Happy Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving! 

(Really, I am in favor of any National Eating Holiday...)

No, seriously, it is just a good solid holiday filled with quality things: gratitude, family, history, patriotism, parades, food..., err uhm, I mean a bountiful harvest and so much more.

We have so many blessings for which to be thankful. 

Among many other things, this year, I am thankful for the Sweet Shoppe and the opportunities that it is providing for me and my girls to grow, to learn, to have fun together in the kitchen, and for the relationships that I am building with you, my friends and customers, and with other small business owners and cookie bakers. 

So, this Thanksgiving I am wishing you blessings too many to count!

Have a

Happy Thanksgiving...

And Gobble 'til you Wobble!

Pumpkin Pie Sugar Cookie

A special "Thank You" to Ali Bee's Bake Shop
for the tutorial on pie cookies on Sweet Sugarbelle's Blog.  Curious K. could not even wait for this Pumpkin Pie cookie to dry before she gobbled it down!  (I had to crop her hand reaching for the fork out of the photo!)

Sarah's Sweet Shoppe is now closed for Thanksgiving and will reopen on Monday, November 28, ready with my first batch of Christmas cookies and some pinkalious birthday cookies for a sweet 5 year old!

Nuts! Nuts! Nuts!

I love how busy little squirrels run around and prepare for winter.  I feel their excitement as I prepare for the holiday baking season.  I am stocking up on all my basic supplies (flour, sugar, powdered sugar, parchment), and searching for all those fun special touches too... SPRINKLES, luster dust, fancy candies, and of course, all of the best holiday cookie cutters!  Scurry, scurry, scurry. 

I have also been busy confirming my December cookie orders.  Last year, I baked 21 dozen cookies between Thanksgiving and Christmas for friends, family, class parties, etc.  Right now, I have a feeling I will make at least that many this year... I do only have room for a couple more orders though, so if you were thinking of ordering cookies for something special next month, now (well, actually, Monday morning) is the time to get that booked. ;^)

"Who Cooks for You?" 
Sarah would be happy to!

(Note: This was last week's post, but I was too sick to bake. Not tragically sick, just uncomfortable and  inconvenient sick. It made me kinda silly for complaining, since I know two families that have been battling REAL sickness, tragic sickness, for several YEARS, and made me really grateful for the overall good health of my family.  So, now that I have stopped coughing and sneezing, I am happy to say that I am back in the kitchen again... less grouchy and more grateful.)

Scurry, scurry, scurry.

Henry and the Happy Hippos...

Henry and his preschool class, The Happy Hippos, at Awesome Kid Preschool, are enjoying this box of "pumpkin" cookies at their Fall Party today! 

2 dozen medium pumpkins
(NUT FREE - Vanilla)

I love baking for school parties.  For the Happy Hippos, we needed to go NUT FREE, so I fine-tuned my vanilla frosting and substitued vanilla for almond extract in the cookies, too.  So if you are planning treats for a school party and need them to be baked NUT FREE, I would be happy to bake them this way for you (although I do still have nuts in my kitchen to be aware of for the SERIOUS allergy).

Also, I do make a point to include one special, extra, cookie with each order.  In this case, I have included enough so that each teacher can have a large "Big Momma" pumpkin to enjoy later!

Thank you for your order, Ingrid!  I hope that the pumpkins were a smashing hit and that everyone had an "Awesome" time at the party!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Awesome cookies Sarah!! Thanks ! All of the kids LOVED them! :-)"

- Ingrid

Fall Break...

Sarah's Sweet Shoppe is now closed for FALL BREAK. 
We will be open again on Tuesday, November 1 and will return all messages at that time.

Go Cardinals! 

How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?

Practice. Practice. Practice!

