tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24297577111866596282024-03-03T23:42:04.074-09:00Bumbleberry CakesNikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-17059513890342313842013-02-09T18:44:00.001-09:002013-02-09T18:44:51.154-09:00Chocolate chocolate cake cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8wFHfX7kJN_-LIFw5kew2ong64VbLmUgvAHarxKZIMG3CvJZ4VGADG8uxgyWo9SzQg0eL01t6fAcZ1Alr8gnjdDERgFhBTsqjUvFR5wkuA2UHSmnHp-4qK9XXQvkk7vUalrJnvaSS2H5/s1600/MiniChocCake_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8wFHfX7kJN_-LIFw5kew2ong64VbLmUgvAHarxKZIMG3CvJZ4VGADG8uxgyWo9SzQg0eL01t6fAcZ1Alr8gnjdDERgFhBTsqjUvFR5wkuA2UHSmnHp-4qK9XXQvkk7vUalrJnvaSS2H5/s1600/MiniChocCake_02.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm always a little floored when I get compliments from strangers on my baking. It takes a second and I get all flustered and don't know how to appropriately convey my utter gratitude so it comes out like a rushed 'oh thanks...' Which is too casual and completely inadequate with how amazing their compliment makes me feel.<br /><br />The ultimate compliment, of course, is being asked to make something special for someone. My best friend asked me to make her first son's birthday cake (which I bombed by making a blue monstrosity - I'm sorry, Tres! ILU!) and I've happily donated cakes for office parties. This petite cake was made for an individual in the office who just asked for a small chocolate cake. It's two layers of a 6-inch round which might be my favorite mini cake size ever.<br /><br />I'm a sucker for berries and chocolate so I liked how it turned out. And the ganache finally dripped so prettily!<br /><br />I used the same chocolate cake recipe I always use, Beatty's Chocolate and a basic chocolate buttercream BUT I have to share the ganache ratio since it took me forever to find one that works:<br /><br /><b>Chocolate Ganache</b><br />6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate<br />2/3 cup heavy cream<br />1 tablespoon corn syrup<br /><br /><br />Good luck not putting that stuff on everything - berries, cookies, toast. It's allll good.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTayM3zXV_TADNYZqp8BTU8H_pc2XqJUvHUCOjbL2PfTdnZzec86hYTnDjCeNcf5ztgwZcMS35rHABmZBx3RELDZ4PBMQP2YxVBCvbcRsUxHlkWHKsIczjA1Aauqww_xWjK_cDyOTuNsYd/s1600/MiniChocCake_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTayM3zXV_TADNYZqp8BTU8H_pc2XqJUvHUCOjbL2PfTdnZzec86hYTnDjCeNcf5ztgwZcMS35rHABmZBx3RELDZ4PBMQP2YxVBCvbcRsUxHlkWHKsIczjA1Aauqww_xWjK_cDyOTuNsYd/s1600/MiniChocCake_01.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-38892967691763714162013-01-31T06:45:00.000-09:002013-01-31T06:45:08.649-09:00Cookie Olympics<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-d94Xm0tKvTrlexRe-v0KV3KBmb9gYSlUF10m6hRRdrpY9ww4Do1GyZXjjiQTTMLGaceQ2hMoDGncddIHmgwd5gVj8KdTqx-uK5P_6B6xMXffYOZLE0j067bjM9H4nSnV9ojfoHK4tgc/s1600/XMasCooks_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-d94Xm0tKvTrlexRe-v0KV3KBmb9gYSlUF10m6hRRdrpY9ww4Do1GyZXjjiQTTMLGaceQ2hMoDGncddIHmgwd5gVj8KdTqx-uK5P_6B6xMXffYOZLE0j067bjM9H4nSnV9ojfoHK4tgc/s1600/XMasCooks_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ho-ho-ho. I really feel like if I got this post out before February, it's a win. It's not THAT late; it's only January!<br /><br />Anyhoo, since I started making cookies last March, I've developed a lot of techniques and slowly (hopefully) have gotten better with each batch. Christmas is like the Cookies Olympics. I kept thinking, 'I've been training all year for this!' And they came out okay! I'll keep training and see where I get next year. :) </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was given the partridge in a pear tree cutter just before the holiday and got the design from <a href="http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/blog/" target="_blank">Sweet Sugar Belle</a> who is amazing, as always. The red/blue frosty themed cooks were probably my favorite because I loves me some red and blue. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoj0yzL_h1tqIhEq51m_1hzpxvt3wrqi_nLigKYC5yvEozrouX38VZBfsWRc6iaGeVoR9rnzL6b-WjHwi3ptb0PJnNkwFQbqYzkthnn5E0gi2gCpORsU-mgKZRJiyBceUEUD1n3JbNA3dw/s1600/XMasCooks_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoj0yzL_h1tqIhEq51m_1hzpxvt3wrqi_nLigKYC5yvEozrouX38VZBfsWRc6iaGeVoR9rnzL6b-WjHwi3ptb0PJnNkwFQbqYzkthnn5E0gi2gCpORsU-mgKZRJiyBceUEUD1n3JbNA3dw/s1600/XMasCooks_02.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaHnh7a1qtxeBTtdKtMxKPKgjpDz8zUoKiMvUis7Gihfv5IjlIs2bzhpp9yEBcn_DaAJzfgefeZZPaEA2n4ZPG6_q3mHogPb3rk0nj-2snFniQFpbGqz27ZeuhAV2vSdzxI2o5bi5ei5A/s1600/XMasCooks_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaHnh7a1qtxeBTtdKtMxKPKgjpDz8zUoKiMvUis7Gihfv5IjlIs2bzhpp9yEBcn_DaAJzfgefeZZPaEA2n4ZPG6_q3mHogPb3rk0nj-2snFniQFpbGqz27ZeuhAV2vSdzxI2o5bi5ei5A/s1600/XMasCooks_03.jpg" width="448" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVnPoNyieWZL9IdiSxdRUILMWbHlvzOnzp2bk6oXAPZ8296rsIsrucxUXGqoYADNwpX_TTfJOLXgAN8CeZlEXooeXvswdDExC7ewmLTToH5xbpn_dH9jKtUA4NFOzOwPya2nMymJwtrhp/s1600/XMasCooks_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVnPoNyieWZL9IdiSxdRUILMWbHlvzOnzp2bk6oXAPZ8296rsIsrucxUXGqoYADNwpX_TTfJOLXgAN8CeZlEXooeXvswdDExC7ewmLTToH5xbpn_dH9jKtUA4NFOzOwPya2nMymJwtrhp/s1600/XMasCooks_04.jpg" width="448" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now that Christmas is over, I can start on Valumtimes!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-16562072298381886562013-01-30T05:26:00.000-09:002013-01-30T05:26:08.113-09:00Double Musky Carrot - er, Everything Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIf4j6bz6V6beUvSnA8Y4y8n5DNiSfIepp50YMJUmMsamhx8WOxXASD93RcwY_TldIn0LuVyPZGOIzdtGSiYcoySLLKHwSLOsTK8pOmprBcvwMx8kd9SHnbLS83iRZUHp2OZujuJGvZWo/s1600/DoubleMusky_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIf4j6bz6V6beUvSnA8Y4y8n5DNiSfIepp50YMJUmMsamhx8WOxXASD93RcwY_TldIn0LuVyPZGOIzdtGSiYcoySLLKHwSLOsTK8pOmprBcvwMx8kd9SHnbLS83iRZUHp2OZujuJGvZWo/s1600/DoubleMusky_02.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Every year I make my dad's birthday cake and it gives me an excuse to try recipes I've been itching to attempt. This year I non-too-subtly persuaded him to a carrot cake that's famous around these parts. It's from the Double Musky, a local restaurant here in Alaska, and it's loaded with <b>stuff</b>. I mean, it should be called the kitchen sink cake: carrots, walnuts, pineapple, coconut, pecans; you name it.<br /><br />And guess what? It's AWESOME. Seriously; like the best carrot cake I've ever had. And don't be scared of the stuff: you don't even really taste the pineapple. It just adds a ton of moisture so it's goooood.<br /><br />Now, usually it's in a ho-hum 9x13 pan but this was a birthday so I went for two rounds to fancy it up. I'm also not a huge cream cheese frosting fan so I weakened the tanginess by adding a little more powdered sugar to the recipe and whipping the stuff within an inch of its life - it came out nice and light which was a perfect compliment to the dense, richness of the cake! (The frosting even drew it's own compliments!)<br /><br />Seriously, this one was hard to stop eating. If you have any inclination for carrot cake, TRY THIS RECIPE RIGHT NOW. Mmm, just looking at the pictures is giving me mouth-watering flashbacks...</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEezvEHIyS5r2pstfCKBzfrBPxRN1vHQZ2JSv00Xs1YGtrwoNB4BowEpUycD1q5E9iJ-jSIr0ax9Nf6nzEi-rf0j_uSVzVcYyzWSLGV4_WKew8SeqU1UVWV8TLUE7-8Ggw7WZ-BXXFq_4/s1600/DoubleMusky_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEezvEHIyS5r2pstfCKBzfrBPxRN1vHQZ2JSv00Xs1YGtrwoNB4BowEpUycD1q5E9iJ-jSIr0ax9Nf6nzEi-rf0j_uSVzVcYyzWSLGV4_WKew8SeqU1UVWV8TLUE7-8Ggw7WZ-BXXFq_4/s1600/DoubleMusky_01.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Double Musky Carrot Cake</b><br />Adapted from source: Cheryl Canter<br /><br />2 cups sugar<br />1 1/2 cups vegetable oil<br />3 eggs<br />2 tsp vanilla<br />2 1/4 cups all purpose flour<br />2 tsp cinnamon<br />2 tsp baking soda<br />1 tsp salt<br />2 cups finely shredded carrots<br />2 cups flaked coconut (I used sweetened)<br />1 20 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained<br />1 cup walnuts, chopped<br /><br />Frosting:<br />8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature<br />1/4 lb. butter, room temperature<br />2 tsp vanilla<br />1/4 tsp salt<br />4 cups powdered sugar<br />3/4 cups pecans, chopped<br />May add 1/4 cup milk to thin<br /><br /><br />Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or butter two 9-inch round cake pans, add cut parchment round to bottom and grease; set aside.<br /><br />Mix sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in flour, cinnamon, soda, and salt. Fold in carrot, coconut, pineapple, and nuts. Pour into greased pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-50 minutes, or until a tester inserted into center comes out clean. Cool completely.<br /><br />Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until lumps are gone. Combine with vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar, mixing with electric mixer until it’s light and airy. (The longer you mix, the lighter it will be!) Spread on cooled cake. Garnish immediately with chopped pecans to wet frosting.</span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-14863503870215569942013-01-30T03:35:00.000-09:002013-01-30T03:35:59.969-09:00New Pumpkin Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhcQdS_pXF_o9gO5v-WLfwUcCanf94po_gDVgQvD7lesueIRd7gIqxnSlRugCj_NW-rcQmbs19vSqlgPJ4ijUru7pPjSRB67BzUC5FjENKi0BThqTlx6grBz3Xi9xWk_sYZKN3T1HA_bl/s1600/PumpkinPie01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhcQdS_pXF_o9gO5v-WLfwUcCanf94po_gDVgQvD7lesueIRd7gIqxnSlRugCj_NW-rcQmbs19vSqlgPJ4ijUru7pPjSRB67BzUC5FjENKi0BThqTlx6grBz3Xi9xWk_sYZKN3T1HA_bl/s1600/PumpkinPie01.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Boy, have I got a lot to catch up on. The holidays are always crazy for me and then I was out of town just after for another two weeks! But all is well and I'm back, ready to share what went down over the last two months.