Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 Tablespoons brandy
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Cream butter and sugar together. Sift together dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients slowly to butter mixture and mix well. Add egg, brandy, and vanilla. Chill dough at least one hour in refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Roll dough 1/8 inch thick and cut into shapes with cookie cutters.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges slightly golden.

Cool completely before decorating.

{Shiny Cookie Icing recipe can be found here.}

Shiny Cookie Icing

2 cups powdered sugar
4 teaspoons milk
4 teaspoons light corn syrup

Place sugar, milk and corn syrup in bowl and mix thoroughly. Use as is for outlining. Thin with additional corn syrup for coating or filling large areas.

Butter Cream Frosting

1/2 cup butter
1 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons milk

Beat butter, shortening and vanilla until creamy. Add one cup powdered sugar and mix. Add 1 T milk and mix. Keep alternating sugar and milk until all is mixed.

Super Bowl Cupcakes

1 package chocolate cake mix
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips

Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Line cupcake pans (foil liners make moister cupcakes). Fill cupcake liners 1/2 to 3/4 full.

Mix cream cheese and sugar until blended. Beat in egg and salt. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop 1 rounded teaspoon of cream cheese mixture into each cupcake. Bake according to package directions. No need to frost. Makes 24 cupcakes.

{After baking these look like a plain chocolate cupcake- but after taking a bite you find the surprise cream cheese center.}

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 t vanilla
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
3 cups flour
12 oz. chocolate chips

Mix sugar, brown sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla in mixer bowl.
Gradually add baking soda, salt, and flour. Stir in chocolate chips.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Spaghetti Sauce

For the sauce:
1- 32 oz can whole tomatoes
2- 32 oz cans tomato sauce
1 -12 oz can tomato paste
4 T parsley
2 T onion flakes
1 T oregano
3 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound mild italian sausage (either ground or links)

For the meatballs:
2 punds ground beef
2 eggs
1 cup oatmeal
2 T parsley
1 T onion flakes
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 t garlic salt

Combine all sauce ingredients in a large pot. Brown italian sausage and add to sauce.
Combine all meatball ingredients and form into 1-2 inch size meatballs. Place on greased baking sheet and cook in oven at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes. (Meatballs will continue to cook in sauce.) Add meatballs to sauce and simmer for 3 hours or more.

Super Easy Cherry Cheesecake

1 graham cracker crust
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 can of condensed milk
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 can cherry pie filling

Mix cream cheese, condensed milk, lemon juice and vanilla. Pour into prepared graham cracker crust. Top with cherry pie filling. Refrigerate several hours before serving.