It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

This weekend I made sugar cookies and Jer and I spent the boys afternoon nap time decorating them. We had a surprisingly good time and it really took us back to some of our cookie decorating days as kids. Even as much "work" as these little tasty gems can be, for just a few dollars, it afforded an afternoon of fun and reminiscing. I encourage you to try these at your house and see if the same happens for you! All you need is a basic sugar cookie dough and a glossy icing. If you don't have either, feel free to use these!

Sugar Cookies

Icing

Here is the fruit of our labor :)

One of my fav's

Jer's "gingerbread man." This is one technicolor cookie!

Surprise 30th Birthday!

Nothing says surprise quite like a three layer raspberry chocolate cake! This mack daddy is the birthday cake of a dear friend of mine who turned 30 today! Alternating layers of chocolate and raspberry preserves are covered in a homemade chocolate buttercream and chocolate ganache. Add some fresh raspberries and we've got ourselves a party!

Coconut Macaroons

F-I-N-A-L-L-Y! I dusted off my Kitchenaid and got to work Sunday night while Jer was watching the Sox play. Unfortunately, they didn't win. However, my macaroons were...eh....out of the ballpark! : )

INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
5 1/2 cups flaked coconut
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, coconut and salt. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla using your hands until well blended. Use an ice cream scoop to drop dough onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about golf ball size.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until coconut is toasted.

"K" is for Keely!

A cupcake tree for my long time friend's baby shower. Nothing like a jumbo cupcake and shortbread cookie to help welcome a sweet little baby girl!

Happy 70th Birthday Grandma Joycie!

The theme was "Spring Chickens."

Staci's Baby Shower

I made this cake for my sister-in-law's baby shower. Her little girl, Evelyn, was born just a few short weeks later. It's hard to believe that little Evie will be 2 this December. My how time does fly.

The Cake That Started It All

I made this cake for Brandon as a joke for Boss's Day. I needed to practice with my 3-D duke cake pan. Add a little ganache and candy corn...well, I've seen worse.