Fall Is Here! Bring on the Sugar Cookies!

Apart from the beautiful weekend we had here in Ottawa, Fall is definitely on its way.

This is a wonderful thing - Fall is my second favourite season! It tells me that winter is almost here (and with it, comes the Holiday Season, which is my absolute favourite).

So today, I'd like to share with you my tried, tested and true recipe for sugar cookies. They are truly fantastic, and easy to make. This is my extremely detailed post of how to make amazing sugar cookies every time.

Here are the cookies that I made - will focus on photography for next time

What you will need before you start:

Ingredients (check list below)
Large baking bowl x2
Large mixing spoon
Cling wrap
Large rolling pin
Your fave cookie cutters
Parchment paper
Large baking sheet x2
Cooling Rack

Food colouring gel (works much better than liquid)
Additional bowls for different icing colours
Icing piping bags
Icing tips (I use a small round tip - I think it's the Wilton round nozzle #2)

Icing coupler (if you plan to switch colours, this saves a lot of time)


SUGAR COOKIES
Makes over 80 three-bite cookies. I used half the recipe and it was plenty!

Cookies
1 1/2  cups Softened butter (leave out of fridge)
2 1/2  cups White granulated sugar (3 cups if desire sweeter cookies)
4 eggs
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
5 cups  All purpose flour
2 tsp Baking powder
1 tsp Salt

Icing
Repeat this recipe as needed to cover as many cookies as required. Can split the recipe before adding food colouring to make different colours.

1 cup icing sugar
Milk  (I use 1%)
Light corn syrup
Flavouring (colourless vanilla or almond extract)
Colouring (gel or paste is preferred)

Baking Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until smooth

2. Beat in eggs and vanilla. (I usually beat eggs with a fork in smaller bowl and add to mix)

3. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. I suggest you add the flour in increments of 1/2 cups. Otherwise, adding it all together, you end up stirring it for the first time, and flour gets EVERYWHERE.

4. Once it is all blended (should look quite granular) - transfer to a second large baking bowl that is lined with the cling wrap. This will make it easy to remove the dough once it is cool. Wrap the dough up with excess cling wrap.

5. Place in fridge. I have always left it overnight, but as long as it's hardened, 1-2 hours may suffice.

6. Once dough is hard, preheat over to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). I do not have a convection oven - usually temperature is 20 degrees less.

7. Clear large workspace to roll out dough. Spread down flour to keep surface from getting sticky. (Some people prefer to use granulated sugar, I find it changes the taste of the cookies).

8. Grab a few handfuls of dough. Start kneading it into the flour. - should become easier to work with, as it is quite crumbly when it comes directly from the fridge.

9. Roll out dough ONTO the parchment paper. This makes it much easier for making shapes. Make them as thick as you like, keeping in mind that thicker cookies will take a little longer to bake.

10. Press cookie cutters firmly into rolled out dough. Leave at least 1 inch between all edges of cookies - they will expand. Remove excess dough and put aside.

11. Place cookies on middle rack. Depending on your oven, cookies may cook very rapidly. Cook 5 1/2 - 6 1/2 minutes, depending on thickness. WATCH THEM. As soon as the edges start turning a golden colour, they are done.

12. Cool on rack. Proceed with next tray.

Icing Instructions:
Icing is all about getting the right consistency, which is difficult to describe in a blog.
Start with the base of icing sugar.

Add milk very slowly (1/2 tsp at a time). Add milk until sugar becomes wet-clumpy, do not add enough so that is it "wet" - if you add too much, add more icing sugar to get that clumpy appearance.

If you choose to add flavouring, add it in between milk addition. (usually 1/4 -1/2 tsp of vanilla or almond extract is plenty - flavour to your taste). If you are using food colouring that is liquid, also add it at this stage.

I make it "wet" by adding in the light corn syrup. This makes is velvety smooth, without it becoming runny. You are looking for a texture that will spread easily, without it being able to leak out from the nozzle of the icing tip.

Add food colouring gel/paste (tiny amount) once you have reached the desired consistency.

Set up your piping bags, and fill them.

Ensure the cookies are cool before starting to pipe. Pipe around edge of cookie, then fill in the centre. You can go back and add 3D details once the icing in dry.

Do not stack cookies until icing is absolutely dry. This can take a few hours.


Then the best, and most important part - Sit back, admire your work, (maybe take a photo for Instagram) then DEVOUR THEM!

Hope they turn out!

Cara xox

Side Interest - Outlander

Not at all related to crafts or projects, but as a HUGE fan of this book (my copy is completely worn out), I feel as though I should spread the word.

