Hamburgers

So these are some brownie Hamburgers that I made.  It had actually started with a bad choice in pans.  I had baked blonde brownies in the Mini Wonder Mold Pan from Wilton.  Of course the top was too pointed so I cut it off.  But then you could see the lighter, inside color of the brownie.  That was when I decided that I would make them look more like a gourmet hamburger.  I made a pan of normal fudge brownie and cut out the "patties" with a circle cookie cutter that was close to the same width as the blond brownies.

I then made tomatoes with red chocolate.  I melted it in a Make 'n Mold squeeze bottle and pipped, on wax paper, a wagon wheel.  So a circle and then I pipped lines like I was cutting a pizza into eighths.  Then it went into the fridge to chill.

I made some butter cream frosting and divided it into thirds.  One I left white (miracle whip), one I colored orange-yellow (cheese) and the third I colored a light green (lettuce).

After cutting the blonde brownie in half so I could have a top and bottom bun, I spread white frosting on the inside of both buns.  I took the bottom bun and pipped green frosting with a small rose tip, rounded side out.  I made a wavy motion as I pipped along the edge.  Then I placed the fudge brownie on top of the green frosting.  I then used a small basket weave tip to pipe the cheese square.  Use the smooth side as opposed to the lined side.  Then the chocolate "tomato" was placed on the cheese and finally the top bun on top of that.  I then used a chef knife to cut each hamburger into fourths.

I have since then made different variations.

I used orange Starbursts for the cheese and a metal bowl for the bun for this cake

 I baked the blonde brownies in a 9X13 pan and used a PLASTIC circle cookie cutter for the hamburger bun tops and a metal cutter for the bottoms.  I found that since the plastic is not sharp is domes the brownie as it is getting cut!

Enjoy!!

Paper Mario Star Spirit Pancakes!

In my previous post I did heart pancakes.  While I was cooking them I decided to try other shapes using cookie cutters.  I have some Mario fans in my home, so since I had all these colored pancake batters for the hearts, I decided to make the Star Spirits from Paper Mario.

 

So I had two sizes, the bigger one for the Star Spirits and the smaller one for little Twink!

You can check out my Hear Pancake post to see how to prepare the batter and cookie cutters.  Here is the finished Stars!

 

You can also just make yellow stars and then use 2 normal or mini chocolate chips for the eyes.  Just push the chocolate chips into the star point side down.

Valentine's Day Breakfast

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

 

I was meaning to post on Valentine's Day, but I had a sick child, then a sick husband, so I have been taking care of them.

 

Here is a fun breakfast, Heart Pancakes!

I found 2 heart pancake molds and I wanted to try them out.  I also have a heart cookie cutter and wanted to compare the difference.  Here is the mold and cookie cutter.

 

The instructions for the mold is the same for the cookie cutter.  So take your favorite pancake recipe/mix and divide into different bowls.  Dye the batter with food colors.  Turn on your skillet or frying pan.  Set the mold on the pan.  When it is warm enough spray the pan and mold, making sure you get the inside sides of the mold.  Pour your batter in.  When the bubbles start to burst and you can see the pancake pull away a little on the sides, take the mold off.  Then flip the heart over just like cooking a normal pancake.  And you are done!

 

Here is the finished product.  The one on the left is the cookie cutter and the one on the right is the mold.  The mold one has a little tale on the bottom because I accidentally put too much batter in it.  That is where heart mold sides meet together.

 

Here are all the different colors.

 

I also made some chocolate batter, like the chocolate hearts you get for Valentines too!

 

 

Candy Rosebuds

So it is that time of year for Valentine's Day Parties.  I like to do something special for my children's teachers.  They are amazing people who help my children so much!  So this year I made Candy Rosebud Bouquets.

 

You will need:

Glad Red Saran Wrap

Hugs and/or Kisses

Green Pipe Cleaners

Tape

Ribbon

Valentine's Day Note

Hole Punch

Scissors

 

I used one Hug and Kiss in each flower (So when I type "Kiss" I mean any Kiss like candy).  To make it easier, I put a piece of tape on the bottom of one Kiss and stuck it to the bottom of the other Kiss.

