Umbrellas and Teddy Bears

I am excited to let you know that my really good friend, Lisa Duffy, will be popping in from time to time to share with us her cooking and baking treats. I have never been to her house when the meal hasn’t been flawless.  She also remembers every guest’s likes and dislikes – so everyone is happily satiated with their favorite dishes.  I am sure by now you can imagine that she only makes chocolate desserts when we are invited!  I will let Lisa take it from here:

I made two types of cookies as party favors for the baby shower I threw for my sister-in-law.  I made Umbrella Sugar Cookies  and I used the recipe for the Chocolate Cookie Cutouts to make the teddy bears.  Both recipes I found in Martha Stewart Cookies. I used the recipe for royal icing from Cookie Craft: From Baking to Luster Dust – Designs and Techniques for Creative Cookie Occasions by Valerie Peterson and Janice Fryer.   It has great instructions for making icing for both piping and flooding.  As far as taste, these are not my favorite cookies to eat – they look better than they taste.  I personally like a cookie you can really sink your teeth into with a little more texture and treats like chips or fruit.  That said, the umbrella cookies were much better than the chocolate.  They have a nice texture with a bit of lemon flavor.  I will say, however, if you are going for aesthetics both recipes work and come out beautifully.

Along with the brunch I prepared, I served the Blueberry Crumble Bars from Smitten Kitchen — which were truly delicious.

I also made the Sour Cream Coffee Cake from Barefoot Contessa Parties!. This was a huge hit and the group made a big dent in it — followed by much subsequent nibbling.

Thank you Lisa,  I am so impressed with your cookies!  Not to mention you made a full brunch and two more baked items!  I am not sure what flooding is – maybe next time you can explain more about that technique? xx Ridgely