It's Country Time!

Back in April, I decided to try out for a design team and get scrapping again.

I was lucky, and made the Core'dinations Cardstock design team.
Around the same time, I was approached by Echo Park Paper Company and asked if I would like to join their in-house design team.

Happiness!
I am part of two wonderful design teams, that send me product to roll around in! (Fully clothed.)
I am sure I will be sharing projects and stuff on my blog.

Today is awesome, because Echo Park asked me if I would like to give away their brand new collection to one of my readers. (Yes!)
Wait! Before you run away, because like myself you "never win anything" think about the fact that I literally have about ten blog readers. One is my mom, and she doesn't really scrap. You have a good chance!

Wanna see it?
It is called "Country Drive."

There are 12 double sided papers:
(This was my girls' favorite one)

This is my favorite. I love a good stripe!

two sticker sheets (the other sticker sheet is alllll alphabet)
(cute!)

There is a whole sheet of journaling cards too, if you want to see the entire collection, you can head over to Echo Park Paper, and ogle.
CLICK HERE

**If you would like to have this collection mailed right to your door, for free, just leave me a comment on this post. I will pick a name this Saturday, (June 18th.)**

Keeping with the theme of Country Drive...I thought of Country Time. As in lemonade.
I tried (and tweaked) a new recipe today. From scratch.
I wanted a really tart (this ain't your grandma's lemon cookie) lemon cookie.
I found some recipes online, and did my own thing to them.

So I am sharing it, because frankly it kicks a little butt, and you should partake.
I needed to share some tips though, in case anyone else out there is a non-cook like myself.
It is no secret that I like to watch the Food Network.
I wanted to be fancy.
I bought some "Sugar in the raw" to roll the cookie balls into.
I bought it at Wal-Mart, so it isn't all that gourmet.
This what it looks like:

It is a chunky sugar, it looks like this on the dough:

And like this, after baking:

Sugar in the raw made me feel fancy.
(I am still in my pajamas. It is after noon.)
The other thing I used in the recipe is dry powder lemonade mix.
I just used the off-brand.
Cheaper than Kool-aid, and worked just fine.

Anyway, here is the recipe:
I chose to call it "lemon drop cookies" but really, it could be "lemon zinger cookies" or "pucker petit fours" or "lemonilicious lovers."
(This club can't even handle me right now.<--little Flo Rida reference, mom, just ignore that.)

Lemon Drop Cookies

2 sticks butter, softened
2 c. sugar
3 pkgs. (unsweetened) lemonade mix
1 egg
1 tsp lemon extract
1 tsp finely grated lemon rind
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
Raw Sugar (for rolling dough in)

Preheat oven to 350°.
In a small bowl, mix sugar with lemonade mix. In a large bowl, cream butter, add lemonade mix, and whip until fluffy.
Beat in the egg, lemon extract, and grated lemon rind.
In a separate bowl, stir together the flour and the baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the batter, beating until thoroughly combined.
Pour about 1/4 c. of raw sugar into a dish.
Form the dough into 1-inch balls (I use a cookie scoop) and roll them in the raw sugar, then place them 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake the cookies until the edges just begin to brown, about 10-12 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes.
Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

And to tie everything in, I present:
Lemon Drop cookies, with Country Drive paper background:

Delicious.