Sweet Treat!

Do you ever get a craving that just won't go away until you satisfy it?  

For the past few months I have been wanting those lemon creme filled Girl Scout cookies: Lemon Chalet Cremes.  The problem with my craving is that our local GS's didn't have those cookies to offer this year.  Drats!  

I finally decided that I needed to try to make my own.

Fueled by a picture from the Internet...which I posted on Pinterest...I went in search of a tasty recipe.  Here's what I decided upon.  

Lemon-Butter Spritz Cookies

2 C butter, softened

1 1/4 C sugar

2 eggs

grated peel of 1 lemon

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 1/4 C all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

In large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the eggs, lemon peel, lemon juice and vanilla. Combine flour and salt, gradually all to creamed mixture and mix well.  

Using a cookie press fitted with the disk of your choice, press dough onto ungreased baking sheets.  

Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly brown around the edges.  Yields approximately 12 dozen.

Notes: I always add more flour (1/2 C), it seems my cookies need it based on my altitude.   Also, I increased the amount of the lemon juice in the recipe, using all the lemon juice and zest from one lemon except for a small amount that I set aside to use in the filling recipe.  

Lemon Buttercream Frosting

1/2 C butter, at room temperature

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch of salt

3 1/2 C Confectioners' sugar

1/4 C milk

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

In a mixer bowl, cream the butter, lemon rind, vanilla and salt until light and for about 2 minutes.  Add confectioners' sugar alternately with milk until the mixture is creamy and smooth, beating well after each addition.  Beat in the lemon juice.  

Notes: I added extra powdered sugar and less milk...I wanted a thicker consistency for the cookie filling.  

Here's my result: 

Mmm!  I made these last Thursday night and then passed them out on Friday to anyone who crossed my path...my unknowing taste testers.  With the exception of my daughter, who said they were too lemony (what's wrong with that child?), everyone who sampled my treats seemed to really like the combination.

Definitely a repeat!

My Birthday...in Pictures

Surprise flowers from close friends 

First Box Turtle sighting of the year...it's a Girl!  

rescued a mouse...from my hunter

Redbuds in bloom

waking up worms

wildflowers in bloom

flitting butterflies

the trees...rooting for my favorite college BB team

squirrel corn...wildflower

fern fiddles

a funnel cloud...at dinner time

pea-sized hail

hail in the grass

my favorite carrot cake...from my husband (he doesn't bake, he buys)

over-the-top make-up on my ballerina for her performance

one of our felines channeling her inner snow leopard

We came home very late after an evening at the ballet and watched an exciting DVR-ed NCAA basketball game.  Too bad for my Hoosiers.  Still, it was a perfect day!  :)

Gross! Show and Tell

WARNING:  This post has a gruesome picture or two on it.  

If you have a weak stomach, you may not want to view this!!!

On Sunday at noon-ish, I took my dog for a hike in the woods.  I had planned to be out with him for about two hours.  We have a great, 4-5 mile loop that he loves and I have to admit, I do too.  But, twenty minutes into the hike and everything changed in a heartbeat.  

As I crested a hill, I needed to step over a limb that had fallen from a tree.

 This limb has been down for probably six months and I have stepped over it at least a dozen times.

 Had I been more observant I would have noticed a branch that had been on this limb was now broken off.  Instead, I stepped over with my left leg and then as I brought my right leg over I felt a very sharp pain.

I expected my leg to be scratched.  Instead I was impaled.  

GRUESOME PICTURE ALERT!  

Frankenstein leg

My immediate reaction was, "Oh Sh*t!"  I tried to put weight on my right leg and, yes, pull the splinter out.  It wouldn't budge.  Oh Sh*t!  I thought I might pass out.  I grabbed my cell phone and called my son...my husband was out of town this weekend.  I instructed my son as to where he needed to come and get me.  I am so glad my kids (1) have cell phones, (2) can drive, (3) and can be counted on to rescue their mom when needed.  

At our local Prompt Care facility I hobbled in, placed my leg on the counter and asked, "Can you help me or do I need to go to the ER?"  They immediately took care of me.  

Here's my splinter/Sycamore wood chard

My show-and-tell

The doctor did have to cut the splinter out on Sunday.  I think every person on duty that day had to come see my injury.  I asked the doctor if it was the oddest thing of the day that had happened.  He said it was...so far.  As the doctor worked on me, I made my son come sit close and hold my hand.  He was my rock!  He'd look at what the doctor was doing and then look at me and say, "No problem."  

This is my wound today... 

where it is located on my leg

 ...and how big it is.  I went back for a check up today and the doctor told me since I am young (I was instantly a fan of his) and in good shape (but thinking he might have a little Pinocchio in him) it should heal fairly quickly.  

I wasn't stitched up on Sunday due to the chance of having a soil bacteria still in the would.  I have been taking two antibiotics to help ward off evil soil bacteria too.

I think my chances of being a leg model are nil though now.  Maybe my leg could have a cameo on some tough show like Sons of Anarchy?

I am happy to report that although wicked looking, my leg is good enough to be back out hiking with the pooch once again!  :)