Monday, February 23, 2009

Free Sub at Quizno's

Here is a link to get a coupon for a free sub at Quizno's. They are giving away one million sub sandwiches, but they are sure to run out fast. As far as I can tell, it is one coupon per person (or e-mail address) so you should be able to print one out for the whole family if you have enough e-mail addresses to send them to. Enjoy!!

Also our local Fairlea K-mart is doing double coupons again this week up to and including a $2 value. Check your local K-mart to see if they are participating as well. Let me know if you need any pointers, I'd be happy to help. Have a wonderful day!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Lovebug Cookies


I saw these cookies on Martha Stewart's website and thought they were the cutest thing ever. I don't have a lady bug cookie cutter, but thought I'd pass on the idea to everyone. I did make the cookie dough today and just cut out hearts and they turned out great. I have some more dough left, so I might try to free hand a couple lovebugs and see how they turn out. (I used canned frosting instead of making royal icing.) The chocolate cookie is a fun change from doing sugar cookies. Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's weekend. XOXO
(Makes about 1 1/2 dozen)

* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
* 1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
* 1 large egg, lightly beaten
* 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Sift flour, cocoa powder, salt and cinnamon into a bowl.
2. Place butter and confectioners' sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Gradually mix in flour mixture. Turn dough out onto a baking sheet lined with a nonstick baking mat. Form dough into a disk on baking mat and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
3. Lift baking mat from baking sheet. Roll out dough between baking mat and plastic wrap to 1/4 inch thick. Remove plastic wrap. Cut out cookies with a 3 1/2-inch lady-bug-shaped cookie cutter. Transfer baking mat to a baking sheet. Transfer baking sheet to freezer, freeze until very firm, about 15 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove baking sheet from freezer and trim scraps. Reroll scraps between a nonstick baking mat and plastic wrap and repeat process.
5. Bake cookies until crisp, about 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks. Cookies can be stored between layers of parchment in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

Royal Icing:

Ingredients
(Makes about 5 cups)
* 1/2 cup meringue powder
* 8 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions:

1. Using a hand mixer with the beater attachments, beat together meringue powder with 1 cup water until peaks form. Add sugar and continue mixing until smooth. If mixture seems too thick, add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and mix until desired consistency is reached. If mixture seems too thin, add confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.