Two weeks ago my best friend and her relations threw a bridal shower for her son's fiance. Her son is also my godson, so of course this godmother volunteered to bake. The shower was a lovely Italian luncheon, followed by a sweet table with goodies prepared by the nearest and dearest. The night before the shower I made mini Red Velvet cupcakes and they were one of the best batches I've made yet.
I decided I'd wait until the next morning to make sugar cookie umbrellas, decorated with flower sprinkles. I had just made the cookies the previous weekend for Easter and they were no problem - I think the ducks, bunnies and eggs looked very cute.
It's a false assumption to think that a "simple" sugar cookie is easy - it's not. They're actually one of the most finicky things to bake - the butter has to be soft enough before you use it, then it has to be chilled again before rolling out/cutting and chilled a THIRD time before they're baked. Of the two batches of dough that I made, one half of the first batch wouldn't hold together at all, when I attempted to roll it out. The green bin bag got very heavy...
They also need to be watched very carefully during baking, to prevent them from browning to much. I bake mine for 12 minutes, turning the trays and switching high/low racks in the oven after 6 minutes for successful cookies. They're actually quite labour intensive little buggers...which leads me to what happened that morning...these sad umbrellas...
They don't look nearly as bad in this photo as they did in reality. To add insult to injury, those bloody sprinkles had to be placed individually to stick to the dough...sigh! Those umbrellas that weren't too toasty actually made it to the luncheon. Here's a photo of the sweet table and everyone enjoyed all the the lovely treats.
Red velvet cupcakes...you had me at red velvet cupcakes!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThe umbrellas are so cute (as were your Easter cookies) but I know how you feel....they weren't what you wanted them to be (but I'm guessing they tasted amazing). I think it's a Murphy's Law thing...when you want something to be "just so" for a very special reason...that's when it won't be.
I can't help but think that Martha fills her share of green bin bags!!! :)
Sherry, if you like red velvet, I have Ina's recipe in an older post below. And yes, I'm sure Martha has made lots of composter contributions! ;)
ReplyDeleteHee...I wasn't there, I really wasn't! But to see that fruit wheel beside your lovely things, you'd think I was. I'm glad to see there are people like me still in the world.
ReplyDeleteI bet your goodies were wonderful, as always!