Animal Crackers named Alfredo

So I stumbled across this blog Coconut and Lime and I found a recipe for these animal crackers dipped in chocolate, and I immediately thought about these super cool vintage cookie cutters that used to be my grandma's. So I followed the recipe, and refrigerated the dough, rolled it out, and then could not get the dough out of the cutters!!!! Um frustration!!!! so one came out, and the rest I just cut into squares... they do make AWESOME sugar cookies, but i have to figure out what I did wrong....

Ingredients:
for the cookies:
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
5 1/2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg, at room temperature

to decorate:
6 oz semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter
nonparils

animal shaped cookie cutters

Directions:
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until fluffy. Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, spices, salt and baking powder in a small bowl. While the beater is going, slowly incorporate the flour into the egg/butter mixture and mix until a thick dough forms. Place in a bowl, cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until it is quite cold and stiff. Flour a clean, flat surface. Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpats. Place the chilled dough on the flour and roll it out until it is about 1/4 of an inch thick. If the dough is too cold to successfully roll out, wait a few minutes then try again. Cut out into animal shapes. I do not suggest re-rolling the dough so try to cut out the cookies as close together as possible. Place each cookie onto the lined cookie sheets about 1/2 inch apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden. Cool on a wire rack. Meanwhile, in a small pan, melt the butter and chocolate chips together. Dip the bottom of the cooled cookies into the chocolate (carefully!) or brush the chocolate on to the bottoms to form a thin layer. Sprinkle with nonpareils if desired.

Yield: about 2 dozen cookies






































We redeemed the day by having The Olive Garden's Spinach Alfredo copycat recipe.... oh my. This is good, but not good for you. Probably you should make it before your New Year's resolutions kick into effect....


1 pint of Heavy Cream
1 stick of butter
1/2 - 3/4 C. Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. Garlic powder
handful of frozen spinach

In a saucepan melt butter. When butter is melted add other ingredients. Simmer this for 15 - 20 minutes on low. make sure you stire. You may wish to season with a little salt and pepper.


Playlist

Recipe for Love-Harry Connick Jr
Unforgettable-Nat King Cole
But for Now-Jamie Cullum
Taking a Chance on Love-Renee Olstead
Undiscovered-James Morrison
The Best is Yet to Come-Matt Dusk
Sophisticated Lady-James Darren
Just what I need-Wouter Hamel