Gingersnaps

 

It would not be Christmas if there wasn't at least something with ginger in it, whether it be a gingerbread house, gingerbread men, or gingersnaps. Since I am not a fan of gingerbread I prefer to make these gingersnaps instead. These cookies are sweet, chewy, and festive making them my staple cookie to make at Christmas time. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! See you Monday for the fourth cookie recipe and stocking stuffer ideas!

 

Gingersnaps:

 

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon cloves

Additional sugar to roll cookies in

 

Directions:

Preheats oven to 350 degrees.

Sift together dry ingredients and set aside.

In large mixing bowl mix first 4 ingredients.
Add dry ingredients and mix well.

Pinch off dough about one teaspoon size.

Roll into balls and roll in sugar.

Bake for 10 minutes or just until cookies begin to crack.

Remove from pan and let cool.

Store in airtight container.

Lots of Love,  Natalie

 

Lemon Kris Crinkle Cookies

For the holidays I decided to make a variety of different sweet treats to take to Starkville Physical Therapy as a little Christmas present and thank you for letting my do my internship there. At first I wasn't sure what all I would make, but then I stumbled upon a recipe for Lemon Crinkle Cookies. I knew right when I saw the name that I was going to make these! These cookies might be my new favorite because they are the perfect mix of sweet and tart. I would recommend this recipe to anyone who wants to make a refreshing but still scrumptious cookie!

 

Lemon Kris Crinkle Cookies:

*makes 2-3 dozen

 

Ingredients:

1/2 cups butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 whole egg

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cups powdered sugar

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Whip in vanilla, egg, lemon zest, and juice.

Stir in all dry ingredients slowly until just combined, excluding the powdered sugar.

Pour powdered sugar onto a large plate. Roll heaping teaspoon of dough into a ball and roll in powdered sugar.

Place on baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough.

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until bottoms begin to barely brown and cookies look matte (not shiny or melted)

Remove from oven and cool cookies about 3 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

 

Be sure to keep checking in because there will be at least four more delicious recipes to come!

 

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie

 

 

Treat That Fabulous Friend

There are only 16 more days until Christmas!! If you haven't started shopping then you probably should right now!! I am here to help with another edition of the Holiday Gift Guide. So far I have presented ideas for Hostess gifts, Children's Gifts Under $20 and items from my personal Christmas Wishlist! Today I am giving you some ideas to treat a fabulous friend. I don't know about you but me personally, I have a ton of wonderful girl friends that keep me going each and everyday! They allow me to vent and to gossip(come on we all do it) and they build me up. I would personally like to receive every one of these(I already own four). This Christmas, I hope to show each and every one of my friends how much I appreciate and love them and how much I need them in my life! 

{1. Smashbox}{2. Cashmere Gloves}{3. Monogrammed Tervis Tumbler}{4. Lilly Pulitzer Planner}

{5. Pave Link Bracelet}{6. Kendra Scott Elle Earrings}{7. Coach Wristlet}

{8. Monogram Necklace}{9. Crystal Holly Necklace}{10. OPI Take Ten Gift Set}

Stay southern,

Thanksgiving Dreams

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches it makes me realize that I need to go ahead and get all the ingredients for the dishes I plan to make. I love looking at Pinterest and Instagram and seeing all the different holiday images so I decided to share a few of my favorites with you!

 

 

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie

 

Pumpkin Spiced Mini Bundt Cakes

Saturday I made these Pumpkin Spiced Mini Bundt Cakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting for a tailgate for the MSU vs. LSU game. These are the perfect fall treat. The smell that flows through the house when you make these is heavenly! Unfortunately, we lost the game but at least these treats were good!

 

Pumpkin Spiced Mini Bundt Cakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting:

 

Bundt Cakes:
1 box of Spiced Cake Mix

1 can of Pumpkin Puree

1 mashed Banana

1/2 cup of Applesauce

1 tbsp. of Cinnamon

 

Frosting:

8 oz. bar cream cheese (at room temp.)

1/2 stick unsalted butter (at room temp.)

2 cups confectioner's sugar

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon table salt

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Make the cake: Mix all ingredients for the bundt cakes together in a big mixing bowl using an electric mixer until smooth.

3. Bake in the oven for 16-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

4. Make the frosting: Using your electric mixer again, beat all ingredients on high until light and fluffy (3 to 5 minutes).

5. Let cakes cool then frost them.

 

 

P.S. Using the applesauce and mashed banana is a healthier alternative to the oil and eggs that they boxed cake mix calls for.

 

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie

Homemade Popsicles

Since, the weather has gotten warmer I have been craving Popsicles. I haven't made Popsicles since I was a little kid so I thought it would be fun to play around with different flavors. I came up with three flavors: Strawberry Orange Vanilla, Blueberry Lemonade, and Pineapple Orange. So far Strawberry Orange Vanilla is my favorite. The best part is they taste great while still being good for you! Below are the recipes for the three different flavors. I hope you had wonderful Fourth of July yesterday! Happy Friday!

 

Strawberry Orange Vanilla:

1/3 cup Frozen or Fresh Strawberries

1 whole Orange

3 Tbsp of Vanilla yogurt

 

Blueberry Lemonade:

1 peeled Lemon

1/2 cup Blueberries

1 Tbsp of honey

a little water

 

Pineapple Orange:

1/3 cup Frozen or Fresh Pineapple

1 1/2 Oranges

a little water

 

 Directions:

 

1. Blend in a blender until smooth

2. Pour liquid into a small cup

3. Place a wooden Popsicle stick in the middle

4. Place in the freezer to freeze

5. Enjoy!

 

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie