Top 5 posts of 2012

Well the best way to wrap up the first month of a New Year is to recap the highlights of 2012. So here they are the top 5 posts of 2012. 

Birthday Cake Pops

I made these cake pops for a friend's birthday. I love cake pops because: 

1. They are small &  super cute 

2. It's just like a cake but smaller so you can enjoy 1 or 2... 

3. Not as time consuming to make as a cake :)

Happy Birthday!

Sugar Cookies Recipe

I'm so glad that this recipe made it the Top 5 posts because this is the best sugar cookie recipe ever!! It never fails, it's easy to make and  it's so yummy! I've made this recipe so many times I actually remember the recipe to heart. If there is only one recipe you'd choose to try, make it this one. There is no better time than now to try them, I'm sure someone you love would like some Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies!!

Alton Brown's Sugar Cookie Recipe is the Best!!

A cute little explorer named Ainsley!

I made these sugar cookies, using the sugar cookie recipe above, for my friend's sweet little girl's 2nd birthday party. I made my own cookie template for Dora's face.  I got the idea to make a plastic cookie templates. Now I hand cut cookies using templates for those cookies that you just need to make but can't find the right cookie cutter. She has an awesome tutorial for making SweetSugarBelle Lego Heads, if you click on the link it will take you there. Actually I made the Lego heads and the cookie template worked so well that it has become my new go to. I've used this technique so often and I love it! It saves me money and space. I have so much cookie cutter clutter and still find myself not having one that I'm looking for so I just make one.

 Dora the Explorer

Roses are red....How to make rolled fondant roses!!

With Valentine's day right around the corner, these mini roses would be a pretty addition to any cookie and cupcake. Made them from scratch or just spruce up some store bought ones either way your loved ones will be so impressed. What a great way to show someone how much they mean to you. 

I use these mini roses all the time. It's a great way to use up any leftover fondant, place them in mini ziploc baggies to keep fresh, they last a very long time but rarely do :) 

And the top post of 2012 is....

You're never to old to play with Legos

I mention earlier that I had made these using SweetSugar Belle Lego Head's template, it was the first time I tried this technique. I've been hooked since. I love the fact that I can make my own free cookie templates anytime. 

I made these Lego Head for a sweet boy named Matteo. He was turning 6 years old and had a Lego theme party. All the kiddos got these cookies as party favors. This year Matteo had a Sponge Bob Square Pants theme Birthday party. 

  I made Sponge Bob heads and Patrick cookies for party favors. I used the cookie template to make Patrick. I always look forward to making Matteo's cookie favours, it keeps me young & hip, even though I usually have to Google the subject to find out what it is. Okay I'm not young and hip but I get to live vicariously through the cookies, cupcakes, cake pops and cakes I make for all the kids. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! 

~ Sponge Bob Square Pants & Patrick~

Sponge Bob

Patrick

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to visit my blog. Hopefully you found a recipe or two that you made and enjoyed. I've been busy in kitchen, this year, and I hope you stop by to check out my new creations. 

Thanks for stopping by,

With Love,

Katya

Your never too old to play with Legos

A very special little boy named Matteo is turning 6!! Matteo's mom and my friend, Brandee is throwing him a Lego themed birthday party. I saw pictures of these adorable Lego heads and pieces on The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle  awhile back and was waiting to find a reason to make them, When Brandee asked me to make them I was more than happy too!! I had so much fun making them and I think any one would have fun eating them! 


Recently I posted a sugar cookie recipe, I used 2-1/2 batches of sugar cookie dough to make 28 Lego heads and 105 Lego pieces. I had mentioned that I had a tip for rolling out sugar cookies and today I would like to share it with you. I used cereal bags that I wash and dry after I'm done enjoying the cereal. I cut down along the side all the way to the bottom, then cut the bottom flap off and your left with a long rectangle plastic sheet that are useful for a lot of things, especially rolling out cookie dough.

Cut, clean cereal bags ready to use. They're sturdy, easy to clean and you can use them over and over.

 You never have to use extra flour, or powered sugar to roll out sugar cookies, so your cookie dough never gets tough from extra added flour and there is no fuss cleaning the counter. 

All ready to roll out cookies. 

Plastic recycled cereal bag make rolling out sugar cookie dough easy, and mess free!! And it's good for the environment :)

Ready to cut into shapes. You can roll out the dough and put into fridge to chill if desired. 

You can pick up rolled out sheets of cookie dough and easily transfer to fridge if needed.

I had to show you that you can actually pick up and carry the rolled out dough without it ripping or falling apart, not that I recommend walking around with sheets of rolled out cookie dough but I just wanted to show how durable these sheets are!! Try it out for yourself, you'll be so glad you did!!! Next time someone finishes a bag of cereal, remember, don't throw out the plastic bags. Do the environment some good and up-cycle the cereal baggies into cookie cutting helpers.

