Kansas State Cookie: Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Vote for My KC Mommy!

Kansas City is a unique town - if you're not local, you may not realize there is actually a Kansas City, Missouri AND a Kansas City, Kansas.  And they run right into each other!  It's a short trip for KC locals to visit either state.  I actually live on the Missouri side, but have been finding myself in Kansas for all sorts of fun projects lately!

When I was asked to create the Kansas State Cookie, I didn't have to spend a lot of time searching for inspiration.  If asked to come up with the most iconic Kansas symbol, what would you say?  Jayhawks?  Sunflowers?  These are definitely popular, but I had to go with what I think most people associate with this great state.

Toto...I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore!

Visit the KC Airport and amidst all the sunflower magnets and t-shirts with funny slogans about cow-tipping, you will find an array of merchandise related to the 1939 MGM film, The Wizard of Oz.  And thus my inspiration was born: I set out to create a cookie that celebrates this classic.

I started off by creating a "yellow brick road" made from lemon bars (here's a recipe I found at AllRecipes.com)

CRUST
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

TOPPING
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine flour, butter and confectioners' sugar; press into an 8-in. square baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, eggs, flour, lemon juice, extract, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix until frothy; pour over crust.

3. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until light golden brown.

4. To make bricks:  Wait until completely cooled, then slice with a wet knife into bricks.  If you choose, outline edges with yellow icing gel and sprinkle with yellow sugar.

5.  Arrange as desired!

For the ruby slippers and "OZ" cookies, I just made a basic sugar cookie recipe (like this one).  You can use homeade or store-bought icing (I used white) to cover the cookies.  While the icing is still wet, let the kids go crazy with a canister of colored sugar!  It was insanely fun to decorate these cookies.  Warning, though - you will get a sugar high from eating them!  :)

I baked my cookies on a new Better Homes & Gardens nonstick cookie sheet - let me tell you, I am converted.  It was so easy to just slide the cookies right off the pan!  No greasing, no broken cookies...love it!

Optional: Find cute baby to wear Cowardly Lion costume.  Your cookies will probably taste even yummier if you get to see something this adorable while you eat them.

Now here's my request!  If you like the cookie I created, please head over and VOTE for the Kansas cookie in the Better Homes & Gardens State Cookie Contest on Facebook!  After you have "liked" their Facebook page, you can view all the amazing cookie creations that bloggers across the nation (including my friends in the My City Mommy network) have created, and find recipes and ideas to try for yourself!  It only takes a few seconds to vote and I would appreciate your help!  I know that my readers are awesome when it comes to voting...remember the Aerosoles Spring Challenge?

Voting starts today, June 30 (8am Central Time - it's live now!) and runs until July 26 (10:59 Central Time).  I'll be reminding you to vote every now and then.  Please spread the word as every vote counts!  You can vote once every 24 hours. 

What's in it for you!  The top five entries in this contest will be selected based on popular vote - and then those bloggers will get to give away a fantastic collection of bakeware from Better Homes & Gardens!  Help My Kansas City Mommy win the challenge and YOU could end up with some free bakeware! 

While you're on Facebook, don't forget to "like" My Kansas City Mommy, too!

Thanks to Better Homes & Gardens for providing the sample cookie sheet used in this promotion.  I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own.

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