Today's cookie adventure was just that... practice.  For a couple of years now, I have been wanting to try a new icing recipe.  I had not tried it for a number of reasons... primarily because I am a firm believer in "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."  I really love my standard cookie recipe, why would I want to try anything different.  Nevertheless, this cookie company adventure, along with the dreams of my imagination, and the encouragement of my friends, has compelled me to set aside my reservations and dive in. 

So, with the help of a tutorial from one of my cookie heroes, Sweet Sugarbelle, I tried my hand at Royal Icing.  (What's Royal Icing? It is a smooth icing that flows and then hardens.  As much as I love my fluffy frosting, it doesn't allow you do to as much detail as Royal Icing does... Also, there are a few things, that just look so much better smooth...)

Tada!

 

Candy Corns!

(Shiny, not fluffy...
just like candy corns should be.)

 And LEGO Mini-Figure Heads! Thank you again, Sweet Sugarbelle, for your inspiration and tutorial, and to Kristin Woolridge for encouraging me to try!  (Kristin is planning a Lego birthday party and had seen this idea online and asked if I could do it.  I said, I didn't know, but I would try...)

This LEGO head is made with Royal Icing.

This one is made with my Fluffy Frosting.

And my first Royal Icing Flower... I would call it "Candy Corn Hibiscus."  ;^)

So, honestly, I clearly need some more practice... I need to do some more research... I need a better recipe (because this icing was pretty, but, frankly, not so yummy), but I see so many possibilities with it.  I will still probably always prefer my fluffy frosting, but it is always fun to try something new. 

And so, the moral of the story is... If you have an idea, or you want me to copy something you already have, like an invitation or a napkin, don't hesitate to ask.  I will tell you "Yes," if I know I can do it.  I will tell you "I'll try," if I am not sure, and then we can decide if we can create your cookie or if we need to develop something else wonderful.

Sweet cookie dreams!
Sarah

Fall Family Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

Gingerbread Pumpkins and Maple Leaves

We're headed to the pumpkin patch for our annual adventure (and family photo op)!  I hope you are enjoying this great fall day with someone you love (more than cookies)!

A House Divided?

Who will YOU be cheering for today?

Either way, don't you wish you had some yummy cookies
to help you show your pride your favorite team?

If you haven't already placed your order, I can't help you today,
but please think of Sarah's Sweet Shoppe when you plan your next tailgate or party!
Thanks!

Go Jayhawks! 
 err, um... I mean...
Go Wildcats!

An Apple for the Teacher -Happy End of the 1st Quarter

It was a perfect fall day to bake some APPLES!  We decided to make these Red Delicious and Granny Smith's as teacher thank you treats to celebrate the end of the 1st Quarter.

Reader R and
her Red Delicious Apples
for Mrs. Cox at HCA!

Curious K and
her curious orange and
lime green apples ;^)

My big girls each got a turn
to decorate their own apple cookies too!

Not only did we make these fun apples, but we also baked a delicious apple crisp with Elliot, the class elephant from Curious K's preschool classroom, along assistance from our own Horton.  So much fun!

(BTW- Those elephants really know their way around the kitchen.  I might have to bring them on as helpers during the Christmas rush! ;^)  Of course, they ate more than their share of the dessert too, so maybe that isn't such a great deal after all.)

Happy Fall Y'all

I LOVE Fall!  It is my favorite season.  Leaves, pumpkins, apples, Thanksgiving, and GINGERBREAD!  Baking gingerbread has a amazing delicious smell that is just warm and cozy.

Gingerbread with Vanilla Frosting

I can't wait to start baking some yummy gingerbread treats this fall.  I baked these gingerbread leaves with vanilla frosting last fall.  Now, I would probably do two-tone frosting or sprinkles to make them an extra fun.  I will post them when I am do make them, but it will have to wait because this week I am baking cowgirl hats and boots, and apples for teacher gifts!

I am so thankful for the beautiful fall weather and amazing leaves turning, which remind us of God's creativity, beauty, bountiful provision, and the promise of new life after death.

Happy Fall Y'all!

Sarah