Heart Shaped cookies for friends

I finally finished the baking project for the Ronald McDonald House Valentine Cookie Project.

I made 72 cookies! Half are the double hearts and the remaining are single hearts. I used a technique with the food color dye to marble the sugar cookies in pink and red.  This created the cookie into Edible Art!  Also embellished using a pink/red royal icing and edible decor: Brach's Valentine Candies and heart shaped candies.

Here are a few photo's that were taken of the cookies.

Sweets for your sweet

I volunteer for the Ronald McDonald House of Orlando doing various work.  What does the Ronald McDonald House provide for families?  They offer a place to call home while their child is seriously ill or injured and that are being treated at local hospitals.


The title of this blog is quite simple, Sweets for your sweet.  I baked 70 heart shaped sugar cookies and decorated them using pink royal icing and Valentine candies. These cookies are for the Ronald McDonald House Charities Valentine Cookie Project.  Each year we deliver homemade heart shaped cookies to our donors and sponsors in the community for Valentine's Day.


Sweets are simply sweets for anyone dear to your heart.  Whether it's for a family member, a loved one, spouse or your friend, everyone enjoys a sweet surprise.


If you're interested in baking heart shaped cookies, please click on the "heart shaped cookies" for the link to Martha Stewart's Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookie Cutouts recipe.


*pictures coming soon!


Happy baking,
Stepheny

February: the month of giving

February is the month of giving; such as offer your time to volunteer at various local charities, or offer a helping hand to one that is in need. It's more of giving yourself to help others with your Heart. Volunteering builds a heart stronger, creating a love or passion for helping others.

February is also Bake for Family Fun Month

One of my favorite recipes for Oatmeal Cookies is by Martha Stewart.  This is an easy, yet tasty recipe that the entire family can help make.

You can follow the recipe below or Click on the link: http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/classic-oatmeal-cookies

Classic Oatmeal Cookies

Makes about 3 dozen

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups mixed dried fruits and nuts, such as golden raisins, currants, coarsely chopped dried apricots, dried cherries, coarsely chopped pecans, or a combination of above

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with Silpats; set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs; mix on high speed to combine. Mix in vanilla; set aside.
3. Combine oats, flour, wheat germ, baking soda, and baking powder in a large bowl. Stir to combine. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, and beat on low speed to combine, 10 to 15 seconds. Remove bowl from mixer, and stir in dried fruits and nuts.
4. Using a large metal scoop, drop dough onto prepared sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake until golden and just set, about 18 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire rack to cool.

Happy Baking!

Sweets,

Stepheny