First Day!

On Tuesday, my firstborn started Kindergarten. What. A. Day. 

I'm not going to lie. I was an emotional mess for the entire weekend leading up to the "big day." I cried packing her first lunch. I cried helping her pick out her first day of school outfit. I cried when I tucked her into bed and kissed her goodnight. I was not even sure WHY I was crying so much- I know it's normal to be a little sad when your kids go off to school (even though I heard rumors that in years to come I will be cheering when I drop them off on the first day... is this true?) but this was a bit much...

As I was getting ready for work on Tuesday, I overheard the radio DJs mention a little poem they read each year on the first day of school. As the DJ began, her voice cracked a bit. As she read, I cried...a bit. :)  

(Here's a link if you'd like to read it for yourself! Have tissues ready!) http://www.scrapbook.com/poems/doc/9119/36.html 

Listening to this, it hit me. This is the start of something HUGE. From this day forward, she was no longer going to be a carefree little girl. Her world to this point, consisted of dolls, cookie baking, and playing with her little sisters. Slowly, but surely, other "things" would start to creep into her life- some good. Some not so good. Friends. Homework. Bullies. Deadlines. Smiles. Learning. Disappointment. Boyfriends. Heartbreak. 

This, I think, is the most difficult part of parenting. Having faith that you have done a "good enough" job to let go when it's time to let go. To walk away and trust that you have done your best to prepare your baby for what lies ahead. To send them out into a world where you KNOW they will get hurt, with the painful realization that you can't keep them safe and sheltered forever... but in the end, it's these experiences and journeys that will make them into the special, unique, amazing people they are meant to be. 

With that, I leave you with a picture of my girl... on her first day of Kindergarten. :)

Live simply. Love generously.

Care deeply. Speak kindly. 

C is for COOKIE

"C" is for cookie, that's good enough for me
"C" is for cookie, that's good enough for me
"C" is for cookie, that's good enough for me
Oh! Cookie, cookie, cookie starts with "C"!

And what could be even better than a cookie?  (No, BESIDES cheesecake...)  A cookie with your picture on it!  Or your friend's picture!  Or your family's picture!  Or your boss's picture!  Or a bride's picture or baby's picture for their shower!  Or, or, or...  You get the idea.  

Doodlekins has branched out to make CookieKins, which are literally "Your KIN, On a COOKIE"!  Oh my, what a fun gift or unforgettable addition to a party!  And lucky, lucky Doodlekins blogger that I am, I get to test out the CookieKins edible transfers in my own kitchen to tell all of you how easy (or difficult) it really is to use them.

So, hmmm, for whom should I create my CookieKins?  I know!  The hardworking staff at my school!  And who better to put on their CookieKins than our fearless leader (the principal), along with our beloved mascot (a dolphin).  Oops, I don't see those decorative options on the CookieKins order page...  No problem!  The folks at Doodlekins are geniuses at custom creating your own CookieKin!  So let's get started.  :)

Teacha Rita the Baker!
Actually, I was baking a "Bun in the Oven" for this Halloween costume a few years ago.
Today I am just baking cookies- nothing else!!!

NOTE: Before you start to make your cookies, pop your CookieKin transfer sheets onto a baking sheet into the freezer. You'll see why...

I decided to make sugar cookies for my CookieKins because I thought they'd look like a delicious, simple frame around the colorful picture.  But you can put the CookieKin transfers on any kind of cookie!  It just has to be the right sized circle and have white frosting on it. 

Are you wondering what sugar cookie recipe I used?  Well, never one to hold back a great recipe, here is how I make my sugar cookies...
    1. Go to the grocery store.

    2. Buy several rolls of sugar cookie dough.  (I splurged on a name brand here, with double box tops!  Oh yeah... nothing but the best for my friends- and my school.)

