Jewelry Cookies!

A few years ago, when I started this online cookie adventure, 

I came across an amazing baker...Marielle of De Koekenbakkers!

Marielle is simply amazing.  

Her designs are elegant and brilliant and gorgeous and everything I hope to be one day!

I have this little dream of sitting in her bright, sunny kitchen and watching her work.

But.....she's in the Netherlands....soooooo, I'll have to settle for swooning over all her pictures.

After a year or so of stalking admiring her work,

 I mustered up the courage to ask permission to recreate her jewelry cookies.

(One of my best girlfriends is a jewelry designer and I'd always wanted to make these for her!)

She said YES!!!!

Then I procrastinated for another 6 months because....well, that's just what I do.

Before I show you the cookies I made, here are lots of lovely links for Marielle!!

De Koekenbakkers-

SHOP

BLOG

FACEBOOK

Please go visit her and show her lots of love!!!

Alright, here are my jewelry cookies, 100% inspired by Marielle!

Not only were these a lot of fun to make, I learned a lot too.
I used disco dust for the first time,  and I can't remember ever decorating cookies without any flood icing!
Thanks Marielle for the inspiration, can't wait to see what you make next!
psst!   I used Lilaloa's chocolate cookie recipe! click HERE for the recipe!

Preppy Bow Tie Cookies!

Recently, Kristin Austin from PaigeSimple asked me to design cookies  for her little man's 2nd birthday!
Of course I was thrilled and said "Yes!" right away.
Then.....I saw the invitation and did a little happy dance.
Look!!!!

How Cute is that!!!!???
AND...navy and pink!
Shut the front door!
(yes, I totally did a little happy dance in front of the mailbox,  in the middle of the street,  in front of all the neighbors)

I couldn't wait to make these!!!

Little Man turned 2!

Kristin has all sorts of printables in her etsy shop to match the theme.
These are my favorites!

Juice Box Labels!!!!!

....a little something for the grown-ups too!




Kristin will have lots of pictures from the party on her blog over the next few days..

but you can preview the party on Pizzazzerie today!

Thanks for including me Kristin!
I hope Chase had a fabulous birthday!

Take-A-Peek Tuesday!.....Roll Out Cookie Dough Without Making A Mess!

So, I do this funny thing with my cookie dough.
I've been doing it forever, so I really didn't think much of it,  it's just....y'know....how I roll.

It started with me being lazy. (By now we know that's how all my organization starts, right?)
I love making cookies.....HATE rolling out the dough. Well, not the actual rolling, but all that flour underneath the dough.
Flour gets everywhere! EVERYWHERE!
BLECH!
I've tried rolling it between pieces of parchment, but I didn't really like that.
Just too....I don't know, crinkly. And the paper kept rolling back up.
So I thought.....what about plastic wrap?
It stays where you put it, I can wrap up the edges of the dough, and NO MESS!
Here's how it goes!

I stretch out two lengths of saran wrap on the counter a few inches longer than my rolling pin.

I've always loved these slip-on rolling guides.   I use the 1/4 inch size.




Roll your dough into a ball and divide it into two equal portions.

This works best with dough that isn't sticky. Because I don't add any flour when I roll, I add a bit extra when I mix the dough.

Those look about equal.

Cover that up with another piece of plastic wrap. (Cover the second one now as well. Don't want it to dry out!)

I found that if I make a vertical dent in the dough first, I get a shape that stacks up a bit better.

Kinda like that.  

Then just....roll.
The guides on the ends mean you never have to guess how thin the dough has gotten.

A little origami to fold and seal!
That's it!
Each batch of dough makes two sheets!

I usually make at least 8 batches at a time. Once the bowl has butter in it....might as well just keep on mixing!
They chill in the fridge until firm, then head straight to the freezer!

No Mess! Not even the rolling pin!
What do you think? Wanna give it a whirl?
I hope you do! Let me know if it works for you!

Lady Liberty Cookies

....A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. 

From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

from The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus.

Hoping you all have a very Happy Independence Day.
To all that came before us and fought with words and arms for our independence and freedoms....
We are forever thankful.