Italian Ricotta Sugar Cookies

Back again.  With more cookies (of course), more pictures of my dog attempting to steal said cookies, more nearly incoherent ramblings about ridiculous nonsense and now, with gift ideas!

That's right, gift ideas.  I've gone borderline OCD with it, folks, prepare yourselves. 

Specifically gift ideas for your wife/girlfriend/girl friend/mom/aunt/cousin/neighbor/coworker who is probably an extremely classy lady.  A classy lady who just so happens to be pretty intensely obsessed with cooking and fashion.  It would help if she was also a wannabe food-blogger.  Because let's be honest.  If you weren't in some way affiliated with a foodie lady, would you really be frequenting this blog?  

First off, before I drop this craziness on you, some suggestions for your-lady-specific ideas that lovingly stray from the tried and true "interrogate her family and friends" method.  

1) Check and see if she has an Amazon wish list.  If you don't know about these, they're awesome and you can add stuff to your wish list from other websites that are not amazon.  Crazy, huh?  Anyway, check if she has one and if she doesn't, start pressuring her to make one (ideally in November sometime).  It shouldn't be too difficult, it's really very fun.

2) Ask if she has a Pinterest account.  Almost every posh lady I know does, and if she doesn't it's probably because she just doesn't know about it yet.  Pinterest is uniquely hard to describe, but it's basically a giant wish list bulletin board where you can "pin" cool pictures of stuff you want to do/eat/be/wear/buy.  It's really brilliant.  Only bad part is, you have to have a twitter or facebook account to use it.

Enough chit chat and thinly veiled commands, let's get to it.

Stocking Stuffers

$20 or less

$10
Spoon Rest

$15

Owl I-phone/I-pot Sleeve

$18
Crazy cute measuring spoons

$12Castle Key bottle opener

$10
Bow earrings

Mid-Range Presents

($20-$50)

$22

Decorative salt and pepper shakers

$26 (on sale)
One really good 8'' kitchen knife

$32
A pretty apron

$32
Super fun measuring cups

$36
A unique ring

$48 

A classy dress

$42 (on sale)
A comfy cardigan

Getting Up There Gifts

($50-$100)

$57
Unbearably cute moccasins
(don't worry they come in a variety of colors)

$64

 Ice cream Maker

$65

Cute striped backpack

 $62

Ralph Lauren Perfume

$90 

Sweater Dress

  

Big Spender Presents

($100 and up)

$125
Tiffany padlock pendant

$175
Tiffany silver bracelet
(sensing a theme?)

$210
Low boots

$230
Nook e-reader
(It's better than the kindle)

$300
Galaxy Tab

$300
Kitchenaid stand mixer
(The mother of all presents...it will change her life.  No pressure)

That's all I got.  Hope that helps.

Now for the cookies.

These are reminiscent of the sour cream sugar cookies that Jim's mom makes (they are crazy good), but they use ricotta, which is a traditional Italian way of making moist, delicious, pillowy light cookies.  

Oh my Lord.  

Cricket approves

I have to admit I'm getting kind of addicted to taking pictures of my food on the cutting board on a chair in front of the window. 

"If I'm reallyreallyreally good can I have maybe just a couple?"

I'm also getting rather addicted to taking photos of Cricket eyeballing my food.  I guess everyone thinks their dog is the most hilarious creature on the planet, and I am no exception.

 

Italian Ricotta Sugar Cookies

(adapted from allrecipes, makes about 3 dozen) 

Cookies:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

10 oz ricotta (part skim)

 2 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Frosting:

2 Tbsp butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 Tbsp milk

1/4 tsp lemon juice

For the cookies.  Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.  Stir in vanilla and ricotta.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt.  

Slowly add the flour mixture to the ricotta mixture, stirring until combined.  Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  Remove and allow to rest on cookie sheet for an additional five minutes before removing to wire cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting, combine butter and powdered sugar, mix together as best you can.  Mine was still quite lumpy after that.  Add vanilla and milk, beating until spreadable.  Add lemon juice if desired (I desired) and beat again until thoroughly mixed.  Frost cooled cookies immediately and allow to set before serving.

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the sour cream sugar cookies that Jim's mom makes