The cookies will be waiting in our freezer for a future time.  Did you notice the (File Photo)?  :)  However, this weekend I will be baking them! 

Plan on baking a batch, too!  Click here for the complete recipe and directions!  It is worth the click.  Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are so delicious!  Remember to add Sour Cream and unsalted Butter to your grocery list this week!  Colored sprinkles, too, if you do not have any in your pantry.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

          

Best Ever Irish Soda Bread

 

Best Ever Irish Soda Bread
(File Photo)

St. Patrick's Day is soon!  It's the day when just about everyone is Irish!  Me??  Oh, I'm Irish by marriage.  For that reason, I just knew years ago that I needed to bake a really great tasting Irish Soda Bread.  The kind of Irish Soda Bread that tasted better than any that I had tasted. 

I did locate a great recipe!  Now, whenever I sample a slice of other breads, it's always, "Ah, no, not as good."  Sometimes, they are a bit too dry.  Other times there are not many raisins to enjoy.  That does make a big difference.  

In my quest for the "perfect" Irish Soda Bread, I googled.  At that time my search led me to Carol who also had a foodie blog.  The ingredients were few and the method was so easy.  In my haste one year I melted and cooled the unsalted Butter.  That error led to a much easier method of preparing the dough.  

The dough is very sticky.  It's also plump full of Raisins!  The Raisins are soaked in hot water, first, drained and then added to the other ingredients.

Ready to be baked!
(File Photo)

This year, rather than write out the recipe for Best Ever Irish Soda Bread, here is the link.  Yes, it is worth it to click on this link!  Last week I purchased the needed ingredients, because I knew I had to bake this yummy bread for this Tuesday.  I'll be baking it tomorrow!   

If you have any extra slices, they can be frozen to enjoy at another time.  I place each half slice in a sandwich bag and then place all of the sandwich bags into a freezer bag.  The needed amount can be defrosted. This also makes a great gift for other family members!  In this photo it's cut and sliced and ready to be enjoyed.

A great treat to share!
(File Photo)

If you do not have Buttermilk in your fridge, save this recipe to use after purchasing it in the coming weeks.  The other ingredients, too, if they are not in your pantry.  This is one very tasty Irish Soda Bread!!  Whenever I bake one I always think of Carol who introduced me to this delicious bread!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

     


                     and

               Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies!

It's a great time of year to bake Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies!  Those yummy cookies that are in the shapes of stars, trees, bells and maybe reindeer.  For our family it would not be the Christmas season if I did not bake these cookies during the holidays!  There is a little nutmeg, here.  It has been my favorite sugar cookie recipe for- well, so many years.  The cookies are that good!

They are made in 2 steps!
On day 1 the dough is prepared using a mixer.  Then, it is wrapped in plastic wrap.  Then I wrap it in foil.  Into the fridge it goes overnight. 

The next day- day 2, the FuN begins.  The rolling pin, cookie cutters, colored sprinkles and cookie pans are set on the kitchen counters and table.  It's time to roll out the dough and use the selected cookie cutters.  I usually place about 12 cut out cookies in the cookie pan to bake.  Don't forget the sprinkles!  When the cookies are finished baking, the bottoms of the cookies will be a very light tan.  Then, they are removed from the cookie pan and cooled on a rack.  This is a great time to do a "taste test"!  An hour later, too.     

After the cookies are cool, they can be packaged and placed in the freezer until you are ready to share them!  That is an extra plus!  When the busy holiday arrives, defrost the cookies and they are ready.  Remember to save some to enjoy, now!

My Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are now in our freezer.  The end of last week was my opportunity to bake them.  Here is the recipe!

***You do not need to wait to bake them only at this time of year!  Packaged Heart and Bell shaped cookies were included in the "Welcome Bags" for out of town wedding guests when our younger son and daughter- in- law were married.  The sprinkles were the colors they selected for their wedding.  What a great surprise for so many of their guests!!

"Welcome Bag" Cookies
(File Photo)

Add sour cream to your grocery list.  I'm sure you already have the nutmeg.  You will be able to bake a batch of them to be enjoyed for the upcoming holiday!  They are that good!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

    

Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Just one bite and you will be hooked!  After a taste of this Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookie you will take another bite and savor the flavor, again.  It's a hint of Nutmeg!  Sour Cream is another ingredient, here.  These Sugar Cookies are just the best that I've ever tasted (and baked)!  Baking a batch before Christmas is now a tradition of mine.  The  cookies also freeze well, so many of the baked cookies are cooled and packed in freezer bags- just ready for Christmas. 

