Easy Penguin Cookies

To celebrate the completion of a unit on penguins, I volunteered to make some cookies for Ava's class. After I had already volunteered, I realized I didn't have a cutter!

 I thought about all the different cutters I had and how I could somehow transform one of them into a cookie that would somewhat resemble a penguin.  I guess it was a good thing i still hadn't put my Easter cutters away yet because when I saw the egg/oval cutter, the wheels started turning!

Next, I turned to Pinterest to see if anyone else had the same idea.  Lo and behold, they had!  Here's what I came up with:

I used this recipe for the cookies and even though I'm a Royal Icing kinda girl, I was running low on meringue powder, so gave glaze icing another try.  They were super simple and the kids loved them!

Jellybean Topiary

I have to admit it.  I really don't like when Easter comes in March, even if it is the very last day.  I just feel like everything was rushed and by the time I put away my cute St. Patrick's Day decorations, my even more adorable Easter decorations had so little time.  Oh well, there's always next year!

Anyway, I found some left over (extremely stale!)  jellybeans from last year and wanted to use them for some type of craft project.  One trip to the Dollar Tree and I was all set!  To make my topiary, I bought the following supplies :

package of Styrofoam balls

ceramic pots

ribbon

Styrofoam blocks

hot glue sticks

wooden dowels (Joann Fabric)

jelly beans (left overs)

Easter grass (more left overs)

In small sections, I covered the ball with hot glue and stuck on the jellybeans.  I made sure to leave a spot at the bottom to stick the dowel in.  Then, I put a block of foam in the pot and and stuck the stick in that.  I covered up the foam with Easter grass and finished it off with a bow.  Here it is!

I also made a few more apothecary jars,

Let's not forget my Easter Egg Wreath

I also found some time to make these adorable chick cake pops 

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Well, hello there!

I guess it's a good thing I'm not a professional blogger because I obviously wouldn't be any good at it!    Well, I finally decided to try a new recipe and had a little time to sit down at the computer to tell you all about it.  In honor of St. Patrick's Day and the bottles of Guinness I forgot were in the fridge, I bring 

you . . . . . .

CHOCOLATE GUINNESS COOKIES WITH BAILEYS GLAZE

cookies

2 sticks room temperature butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup Guinness

2 cups flour

1 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup chocolate chips

glaze

powdered sugar

Baileys Irish Cream Liquor

1. Mix butter and sugar until smooth
2. Add eggs until fluffy
3. Add Guinness
4. Add dry ingredients until well mixed
5. Fold in chocolate chips

*My personal preference is to chill the dough before baking but it isn't necessary.

     6.  Using a cookie scoop, scoop dough onto lined sheets

     7.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes

     8.  Let cookies cool on rack

     9.  Mix some powdered sugar with some Baileys until desired consistency and drizzle over cooled 

          cookies

These cookies are DELICIOUS!!  Crisp outside, soft and gooey in the middle, the perfect combination of chocolate with Guinness and the glaze definitely puts them over the top!

While we're celebrating, might I remind you of my Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes.

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!