When Spiders Go a Little Preppy...

I mean, really, who said spiders and spiderwebs have to be black & orange anyway?

This is the second year that kiddo has decided he's not going trick-or-treating.  I miss Halloween costumes.  I'll be honest, Mr. E made a lot of them.  One of my favorites: a traffic light. He made it so the red and green lights really lit up and the yellow light could be pushed out from the inside to retrieve the candy.  (Would it surprise you to know that Mr. E has an engineering degree?)

That same year, Martha Stewart asked readers to send in their best kid's costume pictures and it made it onto her website!!!  Yes, kiddo is on Martha's website.  You never know...it could be framed in her office, too.  Or in her wallet.  (Stranger things have happened.)

That picture was from 4th grade.  Kiddo is now in 8th grade...and looks like this.
{{Hug your babies, you guys.  Time flies.}}

I *do* love seeing the little ghouls & goblins come to the door for candy, though...and so does kiddo.  Looks like we've moved from the trick-or-treating phase into the "opening-the-door-for-trick-or-treaters, eating-more-candy-than-we-give-away" phase.  It's not all bad.

So, the cookies.  I knew I wanted to make some spiderwebs.  I wanted to use some different colors, but all I could visualize were black, orange, purple, green...black, orange, purple, green...black, orange, purple, green.  Don't get me wrong, I like those colors.  Then, it came to me in a flash of 80's nostalgia...preppy.

The cookies are super simple, and even though these are sprinkled with disco dust, you can totally leave that off.  You can see I was having some issues deciding whether or not to dust...

One note about the navy color.  I mixed AmeriColor Navy with AmeriColor Super Black.  You'll want to bring the color to a deep blue, but it won't look navy until it dries.  (You'll see from the how-to pictures how much the color deepens.)

To make the sparkly spiderwebs, you'll need:

• rectangle or square sugar cookies
• royal icing, divided and tinted navy (using AmeriColor Navy & Super Black), Bright White, and Electric Pink
• couplers and tips: #2, 5, 1, star 15
• disposable icing bags
• toothpicks
• squeeze bottles
• optional: disco dust, rainbow & raspberry
• meringue powder
• paintbrushes

Use a #2 tip to outline the cookies in the base colors.

Thin the base color icing with water, a bit at a time, stirring with a silicone spatula, until it is the consistency of a thick syrup.  You'll want to drop a "ribbon" of icing back into the bowl and have it disappear in a count of "one thousand one, one thousand two." Four is too thick, one is too thin.  Count of 2-3 is good.  Cover with a damp dishcloth and let sit for several minutes.

Stir gently with a silicone spatula to pop and large air bubbles that have formed.  Pour into squeeze bottle.   

Fill in the outline with the thinned flood icing, using a toothpick to guide to the edges and to pop large air bubbles.

Let the cookies dry for at least one hour.

Use a #2 tip to pipe a spiderweb outline in a contrasting color.  Start from one corner, or from the top center.

Use a #5 tip to pipe a spider body and a #1 tip to pipe the legs.

Use a #15 star tip to pipe a border along the edge of the cookies, using a pulsing motion.

{This is one of the easiest ways to make your cookies look fancy.  You'll need a fairly stiff icing to hold the design...I always test my icing on a plate first.  If the ridges fall, just stir in some sifted powdered sugar.}

Let the cookies dry uncovered 6-8 hours, or overnight.

If desired, add the disco dust.  Details on applying it are here.  I used a very thin paintbrush to go over the web and legs of the spider.

After the dusted cookies have dried about 30 minutes or more, use a dry paintbrush to brush away the excess.

Let me live vicariously through you.  What are your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews going to be this Halloween?!? 

For my little sister on Halloween...

Here's how the story goes...

...my sister is 5 years younger than I am and was in high school when I started working for Delta.  My dad had been transferred to Atlanta, home of Delta, which led me to tell my sister about a very fancy hair salon I'd heard about while I was in flight attendant training.

So, when prom rolled around, Molly went to have her hair styled at the salon.  I happened to be home for the weekend, so Mom & I dropped Molly off at the salon and planned to pick her up when she was finished.

Hours later, Molly emerged from the salon, I'm not exaggerating, with her hair piled and ratted at least 12 inches high.  She was only missing the white streaks.  Mom & I looked at each other and didn't say a word.

My sister got into the car, shut the door, and my mom said, "well, how do you like it?"
Molly's reply, "I look like the *freaking* Bride of Frankenstein."

{Except she might have used more colorful language.}

I remember slowly turning to my mom, waiting for the reprimand on the colorful language bit...words like that were just NOT used in our house (or car)...and she burst out laughing.

What followed was a race home, so Molly could re-wash and style her OWN hair, and be ready for prom.

Bride of Frankenstein prom hair.....scarier than any horror movie.

You don't need a frightening hair story to make Bride of Frankenstein cookies, though.  All you need is a simple candy corn-shaped cookie cutter.

You'll need:

• candy corn-shaped sugar cookies
• royal icing, divided and tinted with AmeriColor Regal Purple (make a light & dark shade), Super Black, Bright White, and Super Red
• disposable icing bags
• couplers and tips, #2 & #1
• squeeze bottles
• toothpicks

Use a #2 tip to outline a heart shape with a rounded bottom for the face in the lighter purple.

