This Is MY Year!

OR at least I hope it is.  I actually like new beginnings.  It's a fresh start, and I think as people, we NEED that.  We are not stationary creatures in most cases.  We change and we grow, along with the world around us.  When my best friend and I get all philosophical, we get to theorizing about what the world would be like if things never changed.  Reminds me of that AWFUL movie Groundhog Day. I HATE that movie.  That's pretty much a cinema interpretation of my worst nightmare.  I like to see where life takes us. 

The one constant is that everything changes, always.  If you need an example, just think of life at this time last year.  Funny the difference a year can make.

I have lots of goals, and some of the same old resolutions, which is what gave me the idea for these cookies.  A simple yet perfect treat for a New Year's party.  I went with the old faithful resolutions, but I can see these getting fun.  They can be religious, geared toward specific people, naughty...

*how in the heck did I jump from the first idea to the last one?!*

or anti-resolutions for those who like to laugh...gain weight, start smoking, spend your savings, watch lots of TV...you get the idea.

Some of these resolutions are for me personally...

I think this is more of a life goal at this point, LOL...

For my poor husband's sake...

and, well, this isn't gonna happen, but it's the thought that counts, right?


I am really excited about the new year!  So much so, I made another collection.  Now, I suppose these might have looked really nice in a traditional black, silver, gold, and white, but I went with color.  First of all because I love it, and second of all, I forgot to order some gold shimmer spray before Christmas like I planned...and if it's not how I planned it, it just cannot be...

HMMM, maybe I better add, "LIGHTEN UP" or "GO WITH THE FLOW" to my list...

When I made this platter, I was particularly proud of my confetti cookies,  then yesterday, my cookie friend Meaghan posted an idea that made me like them EVEN more =)  Check out what she did with them!

And since like most people, I prefer to jump start my new year diet by eating excessive amounts of the things I plan on giving up, I went all-out and made these cookies chocolate.

They are too good not to share.  So, do your friends a favor, and make these to take to the big bash!

SweetSugarBelle's Chocolate Roll-Out Cookies #1

*Turn oven to 350° NOW*

3/4 c butter

1 1/2 c granulated sugar

1/4 c dark corn syrup

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla (I like orange sometimes, also)

3-31/2 c flour

2/3 c cocoa powder, (I use 2 parts dark cocoa to one part regular)

1/2 tsp baking powder

Scant 1/2 tsp salt

Cream together butter and sugar. When light and fluffy, add eggs, vanilla and corn syrup. In a separate bowl sift together flour, cocoa powders, baking powder and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet once cupful at a time until all are incorporated.

              * Quick tip, start with 3 cups of flour, and add more if the dough is to sticky.

My super amazing SweetSugarBelle way to tell if it's too sticky is by whether the dough sticks to the paddle. If more of my dough is around the inside of the bowl, I can tell it’s not right. I like it best when it has just enough flour that it all glops up on the paddle like cotton candy.

*don’t you just love love my technical words like “glop”*

Anyway, when I do this, the dough doesn’t need to be chilled. I’m not a dough chilling sort of girl, really. It just takes too long. Most of my recipes are from mixer to roll. But, If you want to chill it, do it your way.

Roll them out, and bake them for 8-9 minutes...AND NO TV during  bake time until you know what your oven is going to do with them.  WATCH your cookies!

There are no real rules to cookie making, except the basics that apply to all baking, like DON’T BURN THEM!

*And keep in mind, cookies are like potato salad*

{I have no idea WHERE that analogy came from, I would have totally failed as Forrest’s mom}

There aren’t really any universal recipes. You like what you are used to. So, if you hate this one, keep looking. Cookies are as unique as people's tastes!

Oh yes, and just to spare you the expense of buying about ten different types of cocoa powder like I did when I discovered there was a difference...I snapped this photo, just so you could see.

 The reddish one is regular old Ghiradelli stuff, and the darker one on the left is Hershey's Extra Dark, which I use because I live in the middle of nowhere and that's about the most sophisticated dark stuff I can get my hands on.

Also, if you love the cookie recipe you use, a good rule of thumb is to just substitute 1/2 a cup or so of cocoa powder for flour in your regular recipe.

I hope you learned something.  One of my goals for the year is to learn something new every day, and I hope I can pass along the same blessing!  What are YOUR resolutions?