Saturday, September 18, 2010

My new best friend : OnStar (and a tip about white royal icing)

"People let me tell ya 'bout my best friend..." (Raise your hand if you are old enough to recognize that song.)
OnStar...yes, OnStar is my new best friend.  There for me in an emergency, always answers my call (no matter the time of day), helps me find my way when I'm lost...sounds like a best friend to me!

One the perks of test-driving this Chevy Malibu this month is getting to play around with the OnStar system.  I always used to cry during their commercials, but I didn't realize everything else that OnStar does!  The turn-by-turn directions are definitely my favorite part. It's like having my own little concierge right there in the car.

If only it would go fetch me a Starbucks without my having to leave the house.
I brought these cookies over to the Chevy dealership where I picked up the car two weeks ago.  Maybe they think I'm crazy professing my love for OnStar in cookie form? 

Let's talk about making white icing...

Royal icing looks pure white when you make it, but have you ever had it change to an off-white color as it dries?  It happened to me only once in a blue moon, but that was enough to drive me insane.
Here's how to fix it: Americolor Bright White gel food coloring.  Add some to your white icing....and add more than you think you need. It's a toughie because your icing is going to look white already and it depends on how much icing you are coloring.  Pretend you are making a "color" icing and go from there.

(These cookies were made with royal icing colored with AmeriColor Bright White and Americolor Royal Blue mixed with Navy Blue.  Letters and star were piped with a #2 tip.)

{psst....if you live in the Houston area, you can click here for a chance to win a trip for 2 to the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa from Gotta Love Chevy Houston!}

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Cookies for The Mercy House

Mr. E and I have moved A LOT. We've also been blessed by some wonderful neighbors.

In Dallas, we had retirees on both sides.  Mae, who brought us veggies and roses from her garden.  Joanne and Randall...she made pies and homemade ice cream and always shared. Randall...he, who spied me standing on a ladder trying to beat the pecans out of our trees with a rake, very sweetly came over to tell me they would fall when they were ready.

Alabama is where I met Lisa.  Lisa...who brought us chocolate chip cookies the day we moved in.  Lisa who invited kiddo & me to lunch at her house and didn't blink an eye when kiddo wasn't *quite so* potty-trained and also made off with a toy from her son's room.  Lisa...my sweet, sweet friend who I could call right now and we could pick up right where we left off.

And now, we're here.  You know those people you see on the news and read about in the paper.  GOOD people who do BIG things...and you think, "who are those people?"  Those people are our neighbors. Kristen, of We are THAT Family, her husband and her kiddos.

Kristen went to Africa this year and she was moved.  MOVED. She knew they were called to do something and they are DOING IT.  What's it?  They are starting a maternity home in Kenya called The Mercy House.

" The Mercy House exists to provide alternative options for pregnant girls living in the streets of Kenya. The Mercy House will aid them in nutrition, housing, prenatal care, counseling and job skills for sustainable living."

I'll let Kristen tell you more about it here...and here.

Besides direct donations, The Mercy House will be supported by an etsy shop.  And I'm pleased as punch to have cookies play a small part in it.  (There is also a link in the sidebar.)
Normally, I don't think of polka dots when I think of Africa. But, I wanted the cookies to be hopeful and beautiful, because I think that's what Kristen and her family are bringing to Africa.  Hope. Beauty. Love. 

We may offer other designs as time goes by, but for now, please take a few minutes to read about The Mercy House and visit the shop.

{There is also a giveaway going on over at We are THAT Family today.  Pop on over.  I think you'll be glad you did.}

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Homemade Oreos . . . oh, yes!

Oreos...my child learned to stop asking for the real ones at the grocery store years ago.  I like to blame it on preservatives and all the words I can't pronounce on the package, but the truth is, I buy Oreos only once or twice a year because I can't resist them.

Once the package is open, all bets are off...there is a path worn in the kitchen tile from my feet going back and forth to the pantry to get just "one more."

Now, Homemade Oreos, I don't feel so bad about. I know exactly what's in them. They're a little softer the the packaged variety, but so satisfying that one, well two, will be enough for one sitting.

