Monday, December 5, 2011

Happy Birthday :)


Today is my 21st birthday! Anyone out there celebrating their birthday today? I love birthday buddies!

After class/studying/work (womp) I'm going out to dinner at Abuelo's in Roanoke! YUM! I can't wait!
 I only wish that Steven could be here. Although his birthday is the 30th, so we'll celebrate together then!

I think as my birthday gift to myself, I want to get a blog design! Any suggestions for a site with inexpensive, pre-made templates? I have a couple sits bookmarked, but I'm sure there is a cute one out there I don't know about!


Back to the holiday blog challenge with Neely! Today is...

Day 5: Holiday Dessert/Treat Recipe

Gingerbread Snowflakes



Found this on Pinterest, but the recipe courtesy of the one & only Martha Stewart

Ingredients
  • 6 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
  • 4 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon finely ground pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup unsulfured molasses
  • Royal Icing
  • Fine sanding sugar, for sprinkling
Directions
  1. Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.
  2. Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into snowflakes with a 7- inch snowflake-shape cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
  4. Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.
  5. Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip (such as Ateco #7). Pipe designs on snowflakes; immediately sprinkle with sanding sugar. Let stand 5 minutes; tap off excess sugar. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour.

I am a HUGE fan of gingerbread!


**Everyone go check out Ashley's monogrammed apron giveaway! I think the pink one is a-dor-a-ble.


xoxo,

22 comments:

  1. First off happy birthday! !! Those cookies look so good! I've always wanted to try and make gingerbread cookies but never have! I should try Martha's recipe :)

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  2. Happy birthday! My dad turns 50 today so you and him could be birthday buddys haha

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  3. Happy birthday sweet girl! Enjoy :)

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  4. Seems like everyone's birthday is today! Happy Birthday!!!

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  5. AHH I LOVE Abuelos! I haven't been there in forever, so jealous! Happy Birthday, girl!

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  6. Happy Birthday girl!! I think you should celebrate your birthday by getting yourself a ticket to the SugarBowl!!! :)

    I have searched and searched for sites with free templates and I finally found one that I liked. It's a weird name but I think it's a decent site.

    http://www.suckmylolly.com/ haha I hope you find something you like!

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  7. happy happy birthday!! i am so jealous that you are turning 21...enjoy it!!

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  8. Happy Birthday!! Hope you have a great 21st! :)

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  9. ooo I love Gingerbread too!! Happy Happy Birthday!

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  10. Happy Birthday! Hope it's fabulous! :)

    I absolutely love Abuelo's. It's so yummy! I miss that place since we don't have one near here. A former boyfriend of mine used to live near Roanoke.

    Those gingerbread snowflakes look so cute! I may have to try those.

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  11. Happy Birthday! i am not a big fan of gingerbread but my family loves it!

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  12. Happy Birthday to my SLR! And it's a good one! 21!! Hope you have the BEST day and get spoiled!

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  13. Happy 21st, girlfriend! Hope it's amazing:)

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  14. Happy, Happy Birthday, Sarah!!! Hope this year is your BEST year yet! xo

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  15. Happy Birthday sweetgirl! I hope it's great and I hope you get blog followers as a birthday present (cause isn't that what every blogger wants? lol)

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  16. Happy Birthday, Sarah! Hope you enjoy your day and your yummy dinner :)

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  17. Happy Birthday Sarah!!! Hope you have a great time at dinner tonight!

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  18. Happy Birthday!! Have a jumbo Marg at El Rod's or a double at Sharkey's after finals to celebrate!!

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  19. Such a cute blog. Glad I stumbled upon it:) I've actually been looking for a great gingerbread recipe!!

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  20. Happy birthday girlie. it's a big one. super glad I found your blog. totally following. If you get a sec I'd love to hear what you think of my fashion blog. It's all about the adventures of a southern girl turned LA local. xo

    www.fashboulevard.blogspot.com

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  21. Happy birthday, pretty girl!!!!! 21 is such a special birthday, too! :o) Which is why I've celebrated my 21st birthday 8 times now. ;o)

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  22. Happy birthday chica!!! Enjoy Abuelos - we have one in Phoenix and I love it! I just had one of those cookies yesterday - someone made them and brought them to work. So fun!!

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Thank you for the sweet comments! xo!

 
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