One of my very good friends was talking to someone she knows that I do not know about my cookies. This person and I chatted and she ordered 9 dozen. She's never seen my cookies (they could be ugly as sin), nor tasted my cookies (could be hard as rocks and 3" thick with that nasty Crisco icing). Based soley on my friend's word, she ordered 9 dozen. This blows me over. And I think, I need to hire my friend! Or get more friends like her! She was asking what kind of commission she could earn promoting my cookies..............my answer, of course, was that she could have some cookies free, which was totally agreeable to her! Life is funny sometimes.
I remember I was in second grade when we had birthday treats for some little kid. And they brought in home made sugar cookies. And at that time, I thought all moms shared recipes, so I had no problem tearing into this cookie with enthusiasm. Only problem was, obviously their mom's recipe was not my mom's (technically, my grandma's) because I spit out that cookie and threw the rest away. I guess this proves I was sort of a cookie snob from the beginning. Another oddity? This sugar cookie recipe that I use for my cookies (with a little extra sugar added - sorry, Grandma!) was from my cooking grandma and not my baking grandma. So, I owe them both. They are probably baking up a storm in heaven, one making pudding pies and the other cinammon rolls and divinity.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Pink Santas
I feel like I have to give history here so you don't think this is a fly by night thing I think I'm suddenly good at. Years of trial and error. Loving cookies and not liking cookies. A very long learning curve. I could start just posting pictures left and right, but that's why I reserved a domain name, right? I've been taking pictures as I make cookies for people, and I try to make extra cookies each time I bake in a different style so that I can post to my website. Right now it is naked: www.toocutetoeat.com I'll let you know when it's been populated with cuteness.
I anticipated all kinds of set-up time. A slow-to-start sort of deal. My sister asked me yesterday how many dozens of cookies I made in March - I did about 20, mostly for St. Patrick's Day and Easter, and a couple birthdays and bachelorette parties. Then she asked how many are already ordered for April. I told her 15 so far and a possible baby shower (and 7.5 dozen chicks for the first week of May). She asked if I realized that there aren't even any holidays in April.............which makes me very scared for Christmas.
And that takes me back to the family decorating, of course. It's been fun through the years to see the kids take on different roles as they grew up. When they were little, they just decorated (and only a few before they got bored.) As they grew, some like to roll out the dough and cut, others to bake and others to decorate. And my mom made the cream cheese frosting for years and colored it using the McCormick little 4 squeeze bottle set of primary colors. And then we would settle down with our butter knives, toothpicks and sprinkles, and set out to make what we thought were masterpieces.
The yellow always looked more orange, anyone using the blue looked like a smurf (remember those?) for days, and the red was never really red. We had a lot of dark pink Santas. I guess he was showing more of his feminine side, or trying to set a trend. (Thank goodness for discovering Wilton gel colors a couple years ago!) I think that's why I use such bright colors now - because you can actually get them to be saturated enough, and mix them together. . . .without having to use a ton of color, and it doesn't change the consistency. This year, we'll be adding a new generation to the decorating, my great-nephews, who will be 2 and 3 by Christmas. I can't wait!
I anticipated all kinds of set-up time. A slow-to-start sort of deal. My sister asked me yesterday how many dozens of cookies I made in March - I did about 20, mostly for St. Patrick's Day and Easter, and a couple birthdays and bachelorette parties. Then she asked how many are already ordered for April. I told her 15 so far and a possible baby shower (and 7.5 dozen chicks for the first week of May). She asked if I realized that there aren't even any holidays in April.............which makes me very scared for Christmas.
And that takes me back to the family decorating, of course. It's been fun through the years to see the kids take on different roles as they grew up. When they were little, they just decorated (and only a few before they got bored.) As they grew, some like to roll out the dough and cut, others to bake and others to decorate. And my mom made the cream cheese frosting for years and colored it using the McCormick little 4 squeeze bottle set of primary colors. And then we would settle down with our butter knives, toothpicks and sprinkles, and set out to make what we thought were masterpieces.
The yellow always looked more orange, anyone using the blue looked like a smurf (remember those?) for days, and the red was never really red. We had a lot of dark pink Santas. I guess he was showing more of his feminine side, or trying to set a trend. (Thank goodness for discovering Wilton gel colors a couple years ago!) I think that's why I use such bright colors now - because you can actually get them to be saturated enough, and mix them together. . . .without having to use a ton of color, and it doesn't change the consistency. This year, we'll be adding a new generation to the decorating, my great-nephews, who will be 2 and 3 by Christmas. I can't wait!
