Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

:) Okay, so can you tell I'm just so glad to have a kitchen again?

A good friend came over today - all the kids had a playdate and we hung out in my new favorite spot in the house....our own Cafe! LOL :D

Well, while chatting, I decided to whip up a batch of cookies for all the kids, but, I didnt' have a recipe and I decided to just "wing it"...well, these are what I came up
with and they are yummy!!!

Kind of a cookie, kind of like the top of a cupcake! And OH SO DELICIOUS!

NOT FAT FREE, though.......felt the need to warn you!!!!

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

4 oz butter, softenend
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

2 cups favorite gluten-flour blend (I used Land O Lakes)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375.


Cream together cream cheese, butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add 2 eggs, 1 at a time and continue to beat. Add vanilla. Stop mixer after well incorporated.

Sift together GF Flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Slowly add flour mixture to cream cheese mixture (on low speed so as not to cover yourself in flour!) and continue to mix until all incorporated and smooth.

Drop by tablespoons on a parchment paper covered (or greased) cookie sheet. Leave room for spreading!!!

Lightly sprinkle a little sugar on top of each mound of dough.

Bake for about 10 minutes until a light golden brown, and "crackly" looking.

Allow to sit on cookie sheet for one minute, then remove to cooling rack.

Frost if desired.....I did!


Frosting

4 oz cream cheese
4 oz butter
2 cups confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp - 1 tbs milk

Cream together cream cheese and butter, add confectioners sugar - 1 cup at a time until well combined....add vanilla and continue beating. Add milk 1 tsp at a time to desired consistency.

Frost cooled cookies.

Kitchen....

So....here' ya go!!! Check out these pix! :D

There's still a few things to finish...and the pass-thru pic didn't turn out well, so I'll retake that in daylight when you can see it better! :D

Let me know your thoughts...

A view thru the pass-thru:


Main work area:


The "Beverage" Wall:


My "dessert" island:

I'm Baaaaack!!! Sweet Balsamic Onion Chicken Legs

Okay, so I know I owe you pictures of my kitchen. It is not quite Done/done...it's functional, but there are a few cosmetic touches I want finished before I post pix...they will be forthcoming I promise.

As of 7:00 p.m. Friday May 9th, it was functional! YAY!!! I actually cried when we tested the water in the sink. I think I missed my sink more than anything else!

It does look beautiful, I am sorry you will need to be patient.

I've been busy cooking away in my new kitchen, and enjoying it! I cooked a fajita feast in it on Saturday night. Monday, my eldest and I made Peanut Butter chocolate chip cookies (I'll post soon, promise!), I cooked chili on Monday night for Dinner. Rest has been sort of standard fare for a few days.

Tonight I tried a new recipe...I hope that you like it.

Sweet Balsamic Onion Chicken Legs

4 Whole Chicken Legs (about 2 lbs), cut drumsticks from thighs
Season Salt (make sure gluten free brand!)
2 tbs olive oil
1/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
1 cup Chicken Broth (I used Herbox and water)
1/2 large onion, cut in thin strips
1/4 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350.

Heat olive oil over medium high heat until pan is hot. Place drumsticks and thighs - skin side down and cook for 5 minutes until skin is cripy and brown. Flip and cook about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to oven save baking dish.

Place in oven.

While chicken is baking add onions and saute 1 minute, add balsamic vinegar, chicken broth, and brown sugar. Mix well and cook until reduced by about half.

Spoon over baking chicken.

Continue to bake chicken until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.

Serve over rice, if desired!