SweetAmbs

Tookies!!!

2012-02-13T13:37:00.000-08:00

Today for Valentine's Day, I've decided (yet again) to write about

my true love: Sweets.

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I've been admiring the work of Tookies on Etsy for a while now. After browsing through their shop a few days ago, I couldn't stand it any longer and I finally made a purchase. Best decision I ever made. Okay that's a bit of an exaggeration, but yes, they are that good. Tookies doesn't make just any cookie. They make cookie-wiches. Sweet, smooth buttercreme sandwiched between two perfectly baked, soft, chewy cookies. Who could resist that?

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I LOVE the hot pink buttercreme and pale lavender cookie color combination in these delicious creamy vanilla flavored Valentine's Aphrodite's KISS Cookie-Wiches. Tookies has a wide variety of flavors to choose from including lemon, chocolate chip, brownie strawberry, s'mores, red velvet!! Too many to list here.

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And look! I also received these super yummy Jumbo Cherry Dark & White Chocolate Marshmallows!

I heart Tookies

Claire Pettibone at Jaehee Bridal Atelier

2012-02-13T06:58:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I was so honored to be able to provide cookies for the Claire Pettibone runway show at New York International Bridal Week.

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I recently had another opportunity to make cookies for a Claire Pettibone event, which took place at Jaehee Bridal Atelier located in Englewood, NJ (coincidentally within walking distance of my grandmother's store, Jewel Spiegel Gallery).

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This design, which I call the filigree cookie, is made by using the wet on wet royal icing technique. I flood the cookie with thinned beige icing and immediately pipe the filigree using thinned blue icing and a tip 1. After the icing is completely dry, I add the bead border and paint it gold using Wilton's gold pearl dust.

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Available in my Etsy shop.

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Winter Wonderland

2012-02-07T07:33:00.000-08:00

I recently had the privilege of working with NYLUX Events to create custom cookies for a winter wonderland themed Bat Mitzvah. These designs are based on a logo created by the company for the event.

Balloon Cookies

2012-02-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

I made these cookies for a balloon themed party.

Here is a little tutorial:

Cut out a paper template and trace it onto the cookie using an edible ink marker.

Fill in the area around the balloon using thinned white icing and a tip 3.

Immediately fill in the balloon using thinned blue icing using a tip 3.

While the icing is still wet, pipe the reflections in the balloon using thinned

white icing and a tip 1.

Allow to dry overnight.

Pipe an outline using stiff red icing and a tip 2.

Add the balloon knot.

Yayyy!

A Copenhagen Wedding

2012-02-03T05:19:00.000-08:00

This past summer I had the honor of creating these navy blue, pink and gold brush embroidered cookies for a beautiful wedding in Copenhagen. They were displayed on a gorgeous custom made cake stand by High Tea for Alice.

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I was thrilled to find out this morning that the wedding, photographed by none other than Corbin Gurkin, was featured on Style Me Pretty as well as Reverie Magazine. Congratulations to Marie and Christian!

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Cake Ball Love

2012-01-25T10:46:00.000-08:00

I was so happy to come into work this morning to see that my cake pops from Cake Ball Love had arrived!! I'm in love with the packaging and was super excited to see that Pam, the artist and pastry chef behind these little bites of heaven, had put together an assortment of flavors for me to try: Red velvet, vanilla bean, lemon zest, and chocolate bliss. Amazing!!

I might have eaten two of these today already. Okay three. It was three.

Baby Shower Cookies

2012-01-23T07:27:00.000-08:00

I designed these cookies for a friend whose baby shower took place over the weekend. The monogram cookies were made using the fancy square cutter from coppergifts.com and the ducklings were cut by hand.

All of these were done in royal icing, which required a bit of drying time in between steps. You can see my post on how to do the tufted cookie here.

Visit my YouTube Channel for more tutorials.

Hand Painted Cookies

2012-01-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

Hand Painted Cookies

2012-01-19T13:54:00.000-08:00

These cookies are hand painted using a mixture of gel paste food coloring (Wilton delphinium blue) and vodka.

Watch the demo on my YouTube channel.

