Impossibly Easy Ham and Swiss Pie and Shortbread Spritz

Do you have a love for easy recipes? 

Favorite Spritz

Happy Easter Monday! 

Melt-In-Your Mouth Spritz Cookies

The weather here in Texas has been so pleasant!  I made some spritz cookies to enjoy with a nice cup of tea.

Peanut Blossom Spritz Cookies

I've made some Peanut Blossom Spritz cookies today for tea time. Won't you join me?  We can have a cup of Constant Comment tea, if you'd like.

I'm using my Merry Christmas Johnson Bros teacup.

My sweet tea set was a gift from my youngest son, when he was just a little boy.

 

I was lucky to find a matching plate to my teacup.

My Goebel piece was from my late beloved Dad.

 

 

I bought a smaller tree this year, that is easier for me to put up. 

 

 

 

My sister sent me a little tea set awhile back and I took a tip from Margie, from  Tea In The Valley and glued the lids and saucers on the pieces to use as ornaments on my tree.

 

For probably 30 years I had a Mirro Cookie Press, and it sadly broke a few years back.  A thoughtful friend of mine found me one and I am thrilled beyond belief!  There is nothing like this old-fashioned Mirro one.  It holds the most dough of any, and I am one happy baker! 

Yield: recipe says 48, but I got many more

Author: Kitty, but recipe is from my Mirro Cookie Press Cookbook

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Peanut Blossom Spritz Cookies

I used my cookie press snowflake design to make the blossoms, and sprinkled them with red sugar before baking. This was so much easier than forming balls for peanut blossoms. Spritz cookies form best on really cold cookie sheets, so I put the cookie sheets in the freezer beforehand.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon hot water
• 1 and 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Colored sugar, optional
• 1 bag of Hershey Kisses, unwrapped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cream shortening and sugars well.
3. Beat in egg, peanut butter and hot water
4. Gradually blend in flour, baking soda, and salt which  have been sifted together (I use a whisk to blend all).
5. Fill press.  Form cookies on ungreased cookie sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugar, if you wish.
6. Bake cookies for 10 minutes.
7. Remove from the oven, and immediately add a kiss to the center of the cookie, pressing down firmly.  Cool 1-2 minutes. 
8. Remove cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes:

Use really cold cookie sheets and never put spritz cookies on warm cookie sheets.

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No Place Like Home

Honoring Our Anniversary

 I was fortunate to be married to the love of my life for 43 years before he passed away to his heavenly home.  Our 50th anniversary would've been this past Saturday,  June 27, 2020.  As a way to celebrate the day and to honor our life together, I brought out our wedding album and some other mementos. 

Ahhh...young love!

 Yes, I still have leftover napkins from our reception.  

 This plate was a gift from my late Great Aunt Kitty, whose china painting teacher made this pretty plate.

 Our wedding cake topper still looks pretty good after 50 years, but just a little yellowed.

 I had some English breakfast tea in this pretty cup, which was again painted by Aunt Kitty's teacher, but Aunt Kitty painted the matching plate.  How do I know?  They signed their names on the back.

 I was thrilled to be one of four lucky recipients to win this adorable cake stands from the sweet Linda at Life and Linda. It arrived on my doorstep this past week.  I can see using this for so many things and for many tea parties.  Thank you, Linda!!  My friend Debbie at Mountain Breaths was also a winner, and she suggested that I make some little heart cookies for my anniversary. I thought that was a great idea.

 My friend Lynn at Happier Than A Pig In Mud had made some cute tie-dyed spritz cookies recently, and I had been wanting to try them.  Lynn showed how to form the balls of dough and place them in the cylinder of the cookie press. I colored mine to match my dishes. On my third round of filing my cylinder, my cookie press broke, and I had to slide the rest of the dough out and did slice and bake.  They still turned out really pretty.

Yield: 5-6 dozen

Author: Kitty, but adapted from the Mirro recipe booklet

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Quick Mix Spritz

To make the tie-dye look, divide your dough to the colors that you want to use. I like Lynn, used gel colors, and I think they turned out pretty.

