Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Sending our love

She liked Valentine's Day almost as much as Christmas. When lil bird was old enough to stand on a kitchen chair mom would have her over to make cookies for that special day. I know when she went off to college lil bird got a package of hearts from her beloved grandma.

So in honor of our mother/grandmother I made some sugar hearts. When I looked for the meringue powder to make Royal Icing I remembered I'd run out around the holidays. Yikes. I recalled a recipe in an old cooky cookbook and what did I have to lose. It turned out fine so on Wednesday I'm off to deliver these hearts to a special person. I did save some for the Gypsy Caravan* that is arriving tomorrow afternoon.

Here is the recipe. Using the meringue is much easier but this works in a pinch.

Royal Icing

2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla ( or other flavoring)
food coloring

Using a stand mixer, beat egg whites with cream of tartar until stiff. Gradually beat in 1 cup of sugar. Beat five minutes. Beat in secon cup of sugar; beat 10 minutes. During last few minutes of beating, add vanilla and food color for the desired color.

I made one mistake on this. I thinned some of the icing to flow on easier and it didn't dry as well. I have no idea how to thin this recipe. It turns out the unthinned iced cookies looked just as good.

*Editor's note: For those new to this blog. Sister doodles and her beloved are the Gypsy Caravan. They've sold everything, packed up their trailer, and are off on an extended adventure. You can read about them at her blog, Tombstone Tumbleweed.

8 comments:

barb said...

that story whenever I hear it is so sweet. I remember momma calling and asking husband how to pack cookies.

glad you are saving us a couple ;)

see ya soon!!!!!!!!!

Laura Rebecca said...

I LOVE the way you decorated these cookies -- terrific!

Anonymous said...

Wow. You guys write better with icing than I do with a pen.

Natasha said...

that icing sounds delicious - im thinking of using the recipe for some cupcakes i need to make for a college fundraiser...is it light tasting?

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Deborah Eley De Bono said...

Tash, royal icing dries to a hard shell so it wouldn't do for cupcakes. What would be good is something called a Seven Minute Frosting.

sylvie1950 said...

Gorgeous cookies. Happy Valentine's Day. I ran out of time to bake Valentine cookies this year. Luv your's.

Alesha Joy said...

they look really yum :)