ALE yeah, turning 21 is reason to celebrate. And in the US, adulthood means you can legally raise a glass. In honor of Denver’s craft brewing industry and those whose HOP(e)S and dreams are set by beer, I present two of my best BREW.ha.ha cookie sets.
If you follow this blog, you know that I volunteer for Operation Cookie Takeover. We send treats to military folks serving overseas. I was assigned a Marine for this current (Veterans day) round of cookies. We don’t know where they are stationed but we do find out their battalion. Therefore, I can always include specifics as to their motto and crest. Here was that set.
Oh no I didn’t. Yes WHEY, I did! This order was for a newly married couple who met at the gym and were both into power lifting. The client gave me free rein with design and so I LUNGED into the puns. Never been so dead (lift) serious in my life.
Let’s talk about mistakes. I work incredibly hard not to make them. But I did. In my haste (4 different sets were on our dining room table that day) to get a friend her birthday cookies on time, I totally misspelled a play on words. No pun pride that day. Luckily, it was a dear friend and I gave them to her anyway. She said she didn’t even notice (that’s how good a friend she is). Despite my spelling fail, the gourds in the set turned out beautifully and the pun was perfect for the season. And, here’s the most important part, the cookies are always tasty.
Bottom line, I just want to pass along a hug to those of you who like things just so, who strive for perfection. It’s frustrating when things don’t go according to plan but mostly it’s US that care so deeply about perceived imperfection. Others, not so much. Here’s to continuing on. May the rest your day still be GOURDeous.
My niece was trying to decide on the theme for her November baby shower. She was wavering between “Lil Pumpkin” and “Sweet as Pie”; well, why not both? Orange streamers and little baby pumpkins were strewn like confetti around house. Pies from her favorite local pie baker, Mom’s Apple Pie (boy, were they scrumptious), were the centerpieces of the dessert table. And, of course, there were as many MMB cookies as I could carry on the plane. (Seriously, the DIA security folks don’t even bat an eye at my copious amounts of cookies anymore.) Here are some of the cookies that were plated for the dessert table. (Kaleida Cuts for the win on the wonkie onesie cookie cutter).
And these bad boys were bagged and tagged for the favors. (yep, it’s a boy…)
Tori’s gown was structured and classic with just a touch of bling. Perfectly and incredibly appropriate. So, true to Tori and Byron, the wedding/reception was equally classy, with all of the fabulous (and I do mean fabulous) details taken care of. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!! The food was as plentiful as it was incredible and the dancing nonstop! I was pretty much blown away by the whole day/event. The photographer was Pat Robinson of Philly; can’t say enough positives about his work!
Our girls. The youngest, the maid of honor, and Tori, the BRIDE!!!
MMB cookie favors were served as parting gifts. A play on the Philly (“knot”) pretzel.
The groom and bride each got a cookie box of their own.
And the cookies that went into the Philly themed welcome bags…
Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in Mexico on November 1 & 2. It was at one time celebrated during the summer. Long ago it was changed to coincide with the Catholic holiday called All Soul’s & All Saint’s Day, and the indigenous people of Mexico have combined this with their own ancient beliefs of honoring their deceased loved ones.
They believe that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of all deceased children (angelitos) are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours. On November 2, the spirits of the adults come down to enjoy the festivities that are prepared for them.
Sugar art was brought to the New World by Italian missionaries in the 17th century. The first Church mention of sugar art was from Palermo at Easter time when little sugar lambs and angels were made to adorn the side altars in the Catholic Church.
Clay molded sugar figures of angels, sheep and sugar skulls go back to the Colonial Period 18th century. Sugar skulls represented a departed soul, had the name written on the forehead and was placed on the home ofrenda or gravestone to honor the return of a particular spirit. Sugar skull art reflects the folk art style of big happy smiles, colorful icing and sparkly tin and glittery adornments. Sugar skulls are labor intensive and made in very small batches in the homes of sugar skull makers (although now production is becoming commercialized).
My “sugar skulls” for 2016:
Mama Mayer Bakery 