So here I am in catch up mode - again. Going to make a bunch of stuff the next couple of weeks. So stay tuned....
On Sunday, I had a cooking bonanza. I attempted to make four desserts but technically got through 2.5...which was pretty good. I also made 36 meatballs and homemade sauce which usually takes most of the day.
So I made two things on Sunday. Black and White Cookies - which are a tribute to my dad for Father's Day. They were my and his FAVORITE cookies when I was growing up. Lincoln Park bakery on McLean Avenue had the best black and whites. It was right across the street from my dad's barber so we would stop there often. the bakery is now closed and someone else has moved in to try their hand at baking but since I do not live in Yonkers anymore, I haven't tried it.
I found the recipe for the black and whites online here: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/black-and-white-cookies-i/detail.aspx
It was a good recipe and I loved the lemon extract element to the cookie. The most difficult part was making the icing. Some cookies came out better than others. My tip: make sure the icing doesn't dry out by adding more water. Also, a pastry brush would have been key here. I didn't have one and used a knife instead and it was a bit gloppy.
But I will definitely make these again. I think the first batch was a little small..I got more generous with the batter as I went along and they were more of the size I remember.
Happy Father's Day Dad! You are the absolute best - Black and Whites are not the only food tradition you passed along but definitely one of the most delicious...
In other news, I usually make meatballs and sauce and keep it in the freezer for use on nights when I don't feel like cooking. I haven't had time to do it in a while. But I love it. Here's the mess before I roll it into huge meatballs...I use pine nuts in mine....makes all the difference!
My second event of Sunday was to make Rainbow Tie Dye Cupcakes, suggested by Kim Ryan who works with me.
She sent me the link for this blogger who had made them: http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2011/02/10/rainbow-tie-dye-cupcakes/
It's a great blog - and the cupcakes were adorable. It called for boxed cake but being that I have to make things from scratch, that didn't work....
I made Boston cupcakes which is a recipe that includes a bit of the spice mace - wasn't really my favorite outcome. And although I gave it the good fight on the food coloring separation - my cupcakes looked nothing like the ones in the blog. Sort of a color mess. Unfortunately the masses agreed. The black and whites went on day 1, the cupcakes were still hanging around...days later...
I think I am going to make these again because I truly believe they would be a hit for a birthday or for a kiddie party.....
I didn't even take a picture of the final product. there is one left on my desk so I might add it to the blog later.
Here is the different colored batter- think I was light on the food coloring too....
So not a total failure but i need a regular cupcake recipe and then I need to try again! Or you try it!
Happy baking everyone! Sorry for the delay....But I am catching up. I made cake balls too and will try to write the blog tonight. This Sunday I am shooting for blueberry pie and something else I haven't figured out yet....
