Miscellaneous Momma

Where's the Fire?

2010-05-03T15:05:00.003-04:00

In an attempt to be a proficient cookie decorator, I've started offering to make cookies for about any occasion that pops up. When I offered to make cookies for a relative, I didn't realize that her son's birthday party was going to be quite so large... I ended up making approximately 65 cookies. Although, almost half of them were the simple "1" cookies. So, it wasn't quite so overwhelming as it could have been. I'm still working on the right consistency for the finer details... But all in all, I felt pretty good delivering these.

A Spark of Inspiration

2010-04-26T09:20:00.004-04:00

I do not consider myself to be creative. It's the bane of my existence (or one of, at the very least). So, when I get compliments from co-workers and friends when I share cookies, I instinctively feel funny inside. But not necessarily a good feeling. I always tell people "I'm an idea stealer". Letting them think that I came up with the idea for the cookies makes me feel a bit like a fraud. Coming up with the idea that these little monsters would be cute on cookies gives me hope that one day I won't have to rely on other amazingly creative people for all of my cookie designs.

Of course I still wouldn't call myself creative. Resourceful, maybe... I have Carter's to thank for the creativity.

Royal Icing: I can't quit you.

2010-04-09T12:56:00.001-04:00

My adoration (and the beginnings of an obsession) of royal icing began about seven years ago. For my bridal shower, my sister's friend made me some beautiful cookies decorated with royal icing. I loved them. Ever since, I have wanted to learn to make them. So, for my son's first birthday, over four years later, I wanted to give it a try. The recipe was simple (given to me by a friend), but left a lot of room for error. I need exacts. Regardless, I was decently pleased.

Try number two was my son's second birthday. I wanted to try a recipe that had more exact measurements. Again, pretty good, but not great... There were soooo many bottles and bags (two for each color - piping and flooding) and so many attempts at the right consistency. Just very overwhelming.

THEN, someone asked me to make cookies for their son's birthday (based on my son's cookies). Uh, pressure! So, I tried a new recipe at Christmas out of Cookie Craft Christmas for practice. UTTER FAIL. It didn't harden. Stayed sticky. So for the birthday cookies, I went back to the Joy of Baking recipe. Continued to have the same issues as before, so I kept searching.

Valentine's Day was another failure. I can't be left to my own devices. I will screw it up. Well, at least until I have a really good handle on consistency, which I hope with come with time and practice. I'm absolutely sure this recipe is great (all these recipes are great for OTHER people; it is definitely user error), but I overbeat it and then over thinned some of the icing. Pathetic little cookies they were. I wish I could say that these were made by children, but sadly they were not.

FINALLY, I came across a recipe that left little room for me to screw up (believe me, I'm sure my interpretation isn't close to being exact, but there is much less wiggle room). Ahh, finally. Here are my attempts using the new recipe.

I think I've found my royal icing recipe.