Showing posts with label sugar cookies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sugar cookies. Show all posts

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Valentines Favorites


As with all holidays, I enjoy learning a bit of the history, who was the Saint, what were the pagan beliefs, how was it commercialized and spread worldwide? Go here for some excellent reading on Valentine's Day.

 But I also love the treats, the warm feelings declared by not only lovers, but friends and family as well. The decorations and of course, the treats are definately a huge plus as well! What is your favorite association or anti-reasoning of this holiday?












(her mantle here





Friday, September 10, 2010

Sweet Treats: Perfect Vegan Sugar Cookie Recipe


 These fall inspired sugar cookies are from the cheerful Dainty Squid. Seriously, isn't that one adorable acorn? She used this vegan recipe by John and Kristie.

"The cookies were just hard enough to keep their shape, but soft when bitten. They tasted buttery and melted in your mouth. The icing was glossy, smooth and sweet. Like the cookies, the icing was just hard enough to allow stacking, but soft to bite. They were a hit at the party! And surprise, they were vegan!"



PERFECT VEGAN SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE
This makes about 36 cookies. We made two batches.


1 cup margarine   3 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar   2 teaspoons baking powder
2 whole egg replacements (Ener-G)   1/4 cup tofu cream cheese (Tofutti)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1.  In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar. Stir in the egg replacements and vanilla. Gradually add the flour, baking powder and tofu cream cheese. You may have to use your hands at this point to finish the mixing. Form the dough into a long loaf and wrap in cellophane. Refrigerate for a couple hours.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease the cookie sheets or use a non-stick foil.
3. On a lightly floured surface (we taped down a sheet of non-stick foil to our countertop instead), roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place about 1 inch apart cookie on sheets.
4. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes in the preheated oven, until bottoms and edges just start to get light brown. Remove from baking sheet and cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

PERFECT VEGAN ICING RECIPE
Each batch is enough to easily coat 24 cookies. We made four batches, one for each color.

2 cups confectioners' sugar   1/2 teaspoon of almond extract
6-8 teaspoons of soy milk (Silk Vanilla)   Assorted food coloring
4 teaspoons of light corn syrup

Directions:
1.  In medium bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar and soy milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.
2. Add food coloring to desired intensity. Dip cookies and allow to dry overnight.



Saturday, October 31, 2009

Sweet Treats: Cute Desserts for your Halloween!

Mummy wrapped water bottles for a candy dish! Adorable, quick, cheap and easy, how to here!

Are you a procrastinatior? So caught up in decorating/making costumes/ or REAL life day to day tasks that you totally spaced out? Did you forget that you invited some people over tonight, or that you are hosting a Halloween party or assigned to bring a treat to one? Well, don't you fret, because we have ALL done that in one point (or all the time) in our lives. Here are some quick and easy ideas for you, my friends. And if you go here to my recipes, you will find tons more sweet treat recipes, like cupcakes, bars, and cookies!



 Broomstick treat bags! Adorable! Make your own stencil by cutting a design on paper.

 

 
Witches fingers. I've seen them made of of cheese, cookies, biscotti with almond sliver nails...
lots of recipes online

 
Can't think of a theme for that oh-crap-I've-been-so-busy-I-totally-forgot-I-was-hosting-one party? Here's some good themes ideas complete with ways to make them work on Ghoul Friday! 

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Valentine's Day Decorating, Jewelry, Cookies and Crafts

valentines day craft decoration decorating pink hearts

Here is my little Valentine tutorial. I really wanted a more expensive topiary, but then I would of only had one, so I bought the supplies and made a whole set up for my faux mantle/decorating shelf. I kept it simple this time (for the boys) and I hope you like it b/c I know I do! I painted a wooden frame a creme color and added a pink flower and green vines. My candleabra project is HERE.

valentines day craft supplies for decoration vaalentine
The hearts I just wound together, tied a bow and stuck it in foam and hot glued it to the bottom of my mom's vintage ice cream dishes. (The glue will peel right off when I need it b/c I used low temp glue). The foam heart I just used a pretty sage scrapbook paper, black marker for the words, glue, glitter, lace and a bow.

Isaac is turning into "a big boy", when people ask him his name, he says "I Isaac, big boy". And he loves to announce "I did it!" So, he helped me sprinkle glitter and arrange the hearts on this project. He has also been helping me cook, which has been nice, as it gets him excited to eat those veggies that he helped prepare. Here they are taking a cookie break!


Speaking of cookies, did you know that Etsy has a plants and edibles category? It's true. So, if you want to spend some dough (get it?) on some boutique cookies for your sweetheart (or yourself), check some of these out:

sugar cookie heart valentine

vintage valentine sugar cookie hearts

xoxo sprinkles frosting valentines day sugar cookies pink red

red love polymer clay unique valentine day jewelry ring

I am an Etsy seller mentor, helping other sellers set up their shops and such, and I met this lovely seller, Stacey of CreaShines. She makes unique and wonderful polymer clay jewelry and I just can't figure out why her shop hasn't taken off yet! So, I am doing my second artist bio, b/c really she's awesome and her stuff rocks for Valentines goodies, and even some non holiday jewelry too. I really had a hard time deciding which pieces to show you, so go and get you some!

"My name is Stacey Hines.

I was active duty military in the Navy as a photojournalist for over 4 years. I now attend art school at Ringling College of Art in Florida where I am majoring in photography. I'm learning the artistic side of photography to compliment my technical military knowledge of it.

xo valentines day pendant jewelry love white

When I'm not doing freelance photo shoots or working on school projects, I'm spending every moment of free time creating jewelry and accessories out of polymer clay! I then promote my items on the most amazing ecommerce website [for handmade/vintage goods]Etsy! My jewelry shop is CreaShines, but I am also working on my newest shop where I will be selling my photography at CreaShinesPhotos so please stay tuned!

white heart valentines day ring jewelry

The drive to be a designer is in my blood, my grandmother was a jewelry designer for over 35 years and I remember hanging out in her store when I was a kid, just staring at her beautiful fine diamond jewelry. My mother was also a photographer and I remember learning darkroom techniques as a kid and falling in love with it. Who knew that I would grow up and do the same things?"

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!












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