Candy Corn Journey

First Journey

You really need to see This Candy Corn Cookie "How To" (by SweetSugarbelle..)

Now that I've looked again at her blog, I realize that I didn't EXACTLY follow directions ... I was trying out my memory. Like, THAT was a good idea!

I made Candy Corn on steroids. Silly me!!! I'm going to try it again with the bite-size cookies. I didn't burn my Wilton candy melts, but I did learn a lesson or two. I added a little oil to make the candy more spreadable. It said I could... on the bag. But I wouldn't know otherwise. I would say dip-able; but you would have had to have been here...trying to dip 4-5 inch cookies. Not a pretty picture. Definitely go smaller. But they are just SO cute at any size.

Candy Corn Goes

On a Diet

Don't you think this was necessary?  I mean my first candy corn cookie just had NO  self-control....any time a cookie recipe only produces 8 cookies.....what can I say, except that we might just need to pare down the size

SO

We looked at the "How TO" one more time and since I did have a little bit of dough left and I do mean "little" I tried again.

This time I didn't have enough to put in the loaf pan.

But I did take out my handy dandy digital scale and divided the remaining dough, added more Ameri-Color Orange to one, then made little slabs of dough, stacked them and put in the refrigerator...like I should have done the first time.

When chilled, I pulled it out, cut four slices and then cut out the little corn shapes from them.   The rest is the same...just a much smaller version.

AND

Dipping the cookies in the candy melts?

Easy as pie.

Now why didn't I do all that the first time?

More Fall Leaves in the Kitchen

The LEAVES may still be green outside my window, but not in my kitchen.

I've been looking at all your beautiful posts.  Those variegated colors and all that exquisite embroidery-painting.  They were so inspiring!  Check out this one HERE (Sweet Sugarbelle) or HERE (Lili Lola) or HERE (Karen's Cookies)

(these are a few of my favorites)

And then you'll want to see this neat painted embroidery technique HERE (Cakes etc. by Dana)  and enjoy some music while you look :)

Take a peek at what you've done to me...

See...you made me, twisted my arm, gave me an ultimatum.

HaHa...yeah, right

So I HAD to try a few; but of course...my way.

You know those accidents that just surprise you?

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed coming to my "Fall" kitchen. I am glad you came!

Do Leaves Really Turn Colors in the South?

That question poses a serious question. I used to think (after visiting Wisconsin one October) that we had absolutely NO COLOR in the fall. But seriously, we do, if you look diligently, have a little color change. It's the middle of September here...let me look..................................okay, green and maybe a touch of brown.

But not in my kitchen. I have made my own fall. And since I have a "day" job, I'm doing it in shifts. But here are my first FALL LEAVES

See, there is color in the South!

I tried to do the painting technique.  Maybe it was the fact that this is NOT royal icing.  I'm not really sure, but I began to give up.  Then the lightbulb went off.  Hmmm.  I wonder what would happen if I just wet the brush and "slurred" the color on the stem.  And then I thought, hey, why don't I just dilute the stem color and brush that on the leaves...one time near the center...and (I only had ONE other leaf) I tried the "water" color on the edges.  Anyway.  I sort of liked the result.  Error to the rescue.  I'd still like to do that painting.  Another day...another icing....another batch of cookies.  But that's really ok.

I have been enjoying everyone's posts.  All those leaves, and pumpkins and you know, AUTUMN.

I have a few coming of my own.  No tutorial, just the results of looking at all of yours...if you're readin'

"Grand Cookies"

Every once in a while opportunities cross our paths that, if we we are not very careful, will go  virtually unnoticed.  I told you I'm just a regular person, who just happens to LOVE to bake.

Well, our middle daughter was going to bring "Princess" and "John Deere" over to bake cookies today (which equates to she's bringing them and going to help me clean up).  But we are having a little tropical storm right now.  His name is Lee and he's not been very nice. 

They didn't come, until just a couple of hours ago and didn't stay long.  "Mimi, can we decorate cookies?  Can we sew?  Can we feed the fish?  Can we get on the computer?"  Phew they wore me out...and that was only the first few steps inside the house! I just cleaned the kitchen.  I don't have any icing prepped.   My answer.....well....well...um...OK go wash your hands. 

