Today my daughter and I are making sugar cookie dough so we can decorate Valentine’s Sugar Cookies tomorrow afternoon.  This recipe is one handed down to me, and is a blend of a Southern Living recipe from the 60’s that has been tested and adjusted over time.  The result is a crisp and delicious cookie, so easy and much better than what you’ll buy in the store.  I hope you’ll enjoy trying this recipe, and remember, all things made with love are better!

Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened                        1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup sugar                                               1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg                                                           2 teaspoons baking powder 

2 tablespoons milk                                  granulated sugar or sanding sugars

2 cups all purpose flour

Combine butter, sugar, egg, milk and vanilla in mixer.  Beat until light and fluffy.

Combine flour, salt & baking powder in small seperate bowl.  Add dry ingredients into butter ingredients and combine well.  Place dough in a ball shape and wrap tightly in Saran wrap.  Chill dough thoroughly, at least one hour, or even over night.  To bake: Roll cookie dough to desired thinness on a floured work surface.  (I like mine about 1/8 inch or just under).  Cut into shapes with cookie cutter, and place on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper or a lightly greased pan.  Bake at 375 for about 8 minutes, until edges are just starting to turn golden brown.  Cool completely and store in airtight container.

***Note:  You may roll cookie dough into a log to chill, then you will have your own homemade ‘slice and bake’ if you are short on time!  This is great to have in the fridge and will keep several days.

Thank you, thank you… for the nomination to the Mom’s Choice Awards for “Mompreneur” 2013!  Check out the link to the Triad Mom’s on Main site and please, cast your vote for me today!  http://triadmomsonmain.com/_blog/My_Blog/post/The_Finalists_are_in_for_the_2013_Moms_Choice_Awards/

In addition to this fun news, the side link for next week’s dinner pick up is updated and ready to order.  Just send an email to bluemoose@triad.rr.com by Sunday evening so you can take the stress out of your day next Wednesday, by stopping by Julia’s Take Away Gourmet for a yummy Italian style dinner.

Did you know that February is full of fun food ideas and news?  I love everything about this month from the “foodie perspective”!  If you’re feeling a little bored with your nightly dinners, think about these ideas:

February 10th is the Chinese New Year- set a fun table, stop by one of our local Asian grocery stores, and fix a fun and different menu your family will love!

February 12th–Mardi Gras!  Stir it up Cajun style…red beans and rice, gumbo, jambablaya- easier to prepare than you think!  (or call me to request a special dinner)

February 18th- George Washington’s Birthday and President’s Day- Cherry pie anyone?

February is also Canned Food Month for those of you who don’t like to cook as much; National Hot Breakfast Month; National Snack Foods Month; National Grapefruit Month; and who can go wrong when it is National Chocolate Month?

Until then, enjoy the best of food and life!

Love is in the air- grab it!!!

Valentines day is next week and I hope you’re feeling the love like I am!  I will be posting a yummy Italian family style menu for next week, and more, later.  Follow my blog for updates, and be sure to get your order in for the Valentines day gifts( link on the side with details).  Until then, enjoy the best of food ands life!

I call this good “cookin” weather!  A nice fire, yummy soup, homemade pizza’s and some basketball…that sounds like a great Winter’s night to me!  Next week we will be thawing out a little, and it will be perfect for enjoying your choice of soups and other items from Julia’s Take Away Gourmet.  See the menu below for details, and don’t forget orders should be placed by Sunday evening.  Until then, stay in, stay cozy, and enjoy this great Winter weekend!

January 30th, Dinner pick up

Take the stress out of your day, with Julia’s Take Away Gourmet!

Tomorrow, January 24th, will be a dinner pick up, but no orders… just first come, first served! I’ll make several of the menu items listed below. In the past it has sold out quickly, so come early if you know you’d like something yummy to take home. My hours will be the same, 10-2.  Since this is first come service, I will unfortunately not be able to hold orders. I hope to see you tomorrow, and if you’d like to call or text to see what’s left please do, 681-0675.

Sloppy Joe Slider Kits-  “for the kid in all of us!”

8 small buns, “Joe mix”, and a container of cole slaw, $18

Cream of Broccoli Soup with Cheddar

This delicious, comforting soup is just the thing to warm you up on a cold day!

It will be made fresh in the morning and packaged while still hot. You will have your choice of a quart, $10, or half quart, $5

Grilled Chicken Quesadilla’s with Roasted Red Peppers

1 order contains two, regular size tortilla’s with yummy melted cheese,

grilled & sliced Southwestern Rubbed chicken breast, and bites of my roasted red peppers… $14

Cheeseburger Slider Kits,

Is that what you’ve been craving?

