Easter Sugar Cookies

What You Need
Yields 3 dozen cookies

Ethel's Sugar Cookies 
2 1/2 cups Flour
1 cup Sugar
3/4 cup Margarine
2 eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Baking Powder

Royal Icing
4 cups Powdered Sugar
3 tbsp Meringue Powder
6-8 tbsp water


What To Do

Step 1: For the cookies: mix sugar, egg and margarine together until well blended. Add vanilla and baking powder. Add flour in at 1/2 cup increments until all the flour has been added. Store in the fridge for at least an hour (I prefer overnight).

Step 4: Preheat over to 400°. Roll out dough on to well floured surface (I use a pasty or baking mat). Use the cookie cutters of your choice and place cut cookies onto a nonstick cookie sheet. Give at least an inch between each cookie.

Step 5: Bake for 6-8 mins. Let cool on a cooling rack before icing.

Step 6: To make the icing: mix meringue powder and powdered sugar on low until mixed well. Add water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. You don't want it to be too watery or too thick. The frosting starts to dry/harden fairly quickly. You can add more water later to thin it out.

Step 7: Frost your cookies. You can use a knife to frost large areas. For designs and detail use a frosting/pastry bag and piping tip. When complete Enjoy!

Breaking Bad Finale Party

Breaking Bad was such a great show we had to let it go out with a bang! So we threw a Breaking Bad Series Finale party. It included roof pizza, Los Pollos Hermanos, blue margaritas, blue sprinkle cupcakes, Breaking Bad cookies (courtesy of a friend), Schraderbrau and of course some crystal blue persuasion. Although the finale is over, I am sure there will be a lot of people dressing up as their favorite Breaking Bad character this Halloween. What would go better with your costume then some homemade blue "meth". So here is how I made the delicious homemade Heisenberg Sky Blue (candy of course)!

What You Need
3/4 cup Light Corn Syrup
1/2 cup Water
2 cups Granulated Sugar
10-15 drops of LorAnns Flavoring (I used cotton candy)
Wilton Sky Blue Coloring
Cooking Spray
Baking Sheet (with an edge)
Aluminum Foil
Mallet or Meat Tenderizer
Candy Thermometer
Stainless Steal Pot


What To Do

Step 1: Line the baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spray with cooking spray to prevent the candy from sticking.

Step 2: Add the the corn syrup, water and sugar to the pot. Cook on medium heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves and the liquid becomes clear.
*It is easy to get it boiling before you see this happen. Once it starts boiling it should be clear but check before going on to Step 3. Use a spoon to bring up a little bit of the liquid to check for clarity.

Step 3: Insert your candy thermometer into the pot and turn up the heat. DO NOT STIR. You want to get the candy to 285°. Keep an eye on the pot. It will take a bit to get going but once it does it will hit 285° fast. Once you get it to 285° turn off the stove and remove the pot from the heat immediately.

Step 4: Once there are no more bubbles forming in the pot add the flavoring. LorAnns is 3-4 times stronger then normal flavoring so you don't need a lot. Add 10-15 drops (depending on how strong you want the flavor to be).

Step 5: Dip a toothpick into your coloring. Place the toothpick in the pot and stir it around a few times. Remove the tooth pick and stir with a spoon. Make sure to fully incorporate the color or there will be streaks of color in your candy.
*Work quickly at the point, the candy starts hardening fairly quickly once it's off the heat.

Step 6: Pour the liquid candy mixture on the baking sheet. Rotate the baking sheet to even out the liquid. Let sit for 30+ mins so the candy can fully harden.

Step 7: Break Bad! Smash the candy with the mallet. Once you have reached your desired piece size, place into small baggies and Enjoy!

Strawberry Sorbet

I was at a farmers market last weekend and got a free bag of canning berries. I don't can but I do make sorbet :). The berries were bruised and a little smashed. They turned out to be perfect for sorbet.

What You Need

6 cups Fresh Strawberries
1 1/4 cup Simple Syrup
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
1 shot of Vodka (optional)

Simple Syrup
1 cup Water
1 cup Sugar

What To Do

Step 1: Boil the water and sugar together on Medium to Medium/High. Stir frequently. Once the sugar has completely dissolved, remove from heat. Pour the simple syrup into an ice bath. Stir occasionally until it has cooled or the ice has completely melted. Then place in the fridge until completely cooled (at least 1 hour). 

Step 2: Place strawberries in a food processor. Once completely pureed, add the lemon juice, 1 1/4 cup simple syrup and the vodka (optional). The vodka helps smooth out the sorbet and helps prevent ice crystals from forming. I find using it makes a big difference in the final consistency. Place the mixture into the fridge until completely chilled (if your strawberries were stored in the fridge go straight to Step 3).

Step 3: Place the mixture in an ice cream maker. If you do not have an ice cream maker you can place the mixture straight into the freezer. Once you have reached your desired consistence you are ready to Enjoy!