To make the Lego head's I printed the template from Knitty Bitties Blog. You can draw your own Lego head if you want but the template is perfect and time saving. When you have to cut each individual Lego head by hand use any time-saving steps you can, you'll be happy you did. The Sweet Adventure of  Sugarbelle suggested tracing the Lego heads on something sturdy and durable so you can use again. I used a yogurt lid and made 2 sets, now I have them whenever I need them. 

You'll need: Scissors, Lego head template, plastic disposable lid and permanent sharpie.

Trace Lego head printout on plastic lid using permanent sharpie:)

Cut out the  Lego head. Keep paper template for later.

Roll out the sugar cookie dough to 1/4' inch thickness. Using plastic template cut Lego head out with a sharp paring knife.

Once all the Lego heads were cut out and baked all that was left were the Lego pieces. For this step I rolled out sugar cookie dough in longer rectangle shapes. Then with a ruler I cut straight lines till I was left with a perfect rectangle. I used the ruler to mark 1' inch wide notches and 2' inch long notched. I cut 1 inch long strips and then again width wise. I had perfect 1'x2' inch lego pieces.

I made marks on both sides of dough then matched up marks and cut straight lines.

I chilled the dough 15 minutes in freezer before lifting cut Lego pieces onto the cookie sheets. I wanted to make sure the edges were straight and kept there shape, chilling the dough ensured this.  

Once all the pieces and heads were baked it was time to decorated them. I used my royal icing, you can find it here. Matteo favorite colour is orange, so I made the lego pieces, orange, green, blue, and red and Lego head were yellow. 

 ~ Lego Heads ~

~ Lego pieces ~

I started by outlining the Lego head in black royal icing.

Let the black outline dry 8 hours to overnight before filling in with yellow royal icing to stop black colour from bleeding into the yellow. Draw eyes and mouth on paper template, once yellow face icing is dry (8 hour at least), use a sharp pin to make holes to mark where you would like your icing to be.   

Make the desired colours for the Lego pieces, draw a rectangle using coloured icing and fill in centers. Let iced rectangle pieces dry 30 mintues before make the dot on top. Let cookies dry overnight.

Once your done icing and drying and icing and drying your Lego pieces the final products are adorable. 

All done : )

Aren't they so cute?

Lego pieces you can eat, yes please!

Any child would be sure to enjoy them. Not just the kids, I'm sure the adults will find the Lego heads and piece bring back fond memories of their childhood. I know that I always had a great time playing with Lego, still do. The only thing I don't enjoy about Lego is stepping on them other than that I say your never too old to play with Lego!! 

Never miss an opportunity

 Today I made homemade sweet butter. It's so easy, anyone can make it. I used an electric mixer but you don't have to, a jar with lid will work too (you just have to have strong arms because this requires a lot of shaking). 


 Maybe you already made butter without even knowing it. Have you ever made whipped cream and accidentally whipped it past the point of fluffy and light cream to the point were it starts to get grainy and separate? If yes, then you're on the way to making butter. I have but thankfully my mother taught me to not get discourage and throw it out but to continue beating it a bit longer and Voila!!!
                      
                         You end up with......Fresh Sweet Butter!  

The other day I happened to come across whipping cream on discount for 50% off at the Superstore so I stocked up. 

This was an opportunity I didn't want to miss out on. I use a lot of butter in all my baking and it isn't cheap especially unsalted butter. The next time you spot cream on sale or maybe you have some that needs to be used up, try making some fresh sweet butter. Don't worry if it's a few days pass it's date, it will still make sweet tasting butter. 

Here's step by step instruction on How to make Butter:

• Pour the cream into a clean cold mixing bowl.  

• Beat on high speed for 8-10 minutes till cream is thick and whipped. You now have whipped cream, anything pass this stage and you're on the way to making butter!! Turn mixture speed to medium. Beat additional 10-15 minutes till butter is done.

• The butter will separate from the buttermilk at this stage. it will appear dry and form little clumps of butter. 

• You need to strain the buttermilk or you can collect the butter with your hands and place into a bowl of cold water. Wash butter in cold water to remove any excess buttermilk. Don't throw buttermilk away it's sweet, delicous and is great for baking, especially when making pancakes....Buttermilk Pancakes, yumm! 

  

• Squeeze out any excess buttermilk. 

• Form butter into any shape desired, press into molds or just put into a container with lid (like ziploc). 

• 1 litre of whipping cream makes 350 grams of sweet butter which is 1 1/2 cups fresh butter.

• Use fresh butter right away or wrap and freeze for later!!

~Enjoy~

 See how easy it is to make butter. And it's a fun activity that you can enjoy making with the kids. So next time you're making whipped cream and accidentally over beat it or the next time you see whipping cream on discount, keep beating and make a batch of Sweet Delicious Fresh Butter!!

                                    Have a Wonderful day, Katya