This past weekend I was making some sample Valentine’s Day cookies and I needed very straight lines to create a dotted Swiss look. First, I thought to use a ruler marking the cookie with an edible pen but using a ruler is cumbersome and I didn’t want hard contact on the cookie. I decided to place a string over the cookie and secure the ends with tape on my pastry board. The string acted as my guideline. For every new… [Read More]
Yesterday I got an email from Martha Stewart. Well, sort of. My banana cookies photo was chosen to be a featured photo on Dreamers Into Doers on marthastewart.com. I don’t know how it was chosen, could be random for all I know, but it was fun yesterday telling my family members Martha and I were BFFs!! HA! Seeing my photo on Martha’s site…“It’s a good thing”. Have a good weekend, friends.Next week I promise something besides banana cookies!
I had so much fun coming up with a creative idea for the presentation of family memberships for our local zoo for a give-away. The business who sponsored the give-away asked me to come up with something that would coordinate with such a nifty gift.My project began with this… …membership certificates in a paper scroll. The presentation possibilities were endless but you know me…… ‘cookies must be involved!’ The zoo is known for their monkey exhibit and what is more… [Read More]
Good things do come in small packages. Especially in bite sized ones.After icing the cookies with thinned icing and letting them dry, I brushed them with aqua colored luster powder for a soft blush of color. I then piped the details on the cookie and finished with a single silver dragee in the center. For the presentation I used paper loaf pans that I never got around to using for baking cranberry bread for Thanksgiving. Another small package and… [Read More]
Meringue Mushrooms are a special treat at Christmas time. I’ve usedthem to decorate Buche du Noels but I like to make them to give as gifts because they’re different from the regular holiday cookies. They present nicely in a small decorative basket, a mushroom basket from the store or even wrapped up in a cello bag tied with a festive ribbon. Things needed~1/2 c. egg whites, room temp. (3 to 4 large eggs)1/8 tsp. table salt1/4 tsp. cream of tarter1… [Read More]
I wished for a snow day today to play with all my snowflake cookie cutters. Not only did our usual sunny skies have no intention of performing a miracle but I also found myself on the couch with a cold. Day 3 in fact, so I can only plan my attack when I get back into the kitchen. For a girl who has only been in slightly falling snow once, snowflakes call to me. Every year I would make a… [Read More]
The big day came and went this weekend for my niece’s wedding and it was a wonderful day.My gift to her was making 160 decorated cookies with her nautical theme utilizing the affectionate term ‘soul mateys’. I modified my original design of stenciling ‘soul mateys’ on the cookie and decided on two cute hearts incorporating the ‘soul mateys’ on a tag instead.For the last two weeks and as far as the eye could see, my horizon has been filled with… [Read More]
Preppy 101 asked me to make a cookie for a friend’s debutante celebration and I was thrilled! I thought the cookie cutter used for the “Betty Draper Party Dress” that is featured in my Give-Away would be perfect and I wanted to share a couple more decorating ideas with you.Click HERE to enter the give-away if you’d like. It ends this Sunday after Mad Men. 🙂 I began with my favorite Sugar Cookie and Royal Icing recipes. In keeping with… [Read More]
Behind every successful American is a good woman. Dreams and spirits can soar in our land. We are ‘One Nation, under God’. Even if we are individual stars. We may have suffered a few cracks along the way but we are forged together with strong beliefs of freedom and equality which ring true for all to hear. My cookies and I would like to wish you a wonderful, safe and happy 4th of July with all the wonderment and… [Read More]
I was inspired by The Butterfly Cookies I saw on the Fancy Flours website. The Butterfly Wafer Paper Set is the key ingredient for the effect. I read their ‘how-to’ but I did things a bit different. You will need: Sugar Cookie Recipe (previous post) Royal Icing Recipe (previous post) • Blue and Lavender Butterfly Wafer Paper Set (SKU: 3601-WP-BCS-1) • Butterflies Cookie Cutter Set (SKU: 4300-RM-BF-1 ) • Edible Clear Writing Gel (SKU: 9999-CK-GL-1) to act as ‘glue’ for… [Read More]
Make-Ahead Frozen Buttercream Cake Decorations
Colonial Williamsburg Sweet Potato Muffins
Carlo’s Bakery Cannolis and Lobster Tail Pastries
The Best Pecan Pie and Painted Dough Cut-Outs
Decorated Ghost Cookies With Fondant
Cocktail Napkin Swap!
Staircase Decorations – Two Holidays In One
Pumpkin Spice Mini Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