    3. Slice each roll of cookie dough into 16 equal circles.  You know- half, half, half, and half again...

    4.  Bake cookies according to directions, and enjoy!


CookieKin Transfers are 2.25" wide, so here is a BIG TIP FOR ALL CUT-OUT COOKIES:  If you are getting frustrated by misshapen cookies that come out of the oven, don't throw them all away (or eat them all to hide the evidence!)  Just grab a 3 inch cookie cutter (like a kids cup), and you can re-cut cookies again while they're still warm. Then they are perfectly shaped and sized for your CookieKins!

There you go.  My "secret family recipe" for sugar cookies!  Though I always make chocolate chip cookies from scratch, this is how I always make sugar cookies.  Don't laugh.  I know someone else out there does this too!  Gives me more time for the really fun part- the decorating!  (And the eating...)

Once those cookies are all cooled, you're ready to frost them.  CookieKins cookies turn out best when frosted with royal icing.  (*Or you could also make cupcakes for the CookieKin transfers, and frost those with buttercream frosting!*)  

So all righty, it's time to pull out my favorite royal icing recipe now...
    1.  Go to the craft store.

    2.  Buy a box of Wilton royal icing mix.  (1 box frosts about three dozen 3" cookies)   

    3.  Mix the powdered icing and tablespoons of water according to the directions.

Are you seeing a pattern here?  Mmm hmm...  I am all about the "Semi-Homemade" whenever possible!  Besides, using the box mix costs less than buying all that powered sugar AND meringue powder AND oil-free flavorings you would need to make royal icing from scratch.  And it was much easier.  :)

* Leave the icing white!  The CookieKin transfers are so colorful as it is, and the colors will not show up as vibrant and true if the icing is colored.  Colored cookies underneath the icing are fine!  But white icing is best here.

Once your cookies are completely cooled and your royal icing is mixed, spread the icing onto the cookies.  Don't be stingy!  Spread that icing thick and smooth, and go slightly beyond where the transfers will reach.  The CookieKin transfers won't be able to lay on the cookie by itself, or they'll just flake right off. Just frost a couple of cookies at a time, as the royal icing hardens pretty quickly.  Then put the edible transfers on as you go...

* Royal Icing can be tough to frost with!  Here is a helpful link which will help your frosted cookies look more polished and professional.  http://sweetopia.net/2011/12/video-how-to-pipe-lines-with-royal-icing/

So it's time to pull the CookieKin transfers out of your freezer!  They can just get peeled off with your fingers and placed onto the icing. (If you have trouble pulling the transfers off, just pop them back into the freezer for a minute to get hard again.  Slide your fingernail carefully along the edge, and then they'll begin to pull off.)  

You'll want to adjust the transfers immediately on the icing if they're not centered when you first touch them down onto the cookie.  Once in place, press them down lightly to make sure they're smooth and stuck.  Let the icing harden completely before moving the cookies to a tray.  Royal icing hardens quickly, so it won't take long!

And that's it!  Prepare for the compliments to roll in, and get your camera ready to take pictures of the "Cookie" with your "Kin"!  With so many choices, you'll be able to create the perfect CookieKin to match your person and theme.  

* If you will be bagging up your cookies or layering them on waxed paper, make sure to give them at least 24 hours drying time.  Otherwise the transfers will stick to the bags or waxed paper, and will pull right off.  Plan ahead, and you'll be quite happy with the results!


I have to say- the good folks at Doodlekins were so patient with adjusting my CookieKins picture to my individuality and requests.  I wanted to make sure that my school staff had CookieKins that incorporated both my school mascot and my principal, so I sent Doodlekins the pictures below.  I asked for a similar school font, and made sure to even point out the little earring in my principal's left ear.

Look at the font!  The matching shades and colors!  My principal's goatee, and his tiny customized EARRING, for crying out loud!  CookieKins and Doodlekins certainly rose to my challenge, and my school staff got a big kick out of eating these amazing cookies as a Welcome Back to School gift.  (And one coworker pointed out that this gave a whole new meaning to "biting someone's head off!")

Homebaked CookieKins Mission: Success.

They were easy to make and a big hit with everyone!
A+ from Teacha Rita

So now it's time for...

Who would YOU like to make your CookieKins for?

And would you use sugar cookie dough like I did, or a different kind of cookie?
 
