Chewy Sugar Cookies

I love sugar cookies. I always make the traditonal type with just a pinch of nutmeg and roll them out and frost them with buttercream icing. I came upon a recipe on Pinterest for Chewy Sugar Cookies that looked good.
I tried to upload a photo of them but I couldn't get it to work, it's from http://bakingaway.blogspot.ca/2009/10/chewy-sugar-cookies.html
Anyway, my cookies didn't look anything like theirs but they were soft pillows of perfection. I tried rolling the balls in plain sugar, then in coloured sugar to see how that worked. You could use red for Valentine's, green for St. Patricks day etc.

Chewy Sugar Cookies
I cup butter (softened)
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup sugar for rolling cookies

Preheat oven to 350F.
Beat together butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla.
Add dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and roll in sugar
Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let stand and remove to cool.

Christmas Centerpiece

I was given this beautiful fresh floral centerpiece for Christmas by a friend who knows how much I appreciate flowers and greenery in the house. The reason I'm posting it today is because it stayed fresh for over a month and I just dismantled it this morning. I think this arrangement was the reason I had more company over the holiday season so we could sit around the table and enjoy.
You can't really see the details but the bows are burlap and there is a lovely willow nest with a candle that can be used again. I guess this scrapbooking trend to use burlap has also made its way over to the florist world or vice versa.