{It doesn't hurt to make them the "Double-Stuff" variety.}

Homemade Oreos

1 batch of chocolate roll-out cookies (minus the espresso powder)
 
{It's going to get messy.}

I cut these out using a 1 and 3/4" cutter and baked for 9 minutes.
{I also pressed a small heart cutter into the top, but not all the way through, before baking.}

Let cool.


Cream Filling
{source: The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion: The Essential Cookie Cookbook }

1 tsp. plus a heaping 1/4 tsp. unflavored gelatin
2 TBSP. cold water
1/2 c. shortening
1 tsp. vanilla
2 and 1/2 c. powdered sugar

Combine the gelatin and water in a small bowl or cup.  Place the cup into a larger bowl of hot water and leave it there until the gelatin is completely dissolved and liquid transparent.

Remove the cup from the hot water and let the liquid cool to room temperature, but hasn't begun to set...about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat the shortening with a paddle attachment until fluffy.  Beat in the vanilla.  Add the sugar a little at a time, beating until the mixture comes together.  Scrape the bowl as needed.  Beat in the gelatin.  Use immediately, or store, well-wrapped at room temperature.

To make the sandwiches, flip one cookie over.  Make a teaspoon-sized ball of filling and place on upside-down cookie.  Press another cookie, right-side-up, down on top of it.

{Makes 26 or so sandwich cookies if you don't eat too much of the dough.}

Remember I'm driving that new, 2011 Chevy Malibu this month? Well, they sent us on a mission to the grocery store.  Normally I'm in my SUV, would the Malibu trunk be able to handle all the groceries?  YES!  It held ALL my groceries...and I did BIG shopping, all the usual suspects, including everything I needed to make these Oreos...
....and did I mention the remote start had the AC on and the car cooled off by the time we got inside?  No?  Well, it did and it was heaven in the 90 degree heat.

The mission got me thinking, though...what items are on your grocery list every week?  I tried to narrow mine down to the top 5:
  1. tortillas (you can't live in Texas and be without tortillas),
  2. milk
  3. OJ
  4. flour (always more flour),
  5. bananas
What's in your top 5?  Oreos?

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Guest Post from my 10-year-old Neighbor :) *Mini Pecan Pies*

You guys may remember I live next door to a real-life blogger and all-around wonderful person, Kristen from We Are THAT Family. Her precious 10-year-old daughter is guest posting here today.

One day, she mentioned that she loves cooking shows and LOVES Paula Deen & Rachael Ray. So, I loaned her my Paula Deen's Lady & Sons Cookbook.

I kid you not, two hours later she was on my doorstep with warm snickerdoodles. You guys, I got a little teary-eyed.

Here she is...my super sweet in every way, 10-year-old neighbor...

Hey Yall!
I'm Wearethatfamily's  oldest daughter!
 
My wonderful neighbor Bridget and I both love to cook. I made a yummy dessert (Mini Pecan Pies) from a Paula Deen cook book she let me borrow.

I served it  at my mom's jewelry party and it was a huge hit! They tasted just like real pecan pies!

Here's the recipe so you can make it too:

Mini Pecan Pies crust

8 tablespoons butter
1 cup all purpose flour
1 3-ounce package of cream cheese

Preheat your oven to 325.  Soften the cream cheese and butter in the microwave
and then blend it well. Now stir in the flour until you have a dough like mixture.

Let your dough chill for an hour.

While your dough is chilling, use this recipe to make the filling for your pies.

Mini Pecan Pies filling

1 egg
 3/4 c. brown sugar
1 tablespoon of butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla
a dash of salt 
2 thirds of a cup of pecans

First beat your egg, sugar, vanilla, and salt until  it's smooth.  Once your 
dough is chilled,  roll  it into pecan size balls and squish them in the cupcake tins to cover the bottom. Pour your filling in the tins and top with pecans.

Bake for 25 minutes and enjoy!  They will make about twenty four!
I hope yours taste as good as mine did!

Isn't she adorable?!? I was lucky enough to sample a few, ok SEVERAL, of these and they were delicious!

Thank you, sweet neighbor, for guest posting at Bake at 350! I hope you'll come back soon!!!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

A vlog post, really!

Hey guys!  It's a crazy week around here....I'm spending two lovely days at the periodontist.  That's right.  Can I tell you something right now?  FLOSS!!!

