Cookies Galore

I did it!

I baked 7 different kinds of cookies out of the 10 I set out to bake to give away to my loved ones and friends. Although I didn't bake all of the cookies on my list, I am happy that I took the time to decorate the sugar cookies and the gingerbread people. Usually I am so tired from baking the cookies that I don't have the energy to decorate them. This time I was more organized and I started making my cookie dough ahead of time. I think that made all of the difference because at least I was going to bed by 1 a.m. instead of 2 or 3 like I have most years. I really enjoyed decorating them and I can't wait to do it again!

Here they are, ready to be packaged, sealed and delivered. We have Cardamom Spice, Sweet Cardamom Pistachio Crackers, Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread, Sugar, Almond, Chocolate Chip, and Gingerbread (not pictured). The three variations that I did not get to bake were Crisp Anise, Green Tea Shortbread & Espresso Doilies. I made the Espresso Doilies last year and they are very intricate and time consuming, but they are beautiful. Maybe I'll make them for Valentines Day. I'll have to dig up last year's pictures to show you. I have also made the Crisp Anise cookies before and they are actually my mom's favorite since she loves anise. It was difficult for me to scratch them this year because I know how much she likes them. Maybe I'll make her some for Mother's Day. The ones that I have never made and I always put on my list are the Green Tea Shortbread. These call for Chinese Green Tea powder which is not carried in local supermarkets and either I don't have time to go to a Chinese market or I'm too cheap to pay $10 for the tin of tea.

These are cardamom spice piggies.


As you may know, when you make cut cookies, you really shouldn't re-roll and cut your dough more than twice, thrice tops. So rather than throw out my dough, I make little Teddy Grahams for the kids. They come out so cute and they are a good way to use up your scraps. Also, this year, I baked my cookie scraps to snack on while we bake.

These are some of the Sugar Cookies that I decorated.
I really like the way Rudolph came out.

One evening while I decorated, I was trying to mix my colors to make a tan color for the lions but what I got was this ugly neon green color that I was going to throw out but Mateo said he wanted to use it. So I let him decorate the imperfect cookies that I was not going to give away.

See the green in the little white cup in front of him? Yuk!

Here is what he did.

Almond, Chewy Chocolate Ginger & Sweet Cardamom Pistachio

Chocolate Chip

Cardamom Spice Bears and Piggies

More Cardamom Spice

The mess! Can you see my inspiration peeking out of the bottom-right corner?

Some of the cookies had a photo shoot with Santa.

I really had fun with the Gingerbread People. I decided to personalize them. Here is my family. Later I will post pictures of the other families that I made.

One package ready to go. This one is for Hector and Iliana's family. We always tease Hector about being grumpy (although half the time it is just an act but we can never tell when), so his Gingerbread is scowling.

The package decorating kit (yarn, muffin paper cups, tin muffin molds, stickers to label the cookies, and cookies).

This package was for Cari and her family.

I hope everyone enjoyed their cookies. I am not going to post the recipes because that is just too much but if anyone is interested (assuming anyone is reading), post a comment and I will give you the recipes. Most of them are from old Martha Stewart Magazines.

Love,
SC
xoxo

Cookie Bake

Only three more days until Christmas Eve and I am ahead of schedule. Last night and tonight, I have baked several cookies:

Gingerbread Men and Stars.



Cardamom Spice.



Sugar Cookies.



Chewy Chocolate Ginger.



Almond Cookies.



I'll provide the recipe info later, when I have a moment to breathe.

Why do I do this to myself every year?



Tomorrow night, I will finish baking the almond cookies, prepare and bake chocolate chip cookies, and bake the sweet cardamom crackers. And if I have time and I am not too tired, I will start decorating the sugar cookies.

Floury hugs and kisses,
SC
xoxo

Happy Birthday, Nico!

This weekend, we celebrated my nephew, Nicolas' 3rd birthday. He loves anything that has to do with tools and gardening so my sister made a giant gingerbread construction worker to top his chocolate birthday cake, tools and all. Nico was so excited about his cake. It was yummy too.



I made him this little sock dog (think sock monkey). I got the pattern from an old Martha Steward magazine but if you are interested in making one, I found the instructions on her website here. It is very easy to make. Isn't he cute?



