Days 4-8 of 2011 -Cookie Making
I know you were all getting totally worried that I was going to post each and every day ~ but never fear, I’ve never been that consistent with anything.
Day 4 I made a test batch of cookies which I have started calling Heaven Triple Chocolate Cherry Chip. I stumbled across cherry flavored chips in the grocery last week and grabbed a bag. At the time I figured I find something or another to use them with ~ and this was absolutely the right way to go.
I used a blend of unsweetened, bittersweet and semisweet chocolates – along with the cherry chips. I also added cherry syrup to the mix to help enhance the cherry flavor. These were actually so good that I ended up giving them away so I wouldn’t eat any more. I really do try to be a good girl, although often I fall a little short (about 5’1-1/2″ to be exact. Don’t forget the 1/2 inch – it’s important.)
- Free to good home: Cookies.
Day 5 I took Friday off from cookie making. My foot was really bothering me and I figured giving it some extra time to rest would be a good thing. Besides, I took my kids to see Puss in Boots (I thought it was underwhelming. That’s my expert opinion.)
Day 6 I visited my local candy and bakery supply store to pick up some supplies where I may or may not have purchased some additional sprinkles and disco dust. Then I worked and worked and worked on cookie color maps for both Thanksgiving and Christmas cookies. I may or may not have drank Margaritas during this process. Margaritas with sprinkles on top.
I use these color maps to help portion out icing colors and pre-plan my roll out cookies. Cookie color maps are made by drawing (or tracing) a rough outline of the cookie cutter and sketching the design I want to use inside the cookie. Sometimes I’ll use more than one design on any given cookie cutter and I try to keep these all together on one sheet of paper. After I’ve sketched my design I make a note on the colors, then figure how much of each color I need. Which would probably be a lot easier to figure out – without the Margaritas and sprinkles.
Sometimes, after I finish the color plans I’ll figure out that I only need enough orange icing to make 6 turkey beaks. By doing this pre-planning I can avoid making a huge batch of orange icing only to waste 90%. At this point, often I’ll make the decision that the turkey beak will look fine in yellow or red – since I already am making those colors for other cookies. I mean, honestly, what color are turkey beaks anyhow?
Adding this step to my cookie making process has saved me oodles of time and I almost never have way too much icing or not enough.
Day 7 I made a big turkey dinner for my family, complete with the trimmings. No cookies were made on Sunday! I did, however, make the most amazing apple dill stuffing. I have a new go-to stuffing recipe.
Day 8 (today) I made and froze Oatmeal Butterscotch cookie dough. I love Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies. Not as much as say triple chocolate cherry chip cookies, but I really am very fond of these.
2010 Thanksgiving Cookies
Tomorrow I will actually be rolling and baking Thanksgiving cookies! I’m super excited to get to get started!
