Pirate Cake

No pirate party is complete without a pirate hat cake.  This cake was so simple and so fun.  It is a must for any pirate party!

Here’s how I did it:

1. Bake 2 round cakes
2. Let the cakes cool
3. Ice the top of one cake
4. Place the second cake on top of the first
5. Cut about 1/4 of the circle off
6. Cut the smaller piece in half
7. Place cake up vertically
8. Ice and decorate

Please visit family fun for more detailed directions to this cake.  This cake is sure to please.  Let me know how yours comes out!  To check out a tea pot cake for your little princess please click here.

Becca

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61 Days Until Christmas

Christmas Cookie Baking Tips

As time gets closer I think that it is important to examine some tips to assure that your Christmas cookies will be the best that they can be.  My mother-in-law, Linda, is the cookie queen.  She has taught me most of what I know about baking cookies.  Some tips are from her and some are things that I have learned over time.  It is important to me that my cookies come out right for various reasons.  As I posted earlier I would like to use cookies as gifts for various people on my list.  I also love to watch the kids get all excited about a plate of cookies.  We also can not let Santa down.  He really likes his cookies and I want them to turn out just right. So here are the tips that I have.  If they are followed you should have nothing but perfect cookies this Christmas.

1. Test your oven.  A few days or weeks before you plan on baking it is important to test your oven to assure that your oven is holding the proper temperature.  This can be done by buying a thermometer in the grocery store for a few dollars.  This will help you to see if your oven is truly at the proper temperature.
2. Preheat your oven to the desired temperature.  This is a vital step.  I honestly used to ignore this one.  There is actually a reason that they say to preheat the oven.   Preheating assures that your cookies will cook evenly in the
   amount of time indicated on the recipe.
3. Measuring matters:  While baking it is important to remember not to eye your ingredients.  While this is an acceptable method while cooking it can be a tragic mistake while baking.  Make sure that you measure with measuring cups.
4. Use shiny aluminum cookie sheets.  This is important to remember.  Dark pans tend to hold heat longer and will burn your cookies.  A Linda hint is top buy new pans each Christmas.
5. Make sure that your pans are cooled after each batch.  Linda also says that it is important to rinse the tray and dry it well between each batch.
6. Do NOT grease your cookie sheets.  Unless the recipe says that you need a greased pan do NOT grease your pan.  This will burn the bottoms of your cookies.
7. Leave about 2 inches between each cookie.  If the cookies are large you may want to leave some more room.
8. Cookie Racks.  I bought these last year and have decided that they are a must have while baking cookies.  Without a wire cookie rack your cookies will be soggy nd who wants a soggy, wet cookie?  I know that I do not.

So there you have it.  Some simple and easy ways to assure that your cookies come out just right.  I will post some pictures closer to the time of our cookie baking days with the kids.  It should be a great time and the cookies should come out perfect.  If you have a tip I would love to hear it!

Becca

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