Since both parents are teachers, a literature/storybook theme was a perfect choice for the baby shower. It is likely that there will be many open books in this baby boy’s future. But, “In the Beginning,” this cookie will start the celebration of a new life!
The cookie itself was a brown sugar and spice version, care of cookie goddess Bridget Edwards at Bake at 350. She and her recipes are AH.mazing!
We’ve had our fair share of Buffalo snow and wind over the years but this storm was particularly blustery and bitter! For those of you who know the area, I 90 was closed from Rochester through the PA border. Although we were sequestered in our home, we had electricity, heat, and one perfectly delightful fireplace! I had been wanting to try the dark chocolate cookie recipe from Sweetapolita so ta-da, silver lining for everything. (thank you Sweetopolita! Delish!) Here are the results.
Basically I wanted to do a study in 2x4s. Most might think Lowe’s lumber, but I mean 2 inch by 4 inch, as in cookie terms. I started with a 4″x4″ cookie and cut in half.
Then I made the earmuffs using a horseshoe and a ruffled circle cookie cutter.
This is my interpretation of snowmen during the blizzard…
Added a little retro snow (LOVE retro!)…
And then the thermometer.
Here’s a through.the.window glimpse of what Buffalo looked like mid-polar vortex… Appreciating your homestead about now?
Tic.tock, waiting for that midnight kiss. This clock fulfilled my requirements: completed ever so quickly and able to feed a lot of kids. There are about 60 cookies on the tray and the glaze icing is super simple (powdered sugar, water or milk, and coloring- only the “hello 2014” is royal icing). Deliciously counting the minutes until the new year.
Thanks for a great 2013. May every year be better than the next!
James is officially a licensed driver! Be sure to carefully follow all road signs, including these. Oh, the sweet smell of independence… or is that just an invigorating whiff of sugar?
Breakfast cookies? Well, technically we were invited to brunch so all bets were off (um. You already know I am “off”). The traditional egg and bacon breakfast first came to mind (some clever cookie-rs have gone down that route). But fate stepped in; the movie we were watching contained a song from the early 80’s. Okay, Elton John and Kiki Dee sang theirs in the mid 70s but its close enough. Hope you will forgive me…
Not one but two friends asked for holiday themed bowling cookies. Made some of the cookies where the pins and balls share the sugar and some where they were “SPLIT“(you may talk in in strikes and spares but I totally relate to the previous reference).
Um. Such a party! One person had an Ipad playing either a roaring fireplace or Happy Feet built into his sweater. Another had “Madonna cones,” appropriately placed. There were flashing lights, fur, and balls hung with care (ornaments, I mean). And, of course, cookies.
It’s usually quite busy around the holidays so I was trying to think of simple but quick ways to feed a relatively large number of people. Two of these trays were inspired by 2 different cookie queens (I bow before their amazing talents): the original idea for the tree was from MelissaJoy and the poinsettia from Sweet Sugar Belle. Melissa Joy’s tree offered 30 cookies and I needed more like 60. So I made the trees smaller, 2-3 bite size/3″ tall but narrow. The poinsettia platter was made for a specifically requested number of cookies but this is another design where lots of small leaves and several small rounds in the center could make it a large group winner. The last plate is a santa hat along the same lines. I think I would change up the red cookie size or shape next time I made this but at least the cookies were delicious. In any case, these simple and sweet designs allow you to bake and decorate and still have time for wrapping presents, eggnog, mistletoe?.
An oxymoron when we are bellying up to the par-tay buffet? Perhaps… but thank you, Tina, for allowing me to play with the dozen cookies ordered for your fitness club/running group buddies. 🙂
Quirky continues. Enough said.
Mama Mayer Bakery 