Christmas Cookie Challenge

 Christmas Cookie Challenge 

This is SO exciting!  My friend Kima of Kima's Konfections  is competing in Food Network's Christmas Cookie Challenge.   I had no idea she was doing this until she announced it in November.  She had to keep things all hush-hush.  I don't know how she did it.  I would be bursting at the seams wanting to tell someone.  I was so excited for her that as soon as I found out I invited my friends to a viewing party. As I type this on Sunday night the episode my friend is in hasn't aired yet. It airs on Monday, when this post goes live in the morning.  So if you're reading this now, be sure to come back after Monday to get the update. 

In preparation for the viewing party I got out my Wilton Cookie Cutter set, seen below and available on Amazon.   I looked up a sugar cookie recipe and decided on Semisweet Mike's. The almond scent filled the air as the cookies baked and made the kitchen smell so good.  I of course had to try one once they were done baking to make sure they baked ok. I haven't baked sugar cookies since we got our new oven.  The almond comes through lightly in the baked cookies and tastes delicious even without frosting.  I also used Semisweet Mike's royal icing recipe.  It turned out just like the pictures on his site.
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My plan for these cookies was to pipe an outline and then flood the cookies.  After outlining all the cookies I decided not to flood them.  Cookies are not something that I make. I'm a cupcake baker so I didn't want to throw too many techniques at myself at once.  Shoot, it took me longer then expected just to pipe the cookies the way I did.  I decided I would just pipe the frosting on and smooth it out with a toothpick.  Oh my goodness, I have mad respect for cookie artists.  Piping cookies is not as easy as I thought it would be.  You can see I smudged Santa's hat there.

I did the candy canes first and you can tell because the icing isn't as smooth.  The candy canes were my learning cookies for sure.  The Santa hat's turned out so much better.  My smoothing with the toothpick technique definitely improved.  Next time I want to try flooding.

Be sure to come back to see if Kima's Konfections won and more viewing party pics. I'll be updating this post the day after the episode airs. 

Secret Santa

Secret Baker 

We've all heard of Secret Santa, but have you heard of Secret Baker?  I belong to a baking group and we recently decided to do a Secret Santa exchange.  The items had to be all baking related, so we called it Secret Baker.  We set a date for when the gifts had to be mailed so we all knew which week our packages would arrive.  We all looked forward to checking our mail that week. 

I was like a kid at Christmas when my box arrived for two reasons. 1. I was curious who received my name and 2. I wanted to know what fabulous baking supplies the person picked for me. 

LOVE this card.  My subconscious has a thing for snowmen. Astonishing Cakes LLC got my name. All of her cookies, cake pops, cakes and cupcakes are stunning. You have GOT to see her penguin cake pops. They are my FAV! So stinkin cute. 

Astonishing Cakes LLC  can be my Secret Baker any time. Look at all these  fabulous baking goods. I swear I almost bought that very cake plate but something told me not to. 

Fun little baking cups, a STACK of mini cupcake liners which I put to good use, and snowflake sprinkles handmade by Astonishing Cakes LLC. 

A nice BIG flour sifter, a great little measuring cup for small amounts, so helpful, a whisk in a fun colour and some great treat box's. 

Who did I get?  I got Dolce Designs .  She does party styling and custom dessert tables. I sent her all kinds of fun stuff.  

We all had so much fun with the Secret Baker that we're going to do it again next year. If you belong to a baking or cooking group I highly recommend doing a Secret Baker. 

Sugar overload!!

Yes, it was a sugar overload at our house today.  I had a Christmas Open House. I wanted to see my friends and family, make a BUNCH of Christmas treats and well...show off my house, Christmas Cheer HQ's  ;) 

I made a lot of goodies. I wanted to make more but I just ran out of time. If I get invited to any more Christmas parties I'll try out the recipes I didn't have a chance to make.  Here's the ones I did make.

Rudolph's Tipsy Spritzer was a hit!  I used 1/2 cup vodka and 1/2 cup rum instead of just vodka.  Really good and will definitely make this again. I had none left :) Soda, milk and water was also served.

Colorful Swirl Cookies from Our Italian Kitchen.  Hard to say if the guests liked these or not. I couldn't tell. No comments were made and there are a bunch left. Normally that means people didn't care for something. But I made A LOT of stuff so it could have been that I just made too many good things.

Peppermint Sugar Cookies from Recipe Girl.  Pretty good but if I made these again I would follow one of the readers comments and add Hershey's peppermint kisses and more peppermint extract for a more intense peppermint flavor.

Rice Krispy ornaments from Mommy Savers.  Everyone thought these were adorable and took them home. They ate too much of the other stuff and didn't have room :) 

Guests tore into the snowman cheese ball. Last time I made this for a birthday party no one wanted to eat him because they all thought he was too cute. This time, no problem, they tore through his body and started in on his brain ha ha. This is a winter must for any party.

Rum Butter Stars from Family Circle. A recipe I got ages ago and I can't access their site to it now.  If anyone wants the recipe shoot me an email and I'll pass it along. These are tasty and the guests liked them.

Fanciful Peppermint Fudge from Midwest Living.  Definitely a hit. One of my guests had 4 pieces :)  Fudge is one of those things that it's hard to stop eating...until you make yourself sick ha ha

Hershey's Kisses Candy Cane Blossoms. These are tasty and the guests agreed.  So easy to make too. 

Ok, let me run into the dining room and make sure that's everything I made. Be right back...
Ok I'm back. I also made gingerbread cake in the shape of gingerbread men, chocolate mini cakes with peppermint frosting and my peanut butter chocolates.  Everyone loved all these too.

My mom brought pumpkin bread which people scarfed up and my friend brought a hot cocoa peppermint cake, yum!

I'm off to post some blog love to all the sites I got the recipes from. Happy baking and a BIG sugar high to you all :)