It's a 2 step process!

On Day 1 a batch of the dough is prepared and refrigerated overnight.
The next day I find my rolling pin, rolling mat, favorite cookie cutters and colorful sprinkles.  Definitely my cookie pans and cooling racks, too.  Before I know it, my kitchen has the great aroma of Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies.

After the first pan of baked cookies have come out of the oven and have cooled on the cooling rack, of course there is the "taste test"!  Oh, yum!!!  It's hard to refrain from "testing" another.

Baking these yummy cookies was my project this afternoon.  There sure was the required "taste test" going on!  My yellowish cookie canister was filling up.  Tomorrow, I'll place most of them in freezer bags to defrost next week.  Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies is a family favorite cookie and enjoying them is one of our Christmas traditions.

You probably already have Nutmeg in your spice rack.  Purchase a container of Sour Cream this weekend.  This will be a great recipe to take out and use!

The recipe:  Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies      

Enjoy!
Yummy!

  

~Best Ever Sour Cream Sugar Cookies~

Best Ever Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
(File Photo)

Today I made the batter for my traditional Christmas Cookies!  They are just so good.  For years I've baked these cookies.  Well, the years all add up to over 40 years, now.  The dough contains a hint of nutmeg and also sour cream.  As I write this, the double wrapped cookie batter is in the fridge.

These cookies are not only "just the best", they are an easy 2 day process.  On Day 1 the dough is prepared and refrigerated.  Then, on Day 2 a rolling pin, mat and cookie cutters are given a workout.  On baking day find your colored sugars for decorating.

Rolling out the dough!
(File Photo)

***I always use unsalted Butter when preparing the dough.  The dough is much easier to roll out when using Butter.        

There's always a little "taste test" going on after the first tray of these cookies have been taken out of the oven and they've cooled a bit.  Most of the batch will be packaged/ labelled and frozen for next week.  Yes, these cookies freeze very well.  I usually also place 6 in a small Ziploc Freezer Bag to freeze.  It's a great treat on a cold winter day to find this treasure in our freezer.

This recipe makes about 5 dozen Best Ever Sour Cream Sugar Cookies.  Click here for the recipe.   Look no more for a tasty sugar cookie recipe.  This one has a hint of nutmeg and sour cream.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

      

Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies!

Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies!

It's cookie time!!!  I'm talking about cookies that are baked for special occasions!  The ones that your family members/ friends will just love!  After taking the first bite of this soft rolled out cookie, suddenly it's gone.  The flavor of Nutmeg is a pleasant surprise. Imagine your cookie canister filled with these yummy cookies of different shapes and they're topped with colorful sprinkles.  They are light, too.  Sour Cream is another ingredient.  (I use Light Sour Cream.)  These Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are made in a 2 step process.  Get ready to bake a batch!  Find your rolling pin, cookie cutters & colorful sprinkles!  These are the best ever! 

Getting ready!

***Hint-  Butter is the ingredient that I use here, not Margarine.  I've found the dough to be difficult to roll out when I've used Margarine.  

On Day 1- The dough is prepared.  Then, it's refrigerated.  I always wrap the mound of dough in plastic wrap.  Then wrap it a second time- the second time in aluminum foil.  Into the fridge it goes.

On Day 2- Find your holiday cookie cutters, colorful sprinkles, rolling pin & rolling mat.  It's baking day!      

Rolling out the dough!
Dough wrapped in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil.
(File Photo)

A week before Christmas I bake a batch of these family favorites.  After cooling, they are packed in Ziploc Freezer Bags & stored in the freezer.

Yum!

     

Best Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
Oven:  375°F
Yield:  About 5 dozen, depending on size

Ingredients:
4 Cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 Cup unsalted Butter, softened
1 and 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Sour Cream (can be Light)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Colored Sugars for Decorating
Cookie Cutters

Method:

Day 1-

1. In large bowl with electric mixer beat Butter and Sugar until light and fluffy. 
2. Add Egg, beat.
3. Add in Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt and Nutmeg. 
4. While beating on Low, slowly add Flour, 1 Cup at a time.
5. Add in Vanilla and Sour Cream. Beat on Medium until well combined. Dough will be stiff. 
6. Remove dough from bowl and place on plastic wrap, wrap dough. 
7. Place wrapped dough on aluminum foil and wrap well.
8. Refrigerate overnight.  

