Monday, January 30, 2012

Pregnancy and Baking

You would think that after being pregnant as many times as I have, I would be a pro at this.

NOPE.....It's kicking my butt.

You forget what it was like those first few months......SERIOUSLY....you don't remember. You think, ahhhhhh it's not that bad.

WRONG......first of all the only thing I want to do is sleep. I have never felt so lazy in all my life. It's all coming back to me now, and it's not good.

And if being totally exhausted wasn't enough, I have constant nausea. CONSTANT. Why do they call it morning sickness when it hits you all hours of the day and night?

I lay on the sofa thinking.....I've gotta blog, I've gotta blog, I've gotta blog.....then when I go to get up, my body tells me to get back to the sofa NOW.

I miss blogging and most of all I miss baking. I don't even cook.

My poor husband deserves a trophy because on top of the nightly foot rubs.....he has to cook.

Well although this pregnancy is taking its toll on me, I have relief in knowing this is the last time. We've finally figured out what causes this.....even if it is six babies later. I will never wash my laundry with his again.

So know that I miss you guys and I'll be back blogging really soon. I've got some cute things I'm working on for tutorials, it just takes me a bit longer to get  finished started now.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Valentine Cupcake Cookies


Stores are coming out with holiday stuff earlier and earlier. When I went to Hobby Lobby the other day to grab some Mardi Gras sanding sugars for my giveaway, they were already putting out Easter stuff.

You think they could wait for one holiday to be over before they start putting out stuff for the next. 

Watch, next year they'll be selling Christmas stuff in May.

I'm not sure about you, but I can't get all excited and want to buy stuff when it isn't even close to that time of year. 

I managed to GLANCE at the Easter stuff.......that's right, I glanced. I didn't look long enough to purchase, but didn't look too fast as to not see.

See....I know how to do it. 

Ok well you're here on my blog and we are on the proper season/holiday. So you get Valentine's day stuff.  I promise that I won't start Halloween now or anything crazy like that.....okay? Sound good? 

Good, we're on the same page.

Today I'm going to show you how to make Valentine's cupcakes.

First roll out your sugar cookie dough and cut out cupcakes.
I have a great sugar cookie recipe if you need one.

Bake and cool your cookies. I like to do this the day before.

Using a pink royal icing and a #2 tip outline the cookie, making a cupcake liner.
Let dry about 15 minutes.

Now with pink flood icing, fill that part in. Allow to dry several hours.

Now with red royal icing and a #2 tip outline a heart at the top of cupcake.
Let dry about 15 minutes. 

Fill heart with red flood icing. Allow to dry several hours.

With white royal icing and #2 tip, Outline white part of cupcake.
Let dry about 15 minutes.

Fill section with white flood icing.

While the white icing is still WET, put some red sprinkles on. 
You could use any sprinkles you choose. Heart sprinkles would be cute.
Let cookie dry several hours.

Now outline the heart with red royal icing and add lines to the cupcake liner.

Enjoy your cookies for Valentine's day.......or make them for November, if you like to do things early like the stores.....just kidding.

~ENJOY



Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Red Lip Cookies


Let's talk about lips.  I love red lips. Maybe my love for red lips started when I first saw The Rocky Horror Picture show, but every since I was a teenager I always wanted to wear red lipstick.

Of course, my mother would NEVER allow red lipstick. No way, no how. Wasn't gonna happen.  Didn't stop me from wanting to decorate my room with red lips or buy every shirt that had a pair of lips on it......hey I grew up in the 80's, we wore weird stuff. 

I fell in love with this red lip sofa when I was in Paris. I had no way of getting it home at the time, or it would have been mine. 

Paris 2008

Should have strapped it to the top of the car!

Well I don't own a lip sofa, but I do have some lip cookies. I didn't have a lip cookie cutter, I know hard to believe. I didn't let that stop me. I just made my own template with stencil paper and cut it out by hand.

These cookies are so easy. The hardest thing is the drying time in between sections.

