cutout sugar cookies

these are absolutely the best sugar cookies i've ever tasted. the recipe comes from my husband's cousin, alicia.

1 cup butter, room temp.
1/2 cup sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour

preheat oven to 300'.
beat together the butter and sugar, then add in the egg yolks and vanilla.
add the flour and beat until combined.
divide in half and roll out to 1/4" thick.
cut out and bake 15 minutes. ice when cooled.

icing:
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup water (maybe less)

decorate!

i don't understand why these are so good when there isn't much sugar, no salt, and no leavening. but they are fantastic.

jam-filled muffins

these are rich, buttery, and delish! adapted from Prudent Baby

2 cups flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
heaping 1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 stick butter, melted
1/2 cup milk
jam, jelly or curd of your choice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Whisk together dry ingredients.
Melt butter, then slowly whisk in milk.
Add eggs and beat until well blended.
Add liquid to dry and mix until all dry ingredients are moist. Batter will be thick.
Fill 12 cups of a muffin tin a little less than 1/2 full, then make a small well in each cup. No need to use muffin cups or to grease the pan!
Add a heaping tsp of your favorite jam, jelly, or curd.
Cover jam with the remaining batter.

bake 15-20 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

Let cool for 10-15 minutes.
Work a knife around the edge of each muffin to loosen from cup and gently lift out each muffin.