Each order contains ingredients for six, generous sliders topped with cheese.

In each kit/bag, there will be buns, pickles and cole slaw for topping this yummy little burger!

$20

Simply Spaghetti Dinner Kit

1 quart of delicious meat sauce, dry noodles, and garlic bread

Serves 4, $18

and, if I have enough time I might make a few:

Oven Roasted Potato Wedges

Crisp on the outside, soft on the inside.  Lightly seasoned Russet potatoes that will be a perfect side for your dinner!

Serves, 3-4, $8

Southwestern Caesar Salad

Crisp romaine, croutons and grilled Southwestern rubbed Chicken breast, served with Caesar dressing

Serves 2, $14

and maybe a surprise dessert or muffin

What are you craving right now?

Let “Julia’s Take Away Gourmet” know and maybe it will be part of my Thursday “First Come, First Served” pick up menu!  Maybe a yummy soup like cream of broccoli & cheddar served with grilled chicken quesadilla’s…Southern Sliders that melt in your mouth…slow simmered Bolognese sauce for a quick & easy dinner that night?  And the list goes on…and on…and on…

I saw this quote on line and was captivated by the truth of it.  Sharing good food with family and friends, no matter what your skill level in the kitchen is, matters most.

This week I will not be doing a regular Wednesday Dinner Pick Up, but I am planning a smaller pick up on Thursday that will be first come, first served!  I’ll post what I am making here on my blog, as well as FaceBook.  In the meantime, I am working on fun menu’s for February,  including a special dinner for Valentine’s Day so you can stay in with your sweetheart without cooking!  The following week’s Dinner Pick Up, January 30th, is now updated in the Dinner Pick Up link on the side for those of you who like to plan in advance, or if you just want to tempt your taste buds…

Until then, enjoy the best of food and life.

The little things in life do, in fact, make you happy.  Yesterday a good friend dropped off a beautiful gift bag of homegrown Meyer Lemons from her parents home in Louisiana!  What a treat, and these are not what you find at the Fresh Market…they are the size of oranges or bigger, and are so fragrant and smooth I just can’t stop holding them!  So when life hands you lemons, or Meyer lemons in this case, make lemonade.  Or, as I did tonight, make Italian Lemon Chicken for dinner, the lemonade will come this weekend!

This year I am looking forward to being back in the kitchen after a great break with family and friends.  Each week in January I will continue to feature a fresh soup, a salad, and then I will feature two entree’s.  One entree will be a seafood choice and the other will not.  There will be a couple of frozen selections as well, and I hope to tuck in a few surprises every now and then!

February promises to be fun with a theme of family style meals, a Valentine’s Day special to save you the hassle of a restaurant reservation, and also some new introductions such as my focaccia pizza.  I will be doing the pizza one week each month and it is sure to be a hit in your home!

In March we will travel the culinary globe, or at least a very small portion of it!  I am already thinking of some fun menu’s and where to visit.  For now, I have updated the links on this site, be sure to check them out and don’t forget to place your dinner order by Sunday evening for next Wednesday’s Dinner Pick Up on January 9th.  Until then, enjoy the best of food and life in 2013!

Sweet Potato Biscuits in the Making!

It is hard to believe today is December 20th!  My Holidays orders have been filled, record amount of stew made, and I have been catering and filling special orders each day.  Thank you so much for all of your support.  It is true, I might be tired every so often, my hair might be frosted with flour, and I really might want a shower and to get out of kitchen clothes, but I love what I am doing and it really is so much fun.

Next year I am excited about doing a few different things with my Dinner Pick Ups on Wednesdays, and the first three months of the year will have a little ‘theme’ to them.  January I will be kickin’ it up a notch and I’ll feature more elegant, gourmet meals.  February will be Family Style, with one week being an Italian family style and another week Southern Family style.  In March I will be travelling the globe and picking some neat traditional meals from far away places, including a stop in Ireland for a fun St. Patrick’s Day treat.

So, I’ll leave you with this, consider it my holiday “e-card” for those of you that follow.  I hope you have a very Merry Christmas filled with the Peace and Hope that is the meaning of Christmas.  Especially when there is so much to get done, and so much sadness in the news, there is still so much to be thankful for.  Relish your time with family and friends, as you enjoy festive foods and Holiday cheer together.  Sharing this with the people we love is really a gift itself.