Holiday Craziness...

Okay, I have to be honest.  The shop just called back on my truck and my mood has dampened slightly since my original plan to start this post.  Correction - mood majorly dampened.  Who wants to go from calculating the month's budget and coming out ahead, even after Christmas shopping, to then being so far behind you aren't sure how your going to make it through the 10th, much less the first of the year.  Sad day.  But, I am trying to tell myself that I am lucky, the problem is repairable, I am not totally without a vehicle (just until Friday), the engine isn't blown...I am lucky and it will be okay.  Phewf.  Enough of that....back to happier times.  

So, company came just before Thanksgiving, and this company arrived wanting to make cookies!  I had all of the cookies ready and the icing prepped so only the fun part was left.  I really went all out.  Made my first attempt at royal icing transfers, tried a new turkey design, and baked horse shapes (without an icing plan)...  Here are some photos of the fun:

The few remaining transfers:

 My best friend's niece catching on SOOOOOO fast:

I did not get enough pictures before, but here are some creations by the team, all packed up and ready for the Thanksgiving trip back home to the family:

 This is a platter I arranged once our company had left and we headed north to celebrate with my husband's family.  I know you have seen these already, but I feel like this is one of the best photos I have had to share:

At my sister-in-law's house I realized I had not gotten any pictures of my latest turkey creation (transfer and all).  I also feel that a random remark from one of my close friends needs to be shared...She accidentally called the transfers royal icing "transplants" which is actually perfect in a way, and totally hilarious!

 

I am sooooo looking forward to my first-ever Christmas cookies!!!!

Pumpkin Spice Turkeys!

So. I have decided that I love the process of making cookie dough and cutting out the shapes about as much as I love decorating them.  On the other hand, I HATE bagging the cookies.  Do not ask me why, I have no clue.  But I HATE it.  Whew, okay....now that I have that out there - new cookie flavor.  Oh wait, one more confession: all I use to take pictures is my iPhone.  Okay, now maybe my conscience is clear.

Here is the rundown: It's Saturday evening.  No plans on going anywhere else.  Nine times out of ten, I have all of the ingredients I need to make cookies...not this time.  The recipe called for pumpkin spice emulsion...HA.  Who has that on hand?  So I improvise.  I substituted the emulsion for canned pumpkin (pure, not pie filling).  Me being me, 3 tiny scoops didn't seem like enough so I tossed in a little extra for good measure.  The recipe warned that this mixture might be a touch sticky but I feel that was a giant understatement.  After lots of flour and re-rolling I managed a few acorns as a test batch.  And, although they spread to the point that they looked like they had been run over by a car, they were DELICIOUS.  I am not sure you are getting this, these cookies are a life-changer, although a sticky mess.

Plan B...refrigerate overnight = much better.  However, the cookies still spread some.  This means that you not only have to refrigerate overnight, but you have to chill the shapes too.  I know, I know, some people swear by that process anyway, but not me.  People, I don't have that kind of time to wait around...but for these tasty little smackrels I will make the sacrifice.  

So, what have we learned?

1. I HATE bagging cookies

2. Substitute equal parts canned pumpkin for emulsion

3. Dough is STICKY no matter what version of pumpkin you use

4. Refrigerate, Refrigerate

5. YUM YUM YUM

And here we are, pumpkin spice turkeys (two ways):

Autumn Inspiration

After my spiderweb extravaganza, I again found inspiration from some of my new blog friends and decided it was time for round two.

Courtesy of Sweet Sugar Belle

Courtesy of Sweet Sugar Belle

Courtesy of Bake at 350

 I have to say I was the most excited about the pumpkins but never made it that far, as I seem to have run into a shelf-life issue.  Being a newbie at this cookie thing, I didn't pay attention to how long they were out to cool, or out again later to dry and I think the butter became rancid in some of the leaves and acorns.  So once it was pumpkin-icing time, the cookies had to be disposed of.  Anywho...I got through the leaves and acorns okay, and even tried making some chocolate cookies this time.  I also tried the Wilton Color Mist spray to make the leaves look a little more realistic.  Warning: allow the cookies to dry fully before applying a new color...you might also use the green sparingly or your leaves will look moldy - yuck.

Confession...these were a little simpler than the spider web cookies, but I am in LOVE with the acorns.  I am putting these in the win column.

 Happy Fall!