OUTLANDER is now a TV Series on Starz. 8 episodes have aired to date, with another 8 to come after the midseason break.

I was so scared when I heard that they were making a TV show. Having been in love with the characters since the first few pages, I was worried that they would be ruined for me.

But wow. Well done!

I won't write to spoil the plot, but if you haven't heard of this show - check out this extended in-depth trailer, with comments from the main actors and original author, Diana Gabaldon.

OUTLANDER Extended Trailer

Looking for a place to watch the episodes online? Here are the ones that I find most reliable, with many different viewing options.

Watch Series Website

Project Free TV

Enjoy!

Cara xox

To Prove My Crafty Skills... my Power Ranger Helmet!

My First Crafty Post!

I'm currently working on a new project, but I thought I would post a project I completed a few years ago, since Hallowe'en is right around the corner.

Are you into Hallowe'en? Have you ever wanted to be a Power Ranger? As a child of the 90's, this seemed like a really good idea... Spandex and a giant Helmet. It's probably a good thing I never actually wore this.

To make your very own Helmet:

1. Start by blowing up very large balloon.
2. Papier-mache that sucker. Wait a day or two to ensure it is completely dry.
3. Cut out shape for visor and chin. I used a scalpel, but an Exact-o knife would work just as well.        
            Please be careful - they are sharp.
            Do NOT make cuts while the mask is on your face... draw only. Cut later.
            Ask for help with this, so that the visor lines up with your actual line of sight.

4. Go to craft store, buy two full plastic face masks. I say two, because I ruined one on my first try, and had to go back.
           Expect to have a difficult time cutting the mask (have bandaids handy)
           Cut just above nose, and ensure lips are still intact.

5. Tape into place (make very secure) with masking tape.
           Have the subject try on the prototype often. Take pictures and laugh often.

Here we are so far. I have many skills, photography isn't one of them...

6. Decide which Power Ranger you'd like to be - I went for Red.

7. Find a picture of the helmet you're attempting to make. Here was mine:

8. The top needs to be built up. I used a combination of taped newspaper (sort of like how you build up papier mache), and white molding clay (can be purchased at Michael's Craft stores).
           Mold into the animal shape, according to your photo (mine was T. Rex)

9. For the visor, I used recycled plastic (a lid to a salad container, I believe.)
           Make sure it is a soft plastic that you can see through.
           I then used windshield tint to make it dark and mysterious (Bought at Canadian Tire.)

10. Decorate!
           I finished it off with red, white and silver acrylic paints. (Double or triple coat)
           I also used metallic silver stickers (cut in the shape of triangles) for the T Rex's teeth.

11. Not shown in the photo - I superglued 2 large black marbles for the eyes - they fit directly into the sockets.

And Voila! I personally think that this would be classified as a Pinterest Win!

So, as you can see, while the shape was not perfect, the basic idea was there.
While slightly more time consuming, it was a lot more fun than buying a helmet on eBay.

Have I inspired a Blast from the Past costume? Happy Costume Making!

That's it for today. Time to study.

Cara xox

Here we go...

First day, First post - I suppose an introduction is in order.

My name is Cara. 

I am a doctor who enjoys doing crafts... Is that enough?!?

Here is the whole truth. 

Although I was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, due to competition to get into medicine, I traveled abroad to complete my education. Ireland (Trinity College to be exact) was one of the best decisions of my life. Not only did I receive a great education, I met my husband there, and we were married two days before graduation.

Unfortunately, the job market isn't what we wish it was. Certain of only one thing (that we wanted to remain together for our first year of marriage), my husband and I played the game that is CaRMS, and entered into the match as a Couple. As luck would have it, we wound up back in Ottawa, my hometown. The only problem - my husband is practicing medicine, and I must take the year off. 

While at first this news was devastating (dreams = shattered!), eventually I came to see the silver lining. I am in a very unique position. A doctor with a year off!  I have been in University for 12 years (Undergrad, Masters and 5 years of medical school). It's probably about time I took a break.

So, while I am not studying for board exams, or preparing for this years CaRMS Match, I hope to write this blog. This is not a blog about health concerns, nor is it a blog to offer advice or counsel on the CaRMS match. This is also not a blog about fashion, as I have neither the wardrobe, nor the self-confidence to pull it off!

This is a blog to motivate myself, while sharing project ideas and design concepts that I LOVE. 

And that's it! 

Hopefully there will be more to come...

Cara xox

[If you've managed to read this far, I applaud you! Welcome!]