 

I used the Glad Red Saran Wrap from Christmas.  I pulled it out a piece of about 4 inches.  Then Cut that into 3 pieces.

 

I did not do this, but you can tape the pipe cleaner to the bottom half of the candy rosebud. 

 

I am left handed, so that is how I will explain this next part.  Next you will place the point of the candy rosebud in middle of the Saran Wrap and the hold it by that same point with your right hand.  With your left hand get the pipe cleaner and hold it against the bottom half.  While holding the bottom bring your right hand down the candy to cover it with the saran wrap.  When your right hand reaches the pipe cleaner, hold it and using your left hand start twisting the saran wrap around until it closes around the candy and pip cleaner.  I then added a little tape to hold it there.

 

Then you will bend the pipe cleaner so you have 1/3 on one side and 2/3's on the other.

 

Next pinch the pipe cleaner together and start wrapping from the bottom up.  You will want to cover as much of the red at the bottom as possible.

 

After a few more of these are made. . .

 

 

Bunch them together and place them in the middle of another pipe cleaner.  Fold the pip cleaner in half around the flowers and twist the ends together.  Like you are putting a twisty tie on a bag of bread.

 

You will have 2 long ends.  Next bend the ends to look like leaves and hook them onto one of the pipe cleaners in the bunch.  It does not matter where, just as long as the ends are hidden.

 

Punch two holes into the Valentine's Day note along the top.  Make sure they are only at the most 1/2" apart.  Take a long piece of white ribbon and put it through the holes so both ends are in the back of the note.  Place the card on the front of the bouquet and tie a knot with the ribbon on the back.  Get a smaller piece of ribbon and tie it in the front.  Then curl the ribbon with some scissors. 

 

Ta-Da!  A cute candy rosebud bouquet for your Valentine!



Roll Out Sugar Cookies

This is the recipe from The Decorated Cookie, for the YUMMY original recipe click HERE!

1 cup or 2 sticks softened unsalted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla*
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

  First you want to cream the butter and sugar together.  Then mix the egg in well.  Blend in the flavorings you are putting in.  Mix together the flour and salt and then slowly add to cookie mix.  From here I just put some saran wrap, press and seal, etc. on the mixing bowl.  You can also scrape the cookie dough into a container with a lid or just put the dough into some saran wrap.  Whatever method you choose just make sure you let the dough chill AT LEAST 2 hours.
  After chilling, you only part of the dough at a time.  I use between 1/4-1/3.  I find kneading it in my hands as well as kneading it on the counter works for me.  I put a little flour down on the surface before kneading the dough there and then roll it out between 1/8-1/4 of an inch.  This cookie does not really rise, so remember that as you roll it out.  Cut out your desired shapes and bake on a tray with parchment paper on it.  375 degrees for 12-14 minutes.  Of course the thicker it is, the longer it will need.  They will be done when the edges are a little golden.

Buttercream Frosting

1 cup or 2 sticks of butter (replace some of the butter with shortening for a more white icing)
1 teaspoon vanilla (clear for white)
   You can add 1 teaspoon of other flavors instead of or as well!
4 cups sifted powdered sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk (I have also added whipping cream here with great results)

Cream butter and then mix in the flavoring(s).  Gradually add the sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Scrape the sides and bottom often.  Once all the sugar is mixed in, add the milk until light and fluffy.  This will make piping consistency.  If you want a thinner icing for covering a cake, add more milk, 1 tablespoon at a time.  It takes less milk to make it runny than powdered sugar to make it thicker.