<br /><br />First, I made a new pumpkin pie recipe from a highly repinned Pintrest note... You know, I can't decide about Pintrest. There's pretty pictures, yes, but then I see people that try a recipe or craft and bemoan how misleading or awful it turned out! You go in thinking these are reliable, tested ideas! Alas it's just people promoting their own stuff a lot of the time so I guess I have to train my eye to recognize what's legit and what's not.<br /><br />This one turned out to be a Cook's Illustrated adaptation and while it was <i>okay</i>, I dunno. The cream and milk diluted the pumpkin a bit and I like a looooot of pumpkin in my pie. My family liked it but, meh. For Christmas I went back to <a href="http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/18470/libbys-famous-pumpkin-pie/detail.aspx" target="_blank">good ol' Libby's</a> and it was way better, IMHO.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This recipe actually made too much for my pretty deep dish pie plate so I made a mini <span style="font-size: small;">one extra - which I enjoyed <span style="font-size: small;">by myself days later. mwha. Mini <span style="font-size: small;">pie!</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><b>Pumpkin Pie</b><br />Cook's Illustrated, 2008<br /><br />1 recipe for single pie crust (I used <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/basic-pie-dough.html" target="_blank">William</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/basic-pie-dough.html" target="_blank">s-Sonoma's Basic Pie Dough</a>)</span><br /><br />1 cup heavy cream<br />1 cup whole milk<br />3 eggs plus 2 egg yolks<br />1 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin<br />1 cup drained candied yams (from 15-ounce can)<br />3/4 cup granulated sugar<br />1/4 cup maple syrup<br />2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger<br />1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg<br />1 teaspoon salt<br /><br /><br />1. Prepare the crust and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.<br /><br />2. Adjust the oven rack to the lowest position, place a rimmed baking sheet on the rack, and heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out on a lightly floured work surface to a 12-inch circle about 1/8 inch thick. Roll dough loosely around rolling pin and unroll into pie plate, leaving at least 1-inch overhang on each side. Working around circumference, ease dough into plate by gently lifting edge of dough with one hand while pressing into plate bottom with other hand. Refrigerate 15 minutes.<br /><br />3. Trim overhang to ½ inch beyond lip of pie plate. Fold overhang under itself; folded edge should be flush with edge of pie plate. using thumb and forefinger, flute edge of dough. Use a fork to prick the dough all over the bottom and sides of the pie plate. Refrigerate dough-lined plate until firm, about 15 minutes.<br /><br />4. Remove pie pan from refrigerator, line crust with aluminum foil or parchment paper, and fill with pie weights or dried beans, filling the whole way up to the rim of the pie plate. Bake on rimmed baking sheet 15 minutes. Remove foil/parchment and weights, rotate plate, and bake 5 to 15 additional minutes until crust is golden brown and crisp. Remove pie plate and baking sheet from oven.<br /><br />5. While the pie shell is baking, whisk cream, milk, eggs, yolks and vanilla together in a medium bowl. Combine the pumpkin, yams, sugar, maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan; bring to a sputtering simmer over medium heat, 5 to 7 minutes. Continue to simmer pumpkin mixture, stirring constantly and mashing yams against sides of pot, until thick and shiny, 10 to 15 minutes.<br /><br />6. Remove the pan from heat and whisk in the cream mixture until fully incorporated. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer set over a medium bowl, using the back of a ladle or spatula to press solids through strainer. Rewhisk mixture and transfer to warm prebaked pie shell. Return pie plate with baking sheet to oven and bake pie for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 300 degrees and continue baking until edges of pie are set and the center looks firm but jiggles slightly (instant-read thermometer inserted in center registers 175 degrees), 20 to 35 minutes longer. Transfer pie to wire rack and cool to room temperature, 2 to 3 hours. Serve with whipped cream.<br /></span></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-22532238908991636462012-11-12T07:20:00.000-09:002012-11-12T07:20:26.776-09:00RIP Halloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8179145180_1bc9ef84c4_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8179145180_1bc9ef84c4_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You know, I'm never quite sure if I'm giving enough credit or homage to the bloggers, bakers and creative souls who share their recipes and designs to us online. I always reference whomever shared a recipe or design I reblog. I hope knowing they're inspiring others gives those that share a sense of accomplishment at being amazing and awesome.<br /><br />I say this now because this adorable design is an almost exact replica of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/112085255/pushing-daisies-halloween-tombstone" target="_blank">these gorgeous tombstone cookies</a> (which you can buy!) from <b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/sugarandflour?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">sugarandflour</a></b> on Etsy. (Except mine are less professional or beautiful!) I used the large <a href="http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?sku=2310-599" target="_blank">Wilton tombstone cutter</a> so these were really two normal sized cookies in one. Now, some explanation:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the federal government, the fiscal
year runs from October 1 through September 30. So once a fiscal year
(FY) is over, we celebrate! Good riddance! My office usually has an
end-of-year breakfast party. My mom's office decided to have a RIP
Fiscal Year 2012 party. I was asked to make some cookies for it and I
was happy to because they're kinda Halloween-ish and this is my FAVORITE
holiday ever. </span></span><br />
<br /><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8179111853_578ef325cb_b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8179111853_578ef325cb_b.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />This is the first cookie platter I've done and I was really happy with the whole graveyard thing. AND the green filler stuffing (I MEAN, <i>grass</i>) worked perfectly at padding the cookies and keeping the icing from breaking. Yay!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8486/8179144520_c96f9cb6c0_b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8486/8179144520_c96f9cb6c0_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So here lies so and so. Thank you to <b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/sugarandflour?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">sugarandflour</a></b> for sharing such a wonderful design!</span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-66738093590727587692012-10-27T09:34:00.000-08:002012-11-12T07:02:57.168-09:00Is it too autumn for Lemon Raspberry??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8123966607_3f09def37d_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8123984964_f6712f5f81_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/8123967085_de6a3de813_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When I live somewhere more conducive to growing fruits and vegetables, I swear I want a whole backyard full of the junk. Strawberries, raspberries, oranges, grapefruit, avocados; everything!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8043/8123966325_c95a586241_b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8043/8123966325_c95a586241_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As it is, the only fruit I have access to in the late summer is raspberries that grow at my mom's. I got a decent bowlful in August and went in search of something new. What I found wasn't a solely raspberry concoction but it sounded too good not to try.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8123967353_ed7e72afbb_b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8123967353_ed7e72afbb_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As advertised at <a href="http://www.ericasweettooth.com/2012/07/lemon-raspberry-cupcakes.html" target="_blank">Erica's Sweet Tooth</a> (thank you for publishing the recipe!), these came out lovely and delicate but with just the right balance of flavor. The 'lemon' cupcakes have only a hint of zest in them and make a stable but light counter to the berry filling. And my family loved the raspberry cream cheese frosting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8123966607_3f09def37d_b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8123966607_3f09def37d_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span> All around a hit! Recipe at </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ericasweettooth.com/2012/07/lemon-raspberry-cupcakes.html" target="_blank">Erica's Sweet Tooth</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8123984964_f6712f5f81_b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8123984964_f6712f5f81_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-86499040520756269432012-09-28T04:09:00.000-08:002012-09-28T04:09:24.227-08:00London, a second (third?) home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8318/8032492864_4e8d5451c4_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8318/8032492864_4e8d5451c4_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I know I've mentioned on this blog before but I used to live in London about 10 years ago and loved it dearly. Well, I'm finally getting back this week and I made some cookies a few weeks ago in anticipation. When I think of England, I think the Union Jack, PG Tips and football!