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BAKiNG | Mason Jar Lid Cookies

Monday, December 10

First...
this was NOT my own creative idea.
I happened upon it while reading comments on another site
in my search for the Dorie Greenspan cookie recipe I shared with you.

Second...
this was such a clever concept...
I couldn't wait to try it out...

BAKiNG iN MASON JAR LiDS

Yes...that's right.
Using the band of a mason jar lid...
You've got yourself an instant alternative for baking with ring molds.
Ring molds are what Dorie Greenspan uses to bake her infamous French Sablés Jammers...
the cookies/recipe I shared with you last week for the Bloggers + Bakers Holiday Cookie Exchange.


Here's how it works...
After you've got your mason jar bands lined up on your cookie sheet...
simply press a portion of the Jammer cookie dough into the center of a band
until the edges of the dough meet all sides of the band.

Place a spoonful of jam into the center of the dough.
Sprinkle streusel around the jam.




My brilliant idea:
Use a small cookie cutter to place around your jam as you spoon on the streusel.
This makes it super easy to avoid getting the streusel into your jam center.



Bake as directed.

Once the cookies are a golden brown...
Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes.

My brilliant tip/technique for removing cookies from cookie sheet:
Press down and twist on the mason jar band - just as you would to open/close a jar.
This not only loosens the cookie from the baking sheet...
but it also breaks the seal between the cookie and the mason jar band.

Lift band/cookie from the baking sheet.
From the bottom of the mason jar band...
use your fingers to GENTLY push up on the cookie...
completely releasing it from the band.


Allow to cool completely. 
Store in airtight container 2-3 days.

Pretty cool, right?
I know I was intrigued...
I hope you were too.

And as always...
if you try this out - I'd LOVE to hear about your results.
Just leave a comment
or if you'd like to share photos, send them to: pnpflowers AT live DOT com

KEEPiNG iT REAL
My weekend? A bit hectic.
Christmas Tree hunting on Saturday with the family.
Put up 2 Christmas Trees (lights only right now).
Put lights on our bushes. (that only took about 30 minutes).
J's company Holiday Party Saturday night.
Neighborhood Christmas Party/Cookie Exchange Sunday afternoon.
Christmas Concert Sunday night.

AND...
Both treats were a big hit with everyone.

FAMiLY | Phantom Pumpkin 2012

Wednesday, October 31

Happy Halloween everyone!!
My family should've done this a couple of weeks ago...
However, despite some complicated scheduling conflicts...
we were all finally able to be home together Monday night...
to carry out our annual tradition...

I wanted to share with you the cute treats we gave out this year...

Candy Filled Cups

Homemade Lollipops

Chocolate Covered Oreos® and Nutter Butter Cookies


I created decorative "cookie trays" by covering scraps of cardboard with cute scrapbooking paper.
I placed a couple of cookies on each tray, slid them into a cellophane bag and tied them with ribbon.





There was some trial and error creating the homemade lollipops.
Things started off great...

Then things quickly digressed...

 I persevered and ironed out the kinks...

And finally achieved success!!


Resources:
Orange Cups - $1 Section at Target
Lollipop Mold - Bake It Pretty 
Oreo Cookie Molds - Spinning Leaf 
Edible Sheets - Publix Bakery
Royal Icing Eyeballs - D&G Occasions (1/4" and 1/2" sizes)



KEEPiNG iT REAL
With Ema on crutches this year...
she was an absolute grouch wasn't too happy about not being able to participate in her usual capacity.
Nonetheless...
I played Halloween Music on our drive...
hoping to create the perfect Phantom Pumpkin setting.
(it was quickly boycotted). *frown*
Regardless, it was a fun night...
and most importantly...
we were together...
creating memories as a family...
my favorite past time. *wink*

FOUND | Spinning Leaf - Cookie Molds

Tuesday, September 25

I'm super excited to share with you some awesomeness today.
If you like getting creative in the kitchen...
then you are going to love Spinning Leaf...
a fabulous company specializing in the designing and manufacturing of Chocolate Molds and
Culinary Stencils.

I discovered Spinning Leaf about a month ago...
when searching for some fun ideas for crafting in the kitchen.
I fell in love with their assortment of cookie and chocolate molds.
I can't say enough how head-over-heels I am with the high level of quality put into producing these products.
They are awesome to work with.
Take a peek at what I created over the weekend...