Start with lip shaped sugar cookies. If you need a good recipe you can try my cookie recipe.

With red royal icing and a #2 tip outline the lips. The center line does NOT have to be perfect. 
This will make them look more realistic.

Work in sections. First fill in the bottom section with red 20 second royal icing. 
Allow to dry for several hours. 

After the first section has dried a while, fill top section in. Allow to dry overnight.

There you have it.......some red lips for Valentine's day!


~Enjoy

Monday, January 23, 2012

1,000+ Facebook Fan Giveaway!!!!!!!!

Know what time it is..............

IT'S TIME FOR A GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!
That's right, a giveaway. 

Wanna know what kind of giveaway I'm having?........

A MARDI GRAS THEMED GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes Mardi Gras!
{Purple, Green and Gold confetti falls from the ceiling}



And Guess who helped sponsor my giveaway?

 

&

Totally Awesome right?

The winner will receive

A Mardi Gras Mask cookie cutter

A dozen Mardi Gras Mask cupcake picks
 

Three pixie dust shakers
(These are fantastic for disco dust)

Disco dust in Emerald Green

Disco dust in American Gold

Disco dust in Amethyst

A crown cookie cutter

An alligator cookie cutter
but WAIT....there's MORE

I had to get in on the fun too. So when I was at Hobby Lobby, I picked up 

A set of Mardi Gras sanding sugars in Green, purple, and gold

AND wanna know the best part......

I'm sending the winner a traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras King Cake!!!!



To enter the giveaway all you have to do is leave a comment below telling me what's your favorite item in the giveaway. (This is the only required entry)

Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES

You can share the giveaway on facebook or twitter. Come back and leave a comment letting me know you shared.

You can follow me here on my blog. Leave a comment saying you follow me.

You can follow me on Facebook. Leave a comment saying you follow me on facebook.

You can follow Fancy Flours on Facebook....while you're there you can thank them for their donations for my giveaway. Come back and let me know you did so.

You can follow Fancy Flours on Twitter. Come back and leave a comment saying you did.

You can follow Karen's Cookies on Facebook....while you're there you can thank them for their donations for my giveaway. Come back and let me know you did so.

You can follow Karen's Cookies Blog. Come back and leave a comment saying you did.

  • You must be at least 18 years old to enter.
  • Contest is open to US residents with a United States mailing address only.
  • Contest starts at 12:01AM {CST}  January 23,2012  and ends January 31,2012 at Midnight {CST}
  • Winner is chosen randomly chosen by random.org
  • This giveaway was sponsored by Fancy Flours, Karen's Cookies, and myself
  • I was not compensated in anyway for this giveaway and all opinions are 100% my own.
  • Winner has 72hours to respond before I must choose another winner.
  • All products will be mailed by me with the exception of the King Cake, which will be sent FedEx directly from the bakery.




Friday, January 20, 2012

Roll Out Sugar Cookie Recipe

Yeah.....it's FRIDAY!!!!!

Friday's are my favorite. For me it simply means the kids are all going to be home from school and we can play for two days......baking, playing games, watching movies together.

Yes, I have no life and my children are my playmates. It's been that way FOREVER.....and I wouldn't change a thing. I would rather hang out with my kids then go out parting like most of the world. 

Don't get me wrong, not that long ago I was the life of the party. Having "shot time" was my all time favorite part of the weekend. Patrón and I were very good friends.

But then something happened. Somewhere along the way.........I GOT OLD! 

Yeah Old! 

Well old in my book anyway.  Let's just say I'm not 21 anymore.

Although I like to think I 'm young, buying six inch heels......wonder how long I can wear those before I get too old and the only thing I can wear are tennis and ballet flats. 

Not that there's anything wrong with that.......I just love my heels. Heels make everything better....in my book anyway. My mother-in-law bought me a picture for my wall that has a picture of a high heel and it reads......"My Best is Always Better in Heels". She always gets me the best gifts!

Well it's Friday and I've got something for you.....

I'm going to give you my sugar cookie recipe! 

Surprise! Surprise!

