Adventure #6

Hello everyone. I have my stretchy pants on today. My family and I are in WV celebrating Thanksgiving. Mmmm cannot wait. So since I am not in my kitchen I thought I would share a sweet adventure from the other weekend. My friends and I participated in The Hot Chocolate 5k, In Columbus. Whew it was a challenge for me but the reward was sweet. Who wouldn't run for hot chocolate and chocolate ganache?

Pilgrim Hat ~ Cut-out Cookies

Thanksgiving is almost here! Bring on the turkey, ham, stuffing, ::wear stretchy pants:: mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans casserole, ::wear stretchy pants:: rolls, cranberry sauce, coleslaw...oh ya dessert!::definitely wear stretchy pants:: Like I forgot the desserts...no no, they are my favorite part.

Don't forget to wear stretchy pants. Nothing is more uncomfortable than a growing waistline in button pants, just saying.

 I will be making some pies to take to my Aunt and Uncles this year. I also thought some cookies would be fun as well. When I think of Thanksgiving cut-out cookies I think of the norm...turkeys and pumpkins. How about some pilgrim hats and acorns?! So I was pretty excited with myself when I thought of the pilgrim hat idea. Take your witches hat cookie cutter and cut the tip off. Walla! Pilgrim hats :)

I decided to give royal icing a try. I buy the packet from my local cake supply. All you have to add is water and mix. Then I added almond extract and the coloring.

First I outlined the cookies with the stiff royal icing.

Then you water down the icing and pour it in the outline. I used a squeeze bottle. This is also great for kids to help with. Very easy with the squeeze bottle.

Let dry and enjoy your witches hats turned pilgrim.

Happy Sweet Tooth Saturday and Happy Thanksgiving!

Cookies for Two

Happy Sweet Tooth Saturday everyone. We have had the past week off of work and have been relaxing and chilling and eating sweets...kind of. Around 8pm we would get this sweet tooth. Now I did not want to make a whole batch of cookies, so why not cookies for two.

Ingredients:
2Tbsp butter
2Tbsp brown sugar
1Tbsp granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
1/4tsp vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
1/4tsp baking soda
1/4 cup all purpose flour
Handful of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In the microwave heat the butter until it just begins to melt and soften. Blend butter, sugars, salt and vanilla by hand. Next mix in the egg, then add the dry ingredients. Once all combined stir in your chocolate chips. Bake on a cookie sheet for 8-10 mins.

Enjoy!

Mail from Grandma ~ Pumkin Patch Pies

Hello everyone! I hope your Saturday is off to a sweet start. Today it's mail from Grandma's kitchen. It's a good one. I already ate 1, OK 2...fine fine 3 :). Enjoy!

  

Pumpkin Patch Pies

Here is what Grandma sent:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  ------------------------------  

 1         15 oz. can  pumpkin

      1/2           cup  sugar
  1 1/2      teaspoons  pumpkin pie spice
     1/2      teaspoon  vanilla
     1/4      teaspoon  salt
  2           14.1 oz.  refrigerated pie crusts
  1              large  egg -- lightly beaten
                        cinnamon sugar

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set
aside. In a medium bowl, combine pumpkin, sugar, pumpkin pie spice,
vanilla, and salt, stirring well. Unroll pie crusts on a clean, flat
surface. Using a 4 inch round cookie cutter, cut 6 rounds from each pie
crust.
Using a pastry brush, lightly brush edges of rounds with beaten egg. Spoon
about 1 tablespoon pumpkin mixture into center of round. Fold dough over
filling, pressing edges with a fork to seal. Repeat with remaining rounds
and pumpkin mixture. Place pies on prepared baking sheets. Brush tops of
pies with
beaten egg, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake for 10 minutes or until
lightly browned.
For extra fall flair, add leaf embellishments to Pumpkin  Patch Pies. Use
mini  cutters to make shapes  out of left over dough.Then,after you've
dusted pies
with cinnamon sugar, brush backs of cutouts with egg wash, and place on top.
If desired, use a toothpick to create details on leaves. Bake according
to recipe directions.

I made mine a little smaller because I do not have a large circle cookie cutter. The smaller they are the more you can have...right? Make that 4! mmmm yummy!

Another good one Grandma, thanks!

Happy Sweet Tooth Saturday everyone!

 

Cupcake Wars

I kind of conducted my own mini cupcake wars :). They are very Fall inspired. In these leaf changing months there are campfires and tons of apples. So I made a s'mores cupcake and an apple cider maple spiced cupcake. Try them out and see which one is your favorite.

I found the recipes on Pinterest of course...man I'm addicted to that site. On the s'mores cupcake I decided to use my kitchen torch for the first time :) that was fun!

S'mores: http://myleskatherine.com/smores-cupcakes-graham-cracker-cupcake-with-marshmallow-fluff-frosting/
Apple Cider Maple Spiced: http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/apple-cider-maple-spice-cupcakes/

Happy Sweet Tooth Saturday!