<br /><br />Even though I lived there for years, I'm ashamed to admit I didn't do all the touristy stuff I should've. Never went to Buckingham Palace or Westminster Abbey. It almost seemed unnecessary. I had to go to work and go to school and junk; I didn't have time to stand around with tourists! But I should have made time because now I'm one of those tourists. Sort of.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />It's a weird mix of seeing new stuff (The London Eye was just opened and SO touristy when I was there) and old favorites (omg omg Harrod's I love so muhuhuhuch). AND my 15 year old nephew is going to experience a new country for the first time. I'm so excited for him!</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8182/8032492178_edc71bb859_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8182/8032492178_edc71bb859_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />About the cookies, I tried a new technique of completely painting with coloring diluted with vodka (because it dries quick). On the red roses, I used a color pen for the detail and softened it with a brush. It's a technique I'd like to play with a little more with better brushes but I liked it! Like little canvases!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/8032492542_86151545b8_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/8032492542_86151545b8_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />So this Sunday, I'll be in London having Sunday roast then watching Downton Abbey. UGH. SO English!! I'll check back in a couple weeks when I return! Cheers!</span></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-36918584592800825322012-09-16T07:05:00.000-08:002012-09-16T07:42:35.794-08:00Football is finally here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7992238508_13340b523f_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7992238508_13340b523f_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8445/7991996689_7750e5835a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My family is Texan and, as such, we are football people. I went to UT who (sorry my dear Aggie friend, Kelly) have the greatest football team in the state (<strike>country </strike>WORLD; what? we Longhorns are a proud legion).</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8443/7992237374_e144da0226_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8443/7992237374_e144da0226_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8306/7992006602_a771651c97_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I grew up watching the Houston Oilers and was quite heartbroken when they were dissolved in 1998. Then in 2001 we finally got football back in Houston and all was good in H-Town. (hey, check it out Aggies: even the Longhorn is the symbol of all Texans. IN YO FACE.)</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8042/7992237816_2ff9f372b5_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8042/7992237816_2ff9f372b5_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8438/7991996275_e7ab473cd8_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So we do fantasy football in my family and another league with friends. Being as excited as I was for the season, I made these for our drafts and was pretty pleased with how they came out. The Texan was, obviously, the hardest and the only one I did by a template. I used a #1 tip and went verrrrrry slow. lol. If I was to do it again, I'd attach the fragile piece to a solid backing before putting it on the cookie; it was VERY thin, didn't sit flat on the uneven cookie base, and broke easily.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7992239066_a2a992db3c_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7992239066_a2a992db3c_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8448/7992007856_c9d351e0c4_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The other teams were my friends' favorites which were fun to give out to them. I'd have to say, as much as I love the Texans symbol on everything, I think the footballs were my favorite. Footballs don't even look like that anymore but they're just so precious!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Texans are looking good this year but I'm a superstitious gal so I won't say anything more. Except ANDRE JOHNSON IS MY PRECIOUS DARLING.</span></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-70959435936113483652012-07-31T18:03:00.000-08:002012-07-31T18:03:44.192-08:00Fancy Cake For Practice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8163/7681859900_31198d94a8_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8163/7681859900_31198d94a8_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
After making so many cookies, I got very comfortable with royal icing and the piping bags and the whole routine of it. I was asked to make a cake (or three) for my office and realized I was way out of practice in just CAKES: my first love. So I set out to make a tester just to get back in the groove.<br /><br />I chose the Joy of Cooking's basic white cake because I'm always eager to try staples that have withstood the test of time. I was also very eager to try out a few new bits and bobs as recommended by the cake queen, Rose Levy Beranbaum. That lady is amazing. I'm talking so meticulous and exact, I read The Cake Bible with my jaw gaping. How to open and close the oven door?? (She says GENTLY so as not to force too much of the heated air out). In awe of her. SO. I got to try out, 1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Regency-RW002-Evenbake-Cake-Strips/dp/B000I1UXUI" target="_blank">Evenbake Cake Strips</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Bakers-Joy-Non-Stick/dp/B000WLJJFE/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1343707425&sr=1-1&keywords=flour+spray" target="_blank">Baker's Joy flour spray</a>. I used the spray on both layers (and a parchment round on the bottom just to be safe) then the <u>cake strip on #1</u> and <u><b>no </b>cake strip on #2</u>. Take a look:<br /><br /><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/7681859292_e9089c0a73_b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/7681859292_e9089c0a73_b.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />IT WORKS! So beautifully! Look how even and golden #1 - the cake stripped layer - is! And the other, same cooking time AND in the back of my oven which is traditionally cooler, is darker and has a round center. I will never EVER bake without cake strips again. Wonderful! (And the layers slipped right out of the pans with the flour spray so a win on both new experiments!)</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7112/7681858176_761de8b505_b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7112/7681858176_761de8b505_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
So I was basically playing around with decorating and trying to make it
fancy schmancy. I piped the border of buttercream around the inside edge of each layer
then filled with a basic strawberry filling (because I felt like it).
Did the crumb coat and smoothed all the lines, etc, etc.
When I went to pipe the decoration though? woo boy. Rough. Buttercream
is most certainly NOT as agreeable as royal icing. Sure, it tastes
better but it's just ornery! Go where I want you to, buttercream!!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
And, for my own amusement, when we went to cut into it, I tried a new cut technique that I saw in a cake magazine so we got rectangle cuts from a round cake. Like wedding cake pieces! I just thought they were darling (and had a hankering for some white wedding cake). Just cut all the way across, off center (however long you want a piece) then start cutting perpendicular from that line! Kinda want to do all my round cakes this way now. No skinny triangle edge! All even square!<br /><br />The recipe was pretty good but not going in my favorites box. It was dense but not heavy and was a solid, vanilla cake. The family liked it but I'll keep looking for the perfect white cake...</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /><b> </b></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<b>WHITE CAKE</b><br />The Joy of Cooking<br /><br />3 1/2 cups sifted cake flour<br />1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder<br />1/2 teaspoon salt<br />1 cup milk<br />1 teaspoon vanilla<br />1/4 teaspoon almond extract<br />1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter<br />1 2/3 cups sugar + 1/3 cup<br />8 large egg whites<br />1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar<br /><br />Preheat oven to 375 F. Have all ingredients at room temperature. Grease and flour two 8 x 2-inch or 9 x 2-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.<br /><br />Whisk together first three dry ingredients thoroughly in a medium bowl. Combine milk, vanilla and almond extract in a separate bowl or liquid measuring cup.<br /><br />Beat butter in a large bowl until creamy. Gradually add 1 2/3 cups sugar and beat until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. On low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with the milk mixture in 2 parts, beating until smooth. Using clean beaters, beat egg whites and cream of tartar in another large bowl on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/3 cup sugar, beating on high speed. Beat until stiff but not dry. Use a rubber spatula to fold one-quarter of the egg whites into the batter, then fold in remaining whites. Divide the batter among the pans and spread evenly.<br /><br />Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25-35 minutes. Cool and remove from the pan. Spread the cake when cool with your choice of icing.<br /><br /><br /><b>Vanilla Bean Buttercream Icing</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