Storage and Organizing Frenzy
I just knocked out seven dozen cookies. Rolling and baking, that is. I'll do the decorating tomorrow. 7 dozen isn't really a lot. Unless, of course, you have a stupid oven that you have to watch like a hawk, bakes unevenly, and you can only use the top rack and a smallish cookie sheet. Sigh.
I've started compiling a list of requirements for a home bakery, and of commercial spaces that I could possibly rent in the evenings or on weekends. My kitchen is just too small and does not have the required items, but who knew this would happen? Like I said, I took cookies to work one day, and now I'm playing catch up. I plan to remain anonymous until I get something worked out, so that "THEY", whoever they are, won't nail me to the wall for making the cutest cookies you've ever seen from my house. Then I'll edit this so they'll never know I was bad. : )
And yes, I tell every person that wants cookies that I do them from my home. If they have concerns about that, that is OK; they are welcome to use the bakeries in town. I will not be offended.
And storage.............I need more. Buying stuff from Sam's Club these days - way cheaper for real butter and vanilla than the grocery stores; and 7 lb bags of powdered sugar.... Oh, and did I mention I have acquired close to 400 cookie cutters for practically any occasion? Mmm hmm. And I am an organizational freak, apparently. Most people are happy to throw their cookie cutters into a bin and spend 10 minutes looking for one each time they want to make something different. That drives me up a wall. Not me, oh no. Plastic shoe boxes with lids that are stackable (thank you, Dollar Tree!) labeled and sorted by season or holiday or types of cutters. Summer, Birthday, Girlie stuff, baby, sports, animals, guy stuff, Christmas...............the list goes on. I think I have 30 different bins.
In an apparent fit of having to know what I have (helps avoid buying duplicates) I put them into Excel. Yup. Sortable by type or season. Approximate size and place I got them from. My boyfriend and I play a game when I get new ones called, "What is this?" Since he doesn't have a preconceived notion of what it is supposed to be, it can be anything. We twist them around to see what else they look like. Some of my cutters can be up to 3 or 4 different things, or more, which means I can buy less cutters. (Uh huh - right. It's very addictive.) And of course, they go into the spreadsheet. For instance, a diploma can also be a firecracker, present, or campfire. (Also a canoe with a person in it, but it's a weird stretch).
I've started compiling a list of requirements for a home bakery, and of commercial spaces that I could possibly rent in the evenings or on weekends. My kitchen is just too small and does not have the required items, but who knew this would happen? Like I said, I took cookies to work one day, and now I'm playing catch up. I plan to remain anonymous until I get something worked out, so that "THEY", whoever they are, won't nail me to the wall for making the cutest cookies you've ever seen from my house. Then I'll edit this so they'll never know I was bad. : )
And yes, I tell every person that wants cookies that I do them from my home. If they have concerns about that, that is OK; they are welcome to use the bakeries in town. I will not be offended.
And storage.............I need more. Buying stuff from Sam's Club these days - way cheaper for real butter and vanilla than the grocery stores; and 7 lb bags of powdered sugar.... Oh, and did I mention I have acquired close to 400 cookie cutters for practically any occasion? Mmm hmm. And I am an organizational freak, apparently. Most people are happy to throw their cookie cutters into a bin and spend 10 minutes looking for one each time they want to make something different. That drives me up a wall. Not me, oh no. Plastic shoe boxes with lids that are stackable (thank you, Dollar Tree!) labeled and sorted by season or holiday or types of cutters. Summer, Birthday, Girlie stuff, baby, sports, animals, guy stuff, Christmas...............the list goes on. I think I have 30 different bins.
In an apparent fit of having to know what I have (helps avoid buying duplicates) I put them into Excel. Yup. Sortable by type or season. Approximate size and place I got them from. My boyfriend and I play a game when I get new ones called, "What is this?" Since he doesn't have a preconceived notion of what it is supposed to be, it can be anything. We twist them around to see what else they look like. Some of my cutters can be up to 3 or 4 different things, or more, which means I can buy less cutters. (Uh huh - right. It's very addictive.) And of course, they go into the spreadsheet. For instance, a diploma can also be a firecracker, present, or campfire. (Also a canoe with a person in it, but it's a weird stretch).
Nice, huh???? I must be a lunatic, but at least I'm doing something creative in my after work hours. But finding space....a continuous challenge.
A yellow star? WHO would make a yellow star???
When I was younger, I remember making sugar cookies on average 3 times a year. Valentine's Day, Halloween, and Christmas. Each year my family gets together to make Christmas cookies. Used to be we'd do it about the week before on a Saturday. Those were the easy days! Every year it would be me, my mom and my sister, which was pretty easy because we all lived together!
