Cookie Addiction

I've been bitten by the cookie decorating bug! I mean seriously, I think I am hooked!

This past December I read "Decorating Christmas Cookies" written by Pioneer Woman.  Pioneer Woman had a special guest, Bridget of Bake at 350 ,visit her ranch to teach a few lucky winners how to decorate sugar cookies with Royal Icing. I read the post over and over and became more and more inspired. I am now an avid fan of Bake at 350 (read: stalker) and I can't think of a day since where I haven't browsed other cookie decorator (artists) blogs and just been in awe of the creativity and artistry out there.

Luckily I have had great excuses (err, special occasions) to practice baking/decorating cookies (approx. 8 dozen since Dec.) and quickly send them away to be eaten by someone other than me. And also luckily, I have no photographic evidence of my first attempt at decorating. The first attempt was a tad stressful and a teeny bit scary...looking. Although friends and family happily gobbled them up and probably didn't give a second thought to the fact that my Christmas cookies were pink, light green, and the piping looked like dried up toothpaste. And if my sweet hubby had not been patient with my micro-managing style and not helped me decorate, that may have well been my very last attempt. (Attempting a new skill at Christmastime? What was I thinking?)

So...if you don't mind I would like to share some evidence of later attempts with you.

Attempt #2:



Trans Am Theme - Hubby's Birthday



 Lessons learned:

1. Over mixing Royal Icing causes it to resist drying. When it does dry it has an unappealing crackly texture.
2. Piping should not be the consistency of toothpaste.
3. Americolor gel coloring is the bomb. (Red is red not pink!)
4. There is no such thing as a Firebird cookie cutter - improvise with an American Eagle cutter, a knife, and some careful bending of the cut cookie.
5. Using too much black coloring makes your friends teeth look like they were chewing on roof tar. This could be really funny or really mean - you decide...

Attempt #3: 

Marleigh’s 15th Birthday



Birthday girl picked the colors and assisted in the decorating. She did a great job especially with the piping! She made a special "cow" cookie for a friend whom she has nick-named "Moo-Cow". Cute! We packaged the cookies individually in clear cellophane bags and used craft paper and ribbon to top the bags. I took pictures but I cannot find them! Lesson learned: Decorating with your daughter is cool. 

There is something very satisfying and rewarding about taking the time to plan, bake, and decorate cookies for someone you love. They are like edible love notes. I am thankful for all of the ladies and gentlemen who are out there sharing their knowledge and talent and inspiring us other girls and boys. I wonder if they truly realize how happy their art makes people. Food art is temporary, yes, but such a sweet gesture.   

 

If you've read this far, thank you for staying and being patient with me as I am learning the blogging ropes! And please excuse me, I need to go workout for the next four hours so that I can continue to perform "quality control"...

~Heather