Royal Icing & Sugar Cookies

A little over a week ago-I was presented with a challenge. To create sugar cookies with a meaningful symbol in memory of Peter Cannon. Peter Cannon was a cherished member in our community and also a friend of my family and many families that continue to miss him everyday. Peter's high school class graduation was this past Saturday. In memory of Peter on graduation day I was commissioned to create a memorable token. My brother B, brought to my attention that Peter used to strike this pose...the lighting/bolt pose. At first I had no idea how I was going to transfer that image onto a cookie. But somehow within the week I learned how to make royal icing and decorate to the best of my abilities. I hope that I was successful. Please check out the tutorial that I followed. Peter I hope you like it!

Tighter Crochet Pattern

This pattern is the tighter pattern. I chose not to do the edging that this pattern calls for. Instead I just did a dc all the way around 2X. Both are simple to do and I would recommend them. You can see the differences above. The patterns call for particular crochet hooks but I use a 5 for everything! Good luck!

Crocheting!

I really enjoy crocheting dish clothes and giving them to people. I recently just started experimenting with some awesome colored cotton yarn. If you look really hard this one has flecks of peach, green, and brown in it. Beautiful. Its funny. Once people realize how great doing dishes with dish clothes are they become very particular. For example-my mom likes the cloth to be tight with no holes and not to big. Others like holes because it dries quicker. Myself-the smaller the better otherwise its too much for me to hold in my hand. Enjoy the patterns! (This is one that has holes).

Pancakes!

My relationship with pancakes are a funny story. When I was growing up I dreaded the day that my mom decided to make pancakes--because that meant that my dad wasn't making crepes! Crepes hold a special place in my heart! Top 'em off with butter or just some yogurt, they're delicious and my dad always used to make them on the weekends. Maybe one year ago-things changed. It started with a box of bisquick-but I have graduated to the real recipe. Pancakes are amazing! Just as much as crepes. What was I thinking all those years! This summer I think I've almost more than made up for those years of lost pancakes. Enjoy!

I'm included two recipes-both are amazing! One is buttermilk one is not!
recipes from Meta Given's Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking

Basic Pancakes:

2 C flour
5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 TBLSP sugar
2 eggs
2 C milk
1/3 C melted butter

Beat eggs. Once smooth add milk. Stir in melted butter.
Add flour and stir until perfectly smooth.
In a separate bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
Add to milk mixture all at once.
Stir until smooth.
Cook on stove.
Top with butter and syrup!

Buttermilk Cakes:

1 C flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 egg
1 C buttermilk
1/4 C butter

Beat egg, stir in buttermilk.
In a separate bowl add flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
Add all at once to wet mixture.
Add melted butter.
Let it sit for 5 minutes.
Cook 'em up!