A Distant Blogger's Apology

Okay, so I've been neglecting my blog for the past month...and I'm terribly sorry. I haven't neglected baking but I have stopped photographing my work for a while. Simply because  I have had no time for such activity. But I'm here now, and hopefully you'll see more of me now that all the Christmas stuff is slowly ending.

Was your Christmas wonderful? Yes it was? Well that's just fantastic. How was mine you ask? Oh it was alright. Family, friends, food, Christmas lights, carols, and more food...you're right. It wasn't just alright, it was fabulous. Excellent. Magical even.

I think it would be safe to say that over 97% of the gifts my wonderful family and friends gave me were either cupcake or tea related. You guys know me so well! My family is just the best. THEEE best! No, don't try to tell me that yours is better....mine is the tops.

Well....I guess since I've bragged about my family, it's only fair to share some of the wonderfulness they blessed me with.

Hmm yes. This is exactly what you think it is. A cute little single cupcake stand. And what's that on it, you ask? Well THAT is a ginormous Hersey's Kiss.

Yes, these are Matryoshka Doll measuring spoons and cups. And yes, I did have to google how to spell that. But aren't they just the cutest things ever?

Life's short, eat cupcakes. Have another, they're small.

If you thought those dolls were adorable...these plates will probably blow you away! How sweet are they? I just love them. Sometimes I just sit and look at them because they're just so precious.

Alright, I saved the best for last. This is a cupcake. While, I guess it's a toque that looks like a cupcake. Yes, this too is adorable. Believe me now that my family is the best?

Okay so these are sugar cookie trees. I probably could've made an effort to upload these before Christmas....but I had better things to do. So here it is now!

Well well, that is all. So I hope you had the best Christmas ever! And I also hope you have a blessed new year! I probably won't be around until 2012...so see you next year!

Take care,
Sydney <3



Meet Milk's Favorite Cookie's Twin

Alright, this post is written in dedication to all you lazy bakers out there. Sometimes I may classify as one of those....so it's not a bad thing. But today's recipe is super easy! Like, easier than all the other recipes I've said are easy. Yes, folks, it's true. Meet a three ingredient cookie!

Now, I don't want you to get the wrong impression of me....but I do have to admit to buying cake mix the other day. *GASP* I'm an awful person, I know. But let me explain. It wasn't because I was too lazy to make cake batter from scratch..No, no. It was for cookies. Therefore, I'm still a good person. Cake mix for cookies is 100% acceptable.

Cake Mix Cookies:

• 1 box of cake mix (minus about 3 tablespoons)
• 2  eggs
• 1/3 cup oil

*Pre-heat oven to 350*
*Mix all (Yes, all three) ingredients together.
*Drop by spoonful on a cookie sheet, and bake for roughly 9 minutes
*Let cool on pan about 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Mhmm, yup that's all. Hellooo easiest recipe EVER!
But...we can't just stop at the cookies because what fun would that be? We must take it one step forward and transform a simple cookie into a home-made Oreo cookie!

Now, I won't claim to know what the creamy part of an Oreo actually is...but I found a recipe that is pretty close. Unlike the cookies, it does take a good 20 minutes, but it's so worth it!

Martha Stewart's Hi-Hat Cupcake Icing

• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 3 egg whites
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

*Beat the first four ingredients together in a heat-proof bowl for a few minutes, until fluffy...(until you begin to think "ITS SO FLUFFY I'M GONNA DIE!!")
*Place the bowl in a pot of simmering water (kinda like a double-boiler type set-up) and beat until stiff peaks form. This will take around 14 minutes or so...just be patient.
*Once frosting has reached 160*F on a candy thermometer, remove it from the pot of water and add both extracts.
*Continue to beat for an additional 2 minutes until the icing thickens

I just spread the icing with a spoon between two cookies, but I guess you could use a piping bag if you want to make a bigger mess :)

It's kind of obvious, but you can use whatever flavor of cake mix depending on what flavor of cookie you want. These ones are just vanilla, but I also did some chocolate ones. In my opinion, the vanilla were better..but that's just me.

Alright, you have no excuse to not try these since they are so super-duper easy. Go forth and B.A.KE!
Take care,
Sydney