Easter Delights!

Happy Easter!  Yes, I know that Easter was a week ago, but as usual, I am a bit slow updating this blog.  sigh!  Anyway, I hope that all of you had a delightful Easter.  We had a really nice day here.  Michigan weather cooperated with beautiful sunshine and my son and Mom arrived to celebrate the day which made the day perfect.  We had a delicious dinner and I had a wonderful time creating the desserts, which I thought that I would share with you today. Lots of pictures...hope you enjoy!

"Vintage Easter postcard" cookies- I tired a new technique by using printed wafer paper.  I like the way they turned out, but next time I think I will use smaller pictures.  These turned out to be really big cookies!

Easter just isn't complete without baby chicks...

"White on White" was really fun.  I will definitely be making more cookies like this one.

Oh yes, baby lambs are a necessity for Easter, too.  ( A special thank you to my SIL, Terri, for this perfect cookie cutter!)

What is Easter without decorated eggs?

There are never enough decorated eggs!

Spring is in the air and flowers are blooming..aaaah!

"In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,

You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade..."

Of course Easter bonnets need lots of flowers, even straw bonnets...

How about polka dots?

We've got spring with beautiful flowers, baby chicks and lambs, so of course I had to add some blue birds!

Oh, and I couldn't forget a baby duckling!

Beside the cookies, I made an almond flavored white cake with strawberry filling...my son requested this cake.

I had fun with the butter cream frosting, a decorating idea that I got from "Glorious Treats", glorioustreats.blogspot.com.

I hope that you all had a very Happy Easter!

Niece and Nephew

We have four "official" nephews and four "official" nieces, plus three additional nephews and one niece through marriage...bonus!  Yes, the extra are our nephews and niece-in-law!   We have quite a few "unofficial" nieces and nephews who call us aunt and uncle, but are officially cousins.  But, I LOVE being called aunt or auntie, so I am happy to have lots of nieces and nephews, official or not.  Now, an exciting event is happening in our family: our nieces and nephews are getting married and having babies...and voila, I am a GREAT aunt!  YIPPEE!  We now have four GREAT nephews, Cael, Parker, Henry, and Hudson, and are thrilled with this new expansion of our family.  Not too long ago, Parker turned two and his Mom made my day by asking me to help with his birthday desserts.  She decided to plan a pizza party for him, which changed a little bit with his growing interest in pirates, arrrgh,  so it became a pirate pizza party.  Actually, Parker's pirate pizza party!  She made two amazing pizza cakes, and adorable pirate cupcakes, and I got to make decorated cookies...surprise!

 I had so much fun making the pizza cookies which I put on sticks.  I used grated white chocolate for the cheese, and rolled and molded Starburst candies for the "ham", "pepperoni," and "pineapple".

 

 The green peppers were sour gummy straws, the onions were hand formed white tootsie rolls, and the black olives were licorice tubes cut into slices.

 

 And, of course, I had to make a few pirates,   aarrrrgh!

 

 My husband made a nice foil covered Styrofoam display for the cookies.

 

 Happy Birthday, Parker,  I can't believe you're two years old already!

 

 Here are the amazingly realistic pizza cakes, and cute pirate cupcakes.  Pretty nice 2nd birthday party!

 Our youngest niece is a senior in high school with graduation just around the corner.  Recently, she was a part of the cast for Rockford High School's musical, "Thoroughly Modern Millie."  This happens to be a musical, on DVD, that I really love with Julie Andrews,  Mary Tyler Moore, and Carol Channing.  If you haven't' seen it, it's sure worth renting.  The musical takes place during the "Roaring 20's", with flappers, lots of fringe on dresses, beaded necklaces, and bobbed hair.   So, instead of taking flowers to give her after the show, I decided to make a "cookie bouquet" with a "Roaring 20's" theme.

 

 I am not sure why I picked red, black , and white, but I think I was influenced by one of the dresses that Julie Andrews wore in the movie version.

 

 Rockford High School

 

 I had to include a "Flapper."

 

 Dresses and beads

 

 Fringe and beads

 

 More beads and dropped waist dresses.

 

 

 

 All wrapped up and ready to go!

 

The show was amazing, with some very talented performers.  Our niece did a great job and was thrilled with her cookies.   I'm glad because I was so happy to make them for her.

Now, I best get to work on some Easter cookies!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!  I thought that I would share a few Paddy's Day decorated cookies with you along with a wish for the "luck of the Irish!"  Be sure to wear your greens, enjoy a pint, and relish the day!

I made these for my cousins who are in Vermont, who are, I'm sure, having a wonderful day with her daughter and friends!  They've organized a "Clue Chase" which sounds like soo much fun.  I am hoping that they are having perfect weather; as nice as it is here.

A little polka dot shamrock

Window pane shamrock, anyone?

How about a swirled shamrock?

What would St. Patrick's Day be like without a "Pot 'O' Gold"?

These were also made for my cousins for their "Clue Chase."  Too bad it's not real gold, now that would be a great prize!

Have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!

2 cakes and a pie, oh my!

I have been on a bit of a baking spree of late, and of course, my paper work has fallen waaaay behind!  But, I am having fun!  I know that we are just beginning March Madness, the big NCAA basketball tournament, for those of you who may not be aware.  So, all the leagues are now finished with their seasons.  As you know, we are University of Michigan fans, and it was a very tight race at the end of the season with Michigan in a three way tie for first place. Whew!  So, to celebrate, I made a U of  M cake for my "boys."  It was a lemon cake with lemon curd between the layers, yum!  I got the idea for this unique decorating technique from GloriousTreats.blogspot.com.  I think it turned out pretty well, and it was tasty, too.  The "boys" loved it.

LET'S

GO

BLUE!

It was my nephew's birthday last week and he is a big fan of Michigan State University.  His dog is even named "Sparty."  Yes, our family has a divided allegiance.  I was going to make him a "shark" cake, but decided that since MSU was in the three way tie with U of M and OSU, I would make him an MSU cake.  

It worked out well because MSU ended up wining the Big Ten Tournament. Now we begin crazy March...does everyone have their brackets ready?

This cake was a white cake with almond flavoring and the filling was our homemade strawberry jam.

GO GREEN!  GO WHITE!

Happy Birthday, Chris!

My husband's birthday was at the end of February and although he loves all desserts, he usually wants a cherry pie for his birthday.  And, of course, he loves his cherry pies to have a touch of almond flavoring.  I have made lots of cherry pies since we were married and they have not always been successful, mainly because cherries are very juicy.  I think I have finally come up with a recipe that I  like and he loves, which has been very consistent and  yummy..yea!

Yea, it was gone a long time ago.  I have fun with this pie, because I use my cookie cutters to cut the pastry for the top design. Lots of choices!   He was very pleased....Happy Birthday Brad!

I hope you're having a nice prelude to spring.  It has been very warm around here, which never seems to happen in March.  I keep waiting for another snowfall.  But, it looks like tornado season is upon us.  We spent one evening in the basement this week.  Stay safe...enjoy March Madness 2012!