I just ordered some bakers twine

I wish it was time to bake again-- the summer months are too hot to bake.  In Texas, with central air, it wouldn't have been a problem at all.  But up here in the land of window-units, if you make the mistake to turn your oven on, you are in for a big hot house for a day.  Bleck!  However, I am already thinking about my fall baking plans.  Remember the pumpkin whoppie pies from last year?  Those are definitely coming up and my latest fav-- French macaroons (raspberry and vanilla).  In the spirit, today I ordered some new bakers twine from the Twinery.  I ordered the sample pack of the loveliest colors. 

Valentines

EEMSL has some valentine ideas that I like. I would prefer to have found out from my subscription but whatevs. She always has her magazines in the store before I get mine delivered.

Heart Shape Pot Holders
I made some of these a few years ago with my mom. They were really cool. I like the idea of reinventing them for valentines. I also love the idea of giving breads for valentines. I am tired of sweets. Christmas wears out my interest in sugar for a long ass time. But a lovely savory bread (bacon, cheddar, apple) sounds divine! Although I admit, last year, I really wanted to make the cookies below. I have the stuff (stamps and all). Perhaps....Rosie and I are going to New York City for Valentine's Day this year so there may not be much time for baking, we shall see.

Happy New Year!

For New Year's Eve, we fired up the culinary torch for my first attempt at creme brulee. It wasn't bad. It will improve.

Everyone was scared of the flame thrower. I got the hang of it and felt quite empowered by it and after a while, I thought I could handle a professional blowtorch version at some point without singeing all the hair off my head.

Some Christmas gifts...

These are the cookies I made for Rosie's friends at work. There are homemade caramels (but not gingerbread), sugar cookies topped with Rhonda's almond frosting recipe, and a new one for me: honey-ginger bites. I didn't take photos of my other homemade treats, because I wasn't thinking. It happens.

I am still planning on making a few new things for my local pals. I will try to remember to take pictures of them.

We made a few non-food gifts this year, but really not much. More details after the holidays.

Unique packaging ideas

So I am annoyed at MS right now over a damn project she has in the December issue that requires a tool that doesn't exist. Like I want to DIY a knit wit? Whatever Martha. I did find an idea or two for packaging gifts that I like. Below are large cookies she stuffed into CD envelopes with a glassine window. Awesome, but now where to find the envelopes for cheap? WalMart?


























These seem easy enough if you are only giving people one cookie (for the naughties on your list)

Mini Pumpkin Pies

From Bakerella
Pumpkin Pies, originally uploaded by Bakerella.

Cake Balls

Recipe

Letter pressed recipe cards

Available on ETSY.

Cookies!

Totally doable with store bought cookies to make them a little extra special.

Cookie bags

How lovely are these? Directions from MS here.

Stamping cookies

"Add a surprising detail to iced sugar cookies using ordinary rubber stamps; the "ink" here is liquid food coloring. Choose one design or a few (you can also have stamps custom-made at an office-supply store). Make sure the royal icing is dry. Wet a piece of felt with food coloring; ink stamp on felt, blot on paper towel, then press gently on cookie. Dry one hour; seal treats in cellophane bags tied with twine." (Martha Stewart)

Pie Packages!

Here's the MS template for these pie boxes.

Jam

airstream

airstream (14),
originally uploaded by flourgirl2007.

Honestly, could this be any cuter?