Monday, October 31, 2011

My Favorite Things (GIVEAWAY)!

Fall is in full gear now! Coats and scarves and boot and warm drinks are everywhere!
I wanted to dedicate this post to some of the things in my life and especially in my kitchen than make me smile!
So I am sharing a few of my favorite things. Things that I love, things I can't live without and things that make cookie-ing so much easier!
And than I'll be giving away some of those things to YOU! Because dear reader, YOU make me smile too!

Thanks for taking time out of your day to read my ramblings and comment on my cookies!

I would venture to guess that all of us have a favorite cookie cutter or a set of cutters that get used more than any other? For me, it's my AMAZING set of graduated circle cutters. I found them on Amazon (which is an obsession of mine).














Many, many good things come from Amazon! I have a package waiting for me nearly everyday from them :) I told you, obsession! How can you beat FREE two-day shipping?!? 

I also found these cute little Ninja Bread Men on Amazon. I haven't found an occasion to make them yet, but I am so looking forward to it! I've had them for almost a year now!
Keep reading I'll tell you how to win these!

In addition to my Amazon obsession, I also need my daily dose of Sbux! I should buy stock! It's that bad. I mean good :) I am a Grande, non-fat, extra hot Chai. And October through December I alternate by adding a pump of pumpkin spice! So good! 
I always carry my Starbucks gift card and keep it loaded so I earn point for all my purchases. Did you know that if you register your card online you get a FREE drink after every 15 purchases?  
I have at least 3 Starbucks within walking distance to my office, so I go every Monday-Friday. It's ridiculous really. But it's delicious and it makes me smile :)
$10 on a Starbucks giftcard is also up for grabs. Keep reading :)

When it comes to making cookies, I have a few tools that I can't live without! I mean I could, but I wouldn't be making cookies very often! First of course, is my handy, dandy KitchenAid Mixer. I've had it since college. I LOVE IT! I use it almost everyday, but only for making cookies. 
Isn't she gorgeous?!? I don't really know if she is a she, but I imagine she must be to keep up with everything I expect of her ;)

I only use my KitchenAid for cookies. I've never made anything savory in here. People always said I should try my mashed potatoes etc. because it's so much easier and faster. But it just seemed wrong! 
So I bought this guy, here to handle the other stuff!
I'll tell you how to win this below!

The Kalorik stand mixer is smaller and a lot lighter, but it easily handles all my miscellaneous food prep! You can find it here on you guessed it, Amazon! It's also much cheaper! I am saving all my pennies (and Swagbucks) for a second KitchenAid to make cookie-ing a little quicker, so the $69 price tag was very nice!

Sugar cookies are pretty delicious fresh out of the oven! They're soft and warm and taste so yummy. But they wouldn't be nearly as pretty if we ate them just like that!
One of my favorite cookie tools is really a wonderful edible product :)

Americolor gel food colors! They're the best! When I first started out, I ordered the starter kit of Ateco food color gels. I've gone through several bottles of Americolor in different shades and upgraded my most used colors to the 4.5 oz sizes, but that box of Ateco colors are still in my drawer. I've used them only a few times with disappointing results. I save them thinking I'll use them for non-cookie dyeing (maybe this Easter). I like to buy mine from here, because they have a great selection (in all sizes) and they're in WA, so I consider them a local business and I prefer to support them. Plus the customer service is GREAT! They also carry meringue powder in bulk, for a great price! 
I have a few bottles of random colors in the .75 oz sizes that I'll throw into the giveaway too! 
If you use disco dust, you are probably wishing you had a few of these next items! These little Pixie Dust Shakers from Karens Cookies are amazing little tools! The store the disco dust for you, apply it  as needed and they are clear so you can always tell which color you are using! 
You can win 3 of these!

And finally, the wonderful little bottles that make cookie decorating a breeze! Cleaning them is still an enormous chore, and I am not volunteering to help you with that! They are small, so you don't have to make a ton of icing to use them. They are very stable and don't leak! And they come with tips, but I rarely use them. In fact of the 20 or more bottles that I have, I think I've only used the plastic tips twice and that is because I ran out of Wilton metal tips!  You can find these in several places. I usually order them from Karen's Cookies or from Copper Gifts depending on which one of them has something else that I need! 


I'll share more of my favorites later, but I need to wrap this up before it gets to long! So here is the giveaway: 1 set of Ninja Bread cookie cutters, $10 Starbucks gift card, 2-3 assorted Americolor


Giveaway closed!
You can enter three ways:
1. You must follow this blog and leave a comment on THIS post saying you want to be entered in the giveaway.
2. If you are a fan on Facebook, just share this giveaway and leave a second comment HERE on the blog.
3. Share this giveaway on by tweeting, "I just entered to win some of @flour_de_lis favorite things!" Than leave a 3rd comment here, telling me you tweeted.

Easy peasy right?!?

Now if you are still reading, you are wondering about that Kalorik mixer! So here is the deal with that, if I reach 1,000 fans on Facebook before Thanksgiving, I'll giveaway that mixer to one lucky FB fan. 

Random.org is always used to pick a winner here. This giveaway is open to everyone, but when I giveaway the mixer it'll be US resident's only. 
All the prizes here are gifts from me. This is not a sponsored post.
This giveaway will close at midnight on November 15th. A winner will be selected and notified on the 16th.

Please read everything before entering, I will only accept entries here on the blog that meet the requirements above. Good luck everyone and thank you all for your support!