Flooding Technique Using Royal Icing

2012-01-17T09:20:00.000-08:00

This is a demo of how I flood my cookies using 10 Count Royal Icing. To check the consistency of your icing, take a spoonful and drop it back into the bowl. It should take about 10 seconds for the icing to smooth itself out.

Here is the royal icing recipe:

1 pound confectioners sugar
5 TBS meringue powder
1/2 c water plus more for thinning the icing later
1 tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. To thin the icing, add water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach 10 count consistency.

The cookie I am decorating is an orange vanilla spice sugar cookie. It contains orange zest, vanilla bean and cardamom.

Watch it on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9wEILJshpU&context=C31e623fADOEgsToPDskLXWndY5WKHOGGjdyE4NNWZ

Brush Embroidery Video Tutorial

2012-01-09T12:14:00.000-08:00

You can also see this video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW0kxZ8wK4Y&feature=youtu.be

Valentine's Day Cookies

2012-01-06T15:32:00.000-08:00

I know we just celebrated New Year's like, yesterday.... but Valentine's Day is fast approaching! I created these cookies using the fancy square from CopperGifts.com. It's my new favorite cutter. Check out LilaLoa's Flickr group to see more cookie ideas using the fancy square!

Also, scroll down to see a brief how-to on that tufted cookie.

A brief how-to on the tufted cookie:

First, draw a guide on the cookie using a ruler and an edible ink marker.

Then, fill in the squares using 10 count royal icing and a tip 2. Let the the icing dry for about 10 minutes.

Fill in the squares in between, but don't yet fill in squares that will be touching each other. Let these dry for about an hour.

Fill in the rest of the squares.

Cookie Ornaments

2011-12-12T08:29:00.000-08:00

I had fun decorating the trees outside for this photo shoot! A similar design is available in my Etsy shop.

Guest Post and Cookie Giveaway on Celebrations.com

2011-12-06T04:36:00.000-08:00

Check out my guest post on the celebrations.com blog, Life of the Party! Here you'll find step by step instructions on how to do my favorite decorating technique, brush embroidery.

Also, leave your comment on the blog post telling celebrations.com what your favorite cookie is and you'll be entered to win a set of 6 brush embroidered cookies from my cookie shop, SweetAmbs.

Bonus entries can be made by "liking" SweetAmbs on facebook or by signing up for the celebrations.com newsletter.

The winner will be chosen on Friday, December 9th at 5pm EST. Good luck!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-25T07:10:00.000-08:00

Roasted butternut sqaush soup with brown butter and sage

Apple Pie

Apple tart with vanilla bean caramel sauce

Pie crust pieces baked with cinnamon and sugar

Holiday Greetings

2011-11-22T04:33:00.001-08:00

Now available in my Etsy shop: Holiday Greetings - a set of 6 Orange Vanilla Spice Cookies.

I'm really into square cookies right now. These shimmery holiday expressions are hand piped in royal icing then painted with Wilton pearl dust in silver and gold.

Munaluchi Bride Magazine

2011-11-13T06:36:00.001-08:00

The amazing group of people behind Munaluchi Bride Magazine held an event last week at DEX New York to introduce industry professionals to the Munaluchi brand. It was a lovely evening of food, drinks and conversation and I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to provide cookies for the event.

Munaluchi Bride Magazine is released twice a year and and is available at major bookstores across the country. Their blog is updated daily with wedding advice and inspiration.

Fall Cookies

2011-11-08T12:58:00.001-08:00

New cookies for fall. Now available in my Etsy Shop.

2011-11-04T08:05:00.000-07:00

Holiday Cookies

2011-11-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

Just listed in my Etsy shop: Frosty Cookies for the Holidays.

2011-11-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

Mini Monograms

2011-10-21T08:17:00.001-07:00

Just listed in my Etsy shop: Hand painted mini monogram cookies.

Little Wed Hen

2011-10-18T04:29:00.000-07:00

Stephani Campisi, lead writer and editor for the gorgeous wedding blog
Little Wed Hen, created an amazing post about SweetAmbs Cookies this week. Check it out here!

