Baby You're A Firework

So, the 4th of July was there before I knew it.  I never do anything too crazy for the 4th of July but I am always SO EXCITED as it approaches.  I don't know what it is about wearing red white and blue, barbecuing with family and friends and watching fireworks that is so  special to me, but I just get this feeling of nostalgia on this particular holiday.

With that said, OBVIOUSLY I wanted to make cookies.  On the 3rd of July I was going to join my boyfriend Troy and his family for their annual 4th of July pool party.  So I started researching different designs I could use.  I really wanted to do firework cookies, but I didn't have a firework cookie cutter, bummer, I know.  So I got the idea that I would print out the shape of a firework from my computer onto card stock and use it as a stencil.  Easier said than done.  So I got a knife and I individually cut out each firework shape BY HAND, following my stencil, getting each little point just right.  Lets just say, i was glad when I was done!  Now I know to plan in advance what shapes I want to do so I can order the cookie cutters ahead of time.

The spirals were really fun to do.  I made a bulls-eye of red and blue frosting in the white frosting, and while the frosting was still wet I took a toothpick and I dragged it through the bulls-eye in a sweeping motion.  They turned out looking really bright and fun.

My favorite of the patriotic bunch are probably the heart and star American flags.  They really brought the cute factor.  I just lined the blue and red sections, filled them in and waited for the frosting to dry.  Once they were dry I was able to add the white dots and stripes.


I put some aside for my family to enjoy the next day, which is always a must.  I should tell you that I always have to leave some of my cookies for my family to eat or else I will come home to some UNHAPPY people.  So the lesson here is, don't mess with my family's cookies!

The 4th of July cookies were a hit, and you can never eat just one.  They were my first solo success that I was really proud of, and it made me excited try even more intricate designs.

Practice makes perfect....I need more practice!

So I got home for the summer, happy to be out of school for a while, and excited for a chance to try making sugar cookies on my own.  Two of my best friends had just graduated from college, and all of the festivities that come along with graduation provided me the perfect opportunities I needed to practice my trade.

Heather was having a graduation party, and so I offered to make graduation cap cookies.  The plan was, black caps with a light blue tassel, simple enough right?  Wrong!  Advice for anyone interested in making black frosting starting with white frosting, make sure you have enough black food coloring!!! I however did not have this insight before hand, and I quickly ran out, leaving my frosting a pale grey.  THAT would not do.  So my mom and I added every color of blue and red hoping to get a dark enough purple that would look like black.  This was not the case.  The cookies ended up being between a dark purple and light navy color, and I outlined the shape and tassel in USD blue.

Don't get me wrong, the cookies tasted GREAT, however, the presentation did not live up to my own perfectionist visions, however, it was a great learning experience.  I learned about mixing colors, what food coloring I prefer to work with, the consistency of the frosting, and about how long the whole process actually takes.  Don't worry, even though Heather's graduation cookies were not my best work, I made it up to her on her birthday with some of my favorite cookies yet.  That post is soon to come.

Moving on.  The cookies for Gisele's graduation/going away party turned out much better, and I am  actually not afraid to provide photo documentation.  Gisele left for grad school at the University of Hawaii this summer.  I got the idea of making the University of Hawaii H's.  I looked everywhere for an "H" cookie cutter, and all I was able to find was the Wilton's 101 Cookie Cutter box, that happened to have the entire alphabet in it.  I have to say, when I made this purchase I was SO ECSTATIC!  I sent a text out to all of my friends announcing this, yeah, THAT excited.  I figured it had every cookie cutter I would ever need.  Those ideas were short lived, however, I got my "H."

So the H's were a little smaller than I had hoped, but I adapted the design, and I have to say they turned out looking awesome.  The colors were nice and bright, and they matched the decorations for the party.  Not only that, but I served them in a pineapple dish, and what doesn't taste good served in a pineapple dish?  Overall, it was a success.  Unfortunately I have yet to discover the secret to shipping cookies to Hawaii, but don't worry Gisele, I will attempt that feat soon!

Not your Nanny's Granny Panties

Now, I cannot be the one to take credit for these sassy lingerie themed cookies.  My friends and I were planning a bridal shower for one of my roommates, Becca, and we were specifically instructed to not have anything "dirty."  BUT, we were planning a bridal shower, mainly for college students and so we wanted to spice it up a little.  Meredith had the idea of making fancy underwear, and we all thought that would be perfect.  Kirsten knew a little something about decorating cookies, so she lead the way in our baking production. After meticulously frosting the cookies, and placing each baby pearl with tweezers, we were amazed at the results. The end product was adorable!  Everyone at the party raved about the cookies.  As I've heard many times since, they didn't just look cute but they tasted delicious!

And so, I became inspired.  I began having ideas of making sugar cookies for all occasions.  The opportunities seemed endless.  All I needed was a little extra time away from school and work.  All I needed was summer.  And one week later, "The Summer of Endless Cookies," began.