The Sweetest Thing

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Where have YOU BEEN?!? or COOKIE TIP #1

Well, ok, I am the one that's been MIA around here! Life takes us many places we don't ever expect. Mine took me away from posting on my blog! Things happen - it's ok. I forgive me for it, and I hope you will too!

That said, it's time to get back at it again, and this time, I have a plan. What I would like to do (let's see if I can stick with this!) is use this forum for a way to share tips and ideas for you to use at YOUR house! Rather than just posting all the different things I make (I do that on Facebook anyway) you might like to actually learn something.

If you don't want to try any of it, that's ok too, but consider this a warning, you MAY actually want to jump in and try these things yourself!

So..... Here goes nothing!
Tip #1 - Have you tried using cookie cutters to make a specific shape to decorate? Most people that try this do Christmas cookies. I grew up making rolled and cut sugar cookies every year, usually the weekend of Thanksgiving, by the hundreds. It was a family tradition! Thanksgiving weekend meant lots of dry, leftover turkey sandwiches and Christmas cookies! Would you like to see some pictures of those early creations?! I'd love to show you some, but alas, we did not photograph them. But it's alright, I can tell you they were odd looking, goofy "gingerbread" men, over-puffed bells and stars and christmas trees. Sometimes we even did reindeer, but you could never tell what they were! Have you had this problem? Read on for how to solve it!

There are 2 simple ways to reduce the spreading/puffing of your cookies as they bake.
1 - Reduce or eliminate leavening agents.
The worst culprits are baking soda and baking powder. If either of these are in your recipe, try cutting it by half, or do what I do, and leave it out altogether! If you don't want your dough spreading, why put in something who's only purpose is to make the dough spread!? It's just silly!

(Ok, so I guess this is Tips 1 & 2. Oh well. They go together!)

2 - Before you put your cut dough into the oven, make sure the dough is COLD! How cold? Well, I always put my tray of raw cookies into the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes before putting them into the oven. When the metal tray feels cold to my touch, I figure it's good. But the colder the better! My favorite way to cool them is by putting the trays (covered with a lid of course!) on the back porch in the snowy dead of winter! It's Michigan - They get REALLY cold in a hurry!

If you have trouble with puffy cookies that turn into unrecognizable blobs, try doing these 2 things and see what you think! I'd love to hear your feedback if you do try it!

Happy Baking!
~Nikki

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Blogger Behindedness!

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the things you need to do and the things you want to do just aren’t meshing with each other? This used to happen to me pretty often, but in the past couple of years, as I have made some major changes in my life (like a new career!) I find it’s more likely that what I want to do and what I need to do are the same thing! Amazing & Wonderful! I know! However, lately that has not been the case at all!

For those readers who don’t already know, shortly after my last blog post (in MAY!) I filed for a divorce.

WAIT!!

Please don’t start feeling bad and leaving comments telling me how sorry you are! Understand that this single change, for all the gravity, seriousness and immensity it carries with it, will reduce the stress levels in my life exponentially. Unfortunately, the process can be very slow, as I am sure many of you know! Of course nobody ever says, “I want to be in my early 30s and divorced with 2 kids!” But, regardless, I will be better for it, and so will my kiddos.

So that is my excuse for being SO behind on my blog, and also my website and Facebook page! As I like to say, life got in the way! But, I am getting back on the Mac and getting back to updating things!

Do not assume that just because I was not posting, there have not been things to share….there are MANY! So, to avoid overwhelming you, my readers, I am going to try to post in spurts so you can get it all, without having to go through 6 months of updates all at the same time!

And now…..for your viewing pleasure….some of the cookies I did late this spring: (Please leave me a comment or two at the end! I’d love to know what you think!)

Thanks for sharing your feedback!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

March & April Cookie-ing

That's a word right? Cookie-ing? I may have made it up, but that's okay. I'm still going to use it! As you can see, my last blog post was March 3^rd!! I really do have the best intentions of blogging at least once per week. However, I get so busy with actually making the cookies, (and of course being a wife & mommy, and my other job too) that blogging takes a back seat, and before I know it, a whole month has gone by with no posts!

So, here are some of the wonderful yummy treats I have worked on lately. I hope you like them!

Zebra Striped Cookies with 21 for a 21st Birthday in Hartland, MI

Lovely Magnolia in my yard!
They aren't around long, but they are glorious while they last!!

Surf's Up!! Surf Board Cookies and Board Shorts Cookies off to North Carolina for a 1st Birthday Party.
These were designed to coordinate with a party setup by Claudia at Tini Posh.

Personalized Easter Cookies for a family party in Waterford, MI

Sports Theme Cookies for two liitle boys' birthday party in Waterford, MI
baseball cookies, basketball cookies, soccer ball cookies & football cookies!

Baby Tigger Cookies for a 1st Birthday party in Flushing, MI

Tulip Cookies!! Not really (duh!) it's more spring splendor in my back yard!! I love it when the flowers come out. :)

Easter Egg Cookies to match a birthday invitation designed by Natalie at Southern Belle's Charm.

Dr. Suess's The Cat in the Hat Cookies for a local birthday party.

Black & Fawn Pug Cookies to Springboro, OH

40th & 50th Birthday Cookies for a combined party in Waterloo, Ontario!
My first international shipment. :)

The Red Velvet cake I made for my mom's birthday. Complete with chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate curlicues. It was my first one, and went over pretty well!

Guitar Cookies for a local pickup.

Bandaged Feet for a local delivery. I hope the cookies made John feel better after his foot surgery!

Bowling Ball cookies to match the decor at a local Bowling Birthday Party

Assorted Daisy Cookies for a giveaway hosted by Heather at Pirates and Princesses, shipped off to the winner in Pennsylvania.
If you haven't done it yet, go check out her blog! You will want to be a follower, because she is AH-MAY-ZING!!

These sweet "Little Chick" cookies were made to match the design created by another of my fave party girls, Laura at EyeCandy Event Details. You can find her blog HERE and he facebook page HERE.

St. Patrick's Day Irish Cookie assortment, for the little bit o' green in us all!

Watermelon Cookies and Flower Cookies - sent to Ft. Stewart in Georgia to put smiles on the face of my favorite soldier!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Introducing, an instant hit!

Custom Crispy Pops!!!

Decorated Circles to Match Think Spring Collection from Eye Candy Event Details

Chocolate Drizzled Random Triangles with sprinkles.

These babies are made about an inch thick and are on sticks (that’s what makes them pops!). They can be decorated with royal icing in any way you can imagine. For the chocolate lovers out there they can be drizzled with your choice of milk, dark, or white chocolate, or even colored chocolate! And for the chocolate addicts who are not willing to attempt recovery, such as myself, they can be fully dipped in chocolate, completely covering every inch of the crispy, sweet, marshmallow-y goodness with chocolate. YUM!

You might be asking yourself why I didn’t use the same word choice that they have on the box of cereal form which they’re made. Hmmmm? That’s odd, you might say. But, it’s not odd at all; if you consider that I have neither the interest nor the finances to risk copyright infringement on a large multinational corporation! So, Custom Crispy Pops (with a C) they are!

If you are interested in ordering these for your next party or special event, or you’d like to get some as a gift, please contact me at tstCookies@gmail.com.