Sugar Cookie Recipe

These are for roll-out cookies

3/4 cups shortening or butter

1 cup white granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla (or other flavors you want to try)

3/4 cup whole milk

4 cups flour

3/8 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder( adding less makes them rise less)

Cream butter/shortening and sugar together.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.  Then mix in the milk.  Sift all of the dry ingredients together and then slowly add to the wet mixture.  Chill for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

  Roll dough to desired thickness* and cut out.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.**

* The thicker the dough is, the more it will rise.

** depending on how big or little your cookies are, the time may need to change, just keep an eye on them.

Speed Friendshipping

I went to a Speed Friendshipping Activity and had signed up to bring treats.  I tried to think of friendship and Valentine's day, since that love holiday is around the corner.  I made Meaghan Mountford's shortbread cut-out cookie recipe, but I added some hazelnut flavoring.  I then used her royal icing and also made a chocolate version.

The first cookies I though it would be cute to put some letters together to spell "Hi!" and "Hey".  I cut out the individual letters and then took some of the letter cutters and cut into some of the other cookies.  That way the letters were slanted a little.  I then outlined each individual letter and let it crust over.

 

I then filled the first and last cookies and let them crust over before filling the middle.  The "Hey" cookies are just white and brown.  The "Hi!" cookies had White at the beginning, brown at the end and a marble of both in the middle.

 

The next cookie I got the idea from here.

I cut out medium hearts and then used my tiny fondant heart cutter in the middle.

 

I then outlined the outside and inside and let it crust.

 

I then filled the cookies with the chocolate royal icing and used a wet on wet technique:  I piped white icing (the same consistency as the brown) and made dots or flowers.

 

My next cookie I use a square cutter with a scalloped border.  I then took my heart fondant cutter and just made an impression into the cookie.  I did not want to make a hole, so I pushed just a little.  That way when it baked, the heart shape would be seen easily.

 

I wanted to try a Crisscross pattern on the heart.  I first piped lines from the top to the bottom.  I was not sure what would look good, so I made one really close and the other, farther away.

I then piped lines going the other way.

 

I then outlined the outside of the square cookie.

 

 

I then added a bead border around the heart.

 

I wanted to try and line border and then a bead border close together and farther apart.

 

The next cookie was a double heart.  I first piped the chocolate icing, let it dry a bit and then piped the white icing.

 

 

And here we are at the Last cookie!  I made single little hearts and outlined them in chocolate icing.  I then filled it with white icing and used the chocolate icing to pipe "Hi" while it was still wet.

 

Hope you like it!!

 





Conversation Heart Cookies

 

These are the cookies I made for my class.  Take your favorite rolled cookie recipe and cut out hearts.  I used mini heart fondant cutters since they are small.  Then outline with royal icing.  I used royal icing that was pretty thick, but it would still heal.

The reason I used a thicker icing was so I could outline and then immediately flood.  When you do that there is no difference between the outline and flooded parts.  It will be one whole piece.

 

After letting the icing dry overnight I then took some edible markers to write some phrases.  I got some Kopykake double sides marker from a local chocolate/cake supply store.

Yes, you may notice that the icing looks a little off.  It is not bad tasting or anything, it just does not look as nice as I would like.  I used Meaghan Mountford's royal icing recipe and she has a questions and answers about her icing and I think I may have put too much water in it.  So I will make another batch and see how it works!

 

CTR Cookies

 

 



So, I made CTR cookies for a Baptism. I wanted them to look like this one.  I wanted to try new cookie and royal icing recipes.  They are from The Decorated Cookie and soooo good!  So I do not have a CTR cookie cutter, so what I did was cut out a heart cutter and then used an over cutter to make the top.



 

I then dyed royal icing in grey and green.  The grey was thick consistency and the green was only a little runnier.  I outlined the cookie with the grey and then piped in the CTR letters.

I only had to wait a few minutes after finishing and the icing had crusted enough to add the green.  It looks shiny, but it does not dry that way.

They are all done after letting dry overnight.  And here is what you CTR cookies!

 

 

These were a lot of fun to make and I am so happy with how they turned out.

 

Here is another option, CTR Rice Krispy Treats!  The frosting is Buttercream.