Weddings, funerals, cookies and an emotional readjustment

Last week I traveled to South Carolina to spend time with my amazing family and attend an amazing wedding with them in North Carolina. While I was there I made a wedding cake for 100 people, had the opportunity to drive through a beautiful mountain range in the Nantahala National Forest, and ate a few too many of my Uncle David's pecan chocolate chip cookies.

Life has been showing up in extremes the past few weeks (a wedding, a death, a pregnancy, an illness, and lots of transition) and after the wedding last weekend my extended family traveled back to Ithaca with my mother and I to spend some unexpectedly extended time together. Friday afternoon when the last of my family left I was feeling sad and lonely.

I decided this morning to try my hand at some pecan chocolate chip cookies. Partly because baking relaxes me and partly because thinking about these cookies is a fond reminder of how much I enjoy my family and am grateful for them no matter what the circumstance. My cookies were good but not nearly as good as my Uncle David's. What can I say, I think I'm at a pecan disadvantage up here in NY, plus he's had a lot more practice.

Baking for art's sake

Some of my friend Phil's illustrations are on display at Homegrown this month. The illustrations are amazing and you should go look at them in person. There was an opening reception for the show at the end of last week and I baked cookies. A little sugar to accompany cheap wine and PBR seemed in order. Right? Right!

It's fun baking for events and people that I like. Phil and I met up a week or two before the show to talk about the work he was hanging and what kind of sweets he might want. He basically told me I could make whatever I wanted while also mentioning that he likes cut out cookies. I decided on apple shaped sugar cookies with salty sweet buttercream frosting (of the green variety).

I thought the apple would be funny because apples symbolize so many different things: youth; love; immortality (forbidden fruit); health (an apple a day...); cities; computers. So why not a cookie at an art opening. They were really fun to make, and sugar cookies in fun shapes are always fun to eat. So it was pretty much a win - win situation in the end.

I told Phil I made 100 cookies but I really made a 115. No telling where the 15 that didn't make it to the art show went.

VD: Welcome Back

So my Valentines Day posts trend on the late side, this year's being much more belated than last.

My excuse is that Chinese New Year fell on the same day as St. Valentine's this year, and the Tiger came in with such gusto that I've been having just a little trouble catching up.

The theme of this year's box was "say no to VD". In addition to the regularly scheduled whoopie pies, broken hearts and mini bundts were also featured.

xox

VD: A Belated Post

Valentines Day  just happened to follow friday the 13th this year. Why didn't Hallmark cash in on that one? I would much prefer to give friends "Happy Friday the 13th" cards than any other kind. Maybe I should make greeting cards instead of cakes and coffee. Good idea, n'est-ce pas? 

Since cookies seem to be the only appropriate way to celebrate VD, I marked the 14th by making a few sweets for the sweet ones in my life. Shiny pink hearts and whoopie pies (of course).

I used to make these whoopie pies at a cafe I baked for once upon a time in San Francisco. I owe, with love, all of the credit for the delicious perfection of these cookies to Ray, my former employer and chef and owner of the cafe. Without his push I'm not sure it ever would have occurred to me to make a whoopie pie. Now I can't imagine a Valentines Day with out them. They are SO good that I avoid making them with out someplace to send them.