1 cup (2 sticks) butter</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
4 cups sifted powdered sugar</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
1 teaspoon vanilla extract</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
1 - 2 Tbsp whole milk</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
1 vanilla bean</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.<br /><br />Add vanilla, vanilla bean and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.</div>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-77344201504782834632012-06-17T10:07:00.000-08:002012-07-04T08:00:58.265-08:00Spider-Man! Does whatever a spider can!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYivxU2yXVblXUOH9YXe5MbwPcq72gMhPK9bP03z_XXA85Tz_RT-0gvGl568tKDCYYx1EtoGgdmIWhMZd3MY9WdN8JM1aiGuAsYsXiVBrbQgn2T88depmhadXEfqomuxqvWkcD52xSZb_V/s1600/SpideyCooks01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYivxU2yXVblXUOH9YXe5MbwPcq72gMhPK9bP03z_XXA85Tz_RT-0gvGl568tKDCYYx1EtoGgdmIWhMZd3MY9WdN8JM1aiGuAsYsXiVBrbQgn2T88depmhadXEfqomuxqvWkcD52xSZb_V/s640/SpideyCooks01.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Spins a web! Any size! Catches thieves just like flies! okay enough of the theme song. I found <a href="http://www.bakegreek.com/spider-man-cookies/" target="_blank">these amazing, beautiful, adorable Spider-Man cookies at Bake Greek</a> and wanted to make them so badly but I held off. I wanted to get a little closer to the release of The Amazing Spider-Man (July 3rd) and I knew they'd be challenging because I'd use the same technique of tracing the eyes through wax paper and applying them. So there were measurements and all that jazz but they still came out different. I won't rag on them because they're not exactly how I wanted but they're still okay. I guess that's just how stuff turns out sometimes.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sQPcsB5o0CiDDyrjUvNINIwZ60KSOwRpoar1likQLTisOGaetDHPrsRyNTW_kHH83ZgJIhW7fNYrETvYdq026L1rwEZrzRpJchj57Q3hIynBUzwm-F1mZo9arJjXsUEKewixHbRG5aj8/s1600/SpideyCooks02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sQPcsB5o0CiDDyrjUvNINIwZ60KSOwRpoar1likQLTisOGaetDHPrsRyNTW_kHH83ZgJIhW7fNYrETvYdq026L1rwEZrzRpJchj57Q3hIynBUzwm-F1mZo9arJjXsUEKewixHbRG5aj8/s640/SpideyCooks02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
That spiderweb cutter is monstrous, though. I mean it. Like 6" inches, point to point. It's like four cookies in one. Good thing I only made two.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
So. I've found I have a pattern to my cookie decorating. I get through the mandatory ones and there's always stragglers that I'm never sure how to decorate. This time it was the spiders. Didn't want them all black so I did a few other colors. Then, as I'm looking at them I think, well. How about some eyes.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbobxDc8W6HmFCih3RbywZyxSEAZD_MnPqhlZVZIJlkLrhM63p2AjVxrY3DnPp9nXMqhR6jD-Ey3mVKE1HXHxtuo6W4VmoG0WGwimzoJDlF7oimbhdZO7mY7Vu8YuMaNKMTQ_MefP_KxFd/s1600/Bug-VS-Monster.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbobxDc8W6HmFCih3RbywZyxSEAZD_MnPqhlZVZIJlkLrhM63p2AjVxrY3DnPp9nXMqhR6jD-Ey3mVKE1HXHxtuo6W4VmoG0WGwimzoJDlF7oimbhdZO7mY7Vu8YuMaNKMTQ_MefP_KxFd/s1600/Bug-VS-Monster.gif" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
I swear to you, the second I put those murderous, beady eyes on, my skin started to crawl. What the hell?? It's just instinct. I didn't even want to look at it. It was looking at ME! So I tried making them bigger. GO BIG AND CUTE. But it didn't work. I actually considered for a split second making it accurate and putting a couple of those hideous eyes on it and shuddered at the thought. I hate them so much, it makes me want to cry.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Needless to say, none of the rest got eyes.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEauzu-XcPvKSH3zgDzg-9KJ7WwUM8CyoV9pw9a7UCWb4CyR3clGb6NGC5PAQeGIcl5VkafPJvqEPa3iLJ9-znjbJctYv2uX-U5CuflpHakHkIe98IcqxtMufGtwyjSyuW9ZLJpSAgAKYz/s1600/SpideyCooks03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEauzu-XcPvKSH3zgDzg-9KJ7WwUM8CyoV9pw9a7UCWb4CyR3clGb6NGC5PAQeGIcl5VkafPJvqEPa3iLJ9-znjbJctYv2uX-U5CuflpHakHkIe98IcqxtMufGtwyjSyuW9ZLJpSAgAKYz/s640/SpideyCooks03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
So I'm going to see the new movie because Spidey is my second favorite hero ever! (Wolverine #1 baby!) AND Andrew Garfield (the new Spidey actor) does a lot of his own stunts! I love that. He's so wiry and bendy! So I'm excited to watch him flying around! Wee!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxssLPiXaNU68J6SaGmUcIEwxAP9-nqxfWTiFy3ylxiMNFQ86Jn-AAMXYjjMVLSLNi-Mdfhzikqz1qftmR_3esNzqX14cuELmzhcvdd11DnLzelImmns26ORn9w0DU-GozGiNNfmNju0K/s1600/Spidey_Stunt01.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://andrewgaarfields.tumblr.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxssLPiXaNU68J6SaGmUcIEwxAP9-nqxfWTiFy3ylxiMNFQ86Jn-AAMXYjjMVLSLNi-Mdfhzikqz1qftmR_3esNzqX14cuELmzhcvdd11DnLzelImmns26ORn9w0DU-GozGiNNfmNju0K/s1600/Spidey_Stunt01.gif" title="" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_eXJSOQNWHlFZ8Tumq5fH3JXsWmRqmv_4OpGdiwCtH3XvrqHB6hOYTobieZkWhPNF_Jt8s_LeryqV6TVgvLHMNmWni7v52A5YJz82b5fhUXhYX5kt-SRSzDTDhaH_8xJX-9GBz8pkJLT/s1600/Spidey_Stunt02.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="http://andrewgaarfields.tumblr.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_eXJSOQNWHlFZ8Tumq5fH3JXsWmRqmv_4OpGdiwCtH3XvrqHB6hOYTobieZkWhPNF_Jt8s_LeryqV6TVgvLHMNmWni7v52A5YJz82b5fhUXhYX5kt-SRSzDTDhaH_8xJX-9GBz8pkJLT/s1600/Spidey_Stunt02.gif" title="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://andrewgaarfields.tumblr.com/post/24711197927/the-amazing-spider-man-behind-the-scenes-andrew" target="_blank">andrewgaarfields.tumblr.com</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tfgxEWurUdKIwuFLH5Lt89pOc5wH3DOBClNkWLRTDpXjpDIqBjrRD7W4HVYXBBWurAwb0biiukmPaLAMeJdfbkd5mE64iZvBPiheBmpaYMb9RrTucuiN8NnOqkQTG32sb2Hk2dKPKRgY/s1600/SpideyCooks04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tfgxEWurUdKIwuFLH5Lt89pOc5wH3DOBClNkWLRTDpXjpDIqBjrRD7W4HVYXBBWurAwb0biiukmPaLAMeJdfbkd5mE64iZvBPiheBmpaYMb9RrTucuiN8NnOqkQTG32sb2Hk2dKPKRgY/s640/SpideyCooks04.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
To him, life is a great big bang up! Wherever there's a hang up, you'll find the Spider-Man!</div>
<br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" />Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-87655064849745183422012-06-14T19:17:00.001-08:002012-06-14T19:17:59.246-08:00"Are you going to live in an igloo?"<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqBS8hOHkr1LY3PCEOZG3HYo_BOu5gjcwYzslLx4uF4SgM8Rv0DId8cQfYGze8IBGGHp2vh_Ln3eM6QX77Dvt7_l5rFGHCONIdOfHyTnOH-3Gyn-368Cikr4xSsjdQzJkwgXpeYXqbVLU/s1600/Alaska00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqBS8hOHkr1LY3PCEOZG3HYo_BOu5gjcwYzslLx4uF4SgM8Rv0DId8cQfYGze8IBGGHp2vh_Ln3eM6QX77Dvt7_l5rFGHCONIdOfHyTnOH-3Gyn-368Cikr4xSsjdQzJkwgXpeYXqbVLU/s640/Alaska00.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UTCtY7JfjW_bLSe3HVYf5j2DBPiWW2jWy52Yfb4Zq8iBuoq1AGLvEBLsXirw9PU5Sm23HuhuH-oeeVN9NKB1ViHps9VBZKGTg2PcUECNYsbPjWPwSsiAifSYAuFG2ImYZN5hM7OUDDwz/s1600/Alaska00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
I moved to Alaska when I was 10 years old and I remember quite vividly saying goodbye to my 4th grade classmates. I remember showing them on the globe how far away Alaska was from Texas and one of them asked me, straight up, "Are you going to live in an igloo?" I knew it was ridiculous but the fact that I still remember that question makes me wonder if, at the time, I wasn't quite sure myself.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
I'm kidding. I laughed in their faces. Pfft. 10 year olds. </div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAzomGUylggnPkh569ya71MvvaYped6ou8TsV9VlJwn_qlhAHVXTGGiti9jtpG3GqcNVbHepq4UWzHc94s1H-WKr1XpQ6Z73oiTfEHU75qTFYsSYzhSc7sk5JYzTnYPBYUzzX4wr2sg9K/s1600/Alaska02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAzomGUylggnPkh569ya71MvvaYped6ou8TsV9VlJwn_qlhAHVXTGGiti9jtpG3GqcNVbHepq4UWzHc94s1H-WKr1XpQ6Z73oiTfEHU75qTFYsSYzhSc7sk5JYzTnYPBYUzzX4wr2sg9K/s640/Alaska02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Qm7XFdnufs1QetqSaiIUOwN_t074Rk9JF0Kb7xpd90KrewFaOmM7g_hXOm5JqP3uNlbtBiPbXh1FsBvp_14z-HXzIyCrWoLN-5MMcvELpV06iCW2ZZ4nbo4cBXUFGz5gYMWWC7vqbn4z/s1600/Alaska02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
So even though I spent the rest of my youth here, moved away then would
eventually return, I still don't think of Alaska as home. Isn't that
weird? I'm not FROM Alaska; I just live here right now. That doesn't
mean, however, that I deny it's beautiful landscapes or quirky residents
or wonderful summers. That's all grand. But it's the damn winters...</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYdFLVH9WESPH9D68aiPerOGnE_AKjXAjv304qpsuM5iqHCA2_6KGlt9aqSuiXF7I_KJih93F3eeVH4xQKQ4edrvQELGxBTQyMzCMpN2jZBDCSDFYwZ4dBxumyD8T71t2LBtMrarMFuO7/s1600/Alaska03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYdFLVH9WESPH9D68aiPerOGnE_AKjXAjv304qpsuM5iqHCA2_6KGlt9aqSuiXF7I_KJih93F3eeVH4xQKQ4edrvQELGxBTQyMzCMpN2jZBDCSDFYwZ4dBxumyD8T71t2LBtMrarMFuO7/s640/Alaska03.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijhkuqhsdutDAkE2NV-8-8ODpl27Bmft0OfoQxXf_szxaKWYJhjgpiLr44-dzzueVL6Mr9LqmBsvU5W6wb0AGM7Xd1HBz4pgzmlh7EtU7ne9_SRcWkWtpCIadDx5RtpRIeltXBxgBnUcq/s1600/Alaska03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
But I digress. I did not, as one might suspect, make these in response
to the Texas cookies I shared with my fellow Texan family a few weeks
ago. I actually made them to share with my Alaskan coworkers at a bake
sale being held at work. I thought they'd appreciate these familiar
sights over any old design (or especially Texas. Imagine: feeding