New York International Bridal Week

2011-10-16T06:18:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be a sponsor at Claire Pettibone's runway show at New York International Bridal Week at Pier 94.

For this event I created a "cookie cake" consisting of 42 cookies on a tiered display along with 250 cookies to be given to the guests of the show. The cookies were iced in lavender and sage then brush embroidered with gold flowers to go with Claire's French theme for this year.

Huffington Post Feature

2011-10-15T05:17:00.000-07:00

Delivery to the bridal show yesterday was a success. We had a great afternoon in the city and then came home to find that SweetAmbs had made it into the wedding section of the Huffington Post!

New York Bridal Week

2011-10-13T05:29:00.000-07:00

I'm so thrilled that SweetAmbs is going to be a sponsor at the exhibit of the amazing designer, Claire Pettibone at the New York International Bridal Week at Pier 94 this weekend.

It's been fun (and a little crazy) this week getting everything prepared for the show but we're now ready to deliver all 250 cookies plus a tiered cookie display to NYC tomorrow. Can't wait! Pictures to follow...

Dirty Laundry

2011-10-10T05:18:00.000-07:00

SweetAmbs Cookies are featured on the Dirty Laundry blog today!

Halloween Cookies

2011-10-02T06:36:00.000-07:00

Spider Web cookies for Halloween - available in my Etsy shop.

Cupcakes

2011-09-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

I took a break from cookies and made these chocolate caramel cupcakes with cream cheese frosting to bring to a potluck lunch last weekend.

Lavender & Twine Bride

2011-09-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

Check out SweetAmbs Cookies featured in this week's "Etsy Love" on the gorgeous blog, Lavender & Twine Bride.

SweetAmbs Abroad

2011-09-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

These mini brush embroidered cookies were shipped to Denmark for a wedding that took place over the weekend.

Black, White & Gold

2011-09-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

Gold Thread

2011-09-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Now available in my Etsy shop - Gold "embroidered" flowers on muted colors.

A September Wedding in Maryland

2011-09-09T11:19:00.001-07:00

I made these monogrammed and brush embroidered cookies for a wedding that took place in Maryland last week. Visit the blog of the talented photographer Kathy Freundal of Baltimore to see photos of this gorgeous event.

The Lovely Find

2011-09-06T09:01:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited about being featured on the inspirational wedding blog, The Lovely Find. Read the post here!

Cookies for Fall

2011-09-05T06:43:00.000-07:00

These Harvest Time Cookies decorated with shimmering apples and a gold beaded trim are now available in my Etsy Shop.

Tiny Rose Cookies

2011-09-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

150 Tiny Rose Cookies ready to go to a Midwest wedding.

Custom Birthday Cookies

2011-08-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

Custom Cameo

2011-08-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

I recently worked on a cookie order using an image sent to me by event planner, Amy DiTomasso of Sugar Chic Designs. Although challenging, this project was definitely one of my favorites.

In order to replicate the cameo image for the cookie, I created a template by printing multiple cameos on one sheet of paper and placing it on the back of a sheet tray. I then covered the template with a sheet of acetate and secured it with tape to keep it in place while I piped the design.

I then used thinned black royal icing and a tip 1 to outline and fill in the cameo, avoiding the eyelashes and wisps of hair, which were added later. I then piped the feather, necklace and earring using thinned white icing and tip 1 while the black icing was still wet. In order to get the feathered look, I used a scribe to pull the white icing outward immediately after it was piped. A toothpick would also work for this method. I prefer the scribe because the tip is very thin - much like a needle.

Once the cameos had dried overnight, I removed the entire piece of acetate from the sheet tray. I then cut the acetate around the cameo so that the cameos were separated from each other, but still had an acetate backing. The acetate backing could then be removed from the cameos with less risk of damage than had I removed them with an offset spatula.

The next step was to ice the cookies in thinned white icing. I let the icing set for just a few minutes and then carefully placed the cameos on the cookies. Once the icing was completely dry, I went back with a tip 1 with thinned black icing to add the wisps of hair. The eyelashes were drawn with an edible ink marker and the bead border was piped with a tip 2.

The cookie as compared to the template:

2011-08-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

Brush Embroidery (Part II)

2011-08-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

The finished product.