This is the best cookie recipe.....In my opinion anyway. 

Are you excited????? Ok here's what you'll need....

Roll Out Sugar Cookie Recipe
1 egg, room temperature and beaten
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
2 1/2 cups flour, sifted
1 tsp salt
2 tsp Almond emulsion (you can use extract if you prefer)


Ingredients

 You could use a hand mixer if you don't own a stand mixer.
I prefer my stand mixer.
This was one of the gifts my father bought me for my wedding. 
It's my most cherished item.....other than my heels!

cream butter

Add powdered sugar and incorporate well

then I add the egg, salt, and extracts/emulsion

Then add the flour. I add this a little at a time. 
Do not over mix. I just mix until incorporated. 

The dough will be sticky. It does need to be refrigerated a few hours before using. 
OR you can do like I do......
I put it in a large container and pop it in the freezer for about 30 minutes. 

After dough is refrigerated. Roll out on a floured surface and cut out cookie shapes. 
Place on a lined cookie sheet and bake at 375˚ for 10-12 minutes. 
**I pop my cookies in the freezer for 5 minutes before baking. I think this helps with spreading.

A few tips:
  • EVERY oven is different so times will vary
  • DO NOT brown cookies
  • I only use Madagascar Vanilla......it makes a huge difference.
  • You can use extract, I prefer emulsions. They give a stronger flavor. 
  • All ingredients should be room temperature
  • ALWAYS pre heat your oven
  • Let cookies sit for a day before decorating. This will help with the oils bleeding through your icing and ruining all your hard work.
  • This cookie dough does not spread much at all. 
  • This cookie recipe doubles well. I always double my recipe.
  • This cookie dough freezes well. If freezing for a period of time, I wrap dough in plastic wrap and place in a ziploc bag. Then I put the bag in a plastic container.
Enjoy~



Thursday, January 19, 2012

Love Bird Cookies

Remember what it was like when you first fell in love? When everything was new and exciting.

Remember acting like little love birds. Always holding hands, kissing, using mushy love talk. Yeah, those were the days.

The days before you had to clean his hair out of the sink from his morning shave......before you had to pick up his dirty clothes off the floor.......and before you knew of all his disgusting habits. You remember the days before that right?

Those were the days......

Well my hubby and I are still like love birds.....and he doesn't have any disgusting habits.....he even picks up all his dirty clothes and puts them in the properly sorted laundry baskets.......

AHHHHH YEAH RIGHT!!!! Totally Fantasy.....but it's a good fantasy.

Well this fantasy got me thinking about cookies. Then again, everything has me thinking about cookies.

I bought this paisley cutter from Ecrandal right before Christmas and never got around to using it. I knew when I saw it, I was going to use it for quite a few things. Mainly I wanted it to make birds. So, when I started thinking of love birds I was so excited to use my new cutter.

First roll out your dough and cut out paisley shapes and a heart shapes.
Bake according to your recipe directions.

**TIP: If you want birds facing each other be sure to flip some of the paisley shapes BEFORE baking. Otherwise you have to decorate the back of the cookie. Which isn't the end of the world, but isn't how I wanted to do mine.

 Using pink royal icing and a #2 tip, outline cookie. 

With pink flood icing, fill entire cookie. Let dry overnight.

Outline heart cookie with red royal icing. I just used the bottle of flood icing. About 20 second consistency. I didn't feel like putting it in a bag :)

Then Fill with the red 20 second icing. Let dry overnight.

Add eyes. You could use black candy beads if you're not comfortable piping. 
Then add a dab of royal icing and lay heart on top for wing. Be sure your hearts are completely dry to prevent sticking your finger in them like I did and making a dent.
Allow several hours for icing to dry under the wing.


Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Football Cookies....


Okay, so this weekends football game had me way too stressed out.

As you all know I'm from New Orleans, so naturally I'm a huge Saints fan.  HUGE.

My husband on the other hand HATES sports. He'll sit down next to me to watch the Saints game, but he'd rather be doing something else.

