HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PRESIDENT!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PRESIDENT!
Marcia Norwood, America's STORYTELLER

Presidents' Day:  February 20, 2012 


Today is a national holiday.  It may not be as exciting as the day Marilyn Monroe sang her famous version of "Happy Birthday" to President John F. Kennedy at a democratic fundraiser on May 19, 1962  - but it is a U.S. national holiday.

Click on this link to watch Marilyn sing to President Kennedy:

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=marilyn+monroe+sings+happy+birthday+to+president+kennedy&mid=9AA9A025A8AEB5F24EA59AA9A025A8AEB5F24EA5&view=detail&FORM=VIRE3

President's Day is celebrated in the United States on the third Monday in February in honor two of our greatest presidents:   Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. 

Here's a link to find kids' activities, coloring pages, crafts, and historical facts:

http://holidays.kaboose.com/presidents-day/presidents-day.html

 U.S. Retail stores and supermarkets are open on President's Day, but banks, schools, the stock market, municipal, state and federal offices and post offices are closed.

My children and grandchildren are home from school today.    Our first-born, Kristin, is a teacher, and enjoys the day off as much as the kids! 

Grandson Joshua, Daughter Kristin, Granddaughter Emily Grace, Grandson Caleb

President's Day is always close to my cousin, Tandra's birthday. 

Cousin Tandra and Marcia
Circa 1954

Let's make something special to celebrate Tandra's birthday and President Lincoln's and President Washington's  birthdays!

Here's a recipe for a delightfully different birthday confection.  Why not make a GIANT cookie (baked on a pizza pan) and deliver it in a "lollipop" package?!  It's a fun way to celebrate anyone's birthday - young and old - president - or not!  It's packed with goodies like candy-coated chocolate baking candy and crispy rice cereal.  To keep the cookie fresh, wrap it with cellophane and tie off with a colorful curling ribbon!

RECIPE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COOKIE

COOKIE

• 1/3 Cup Butter, Softened
• 1/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 1/3 Cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 Cup PLUS 3 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
• 2/3 Cup Candy-Coated Chocolate Mini Baking Candies, Divided
• 1/3 Cup Quick-Cooking Oats
• 1/3 Cup Crispy Rice Cereal

ICING

• 1/2 Cup Confectioners Sugar
• 2 Teaspoons Cocoa
• 3 to 4 Teaspoons Milk
• 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

 Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

 FOR COOKIE:

1. Cream Butter and Sugars in a medium bowl until fluffy.
2. Add Egg, Oil and Vanilla and beat until smooth.
3. In a small bowl - combine Flour, Baking Soda and Salt.
4. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture, and stir until a soft dough forms.
5. Stir in 1/3 Cup Candies, Oats and Cereal.
6. Press DOUGH into a greased 12-inch-diameter pizza pan.
7. Sprinkle remaining 1/3 cup candies on top of dough.
8. Bake 23 to 25 minutes or until top is lightly browned.
9. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

FOR ICING:

1. Combine Confectioners Sugar, Cocoa, Milk and Vanilla in a small bowl.
2. Stir until smooth.
3. Transfer cooled cookie to a 12-inch diameter cardboard cake board.
4. Drizzle Icing over Cookie.
5. Let Icing harden.
6. Store in an airtight container.

Yield:  About 12 Servings

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY" LOLLIPOP AND TAG

For Lollipop - you will need:

1. Hot Glue Gun
2. 20 inches of 3/8 Diameter Dowel Rod
3. Cellophane
4. Chenille Stem
5. Clear Tape
6. Assorted Curling Ribbons

Glue DOWEL to back of CAKE BOARD.  Wrap cellophane around cookie and gather around dowel...and secure with chenille stem.    Use tape to secure sides of cellophane at the back of lollipop.

Tie several lengths of ribbon into a bow around gathers.  Curl ribbon ends.

For Gift Tag:

1. Card Stock
2. Red, Green and Black Permanent Markers
3. Hole Punch

Cut GIFT TAG from Card Stock.  Use Red Marker to draw "stitches" along edges of tag.  Use Black marker to write message on tag and to draw musical notes on Tag.  Punch hole in Tag.  Thread one streamer through hold and knot to secure.

Happy President's Day!

PLEASE COME BACK AGAIN, AND INVITE A FRIEND!

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Marcia Norwood, AMERICA'S STORYTELLER

Website: http://www.marcianorwoodstoryteller.com/

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Email: mailto:marcia.norwood@sbcglobal.net