Alaskans Texas cookies! The horror!) </div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqI3nKtQFqStlfCufFx-SboU1Hi5aMemt57csJmUJT6OqQ983KSMQarTyeeZO-uxuTBAeUphFj-bOIp1cWK5By7eQVrurvwKUmLVWnqHnB0ZGU4nb5qtCL1LpKGpRHqQQoWwHZgljoZPK/s1600/Alaska01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqI3nKtQFqStlfCufFx-SboU1Hi5aMemt57csJmUJT6OqQ983KSMQarTyeeZO-uxuTBAeUphFj-bOIp1cWK5By7eQVrurvwKUmLVWnqHnB0ZGU4nb5qtCL1LpKGpRHqQQoWwHZgljoZPK/s640/Alaska01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiagJoSc8EuLI7lRdERHAbWwi7-8tS6eC-0WhdNz5UHkHD2vJuzUqCfQqg0it9SBkxms-29Ib8BCZkY6LKvzL-BKm8GjFAJxDaAnrGGhI-g6sTCw0OZEtWf8nka7f17sm1tbjVgsm6HRgt/s1600/Alaska01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
I used Sweet Sugar Belle's recipe but I've made a few tweaks and they're working for me (learning my wonky oven temperature is the biggest plus). This is the 8th batch of cookies I've made and I'm finally getting to the point where I've got a routine and it's getting easy! Yay!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJHbevWUV5pJFc-XfJ9ryw4jyFsx8TQWKbKmEOsQ-jn3FXyS97PKjADwu_FIzlLCWPxzwYNXi3GVOYAKfV5DRt3M2dpqWr_29GTUGac1UggWZhXelxxWPHYDk0Y7sfC5abHhhI7sJdtOs/s1600/Alaska04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJHbevWUV5pJFc-XfJ9ryw4jyFsx8TQWKbKmEOsQ-jn3FXyS97PKjADwu_FIzlLCWPxzwYNXi3GVOYAKfV5DRt3M2dpqWr_29GTUGac1UggWZhXelxxWPHYDk0Y7sfC5abHhhI7sJdtOs/s640/Alaska04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ready for a bake sale!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-88897036695773759732012-05-23T06:02:00.001-08:002012-05-23T06:02:44.350-08:00Texas, Our Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06x3Ap1S4N81Sah0y7o3X5dJJ3sGsAUAnGjD-GVOEZTuI_WcJvZlQT31Ea5zut5mxd7xv6f670yrnoS-eU1BCvh-Ghu8TUfwrdiYrua2VrPRB0yP69RPSgguVvyW_tJhcgnBaM_CuXwMB/s1600/Texas02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06x3Ap1S4N81Sah0y7o3X5dJJ3sGsAUAnGjD-GVOEZTuI_WcJvZlQT31Ea5zut5mxd7xv6f670yrnoS-eU1BCvh-Ghu8TUfwrdiYrua2VrPRB0yP69RPSgguVvyW_tJhcgnBaM_CuXwMB/s640/Texas02.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTMroF13e59eEded3CDT8RWykUorPvMrbkATWlyuT_CFDb4cd6KKR8c5a2SIQ9DWql_Lnk90i5FBi3UNljIoyrJeRvXT0hXIQ2C57PIthstjAu1iLJHxUnJnymHnPqpdB4igyuCJcZjQa/s1600/Texas04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
There is something about being Texan that very few others experience. I'm not saying we're better or worse (okay, some Texans are totally better or worse people) but it's a unique and distinguishing identity. Texans are a proud people. I was raised with the endless mantra of how beautiful and separate and <b>special </b>Texas was. We moved to Alaska when I was 10 and brought the pride all the way here. You can never take the Texas out of a Texan.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
In search of cookie ideas, I stumbled on some University of Texas themed cooks and, being my alma mater, I fell in love. I started planning Longhorns and little states and the Hook 'Em hand sign. Just as I was about to order the special cutters online, my birthday rolled around and my mom got me a set of Texas-themed cutters. It included this huge 5 x 5 state and I knew I had to make it ASAP. The Horns would have to wait!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzmpJp9grs3GkVln9IRl0r__-a86gjTBUOXWErC52QjL-_3la9YIOi7PCD1scmiG9v6nQTE4uWSol3V0mjTX1iTjm_3Fwgn_yi_yesrA2bGvfRj_gjpA6xajnpMj7wZ41KD74ufVrc8tR/s1600/Texas01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzmpJp9grs3GkVln9IRl0r__-a86gjTBUOXWErC52QjL-_3la9YIOi7PCD1scmiG9v6nQTE4uWSol3V0mjTX1iTjm_3Fwgn_yi_yesrA2bGvfRj_gjpA6xajnpMj7wZ41KD74ufVrc8tR/s640/Texas01.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
I found <a href="http://debscraftycookiesandcountrythings.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/hello-world/" target="_blank">these beautiful designs from Deb's Crafty Cookies</a> and the search was over. I can't thank her enough for sharing the lovely design with us all!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_mvR7VvrpstF_NAwX0xT0Exp1jzCcVrfu8OodTQ07ZTSKIXh6aBForPABwR0CEyUdprUpimjraVKXhluMdYR7NoLxSrb7UDBWJa5eidmKCakzAv2gcGVwVRY-J3jpR9lWdUHoUO5l_kF/s1600/Texas0.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_mvR7VvrpstF_NAwX0xT0Exp1jzCcVrfu8OodTQ07ZTSKIXh6aBForPABwR0CEyUdprUpimjraVKXhluMdYR7NoLxSrb7UDBWJa5eidmKCakzAv2gcGVwVRY-J3jpR9lWdUHoUO5l_kF/s640/Texas0.jpg" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">These are the little Texases I had from who knows where. I love finding cutters I forgot I had!</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iELC43fQeeADAGvEi1hkxE4Km1sXpfh7P81BgZy2ZZvOC2vwFLS8zb4jUx_hPkaPvfKtaIeE0OWJ5F2iD-iyTmNwMDeG1bFhyphenhyphenXAwfF9qts0bhhKK0hgrVhvnOGinD5rP6MhSmE6ZUyGp/s1600/bluebonnets.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iELC43fQeeADAGvEi1hkxE4Km1sXpfh7P81BgZy2ZZvOC2vwFLS8zb4jUx_hPkaPvfKtaIeE0OWJ5F2iD-iyTmNwMDeG1bFhyphenhyphenXAwfF9qts0bhhKK0hgrVhvnOGinD5rP6MhSmE6ZUyGp/s1600/bluebonnets.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Then came the search for bluebonnets. Now, again, as a Texan, fields of wild bluebonnets are such a staple in the land we're raised on that every time I see them now, my heart just swells. It's hard to describe. It's like looking at your childhood home and it brings up every safe and happy memory you ever had. So looking through bluebonnet pictures might have been my favorite part of this exercise.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTMroF13e59eEded3CDT8RWykUorPvMrbkATWlyuT_CFDb4cd6KKR8c5a2SIQ9DWql_Lnk90i5FBi3UNljIoyrJeRvXT0hXIQ2C57PIthstjAu1iLJHxUnJnymHnPqpdB4igyuCJcZjQa/s1600/Texas04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTMroF13e59eEded3CDT8RWykUorPvMrbkATWlyuT_CFDb4cd6KKR8c5a2SIQ9DWql_Lnk90i5FBi3UNljIoyrJeRvXT0hXIQ2C57PIthstjAu1iLJHxUnJnymHnPqpdB4igyuCJcZjQa/s640/Texas04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
I'm happy with how they turned out. I stuck to <b><a href="http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/blog/2011/06/basic-sugar-cookie-recipe-2/" target="_blank">Sweet Sugar Belle's sugar cookie recipe</a></b> and, my favorite because it's been so good to me, <b><a href="http://lizybbakes.blogspot.com/2012/03/royal-icing-recipe-step-by-step.html" target="_blank">Lizy B Bakes' royal icing recipe</a></b>.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Now on to the next theme... Here's a hint: he's got a movie coming out verrrry soooooon... (spins a web, any size, catches thieves just like flies...)</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-69318063821417915912012-05-14T18:08:00.001-08:002012-05-14T18:08:15.345-08:00Cookies for Mom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8011/7200296510_dc118f3ba9_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8011/7200296510_dc118f3ba9_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
My mom specifically told me not to buy her anything for Mother's Day. I mostly acquiesced; I'd already bought her a card. But I know she likes the cookies I bring over for Sunday brunches so I made a batch just for her.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7200294588_e5e3985d5c_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7200294588_e5e3985d5c_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
I also usually get her flowers so I decided on cookie roses instead of real ones. These'll last longer (in the freezer)!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7200292786_0420e93bdb_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7200292786_0420e93bdb_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Happy (Belated) Mother's Day, to all moms!</div>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-81239097957764457182012-05-13T09:58:00.000-08:002012-07-04T08:07:49.469-08:00LOKI'D<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
There's a moment when you're decorating that you survey your work and just throw up your hands and call it a loss. I pretty much did that with these cookies but I have a pretty legit source for my frustration. The god of mischief has struck, determined that I not render him in cookie form. I guess he's not keen on being devoured by mortals.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRXkO982jNW6lWsez5LrWWjk3wAR6hmH-QRdRe1Qv7FwArgCgB9gUAOEhL8J82CoZ-9ji4Jq1ozIH-Px3lpQUwGNFU9LU8wMa33MfsnCWC6Ik8aoX2lizjEBgykyMjJ1tkudQIiHysK12/s1600/tumblr_m37vs6fWUE1qj29zio1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRXkO982jNW6lWsez5LrWWjk3wAR6hmH-QRdRe1Qv7FwArgCgB9gUAOEhL8J82CoZ-9ji4Jq1ozIH-Px3lpQUwGNFU9LU8wMa33MfsnCWC6Ik8aoX2lizjEBgykyMjJ1tkudQIiHysK12/s320/tumblr_m37vs6fWUE1qj29zio1_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
First, I found these adorable action figures and immediately decided I wanted to make them into cookies. I quickly realized they'd be the most difficult design I'd ever attempted and grew wary... Almost dreading the decorating, to be honest. But I'd committed myself (and already made the cookies) so I couldn't back out. So I went into it with trepidation.<br />
<br />
But to back up really quick, as I'm mixing the dough, adding the flour to make it come together, my poor Kitchenaid starts straining with some severity. I turn it off, only to see the pin holding the head to the base almost completely worked out. I try to maneuver it back in place - hell, I took a hammer to it (not Mjolnir, unfortunately) - and still nothing. And suddenly I realized what happened.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i49.tinypic.com/16k2p9g.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i49.tinypic.com/16k2p9g.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
UGH. FINE. See if I make your cookies again, prankster!! (JK; I love you!)</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
So he broke my mixer. I borrow my mom's to make the icing and decide to
try a new recipe that looks super simple from the popular blogger's
video. I make the colors and sit down to decorate and it is absolutely
WAY too thick. I don't understand; it looked fine in the bowls! I give
up and wait a day, go back and thin all the colors and start over.
