Tuesday, March 18, 2008

SPT: Flour happy feet...



It can be hard to do all of the traditions that you created on certain holiday! Yesterday around 10:00 a.m. I looked back at the tradition I had started last year and realized that I had a lot of work to do to get things organized! I have a wonderful recipe for sugar cookies that allows you not to have to refrigerate your dough. It's ready to go as soon as you're done mixing the ingredients. I'll include it at the bottom of my post for you! I've mentioned several times the mess I create when I bake, the flower on the floor may have been more than what I put in the cookies! So for my SPT post, my feet will bring me to where my heart is...

My St Patrick's Day tradition of baking frosted green sugar cookies! The tradition I started last year and plan to continue is what I like to call "Shamrock Lovin'"! The green frosted hearts are a lot fun and are just another way to show my family and friends how much I appreciate them! The girls have gotten into the action and handed these out to their teacher and a few friends.
This year I included a small red heart to the cookies with the saying above. I found the little hats at our dollar store, I believe there were five hats in the package. I printed the message on clear sticker paper and stuck it on to the hat. The bags are in the party section of any store and I secured them with ribbon.

After dinner, when it was time to eat dessert, you were supposed to quickly eat the red heart so that you didn't get pinched. It was such a fun game, the girls were giggling the entire time! I put the red place mats down to add to the "love" part!

Later we played hide the shamrock bear (similar to hot and cold game), someone left the room, and we hid the bear somewhere in the room, when we yelled "Shamrock Love" they came back into the room and tried to find the bear, while the rest of the family sang soft and loud to help them find the bear. This was definitely a keeper, they really had a lot of fun!

My sister Jenn, who I am thrilled has finally started a blog, told me about this idea last year, which the girls talk about more than Santa! It's called Leprechaun Mischief. The idea is that on St. Patrick's Day the Leprechauns come looking for gold at your house. We try to catch them by enticing them to our Leprechaun trap which we disguised in a princess box, with gold candy the girls had already eaten.

But, Leprechauns like to make mischief when they come and throughout the room the following morning, the girls find lots of silly things that they've done. This year to escape the poked holes in the top of the box with the pencil used to prop up the box. They tied their stuff animals together, put a leprechaun hat on Beethoven bust, piled books up, and escaped through the fire place; and yes - we did make fake little tracks in the fireplace ashes!

No need to refrigerate Sugar Cookie Dough

2 eggs
2 c. sugar
1 c. butter flavored shortening (tasted good without butter flavored)
1 c. milk
1 tsp vanilla
4 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp salt
7 c. flour (I usually add around six so it's not to stiff)

Mix shortening and sugar together well. Add eggs and vanilla; mix. Mix dry ingredients all together so soda and baking powder are mixed well into the flour, then add half the milk and four mixed. Beat well. Add rest of milk and mix well, then add rest of flour. If dough is a bit soft, add a bit more flour or you can chill to make it easier to roll out -but it is not necessary. Roll out and cut the cookie shapes and put on non greased cookie sheet to bake. You do not need to chill dough before using unless it is really soft and you want to make it easier to handle. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes (my oven was around 8 minutes). Makes around 5 dozen cookies.

Did you do SPT?
Have any fun Patty's day traditions?

Post fact: Every Leprechaun word I wrote was spelled incorrectly!

Happy Birthday to the best sister in the entire world!

Happy Birthday Jennifer!

13 comments:

lelly said...

we delivered leprechaun kisses last night after dinner (jack insisted on walking down the street with a cane, like a little leprechaun - too cute!)

i'm supposing craig wasn't anywhere around while the flour was flying?

Jennfer said...

That's really fun with the red hearts. I hope the flour comes off those cute shoes.

Mandy said...

Everything you did is so cute! Love the floury feet.

Rachel Bagley Wurtz said...

Love your SPT! And what fun ideas for St. Patty's Day! It was never much of a holiday for me growing up and I haven't made a very big deal of it with my own kids, but after reading your post,I'm thinking I need to step it up a bit! :)

Marie said...

I want to blog my St. Pats fun, but it will have to wait a day or two I think. I have book club tomorrow, and I have not even started the book. Time to cram in a little reading.

Amanda said...

How fun! You have very lucky daughters to be growing up with such fun traditions! Love the red shoes.

P.S. Your link through Lelly wasn't working...so I found you through a comment.

michelle said...

I love all of your ideas you did for Saint Patty's Day. It sounds like the girls had so much fun! I am going to try your recipe. I love sugar cookies! How are your headaches? I am hoping that they didn't bother you while you were on vacation. :)

Melinda said...

Those are such fun idea's for St. Patricks! My friend has the mishevious leprechauns come also. THis year she drew mustaches on her kids faces with lip stick. That was a riot. I love those shoes!

What episode were you in in Gilmore girls? How soooo very cool!!!

Claudissima said...

seriously where do you get all your creativity and still function in all other aspects of life? I am in awe of soo much talent.

Cute Cute fotos

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

What fun ideas! We made a leprechaun trap one year for Robby's pre-school class.
Cool recipe, thanks for sharing

Nicole said...

OH Fun! I like your ideas for making SPD special. The cookies look yummy....I think I will try your recipe for Easter cookies. Thanks.

jenny said...

I am stoked about that recipe. I seriously hate making those cookies because of that delay process. Your feet photo is great!

Barb said...

The hats to hold the cookies are soo soo soo cute. I will remember this idea!