My older sister, Susanne, is a woman of indomitable strength and hope. A little over a month ago, her 22-month old son (my nephew) fell into a pool and barely escaped with his life. Over the past weeks, Susanne and her husband have sat by baby Ryan's hospital bedside. They have watched him struggle to breathe, struggle to eat, struggle to lift up his head.
The pain of watching your child suffer is immense. No words can adequately describe their experience.
Yet they have shared their story on a site called CaringBridge, and if you are able to visit, you will see their remarkable testament to hope, faith and love.
Because despite the obstacles, despite the pain, my sister chooses to hold onto hope. She chooses to reach out in love. She chooses to trust and pray and wake up each morning with purpose.
Watching her with her son is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. She exudes a mother's selfless love. She brims with words of encouragement, with rejoicing in his smallest gains.
I can't say that I'm surprised by her reaction though. Susanne has been one of those people in my life that have shaped who I am as a person. She has been far more than a sister, she has been a mentor and a best friend.
Susanne and I are 15 years apart. When I was a baby girl, I worshiped the ground that she walked on. I would cuddle up next to her in bed while she studied for school or talked to her friends.
She covered me in love, in sweetness, in peals of laughter and warm hugs. As I grew older, she became a woman that I trusted with my darkest secrets, a woman that I could call, day or night.
The pain of watching your child suffer is immense. No words can adequately describe their experience.
Yet they have shared their story on a site called CaringBridge, and if you are able to visit, you will see their remarkable testament to hope, faith and love.
Because despite the obstacles, despite the pain, my sister chooses to hold onto hope. She chooses to reach out in love. She chooses to trust and pray and wake up each morning with purpose.
Watching her with her son is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. She exudes a mother's selfless love. She brims with words of encouragement, with rejoicing in his smallest gains.
I can't say that I'm surprised by her reaction though. Susanne has been one of those people in my life that have shaped who I am as a person. She has been far more than a sister, she has been a mentor and a best friend.
Susanne and I are 15 years apart. When I was a baby girl, I worshiped the ground that she walked on. I would cuddle up next to her in bed while she studied for school or talked to her friends.
She covered me in love, in sweetness, in peals of laughter and warm hugs. As I grew older, she became a woman that I trusted with my darkest secrets, a woman that I could call, day or night.
I know that I've written about Susanne before. I know that I've said very similar words. But when I woke up this morning, there was nothing else I could do but share once again how much I love her, and how proud of her I am.
Thank you for your continued support of Baby Ryan and my family. Just yesterday I received the most beautiful package from my dear friend Maren. Once again, I was in tears. She sent me cookies, two whisks and a thoughtful card. You all are amazing. Truly.
These sugar cookies are a recipe I learned from my sister. They have become my favorite cookie recipe, and when I share them with friends, they're gone within in seconds.
These cookies are amazingly soft...almost as delicate as a cake. The creaminess and richness of the butter melts on your tongue as you take your first, your second bite. The dough rolls out beautifully, and I use this recipe for my holiday cut-outs each year.
A simple glaze of powdered sugar and milk works well, but I prefer my cookies with a cream cheese frosting. How could you go wrong with that?
Susanne makes these cookies every year. She sends them off to friends and relatives, near and afar. She always leaves a plate for my sister and me when we roll into town. But this year, she will likely be at the hospital with baby Ryan, and I will feel honored to make these cookies for our family. We will share them at my parent's house, we will share them in the hospital room, we will share them after caroling with my older niece and nephew.
So perhaps this week or in the weeks to come, you'll be able to carve out some time to make this simple dough and to cut out a slew of reindeer or Christmas trees or stars. Share them with the ones you love. Dunk them into mugs of hot chocolate. Sneak into the kitchen well past midnight and delight in taking a secret bite. Remember that baking is about bringing people together. These cookies guarantee success.
Thank you for your continued support of Baby Ryan and my family. Just yesterday I received the most beautiful package from my dear friend Maren. Once again, I was in tears. She sent me cookies, two whisks and a thoughtful card. You all are amazing. Truly.
