Angel Sugar Cookies

I've had a bit sweeter than normal sweet tooth lately so it was of no surprise that I thought I needed to make some cookies this past weekend.  It's also no secret that I'm a big fan of The Pioneer Woman so I thought a recipe from her cookbook was only appropriate.  This is how I came to make Angel Sugar Cookies over the weekend and they did not disappoint.

Ingredients
2 large eggs
1 cup canola oil
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for the tops of the cookies
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions
Cream together eggs, oil, butter, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, and vanilla.

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.  When you take the dough out of the refrigerator, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop balls of cookie dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  (I did line my cookie sheets with parchment paper.)

Smear butter on the bottom of a glass, then dip it into granulated sugar.

Use the glass to flatten the balls of dough, dipping into the sugar each time.

Repeat until all are flattened.

Bake for 9-11 minutes, until the cookies are just barely turning brown around the edges.

Cool before eating... I dare you to wait. :-)

Linked to the following party:

Semi-Homemade Pioneer Woman Guacamole

As you know, I usually follow recipes to a T and take very few liberties when baking or cooking.  In fact this was even a topic of discussion on my Goode friend's, Cris from Goodeness Gracious, Facebook page this week.

So I was kind of struggling when I found The Pioneer Woman's guacamole recipe in her cookbook.

It lists 3 ingredients, but provides no measurements.  It uses words like some and big pile when referring to salt and pico de gallo, respectively.  That being said I recently had an epiphany of sorts while reading this recipe, I realized that if I bought pre-made pico de gallo that I could have guacamole in a snap just about anytime we wanted since it wouldn't require any cutting.

I was so thankful this light bulb went off as it allows me to whip up guacamole in heartbeat as an appetizer for friends or even as a quick snack or light meal for The Farmer and me.

Ingredients
Avocados, 3/4 to 1 whole avocado per person per PW
Some Salt (I prefer to use kosher salt.)
Big pile of pico de gallo

Directions
Halve the avocados lengthwise.  Remove the pit and scoop out the insides onto a large plate or bowl.

Sprinkle on some salt and mash way with a fork until you get the avocado to the consistency you want.

Throw on a "big pile of pico de gallo."

Stir together gently and you are ready to eat some yummy guacamole.

Enjoy!

Hints from PW:  Always test guacamole with tortilla chips so you'll get a more accurate gauge of the salt content and adjust the salt to taste.  Additionally to avoid browning, gently press plastic wrap against the surface of the guacamole until serving.  Guacamole will keep in the fridge less than 24 hours.  (This is why I like making it with pre-made pico de gallo as you only have mix up as much as much as you want instead of making up an entire recipe of guacamole.)

PW's Marinated Tomato Salad with Herbs with a little inspiration from Beyer Beware

It is no secret that I have been in a writing and cooking funk this summer and so far the start of school for Big Sissy and Bubby has not helped me get out of that funk.  However, I think the premiere of The Pioneer Woman's new show on the Food Network has gotten me going again which is only fitting as she was the inspiration around me starting my blog. 

After watching the premiere episode yesterday, I was inspired to get back in the kitchen.  It is very rare that when I watch a cooking show that I have all of the ingredients needed to make something they just made on hand.  This was the case yesterday after I watched Ree make her marinated tomato salad with herbs, but thanks to Miss Leah from Beyer Beware always inspiring me to be adventurous in the kitchen, I didn't let that stop me.  So thanks to Ree and Leah, we had one yummy marinated tomato salad as a side dish for dinner last night. 

Marinated Tomato Salad with Herbs
6 to 8 ripe tomatoes
4 green onions
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
3-4 T. balsamic vinegar
2 T. brown sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Handful fresh parsley leaves, lightly chopped
12 fresh basil leaves, chiffonade

I didn't have any green onions, parsley, or basil on hand, but I thought it was worth a go since I had some delicious yellow tomatoes on hand along with all of the ingredients to make the marinade.  I also had a home grown cucumber so I decided to add it to the tomatoes in place of the green onions. 

Directions
Cut the tomatoes into 4 wedges, then cut the wedges in half and add to a bowl. 

Slice the cucumber  and add to the bowl with the tomatoes. 

Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, dash of salt and pepper to a jar.

Screw on the lid and shake to combine.  (My dressing is slightly lighter than PW's as I only had white balsamic vinegar on hand.)

Pour the dressing over the tomatoes and toss.

Add the herbs and gently toss to combine.  Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving. 

Enjoy!

Although I had to make a few substitutions and didn't have any herbs, The Farmer gave this dish two thumbs up.  Now I can't wait to make it with the herbs and onions as I bet it will only be better.

Linked to Pinke Post's PW party

I'm still alive...

Believe it or not, I'm still alive despite the fact I haven't blogged in almost 2 weeks and have taken to vicariously living through my friends since my full-time, off-farm job has kept me busier than normal the last few weeks.  Thankfully, I did get to spend some time with Martini last week so that is a major plus if I have to be away from home.

So while I've been busy and out of town with work a lot, some of my fellow Real Farmwives of America & Friends have been quite busy.  Cris, Leah, Megan, Liz, and Marybeth went on the field trip of a lifetime to meet the one and only, The Pioneer Woman.

I had never blogged a day in my life and had read very few of them before my good friend, Leah, introduced me to The Pioneer Woman and ever since then I was hooked and soon starting blogging myself.

So although I didn't get to meet her, I'm glad that they did and hopefully next time my busy work schedule won't keep me away from a fun field trip with my fellow Farmwives.

Although I hate to jinx myself I do think I might be able to the light at the end of the tunnel in regards to the busier than normal work schedule, but I know I've said that before so we'll just take it one day at a time.  But don't ask me about my kitchen table ... it's seen better days.