I know, I know some of you are wishing your husband hated sports so your television would not be consumed with sports all the time.......but trust me mine watches other stupid things that I can't stand to watch, like Mythbusters, How it's Made, oh and not to mention the darn HISTORY channel. Yeah, seriously.

If he wants to learn stuff so bad he can turn on one of my shows. Those are "real world" educational. Things he may actually need to know.

So I took over the television for the one football game. Let me tell you, I would have preferred to watch his stupid stuff......REALLY.

Did you see that game?

I think I had a mini heart attack! Seriously! First they were loosing....then they were winning with only a few minutes left to the game. I was ready to purchase the tickets for the SuperBowl and some plane tickets when.......

TOUCHDOWN for the 49ers.........I was like WHATTHEHELLJUSTHAPPENED?

Really? I didn't know what to say.

I've been really trying not to be a Debbie Downer later and be more of a Positive Patty so trying to think like Patty.........I thanked the New Orleans of Saints for their loss.

It went something like this......

Thank you Saints for not showing up to play football today. You just saved me hundreds of dollars on Superbowl tickets, not to mention airplane tickets, car rental, hotel........That money will be much better spent on a new pair of heels!

It's a win win situation! Right?

Well, I made some football cookies. At least if the game wasn't any good, the cookies were. The cookies are always good. They vanish around here.

These are really easy to make for a beginner.

First roll out your dough and cut out football shapes.

Bake your cookies according to your recipes directions.

Next outline outer edge of cookie, then add a line down the center. It doesn't have to be exactly straight.



Next fill top section ONLY. This will give the cookie definition. I learned this tip from SugarBelle. Go to her blog for some amazing tips! Let the top section dry for a few hours.

Then fill in bottom section. Let dry several hours.

Next add the white details with royal icing and a #2 tip. A #1.5 PME tip would have been better, but since it was dirty and I only own one, I used the #2. Allow that to dry.  

You can add the laces at the top instead of the middle.....I like this way better.

Then enjoy your football cookies at your favorite football game or Superbowl party. Hopefully your team will play better than mine did this past weekend. 
ENJOY!

Friday, January 13, 2012

Crocodile Cookies


I have ONE special little boy in my life and that's it. 

Nevermind that he's eighteen and looks like he could be a linebacker for a the New Orleans Saints. He's still my little boy and he still LOVES Crocodiles. 

When it comes to Valentine's day it's hard to find him "treat" related things. Valentine's day is centered toward women. 

Let's be honest here.....IT'S ALL ABOUT US....not that I'm complaining. 

So when Valentine's day rolls around I always try to find him things with Crocodiles or Alligators. 

Educational fact: Alligators have a round snout and crocodiles have a more pointier snout. 

Just thought I'd toss that bit of education in there, ya know, so we can learn here. 

I think this cookie could go either way, but I'll call him a crocodile. Maybe it's because of the years of watching Crocodile Dundee with my son. Who knows. 

Moving on......

Yesterday I showed you how to make Love Bites cookies. Pair those with a crocodile cookie and you have a perfect treat for your special little boy on Valentine's day.

If your gonna make your little man some cookies, you're gonna need to know how right? Ok let me show you how to make these adorable cookies.



First start with Crocodile shaped cookies baked and cooled.
Next outline cookie with #2 tip and avocado green royal icing. Allow that to dry for about 15 min.

Then we begin making the texture on the crocodile. Still using the #2 tip and green royal icing we will pipe a bead of icing then release pressure while pulling downward.  This may take a bit of practice and you can practice on a piece of wax paper ahead of time. Don't get frustrated if you can't do it at first, it's easier than it seems. Just keep practicing.

Work in rows going across on the crocodile. 

Continue doing this until the entire cookie is filled.

When you do the arms and legs, do the piping in a different direction. Working away from the foot and toward the body. When entire cookie is filled, allow to dry overnight.

Then add face details and claws. Then let dry a few hours.


He's really easy to make and you can have a special Valentine's treat for your little man....or big man.

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