Let all your hearts...

... prepare for Him. We've been humming merry tunes over here and I'm also taking some much needed time to focus on family these days. Follow along on Insta to check in with us. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Simple Food: Holiday Butter Cookies

If you've seen my Instagram lately, you know we've been baking up a storm in this house. Whisks are whirling, spoons are spinning, peppermint is filling the air, and honey has been melting on our tongues. Mouthwatering scents of fresh out of the oven cookies suffuse our home as of late. Baking has been such a joy, especially now that e is getting older and can join in on the fun.

I've had a few requests for recipes that we've been baking and here is one of them. This one is done pretty fast and easy for kids to help with. e loved using the cookie cutters {which kid doesn't ha!}. And parents - these beauties are great coffee dunkers. Just sayin'. 

Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

500g all-purpose {unbleached} flour

2 sticks unsalted butter - in pieces

200g sugar {I prefer pure cane sugar}

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla flavoring

1 lemon - zested and juiced

1 tip of a knife ground cinnamon

Icing:

1 egg yolk

sprinkles of your choice, coarse salt, or chopped almonds

Directions:

1. Combine Flour, sugar, and butter in a bowl

2. Make a groove in the center and add eggs, vanilla flavoring, cinnamon, as well as lemon juice and zest. 

3. Start kneading. I encourage doing this by hand, not with a machine. 

When done, wrap in plastic and chill for at least 30 Minutes. 

4. Pre-heat oven 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper

5. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick

And now the fun part - begin cookie cutting.

6. Bake about 10 Minutes, let cool 2 Minutes on the baking sheet, then cool completely on a wire rack. 

7. When completely cool, brush egg yolk on the tops of the cookies and cover with desired sprinkles.

Simple Moments

Moments that made our week - 

Though not done yet, a migraine knocked me off my feet this weekend and we'll be resuming our Christmas cookie baking this week. It must have scared my husband pretty bad because at one point he was thinking about taking me to the ER - probably when I was hugging the toilet crying, ha! In all honesty, though, this one was scary. But anyhow, these moments are from early last week. 

Also, someone had a birthday this month! For her special day, we went to a huge indoor playground - it was as much fun to watch the kids play as it probably was for them playing. 

also sharing here

Simple Life: Handmade Christmas Decorations

Natural holiday cheer. Decorate the house a bit, invite family and friends over for mulled wine or cider and set an evening of Holiday spirit merriment. Simply done. Instructions below. Enjoy.

Popcorn Cranberry Garland

You need:

Popcorn - preferably a day old and stale {trust me}

Cranberries - only the still hard ones {trust me}

Dental Floss

a needle

Happy stringing.

Dried Oranges 

You need:

Oranges {by the bag full}

Dehydrator or oven

Slice the oranges and place in dehydrator for 24 hrs or on a baking sheet {single layer} in the oven for 2-4 hrs at 200 F

Dried Oranges and Cinnamon Ornaments

 

You need:

dried orange slices {see above}

cinnamon sticks

twine {of your choice}

My house smells delicious!

sharing with some of these wonderful blogs.

Simple Moments

A moment that shaped last week.

We didn't have a tree {yet} so we decorated one in the backyard with our {slightly} burnt orange slices and {too soft} cranberries.

Sharing here