These sugar cookies are a recipe I learned from my sister. They have become my favorite cookie recipe, and when I share them with friends, they're gone within in seconds.
These cookies are amazingly soft...almost as delicate as a cake. The creaminess and richness of the butter melts on your tongue as you take your first, your second bite. The dough rolls out beautifully, and I use this recipe for my holiday cut-outs each year.
A simple glaze of powdered sugar and milk works well, but I prefer my cookies with a cream cheese frosting. How could you go wrong with that?
Susanne makes these cookies every year. She sends them off to friends and relatives, near and afar. She always leaves a plate for my sister and me when we roll into town. But this year, she will likely be at the hospital with baby Ryan, and I will feel honored to make these cookies for our family. We will share them at my parent's house, we will share them in the hospital room, we will share them after caroling with my older niece and nephew.
So perhaps this week or in the weeks to come, you'll be able to carve out some time to make this simple dough and to cut out a slew of reindeer or Christmas trees or stars. Share them with the ones you love. Dunk them into mugs of hot chocolate. Sneak into the kitchen well past midnight and delight in taking a secret bite. Remember that baking is about bringing people together. These cookies guarantee success.
Sour Cream Cut Out Cookies
2 sticks butter (softened to room temperature)
1 cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 cup Sour Cream
1-2 Tsp vanilla or almond extract
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 salt
6 cups sifted Cake Flour
1. Using a stand mixer, cream together your butter and sugar until smooth (2-3 minutes). Add in one egg at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the sour cream and vanilla and beat until smooth and well-combined.
2. Whisk together your dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture to form a dough that is stiff enough to roll out. (You may need to add more or less flour). Refrigerate your dough for 30 minutes before rolling out.
3. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Roll out your dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a well-floured surface. Cut into shapes of all sizes and varieties! Place on an parchment lined cookie sheet and bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes.
Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
8 oz package of cream cheese (room temperature)
2-3 cups powdered sugar (the amount of sugar depends on how sweet you like your frosting so feel free to add more or less)
1 tsp vanilla
1. Cream together the butter and cream cheese for about 3 minutes.
2. Add the vanilla and stir to combine.
3. Gradually add the powdered sugar, continually tasting to achieve the desired level of sweetness. Spread over cooled cookies.
Always,
Monet
Anecdotes and Apple Cores
**I have listed all of my pie recipes in my new Index near the top of my blog. If you need some Thanksgiving inspiration...it might be a good place to start!
**Please find Anecdotes and Apple Cores on Facebook...I would love to meet you there.
**And please check out these Thanksgiving cupcakes by my adorable friend, Evan. We met for the first time last weekend, and I was smitten!
2 sticks butter (softened to room temperature)
1 cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 cup Sour Cream
1-2 Tsp vanilla or almond extract
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 salt
6 cups sifted Cake Flour
1. Using a stand mixer, cream together your butter and sugar until smooth (2-3 minutes). Add in one egg at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the sour cream and vanilla and beat until smooth and well-combined.
2. Whisk together your dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture to form a dough that is stiff enough to roll out. (You may need to add more or less flour). Refrigerate your dough for 30 minutes before rolling out.
3. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Roll out your dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a well-floured surface. Cut into shapes of all sizes and varieties! Place on an parchment lined cookie sheet and bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes.
Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
8 oz package of cream cheese (room temperature)
2-3 cups powdered sugar (the amount of sugar depends on how sweet you like your frosting so feel free to add more or less)
1 tsp vanilla
1. Cream together the butter and cream cheese for about 3 minutes.
2. Add the vanilla and stir to combine.
3. Gradually add the powdered sugar, continually tasting to achieve the desired level of sweetness. Spread over cooled cookies.
Always,
Monet
Anecdotes and Apple Cores
**I have listed all of my pie recipes in my new Index near the top of my blog. If you need some Thanksgiving inspiration...it might be a good place to start!
**Please find Anecdotes and Apple Cores on Facebook...I would love to meet you there.
**And please check out these Thanksgiving cupcakes by my adorable friend, Evan. We met for the first time last weekend, and I was smitten!
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