Available in my Etsy Shop!

Brush Embroidery

2011-07-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

I was working on brush embroidered cookies in ivory and gold when I had to stop and take pictures before the final step of applying the gold to the flowers. I felt this monochromatic look was equally stunning.

Black and White

2011-07-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

Black and White Baroque Cookies. Available in my Etsy Shop.

I was inspired to make these cookies while drawing this piece of inedible art.

More Minis

2011-07-06T10:05:00.001-07:00

These 1-1/2" Brush Embroidered Cookies are a bite-sized version of one of my favorite cookie designs.

Available in my Etsy shop.

Cake Pops!

2011-06-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

Bargain Shopping

2011-06-24T04:40:00.000-07:00

Tuesday Morning just opened a location in my town and I'm obsessed with these La Rochere crown glasses we found there last week.

2011-06-23T04:49:00.000-07:00

Set of 6 Antique Shoe Cookies available in my Etsy Shop.

Royal Icing Lesson

2011-06-21T05:02:00.001-07:00

The winner of the giveaway on Prepare to Wed will be chosen this Friday! Enter now for your chance to win 2 dozen Tiny Rose Cookies!

I love using Royal Icing to decorate my cookies because it can be used in so many different ways. And since it dries with a smooth finish, the cookie becomes my blank canvas. Here are a few designs I've done with Royal Icing:

You can see more designs in my Etsy Shop.

Royal Icing:

1# Confectioners Sugar

5 TBS Meringue Powder

1/2 c Water

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Combine all ingredients in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 7 minutes.

For the first layer of icing on my cookies, I always use thinned down or "10 Count" Royal Icing. The reason it's called 10 Count Royal Icing is because at the correct consistency it should take 10 seconds for the icing to smooth itself out once it's been piped. That way the icing is thin enough that your surface will dry smooth but not so thin that it will run off of the cookie.

In order to thin down your icing, add a tablespoon of water at a time. To test the consistency, take a spoonful of icing, drop it back into the bowl and time how long it takes for it to smooth itself out. If you've added too much water, just add more powdered sugar to thicken the icing.

I usually add color to the icing during the thinning process. It makes for less mixing later.

I recently received a comment on my blog asking how to decorate the Royal Crown Cookies so I'll concentrate on that one here. Most of my cookies use the same method, so you can apply this to many different designs. Cookies with brush embroidery or bead borders use stiff Royal Icing, but that's another lesson.

Start out with 10 Count pink Royal Icing and a piping bag fitted with a tip 3. Outline the cookie with the icing and immediately fill the cookie in. Don't worry about filling in every little spot because you can use a toothpick to spread the icing around so as not to put too much on the cookie and risk an overflow. Let the icing dry. I prefer to dry mine overnight.

This next step can be used for any design you'd like on your cookie.

Fill your piping bag fitted with a tip 1 with 10 Count Royal Icing. For the crowns, I use the same pink icing as I did for the base. If you prefer, you can draw your design on the cookie first by using an edible ink marker. Carefully pipe your design and let it dry completely. This small amount of icing only needs to dry a couple of hours.

Next, mix edible pearl dust with a few drops of vanilla extract or vodka and use a tiny brush to paint your design.

Happy decorating!

Pretty in Pink

2011-06-20T04:35:00.000-07:00

The winner of the giveaway on Prepare to Wed will be chosen this Friday! Enter now for your chance to win 2 dozen Tiny Rose Cookies.

I had the opportunity to make these Pink and White Monogrammed Cookies for a birthday party over the weekend.

Minis!

2011-06-17T07:20:00.001-07:00

While working on Royal Crown Cookies in blue for Father's Day, I decided to try some out as minis. These little guys are 1-1/2" in diameter and I think they're super cute!

Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase the original size Royal Crown Cookie.

Also, enter into the drawing to win a 2 dozen of my Tiny Rose Cookies at Prepare to Wed!

Have a great weekend and Happy Father's Day!

Vintage Cookie Cutters

2011-06-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I went antique shopping with friend at Water Street Market in New Paltz, New York. While browsing through the Antiques Barn, she came across these adorable mini cookie cutters and bought them for me as a gift.

