Donating Cookies makes me Smile....

And makes my heart happy......

When I started this baking journey in 2011, I quickly found out that this is truly my passion...

I love the smell of the things I bake, I love the process of making things and the process of turning simple ingredients into not only beautiful creations but also tasty treats. 

As I baked for friends and family, I realized that making other people happy was such a great feeling. 

I briefly thought about having my own baking business, but soon realized, that my current job didn't allow the time to invest in making this a profitable business. So I continued baking for my friends, family and for the occasional donation. 

Through social media, I was able to find out about Organizations that offer novice bakers the opportunity to bake for Charity....

There was the answer....

I will bake for charity and make others happy too with my creations.

I have the honor to currently bake for: 

Operation Cookie Takeover: An organization that asks for cookies to be sent to troops oversees. 
http://operationcookietakeover.sammiebssweets.com/details.html 

Icing Smiles, Inc: An organization that provides cakes and cookies to families impacted by the critical illness of a child.
http://www.icingsmiles.org/

This Spring, I will also join forces with: 

Cookies for Kids Cancer: An organization that assists others in holding events in order to raise funds to assist in Pediatric Cancer research. 
http://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org/

I am thrilled to be organizing a Bake Sale in Our Town where all the funds raised will be donated to Pediatric Cancer Research. 

Below are the cookies I have donated, so far, to the first two organizations: 

This is the set I sent to a Marine stationed outside the US for Christmas (2014)

I sent this set to a family during the Summer of 2014

This is the set I sent a little girl having back surgery during the Fall of 2014

This is the set I sent two little girls in TX during the Winter of 2015

I hope they loved the cookies, as much as, I loved making them...

Looking forward to more projects and the upcoming Bake Sale!!!! 

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Giving Back and what I do on Facebook

Sometimes I have to admit the obvious... I am a social media addict. I don't necessarily use Facebook to gossip with other people or start a feud between old friends, BUT I do the following: 

- I stalk celebrity gossip news
- I stalk other cookie decorators and food bloggers

Okay... 

The first one is kind of a time killer and also brain cell killer and my guilty pleasure. 

My husband often wonders why I care so much about people I don't know and will never meet, but I have always had a weird fascination with celebrities and the lives they live. Don't get me wrong, I am not an attention seeker myself and would NEVER want to be famous, but I love to hear juicy gossip. LOL! 

It is so bad that I consider a subscription to 'US Weekly', given to me by my oldest daughter, one of the BEST gifts ever. 

The second is just a fascination with food. I LOVE all things food, if you couldn't tell by this baking blog. Although I have always been a dessert before dinner, in my mind, kinda girl, I fancy a great meal now. I have learned to appreciate food so much more now that I'm older. 

When looking at other Facebook pages I follow, I feel a sense of community and being able to gawk at the beautiful things others have made. 

So, it happens to be that on a particular day, I came across a post from 'The Baking Sheet'. She is a baker from my state that I follow and I always admire her cakes, especially how perfect her fondant skills are. On this post, she expressed gratitude on receiving a letter and a Thank You sticker from "Icing Smiles", a non-profit organization that provides cakes and decorated cookies to families affected by the critical illness of a child. 

I immediately looked up the site and read the requirements and within minutes, I had filled out the donation form without thinking twice about it. 

I was so excited. That was on March 30th and on April 14th, I received an email with a request for decorated cookies for a little boy and his family in Georgia. I accepted the assignment and began to brainstorm ideas. Since there was no request for design, I was told to make something generic. 

My representative, Tiffany, from the organization was wonderful. She answered all my questions and helped me choose an appropriate design.  We agreed that I could make summer-themed cookies and I could not be happier with the way they turned out. 

The family received a total of 20+ cookies in total. I hope they loved them as much as I loved making them. 

The gift of giving fills and warms the heart....



Have a Sweet Day! 

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It's been a long time....

Since January 3rd, my husband and I took a leap of faith and decided that we needed a change in scenery and change in lifestyle. 

We decided to leave the hustle and bustle of city living and embark on a 

House Hunting Adventure in the Rural areas of our home state. 

While looking for the house of our dreams, we also realized that we needed to enjoy the little everyday things in life. Life is too short and too stressful to worry all the time. Before you know it, the kids are grown and you've missed so much. 

We moved into our new home, in the country, on June 28th

and we haven't looked back....

I will catch you all up with all the great things I have baked before moving and since moving. It was so chaotic that I barely had time to take pictures and neglected my blog. And for that, I apologize. 

Although my passion is baking, my passion is also my family and making special memories with them. 

My friends, I've missed you all and am happy to be back.

Now... Let's get to baking and making more wonderful memories...

Here's to a Sweet Life.....

- J

  

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The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap

I had the HONOR of being part of 'The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2012'!!!!

I saw this idea on another fellow blogger's site and thought it'd be a great idea to be part of such a wonderful swap and challenge.  We each paid $4 to be apart of this wonderful event and the proceeds would go towards Cookies for Kids' Cancer. OXO was also involved and matched the amount that everyone paid.

I was surprised at how challenging I actually found the swap. Everyone entered had to try out a NEW cookie recipe and make 3 dozen cookies. We were given 3 random recipients and each one of these lovely people would receive 1 dozen of the cookies made. 

My husband, 'AKA Taste Tester', helped me find a cookie recipe that was new and sounded delish. I have to admit that I usually stick with recipes that I know and love and am somewhat fearful of trying something new. Especially when this new cookie recipe will be offered to others. We tried several recipes and tried to pick something that people would enjoy. 

We settled on the "Almost Black They're So Cocoa Cookies" recipe right from the 'Best Bake Sale Cookbook' that also benefits 'Cookies for Kids' Cancer'. 