This is Princess Mia with her "Grand" cookie 

"Mimi, I want pink...and maybe some blue (my jar is soOo near empty."

 This is "John Deere" Jax with his Grand creation

Mimi...I want blue (he got the last of the jar)...and some green.

 Well....The decorator was not quite finished.  "Mimi, it needs a heart"

And hearts HAVE to be RED

I know you can't tell, but BC green...blue...and yep RI red.

Definitely not "correct".

But it's his cookie, right?

Which explains the tips in the mouth. 

Where is that camera when you need it?

No more questions, no more "look Mimi", no more, you know....interruptions...just the sink

which,

 of course

 gets done! 

I wonder, how many times

I have missed the real treasures

Not the perfect cookie, or piping technique, or detail

But

the kind of treasure

that only comes

when we are least expecting it, and the kitchen is already clean, and I'm tired and I would rather just sit and visit....

You know...the Gifts from God

Thank you Lord!

Team Spirit...

Let me just begin by saying, I LOVE my husband. I am not too proud to show you, my cookie friends, that love.  "Yes, dear, these cookies are for you."  Now, back to you, my cookie friends,  I'm warning you...this was only my seond session with royal icing and my first to try such tiny piping.  Okay...ready for a peek?

Sure?

Now that you've seen my feeble attempt to be like you, you feel sorry for me, right?  You are going to personally give me lessons, right?  One good thing about not being on the top is that the only direction to go is up...so here I come....it just may be on a walker.

NOTE:  You know, we can't wait to see some of the blogs out there. Their work is perfection, brilliant, to die for.

But my posts are the pictures of what it looks like before you have "arrived". Maybe you are offended by my baby attempts, but I'll just bet that even the really good ones had to begin somewhere. At the very least I can give the encouragement that someone, (me), is less than perfect...and it's really okay.

My "doll" ready to receive his trophy.  He is my bestest encourager! and my love.

Apple Cookies Delivered

It is always such a pleasure to see others enjoy things that you make with your hands.  Don't you think?   Here are the "royal" cookies all boxed up and delivered. 

You know pictures can either enhance beauty or hide a multitude of errors.  The only thing I want to say is those who received "the box" appeared very pleased and I will definitely be more patient with handling cookies before they dry.  (and I just might try this royal thing again)

And...OBTW...that red tip?  As you can see from one post to the other 24 hours really DOES make a difference.  It works!  Imagine that!!!!  Check out the previous post for the link to "red".  I'm still smiling :)

I'm Not Converted...Yet

All this talk about royal icing made my head spin. I mean if you visit any of the BIG sites you are going to see RI. Since the masses appear to be very familiar with it (I have never actually tried to decorate my cookies with said product), I succumbed to the pressure. How can one know until one tries? You see, all the GREAT cookie decorators who have their own videos and stores and how to sites never use anything else. And THEIR cookies are fabulous!

I have learned some valuable lessons. At the top of the list is---I need to try it again! My first attempt on decorating apple cookies for my school office?
Take a quick peek and promise you won't roll your eyes, or feel sorry for me, or (gulp) leave. OK here they are:

Besides the obvious need to work with this again,  I found myself impatient and I just had to touch grab a cookie or two before they had time to set. Did you know that outlines can squish or even move?

My outline didn't seem to want to adhere on my cool frozen cookies.

And of course my color challenge was RED. Can't tell by this picture, can you?   Directions on how to get bright red (check out this link at Bake at 350)  and also this one at  Kitchen Gifts .  Alright, may I just say it will be worth a few more tries....and it didn't taste as awful as some had reported.  But I do LOVE my old corn syrup, confectioners sugar, almond, milk recipe.

And just in case you want to try MY recipe...(deep breath)...I cannot claim the fame as it's all over the web, but maybe you need the link and you must meet this lady (she's one of the few who doesn't use RI) So click HERE for Cookie Crazy's Blog and recipe...not to mention a great tutorial and TONS of inspiration.  There are so many talented people out there.  Take some time to check out some of them.

I'll leave you with a few pics of my older cookies using the corn syrup icing.

You can check out other pictures like these on my photostream link at the top of my blog.  Happy Baking :)