This is my go-to sugar cookie recipe. Be sure to refrigerate the dough for quite a while before trying to roll it out and cut shapes. It is a soft dough. But, it is super tasty!

Ingredients:

1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 Butter Flavor CRISCO Stick (or 1 cup Butter Flavor CRISCO all-vegetable shortening)
2 eggs
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour (plus 4 tablespoons), divided
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Combine sugar and shortening in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, syrup, and vanilla. Beat until well blended and fluffy.

Combine 3 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add gradually to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix until well blended.

Divide dough into 4 quarters. Wrap each quarter of dough with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

Heat oven to 375º F. Place sheets of foil on countertop for cooling cookies.
Spread 1 tablespoon or more of flour on large sheet of waxed paper. Place one quarter of dough on floured paper. Flatten slightly with hands. Turn dough over and cover with another large sheet of waxed paper. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Remove top sheet of waxed paper. Cut out with floured cutter.

Transfer to ungreased baking sheet with large pancake turner. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Roll out remaining dough.

Sprinkle with granulated sugar or colored sugar crystals, or leave plain to frost or decorate when cooled.

Bake one baking sheet at a time at 375ºF for 5 to 9 minutes, depending on the size of your cookies (bake smaller, thinner cookies closer to 5 minutes; larger cookies closer to 9 minutes). DO NOT OVERBAKE. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to foil to cool completely, then frost and decorate if desired.

Recipe Source - Crisco

A simple buttercream that is great for cookies, cakes and cupcakes. This is what I use to frost sugar cookies.

Ingredients:

3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons milk

Directions:

In medium bowl, mix powdered sugar and butter with spoon or electric mixer on low speed. Stir in vanilla and 1 tablespoon of the milk.

Gradually beat in just enough remaining milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable. If frosting is too thick, beat in more milk, a few drops at a time. If frosting becomes too thin, beat in a small amount of powdered sugar. 

Ingredients

4-6 slices bacon, chopped
2 tablespoons butter, divided
8 ounces uncooked pasta
1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon from pan with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate. Leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the pan.
2. Cook the pasta according to package directions; drain.
3. Meanwhile, add 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet along with the reserved bacon grease. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Add shrimp to the pan and cook until just pink, stirring frequently, about 3-4 minutes.
4. Remove pan from heat and stir in remaining tablespoon butter, parsley, lemon juice and cooked bacon. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Recipe Source - Let's Dish

Simple recipe that would go great with a Greek salad

Ingredients
4 (6 oz) boneless skinless chicken breast halves 

1/3 cup olive oil, plus more for brushing grill 

1 Tbsp lemon zest 

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 

4 cloves garlic, minced (1 1/2 Tbsp) 

2 tsp dried oregano 

1/2 tsp dried basil 

1/2 tsp dried thyme 

1/2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed 

Salt and freshly ground black pepper 

Chopped fresh parsley, for serving

Directions

• Using the flat side of a meat mallet, pound thicker parts of chicken to even thickness. In a small mixing bowl whisk together olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary and season with salt and pepper (about 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper).
• Place chicken in a gallon size resealable bag, pour in olive oil mixture. Seal bag while pressing air out. Rub marinade over chicken. Transfer to refrigerator and allow to marinate 2 - 5 hours (rotate bag and move chicken around halfway through if possible). Preheat grill over medium-high heat (to about 425 - 450).
• Brush grill grates lightly with olive oil. Place chicken on grill, close lid, and grill about 4 minutes per side, or until chicken registers 160 - 165 degrees in center of chicken on an instant read thermometer. Let chicken rest 5 minutes, garnish with fresh parsley then serve immediately. 

Recipe Source - Cooking Classy

Great summer grilling recipe

Ingredients:

Chicken
4 (6 oz) chicken boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 Tbsp lime zest
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for brushing grill
1 1/2 tsp honey
1/3 cup chopped cilantro, plus more for serving
3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salsa
1 1/2 medium avocados (ripe but semi-firm), diced
2 medium Roma tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup chopped red onion, rinsed under cool water to remove harsh bite
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice

Directions:

• Place chicken on a cutting board, cover with a sheet of plastic wrap and pound thicker parts of chicken to an even thickness. Transfer chicken to a gallon size resealable plastic bag.
• In a small mixing bowl whisk together lime zest, lime juice, olive oil, honey, cilantro, 3 cloves minced garlic and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Pour marinade mixture over chicken in bag. Seal bag while pressing air out, then rub marinade over chicken. Allow to rest in refrigerator 2 - 4 hours (rotating bag to opposite side and moving chicken around halfway through if possible to ensure it's evenly marinating).
• Preheat a grill over medium-high heat (to about 425 - 450 degrees). Brush grill grates lightly with oil then grill chicken until center registers 160 - 165 degrees on an instant read thermometer, about 4 minutes per side. Remove and let rest 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl toss together avocado, tomato, onion, garlic and lime and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon a generous amount over chicken and sprinkle with chopped cilantro. Serve warm.

 Recipe Source - Cooking Classy

This is a hearty soup that takes advantage of fresh summer corn. It's also great in the winter - you just have to substitute frozen corn for the fresh.

Ingredients:

12 ears fresh sweet yellow corn, husked and silks removed and kernels cut from cob (you can also substitute frozen corn, or use a mix of both)
1 Tbsp butter
7 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium yellow onion chopped
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups chicken stock
6 cups water
32 oz. package of frozen hash browns (the kind that are cubed potatoes with nothing in them but potatoes - you could also use about 2 pounds of Yukon gold potatoes, diced into 1/2 inch cubes)
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups half and half
2 - 3 Tbsp chopped fresh chives
Shredded cheddar cheese, for serving (optional)

Directions:

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and bacon and cook, stirring frequently, until onion has softened and just starting to brown around edges, about 8 - 10 minutes. Add in the flour and garlic and cook 1 1/2 minutes. While whisking, slowly pour in the chicken stock and water. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, then stir in corn kernels and potatoes. Add in thyme and bay leaves and season with pepper to taste. Bring to a light boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
Stir in half and half. Sprinkle each serving with chives and optional cheddar.
Recipe adapted from Cooking Classy

My sister-in-law brought these to a family dinner, and they were simply wonderful.

Ingredients
2 cups + 2 tablespoons all­-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened (1½ sticks)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 egg, at room temperature
1 egg yolk, at room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract
¾ cup white chocolate chips
¾ cup chopped macadamia nuts

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.

2. Cream the butter and sugars together with a mixer (stand or hand­held). Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and mix well until just combined.

3. Add the flour mixture in batches, mixing to combine in between each batch, until all the flour is incorporated.

4. Stir in the white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts.

5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill dough for about an hour.

6. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

7. Bake for 8­-10 minutes or until edges just ever so slightly browned. The centers of the cookies will look very soft and a little puffy. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few seconds, then transfer to a wire cooling rack.

Notes
** dough should be kept cold between batches
** dough can be chilled for up to 5 days

Recipe source -  The Chunky Chef