"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Frugal.....yet, sweet simplicity

Living away from town, I always try to make sure to keep the pantry stocked with the basic items needed for cooking. To go into town is a 60 mile round trip and an expensive tank of gas. So I don't jump into the car every day, if I am out of something I need............unless it's an emergency.
Today I decided to make sugar cookies. However, I didn't have sugar cookie sprinkles. So I made do. I first brushed a light frosting of powdered sugar mixed with milk onto the tops of the cookie.
Then I took 4 bowls and placed about 1/4 cup granulated sugar into each one. I then poured food coloring into each bowl and tossed around the sugar with a fork until the sugar was colored.

Although, they are not the fanciest cookies one has ever seen,


they are pretty and tasty enough to keep the" natives" happy around here. If you are looking for a wonderful crispy, tasty, sugar cookie recipe...just hop over to My Country Kitchen cooking blog...http://countrykitchenkat.blogspot.com where I have a wonderful recipe to share.
Now.......what do you make do with when you are out of something?? I would love to hear!




28 comments:

DayPhoto said...

Your cookies turned out just perfect!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

Chris said...

Farm girl ingenuity! Living "way outside" of town may have its challenges, but looking at those cookies, I'd say the blessings are many! I love it!

Chris

Anonymous said...

What yummy looking cookies Kathleen. I only make cornbread occasionally & it seems I never have buttermilk - so I make do with lemon juice and milk!

Kelly said...

I think the cookies are beauiful. Anything homemade is wonderful. We are in the same prediciment with living away from town. Thank goodness for the general store down the street. They do their shopping at Walmart. It says so right on the bag of flour. LOL
Kelly

Nancy M. said...

What a smart thing to do! I wouldn't have thought of that! Thanks for the sugar cookie recipe, I am supposed to make them in a few days.

TxFarmhouse said...

I think your cookies look more inviting than a "typical" cookie. I love homemade. Now...I've got to check out your cooking blog..I did not know!

Julie Harward said...

MY MOTHER ALWAYS SAID THAT..NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION..AND IT IS. VERY CUTE COOKIES! come say hi :D

Flower said...

The cookies are beautiful and what a good idea for making colored sugar!! I'm sure you enjoy your country life...it's a good one!!

Connie said...

Kathleen, I think your cookies are very pretty! And I bet they are delicous too! :)

Laura Frantz said...

Kathleen, I can tell you're an artist at heart as even your ordinary stuff like making cookies looks beautiful!

Jody Blue said...

Invention is the mother of necessity!
My Sister in law has a marble rolling pin, says it works great, maybe I should put that on my list;)

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

I think they look great! And they look mighty tasty, too. Yum!

Debbie said...

I didn't know you could color sugar with food coloring! That's a good idea. Your cookies look very good. I'll bet the natives like them a lot!
Debbie

Vickie said...

Kathleen, I love your cookies. They are very colorful and I think they look better than store-bought sprinkles. They're REAL. Good job!

I'm sure I make do with things, but right now, I'm a little brain dead and I can't think. Maybe later!

Ta-ta!

nancy huggins said...

I am mostly a fan of Chocolate chip cookies but I must say your sugar cookies made my mouth water. My oven isn't the best so I don't make cookies very often any more. If you lived closer I would be at your door for sure :)

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Hello Kathleen,

The cookies turned out really pretty...I don't cook the way I used to since it's just Thomas and I and he's gone so much right now. But I do enjoy reading the recipes of what you and others are baking. :0)

Thanks so much for visiting me! I seem to loose track of the days lately..where does the time go. :0)

Hugs,
Stephanie

KathyB. said...

What a good idea! I will be trying this! I actually find I enjoy doing without sometimes because it does cause me to be more creative and use what I already have.

Lanny said...

Those are awesome!

Not as far out of town as you but it is a major nuisance to be out of stuff, a "quick" trip to town can quickly burn up the better part of a day, enthusiasm and energy to boot. But if I find out before one o'clock that I need something, and it is not too difficult an item to explain to my husband or can be found at the stores right around where he works, then I have my save for the day. As long as I didn't need to have it before twoish that is.

Linda said...

Kathleen, your cookies looks so pretty...I especially like the trees, they remind me of a stained glass window. I bet they taste as good as thy look...hugs, Linda

The imPerfect Housewife said...

You're awesome - those look GREAT!! The more colorful the better in my book! Hope you're doing well ~ ♥

papel1 said...

Cookies make me think of Christmas time. I love the idea of the 4 bowls of colored sugar. Merry Christmas.
Judy

Together We Save said...

I think these look wonderful.

Paula said...

Mmmm- those look so good, Kathleen! I know what you mean about living so far from the store.. It's good to have fresh eggs because you'll always have something to eat.. if things are running low in the pantry (which it usually does right before Hubby gets paid), we usually have breakfast for supper.

grammy said...

Those look absolutely delightful. How fun (o:

Terry said...

Howdy
Merry Christams to you and yours.
This was my first visit to your fabulous blog !
I had such an awesome time .
Thank you for sharing the cookies they brought back so many sweet memories.
May your cup overflow this week and all thru the rest of the Christmas season may you find many miracles filling your days with joy.
Looking forward to visiting again soon.
Hugs
Happy Trails

Gingerbreadshouse7 said...

Kathleen, the store didn't have anything as nice as what you substitued...and it was your own..your cookies look so good! bet they tasted good too :o)..
Necessity is always the mother of invention ...Ginny

Wish on a Whisker said...

Love your pretty sugar cookies! I still need to make some. Happy Holidays! ~Mandy

Conni said...

Those cookies look great! I'm heading right over to your cooking blog for the recipe!