Monday, December 15, 2014

Snowflake Decorated Sugar Cookies



Happy Holidays everyone! Figured I had better get it in while I have a moment :)

For me, one of my favorite things to make over the holidays are these snowflake cookies. They are my zen. After a hectic day of knocking out caramels and other holiday treats, I can sit down and literally get lost in these. They are one of those things that don't require much concentration, no boiling temperatures to watch or beer boiling over when I take my eyes off the stove. It takes just a moment to make the cookie dough and royal icing; and as long as I set my oven timer I am golden.

These have a little citrus zest in the dough and a lemon vanilla royal icing. I've had this shape for a couple of years and can't wait to snatch up a new one at this year's after Christmas sales!

Here is the all white version:
White Snowflake Decorated Sugar Cookie

Lightest blue. This color was my favorite this year. I used Alan Tetreault's Sky Blue, just a little. The color looks like a slightly translucent robin's egg color. The camera doesn't do it justice. Absolutely lovely.
Blue Snowflake Decorated Sugar Cookie

And then a couple darker blue variations:
Blue Snowflake Decorated Sugar Cookie

Blue Snowflake Decorated Sugar Cookie

In case I don't "see" you all before the Holiday, have a happy and blessed one!




Monday, December 8, 2014

Oh what to bring to the Thanksgiving potluck




Most Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are spent with friends.  So many folks here have little family here so we all band together and enjoy our big family of misfits :)

This Thanksgiving we were invited and were late to RSVP.  By the time we finally decided that yes, this is what we are doing (Matt is the only one in family that has a hard time committing), everything I had thought to bring was signed up for. So I decided to make pie my way.

I don't have a lot of Thanksgiving cookie cutters and this idea from Sweet Sugar Belle was perfect! I used my standard cut out cookie recipe and omitted citrus and added pumpkin pie spice.

Here is a close up of the pumpkin pie decorated cookies:


To use up some of the bits of dough I added some fall color cookies. I really loved the colors that I ended up with.


They were a hit and disappeared fast.

Happy Thanksgiving!