Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!! 

This year I did a turkey cookie platter inspired by Jill at Funky Cookie Studio (see the platter here). She is far more talented, and has an airbrush, so I present to you......the amateur version:

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):