(I just realized- a colored cookie would be stunning under the white icing and the CookieKin picture!  That will be my next batch...)

Your own personalized CookieKins are available straight from their shop as well.
Professionally decorated just for you- in case you want someone else to do all the cookie work this time!

Visit http://www.cookiekins.com/ to personalize your own edible transfers or pre-made CookieKins.
I had so much FUN designing and creating these cookies for my staff!  It was definitely the best "homework" this teacha ever received...  And so exciting to see the reactions!

Now that's a delicious treat you can eat!

Just Call Me - The Little Red Hen

CONTEST! Win a free book shipped to you free within the US if Teach Rita selects your fun answer to her question of the day, located in this blog post. For a chance to win your very own children's book, "The Little Red Hen", leave a comment by Saturday, 8/25/12 11:59pm Pacific time. No purchase necessary!

I think I know just how The Little Red Hen felt.

You know... The Little Red Hen who asked for help to pick the wheat, grind the flour, mix the dough, and bake the bread.  The Little Red Hen who received NO help until it was time to eat that delicious homemade bread!

That's me right now, only with CORN!

Yes, my family and I went to a local Sweet Corn Festival this weekend, and came back with a souvenir of- well, corn!  I couldn't resist taking a bag full of this amazingly delicious sweet corn back with us, and managed to squeeze 32 ears of corn into the paper bag I bought there.  ($8 for all the corn you could fit into the bag!)  But now, I have corn coming out my ears...

I knew the clock would be ticking, as it always does on fresh ingredients.  So after surveying my Facebook friends for their favorite freezer corn recipes, I turned to my two favorite helpers- my young children.  "Who will help me shuck this corn?" I asked.  After explaining to them what "shucking corn" actually was, and proceeding to demonstrate as well, my 5 year old informed me that he needed to go play with his "Star Wurst Legos" while my 2 year old stated "I go pway wif my kitchen!"  Thanks, children.

So I shucked and shucked and shucked all 32 ears of corn, filling up my entire trash can with husks and silk.  Then I asked those two sweet darlings, "Who will help me give this corn a nice bath?"  Apparently the Star Wurst Legos were in the middle of an epic battle, while an epic mess was happening in the kitchen.  (Thankfully, the FAKE kitchen with FAKE foods!)  OK, off I go again to "bathe" the corn in the sink by myself.

The next step was to remove the kernels of corn from the cob in order to blanche them and freeze them.  "Who will help me use this super-cool corn husking tool to take the kernels off the cob?" I asked my small helpers again.  I demonstrated how easy it was to use, and how the corn just came right off.  "Eww!  Messy!" exclaimed my 2 year old daughter.  "Um, no thanks, Mommy.  Can I watch Scooby Doo?" asked my 5 year old son.  Looks like it's up to me again!  Removing the kernels, times 32 ears of corn... awesome.

Once the corn kernels were sitting comfortably in a pot, I dared to ask those children "Who will help me to measure out the sugar, water, butter, and salt?  The corn needs some friends!"  You can guess their answers, I'm sure.

I measured and stirred, cooked that corn just perfectly, and then was ready to put it into baggies.  I paused, and thought I'd give those children one last chance to be the good helpers they usually are.  "Who will help use the special measuring cup to scoop-scoop the corn into the bags?"  This time, I was just met with silence.  I repeated my question, and the 5 year old gave a muffled shout from the living room- "No thanks!"  Since my 2 year old wants nothing more in life than to be just like him, she immediately shouted "No fanks!" as well.  The task went back to me.  (Turns out they were making a fort together now!  Well, at least they were getting along and were polite with their responses.  lol)

Now the corn is all bagged up, sitting prettily in the freezer, and is ready to be used as a delicious side dish for the months ahead.  I can't wait to enjoy this corn, as it smells wonderful!  (And the little tastes I took at the end were quite excellent!)

So now it's time for...

Can you guess what my two little "helpers" will say when I ask who will help eat the corn?

I can.  And I'll bet that Little Red Hen can guess their answers too.