Sugar Cookie Recipe

Its no secret that I love to experiment in the kitchen. I love how simple ingredients can come together to create something yummy, cookies are definitely one of those edible things you can make in so many ways, perfect for any occasion.

This weekend I had two little helpers :) my 7 and 3 year old..

Here is the recipe we used ....

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Cup butter, softened
• 1 Cup granulated white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/ teaspoon almond extract
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3 cups plain flour  

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350° F.

• In a bowl mix cream butter and sugar until smooth.
• Beat in extracts and egg.
• In a separate bowl combine baking powder with flour and add a little at a time to the wet ingredients. The dough will be very stiff. If it becomes too stiff for your mixer turn out the dough onto a worktop.
• DO NOT CHILL THE DOUGH. Divide into workable batches, roll out onto a floured surface and cut. You want these cookies to be on the thicker side.
• Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rac.

We used a simple icing sugar frosting, which we coloured in pink (well what other colour would we use ?? ;)

Enjoy :)

Tips to make Ramadan Fun for Kids

Source 

I came across these tips whilst searching for something else and thought that they were really good and thought I would share them with you too :) 

So, how is your Ramadan so far ?? I am not gonna lie I have found a few days difficult :( but Alhamdulilah ..

I need to catch up with my Quran reading and start my Quran journal Insha'Allah 

I will be back tomorrow sharing a simple Recipe for my Strawberry Trifle !!

Ramadan Gift Baskets ....

Ramadan Mubarak to you all :)

 One of the things I wanted to accomplish this Ramadan was starting a few traditions in our home, getting the girls excited about Ramadan the meaning and a better understanding of the reason Why this month is so special to Muslims.

When I did a search on Pinterest  (because where else do you go when you need some creative inspiration?) I found these awesome Gift Baskets and  i knew I wanted to re-create those for my girls too :)

The contents of each baskets where very similar I just changed the colours up to suit each of my daughters, the older 2 (12,10) had exactly the same and the younger 2 (7,3) had very similar also..

Contents ~ Younger age basket 

• Ramadan Activity set by the Muslim Sticker Company 
• Art Journal
• Colours
• Stickers
• Bubbles
• Paper lantern (to decorate and hang)
• Paper Garland (to colour and hang) Ramadan Joy
• Prayer Beads ~ Check out my simple DIY 
• I also found a Black soap holder , which I thought they could decorate to look like the Kabba
• Embriodery hoop and fabric 

Contents ~ Older Age Basket 

• Ramadan Fasting Chart set by the Muslim Sticker Company 
• Art Journal
• Water Colours
• Stickers
• Bubbles
• Paper lantern (to decorate and hang)
• Paper Garland (to colour and hang) Ramadan Joy
• Prayer Beads ~ Check out my simple DIY 
• I also found a Black soap holder , which I thought they could decorate to look like the Kabba
• Embriodery hoop and fabric 

My girls loved them !!! I definitely think these will be a new tradition and I am looking forward to creating with them this Ramadan whilst we discuss what Ramadan means to us ..

Sugar Cookie Recipes ....

Chewy Sugar Cookies ~ Add a Pinch

Sugar Cookies ~ Our Best Bites 

Simple Sugar Cookies ~ Completely Delicious 

I am looking forward to making some Ramadan/Eid cookies with my girls, so I thought I would share these simple recipes with you too ..

You could quite easily change the simple recipe, by adding lemon , almonds or coco to create a different flavour. 

Happy baking :) 

Re-usable Favour Bags (Ramadan Makes)

I am busy working on the girls Ramadan Gift Baskets , I wanted to make sure that they have enough activities to help keep them occupied, whilst helping them reflect on this blessed month.

So one of the items that I wanted to include was beads, so they could make their own prayer beads.

It was so much cheaper for me to buy a big box of beads and divide them in to 4 piles, rather than buying 4 individual packets, which lead me onto this quick DIY , re-usable favour/gift bags.

The great thing about these cotton bags is that they can easily be sewn for gifts and then re-used, the hardest part is choosing the fabric :)

Materials 

• Fabric
• Ribbon, Ric Rac or Pom Poms 
• Pins
• Sewing Machine 
• Iron 

Direction

• Cut your fabric ( I cut mine 6" x 14" but you can customise your size).
• Fold the fabric in half , right sides together 
• iron, turn over the 6" edges iron to keep the fold in place , you could also pin .. This helps to create a neat finish to the tops.
• 
  
• Add any trim across the 6" edge, sew in place 
• Fold right sides together , pin in place 
• sew down the two open sides
• turn right side out 
• iron 
• cut ribbon for the bow
• Add your treats :) 

I added some tags on to each of the bags .... Cute

I hope that you enjoyed this quick DIY !! It is definetley an achievable "nap time" project ..

Linking up @ Live Laugh Rowe  , Sew Can Do

Fun Ramadan Craft Ideas for Kids ..

With Ramadan less than a week away, I thought it would be fun to share with you some fun and simple Ramadan Craft activities to enjoy with your children ..

Ramadan Decor ~ Ramadan Joy 

Paper Punch-Out Lanterns ~ Kids Activity Blog 

Eid Cookies ~ Ode to Inspiration

Numbered Flag Garland ~ Ramadan Joy 

I really want to try having a go at a few of theses activities with my girls, I love homemade decor, I think it would be the perfect start of making our own traditions too, Insha'Allah ..

How are you starting to prepare for Ramadan ??

Claire x