April 05, 2011

Sunshine Lady


Good morning, world!  The sun is shining here today and I have a batch of Lemon Drop cookies on my counter.  They are almost as bright as the sunshine.


Oh, how I love the Springtime.  Rainy days and all.  If only I could get the damn bunnies to stop eating all of my tulips that are trying their hardest to make an appearance.  Seriously!  Does anyone else have a bunny issue?


When we had our house built, it was a brand spanking new subdivision.  We didn't see any sort of creature for years.  I had the most beautiful Petunia landscape anyone could ask for.  Now, we have been discovered.  I haven't been able to grow Petunias in years!  As soon as I plant them, I walk away, turn around to enjoy the fruits of my labor and lo and behold there's a bunny happily eating away at the "salad bar".


We have chased, trapped, stoned, shot, and many other things PETA would be unhappy to know about.  Yet, nothing seems to work.  We planted a garden last year and it looks like a prison with the fencing I had to put around it.  It worked though, they weren't able to get in.  I'm sure they will figure out a way this year though.  They seem to be on the up and up. 

Lemon Drop Sugar Cookies
Yield: about 12 cookies

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup sanding sugar, for rolling
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoons pure lemon extract
Instructions:
  1. Set the oven rack in the middle position.  Preheat to 350.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.  Place the sanding sugar in a bowl; set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder; set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, and salt on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl halfway through.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.  Beat in the lemon zest and extract.
  4. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients, beating until the flour is absorbed.  Use a 1/4 cup (2-inch wide) ice cream scoop to scoop out the dough and quickly roll into balls between your hands (the dough will be a little sticky but you shouldn't need flour).  Roll the balls in the sanding sugar to coat, and place about 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
  5. Bake one sheet at a time, until the cookies are set but not browned, slightly cracked on the top, and still soft in the center, 12 to 15 minutes
  6. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooking rack for 10 minutes.  Use a spatula to transfer the cookies to the rack and let cool completely (if you are able).
Adapted from:  The Sono Baking Company Cookbook

These don't last long and they are addicting!  Trust me, I brought these to bed and my hubby indulged a little.


~ Enjoy!

9 comments:

  1. Hi there. Your cookies really look like specs of sunshine. About those rabbits ... but they're so cute ... with their little white bob tails. I know what you mean though ... we have all sorts of wildlife, did I ever mention those gophers ... (they pull entire tomato plants down, all that is left is a hole! This year we have put netting around the planting area that we hope will even keep out rats ... the birds can still come in though ... it's a constant battle growing things ... like those cherries which you leave on the tree until they are "just right", then you go an pick them and find that the birds feasted on them before you! But the little bunnies, they're the only wildlife I don't mind nibbling at my salad .... they are so cute... I'll try to dig up some photos I took last year. If all you have is rabbits a little bit of netting should keep them out.

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  2. Hi Dee! I just bought a bag of lemons from Costco - this could be a perfect recipe to try. I have never used sanding sugar. Can I get it in regular supermarket (sorry if this is really basic baking ingredients..I'm not too familiar)? We live right next to a canyon so we have deer eating all the plants. Now we gave up and planted ugly cactus. Either cage or no plants at all...

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  3. Anonymous5.4.11

    the bunny problem does seem like it causes lots of trouble, my grandma had the bunny problem too, thats until she discovered a snake in her garden then bunnies were the least of her worries lol. the cookies really do resemble sunshine, they look wonderful! =]

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  4. Gorgeous cookies, like a ray of sunshine on the cooking rack.

    Ref the rabbits, don't know if you can get 'Liquid Fence' - there is a rabbit repellant in the range.

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  5. I have never heard of a "liquid fence". I have use deer urine but I had to spray it every time it rained. It rained a lot that year! I have heard they don't ear Marigolds. Maybe I'll just have to plant Marigolds. Thank God it's not snakes!

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  6. Great pics. These look awesome!

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  7. They look great!

    I don't have bunny issues, but squirrels are my nemesis. I HATE them! They eat everything I grow, every year. Ugh.

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  8. Lauren, I know what you mean. I have a problem with the squirrels eating all of my tulip bulbs. Grrr!

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