Cookie love for a military family

There is only one box of cookies that I am mailing out this Christmas.

They are going to a special family that I have had on my heart and in my prayers since they lost their son on September 1 of this year. 

This hit me close to home.

 I can only imagine the devastation felt, and how difficult the holidays must seem to all of the parents, spouses, children, and friends who are trying to make their way through loss at this time of year.  

You can better believe that I am counting my blessings.

There are a lot of terrible things that happen here at home and around the world, and I sure wish this enchanted oven had a really big magic wand to make it all better.  In a small gesture of support, I made some cookies that I infused with lots of love and prayers.

I am trying to take Mother Teresa's advice:

"Not all of us can do great things.  But we can do small things with great love".  

Would you like to join me in a small act of love?

Imperial Sugar has partnered with Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance for our troops, for the families they leave behind, and for wounded warriors when they return home.  From now until 12/31/12 Imperial Sugar Company will donate $1 to Operation Homefront for every Imperial Sugar Facebook fan, twitter follower, and Pintrest follower.  

Click here to see how easy it is, and pass the information along however you can - tweet, post, blog, or shout from the rooftop!

I think I will be making Mother Teresa's words my mantra for the 2013, and I wish you all a beautiful holiday.

Lisa

A very happy army homecoming

It has been a long year since we said goodbye to our soldier.  

Saturday night at Dulles International Airport was the scene of a 

VERY, VERY HAPPY and emotional homecoming.

I got my Christmas present early this year!

All my love to the brave men and women who are deployed over Christmas, and to their families who are missing them.  

And all my love and PRAYERS to the parents whose children have been lost to war or the senseless violence of last Friday.   

I think we are all holding our kids extra tight this week.

Snow globe cookie party favors

Here is the thing about my ideas, they are either epic failures or great victories.  I don't have a lot of middle ground in my kitchen.  

This one was a victory my friends.

And here is the good news; 

it is inexpensive, fun to make, and you can even do it without any baking!

Let me start at the beginning.  

I baked large round gingerbread cookies and iced them in white.  Next, I baked myself some cute little wintry cookies and decorated them.  Using traditional royal icing (2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tbsp. warm water, and 1 1/2 tbsp. meringue powder beaten for 6 minutes with a whisk attachment on your stand mixer) as the "glue", I set my little cast of characters on top of the large round cookies.  I also used a star tip on the royal icing to make a little "snow".  

Cutey patooties aren't they?

To give the snow globe effect, I simply placed a 99 cent clear  votive holder over the top.  The only thing that is potentially tricky, is arranging your cookie characters so they fit inside the opening of the votive holder.  

Can't you just picture these on a holiday tablescape?

Are you ready for the non baked version?

Purchase the large cookies, the clear votives, and then

cruise through the grocery store and find seasonal cookies and crackers!  I gave mine a bit of icing embellishment, but you wouldn't have to.  I am in loooooooove with the little gold fish penguins!!!

A little black and white icing is all you need because the feet and bills are already orange!

I didn't do it here, but if I were making these for a party I would make a royal icing embellishment around the base of the votive holder so it couldn't slip around - especially if they were for children.  

A sweet nibble, a candle holder that can be used after the cookies are gone, inexpensive, and CAN be made with goodies from the grocery store.  

I love a good victory.
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Minnie Mouse cookies

When an old friend asked me if I would make Minnie Mouse cookies for her granddaughter's 2nd birthday, I was tickled 

PINK!

I think I may have mentioned before that I do not own one of those kopy kake thingamajigs, so when I have to do multiples of images that are so recognizable, I have to be very careful to not make it look like Minnie and her 17 sisters who slightly resemble her.  You know what I am saying?

So here are a few Minnie Mouses - or is it Minnie Mice?

Sheesh.

Happy birthday Emma!

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