Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday but Halloween is a pretty close second.....come on all those treats! Are you surprised? I had a few of these crawling around the kitchen this week....
Halloween
When I was younger my mom made caramel corn or caramel apples or suckers for the Halloween trick-or-treaters, it was charming. Today the candy has to be wrapped, there is stranger danger, kids can't trick or treat by themselves, kids shouldn't be out after dark, etc. etc. etc. That being said, there is still so much wonder and good in this little world we live in, so if you come to my door and you do know me, you will get one of these this year: have a Happy Halloween
Favorites tonight
There are certain things, as silly as it may sound, that are like comfort food for my little chef soul: 1. the hum of a mixer early on a Saturday, 2. my "cook"book -that spiral thing in the back right of the second photo-I have all my recipes backed up and on hard drives but cooking with an ipad or a laptop on the counter seems to me as ruining everything that is timeless and raw about cooking, 3. knowing these are waiting for me in the fridge, and last but not least 4. lots of the same thing, like these cupcake tins. Call me OCD but I think having lots of matching things is bliss-unless it's cake stands then you must have lots and lots but all different :)
Esther...
Esther had a birthday a few days ago and I adore her. Well I can't say that I completely adore her because I don't know her however, I do know she is turning the same age as me, but that is something a lady never reveals, at least not this lady. So I know we share a birth year and a love for Hello Kitty (mine is more closeted than hers I suppose). They wanted something fun but not too childish, pink but not too pepto, Hello Kitty but subtle, So Esther got this for her **th birthday....*do you see the Kitty dot?
Royal Icing...
Royal icing on sugar cookies is a delightful medium. It can be finicky but if you know a few tricks, it allows for layers and layers of color and texture and you will fall in love...if you are patient :) here is a basic recipe and a few tricks:
*1 lb. powdered sugar
*5 T meringue powder-this can be found at a cake supplier my favorite here in the DCMVA is Fran's Cake and Candy in Fairfax. Sometime you can find the Wilton brand at Michael's Crafts
*1/2 c. water
*gel food color, the watery stuff you get the grocery store works as well just adjust the water
mix the 2 powders together using the paddle attachment NOT the whisk for about a minute. You really want to break up any chunks that may have formed and the paddle allows you to do this. Slowly add the water and mix on a medium speed for another 2-3 minutes, long enough to fully hydrate all of the powder. Separate into different containers, one for each color. Put a wet towel over each bowl or seal them tightly with a damp paper towel under the lid. This initial thickness should be good for creating a "well" or tracing your shape. This is the same idea as the black lines of a character in a coloring book, it allows you to block in your design. Put the icing in a piping back fitting with the appropriate tip, for this step I usually use a round tip that is about the size of the lead in a standard pencil. As you pipe, don't pull the icing allow it to fall into place and remain tubular. Let the "well" dry. Now for the "flooding" part, you want the icing to be more liquid so it spreads evenly. Add a few more drops of water to the icing until the icing is as fluid as corn syrup. Spoon or pipe into the well and spread around filling in the gaps with the back of a spoon. From here the sky is the limit, you can let this step dry and then continue to add designs using the thicker icing or you can mix in colors and create patterned backgrounds. Make sure to allow them to fully dry and once dry store in an airtight container and the cookies will last about a week. Enjoy, and thanks to Amy H. for throwing the baby shower that inspired these guys!
Small Things
sometimes the best things come in small packages, today here at Pastries by Kate we created over 624 "small packages". Some with frosting, some with fondant, some with sprinkles or monograms or fondant. Today while no one was looking I Kate, snuck a few just the way I like them....like this:
Welcome Fall
As the chill hit the air, as the rain found its' way here, as the leaves decided it was finally time to change, I was baking pie.
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