Showing posts with label supplies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label supplies. Show all posts
My moms cookie cutters
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Meringue Powder . . . Works for Me Wednesday
Using meringue powder is not the only way to make royal icing, but it's what I use to make mine.
When I first started decorating cookies, I used raw egg whites in my royal icing, but I started getting nervous. Not nervous for me, but for other people who might eat the cookies. About 9 years ago, I discovered meringue powder and I haven't looked back.
Does the brand of meringue powder matter? Yes. These are 2 of my favorites:
- Williams-Sonoma brand (made by CK)
- Ateco, available at bakery supply shops or Amazon
- AmeriColor
- CK
{That said, if you are experiencing a cookie decorating emergency, you have my blessing to use the other stuff.} ;)
Gail of One Tough Cookie uses powdered egg whites with fantastic results. She even has a vlog post about it if you want to learn more.
What do YOU use to make royal icing?
{Psst....here is the royal icing recipe I use if you're ready to make some of your own.}
White, yes, WHITE Food Coloring . . . Works for Me Wednesday
After last week's WFMW post, I realized that I needed to let you in on a little cookie decorating secret. A secret called....white food coloring.
White food coloring is one of those things I saw in the bakery supply store for years and thought, "Royal icing is white. Why would I ever need that?"
Then, it happened. My beautiful WHITE outlined cookies turned, well, off-white. The cookies I spent 5 hours decorating. The cookies I needed to mail to a friend THAT morning weren't white. *sob*
I have no idea why royal icing turns off-white sometimes and not others. All I know is, I'm not risking it any longer. I use it EVERY time I need white icing. Just use it like you would any other food color.
Another hint: I put in the amount of AmeriColor Bright White that I think is enough, and then I add a little more. Trust me, more is more here.
It's not only for royal icing and cookies, either. Cheryl used it on her Snowy cupcakes earlier this week....they are so cute!
Where to get it?
or 
{affiliate link}
Have YOU ever used WHITE food color?
Harriot Grace
On any given day I probably look at about 500 websites, and at least that many emails pumped with stock shots from photographers. Since I am so over stimulated by imagery - good and bad, it's always fun when something really catches my eye.
A few months ago I came across Harriot Grace, a small humble online retailer out of Canada. I was originally drawn to them for their cake flags, but I quickly fell in love with everything else they had on their site. Not only do they have beautiful items but they have a great story. As the website states, it is a father daughter business, only this father and daughter live almost 3,000 miles apart from each other. It all started when the father started sending packages of handmade wooden spoons to his daughter which she fell in love with so she asked her father if he would like to share them with the world, after much thought he agreed and the rest is online history! Each item is lovingly handcrafted and one of a kind. They often sell out but replenish every few months. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Happy shopping.
Mixin' some love
I have always been jealous of the fancy bakers (or even some non-bakers) who have one of these beautiful mixers. They really do make things so much easier, especially when multi-tasking comes into play. I was given a gorgeous Empire Red one which I LOVE! It is the Tilt-Head design with 10 speeds. It came with the flat beater for general mixing, a dough hook to knead dough, and a wire whip for whipped cream, meringues, and icings. There is also an awesome pouring shield which helps keep the flower in the bowl and not on me.
Surely most people have seen one of these are probably wouldn't get as excited about having one as I clearly am, but this is a big deal to me. Thank you :-)
Heavenly Cake Pans
My mother recently sent me two of these 8" William Sonoma cake pans and I am in love! I have always been partial to the 8" cake pans over the larger 9" because it makes for a cuter taller cake rather than a thin short cake. It is an easy trick to add drama to your home-baked cakes without adding any more difficulty.
These pans are great for even baking and are completely nonstick. They are made with a Goldtouch™ coating which is exclusive to William Sonoma, it really does make for a heavenly clean up and a heavenly piece of cake.
Bake it Pretty
In my search for all things cute I have come across cupcake wrappers. A fabulous new concept for decorating cupcakes. These wrappers are a simple new alternative to traditional baking cups. I am always a fan of taking something as small as a cupcake and giving it as a gift, by dressing it up in a fun way it makes it feel that much more special and impressive to your friends. (you don't have to tell them how easy it is)
*For decorative purposes only - do not bake.
Sized for standard 2" bottom cupcakes and muffins.
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