RIDICULOUSLY CUTE CHOCOLATE-COVERED OREOS
(and mini chocolate covered peanut butter Ritz crackers)


Start with your choice of adorable Spinning Leaf cookie molds
 Spinning Leaf Sandwich Cookie Molds: Ghosts, Skulls and Spiders 


Let's start with
BEGINNER LEVEL • BASIC ROUND COOKIES
CHOCOLATE COVERED MINI RITZ PEANUT BUTTER CRACKERS
Melt your choice of chocolate and fill mold cavities approximately 1/3 full

TAP AND ADD
Tap the chocolate-filled mold on your work surface to remove air bubbles and to help the chocolate settle.
Add one mini ritz cracker to each cavity and press gently until the chocolate begins to peek over the top of the crackers.
Don't push too hard - you don't want the cracker visible from the top on the finished treat.

COVER AND TAP
Cover the ritz crackers with additional melted chocolate.
Tap lightly to remove air bubbles and for a smooth finish.

HARDEN AND RELEASE
Allow chocolate to harden in the mold.
Refrigerate hardened chocolates in the molds for a little under 10 minutes.
Turn the molds upside-down and press gently for the chocolates to pop out.



INTERMEDIATE LEVEL • GHOST-THEMED
CHOCOLATE COVERED OREOS
Start by filling the eye and mouth cavities of the cookie mold with black melted chocolate. 
Using a small paint brush for these chocolate details works perfectly. Tap molds on work surface to smooth chocolate.

SECOND LAYER OF CHOCOLATE
Once the eye and mouth cavities have cooled and hardened...
fill the cavities 1/3 full with COOLED melted white chocolate.
This will prevent the two chocolate colors from mixing/melting into one another

ADD OREO COOKIE AND TOP OFF
Tap the chocolate-filled mold on your work surface to remove air bubbles and to help the chocolate settle.
Add one Double Stuff Oreo Cookie to each cavity.
 Press gently until the chocolate begins to peek over the top of the cookies.
Don't push too hard - you don't want the cookies visible from the top on the finished treat.

COVER AND TAP
Cover the Oreo Cookies with additional melted chocolate.
Tap lightly to remove air bubbles and for a smooth finish.

HARDEN AND RELEASE
Allow chocolate to harden in the mold.
Refrigerate hardened chocolates in the molds for a little under 10 minutes.
Turn the molds upside-down and press gently for the chocolates to pop out.





ADVANCED LEVEL • SPIDER-THEMED
CHOCOLATE COVERED OREOS
Start by filling the spider details of the cavities of the cookie mold with black melted chocolate. 
Using an extra tiny paint brush for these chocolate details works perfectly. Tap molds on work surface to smooth chocolate. 






IMPERFECTION
Although only ONE spider turned out "perfect"
I actually like the aged/textured look of the "imperfect" spiders.
I think it makes them look even more creepy...

Fun...right?
Are you itching to get your hands on some of these incredibly fun cookie molds?

I absolutely LOVE that I stumbled upon Spinning Leaf...
they are a family-owned and operated small business...
with high quality products and service. 
You know I LOVE that!!

AND...
they are incredibly generous too...

Listen to this wonderful offer from Spinning Leaf...

From now until October 31st...
Spinning Leaf has decided to offer an incredible savings to all Pen N' Paperflowers readers/fans.
They are offering a 30% discount for anything on their site.
the biggest discount they offer. EVER. (and typically only twice a year). 

To take advantage of the huge savings...
Use this coupon code at checkout: pnpflowers30
Offer expires: October 31st.

If you thought that was generous enough...
Things only get better.
Spinning Leaf has decided to giveaway a total of EIGHTEEN molds
to THREE different winners here on Pen N' Paperflowers.
That means THREE of you will win...
SIX.
molds.
each.

Yes...I said 
6 molds for 3 different winners.
How awesome is that!?

Use the Rafflecopter app below to enter.
Contest starts today: Tuesday, September 25th
Contest ends: 12:01 a.m. - Friday, September 26th
Winners to be announced Friday, September 26th
Open to US Residents only...


CONTEST NOW CLOSED.
WINNERS ANNOUNCED BELOW!!
(Thank you for participating everyone - and thank you Spinning Leaf for sponsoring the giveaway!)


Be sure to check out and "Like" Spinning Leaf's Facebook Fan Page.
You'll also find step-by-step tutorials on the Spinning Leaf website...

Hoping you've been inspired to get creative in the kitchen...
Happy chocolate-cookie mold making, friends. *wink*

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I do NOT recommend the spider mold if you are a novice. 
It was SUPER hard and time-consuming.
It took me 15 minutes per spider cavity - just to paint the chocolate spider details.
It takes tremendous patience and focus.

But guess what's so awesome...
The folks at Spinning Leaf actually warned me of the "expertise level"...
prior to shipping the molds out. 
Just one more thing to love about the company...
their honesty.
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