The cookies turned out great and everyone in my home enjoyed them. 

Recipe:

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperaure
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 kosher salt
1 cup walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts, lightly toasted

- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper
- Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a paddle and beat until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla, one at a time, beating well between additions. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Place the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl and mix well. Gradually add to the butter mixture and beat until everything is well incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat again. 
- Place heaping teaspoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake until the edges begin to firm up, 12 to 14 minutes. 

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My cookies went to: 

1. Mercedes @ www.satisfymysweettooth.com in Minneapolis, MN

2. Rosie @ forkpenmouth.wordpress.com in Berkeley, CA

3. Amanda @ www.culinaryquirks.com in Rochester, NY

I hope they enjoyed them!!!!!   

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I also received 3 wonderful packages in the mail from fellow bloggers. 

The first package came from Hannah over at www.catsandcommas.wordpress.com

Her cookies were Cranberry Noels dipped in white chocolate. They were amazing. 

The second package from Liz and Janice over at mealmakeovermoms.com/kitchen.

Their cookies were a Monster Cookie with cranberries and chocolate chips and chocolate sunflower seed drops. They were also amazing. 

The third and final package came from Ali at www.cheaterbites.com

Her cookies were Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. They were also a big hit in my house. 

All these ladies made me feel like I stressed over nothing and that the main reason to do this was for the fun. "It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you play the game...." Well, play the game, we did!!! and it was SO much fun. 

Note to self for next year: Have more fun with the Process!!! 

So try my recipe and see how you like it. Also, check out these wonderful food bloggers. They have great ideas and such BIG HEARTS!!!!!!!

 

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Popcorn & More Popcorn Cookies and a Great New Book

I have the most fun when asked to make cookies for a special birthday. Especially when the birthday is for little ones. 

A co-worker of mine asked me to make a set of cookies for her son's 'Carnival'-Themed Birthday. I showed her some different designs and she said that the party was actually turning into a "Popcorn" Party. LOL!!!! 

I turned to my trusty set of Cookie Bloggers and found a great idea on http://bakeat350.blogspot.com/

I think I've mentioned before how GREAT Bridget is. Her blog is informative, yet she is funny and witty and so cookie smart. 

When she announced that she was releasing a book, I jumped onto Amazon and pre-ordered it. I read it from cover to cover within a few hours. It is such a great book, not only for the novice cookie maker (like me), but also for the more seasoned cookie maker.  

Anyway.... Her book would make a GREAT gift, for Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary or just a simple Thank you!!!!

Here are the popcorn cookies I made inspired by Bridget's popcorn cookie idea....

 
Happy Birthday to my friend L's son!!! I hope his party was a blast and that he liked his 'Popcorn' Carnival Cookies....

Oh, and don't forget to get Bridget's Book: 
She has written a great post about her wonderful, wonderful book:  http://bakeat350.blogspot.com/2012/10/decorating-cookies.html

Have a said how wonderful it is????

  

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Coconut Shortbread Cookies & A Great Cause

Being Puerto Rican means that you have certain foods and flavors that you just LOVE and cannot live without. That flavor for me is Coconut....

I love anything Coconut. I not only bake with it, I also do some cooking with coconut milk. 

I have such fond memories as a child eating store-boght coconut cookies that were shaped like rectangles. I could not get enough of these cookies as a child. As an adult, I have a difficult time finding them where I live, but when I do find a pack, I typically stash them away in a secret locale and savor a few cookies a day until the pack is empty. 

I was shopping in my local Bed Bath and Beyond, when I came across this cookbook called, "Best Bake Sale Cookbook". What caught my attention was that it was from a non-profit agency called Cookies for Kids' Cancer. I immediately grabbed the book because: (A) I can always use another cookbook and (B) the proceeds went to a great cause. 

When I arrived home, I began to thumb through the cookbook and found a recipe for 'Coconut Shortbread Cookies' and became so excited. I quickly rounded up my ingredients and began baking. 

I was so happy to see that the recipe turned out GREAT. They are so delicious with a hint of Coconut; nothing overpowering.... I enjoyed them so very much and am very excited to try other recipes from this great book. 

  

If you get a chance, I would recommend that you pick up a copy of the Cookbook for yourself. I may plan a bake sale for the near future, but you don't have to in order to feel as if you have made a contribution to a cause just by treating yourself to a new cookbook. 

Please check out the website: http://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org for more information about the organization. 

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One Year Blog Anniversary

Wow!!! One Year?!?!?!


On the Eve of my One Year Blog Anniversary, I thought it would be ideal to showcase what I've made this past year and thank those who have faithfully followed my progress as a Blogger and a Baker. 


If you've read my bio, you know that this all started because of my wonderful husband. He signed me up for a cake decorating class as a gift and the ideas just took off from there. It started with cake..... And then cookies..... And then cupcakes.... And then pie.... And then bread.... 


And that's where THIS all started: Everything you see on this blog. The happiness I feel when I finish a project and sadness I experience when I give my creations to others (sometimes I feel like I'm giving part of my heart away). It's silly, I know... I have overcome my fear of baking for others and I am so proud of each and every one of my creations. I am doing what I LOVE to do and am thrilled that I can share it with each and every one of you! 


I want to thank everyone who has supported me. My immediate family (as they are my guinea pigs), my extended family and my friends for giving me ideas and projects to do for their special occasions!!! I love each and everyone of you and am thrilled that I could be a part of your special times and celebrations.


I hope you all keep coming back for more, as I have more ideas to share... Another year is upon 'Just Add Milk' and I'm thrilled to say that I look forward to every clumped up frosting, dried out icing, and late night decorating that will come my way. 


Love, Jackie

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