Slightly better but now it's almost too thin! UGH, THIS ICING IS TOO FICKLE. And then I
realized...<br />
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i49.tinypic.com/16k2p9g.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i49.tinypic.com/16k2p9g.gif" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br />
By the end of this whole ordeal, I'd mostly given up. They didn't come out as I'd wished but I've learned some things: that freakin icing is not for me. And if designs look difficult from the word go, they're going to be freakin <b>hard</b>.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/7189832220_e80c23b827_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/7189832220_e80c23b827_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br />
My one amusement from this batch was this. The multiples of Loki! It makes me laugh. So many Lokis! Which one is real? I'll never not fall for that, right, Thor?<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7189831462_354b414507_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7189831462_354b414507_b.jpg" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">See the icing consistency from the first try (on the lightning) and the second day, after thinned on Mjolnir? </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Mjolnir turned out to be my favorite. I used an edible marker/pen to detail it so it's the only one with any definition. I attempted to detail Thor and Loki's helmets as well and they came out junk so I nixed that quick.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/7189830212_11a8fc78e2_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/7189830212_11a8fc78e2_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-80386647165046830432012-04-22T10:26:00.002-08:002012-04-22T17:40:18.254-08:00April 22 - Earth Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MEzRwutKvWn47oYLmezGsmDQNyF8jCNQpCNxSI4GFfZDGYMRYZm7qP2DZwY3nVlZv7dNdaKtCLsYYcwmlG1zEjx2fiMWNC9GbX9d8Wj1mm5dshoQDA00q_xp7D7Rq1oeYqBVOjw7BEgN/s1600/EarthDay04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MEzRwutKvWn47oYLmezGsmDQNyF8jCNQpCNxSI4GFfZDGYMRYZm7qP2DZwY3nVlZv7dNdaKtCLsYYcwmlG1zEjx2fiMWNC9GbX9d8Wj1mm5dshoQDA00q_xp7D7Rq1oeYqBVOjw7BEgN/s640/EarthDay04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Happy Earth Day! Not only do I super love Earth Day because of the awesome sentiment and the beautiful greenery that goes with it, it's also my birthday! In my quest to find ideas for designs, I came across some lovely cookies from a young lady who had a giveaway and declared Earth Day was someday in March and I went 'Nuh uh never!!' It's always April 22nd!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Gjhu6XEznTSvvgvYZSHDABNHNEgTs0Ae6UJhHkeOSoaKdTaRkH2o3PHVVaWyNETmEPIwCiM6s5l0nfJz9KetPAi7Q-fDBaIsB298eCP1Ic7rqUQFS-BR50IRBYP8BRbTRoyls2lrswnf/s1600/EarthDay03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Gjhu6XEznTSvvgvYZSHDABNHNEgTs0Ae6UJhHkeOSoaKdTaRkH2o3PHVVaWyNETmEPIwCiM6s5l0nfJz9KetPAi7Q-fDBaIsB298eCP1Ic7rqUQFS-BR50IRBYP8BRbTRoyls2lrswnf/s640/EarthDay03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So I wanted to try this whole transfer idea with the land on Earth because I wanted it to be exact and every batch of cookies is a new experiment (I used the #1 tip with these! First time!). However when I made the tiny lines on the wax paper, tracing the globes underneath, I couldn't get them off the paper and it just didn't work. So. Back to basics. Hand drawn!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuvu7zrNyRQ-FkZUNPz0RbWqs5VeXDMW5uUL38ntqxZqu7_Fu58s50q1Jh7fkl0xw5_yeEmrj7nJvQAFQUHtTQAv9WMmFlsnhqZ367yjFmGOXdHEufftKwLsvUf8qWRJ6kwb4pmCBeOH_/s1600/EarthDay01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuvu7zrNyRQ-FkZUNPz0RbWqs5VeXDMW5uUL38ntqxZqu7_Fu58s50q1Jh7fkl0xw5_yeEmrj7nJvQAFQUHtTQAv9WMmFlsnhqZ367yjFmGOXdHEufftKwLsvUf8qWRJ6kwb4pmCBeOH_/s640/EarthDay01.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yeah I eyeballed that junk. W00t! Not too terrible eh?</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Also, I made the trees and leaves with a handmade plastic template because I didn't have time to buy cutters. AND this is a new cookie recipe (<a href="http://bumbleberrycakes.blogspot.com/2010/07/happy-birthday-america.html" target="_blank">the one I used on the flag cookies ages ago</a> that I don't remember how they tasted). I'm going to let my family try them next to the April Showers cookies of last week and tell me which tastes better. I have a feeling it's going to be the others (that spread; sadface). I'll figure out how to make them hold their shape like these lovely little trees did!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So go plant a tree and recycle your trash and reuse your bags and all that Earth-friendly stuff! </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLtARjZtohvMfMS3I_RQl5HJ_MNr-TQHDi7yqosleGWQQpb0AbASnXKQjC7q92xCMNppCBb1czzCbHacwb-VL31ep0M1DkWg78gpTumudPXpeSMhHeEPpyEMkKIn1rO5rvQ9OK4038kKP/s1600/EarthDay02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLtARjZtohvMfMS3I_RQl5HJ_MNr-TQHDi7yqosleGWQQpb0AbASnXKQjC7q92xCMNppCBb1czzCbHacwb-VL31ep0M1DkWg78gpTumudPXpeSMhHeEPpyEMkKIn1rO5rvQ9OK4038kKP/s640/EarthDay02.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-52472470403157592482012-04-15T08:48:00.001-08:002012-04-15T08:49:06.940-08:00April Showers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhru2N-phqqJjAiWsViGfZSrVWS01HUcNi1ZqGz5T0iYIO00yF333J-brqjc57aBDy_59rr7lricMmGB3YhBe9yZ8duaEnlQECJGET5Hb6sEUtZKy_x_Qaq8d20TzGmMAGHSSULLiL7Ptvv/s1600/AprilShowers02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhru2N-phqqJjAiWsViGfZSrVWS01HUcNi1ZqGz5T0iYIO00yF333J-brqjc57aBDy_59rr7lricMmGB3YhBe9yZ8duaEnlQECJGET5Hb6sEUtZKy_x_Qaq8d20TzGmMAGHSSULLiL7Ptvv/s1600/AprilShowers02.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqh08Ie2Dgf-AQid3LYYNixHr_PIQDOxcG2LVEEQtW6PGN2Z5qGM2Fu3Y3l0g9LhK_HgqYRi09kGF3uBoLGHBIvVX6Cj3EwQBiwe2p4BgK5VpTM0s2Sj0XczLhXlTkbHg5Dj696-adrKZ-/s1600/AprilShowers03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So the cookie obsession continues and each time I'm trying new techniques (sugar coating, wet-on-wet flowers) and learning through trial and error. I tried a new recipe (not these pictured) and they held their shape wonderfully but didn't taste great. They were kind of your typical bleh sugar cookie. I really like <a href="http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/blog/2011/06/basic-sugar-cookie-recipe-2/" target="_blank">Sweet Sugar Belle's recipe</a> however, as you can see (especially on the umbrella), they spread a bit. Even in her notes, she acknowledges this issue and suggests adding a little more flour. I'll try that next time because I thought chilling the dough might help but it had no effect at all! Next time: more flour.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
But when I was thinking of what to make next, April Showers was easy: my birthday's in April so I've always loved April junk. Daisies, rain, greenery; Taurus is an Earth sign, after all. It wasn't until I got to decorating that I realized I only had yellow (other than blue) as a color to do up the umbrellas... and I really dislike blue/yellow. ugh. So I'm not super happy with this set but, oh well. I'll plan ahead better next time.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqh08Ie2Dgf-AQid3LYYNixHr_PIQDOxcG2LVEEQtW6PGN2Z5qGM2Fu3Y3l0g9LhK_HgqYRi09kGF3uBoLGHBIvVX6Cj3EwQBiwe2p4BgK5VpTM0s2Sj0XczLhXlTkbHg5Dj696-adrKZ-/s1600/AprilShowers03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqh08Ie2Dgf-AQid3LYYNixHr_PIQDOxcG2LVEEQtW6PGN2Z5qGM2Fu3Y3l0g9LhK_HgqYRi09kGF3uBoLGHBIvVX6Cj3EwQBiwe2p4BgK5VpTM0s2Sj0XczLhXlTkbHg5Dj696-adrKZ-/s1600/AprilShowers03.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
But the daisy came out okay! I'm noticing now that I got the flood consistency pretty set that it doesn't actually hold that beautiful bump when it dries and (as seen in the daisy petals and blue/white umbrella sections) it makes a little dip. Well, on the petals, it's kind of brilliant. Like I totally planned it! ha ha... ha... Sure.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Sa1PDZWxRQZpKlxS_CY26fZ7XHcZ6Dlm9uWR0Xm2_e-S7bntmE2w8bFdlx5cILcXBT2b0hsQMFaNuh5VojJOgpLSRD6KfH9CMVqdutdv4kEP5mig-egcyLE-RP4xLpOkapW-FKE8N54y/s1600/AprilShowers04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
The daisy was done by alternating petals and letting one round set before going back over with the second round (slightly overlapping). Then a big ol' mound of yellow in the center after all the petals were done and when THAT was dry, alternating dots around the edge (they'd run together if I piped them touching).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Sa1PDZWxRQZpKlxS_CY26fZ7XHcZ6Dlm9uWR0Xm2_e-S7bntmE2w8bFdlx5cILcXBT2b0hsQMFaNuh5VojJOgpLSRD6KfH9CMVqdutdv4kEP5mig-egcyLE-RP4xLpOkapW-FKE8N54y/s1600/AprilShowers04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Sa1PDZWxRQZpKlxS_CY26fZ7XHcZ6Dlm9uWR0Xm2_e-S7bntmE2w8bFdlx5cILcXBT2b0hsQMFaNuh5VojJOgpLSRD6KfH9CMVqdutdv4kEP5mig-egcyLE-RP4xLpOkapW-FKE8N54y/s1600/AprilShowers04.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Also, if I had planned better, I would've made little raindrops too... All the clouds and raindrops were cut out using a homemade plastic template which was time consuming but I had a specific shape in mind for the raining cloud. But little drops would've been cuter. :/</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHK6ITMg68xjNFmFjxVbPA1jyxayFjSaV6MEUuGsnqQ-jplD0_2Phvp7GLHdNt1z05XuP318q8nHUdeHZuoZk1xnGIeeHDVwZa00SvMzQBBGYyp526Wfq-MjswfSkrdkc9YjHEpG-m6riu/s1600/AprilShowers05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHK6ITMg68xjNFmFjxVbPA1jyxayFjSaV6MEUuGsnqQ-jplD0_2Phvp7GLHdNt1z05XuP318q8nHUdeHZuoZk1xnGIeeHDVwZa00SvMzQBBGYyp526Wfq-MjswfSkrdkc9YjHEpG-m6riu/s1600/AprilShowers05.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
Anyhoo. There they are! April showers! Hope my family enjoys them at Sunday brunch!</div>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-27190458394707871982012-04-08T19:09:00.002-08:002012-04-15T08:49:31.864-08:00Cookies, Part Deux<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7059092715_7a0c8469f6_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7059092715_7a0c8469f6_b.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Happy Easter!<br />
<br />
In case you missed my <a href="http://bumbleberrycakes.blogspot.com/2012/03/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming.html" target="_blank">Game of Thrones cookies post</a>, I am kind of crazy into the cooks these days. Like, researching best techniques, buying all the tools, finding designs, etc. This week was crazy baking-wise but I knew after the relative failure of the GoT cookies, I wanted to try, try again. Easter was the perfect excuse!<br />
<br />
I had <i>better </i>success on these but still not perfect. At this point, it's just about practicing. New techniques, seeing what works and what doesn't. My biggest issue was definitely the consistency: I was gun shy this time after the GoT royal icing was way too thin so for these I went a smidge too thick. I mean, they leveled off eventually (most of them) but I've watched dozens of tutorials and some decorators just squeeze it out of the bottle and it makes a lovely roundness and sets perfect and <b>fast</b>. That was the thing; I had to work it into place too much. So. Consistency still needs work!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5235/7059092341_5b2fe8042f_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5235/7059092341_5b2fe8042f_b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOR923XwIIc" target="_blank">Bunnies love clover!</a>)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
Also, I used the same cookie recipe from <a href="http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/blog/" target="_blank">Sweet Sugar Belle</a> and they taste great but mine spread a little bit too much. Might be an oven that runs too hot. Will experiment and report back!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As for the royal icing, I tried a <b><a href="http://lizybbakes.blogspot.com/2012/03/royal-icing-recipe-step-by-step.html" target="_blank">new recipe from Lizy B Bakes</a></b> and found it dried and worked wonderfully. I may just make this my go-to recipe!<br />
<br />
