Chocolate might reign supreme as the sweet choice for Valentine’s Day but if something lighter tickles your fancy, meringue heart cookies just might make your heart go all aflutter. Made with ingredients most of us already have on hand in our kitchens, the ingredients are simple: egg whites, cream of tartar, granulated sugar (either ‘super fine’ or regular), and vanilla. The pink food coloring for tinting the meringue is optional but soft pink hearts are the language of love on… [Read More]
As the year winds down I wanted to tell you, you’ve made my year merry and bright and I count you among my blessings. Espresso martini decorated cookies. I’m going to be doing more of this over the next couple of weeks… … so I’ll see you again after the brief holiday intermission. 🙂
What does your cookie forecast look like this season? Merry and bright with a high chance of pretty and delicious snowflake cookies? Snowflakes are a wonder to me. When I was around twelve I experienced falling snow for the first time and it turns out to be the only time so far. In the palms of my gloves, I recall I was amazed to see the ice crystal patterns of the individual flakes. I thought all falling snow must be… [Read More]
Yep. It’s true. What can I say? I confess. Turns out I’m a partisan cookie decorator but hadn’t realized it until recently. For the record, no one asked me to make Democratic donkeys, but it got me thinking… if asked, would I? No. Even though my personal pachyderm cookie would feel comfortable sporting a couple of long ears on one or two issues it would still lean to the right. However you might choose to decorate your cookie, decorate it… [Read More]
This has been quite a busy collegiate cake pop month. I’ve just finished another order for USC Cake Pops and while I was decorating for the Spirit of Troy, my mind wandered to the 4th of July with patriotic fervor. I made these cake pops very simple – fondant stars sprinkled with Disco Dust and luster dust brushed over the dipped pop. I cannot get enough of using paper straws for the sticks. I love, love, love this look! I… [Read More]
Last weekend, we, along with other Theta Chi parents, had the pleasure of spending a special parents’ weekend with our sons. I made a few batches of chocolate chip cookies and Theta Chi cookies with Greek letters and the fraternity flower – the red carnation. The Greek letters are made from thinned royal icing that has been allowed to dry and harden. They peel off the waxed paper. I then placed them on top of the white wet royal icing…. [Read More]
I’m always thinking one season ahead. Decorated Clam Cookies This past Sunday we took a leisurely drive up Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from Laguna up to Newport Beach. For fun we even took the ferry (a few minutes float) from Balboa Island over to the peninsula and drove over to the wedge. Even though I’m a west coast- SoCal gal, born and raised, when I think summer and the beach my heart hops a plane and heads straight to Cape… [Read More]
I’m hopping back into my springtime cookie archives while I enjoy some spring break time with my boys over the next couple of weeks. Of course, they couldn’t be on break the same weeks could they, but at some point we hope to spend at least a few days all together. When I return I’ll have a special Vera Bradley give-away for followers that I think you’ll really like. In the mean time, if you’re thinking about Easter and springtime… [Read More]
The weekend was perfect here in sunny SoCal and the flowers were making their seasonal debut, especially in my kitchen. Butterflies were visiting. And ladybugs too. Getting ready for springtime baskets of nature’s smiles. I can hardly wait until our real garden is as colorful. With gentle friends fluttering and buzzing about. Spring. Officially 8 days and counting. Have a sweet, colorful week. Sugar Recipe & Tutorial Royal Icing Recipe & Tutorial Colors used: Americolor – deep pink, electric green,… [Read More]
The fleet is in! Are they nautical wedding cookies? Nautical Save-the-Date cookies? Nautical birthday cookies or nautical baby announcement cookies? Let’s set sail … … and send up the flags. Let’s signal L.O.V.E. … and Happy Birthday to my love bug, G.E.J., who turns 21 this weekend. Save-the-Date for a nautical wedding or to announce the very special arrival of a new member of the crew. The Scrabble possibilities are endless when you know the nautical alphabet or you can… [Read More]
Make-Ahead Frozen Buttercream Cake Decorations
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Pretty Pink Petal Cake – A Wilton Cake Decorating Technique
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Carlo’s Bakery Cannolis and Lobster Tail Pastries
How To Host a Shabu-Shabu Party – An Interactive Dining Experience for a Group: Part 1
Seattle (Macaron) Space Needle Cupcake Topper
