Tag: gift

Challenge #2 – Bake (or Cook) for Someone!

A thoughtful gesture can go a long way in brightening someone’s day and boosting their positivity.

My mom used to bake cookies and cook meals for her friends and people at church all the time when I was little. During Christmas time, she made mountains of Jubilee Jumbles (a top secret family recipe) for anyone lucky enough to cross her path during the holiday season. Whenever Valentine’s Day rolled around, she spent hours rolling out dozens and dozens of heart-shaped sugar cookies and topping them with mouth-watering pink icing. If someone she knew of became ill or injured at any time, she graciously made the whole family a delicious home-cooked meal.

What did I learn from this? A thoughtful gesture can go a long way in brightening someone’s day and boosting their positivity. In the past several years, I have tried to emulate my mom by baking cookies and other treats for friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. Not only does it bring a huge smile to their faces, it makes me feel good too.

So that brings me to Challenge #2…

CHALLENGE #2 –  Bake someone cookies or cook a nice meal and deliver it to them this holiday season. 

It will make them feel loved and appreciated, and seeing their reaction will surely satisfy your soul. It’ll especially be impactful if you do it for someone who could really benefit from the thoughtful gesture. In case you want it, I’m including my mom’s sugar cookie and buttercream icing recipe below that I use every year. If you have any recipes or stories you’d like to share, please share them in the comments or send me a message!

Until next time, happy holidays and happy living!

=) Mary

Sugar Cookie Recipe:

Mix (with a hand mixer or stand mixer): 

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
  • 2 sticks (1 cup) softened margarine
Add:
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cream of tartar
Add:
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.
Using just part of it at a time, roll out dough to 1/8 or 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface.  Be sure to add flour to surface and rolling pin.  Cut into shapes.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 7-8 minutes or until light brown.  Making thinner cookies and cooking them longer makes them crispier.
When they are cooled, use the buttercream icing recipe below. I like to add green food coloring to make them extra festive.

Buttercream Icing Recipe:

  1. Cream 8 tablespoons (1 stick) of softened margarine or butter using a hand mixer or a stand mixer.
  2. Add 2 cups of confectioner’s sugar, 1/2 cup at a time so you don’t make a huge mess.
  3. Add 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla and a pinch of salt to the mixture.
  4. Add 2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons of milk to the mixture.

***Add confectioner’s sugar and milk until desired consistency/texture.

ENJOY!!!!