I decorated these cookies to match the inside of the package because I just love the simplicity of the designs.

Visit Prepare to Wed this week and enter into the cookie giveaway!

Interview and Cookie Giveaway on Prepare to Wed!

2011-06-15T05:55:00.000-07:00

Prepare to Wed is a wedding planning and idea website with a wealth of resources to help you plan your perfect day. Visit the site to read about SweetAmbs and enter to win 2 dozen Tiny Rose Cookies!

2011-06-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

Janet Spiegel Art

2011-06-13T05:40:00.000-07:00

I love these new prints by my mom, Janet Spiegel.

2011-06-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

Ivory and Gold Monogrammed Cookies - 6 for $36 at SweetAmbs on Etsy

Mushrooms and Gnomes

2011-05-29T17:40:00.000-07:00

My mom bought me these cute cookie cutters for Christmas and I just got around to using them. I haven't listed these cookies in my Etsy shop yet... first need to make sure those gnomes won't lose their hats in the mail!

2011-05-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

Polka Dot Bunnie Cookies- 6 for $36 at SweetAmbs on Etsy

Whipped Cream and Berries!

2011-05-24T13:59:00.000-07:00

Summer is right around the corner. What better way to welcome the season than by eating whipped cream and berries? Shortcake doesn't hurt, either.

I learned this whipped cream recipe from my dad, who attended The Culinary Institute of America just a few (30) years before I did.** Since he was a culinary student as opposed to a baking student, his "recipe" was more in the style of a chef... add ingredients until it tastes good. But the recipe isn't really the secret to this whipped cream. It's the technique...

Being the baker in the family, I decided to devise a real recipe for this whipped cream that I could follow. Somehow I don't think it is quite the same as when my dad makes it, but this is the next best thing.

Whipped Cream Recipe:

2 cups heavy cream

3/4 cups confectioners sugar, sifted

1-1/2 tsp vanilla

When making whipped cream, it's important to start with cold cream and a cold bowl. Place your empty mixing bowl in the freezer for about 15 minutes before whipping the cream.
Whip the cream on high until soft peaks form. It will happen quickly, so keep an eye on it. Slowly add the confectioners sugar and vanilla on low speed.

The next step goes against everything I learned in culinary school about making whipped cream but my dad swears by it. I don't know why, but it really does taste better this way. After the sugar and vanilla are incorporated into the cream, whip on high speed until you think you're about to make butter.

I've never seen anyone else make whipped cream this way, but I know it's the best I've ever tasted. Just be careful that you don't go too far and actually make butter. A tip my dad gave me is that one day you should try making butter (which is a fun project in itself) just to familiarize yourself with the point at which your cream is ABOUT to become butter.

Then, pick some wildflowers, put them in a cow shaped creamer (my dad did not add those steps) and enjoy your dessert.

**My dad is now in woodworking. You can see his work out front at The CIA as well as inside at the Apple Pie Bakery and Cafe. http://www.sawmoulding.com/

2011-05-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

2011-05-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

Edible Art

2011-05-16T05:47:00.000-07:00

6 for $36 at SweetAmbs on Etsy

Milkfly on Etsy

2011-05-15T06:22:00.000-07:00

Now that Etsy has an activity feed that allows you to see favorite listings of your favorite Etsy sellers and shoppers, I've had the opportunity to discover hundreds of great items.

Yesterday as I was browsing through the favorites of my favorites, I saw this incredibly realistic and delicious looking banana cream pie by Milkfly. At first glance I honestly thought it was a real, edible dessert. But, as I took a closer look, I realized that the very talented Huong Huynh, the owner of the shop, actually sewed this pie by hand out of felt! And that felt is eco-friendly, no less.

These delicious looking creations are more than play food for kids. As Huong says, they are "fun and unique gifts for yourself and friends". I agree!! Visit Milkfly on Etsy to see more of these amazing hand made items.

She also makes these super-cute cotton baby booties in a variety of colors and patterns.

