pleasure in simple things

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up…how do I celebrate?

I usually plant some shamrocks in an unexpected container…or make some homemade Irish Cream…this year, in addition, I am adding a little green to my baking.

I think anything green goes over well on St. Patrick’s Day…what other holiday could possibly make green bagels or green beer seem like a good idea?

This year, I am adding some green swirls to my cookies!  If you haven’t used this technique in your cookie making, it is relatively easy to do – it just requires a little bit of patience.

I have used this technique to create ‘wave’ cookies for a beach themed party (by adding blue paste food coloring) or to create mocha swirl cookies (by adding cocoa and espresso powder).  As you can imagine, it is easily adaptable to a number of different themes/flavors…so keep it in mind for future entertaining!

Divide your cookie dough in half, dyeing one half with paste food coloring.  In addition, I added some lime juice and lime zest – just so the green color made some sense!  You can use your favorite butter or sugar cookie dough…I have never tried this with the packages of sugar cookie dough that is sold in the refrigerator section of the grocery store, but I bet they would work out just as well.

Just pat each half of (chilled) dough into a rectangle on a piece of wax paper…measure each piece – so they are the same size.  Wrap each piece separately in wax paper and put into the refrigerator until firm.  Invert the plain piece of dough onto a large, clean piece of wax paper and peel off the top layer of wax paper.  Invert the green rectangle of dough on top of the plain dough so that the edges are aligned.  Peel off the top layer of paper.  With floured hands, pat the dough so that the layers adhere.

Working from a longer side, roll the dough into a cylinder.  If the dough becomes too soft to work with, refrigerate briefly, then continue rolling.  Wrap the cylinder in wax paper and refrigerate until firm or overnight.  Slice and bake the cookies as usual.

I added some clear sprinkles before baking to give the cookies a little sparkle. :)

I packaged each cookie I was giving to a friend in a CD envelope – tying it with raffia and a fresh daisy and adding the message ‘Erin go Bragh’ – translation is “Ireland Forever.”

Do you have unexpected ways to add green to your St. Patrick’s Day?

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at Coastal Charm,  Craftberry Bush, and Finding Silver Pennies.