Use another #2 tip to outline the hair with black icing.  Reserve some of this piping consistency black icing for adding details later.

Thin the light & dark purples and black icings with water, a bit at a time, stirring with a silicone spatula, until it is the consistency of a thick syrup.  You'll want to drop a "ribbon" of icing back into the bowl and have it disappear in a count of "one thousand one, one thousand two." Four is too thick, one is too thin.  Count of 2-3 is good.  Cover with a damp dishcloth and let sit for several minutes.

Stir gently with a silicone spatula to pop and large air bubbles that have formed.  Pour into squeeze bottles as needed.

Flood the face portion of the cookies with the thinned light purple icing, using a toothpick to guide to the edges and to pop large air bubbles.

Working 6-8 cookies at a time, flood the hair  portion of the cookies with the thinned light black icing, using a toothpick to guide to the edges and to pop large air bubbles.

Starting with the first cookie flooded, add squiggles of thinned dark purple icing directly on top of the wet black icing.

Let the cookies rest for at least one hour.

Use a #2 tip to pipe eyes in white.

Switch the tip on the black icing to a #1 and add pupils, eyebrows, eyelashes, and a nose.

Use a #1 tip to pipe a heart-shaped mouth.

Molly, this is for you:


PS...I think a lot of Bride's problems could have been solved with a good hair gel.

PS 2...if you want to see what a multi-tasker a candy corn cookie cutter is, take a look at just a few cookies made using it.  It's a good shape to have in your arsenal.

1. walruses
2. popcorn
3. kissing couple
4. ...candy corn! 

Pumpkin Pi

I just wanted to wish you all a happy Turkey Day.  I brought the Pumpkin Pi.

{Yes, I went there.}

These are super, super simple cookies...you can whip them up in a jiffy and surprise your Thanksgiving crew, or favorite math teacher.

PS...this idea was inspired by an actual Pi carved pumpkin found by my friend Amy on Pinterest. I.Heart.Pinterest.

To make Pumpkin Pi cookies, you'll need:

• pumpkin shaped sugar cookies
• royal icing, divided and tinted with AmeriColor Super Black, Electric Orange (or regular orange), and Leaf Green
• disposable icing bags
• couplers and tips: #3, #2, #5
• squeeze bottle

Use a #3 tip to outline the pumpkin and stem in black icing.

Let the cookies sit at least 30 minutes-1 hour to prevent the black from bleeding.

Thin the orange icing with water to the consistency of a thick syrup.  Cover with a damp dish towel and let sit several minutes.  Stir gently with a rubber spatula to pop air bubbles that have formed on the surface.  Transfer to a squeeze bottle.

Flood the pumpkin with the thinned orange icing.  Use a toothpick to guide to edges and pop large air bubbles.

Use a #2 tip to fill in the stem of the pumpkin in green.  (You could also thin and flood here, but I like the "textured" look of the stem in piped icing.)

Let the cookies sit at least one hour.

Use a #5 (or #7) tip to pipe on a pi symbol on the cookies.

Let dry uncovered 6-8 hours or overnight.

I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with love and laughter...and lots of pie (or PI!)  I'm thankful from the bottom of my heart for each and every one of you.  Thank you for reading my ramblings, supporting my sugar habit, and going along with my goofiness.

*mwah*

One-eyed, one-horned flying purple people eater (cookies)

Please tell me you know the song....Purple People Eater?  Here's a link if you don't (or even if you do).

I don't know if a bunch of songs like these were all on the same KTel album in the 70's, but Purple People Eater, Monster Mash and Witch Doctor were the songs that played at every Halloween party when I was a kid.  Good stuff.

Now, my Purple People Eaters kind of look like they are wearing party hats...I assure you that is a horn.  It just *doubles* as a party hat.  Where do you think he finds all of those people to eat? ;)

To make you One-eyed, One-horned Flying Purple People Eater cookies, you will need:

• cookies: I used a circle and attached wings on the sides and a triangle on top
• royal icing, tinted with AmeriColor Regal Purple, Egg Yellow, Electric Green, Bright White and Super Black
• disposable piping bags
• tips: #2, #12, #5, #1
• squeeze bottles (2)

 

First, here's a peek at how to put the cookie together.  I used a template for the wings and just "winged it" (ha!) for the horn. 

Use a #2 tip to outline the monster in purple.

Use another #2 tip to outline the wings in egg yellow.

Use a #2 tip to outline the horn.  Use a back and forth motion to fill in the horn outline.

Thin the purple and yellow icings (reserve a bit for later) with water, a little at a time, until it is the consistency of thick syrup.  Cover with a damp dishtowel and let sit several minutes.

Stir gently with a rubber spatula to pop any large air bubbles that have formed. Transfer to squeeze bottles.

 

Fill (flood) the monster head/body with purple.  Use a toothpick to guide to edges and pop and large air bubbles that have formed.

Flood the wings.

Switch the tip on the purple icing bag to a #1 and add a little striped detail to the horn.