Then nieces and nephews came along. We now plan our cookie baking 3 months in advance so that everyone can request the day of from work, etc. (My nieces and nephews range in age from 28-16.) Interspersed throughout the years were neighbor kids, high school friends - hi Sarahphina!, college friends. Eventually, although not willingly, were boyfriends, fiancees and spouses of the cookie bakers. The boys would all huddle with my dad in the TV room to watch football while us artists slaved away. We finally made a rule that if they wanted to eat any, they had to decorate some. That got them moving and begrudgingly picked up the frosting. I might suggest setting some ground rules, however, if you do not want Hooters Angels in your Christmas gifts to the neighbors! Not exactly family friendly.
My nephew figured out early that he could make ugly cookies fast and that no one really wanted to eat the globs of chocolate and sprinkles and red hots he would pile on - he figured, the more for him! We called them alien cookies. He unfortunately has moved on into the football room these days. We miss him. : ) But did anyone tell him his cookies were ugly? No. Did anyone suggest they might not taste good or appeal in any way to someone else? No. I, on the other hand, decided one year to frost a star white and then strategically outline it with and cover it in yellow M&Ms. Fairly common to see yellow star cookies, am I right? Thank you, I knew you would agree. So my mom says out loud in this serious, condescending voice after looking over all the done cookies, "A yellow star? WHO would make a yellow STAR?" I think she thought it was my nephew. That phrase lives on in infamy, and has to be repeated at least once when someone decorates a cookie in an obvious manner. Like a green Christmas tree.
Then nieces and nephews came along. We now plan our cookie baking 3 months in advance so that everyone can request the day of from work, etc. (My nieces and nephews range in age from 28-16.) Interspersed throughout the years were neighbor kids, high school friends - hi Sarahphina!, college friends. Eventually, although not willingly, were boyfriends, fiancees and spouses of the cookie bakers. The boys would all huddle with my dad in the TV room to watch football while us artists slaved away. We finally made a rule that if they wanted to eat any, they had to decorate some. That got them moving and begrudgingly picked up the frosting. I might suggest setting some ground rules, however, if you do not want Hooters Angels in your Christmas gifts to the neighbors! Not exactly family friendly.
My nephew figured out early that he could make ugly cookies fast and that no one really wanted to eat the globs of chocolate and sprinkles and red hots he would pile on - he figured, the more for him! We called them alien cookies. He unfortunately has moved on into the football room these days. We miss him. : ) But did anyone tell him his cookies were ugly? No. Did anyone suggest they might not taste good or appeal in any way to someone else? No. I, on the other hand, decided one year to frost a star white and then strategically outline it with and cover it in yellow M&Ms. Fairly common to see yellow star cookies, am I right? Thank you, I knew you would agree. So my mom says out loud in this serious, condescending voice after looking over all the done cookies, "A yellow star? WHO would make a yellow STAR?" I think she thought it was my nephew. That phrase lives on in infamy, and has to be repeated at least once when someone decorates a cookie in an obvious manner. Like a green Christmas tree.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
How it all started................
I guess you could say it all started about a month ago when I took some sugar cookies to work for my cube-mate's birthday.
But that really only refers to the latest stage of my love affair with the cookies and the chain of events it has set into motion.
When I think about it, making and decorating sugar cookies has been a favorite hobby of mine ever since I was 3 or 4. I remember wanting to help my mom in the kitchen around Christmas while she rolled them out but I was in the way. So she set me up at the breakfast counter with my own little set of animal cutters, a tiny rolling pin, and a very, very, very small cookie sheet (3"x4", maybe!). Now the only things I truly remember about this was that:
- I ate more dough than I rolled out
- I had six little animals, but I only used three - a horse, a cat, and a bunny.
- The cookies were so small and would bake so fast that most of the animal's legs would burn. This was not very attractive, nor very tasty.
Luckily by then my mom's cookies would be out of the oven to decorate and enjoy; and my zoo managerie of burnt cookies made a quick exit to heaven via the garbage can!
Sadly, over the course of years, these little cutters were lost, without knowing when they left or where they went. Maybe to the toy box, maybe they were pitched because they never made tasty cookies, who knows?
On a whim one day, I did some searching on the internet to see if I could find anything similar. And low and behold on eBay, I found "my" exact cutters! The beloved cat, horse and bunny, along with a lion, a dog and a chicken - instantly recognizable even though those were the ones I didn't prefer to use. A little piece of childhood happiness restored in tiny aluminum forms. Sigh. I was telling my mom about receiving them and she told me that my Grandma had given them to me, which is something I hadn't known. This makes them even more special, as I always refer to that Grandma as the "baking grandma." (I had a baking grandma and a cooking grandma. I think my baking grandma is the one I inherited most of my genes from!)
Aren't they cute????
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