Christmas Lollipops Cookies

Making these using three colors I realized there is many ways to layer the colors to get a different look.  No two lollipops look the same!  The Christmas trees were super simple to make. I got a little more creative and tried doing a wreath. 

Now I have another idea that involves candy canes.......  I just need more time!!!!!

Baby Shower

Polka Dot theme baby shower! 

Halloween

I did a few Halloween, not many.  I wish I had more time.......

Safari 1st Birthday

I've been noticeably absent from the online world for a little bit.  Well, we finally got a new computer that works!!!  The old dinosaur can finally retire.  I had given up trying to do blog posts on it.  And as much as I love my ipad, blogging from it, isn't the most user friendly. 

I haven't been taking as many pictures as I should.  My camera also isn't the greatest.  But here are a few highlights from the last month. 

Autumn Wedding Shower

These were from a wedding shower over the weekend. The colors were orange and green. It was a beautiful color combo with a variety of sugar cookies and cupcakes. Luckily I only made 2 extra pumpkin cupcakes (with cinnamon cream cheese frosting) and yes I devoured the extra two within minutes. They are my favorite!

Apple Lollipop Cookies

After making some Halloween and Pumpkin Lollipop cookies, I began to think about all the other shapes and themes I could do with these.  My head went into a cookie spin!  Apples seemed like the next logical lollipop project.  I added some apple pie spice to these which gave them a wonderful smell and a more fall appropriate flavor. 

Halloween Lollipop Cookies

I'm loving these Halloween colors. I can't decide what color combos I like the best!

If you want to make some, visit my guest tutorial on Sugarbelle's site.

And these ones are Pumpkin Lollipops! 

Kit Kat Cake

Doesnt get much easier than this if you want a show stopping cake. I was inspired by one on pinterest. This was for my friend Jennifer's birthday. Just a box cake mix, frosted and coated with candy.

A Bit of Everything.

These are a few cookies that kept me busy last week. (as if my 2 babies don't already do that). After doing some little details without a KK, I'm more convinced than ever that I need one. I will have to start saving my pennies.

This week I start back up with meetings at school. Time to re-align my schedule. I might have to sleep a little less so that I can make time for everything.

Huntington Beach logo cookies for relatives. These were fun to make. Lots of detail.

Detroit Tigers!! Yep, we are in 1st place! More of these old English d's in the future.

Whoopee Pies

Made some last minute whoopee pies for a family gathering. I used the chocolate whoopee recipe from my Whoopie Pie book but for the filling I used the amazing (a.ma.zing!) toasted marshmallow frosting recipe from Sweetapolita. I could eat the frosting off a spoon all day. (and not feel guilty). These tasted great. I think next time I might add some expresso powder to the mix.

Here's a few pictures. I've been having fun with my camera phone for most of my food pictures lately. I've been impressed with the pictures and effect capabilities. It's a HTC evo. Since the birth of my daughter (who's 2) I've been having bad luck with cameras. They drop (a lot), mysteriously break or malfunction. And until I can convince my photographer father to take my pictures, I'll be sticking with the camera phone for a little while.

Beachy Wedding Cookies

I had fun creating these beach wedding cookies for a former coworker of mine. It took a couple days of thinking to figure out how I would achieve the drawn in sand look. It was rather easy, and fun.

My first iPad posting! Crossing fingers that it works.

Margarita Time!

Next time I'm making some tequila shots to go with!  :) 

Wedding

Wedding, a photo by carolynlwoods on Flickr.

A red, black and white wedding collection.

New Logo

It's only taken a few months to finalize this!  :)  I wanted to have something I could put on labels and packaging.  I'm liking it.  Thanks to Style Me Sweet Design!

Lime Infused Shortbread

Lime infused just sounds fancy, right?  :)  Well these aren't "fancy" cookies, but they are super yummy!

In the middle of the heat wave I decided a needed some cookies that were "refreshing," if possible, and that didn't require me to spend much time near the oven.  These cookies were quick to make and they are very light in flavor.  

I used my all time favorite shortbread recipe and made a few modifications. 

Shortbread

1 cup butter room temperature

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. almond extract

3 tsp. fresh lime zest

2 cups flour

Glaze

2 cups powdered sugar

2 tsp. lime zest

3 tablespoons lime juice

1/4 cup toasted almonds

Toast your almonds. 

Mix butter and sugar together on med for 1 minute.  Add the almond extract and lime zest.  ( I recently read a tip somewhere, can't remember where, that the white under the green skin is bitter, so make sure to only zest the green lime skin).  Add flour one cup at a time while mixing on low.  If dough seems to dry add a few squirts of lime juice.  Don't overmix or your dough will make for tough or chewy cookies.  Ideally you want light and crisp shortbread cookies.  

Spoon out cookie dough and roll into 1 1/2 inch balls.  Coat the bottom of a glass with sugar and flatten.  

Bake at 325 for about 12 minutes, or until edges are just turning golden.

Let cool and make your powdered sugar glaze.  Add your lime zest and juice to your powdered sugar in a small bowl and stir until mixed.  You want a thick, honey like consistency.  If it's too runny add more sugar, if it's not runny enough, add more lime juice.  

Pour glaze into a sandwich bag. 

I prop mine inside a glass to make it easier.

pick up your bag and snip off a corner.  Get ready to drizzle!

Drizzle a couple cookies at a time and then sprinkle with toasted almonds and maybe some green and yellow sanding sugar if you have it.  

Enjoy!

Not a great picture, but you can make them into wedges too!

I'm having technology shortfalls lately.  My laptop is sick and my camera is broken.  My "smart" phone is working extra hard to keep up.  So I'm around, in limited technology capacities.  :)

Busy with summer life!

My oven has been quiet lately, which is ok since this heat wave makes me want to stay as cool as possible. My super tiny kitchen heats up too fast, and when its a 100 degrees outside its not a room I'd like to hang out in.
So we've been vacationing a little and I've had time to spend on my other crafts! I sewed some dresses for Kate and had a tie dye BBQ. I love tie dye. Very fun to create, but you can have too much. :) So I'll need to be gifting some of my creations.
Enjoy the heat wave!

I'm uploading this post from my "smart" phone, I wonder if it will turn out ok? My laptop is broken :(



fun tie dyeing onesies!



hearts.


/
various broadcloth pieces to sew into something (?)



cute dress I made Kate.



loving my little man!




Kate showing off her sweetness and new dress.



More tie dye variations.  Possibilities are endless!!



Another dress I made Kate.  This one is my favorite!  It even has a pocket!




For the twins!