HALLOWEEN AND SUGAR COOKIES!

How was your Halloween? Did you stay home and pass out candy? Or go to a party? My hubby and I were wishing we had a party to go to but no one we knew was having one. Guess we should have had one! Well I got the pumpkin carved in the afternoon and all the goodie bags made up to hand out and waited for that first knock on the door!

I also made Sugar Cookies earlier in the day...pumpkins and cats. I iced one cat cookie in orange in honor of Fletcher! :-) Normally I ice these cookies with Betty Crocker Creamy Classic Vanilla Frosting but since I didn't have any, I made a frosting, which actually was better in that it hardened faster so I was able to stack the cookies easier. These are the BEST sugar cookies I have ever had. I got this recipe from one of my oldest and dearest friends. We have been friends since we were teens!

Here are a few more pictures of my porch and Fall decorating! See the cool yellow chair (you will have to click on the photo to see it)? I have three of those. I got them at a garage sale for $2 each ... can you believe that? Wasn't that a steal????!!!! I thought so!

SUGAR COOKIES

1 cup butter, softened

1 8 oz. cream cheese, softened

2 cups sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. almond extract

1 tsp. baking power

3 1/2 cups flour

Cream together butter and cream cheese. Add sugar and egg - blend. Add vanilla and almond extract - blend well. Mix in baking powder and flour. Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes. Mix a little flour and powered sugar together and spread on counter. Roll out dough on floured surface and cut into shapes. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Sugar Cookie Frosting

4 cups powered sugar

1/2 cup shortening

5 tablespoons milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

food coloring

Cream shortening in a large bowl. Add powered sugar and blend until smooth. Gradually add the milk and vanilla, mixing well until smooth and stiff ... about 5 minutes. Color with food coloring as desired. (I cut this recipe in half and had enough for all my cookies).