Lizy B makes kind of amazing things so I was inspired by her design work, Sugar Belle's and many others. I can wholeheartedly admit my own designs were the ones I liked least. HOWEVER, I will get better as I practice more and get more ideas from the brilliant bakers who blog and share their gorgeous work! (Thank you, thank you for sharing!)</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7242/6913009372_bf036d4cbb_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7242/6913009372_bf036d4cbb_b.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A small note about the watermarks/blog name on the pics: I've never marked my pictures in the past because I thought no one would really take anything of mine. There's two reasons I'm doing it now. #1. It's kind of heartbreaking to see a picture you worked on setting up and making junk for being reused without credit. Like, my stomach falls out when I see one of my pics just randomly somewhere. So avoiding that feeling is a good thing.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And #2. I've noticed a few other blogs doing the same and realized, as I saved the picture to study later, it was a GREAT way to remember whose it was! I was cruising blogs, right-clicking away and when I went to study the pictures, there's the name of the creator right there! Now I can credit them easy! It takes the hassle off me to remember who made what and making my life easier is always a bonus! So that's that!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">And everyone in my family got personalized egg cookies so, since my dad is in Houston, here you go, Dad! Love ya!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5035/6913281536_59c4a815e7_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5035/6913281536_59c4a815e7_b.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5344/7059092029_e5e62fa66b_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5344/7059092029_e5e62fa66b_b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(The little chicky was my favorite!)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-78751363785606380322012-04-07T09:40:00.005-08:002012-04-08T18:37:07.439-08:00Birthday Season!<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's birthday season in my family! Well, I say that because of the immediate family, the coolest of us have April/May birthdays (that would be me, my mom and my fellow Taurus niece). WE'RE BOSS.</span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So my mom's birthday just passed and she requested an utterly boring vanilla cake mix with vanilla buttercream. yawn. But I made baby shower cupcakes for a coworker a few months ago with a new technique that I fell in love with.</span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7219/6908150708_4f80f369b7_b.jpg" style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7219/6908150708_4f80f369b7_b.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 500px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 714px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hey, look at this bouquet of roses I got for her birthday.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/7054241693_3429aba047_b.jpg" style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/7054241693_3429aba047_b.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 714px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">JK! It's just the cake. </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4o6g29mh5Q" style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">This video</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> shows the simplest, are-you-kidding-me technique I've ever seen at making roses. It's a 2D tip and it literally takes seconds. It was very cute on cupcakes so I figured I'd cover a cake with them. Yeah, then I ran out of icing so the top was it. I swear, my buttercream always barely covers a cake (and I doubled this recipe!). Do I just ice a ton?? gahd.</span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So this was just two cake mixes with the following buttercream. Easy peasy!</span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5348/7054241907_6b96f1905d_b.jpg" style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5348/7054241907_6b96f1905d_b.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 500px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 714px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">VANILLA BUTTERCREAM ICING</span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 cup Crisco Shortening</span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><span style="font-family: verdana;">1/2 stick butter, room temperature</span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><span style="font-family: verdana;">2 Tbsps heavy whipping cream</span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><span style="font-family: verdana;">1-2 tsp vanilla</span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><span style="font-family: verdana;">4 cups powdered sugar, sifted (measure then sift)</span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In your mixer bowl, beat the shortening until it's smooth, add the butter and beat together until smooth and light and fluffy. Add smaller amount of the heavy cream indicated in the recipe and the vanilla and mix well.</span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Add half the powdered sugar and mix for 5 minutes on low-med speed. Add remaining sugar and mix well. Add more cream or powdered sugar if necessary to adjust the consistency.</span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><span style="font-family: verdana;">(I had to double this for enough for three 9-inch layers.)</span></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-37354058926957654842012-03-20T19:20:00.007-08:002012-04-15T08:49:49.288-08:00Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming!<span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6049/7001889177_c62c35e526_b.jpg" style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6049/7001889177_c62c35e526_b.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 500px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 714px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br style="font-family: verdana;" /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%;">Like most chefs I know, my cooking adventures too originate from seeing something and thinking, 'I wonder if <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span> could do that...' I've seen hundreds of beautiful, intricate and amazing sugar cookies and I never thought twice about trying them. And one day it was just like, 'Hey... SUGAR cookies...'<br style="font-family: verdana;" /><br style="font-family: verdana;" />Also, I'm crazy into Game of Thrones right now and I really wanted to geek out about it. Hence, decorated cookies. (The best part? At random intervals, such as coloring the red icing, I'd just suddenly think, "A Lannister always pays his debts." WEE!)</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%;"><br style="font-family: verdana;" />Anyway, I was so excited! I read a couple awesome blogs with tips and suggestions, I got all my plans in place and did each step by step. I tried <a href="http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/blog/2011/06/basic-sugar-cookie-recipe-2/" style="font-weight: bold;">Sweet Sugar Belle's sugar cookie recipe</a> and she noted that she liked almond extract (as opposed to the traditional vanilla). I could not agree more! They held their shape pretty great and taste flaky and light. Great recipe!<br />
<br />
I had this great plan for the sigils: I used trace paper on the actual print out of each then went over the opposite side with a food marker, hoping to transfer it to the dried icing. Yeah, that was a big NO. Nothing happened. So. Plan B: paint brush and free hand it!<br face="verdana" /><br face="verdana" />That was not <span style="font-style: italic;">fun</span>. Oh, how I longed for that projector that shows the image directly on the cookie to just trace along to! But (a couple hours later) I got all the sigils painted on (with a combination of black coloring and vodka).<br face="verdana" /><br face="verdana" />Now, I made two sets of each color: one for piping and one for flooding. The flood ones were easy for the base but I set the bags of piping icing aside (standing in glasses with a damp towel at the bottom) while the cookies dried overnight. I go to pipe the next day and it's separated! Curses! So I rush to squeeze it out of the bag and mix hastily and rebag. Well. If I had any experience with decorating cookies, I probably would've noticed that the consistency had also changed. It was WAY thinner than I'd made it. So when I go to pipe my intricate designs? Yeah, it starts running EVERYWHERE. As you can clearly see from the pictures and the sloppy designs. I did what I could with a toothpick but the damn stuff dried so fast! <br face="verdana" /><br face="verdana" />sigh. Oh well. If you squint, they're not so bad. But I've learned a valuable lesson (don't wait so long to pipe!) They're nothing like I hoped for but I can't see any experiment where I learned something as a failure so. [A type of] success!<br />
<br />
</span><br />
<div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/7001936959_292a3d5dfc_b.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/7001936959_292a3d5dfc_b.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 714px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOUSE STARK</span><br />
Sigil: direwolf<br />
Words: "Winter is coming."<br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6855774306_c8b87d4a2f_b.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6855774306_c8b87d4a2f_b.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 714px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOUSE GREYJOY</span><br />
Sigil: kraken<br />
Words: "We do not sow."<span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">(ILU THEONNNNN)</span></span><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/6855774518_07f9647c7a_b.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/6855774518_07f9647c7a_b.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 500px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 714px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOUSE BARATHEON</span><br />
Sigil: stag<br />
Words: "Ours is the fury."<br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6051/7001890145_ddcf00fdc1_b.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6051/7001890145_ddcf00fdc1_b.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 714px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOUSE LANNISTER</span><br />
Sigil: lion<br />
Words: "Hear me roar."<br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/6855775006_c0d2cc6368_b.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/6855775006_c0d2cc6368_b.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 714px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOUSE TARGARYEN</span><br />
Sigil: three-headed dragon<br />
Words: "Fire and blood."<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">(OMG MY FAVORITE; DAENERYS FOREVERRRR. FIRRRREEE.)</span><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%;"><br />
<br />
</span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-8541536962979029562011-11-23T14:57:00.005-09:002011-11-23T15:29:27.691-09:00Fancied Up Chocolate Raspberry<span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6054/6391889437_9073258075_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 714px;" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6054/6391889437_9073258075_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have a 14 year old nephew that's kind of a foodie. He wants to be a chef. But he also likes </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;" >a lot</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> of different foods so when I asked him what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday and he said <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://bumbleberrycakes.blogspot.com/2009/09/chocolate-raspberry-always-works.html">the same chocolate/raspberry one I'd made for another friend before</a>, I wasn't challenged. It was a smidge disappointing. So I went in search of at least prettying it up. I found a beautiful picture on flickr of a chocolate raspberry cake that I've, regrettably, lost the link to. I attempted to duplicate it and didn't quite succeed but my nephew liked it a lot so that was my main goal.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6391889923_eab52bd395_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 714px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6391889923_eab52bd395_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The thing I didn't prepare for was how time consuming every bit of this cake was. From the ganache to cutting the three layers to making the raspberry filling then chocolate buttercream then whipped cream THEN white chocolate marble decoration. so much work. But I'm glad it came out nice. And it was just as yummy as chocolate and raspberry always are. Win!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6391890449_8262626153_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 714px;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6391890449_8262626153_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;">And it's six layers with three ganache fills and two raspberries. Mmmm!<br /></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-28548119459673886092011-11-07T04:30:00.000-09:002011-11-07T04:33:35.081-09:00More Halloween!<span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6297455778_516172146d_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 714px;" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6297455778_516172146d_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Every year, my office puts on a Halloween party and they usually ask for desserts to be contributed. This year they're doing a dessert contest but I was just excited to make something creepy. I saw this cake on </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://iammommy.typepad.com/i_am_baker/2011/09/creepy-millipede-cake.html">I Am Baker</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and thought it was AWESOME so I went about trying to replicate.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">She mentions she uses Americolor for the buttercream coloring but I couldn't get my hands on it before the due date so I cheated (again) and used the Wilton bottle of black icing. Now, the legs, on hers, are red and almost gel-looking so I was stumped. I bought the little red gel bottle and that was way too bright. I added black coloring to it and it plunged into darkness; too dark! So I ended up using the leftover red Wilton bottle icing from the little vampire cupcake fangs of last week! Added a little black to darken it and voila! Kind of reddish/black legs!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Thanks to this from </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://iammommy.typepad.com/i_am_baker/2011/09/creepy-millipede-cake.html">I Am Baker</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> to this awesomely creepy design!!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6224/6296926419_876192bec6_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 714px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6224/6296926419_876192bec6_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-54404588231299971832011-10-30T12:09:00.003-08:002011-10-30T12:14:54.288-08:00This is Halloween<span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6019/6296114320_d0288aa672_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 714px;" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6019/6296114320_d0288aa672_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">woo boy, I've been slacking, right? Well HAPPY HALLOWEEN! All is forgiven??</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I made these for the family the other day and completely cheated on the black (I bought the Wilton tubes). I have little patience with getting colors dark but I've heard good things about the AmeriColor brand so I'm going to give them a try when I need a black or red coloring! For now, here are my happy little bloodsuckers!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a wonderful holiday, everyone!