Julie's Meltingpot

2011-05-14T06:16:00.000-07:00

Julie's Meltingpot is a fun food blog run by my friend, Julie... who, by the way, is not only a great writer but also an amazing cook (I can say that from first hand experience!). We met while I was living in Chicago and since I moved back to New York last month (which is where she moved from not long ago) I've been keeping up with her blog to read about her latest adventures in food.

This week I was honored when Julie invited me to be a guest blogger on her site. Be sure to check out my post at Julie's Meltingpot on how to make these pistachio meringue cookies.

2011-05-12T11:40:00.000-07:00

I'm trying out some new packaging ideas for my cookies. I've created a new label and I think it goes well with this layered ribbon look.

Congratulations Christy and Oliver!

2011-05-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a great weekend in Atlanta where I attended my cousin Christy's wedding. She did an amazing job at planning the event and creating all of the decorations. It could not have been a more perfect evening!

In keeping with the 1930's Georgia state fair theme of the wedding, Christy and Oliver requested these cute chicken cookies decorated in red and teal, which were part of their color scheme.

The reception at dusk...

Congratulations to

Christy and Oliver!

More Roses...

2011-05-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

I haven't decided yet where I'm going with this cookie design. I'd like to come up with a less fragile version so I can add it to my Etsy store. As of right now I don't think these royal icing roses would make it very far in a shipping box... but I still had fun creating it!

Inspiration in Unexpected Places

2011-05-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

I designed these cookies back in October after I saw a decorative cabinet knob in a home improvement store. My grandmother later told me that she had the exact same ones on her kitchen cabinets years ago. Must be why I liked them so much!

Available at my Etsy Shop. 2 dozen for $36

Spring!

2011-05-02T06:35:00.001-07:00

It's so nice to have had a weekend of beautiful spring weather in New York. Although, a friend of mine was in Minnesota yesterday and said it was snowing there. But that's okay... Here's something to brighten up any snowy spring day:

The Spring Assortment is back. $38 for a set of 6 at SweetAmbs.

Royal Wedding Day

2011-04-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

SweetAmbs Royal Crown Cookies have been featured on Fun Friday Finds at ItsyBitsyPaper along with some other great handmade items. Take a look!

I Love New York

2011-04-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

After much deliberation I finally decided to leave Chicago and move back to my home state of New York. It was a tough decision to leave friends and a full time job but I'm glad to be back on the east coast and super excited to get SweetAmbs Cookies back up and running!

Mini Monograms

2011-04-28T12:56:00.001-07:00

These monogrammed cookies are a smaller version of the original. One dozen for $30 at http://www.sweetambs.etsy.com/.

CIA Connections

2011-04-18T06:31:00.000-07:00

Thom Pastor, a fellow graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, writes an informative and inspirational blog that covers food, business, and everything in between at ThomPastor.com. After spending a good portion of the morning browsing through the site, I'm officially hooked.

While you're there, check out today's post on SweetAmbs Cookies.

Something Blue

2011-04-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

A special request by a customer for blue and silver Royal Crown Cookies...

Tea Set Cookies

2011-04-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

Some new pictures for my Etsy shop..

SweetAmbs InStyle

2011-03-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

Look for SweetAmbs Cookies on page 110 of the April 2011 issue of InStyle Magazine.

http://www.sweetambs.etsy.com/

Toffee Bark

2011-01-23T14:34:00.000-08:00

Toffee is one of my favorite confections. When I make it, I like to toss the pecans in butter and salt before roasting them for a rich flavor.

Gingerbread Krispy Treats

2011-01-02T07:08:00.000-08:00

I'd never seen gingerbread flavored marshmallows before this year, but I hope they bring them back because these krispy treats were a hit.

Christmas Button Cookies

2010-12-26T07:56:00.000-08:00

These cookies are 1-1/2" in diameter and decorated in royal icing. I painted the designs using pearl dust mixed with vanilla extract.

Here I attached a ribbon using royal icing to turn the cookie into an ornament.

Jewel Spiegel Gallery

2010-12-19T07:23:00.000-08:00

My grandmother, Jewel Spiegel, just launched her new website: www.jewelspiegelgallery.com.
Her gallery, located in Englewood, New Jersey, specializes in custom framing and has an incredible collection of fine art and gifts.

