A Pressing Matter...

 

 

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Once again, I had purchased another plastic impression cutter that looked too cool to pass up.  The ebay app for iPad makes it just too easy to make quick purchases.  Without giving myself time to think twice.  Whether or not it was deep enough for my 3/8" thick dough.  Which it wasn't...

 

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So rather than just admire the cutter taking up space, or roll my dough thinner (gasp...never!), I forged ahead and, although not my method of choice, pressed the cutter down into the dough to make an impression and then hand cut them.  Make sure to press enough to get all of the details.  A little time consuming, but really, I had no choice.  If the shape was a little more geometric, I could have used a square or round cutter, but apparently that's something else I overlooked in my haste...  Hand-cut dough isn't as pretty or clean but as you can see in the bottom right picture, the baked cookies don't look too shabby!  I also sometimes do this with regular (not impression) cutters - like letters.  Cut squares, circles, whatever shape you like, then take your cutter & gently impress it into the dough, cutting maybe 1/3 of the way into the dough, and it will leave an impression for you to decorate over after baked.  Or you can use it for cutters like, say, giraffes, that tend to break at the neck - simply impress them onto maybe a rectangle & ice the background in a solid color around the giraffe. 

 

 

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And the impression stayed nice and clean so that I could outline the sections before decorating.  Don't add small details like the eyes and mouth before flooding - they will get lost.  They are easy enough to add later.  (Although I guess I should have peeked at the cutter 'cause I did my mouth a little differently... oh well, no biggie : )  Depending on the size of the areas you will be icing, you may want your icing a little bit thinner for flooding.  These were a pretty good size so I was lucky : )  You may also want to outline again after flooding, like if you go over your outlines a little... like I did... Luckily they cleaned up nice : )

 

 

 

 

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BOO! 

 

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

 



Sweets for my Sweet

 

 

Well, it's time again for another Hallmark Holiday.  "Sweetest Day."  Not that I have anything against professing my love to my husband (love you honey!) but after all, Valentine's Day is less than four months away...  Anyway, since Sweetest Day is Saturday, I thought I'd give my sweet a box of chocolates.  But, instead of buying a box, a box that probably consists of at least half of those really yucky ones, I figured I'd make a box of cookie chocolates : )  I usually do these with chocolate fondant (candy clay) but I was too lazy busy to make any.  They are really fun to do, and boy are they yuuummmyyy!

 

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First, bake up a batch of LilaLoa's End-All for Chocolate Cookies, cut in candy-box-candy shapes (squares, circles, rectangles.)  Sure, you could use any old chocolate cookie recipe, but since she was so kind wonderful  unbelievably selfless to share hers, why wouldn't you?  They are soooo good!  I mean, the name says it all! (I think she did something similar to these a while back... but I think she iced in actual chocolate, which is also really good!)

 

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I added a little cocoa to my icing to make a chocolate Royal Glaze, and then iced the cookies.  Some, I sprinkled coarse sugar on to resemble salted caramel, and on some I sprinkled some toasted almond.  And, just for giggles, I had to make one look like it was the "gross" one of the box... the one that stands out from the rest, and if it were in a real box of chocolates, it would be the last one anyone took, and threw away after a tiny bite out of the corner... : )  To the rest, add some drizzles 'n' stuff.

 

 

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When they're dry, put them in to some mini cupcake liners, and then in a box.  And there you have it! 

 

*Sweets for my Sweet*



 

 

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Here's to Hallmark Holidays! 
 

Happy Sweetest Day!  

Coffee Break Giveaway - and the Winner is...

... Vicki Sensmeier!

 

Congrats Vicki - hope you enjoy your new stash - and share pics if you make the Coffee Break set : )

Please contact me with your address so I can get your goodies out to you!

 

Thanks for all of the LOVE you all expressed for not only me, but for Karen's, BRP and PIP.  They are all wonderful people & I really appreciate their donations to this giveaway!

 

See you soon

&

Happy Baking!