Nico approves! Woof!



I started the preparation of my cookie doughs which I will start baking tonight. I usually don't decorate my gingerbread or sugar cookies because I always run out of time but this time, I am really going to make an effort. Stay tuned.

When I was at my sister's, I realized that I had not taking pictures of Viviana's doll. The pattern is an Alicia Paulson pattern from her book, Stitched in Time and it is the inspiration behind the army dude.





I also made her this embroidered pillow for her birthday which I had also forgotten to photograph then. So here you go. This design was my own. One side is for rainy days and the other side is for sunny days. Lately, it's been on the rainy side.





On Sunday, I made a little crochet car for Alec. He loves cars. I also got the pattern from the same Martha Stewart magazine I got the sock dog pattern but I couldn't find it on her website. Basically, the body is a cube made from six 4" squares and the cab is made from eight 2" squares. All crocheted in a single crochet pattern. The pattern calls for foam inserts but I just used stuffing for stuffed animals and I improvised on the tires because by the time I got to the tires, I was tired and didn't want to make stuffed tires so I just tacked on the tires in a single layer. I don't think Alec will mind.

Me and Alec. Love.

So this week is the last week before Christmas and as usual, I will be spending my evenings baking cookies. Wish me luck. Cookies are always so temperamental.

A Concert and Lots of Cookies

This weekend, Mateo's school band performed in their Annual Winter Concert. As always, their band teacher did an excellent job in organizing it. Mateo is really enjoying being part of it. Here he is with his band buddies. Don't they look handsome?



After the concert, Mateo went to Grandma's house and I was whisked away for a triple date. We met with Iliana and Hector and Julissa and David to watch The Tourist. I'm sad to say that I was a bit disappointed in the movie. I found it a bit flat, lacking action and suspense. And Johnny, oh Johnny. I hope that he has not lost his ability to play an actual human. With that said, I'll watch it again when it comes out on DVD. I just have to support my guy and feed the obsession.

Here we are being silly at Brea Birch Street after the movie.








After our date, my dear friend, Julissa ended up with appendicitis and had to have an appendectomy. The movie was not that bad. Poor friend. Take care and hope you feel better soon!

I visited my mom and checked out all of her lovely Christmas decorations. I took lots of pictures but, of course, crappy camera. Need I say more? My mom completely and utterly transforms her entire house into a Christmas wonderland. She leaves no room behind, no corner untouched. Everywhere you look, it's Christmas. Here are some of the better pictures but they do not do her abilities justice.

Remember the Thanksgiving wreath I made for my door?
She made her own Christmas version for her door. Great job, Mom!

She made this cute topiary out of styrofoam spheres wrapped in yarn.
Too cute!

Her little Christmas Village.
She bought the same little village houses I got at Target last year.

Sidebar: I do hope that Mr. Casillas is reading this blog and getting the hint. If you are reading this blog, honey, a camera, a good camera for Christmas would be nice!

Paulina, my cousin, Rebecca's daughter, had a cookie exchange party. It was lovely to get the kids together and enjoy each other and the food. My cookies, did not turn out too well, though. I attempted to make cookie pops (cookies on a stick to resemble lollipops). Since I am a working woman now, I decided to cut corners and use store bought sugar cookie dough and mix in a few favoring and coloring ingredients to it. I don't know if it was the dough, or the oven temperature, or maybe I rolled them out too thin, but they spread too thinly and ran into each other in the oven. Then, the skewer sticks that I used did not bake in well enough and they started to separate from the cookie. I ended up taking the skewers out and taking them as they were. All in all, they tasted fine. Fine enough to win second place. Cari's cookies, of course won First place. Congratulations, Cari!

The First Prize winner and the Judge.

The kids: Paulo, Mateo, Alec, Andy
Ricardo, Luc, Viviana, Paulina, Joaquin, Rebecca

Prior to her cookie party, Paulina performed in the Nutcracker Ballet
for her ballet studio. Unfortunately, we did not make it to her performance but
I hear it got rave reviews. Thata girl, Pauli!

Best of everything!
SC
xoxo