I’ve had a lot of requests for some of the recipes that I use so Emma decided that we should create a page on our blog where they can be posted.

Soft Sugar Cookies

I dare say that these are the best sugar cookies every baked in the history of mankind.  Eileen Sieger deserves the credit for these.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Preparation:
Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg; set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth.  Beat in the egg, vanilla and sour cream until well blended.  Stir in the sifted ingredients.  Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill overnight. reheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).  On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch in thickness.  Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters.  Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven.  Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.  Apply a generous amount of your favorite frosting and enjoy the goodness.

Carrot Cake

carrot-cakeFor those of you who have had it, you know that Holly makes some of the best carrot cake out there.  Despite the recipe being heavily guarded, I was able to get a copy of it to share with you here.  Actually, Holly gave it up quite easily, but if she chose to keep it from me…  Let’s just say that she probably would have won.

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 cups finely shredded carrot
  • 1 cup cooking oil
  • 4 eggs
  • Cream cheese frosting

Preparation:
Grease and lightly flour a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.  In a mixer bowl combine the first 6 ingredients.  Add next 3 ingredients, beating with electric mixer till combined.  Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.  Turn into pan.  Bake at 325 degrees F for 50 to 60 minutes or till done.  Cool on a wire rack.  Frost with cream cheese frosting.  Serves 12 to 15.

Chocolate Zucchini Sheet Cake Brownies

Ever wonder what to do with that pile of zucchini that you get from your garden in the summertime?  Try this recipe for chocolate zucchini sheet cake brownies.

  • 1 ½ Cup Brown Sugar
  • ½ Cup Sugar
  • ½ Cup Butter [1 C Applesauce can be used in place of butter and vegetable oil]
  • ½ Cup Vegetable Oil
  • 3 Large Eggs
  • 1 tsp Vanilla
  • ½ Cup Buttermilk
  • 2 ½ Cup Flour
  • ½ tsp Allspice
  • ½ tsp Cinnamon
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • 2 tsp Baking Soda
  • 7 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
  • 4 cups Unpeeled Zucchini (grated)
  • 1 C Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

Cream the wet stuff.  Add the dry stuff.  Stir in zucchini. Pour into an 11×17 pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Bake 325 for 40-45 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar or frost with chocolate icing.