Simple Sugar cookies

I love to bake. I think I got my love of baking from my mom. Every year at Christmas, she'd bake a HUGE assortment of the most delicious cookies.....but I don't have time for that, so I need to simplify my cookie baking! I scoured the internet for an easy sugar cookie recipe that doesn't involve rolling the dough. Below is the recipe I ended up with, and I must say, the cokies were great! Easy to make and even easier to eat!

2 1/2 C Flour
1 Tsp. Baking Powder
1 Tsp. Salt
1 C soft butter (I KNOW it's a LOT!)
1 1/4 C sugar (plus some for the tops)
1 large egg
1 Tsp. Vanilla

Cream the butter and the sugar together. Add the vanilla and egg and continue to mix. SIFT the flour and the baking powder. If you don't have a sifter, try using a colander with small(ish) holes....Once the flour and baking powder are sifted, slowly add to the butter mixture. DO NOT over beat it. Cover it and place in the fridge for 30 minutes. tick tock, tick tock, ok, 30 minutes are up. I rolled mine and then sort of squished them between my palms then placed them in pink sugar crystals, then place them on a ever so lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 8-12 minutes at 350 degrees. - I baked mine for 9 minutes and found that 8 minutes was best for a really soft cookie!

ENJOY!

White Bean Chicken Chili

It's so cold outside, and I love chili of all varieties, so I made this the other night and not only was it EASY to make, it was DELICIOUS! The picutre didn't turn out so great, but I think that's becuase I was in SUCH a hurry to try it!

1 medium onion - diced
1 jalapeno pepper - seeds removed and diced
2 gloves of garlic - finely minced
4 cups of chicken broth
1 - 1.25 tsp of Cumin
1 Tbsp. lime juice
2 cans of white northen beans - drained and rinsed
2 cups of cooked cubed chicken
1/4 cup COLD water
2 tbsp. corn starch
olive oil for sauteeing the onion, garlic and pepper

sautee your Onion, pepper, and garlic until tender
Add chicken broth, chicken, and beans, bring to a boil and cover, then turn down and let it simmer for about 15 minutes
in a small bowl stir the corn starch with the cold water until smooth, then slowly add to the other ingredients, stir, bring back to a boil, then simmer again for another 10-15 minutes.

SOUPer good on a cold winter night!