5 years ago, when our Keekers was born, something changed in me. Our little girl turned her momma into an even bigger domestic creative person than she’d ever been in her life! Once this princess entered our lives, suddenly I had this urge to create – sewing, baking, household decor, art. It was the strangest thing ever!
I started off with cupcakes. I had always loved baking, but tackling cupcakes was simply a mix and a little icing on top (IF I even did that!). But once I got on a roll of researching recipes (and if you know me, I research things TO DEATH!) and testing them out (ouch, our grocery budget suffered for a bit there – actually, it still does :D heh), there was no turning back. And of course, I started out with the MOST difficult – red velvet cupcakes. It took me a couple years and 11 tries, but I finally found a recipe I liked!
Over the past few years I’ve tried a bajillion different cupcake recipes and have finally settled on a perfect vanilla cupcake and recipes for buttercream icing and swiss meringue frosting. I was part of a test team that found the Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake recipe, learned how to do the perfect swirl, made massive batches of cupcakes for a wedding, made a wedding cake topper, and delved into the world of gum paste and fondant. With the right tools, a little bit of practice, patience, and a few extra pounds, it is not as complicated as it may initially seem. I am a testament to this!
All my cupcake posts can be found here. You can also check out my Pinterest board for more cupcake recipes and icing inspiration!
Follow Serving From Home’s board Cupcakes and Icing on Pinterest.
From there I started sewing – my mom taught us the basics, but I hadn’t touched a sewing machine in probably 15 years! The internet is an amazing tool for learning. There are so many easy tutorials out there! I made a couple dresses, some nursing covers, blankets, aprons, skirts. Sewing is so much fun, and really not all that hard! So long as you have a sewing machine :0)
Last year, after feeling that I had quite exhausted my cupcake endeavors for a while, but still wanting a creative outlet in the form of sugar, I started getting into cookie decorating. A whole new world!!! Seriously, BIG time fun, and actually, like cupcakes, with practice, patience, and the right tools, it’s quite simple!
For Easter I worked on these embroidered sugar cookie flowers. Once you know how to outline and flood a cookie with royal icing, the decorating is the most fun part! Don’t be intimidated, it’s not as hard as it may sound!
The royal icing recipe I use is from Sweetopia. There are some great tips on her post, so make sure you check it out!
Royal Icing Recipe
(from Sweetopia)
Ingredients:
3/4 cup of warm water
5 Tablespoons meringue powder
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 kilogram (about 4 cups) powdered icing sugar
Directions:
In mixer bowl, pour in the warm water and the meringue powder. Mix with a whisk by hand until it is frothy and thickened (about 30 seconds)
Add cream of tartar and mix for 30 seconds.
Pour in all the icing sugar at once (poof!) and place the bowl on the mixer.
Using the paddle attachment on the LOWEST speed, mix slowly for a full 10 minutes. The icing will get thick and creamy.
Cover the bowl with a dampened tea-towel to prevent crusting and drying.
Colour with food colourings or thin the icing with small amounts of warm water to reach the desired consistency.
With the icing at it’s thickest (but not too solid) and using a #1 – #3 size piping tip, pipe an outline around the outside of your cookie. Let it dry for about 5-10 minutes.
Thin the icing to make it pourable (do this in a separate bowl so you still have piping icing leftover!). Flood the inside of your icing with either a spoon or pour spout measuring cup. Do this slowly so as not to overflow the dam.
Let this dry overnight, and next day you’re ready to decorate!
And now, for my first ever video tutorial debut! Ta da! Enjoy!
Embroidered Sugar Cookie Flower Tutorial
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