Ingredients:

• 2 and 1/4 cups sifted flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup shortening (I used butter flavored)
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (my addition, but optional)

Instructions:

1. Sift flour, sugar, salt and baking powder together in a bowl. (I use a whisk to do this , instead of sifting.)
2. With a pastry blender or two knives, cut the shortening into the dry ingredients until the mixture is full of very fine lumps.
3. Measure the egg into a measuring cup.  A large egg will measure 1/4 cup.  If it does not,add water to the 1/4 cup line.
4. Add the egg, vanilla and almond extract, if using, and beat the mixture very well.
5. Fill press.  Form cookies on very cold, ungreased cookie sheet. (See Note)
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
7. Remove at once to cooling racks. 

Notes:

Put your cookie sheets in the freezer before making spritz cookies. They seem to adhere better, and never press the cookies onto warm or hot cookie sheets.

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Sparkling Spice Spritz Cookies

 Here's one more Christmas treat to make, if you have the time.  I'm hoping that Lynn, from Happier Than A Pig In Mud  will try these sometime.  Lynn is the Queen of Spritz (and also Deviled Eggs, crafts, and always good recipes!).

 This is probably my favorite Christmas plate, which is by Johnson Brothers, and the pattern is Merry Christmas.  I just love the old fashioned look of it. 

 The teacup has this pretty Christmas tree inside. 

 I love these vintage salt and pepper shakers that belonged to my late beloved mom.  Don't they have the sweetest faces?

 Harper decorated this tree for me with the little cooking utensils that my daughter bought me years ago. 

 Cissy performed in a Christmas program that we so enjoyed.  She's the one on top!

 Here is my daughter and I with our little star.

 Harper also performed in a Christmas program, where she was the Innkeeper, and sang so many sweet Christmas songs with her class.  I'm so blessed to be able to attend these wonderful events.  That's Hayden on the left, with me, my daughter-in-law, Harper, and my youngest son.  

 

 Merry Christmas to all of you!  

Author: King Arthur Flour, and made by Kitty

Sparkling Spice Spritz Cookies

Even though there are a lot of spices in these cookies, they are not overly spicy. I freeze my cookie sheets when making spritz because it makes it easier for the dough to stick.

ingredients:

• 16 tablespoons  soft unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup  sugar
• 1/2 cup soft cream cheese
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice or ground clove
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• coarse sparkling sugar, for decorating

instructions:

How to cook Sparkling Spice Spritz Cookies

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Get out two cookie sheets; they don't need to be greased.  Chill the cookie sheets as you make the dough.
2. Cream together the butter, sugar, cream cheese, salt, vanilla, and spices.
3. Beat in the egg yolk, then stir in the flour.
4. Pipe the cookies onto the chilled cookie sheets.
5. Or drop the dough by the teaspoonful onto the baking sheets; a teaspoon cookie scoop works well here.
6. Top with colored sugar, if desired.
7. Bake the cookies for 10 to 16 minutes, until they're brown around the edges.  (Mine were done around 10 minutes).
8. Remove the cookies from the oven, and let them rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to racks to cool. Be sure to move the cookies to a rack before they're totally cool, as otherwise they may stick to the pan.

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Springtime Butterscotch Spritz Cookies

 We had some beautiful Springtime weather here in Texas, before it turned chilly over the weekend. The lady bunny was one that my late beloved Mom gave me, and the teapot was a gift from my sister. 

 Really and truly, I tried to resist this adorable bunny teacup from hopping into my hands at HomeGoods, but I got weak, and couldn't refuse!  I know, I know, I need another teacup like I need a hole in the head!!

 I followed Mary's instructions at Home Is Where The Boat Is and did the vase within a vase method of arranging flowers, putting the peeps on the inside of the outer vase.  Mary is a friend that always so willingly shares her tutorials with us, and has such amazing, inspiring ideas. 

 

 Cissy was able to come over and bake this past week, and she brought her cookie press that I gave her,  and we made Springtime Butterscotch Spritz cookies, from my friend Lynn's recipe, which can be found here.  Lynn always has something great cooking up in her kitchen and I always refer to her as The Queen of Spritz, and the Queen of Deviled Eggs.   Cissy and I tried a method of using a small funnel to sprinkle the colored sugar into the center of the glazed cookies.

I am leaving on a vacation with two of my high school girlfriends in a week, and won't be able to post or visit for awhile,   I'll be thinking of you!

Yield: We didn't count!Author: Made by Cissy and Kitty, from Lynn at http://happierthanapiginmud.blogspot.com/

Butterscotch Spritz Cookies

These cookies have a delightful flavor!

ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 4 serving size box of instant Butterscotch Pudding
• 1/4 C brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 and 1/4 cup flour
• powdered sugar glaze for brushing onto baked cookies
• colored sugar for decoration

instructions:

1. Beat butter, vanilla, pudding, brown sugar and egg well.
2. Mix in flour.
3. Fill cookie press, form cookies on cool, ungreased cookie sheets.
4. Bake at 375 degrees 10 minutes turning tray at 5 minutes or until lightly browned at edges.
5. Allow to cool on baking sheet a minute, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
6. Make a powdered sugar glaze by mixing powdered sugar and water until it's runny enough to spread onto cooled cookies.  While the icing is still wet, sprinkle the colored sugar into the cookies before the glaze dries and hardens.

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I was able to go to my grandson, Caiden's tennis match, this past week. 

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Mardi Gras Spritz Cookies

 My friend Lynn over at Happier Than A Pig In Mud recently shared some quick and easy Mardi Gras Monkey Bread, and I thought that I'd make some Mardi Gras Spritz to join in on the fun.

 It's really been record breaking cold here in the Dallas, Texas area, so we are going to enjoy some tea and cookies by the fire.  I find any excuse to use fairy lights for a little sparkle.  Aldi has flowers so expensively and I thought this bunch looked pretty for my cookies.

One of my favorite Spritz cookies, which are melt-in-your-mouth wonderful, can be found here. The only thing that I did differently was adding 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon to the recipe, which added a hint of spice.  I thought the disk shape looked like mini King Cakes, which are famous cakes baked before Mardi Gras.  I had never heard of them before moving to Texas.   On some of the cookies, I sprinkled the sugars before baking them.  On the other half, I baked them plain, and then made a simple powdered sugar glaze, and then sprinkled the sugars on.   You can choose which one you'd like. I think they both turned out pretty.

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White Chocolate Spritz Shamrocks

My granddaughter, Cissy, and I got a head start on some St. Patrick's Day baking.  Let's have some Shamrock Spritz cookies with a cup of Irish Tea, shall we?  We can look at my book on Ireland and admire the pretty flowers that I received for my birthday, which was at the last weekend in February.  The mini daffodil was planted in a sweet little teacup, from my friend, Bea, and the bouquet came from my friends, Joy and Rodger. 

I always love using this teapot that I found for $1.50, which says County Cork, Ireland on the bottom, where my paternal great grandmother was from. 

It's always nice to bring out this Belleek teacup during the month of March.  

 These sweet granddaughters, Avery and Ella came over to visit in the morning, along with my son, Tim, to celebrate my birthday. 

 The rest of my family came over in the evening to celebrate.  Riley is on the left, then Connor, me holding Hayden, Cissy, Caiden, and Harper being held by my son, Kevin.  My daughter, Molly,  made the fabulous Salted Caramel Brownie Trifle.  It was a big hit!!  My son, Mike, who lives here with me said the next day, "Mom, that party so much fun.  It was like a holiday!"  It really was, and I am counting the blessings in my life. 

My daughter blew up all these balloons and had my family members write notes ahead of time, and then she placed them inside before tying the balloons closed.  The kids took turns popping them and then I read the touching comments.  We laughed, cried, and had the absolute best time.  I saved all the notes, and Cissy later told me that if I'm ever sad, that I should just pick out one and read it. 

Author: Kitty- taken from Lynn, at http://happierthanapiginmud.blogspot.com/Pin it

White Chocolate Spritz

Cissy and I liked using this dough for the Shamrock Spritz cookies. I would advise making sure that you use a room temperature egg, or put an egg in a bowl of warm water for about 5 minutes, to bring it to room temperature.  If the egg is cold, the melted white chocolate will harden and make it hard to get the designs out of the disc (not that I would know about this!).

ingredients:

2 ounces white chocolate baking bar (or 2 ounces of white chocolate chips)
3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla
2  and 1/2 cups flour

instructions:

1. Melt white chocolate in microwave, stir and set aside.
2. Beat butter, sugar and salt until creamy.
3. Add egg and vanilla, mix.
4. Add melted chocolate, mix.
5. Gradually add in flour, mix until just incorporated.
6. Place dough in cookie press.
7. Press onto  cold, ungreased,  and NOT non-stick baking sheets.  Sprinkle with colored sprinkles.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes (I usually start checking around 8-9 minutes).
9. Cool on wire rack.

http://www.kittyskozykitchen.com/2018/03/white-chocolate-spritz-shamrocks.html

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