I'm smitten with Fall

It's true . . . I'm smitten. From the beautiful clear CRISP AIR in the mornings, WARM afternoons for riding bikes, LEAVES beginning to change into vibrant hues, DECORATING for fall with red, orange, yellow, green & brown- my house was inspired by the fall, wearing my favorite JEANS and t-shirt, the bright green GRASS that is no longer stressed by the summer heat, yummy SQUASH from my garden, the routine and SCHEDULE the new school year brings, the FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS of football season, FARM STANDS packed with pumpkins and gourds, and my own beautiful Cinderella PUMPKINS on the porch, sleeping with the window OPEN and listening to the CRICKETS, warm cozy SWEATERS, delicious and easy SOUP for dinner, and making a (huge) mess BAKING!!

Inspired by the fall we made these leaf shaped sugar cookies and shared them. Because as Kate & Annie remind me that is the best part of making treats.

A's Sugar Cookies:

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 t. vanilla

3 cups flour

1/2 t salt

1 t baking soda

cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, then vanilla, then gradually add flour salt and baking soda. Put the dough into a Ziploc bag and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.

Then roll out & cut into holiday shape of choice. I put my cookies on the pan in the fridge for 10-20 minutes before baking and it helps them to hold their shapes better. Then bake for 10 minutes at 350. cool completely before frosting.

Yummy butter cream frosting

1/2 cup butter softened

1t vanilla

1/4 t salt

1/3-1/2 cup EVAPORATED milk

4 cups powdered sugar

beat the butter until fluffy, add additional ingredients, alternate adding powdered sugar and milk until desired consistency, should be thin enough to spread so the frosting appears smooth on the top of the cookie. The frosting will harden slightly and you can used a pastry bag to pipe on additional decorations.