Tips for Making Cut-Out Cookies

I love the molasses cut-outs too!

Growing up we always made lots of cut-out Christmas cookies. Coming from a family of ten kids we made A LOT of cookies. It was so much fun to use mom's cookie cutters--each of us had our favorites. (Thankfully not all ten of us were old enough to help at the same time or I think mom would have gone crazy!) I loved the gingerbread man and woman.

I kept the tradition going with my own children. Every Christmas we cut out cookies, baked, frosted and decorated them. Sometimes it seemed like we made as many cookies as when I was growing up but really we didn't. With only three helpers (Jerry mostly came around when we were frosting them just so he could lick out the bowl.) I think I did more than my share of the work but I didn't mind.

I was still making the cookies the way my mom had taught me. Then today I saw Sweetopia's post that includes tips for making cut-out cookies. Man I wish I had found these years ago! Now that the kids are grown I haven't made cut-out cookies for a few years. But after seeing her easy tips I am going to try them again! I can't wait to make them because there will be less mess and the results should be way better. Although I am going to cut my recipe way down since I'll be doing the cutting out, baking, frosting and decorating all by myself. (Jerry will probably still come around for the frosting bowl!)

Do you make cut-out cookies? At Christmas or at other holidays too?

Halloween Candy--Tricks or Treats?

We usually have around 200 Trick or Treaters on Halloween. Since we really don't have any little children in our neighborhood these kids are coming from other places around town. Needless to say, we don't usually have any candy left. Which is a good thing--I don't need the extra calories!

“That’s Fit" recently took a walk down the candy aisle to investigate popular candies. While they don’t say any particular candy is healthy, there are definitely some choices that are better than others. (I don't really know what is worse though, the fat or the sugar amounts.)

Tricks:
5th Avenue (1 full-size bar) — 280 calories, 14g fat
Snickers (1 full-size bar) — 280 calories, 14g fat
Twix Caramel (2 bars) — 280 calories, 14g fat
Baby Ruth (1 full-size bar) — 280 calories, 13g fat
Butterfinger (1 full-size bar) — 270 calories, 11g fat
Milky Way (1 full-size bar) — 260 calories, 10g fat
Mr. Goodbar (1 full-size bar) — 210 calories, 14g fat

Treats:
Trident Gum (1 stick) — 5 calories, 0g fat
Smarties (1 roll) — 25 calories, 0g fat
Tootsie Roll (1 piece) — 50 calories, 1g fat
Pixy Stix (7 straws) — 60 calories, 0g fat
Hershey Kisses (3) — 75 calories, 1.5g fat
Jolly Rancher Gummies (10 pieces) — 120 calories, 0g fat
York Peppermint Patty (1 piece) — 140 calories, 2.5g fat”

For more scary reading check out this post on more Halloween Candy facts.

(Do you raid your child's Halloween stash?)

Wordless Wednesday

16 Things I Know To Be True

I think about a lot of things when I'm running. (In fact that's what caused me to trip and fall today! Should have been paying more attention to the uneven sidewalk). Here are a few of the things that I came up with on my last run.

1. Being kind to strangers is always a good thing.

2. If your significant other wants to go fishing--let him! You'll both be happier in the long run. (I enjoy having that "me" time.)

3.Smoking is so bad for your skin--it really ages you fast.

4.Boots and shoes are always a good purchase.

5. Using coupons to buy things you wouldn't normally buy isn't a good thing but getting 30% off on a fabulous pair of shoes may be worth it...)

6.  If you ignore your health it will go away.

7.  Holding on to grudges just makes you bitter and gives the other person power.

8.  Happiness is a choice. On your darkest day you can still make your burdens lighter if just for a moment.

9.  Sometimes being still for 20 minutes is just as therapeutic as going for a run.

10.  Finding something to be grateful for is a wonderful way to start the day.

11.  Hugs are always welcome.

12,  Presents aren't important, people are. (We figured this out last Christmas.)

13.  Money doesn't buy happiness they say but it sure puts a smile on my face to buy a new purse!

14. Children love seeing photographs of themselves printed and displayed around the house.

15.  Spending time with your grandchildren is absolutely priceless!

16.  If you've got one really good friend then you are a very rich person.

I continue to be blessed with a great family and wonderful friends. I'm grateful everyday for my health and being able to run and get caught up in my thoughts.

Here's to a wonderful Fall and a season of thanks and blessings!

Wordless Wednesday

Spooky Glowing Eye Hallloween Craft

I like decorating my house for Halloween. Since it gets quite chilly here this time of year I like to keep it simple so I don't have to spend a lot of time outside putting up decorations or taking them down. I spotted this cute craft here and decided it was easy and wouldn't take much time or supplies. I've been saving toilet paper tubes but paper towel tubes or wrapping paper tubes (cut into smaller tubes) I think would work too.


Supplies For This Easy Halloween Craft

•toilet paper rolls
•tape
•glowsticks
•string

How To Make Spooky Glowing Eyes

1.Crease 1 side of the TP roll and cut out 2 triangles.(or whatever shape you want your eyes to be)
2.Make a small hole at the top of the tube.
3.String the piece of string through the hole. Tie a few knots so it’s big enough to not come through the hole.
4.Tape 1 end of the tube shut with tape.
5.Activate the glow stick and put it in the tube.
6.Tape the other end of the tube shut.
7.Hang them up in the kids room or hang them on a tree on Halloween night!

I plan to stick these in the shrubs in front of my house. It will be a spooky look without being too scary for the little Trick or Treaters.

Do you decorate for Halloween?

Wordless Wednesday