Making sugar cookies with children

I was in Iowa last week visiting family, and had the delightful experience of making and decorating sugar cookies with my great niece Starr.  

I thought I would share a few tips for baking with children.

The most important thing to remember is that the experience is FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OUTCOME.

Involve the child in selecting the colors to tint the icing and the shape of the cutters.  Let them feel completely involved with the creative process.  

Show the child how to twist the top of the bag so the icing won't ooze out.  You will thank me for this.

It is going to be a MESS to clean up.  

Just deal with it.  

Cookie decorating is for any age - my 88 year old mother and 9 year old niece both had a wonderful time!  And I won't ever forget this afternoon spent with two people I love, sharing a hobby that I love.  

A pink surprise

Quite a surprise arrived in the mail today from my 

GREEN BERET.

Totally not needed - I have an old white kitchenaid that is still in running order.  Something I would never purchase for myself 

OR

ask someone for.  

But,

I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE it.  

*SIGH*

The biggest give of all will be his safe return.  Please keep him in your prayers!

Watermelon and white wedding cookies

Here is how the story goes.

I was making cookies to send to my cousin's daughter's wedding reception back in the midwest. 

I really stress over mailing cookies when there is a deadline.  

Deadline as in - 

GET THEM THERE IN TIME FOR THE RECEPTION.

The only problem was,

my hands gave out.  Totally and completely.  l took the cookies that I had finished to the post office, mailed them off, and forgot to even get a quick photograph.  I figured that some is better than none, right?  So, what are the cookies in these photos?

After a day of rest it was round two.  

Different designs with the same color scheme of watermelon and white.  I managed to get pictures of these before another mad dash to the post office.  

Box number one has arrived and hopefully box number two will be in time as well.  

And then I will be able to sleep at night.  

Purple bandana cookies

PURPLE plus

bandana print

= 
Barney the purple dinosaur goes west?

I am waaaaaay behind in posting cookies.  I have been making them like crazy, but haven't had the time to post them.  
More coming soon!

Hello Kitty cookies

I almost can't believe that I hadn't made these before.

Isabelle was WILD about it when she was little.

Whenever we would go to the King of Prussia mall in Philly, the Hello Kitty store was stop number one.

Oh how I miss those Barbie, Hello Kitty, tea parties, little dresses and pink hair bow days!

Now it is Maroon 5, make up, and hanging with friends.

SIGH.