Let the cookies sit for at least one hour.

(So, here's where it got dark and I lost my natural light for pictures.  Boo.)
Use a #12 tip to pipe an eye in white.  Immediately, pipe the pupil in black on top of the white using a #5 tip.

Switch the tips to #1's and add a mouth and teeth. (Ya gotta have teeth to eat people.)

Use a #2 tip to pipe a little detail on the wings in yellow.

There you have it...

One-eyed, one-horned flying purple people eater cookies!  

{The song is stuck in your head now, isn't it?  Welcome to my world.}

Lady, er, LADIES' Fingers

Halloween is in one week.


In honor of that fact, I give you the finger.

Well, fingerS.  Creepy lady fingers.

I've had these on my to-make list for a few years now.  They come from Martha....the Queen of Halloween.  I think I could happily spend a year making projects from Martha's Halloween issues and books.



I adapted the original recipe and technique just a bit based on the comments from Martha's website.  While the fingers did "fluff up" a bit, I still think you can tell they are fingers.  The original recipe is here.

Ladies' Fingers

red gel paste food coloring

30+ blanched, slivered (but not chopped) almonds

2 eggs

1/4 tsp pure vanilla

1/2 cup salted butter (1 stick), cold

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

3 TBSP granulated sugar

pinch of coarse salt

1 & 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

 

Place the almonds in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Mix together a couple of drops of food coloring with a couple of drops of water.  Using a small paintbrush, color one side of each almond. Set aside to dry.


"Painting" the fingernails is a great project for kids.


Use a toothpick to hold the almond in place or it will scoot across the cookie sheet.


{Please excuse all of the pictures of kiddo...I can't help myself.  I love pictures of those hands working.  Trust me...there are 14 more on my computer that you aren't seeing here.} 

Separate 1 egg. Place the white in one bowl and set aside.

In another small bowl, whisk together yolk, remaining egg, and vanilla. Set aside.

Cut the butter into chunks and combine with confectioners' sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. Beat on medium speed until well combined.

Add egg yolk mixture, and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the flour in two additions;  mix on low speed just until incorporated. Wrap the dough in plastic, and chill until firm, 20 to 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350.  Line two cookie sheets with parchment.

Divide the dough in half. Work with one piece at a time, keeping remaining dough covered with plastic wrap and chilled. Divide the first half into 15 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece back and forth into finger shapes, 3 to 4 inches long. Pinch dough in two places to form knuckles. Score each knuckle lightly with a small knife.

Place the cookies on the cookie sheet and place in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.


Lightly beat the egg white with a fork.  Remove the cookies from the freezer and immediately brush lightly with egg white. Position almond nails; gently push into dough to attach.


Bake until lightly browned, about 10-12 minutes.  Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Repeat with the remaining dough.

Creepy Lady Fingers...MWAHAHAHAHA! <---that's my best sinister online laugh.

Please Pass the Nair . . .

...do they even make Nair anymore?  I now have the "we wear short-shorts" jingle stuck in my head...and I think I'm dating myself with that admission.

Hairy-Legged Spider Cookies.


I shared the tutorial for these over at TidyMom last year and thought I'd show them to you here this year.  

My sister cut this idea out of Family Circle magazine for me a few years ago. I love having friends and family on the lookout for cute cookie ideas!  Thank you, Molly!  These are fun!


I'm pretty sure these are girl spiders and their husbands are on a business trip.  Not that I speak from personal experience, it just seems like that might be a time when a girl would skip a day shaving her legs.

{Again, totally hypothetical example.}

To make them, you'll need:

• sugar cookies in a spider shape (I bought my cutter from Sweet Baking Supply, here)
• royal icing in brown and white (I used AmeriColor Chocolate Brown mixed with Super Black for the brown and Bright White for the white.)
• decorating tips in #2, #1 and #7
• disposable piping bags
• squeeze bottles
• toothpicks
• chocolate jimmies

First, using a #2 tip and brown royal icing, pipe the outline of the spider body.


Change the tip on the piping bag to a #7 tip (or another larger round tip) and pipe on the spider legs.

Add water to the remaining brown icing, stirring in a bit at a time, until the icing is the consistency of thick syrup.  Cover with a damp dish towel and let sit several minutes.

Uncover the icing and stir gently with a rubber spatula to pop the bubbles that have formed on top.


Transfer to a squeeze bottle and fill in the outline.  Use a toothpick to guide around edges.

Let the cookies sit for 1 hour.


Using a #1 or #2 tip, pipe the spider's eyes in white.

Let the cookies dry overnight.

The next day, mix equal parts of meringue powder and water together.  Set up a "spider leg station" like this:

I use a coffee filter as a funnel to reuse sprinkles/jimmies that have fallen off the cookies.

Time to add the hairy legs!

With a small paintbrush, paint on the meringue powder mixture where you want the sprinkles to stick.  Sprinkle on the chocolate jimmies.

That's it....hairy-legged spiders, ready for Halloween!


{{{This weekend the photography for the book starts...can I tell you how nervous and excited I am?  VERY.  I have a couple fantabulous guest posters lined up for next week.  Just you wait...you are going to love them! }}}