While I'm coming out of my anti-anxiety & sedation medicated haze....here's a vlog post over at University of Cookie about how to make cookie dough for decorated cookies. 

Later this week, I have such a sweet treat for you....my 10-year-old neighbor will be guest posting!  So be on the lookout for her!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Mr. E 's Not-So-Key Lime Pie

Mr. E's birthday was last week.  He's not a fan of cake...he'll eat it, but he'd never request it.  He wanted PIE...Key Lime Pie.

I waited until the night before his birthday to run to my favorite grocery store.  My favorite grocery that stocks EVERYTHING....espresso powder, dutch-process cocoa, Marcona almonds, vanilla bean paste...and they had no.Key.Limes.

So, here's what you do when your store is out of Key Limes...you make LIME PIE.  And it is sweet and creamy and tangy....I'll never cry over Key Limes again!


Not-So-Key LIME Pie
{modified from Betty Crocker Cookbook (Bridal Edition)}

graham cracker crust for a 9" pie pan
3 eggs
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1 and 1/2 tsp. lime zest
1/2 c. lime juice
sweetened whipped cream

Make and pre-bake the graham cracker crust (here is the one I used, oh how I love it...a little salty, sweet, perfect).  Let cool.

Preheat oven to 350.

Beat the eggs, condensed milk, zest and juice until well-blended.  Pour into the prepared pie crust.

Bake 30 minutes, or until set.

Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes to 1 hour.  Transfer to the refrigerator and let chill at least 2 hours.

Dollop on sweetened whipped cream or pipe on using a large star tip.
The birthday boy was happy....and never missed those Key Limes!

Friday, September 3, 2010

Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie & Chevrolet

 
The Chevy Malibu always make me think of Malibu Barbie.  Which is crazy since Barbie lives in Malibu and drives a Corvette. Anyhoo...

Blogging is a funny thing.  When I started this blog almost 3 years ago, I never thought anyone but family would read it.  I never dreamed that someday someone from Chevy would contact me and ask if I'd like to test drive a brand-new Chevy Malibu for a month. (Seriously? Me?)

Well. I said yes.  Why?
  1. I can't resist that new car smell,
  2. Our other two cars are a 2002 and 2003 with a combined 274,000 miles on them (yes, you read that right),
  3. and, my boys (big & small) would never have forgiven me if I didn't.
I'll be blogging about my adventures in the Malibu over at Gotta Love Chevy Houston during the month of September.

Yesterday, I picked up my car provided by the Houston Area Chevy Dealers.  Of course, you know there had to be cookies involved, right?

{Here they are all boxed up and ready for the dealership.}

I didn't have a Chevy cookie cutter, but Mr. E fashioned a cookie template for me and I hand cut them with a paring knife.

With royal icing, I outlined the cookies in Americolor Super Black Soft Gel Paste, using a #3 tip.  I filled them with royal icing tinted with Americolor Gold. After an hour or so, I went back over the outline to make it stand out a bit more.

To add a little pizazz to the cookies, let them dry overnight, then...

...mix together an equal amount of food coloring an water. Brush on the outline with a small paintbrush.  Then sprinkle on non-pareils.

{Did you know they make them in black?  I love that!}

...to add a gold sheen brush on some dry luster dust.
Just dip a small, dry paint brush into the luster dust (I used Golden Charm),

and lightly brush on...it doesn't take much.

Voila! There you go.  Sometimes I prefer the sheer shimmer of the dry luster dust to applying it wet.

I hope you can see the pretty gold shimmer.


Well, I'm off to take the Malibu for a spin!
{Note to Mr. E.....when I ask you to take a picture of me in the car, what I really mean is take SEVENTEEN pictures of me in the car, so I can edit out the pictures with wrinkles, double chins, squinty eyes...}

Oh...and there's something in it for you, too!!!  If you go to the Gotta Love Chevy Houston Facebook Page, you can "like" them for a chance to win the "Pick Your Purse" Promotion.  Now, my purse is from Marshall's, but the winner gets $1,000 for a new purse! Ack!  I'm thinking I could get THREE Kate Spades for that!  Good luck, y'all! *update: this is for Texas residents only. Sorry!*