I have many happy memories of spending time in her gallery as a child and I'm sure after 45 years of being in business, my grandmother will have a lot of interesting things to share on her blog: Diary of a Gallery Owner.

Coconut Snowballs

2010-12-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

The company cookie exchange is tomorrow so I've spent the weekend in the kitchen. These Coconut Snowballs are made with my usual orange vanilla spice cookie recipe, but I soaked them in simple syrup and coated them with orange zest and coconut.

The First Round of Christmas Sweets

2010-12-12T08:48:00.000-08:00

My boyfriend told me about these peanut butter balls he used to eat as a child at Christmas. I thought he was making it up until I looked online and found countless peanut butter ball recipes. I found one that seemed simple enough from allrecipes.com.

I shined them up with luster dust from Country Kitchen because I have trouble making anything without putting luster dust on it.

This snow storm sweeping across the Midwest has me snowed-in in Chicago and my boyfriend stranded in New Hampshire. I hope there will still be some of these left when he gets back. We'll see.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-21T14:56:00.000-08:00

I wanted to decorate these cookies with dark brown royal icing but I didn't want to add a whole bunch of food coloring. So, I decided to try a chocolate royal icing instead, which is something I've never made before.

To make the icing, I replaced 4 oz of powdered sugar with 4 oz of cocoa powder. The icing took longer to dry and it has a dull finish, but the gold accents make up for it. And I think it tastes better than plain royal icing.

chocolate royal icing recipe:
12 oz powdered sugar
4 oz cocoa powder
5 TBS meringue powder
1/2 cup water plus more for thinning later
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Combine ingredients together and mix on medium speed for about 7 minutes.

Keep about 1/4 of the icing a stiff consistency and thin down the rest with water. Use a tablespoon of water at a time until the icing is thin enough to smooth itself out, but not so thin that it will drip off of the cookie. Outline the cookies with the stiff icing using a tip #3 and fill them in with the thinned icing. Let the icing dry for at least 4 hours before applying the gold.

Combine gold luster dust with a little lemon extract or vodka and use a small brush to paint the designs.

The icing will take about 24 hours to dry completely.

2010-11-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

I designed these cookies for the September issue of a cake decorating magazine.

Play With Your Food

2010-10-24T13:41:00.000-07:00

I made these playing card and poker chip cookies as a birthday gift.

First, I iced the cookies in white, let them dry completely, and then finished the decoration with edible markers. White royal icing dries with a smooth finish, which makes it easy to draw clean lines without worrying about the colors bleeding.

Drawer Pull Cookies

2010-10-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

I saw a drawer pull at a home improvement store and was inspired to make these cookies. They're about 1-1/2" in diameter and painted with pearl dust mixed with lemon extract.

The inspiration.

New Cookie Designs

2010-10-09T09:20:00.000-07:00

Even though my Etsy store has been on vacation mode for a few months now, I've still been taking time to create new cookie art for my portfolio. These cookies are decorated in royal icing and painted with pearl dust mixed with lemon extract.

Congratulations!

2010-09-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

The winner of the $50 gift certificate to CSN Stores is Amy! Have fun shopping!

Thanks so much to everyone for participating.

Another CSN Stores Giveaway!

2010-09-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

The company that brings you everything you could ever need for your home and beyond from shoes and accessories to dining tables and treadmills is giving away a $50 gift certificate to one of my blog readers!

All you need to do is visit one of the 200+ CSN Stores and come back here to leave a comment telling me what you would buy if you won the $50 gift certificate. And don't forget to leave your email address!

The winner will be chosen at random and the giveaway ends on Sunday, September 19th, at 8am. Good luck!!

Late Summer on the Farm

2010-09-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Sheboygan County Fair

2010-09-06T10:49:00.000-07:00

I've waited all year long for this! The Sheboygan County Fair has some of the best bad foods anywhere. Next year I'm going for the fried Twinkies.