Day 2-

1.  Preheat oven to 375°F. 
2.  Unwrap dough and cut into four parts.
3.  On well floured surface, roll dough to 1/4" thickness. Use cookie cutters. 
4.  Place cookies on pan/ sheet 1" apart. (Maybe 12 cookies to a sheet.)
5.  Sprinkle with colored sugars.
6.  Bake 10 - 11 Minutes. Bottom of cookies will be a light golden brown.
7.  Remove with spatula to wire cooling racks. 
8. When cool, store in airtight containers.  

These Sour Cream Sugar Cookies freeze very well!  I always bake them before Christmas, package in Ziploc Freezer Bags & freeze these yummy decorated treats.

Go to your grocery list & add Sour Cream & Butter to it!  These are the best rolled out sugar cookies- ever!!!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Best Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies

Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies

It's time!!!  Time to bake a batch of Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies!!!  Find your Nutmeg & Sour Cream along with colored sugars, your rolling pin, rolling mat & fave cookie cutters.         

These cookies are oh so yummy & light because Sour Cream is an ingredient.  It's the time of year with much to do & the "2 day steps" in making these cookies makes it ever so easy!   

On Day 1 the dough is prepared & refrigerated.  I wrap it in plastic wrap & also foil wrap before refrigerating.  Day 2 is baking day!  After baking & cooling, these yummy cookies can be packaged/ labelled/ placed in your freezer.  Now, that's an extra plus!  It's great to have delicious Christmas cookies just waiting in the freezer to share with your Christmas guests!

What cookie cutter will be used next???

These Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are just the best!  Now, I also decorate a few hearts & bells with purple & green sprinkles.  It's a sweet reminder & memory of baking & including the hearts & the bells in my son's & daughter- in- law's Welcome Bags (for their wedding guests) using their wedding colors.  For their special occasion, 4 batches of batter was prepared/ refrigerated and then baked the next day.  The cookies were placed in my freezer, then defrosted when needed to package & place in the Welcome Bags for their overnight guests.

For the Welcome Bags!

***I use Unsalted Butter & Fat Free Sour Cream when making the dough.  If/ when these cookies are prepared with Margarine, the dough is sticky & difficult to roll out.  

One day this week my kitchen will have the great aroma of Nutmeg as the pans with these cookies will be baking!  Surprise your family & friends this year with the best tasting Sugar Cookie:  Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies!  The recipe is below.  Have FuN decorating!!!     


Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies
Oven:  375°F
Yield:  About 5 dozen, depending on size

Ingredients:
4 Cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 Cup unsalted Butter, softened
1 and 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Sour Cream (can be Fat Free)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Colored Sugars for Decorating
Cookie Cutters

Method:

Day 1-

1. In large bowl with electric mixer beat Butter and Sugar until light and fluffy. 
2. Add Egg, beat.
3. Add in Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt and Nutmeg. 
4. While beating on Low, slowly add Flour, 1 Cup at a time.
5. Add in Vanilla and Sour Cream. Beat on Medium until well combined. Dough will be stiff. 
6. Remove dough from bowl and place on plastic wrap, wrap dough. 
7. Place wrapped dough on aluminum foil and wrap well.
8. Refrigerate overnight.  

Day 2-

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. 
2. Unwrap dough and cut into four parts.
3. On well floured surface, roll dough to 1/4" thickness. Use cookie cutters. 
4. Place cookies on pan/ sheet 1" apart. (Maybe 12 cookies to a sheet.)
5. Sprinkle with colored sugars.
6. Bake 10 - 11 Minutes. Bottom of cookies will be a light golden brown.
7.  Remove with spatula to wire cooling racks. 
8. When cool, store in airtight containers.  

Oh yes, there's always sampling going on in my kitchen!  Hey, a taste test is an important part of baking cookies! 

Put Sour Cream on your grocery list & bake a batch of these Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies!!!  Don't forget the sprinkles!!!

Enjoy!
Yummy!