Best Ever Sugar Cookie and Frosting Recipe This recipe will make plenty of soft, sweet sugar cookies for any holiday event you might have. Ingredients: One cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sour cream 1 ¾ cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ teaspoon almond extract 6 cups all-purpose flour 1 ½ tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt For Frosting: 1 cup butter, softened 1 tsp. vanilla extract 4 cups powdered sugar 5 tbsp. milk Food coloring and sprinkles optional Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray the bottom of a cookie sheet with non-stick spray. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sour cream together until smooth Add in the sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix until well combined. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients into the other mixture and stir until completely incorporated. To form the drop cookies: use damp hands and roll dough into 2 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet. Using the bottom of a drinking glass, press the cookies flat. To form rolled cookies: cover the dough and chill for 20 – 30 minutes. Roll out onto a lightly floured surface until ¼ inch thick. Using a cookie or biscuit cutter, cut cookies and place 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet. Bake cookies in the preheated oven for 5 – 7 minutes until just lightly browned on the bottom and set up on top. Immediately remove from cookie sheet and let cool completely on a cookie rack before frosting. Frosting: In a standing mixer, or a sturdy mixing bowl using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and vanilla until smooth. Mix in the powdered sugar one cup at a time until smooth. Add in the milk and food coloring. Beat until fluffy. Spread onto cooled cookies and immediately sprinkle on sprinkle decorations.
KEEPING YOUR HOLIDAYS SAFE In a continued effort to help keep all of our valued residents safe on the property this holiday season, we felt it was good to share these important holiday safety tips with you: Never use lighted candles near trees, curtains, drapes or any other flammable item. Use no more than three light sets on any one extension cord. If you have a live tree, make sure it is well watered to avoid dry branches catching on fire from the heat of the bulbs. If you use an artificial tree, choose one that is tested and labeled as fire resistant. Turn off all lights on trees and decorations before you go to bed or leave the home. Avoid placing breakable tree ornaments or ones with small detachable parts on lower branches where small children or pets can reach them. Use only indoor lights indoors (and outdoor lights outdoors). Don’t use if you see cracked sockets or frayed wires.
At ACPM, we want you to enjoy your holiday and stay safe!
Please be sure to contact the leasing office if you have any exterior building lights that are burned out so we can make sure to replace them immediately. For safety on the property, it’s best to make sure to leave your outdoor patio/balcony light on when it’s dark outside.
Renter’s Insurance Reminder Renter’s Insurance is required as per the lease agreement for each apartment here at Gramercy Villas. Documentation of an active policy is not only required to move in here, but also on lease renewal. Please remember that when you renew or change your policy, it is vital that you bring in verification of your Renter’s Insurance so we can add the information to your file. When you come in to sign your lease renewal with us, it is also important to bring in your Renter’s Insurance documentation at the time. While we hope you never have to use your policy, you will be thankful you have it if you do, as costs of things like accidental floods, fire, or damage can add up quickly.
Gramercy Villas December Newsletter Manager Sue Dominiak Maintenance Calen Erwin Office Hours Monday – Friday 12 pm to 6 pm For after-hours emergencies, please call our office phone and follow the instructions below: -Press 0 for an emergency -Press 9 to repeat the menu
GETTING IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT There’s a lot to do around town to put you in the holiday mood – if you aren’t already. The following local events are sure to keep your spirits up:
Winter Lights Parade and Tree Lighting – Friday, December 2 at 6:30 pm The parade will culminate in the lighting of the Meridian City Christmas tree, fireworks, and a showing of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” outside the corner of Idaho and Main Street. Free horse drawn carriage rides after the tree lighting. Be sure to check out more Meridian events at www.meridiancity.org/christmas 20th Annual Winter Garden a Glow – Idaho Botanical Garden – December 1 – January 1, 2017 from 6 pm to 9 pm. This display of 300,000 lights festively illuminates the garden. Santa will be on hand Friday through Monday during December. Go to www.idahobotanicalgarden.org for additional information. Miracle on 34th St – Boise Little Theatre’s Presentation of this holiday classic – December 1, 4, 8, and 10. See www.boiselittletheater.org for times and ticket pricing. Boise Philharmonic – Handel’s Messiah will be presented at St. John’s Cathedral, Boise on 12/2 and 12/3. They will then have the Holiday Pops at NNU’s Brandt Center on 12/9 and at the Morrison Center on 12/10. More information is available at https://boisephil.org 4th Annual Potato Drop – Be a part of the fun on New Year’s Eve in downtown Boise. This fun event rounds up 2016 with live music, fireworks, vendors, and of course the drop of the potato! For information on the entertainment, vendors, schedules, and more go to www.idahopotatodrop.com
Back It Up!
Holiday Garbage
Just a reminder as you park your vehicle to keep it backed away enough from the sidewalk that your bumper is not over the walkway so the snow plow can get those walks properly cleared.
The holidays tend to bring a large amount of trash with them, from wrapping paper to empty boxes. In order to make certain that there is enough room in the dumpsters for the everyday trash, please help us by following these guidelines: Please break down and recycle any and all boxes. Wrapping paper can be recycled as well, so you are welcome to add that to the recycle bin (making sure there is no plastic wrap or bags included). Christmas trees are not to be placed in the dumpster. Styrofoam can‘t be recycled and shouldn’t be placed in recycle bins. Electronics, appliances, and furniture of any type can’t be thrown in the dumpsters. Any large, oversized objects should not be placed in the dumpster. Do not place garbage bags on the ground around the dumpsters. If the dumpster is full, please take the trash to another dumpster. If you have items to dispose of that are not to be placed in the dumpsters, you may take them to the local transfer station in Meridian on Franklin Rd. between Pine and Linder for disposal.
Holiday Office Hours Friday, 12/23 Open 9 am to 1 pm Monday, 12/26 - Closed Tuesday 12/27 through Friday 12/30 Open 9 am to 1 pm Monday, 1/2 - closed
KEEP THE HEAT ON! While it may be tempting to turn the heat off to save money when you go on a holiday vacation, that mistake can be costly. If you have the heat turned off and the pipes freeze you will be responsible for the repairs. For this reason, we remind our residents that the heat should never be turned below 64 degrees in your apartment. If you are moving out, be sure to leave the thermostat set to the minimum 64 degrees. Do not ever turn your thermostat off in freezing temperatures.