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6043/6295583925_cb69f3a7fd_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 714px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6043/6295583925_cb69f3a7fd_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6224/6296115214_e0f1429f74_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 714px;" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6224/6296115214_e0f1429f74_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-53698595738626016072011-06-12T09:09:00.003-08:002011-06-12T09:17:37.867-08:00Going even more Green<span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5306/5824724121_2f5de82619_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 714px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5306/5824724121_2f5de82619_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Soooooo, it's fun lying to kids, isn't it? I'm joking! sort of. My future children can blame MY mom for lying to me as I was growing up, and OFTEN. My mom was notorious for sneaking things into seemingly innocent desserts like brownies and would taunt us AFTER we had sampled them with, "GUESS WHAT'S IN THEM." She'd usually answer me and my brother's bafflement with "zucchini!" or "carrots!" I used to have generally unpleasant feelings from these sneaky vegetable revelations. However I know now why she did it. It is immensely satisfying to trick children into eating things that are good for them. Mwha ha ha haahahha.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Williams-Sonoma has a new catalog and a spread with smoothies that piqued my interest. Especially that attractive looking GREEN thing front and center. I went in search of green smoothies and found several variations. The beautiful thing about smoothies is, they're so versatile. You can almost throw anything in a blender and it'll come out good. But I was on a mission so I followed the one I found on All Recipes, and the highly rated adaptation, relatively close. (Next will be kale!)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, the kid in question is my 13 year old nephew who is like most kids his age: he usually recoils at the sight of real vegetables. Sure, he can have some iceberg lettuce or starchy potatoes but get into leafy greens and he gets a ~look on his face. Like he'd rather eat dirt. So I gave him an enticing "We're going to try a GREEN DRINK!" preview. He's generally agreeable but eventually he asked, "What makes it green?" And I said, with a straight face, "Oh, I color it." >)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I sneaked the baby spinach leaves into the blender and kept it hidden behind me as I tossed in the yogurt, ground flax seed, frozen banana chunks and apple and voila! Beautiful green drink!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, the adapted comment on All Recipes used plain yogurt and agave syrup for sweetness. I used vanilla yogurt AND agave because, c'mon, I'm selling it to a kid. But only a teaspoon of syrup, so I didn't go crazy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">But you know who did go crazy? The nephew. He loved it. And I only kept it to myself long enough to enjoy the fact that he liked something that was sweet, yeah, but also protein-rich and good for him. He was even pleasantly surprised when I told him it was spinach and wanted to make more when he got home. :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can't wait to make this drink for a morning pick-me-up!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3401/5824724515_a1da1edd86_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 714px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3401/5824724515_a1da1edd86_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">GROOVY GREEN SMOOTHIE</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Adapted from <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Groovy-Green-Smoothie/Detail.aspx">All Recipes, mamaiscookin</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 frozen banana, cut in chunks</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">8 ounces vanilla yogurt</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 apple, cored and chopped</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 1/2 cups fresh spinach leaves</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 Tbsp ground flax seed</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 Tbsp agave syrup (optional)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Place the banana, yogurt, apple, spinach and flax into a blender. Cover, and blend until smooth, stopping frequently to push down anything stuck to the sides. Pour into glasses and serve. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Servings: 2</span><br /><br /></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-18517910191929911962011-02-19T06:00:00.005-09:002011-02-19T06:16:17.929-09:00Noodles so good<span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5458114829_f74e3e6322_b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 714px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5458114829_f74e3e6322_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">In an effort not to sound like a jerk, I restrain myself from talking about my relatively recent vegetarianism. But it's relevant here so, brace yourself; you're going to hear about it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We had a holiday potluck at work, as usual, and I had a brilliant plan: pick over whatever raw veggies and breads I could scope out. Oh wait, did I say brilliant plan? I meant ~moronic plan. But the truth is, you never know what people put in their foods so it's hard to judge some dishes and it's better to be safe than sorry.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Well, as I strolled along the potluck line, I saw some noodles that, to the naked eye, looked simple and meatless. I took a bit and was surprised to find they were quite lovely; spicy, sesame-y and flavorful. I asked around then cold-called (cold-emailed?) the woman in the office that brought them in, asking for the recipe. She was happy to send it over and I giddily went to making them at home. Here's the thing with these noodles, though: they get better a day or two after they're made. The recipe even calls for letting the oils absorb into the noodles for 4 or more hours but overnight, it's even better!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Also, I didn't have roasted peanuts on hand when I made them and it was still delish (the green onions and cilantro are not as non-negotiable, though).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">If you have plain sesame seeds, toasting them is just a matter of warming them up in fry pan until they become fragrant.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I love love love these noodles...</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/5458723226_446a29744c_b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 714px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/5458723226_446a29744c_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >SESAME NOODLES</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">8 oz. capellini (or thin spaghetti)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/4 cup vegetable oil</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3 Tbsp dark sesame oil</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 tsp dry crushed red pepper</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3 Tbsp honey</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 Tbsp soy sauce</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 tsp salt (may omit)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 Tbsp. chopped cilantro</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/4 cup chopped green onion</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1. Cook noodles, but don’t overcook, as they’ll soften with dressing. Set noodles aside.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2. Heat oil, sesame oil, and crushed red pepper over medium heat about 2 minutes. Stir in honey, soy sauce and salt and bring just to a simmer.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3. Toss warm dressing with pasta and refrigerate, covered for 4 hours or more for flavors to blend.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">4. Just before serving, toss in cilantro, green onions, sesame seeds and peanuts.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Enjoy!</span><br /><br /><br /></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429757711186659628.post-73717704482808248832011-02-13T17:12:00.006-09:002011-10-31T11:00:28.462-08:00Whoopies on Valentines<span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5443910018_8a13011caa_b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 714px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5443910018_8a13011caa_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I think I'm finally coming to the realization that I don't think things through. When I read a recipe that says, Pistachio Whoopie Pies with Rosewater buttercream, I think, Ooo pretty pink! I go through all the steps to make my first whoopie pies ever then take a bite and cringe. 'ugh it tastes like FLOWER.' Never in my many years have I smelled a rose and thought, Man, I wanna chow down on THAT. But I have no one to blame but myself. It's ROSEWATER. It's going to taste like roses.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">That being said, I had some leftover vanilla buttercream from a baby shower cake I made a week or so ago and tried that in one of these instead of the rose flavored. It was very nice, I must say. So my rec, and this is just personal taste, is to go with vanilla for these. And if you're wondering if you might dig rosewater buttercream, just imagine stuffing a rose into your mouth. Good? Okay, then go for it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">As previously mentioned, these are my first whoopie pies. They didn't look as poofy in the picture... Those are normal sized cupcake liners so you can see how big just a small ice cream scoop size produced. They're pretty filling when you smack two together with some flower-flavored buttercream. (Just color the vanilla pink! It'll look the same!!) I'd like to try some other flavors, though; they're a cute idea but have a short lifespan. The recipe recommends serving that day and after storing in a baggie over night, they had gone a little sticky from the moisture and such. So keep their shelf-life in mind!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5443910482_f246e41494_b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 714px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5443910482_f246e41494_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >PISTACHIO-CARDAMOM WHOOPIES</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Source: Whoopie Pies by Sarah Billingsley and Amy Treadwell</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3 cups all-purpose flour</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 teaspoon ground cardamom</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3/4 cup granulated sugar</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3/4 cup (packed) brown sugar</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 large egg</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 cup buttermilk</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3/4 cup ground pistachios</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Position a rack in the center of the over and preheat the oven to 350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sift together the flour, baking powder, cardamom and salt into a medium bowl.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and both sugars on low speed until just combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat until fluffy and smooth, about 5 minutes. Add the egg, beating well. Add the vanilla.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Add half of the flour mixture and half of the buttermilk to the batter and beat on low until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the remaining flour mixture and 1/2 cup buttermilk and beat until completely combined. Add the pistachios and mix just until combined.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Using a small ice cream scoop or 2-tablespoon scoop, drop about 2 tablespoons of batter onto one of the prepared baking sheets and repeat, spacing them at least 2 inches apart. Bake one sheet at a time for about 10 minutes each, or until the cakes begin to brown. Let the cakes cool on the sheet for at least 5 minutes before transferring them to a rack to cool completely.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Makes about 30 four-inch cakes.</span><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >ROSEWATER BUTTERCREAM</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 cups confectioners' sugar</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 teaspoon rosewater or rose essence</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/8 teaspoon salt</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3 to 4 drops red food coloring</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the confectioners' sugar and the butter, starting on low and increasing to medium speed, until mixture is crumbly, about 1 minute. Add the heavy cream, rosewater, vanilla, salt and red food coloring and beat on high until smooth, about 3 minutes.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">OR!</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >VANILLA BUTTERCREAM</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Source: Wilton</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/4 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine softened</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 tablespoon milk</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Makes: About 1 1/2 cups of icing</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In large bowl, cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth until ready to use.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored 2 weeks. Rewhip before using.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/5443307213_ae65ed89d6_b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 714px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/5443307213_ae65ed89d6_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYBODY!</span><br /></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14807395796679167726noreply@blogger.com0