XOXOXO

Samantha
Flour De Lis

Monday, October 24, 2011

Welcome Home Cookies

One of my best friends from high school married a beautiful girl, then he joined the Air Force. He didn't get to be there to celebrate his 1 year anniversary with his wife and he wasn't home to see the birth of his beautiful baby boy.

It's amazing the things we take for granted. So many men and women in our country know this story too well. They miss out on many important events that the rest of us can't imagine not being there for.



We're all really proud of what he's doing, and very happy that's home with his little family.

Congratulations on your sweet new addition Nick and Isabel! 


Welcome to the world little baby Landon and welcome home to the new dad :)

I love you guys! Thanks for letting me spend the day loving on your sweet little man. I adore him :)

SAP
Flour De Lis

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

Fall is my favorite season. The colors are gorgeous, the flavors are enticing, the weather is nice and fashions are comfortable and stylish.

What I love most about fall is that we try to take every recipe we know and love and for 3 months we try to  incorporate pumpkin into them, someway, somehow. Pumpkin scones, pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, pumpkin tarts, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin cookies, roast pumpkin, pumpkin butter, pumpkin cream cheese, pumpkin ravioli,.. Okay I'll stop before I get all Forest Gump on you!
I am totally guilty of this!

And of course we use our pumpkins for extracurricular activities too! pumpkin carving is just good old fashion fun! No matter how old you get :)

Earlier this week we hosted a pumpkin carving party with lots of finger foods, and of course cookies.
I made a big old platter of cookies for everyone to enjoy! Some decorated and some just dipped in chocolate. Simple, pretty and tasty!

I am going to share the recipe here in case you want to try these simple shortbread cookies for your next party! I guess there ARE a few fall recipes that don't need pumpkin on the list of ingredients ;)

Harvest Moon Vanilla Bean Shortbread
Adapted from Food.com

Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup, cold butter
1 tsp. vanilla bean paste (I always use this)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350˚
2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour and sugar.
3. With a fork or pastry cutter, cut in cold butter until mixture resembles medium to fine crumbs.
4. Add vanilla bean to mixture.
5. Knead the dough just until smooth and homogenous.
6. Roll out on a lightly floured surface.
7. Cut into desired shapes.
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until lightly golden on the bottom.
9. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool completely before dipping in chocolate (if desired)
10. Melt chocolate or candy melts in the microwave for about 30 seconds stirring as needed. Don't let it scorch! Nothing is worse than wasted chocolate ;)
11. Dip cookies halfway into melted chocolate and gently shake off excess.
12. Place cookies on wax paper and let chocolate set before enjoying.

***Shortbread isn't as easy to work with as sugar cookie dough, so chill it as you need to and don't lose your patience, the melt in your mouth texture is worth it ;) ****



Sorry I didn't take more pictures during the process! I didn't know how yummy they would be!

You can serve them right along side your prettiest decorated cookies for any seasonal party!
Enjoy!

SAP
Flour De Lis

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Halloween Cookies

Orange is such a popular color this time of the year! I should just keep a big batch of orange RI ready to go in the fridge!

Made these for a last minute order without any specific request. Just Halloween-y :)


A bunch of orange and white spiderwebs





Frankenstein :)
 A few haunted houses







SAP
Flour De Lis

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Fall Cookies

I have been pretty busy the last few weeks with fall cookie orders, nothing out out of the ordinary, so I'll just post a few pictures of each order here.

Simple candy corn cookies with sanding sugar trim.



Chocolate candy corn, because chocolate makes everything better :)



Candy corn and pumpkins, these have been my most requested cookies for the last month, no surprise I guess. Halloween is only a few weeks away!

Candy corn hearts!


Pretty little pumpkins!



Some primitive pumpkins. I used an apple cutter for these.





Lots more going out the door every day!


SAP
Flour De Lis

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

A Seattle Thank You!



This design has been requested quite a few times since I made the originals!


I am always happy to share the Seattle love!

Made little sailboats this round and squeezed the orca onto a smaller cookie.

Thanks again for the order, I hope they are a hit!

SAP
Flour De Lis

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

A Fall Giveaway!

I had a few giveaway's on Facebook last week and I've been neglecting my poor blog for a bit. So I guess it's time to do a giveaway here! I do believe that is the only logical way to start a Tuesday!

I have gathered up a few fall favorites just for you guys!

Here's what you'll win,
1 9-piece set of Wilton's Leaves and Acorns cutters,


1 set of Wilton's Halloween Mini's (couldn't find a picture, but they're cute :))

Wilton 1 ounce Orange and Black Food Coloring, 1 of each
 



GIVEAWAY CLOSED! Random.org selected the very lucky Carolyn Swanson! 

Each person can enter twice. Leave 1 comment for each entry. First tell me what you would do if you won. For a second entry, share the giveaway on Facebook or Twitter and leave a second comment telling me you did.
I'll use Random.org to find a winner on Thursday night. And I'll try to get everything off to the winner on Friday morning so you can get baking!
Once again, all the stuff here is from me. No sponsor was hurt in the posting of this giveaway!
Happy Fall everyone :)

SAP
Flour-De-Lis

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

These are off to Ohio, for a teacher who is taking her sweet little girl and a few friends to the pumpkin patch to celebrate her birthday.



And of course they'll need some candy to snack on while they are picking out the perfect pumpkin!



Thanks again for the order and I hope the girls have a great time!

SAP
Flour De Lis