Shark Week cookies

Celebration Cookies

Ingredients (makes 3-4 dozen medium size cookies):

1 cup softened butter

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla

2 tsp baking powder

3 cups all-purpose flower

Preheat oven to 400.  

In large bowl, cream butter & sugar together. Beat in egg and vanilla.Add baking powder and then flour, one cup at a time. Dough will be stiff. You do not need to chill. Roll out dough approximately 1/8” thick on to a floured surface. Cut with cutter dipped in flour. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet approx 6-7 minutes, or until just turning a light brown on edge. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet.

Decorating glaze:

1 cup confectionary/powdered sugar

1/8 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla extract OR I prefer 1/4 tsp vanilla & 1/4 tsp almond extract

1 1/2 TBSP cream or milk.

Blend ingredients in small bowl until smooth. Add more cream/milk if needed. Add food coloring if desired. Brush or spatula icing on to cookies. Let set.

Thanks, Mom, for the recipe!

Coconut Whoopie Pies

My mom created this sweet recipe:

Coconut Whoopie Pies

For the pies (makes 12):

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup unsalted, softened butter

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup canned coconut milk

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/4 all purpose flour 

1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour cupcake pans (24 cupcakes). In mixing bowl, beat sugar, butter, baking powder, egg, vanilla, coconut milk and salt until creamy. Beat in all purpose flour until just mixed. Stir in coconut flakes. Spoon/divide evenly in to 24 prepared cupcake tins (slightly less than 1/2 full). Tap on counter to level. Bake for approximately 14 minutes, being careful not to develop brown edges. Cool and remove from pans.


For the filling:
2 tbsp unsalted, softened butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp heavy cream
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup coconut flakes


In mixing bowl, cream together butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, heavy cream. Gradually beat in coconut milk (use more or less to get a frosting consistency). Stir in sweetened coconut flakes. Generously frost the tops of 12 cooled cupcakes. Use the other 12 cupcakes as “lids."  Sprinkle the assembled whoopees with powdered sugar.

Orange Julius

We had an Orange Julius in my hometown when I was little. It didn't last very long, but I remember going a few times with my grandparents to get one of the signature orange smoothie drinks. I was craving the orange, creamy flavor and a frothy drink, so I made my own.

Orange Julius

1 cup orange juice concentrate

1 cup milk

1 cup water

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

10-12 ice cubes

Combine ingredients except for ice. Blend for 1-2 minutes. Add ice cubes gradually to blender.

I served mine with a garnish of frozen berries, but trust me it's tasty enough on its own.