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The BEST sugar cookie recipe 35 years in the making

12/13/2020

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Margie Davis Fields putting the special touches on the 35 year young sugar cookie recipe. 
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As the sugar cookies are decorated, the frosting is setting before the next step in the process. Colors may be added to the buttercream frosting. Sprinkles will top-off the holiday treat. 
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Fields' granddaughter loves to bake. Like her grandmother, Gracie loves to bake cookies. Fields can take it easy tonight while the little baker takes over the kitchen. 
Recipes that are passed down from generation to generation are truly special. Margie Davis Fields is a home cook that really embraces nostalgia, family, and simpler times. Don't be fooled, she has a very sophisticated palate and can create some of the most delicious bites.

Fields' love of cooking/baking came from her mom, Roxie Davis who was a 'true' home cook in every sense of the word. Ms. Roxie could whip together some of the most flavorful food in her little country kitchen with the red and white checkered floor and the antique black and white stove. The aroma and the savory bites could make a 'top chef' take notice. Much of Fields' skills and techniques came from holiday cooking with her mom in that little country kitchen. Some of her recipes are original recipes from Ms. Roxie, others are enhanced versions, and some are Fields' original recipes. 

The torch passed from Ms. Roxie to Fields, and now to her granddaughter Gracie is incredibly special. It's the joy of cooking that any grandmother would love to share with their grandkids. I really appreciate Marge sharing this recipe with me and the readers of WKY Community Living. 
Fields said, "Best sugar cookies ever! I promise".

Sugar Cookie dough
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1/2 tsp. almond extract
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 cups All-purpose flour

Two kinds of frosting:
Buttercream Frosting
1/2 cup soft butter
3 - 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 - 4 Tbs. heavy cream

Frosting #2
Royal Icing
4 cups sifted powdered sugar
2 Tbs. meringue powder
1/4 almond abstract
5 Tbs. water

Directions for the Sugar Cookie:
Cream the unsalted butter and the sugar. Add the vanilla, almond abstract and egg.  In a separate bowl, mix the baking powder, salt and flour. Next, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture (small amounts at a time). The dough will get stiff.  Wet your hands a bit to divide dough into batches on floured surface.  Roll out and cut cookies about 1/4 inch thick. Bake in preheated 350 oven for 6-8 mins until edges are barely golden. Cool before moving to decorate!

Directions for the Buttercream frosting:
To the soft butter, add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time. After all the sugar is incorporated, add the vanilla and heavy cream. Consistency is important here. The idea is to be able to spread onto the sugar cookie (not too stiff but not too soft). You may need to adjust your portions, possibly less milk or more powdered sugar. Color can be added to the buttercream. After applying the frosting add sprinkles.

Directions for Royal Icing:
Mix together the powdered sugar, meringue powder, almond, and water. More water may be added if it needs thinning out. Use this frosting to outline the cookies, spread over the entire cookie, it's very flexible. Add your sprinkles and let sit to harden. 
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Simple, elegant Napoleon cake by chef Laura for small family gatherings this holiday season

11/15/2020

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A simple meringue takes minutes to make and bake.
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The layers of the cake add to the layers of flavor in each bite. 
Chef Laura has prepared a simple and elegant dessert using puff pastry, custard, caramel sauce, and meringue. This particular recipe may be dressed up with berries, chocolate shavings, or any topping for additional flavors and aesthetics. 

Finding new recipes to add to our bag of treats will please the family, ourselves, and beat the winter blues. For this particular dessert, a little goes a long way. Serve with coffee or a port. 
​

Napoleon Cake
1 or 2 packs of puff pastry Pepperidge Farm
(depends on the desired number of layers)
Box of vanilla pudding mix
Dulce de Leche (Nestle's)

Meringue
Three egg whites (room temperature)
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 cup granulated sugar

Directions:
Begin by thawing the puff pastry. After a quick thaw, apply a rolling pin to the pastry to increase the size. Place the puff pastry on a baking sheet and bake each layer, you can also use a baking sheet with parchment paper. Make holes w a fork to the pastry so it doesn’t 'puff' too much. Cook each sheet at 400 F for 12-15 min. When ready let them cool on a rack.

Next, fill the layers with a vanilla custard that you can make or a box of vanilla pudding and alternate with Dulce de Leche (Nestle brand) .

For the topping there are several possibilities: Make a simple merengue (recipe to follow), decorate with confectioners sugar and lemon juice frosting or use a good whipped cream. Top with strawberries to finish. Cool in the fridge for 30 minutes and  enjoy!


Basic Meringue:
Preheat of to 425 degrees. 

Beat egg whites in medium bowl with electric mixer until frothy. Add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tbsp. at a time, until sugar is dissolved and there are stiff peaks. 
Pipe dollops of meringue onto the pie
Bake 4 - 5 minutes until the tips are lightly brown


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    Written by​

    Liz Latta
    ​Editor

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