Sassy Living with Caryn

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Paula, Cookies and Love

Congratulations

Wendi S.

You are the lucky winner of the Paula Deen Prize Pack!

 

About year and a half ago my life changed dramatically. You know the story. Mom, couch, dreaming, cream cheese, Savannah, food host and the rest is history. I could not have done those things without two things. Paula Deen and the encouragement of my husband.


Paula Deen was my cooking idol because she was a Mom on tv I could connect with. She cooked out of love and happiness. I do the same. So, when I got the opportunity to meet her and then work with her I was over the moon. Not only was she the most beautiful gal she was kind and gentle. Very very gentle with us gals and ever encouraging. She invited us into her personal home and made us feel welcome. I got to see up close that she is 1st a mother, wife and grandmother. She is a woman VERY dedicated to her family and friends. Her home was filled with pictures of her family. No matter what you say about her love for butter no one can deny that she loves BIG! I will forever appreciate her encouragement and being my mentor. So, with all of that sweetness being said….Ms. Paula is THE SASSIEST THING EVER!

Paula Deen Holiday Giveaway

Here are my favorite things of Paula’s that are included:

Paula’s New Book:

 Wooden Salt Box:

To Enter to win:

  • Tell me what is your favorite Paula Deen Recipe in the comment section of this post.
  • Become a Facebook friend of Paula’s!
  • Follow Paula on Twitter.

I love when I can bake my Mom’s sugar cookies. I have made them every year and I even used this same recipe to feed my children when they were teething. Perfect cookies. I miss my Mom all the time but there is nothing like using her rolling pin and to think back to those times we would decorate the cookies. She made every color of frosting and had an amazing amount of toppings. Good times and even better memories. I now do this every year. When the kids were little I would have their friends over and we would make them all together. Now we just fit this in between sports practices and activities. Time is crucial and I promise you need to take the time to schedule! You only get one of these Christmas’s when your kids are 12 and 9. So, do it! I wish now I had taken more time to spend with my Mom. To stop and just do something with her. All the rest of this junk would wait. So here is her recipe!

Fran’s Sugar Cookies

1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temperature

1 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla or vanilla paste

1/2 tsp. lemon extract

2 1/2 c. all purpose flour

3 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

Cream together the butter and sugar till fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, and beat into butter mixture. Add in vanilla and lemon extract. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add flour mixture to butter, and mix till dough comes together. Divide dough into 2 portions. Flatten into a disc, and place in fridge for one hour.

To roll out: Lightly flour space and then place disc on flour and roll till about 1/4-inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out. Place on parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Return leftover dough to refrigerator till ready to roll again. (This keeps them from spreading while baking.)

Bake cookies in a 350-degree oven for about 10 minutes. The time may differ depending on the size of your cookie. The best way to tell doneness is to bake until edges are light brown. Cool completely, and then decorate!

 

 


Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 1

    I love Paula Deen! My youngest daughters friends call me Miss Deen (since we share a first name and I love to cook out of her books!). My favorite recipe of her’s is her Chicken Wing recipe. I am already a facebook friend of her’s! Thanks for the giveaway! Paula

  2. 2

    I love everything about Paula Deen!!! my favorite recipe of hers is in her lunch box set cookbook. Cheese Bread!!!!

  6. 6

    I do love Paula Deen, but mostly, I love having a friend that cooks like her that can fatten up my 13 year-old son that can’t stop talking about Ms. Caryn’s cooking! You are so very talented!!

  7. 7

    I love her gooey butter cake its awesome and tastes so good and wonderful , it can also be made in to cookies i have done that too!!!!

  8. 8

    My favorite Paula recipe is her Chessmen Banana Pudding! It is the best EVER!

    As for mom’s sugar cookies I remember them well. It always seemed like she baked 12 dozen of those cookies and we’d be frosting and decorating for days on end. I miss her so much.

  9. 9

    i have lots of favorite Paula recipes! I made a pepperoni pizza pasta bake from her magazine a few months ago and it was delicious!

  10. 10

    One of my favorite Paula Dean Recipe…Not Your Mama’s Banana Pudding. Easy to make and sooooooo good!!!