well, hello again, blog!  i’m happy to report that things are back to “normal” at the shoebox.  it was hacked a month or so ago, and we’ve been working on moving content around and finding a suitable server.  (hello, godaddy!)  the shoebox is back with one more nashville recipe.  then, we get to move onto the wa ones!

i made these cookies for my dad on his last visit to nashville.  they’re all of his favorite cookies, rolled into one!  after a ten hour drive to nashville from michigan, the least i could do was have a batch of cookies ready for him to eat.  if cookies could make it through the mail, i’d probably send a batch of these to him tonight to celebrate the big buck that he got today and that his spartans have clinched the big 10 legends championship!  (mostly for the buck, though…. go blue!)

the cookies are soft and chewy and are a bunch of wonderful cookie types, all rolled into one tasty gem.  i’m thinking next time, i’ll throw some pretzels in there, too!  i love the sweet/salty combination.

source: browneyedbaker

• 1 c flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temp
• 1/2 c creamy pb
• 1/2 c granulated sugar
• 1/3 c brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1/2 c old-fashioned oats
• 1 c chocolate chips

thanks to an early Christmas present to myself, i can make festive sugar cookies all year round!  the cookies pictured above were decorated at my sister-in-law’s house Christmas eve.  it was a fun way to get into the Christmas spirit!  here are the recipes that you will need:

rolled sugar cookie recipe

• 1 1/2 c butter, softened
• 2 c white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 5 c all purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt

1. in a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth.  beat in eggs and vanilla.  stir in the flour, baking powder and salt.  cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2. preheat oven to 400°.  roll out dough on floured surface 1/4-1/2″ thick.  cut into shapes with any cookie cutter.  place cookies 1″ apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven.  cool completely.

(courtesy of: allrecipes.com)

after these bad boys are done baking, you’ll want to frost them with something delicious.  because i tend to be on the messy side, i like to make several smaller batches of this frosting and dye it.  i made three batches of this size to frost the aforementioned cookie recipe.  here is what you will need.

buttercream frosting

• 2 c powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp margarine from the tub
• dash of salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• a few drops of milk

1. in a small bowl, start by adding the powdered sugar.  add remaining ingredients.
2. beat well with a fork.  if the mixture is runny, add more sugar.  if mixture is too thick, add a few more drops of milk.
3. add food coloring as desired.

frost your cookies and as always,

enjoy!