Рецепт What are your EP's?
EP. Do you know what it is? Unless your familiar with Dr. John J. Pelizza, you may not know. I can tell you that I am very happy that I now know who Dr. Pelizza is and that I know what EP means! He is a motivational speaker and author that I had the opportunity to listen to last week and he is definitely great at his job. EP is what is most important to us (Emotional + Personal). Laser is what direction our EP's put us in. When you know your EP's and you are laser, you can be better!
What are my EP's? I bet most of you already know. My children. My husband. My entire family. My pets - especially Rotten Rudy Rutton! My friends. I also know that the next time someone asks me how I am doing my response is always going to be "better". Better means there is room for improvement - and I want to always improve! I am really thankful my work had the new hire orientation that they had for us. It was a very motivating and uplifitng experience. There wasn't a thing about the entire day that I didn't enjoy - and something else exciting about that day....that will help me to never forget? I got to watch Airforce One as it decended into the Albany airport - and then got to watch it ascend back into the skies. How cool that was for me, knowing our country leader was in that jet.
So why am I telling you all of this? Well, partly because I am still very motivated from Dr. Pelizza's talk and I don't want to lose it. The other part is because if you do what you love you will be better. I did what I loved today. I baked cookies. I then decorated them. I then photographed them. I am estatic because they turned out so gorgeous. So much so I almost don't want to eat them. But I will. :)
This post is also very EP to me because it is a recipe that my Aunt Marlene makes, and I love her ever oh so much. I love her cookies too! She sent me this recipe at Christmas time but I ended up not having time to make them. So this weekend I decided that making them would happen, and I would make heart cookies to share with you.
Its been a while since I've been so happy and so optimistic for our future. I also learned that I need to stop the worry. Worry is an energy drainer....and I need my energy! I have pretty much given up on that bakery of mine. However, I have some new goals set. I have some things I want to learn and I am going to put forth the effort to "laser" and succeed. I can blog. I can bake. I can share my food with friends, family, and co-workers. I can make friends. I can take a class. I can and will be (and stay) happy. The power of positive thinking. That is where I am at.
What are your EP's? What motivates you to move and go forward? What do you want to be better at?
I know I am going to use my Journal to Live By that was given to me by Dr. Pelizza - and I am going to be better! Bring it on!!
Now for the cookie......the recipe my Aunt Marlene sent me is for a very soft and tender cookie. It is from an Amish Cookbook that she has. They are called Holiday Cutouts. The instructions in the book were pretty vague and as my Aunt states, its a good things we know what to do! I will give you the instructions as I made the cookies. I halved the recipe - but will give you the full one. This makes a lot of cookies!
Holiday cutouts - now known by me as...
Valentine Cutouts
- 2 cups margarine (I used unsalted butter, softened)
- 3 cups sugar
- 5 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 cup boiling water
6 1/2 cups bread flour (I didn't have bread flour so I just used regular. Worked just fine. I may have used just a little less than what it called for too.)
1 teaspoon salt - I added this since I used unsalted butter.
Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and butter until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time and mix until bleneded. Add sour cream and blend.
In a separate bowl place flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt - stir to combine. Gradually add flour and alternate with water until all flour is incorporated. Chill 2-3 hours. Roll, cut, and bake @ 350 for approximately 7 minutes. Cool and decorate.
I used a tutorial from Our Best Bites for decorating with glace icing. This is the tutorial I found when I made and decorated my first glazed cookies - the Snowflake Cookies! I will always use the recipe and method on Sara & Kates blog because I think it is the best out there that doesn't incorporate merigune powder. It is really simple to decorate with glace...just a little tedious. But believe me, when your done and look at your artwork, you will be proud and it is all worth it!