ADVENTURES OF THE COOKIE QUEEN

I have a friend in the media business, a good friend, and she works for O’Reilly Media, publishers of both MAKE and CRAFT magazines. Both are quarterly and about as innovative and cool as you can get. MAKE is for the growing number of DIY (do-it-yourself) techies - the kind of people who make a camera from chain saw parts in their garage. CRAFT is for the renegade crafter - the hipster who wants to crochet a robot or embroider their skateboard.

So it will come as no surprise that the fabulous Amy Sedaris is the cover star of the most recent issue of CRAFT which features an excerpt from her book, “I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence” on how to make the perfect party cake.

A little nugget:  The cover was shot in New York city by Todd Oldham.  With input from the CRAFT creative team, of course.

My friends at CRAFT have provided me with this nice link so that you can read the cake article.

On to liquor…in the very same issue of craft, there is a Bar Essentials article authored by expert cocktailer, Alex Mountjoy and features many of our favorite cocktail recipes.  Check it out - not only is it informative and entertaining but it has possibly started my career as a hand model.  It features our personal tiki bar and was shot down at the Dolce Mia warehouse using Alex and I as “models.”

Happy Chinese New Year coming up on January 26th. This year, it is the “year of the ox.” The typical Ox is a tolerant person with strong character. Not many people could equal the resolution and fearlessness the Ox exhibits when deciding to accomplish a task or an objective. Oxen know they will succeed through hard work and sustained effort and find no truth or benefit in concocting get-rich-quick schemes. This powerful sign is that of a great leader, one who has an ability to achieve great things.  Hmmm, right on the tail of the presidential inauguration…how apropos. Anyway, every year, my friend Shawn has a great Chinese New Year party and today, I am featuring my Chinese New Year cookies from last year – year of the pig.

They are basic sugar cookies tinted pink sprinkled with pink sugar crystals (before baking).   After the cookies cooled, I brushed on a metallic edible dusting powder, in pink, of course. I use these powders all the time and they are available in lots of colors, even ox! You can order them online from Candyland Crafts. In case you do not have an ox cookie cutter and can’t find a cow, which would suffice, go to coppergifts.com and you will find one there (and much more).

Basic Sugar Cookie recipe:

1 1/2 C. butter
1 1/2 C. Sugar
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
3 1/2 C. flour
2 t. cream of tarter
1 t. baking soda

Preheat oven to 350.  Cream butter and sugar well with an electric mixer.  Add eggs and vanilla.  In a separate bowl mix flour, cream of tarter and soda.  With mixer on low, slowly add the dry mixture to the butter mixture until well blended.  Roll out to 1/4″ and cut into shapes.  Bake for 6 - 7 minutes.