CSN Stores Product Review

2010-08-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

Since I was contacted by CSN Stores for the giveaway I held on my blog a few weeks ago, I've spent a lot of time browsing their seemingly endless amount of products! So, after narrowing my choices down, I finally purchased this Nordicware Maple Leaf Pan. It's made from cast aluminum, which makes this piece lightweight yet sturdy.

The pan arrived at my door just a few days after I made my purchase. I was very pleased with the fast shipping!

To test the pan, I made a recipe for Butter Almond Leaves, which was printed on the underside of the label. The recipe was really simple and made just enough to fill the pan. They baked for about 15 minutes.

The cakes cooled for a few minutes in the pan as per the instructions and they popped right out when I flipped it over.

My oven has a tendency to burn the bottom of cupcakes so I was really happy when these came out of the oven a perfect golden brown color.

I had used a spoon to fill the cavities of the pan and realized when the cakes came out that I should have used a piping bag to get the batter into the points of the leaves. But, I was glad to see that the veining detail still came through.

After the cakes completely cooled, I trimmed off the crowns and dusted them with powdered sugar.

The cakes were perfectly baked, moist, and delicious. This maple leaf pan is a great item to have for fall!

Oahu, Hawaii

2010-08-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

Some photos from our trip to Hawaii.

Congratulations!

2010-08-08T06:47:00.001-07:00

The winner of the $30 gift certificate to CSN Stores is Rebecca Graham! Thank you all for participating.

Come back soon to see my review of a CSN Product.

CSN Stores Giveaway!

2010-08-01T08:05:00.000-07:00

The generous folks at CSN Stores are giving away a $30 gift certificate to use at any of their over 200 online stores! At CSN Stores you can find cake pans, muffin pans, cake decorating supplies, dutch ovens, espresso machines, and everything else you'll ever need for your home including bedding, furniture, fitness equipment, office supplies and more!

To enter the giveaway, just visit any of the CSN Stores. Then, come back to my blog and leave a comment telling me which product you'd buy if you win the $30 gift certificate.* Don't forget to leave your email address!

The giveaway will run until midnight on Saturday, August 7th and I'll announce the winner Sunday, August 8th. Good Luck!

And coming soon... a product review of one of CSN Stores' thousands of items! So many to choose from... this will be fun!!

*International shipping charges may be applied to Canadian addresses when purchasing items from CSN Stores.

2010-07-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

Orange vanilla spice cookies dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with coconut.

2010-05-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

Birthday Cookies

2010-04-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

I gave these to my friend (and now coworker), Valerie on her birthday. She makes pretty cookies, too. Check out her blog.

And these are for my younger brother Garrett....

Happy Birthday!

Buttercream Recipe

2010-04-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

I've had few people ask how I made the buttercream for the cupcakes in my last post so here is the recipe:

1/2 pound Egg Whites
1 pound Sugar
1-1/2 pounds Unsalted Butter, softened
1 pinch Salt
1/2 Vanilla Bean, scraped

I find it helpful to keep my vanilla beans stored in a bottle of vanilla extract or bourbon. That way you can cut the vanilla bean in half width wise and squeeze the seeds out like a paste. Then you can cut the bean length wise and scrape the inside to get every last bit of the seeds.

Place the egg whites and sugar in a kitchen aid mixing bowl. Whisk the mixture over a pot of simmering water until it reaches about 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the bowl on the mixer with the whip attachment and mix the egg whites on medium speed for about 5 minutes. Switch the speed to high and let it run until the bowl is cool to the touch.

Remove the whip attachment and replace with the paddle. Put the mixer on medium speed and add the butter about 1/2 stick at a time. Add the salt and vanilla bean seeds. Switch back to the whip attachment and mix on high until everything is Incorporated.

Store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Let the buttercream come to room temperature and then re-whip it on the mixer to bring it back to life.

The cupcakes in the last post were iced with a Wilton 1M tip.

Cupcakes

2010-04-11T07:02:00.001-07:00

I was on a cake photo shoot last week at work and the cupcakes on set looked so delicious that I was inspired to make my own at home. I iced mine in Italian buttercream, which is more time consuming to make but well worth the effort.

And I had some icing left over so I made a cake, too

Hoppy Easter!

2010-04-03T11:41:00.000-07:00