Fancy Iced Cookies the Easy Way...

At Tuesdays Tea

I shared my cookies with you...

(click photos to enlarge)

Since So many of you

love sugar cookies as much as I do,

I thought I would share my

easy way to make fancy iced cookies....

I first saw this on Martha Stewart.

and it's so mess free

I do it at my dining room table,

leaving my tablecloth on

just using parchment paper as a work surface...

An important first step

is the cookies must be completely cooled.

I bake one day and decorate the next...

I am a complete klutz with an icing bag.

I dream of making lovely icing roses

but so far it's not going too well...

So this is the part I saw on Martha Stewart

you use these mini squeeze bottles by Wilton.

They sell them at all the craft stores

 in the cake decorating isle.

They make it clean and fun just like coloring :-)

I use Royal Icing

(the recipe is here)

I make it thinner than this so it flows easily from the bottle

and I mix it for 7 minutes in the kitchen-aid mixer

on a low speed.

A batch fills four bottles.

You dam the edges first,

I work in small batches

because you want the icing to set a bit before the next step...

If you want multi colored cookies,

just divide the areas with an icing line now

then your colors won't run together...

Then you flood them,

I drag the tip of the bottle in the icing

to help spread the icing and get air bubbles out.

You want to add your sugars and sprinkles

while the icing is wet so everything sticks.

If you are using sanding sugars

you can do that right away..

If you want to use heavier sprinkles

like pearls of dragees

let it set just a minute, so they don't sink too much...

Fancy, easy and fun :-)

Tonight I am joining...

Home Sweet Home

a brand new party

Sherry is Hosting at the Charm of Home!

Show and Tell Friday

Flaunt it Friday

Fabulous Friday Finds

Foodie Friday

Project Party Weekend

Pink Saturday

and

Saturday Nite Special

Be Sweet :-)

Lets Pretend....

It's a bright and shiny day here,

but it sure isn't warm....

(click photos to enlarge)

But we can pretend....

Turn up the furnace,

replace those fluffy socks with strappy sandals....

and bring color back to the table

 the fresh happy colors

 of spring..

The colors that cheer my soul...

I found this gorgeous Campanula at the garden center...

Can't you just imagine a meadow filled with these

softly swaying in a breeze

dappled in sunlight?

I camouflaged her plastic pot

 with a hanky dripping in frothy lace...

I set the table with my Martha Stewart botanical plates,

I love the soft green scalloped edges...

No hot meal here...

just a big bowl for a crisp fresh salad...

glasses to fill with icy drinks...

Tiny rosy plates

 to hold slices of crusty buttered bread...

leaving behind the heavy napkins of hearty meals....

 replacing them with

 delicate lacy hankies instead...

Yes, I am ready for spring

and sunshine!

I am joining

 Susan for Tablescape Thursday

and

Hakan for Saturday Showoff

Thanks for sharing a bit of sun with me today,

Snowdrop Tea and Thee...

It's been quite awhile since

I have shared tea with you...

(click photos to enlarge)

But today is a special day...

?

I set a little spread...

Using my Homer Laughlin "Georgian"  cups...

I brought out extras,

because I would love for you to grab a cup and join me...

I did a little baking...

pink and white sugar cookies

with French pearl dragees...

make a perfect nibble.

No matter how small,

they call it the centerpiece for a reason...

Nothing outshines flowers...

These sweet Snowdrops have sprung up in the garden

but won't open their heads

in the cold...

So I brought a little bundle into the warm house

where they were glad to bloom...

Did you ever look very close at a Snowdrop?

So close to see the tiny upside down green hearts

 on it's inner petals.

Perfect for the season of love...

I may live in the "Rose Cottage"

but Snowdrops are what has brought me full circle today...

Today is my bloggaversary!

One year ago today Cosmo and I made a small post,

(here is a link)

that included a bouquet of Snowdrops.

Welcoming everyone to stop by and say hi,

I wondered if anyone would...

You have all been there with open arms!

I never knew how much fun this would be!

Or how much love and support there is

 out the in the bloggisphere!

Everyday you make me smile :-)

Thanks for an amazing year!

I am sending a big warm hug to each of YOU!

................

I will be sharing my tea at

Sandi at The Rose Chintz Cottage

for Tea Time Tuesday

Lady Katerine

for Tea Time Tuesday

Martha

for Martha's Favorites

Terri at Artful Affirmations

for Tea Cup Tuesday

Wanda Lee

for Tea for Two

Paperbutterfly

for Teapots and Tea Things

and

Tabletop Tuesday with Marty

Thanks so much for sharing tea with me,