First Communion Cookies ... Dove Royal Icing

One of my cookie clients passed my name to two friends at that Catholic school their kids attend. They had their First Communion and asked for cookies to be made for the celebration. I was so blessed to be part of this special day.

If you're in need or cookies for a party or just to eat, shoot me a msg at SweetPea Cookie Therapy. Thank you! I can now say I've mailed to TN, MA, CA, WI and Alaska!

What you Need:
Dove Cookie Cutter
Royal Icing - uncolored white (see recipe below)
Blue Edible Pen
Pipping Bag (w/ white royal icing)
I first outlined the dove and let that dry to create a barrier. I then filled in with white to fill in the dove. When those dried I started on the last details. I used a edible pen and drew on a design of the dove.

Both Cookies Made:

Click HERE to see who I link with.

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups butter, softened 2 cups white sugar 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2.	Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3.	Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Julie Usher, she has a GREAT YouTube video on how to make, color and make consistency adjustments. 

Royal Icing what you need:

2 lbs Powdered Sugar

1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar

5 Large Egg Whites (or equivalent) 

Flavor to Taste

Gel Icing Color

Mix powder sugar and cream of tartar in your mixer, just to make sure it is incorporated in. Slowly add egg whites, then whip start of slow then go to very high speed. She says around 2 minutes, my friend had an older mixer so it took almost 10 minutes. You want stiff peaks that hold on and won't fall off the spoon. Add in your flavor, I would suggest you use a clear flavoring.  This would be the glue texture great for ginger bread houses etc.

Take 1 cup of royal icing in a smaller bowl then add your coloring, lightly mix so you don't get air into the the icing. I'm like her and like the gel coloring. 

For Top Coating - Add 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 tsp Water (This is if you don't want to outline and flood)

For Outlining - Add 1/2 to 3/4 tsp Water

For Flooding  - Add 2 to 3 tsp Water

WATCH her video on How to Top-Coat, Outline, and Flood Cookies. YES it is around 7 minutes BUT if you have never done this technique it's a MUST she explains it perfectly.

Dove Repaired Hair Review

Do you wake up with bed head that just doesn't go away? My poor hair it's colored and teased and some days I think it rather just fall out and run away itself? Not only am I stressed but so is my hair, I have very thin hair and better take better care of it I can't afford to loose any it!

I've had the opportunity to try Dove Damage Therapy Intense Repair. I tried it for a full week and could tell the difference in the feel and look of my hair. I didn't have to try to "smooth" my hair to go out the door. After the shower my hair was lighter feeling and just easy blow dry out and bam I'm ready to go!

Dove Damage Conditioner with Patented MICRO MOISTURE Serum and Fiber Actives prevent split ends and breakage. No only does it help the outside of your hair but helps to rebuild deep inside! The serum repairs, nourishes and seals lifted cuticles.

Talk about a miracle in a bottle for your hair! No more tired hair for this girl, I'm all about the soft and silky hair!

BUY IT: I found it at most drug stores around my area for $3.99. I found it doesn't take much either about the size of a quarter, the bottle will last you a while.

Check out that Tired Hair!

And that silky AFTER Hair!!!

Thank you to BzzAgent and Dove for my new favorite conditioner!

My Mini Moment Dove Giveaway

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dove Ice Cream. All opinions are 100% mine.

Oh man Dove could be the one thing that sent this momma over the edge. I love chocolate and Dove is one of the best I've found it's always so smooth and I can't stop! Then you give me Dove Ice Cream come on what the heck are you doing to me? Yes I would be getting up in the middle of the night when everyone is sleeping sneaking one ok maybe 3 of these!

Then they do a Giveaway for all you stressed moms and ok everyone else too, sorry giving my mom's props! You can enter the contest. All you women this one is for you! Very easy to do all you need to do is post a picture and write up a short essay about what your "Mini Moment" would be.

Let's see I've been thinking hard on this one. My mini moment would be the boys gone and me curled up with my favorite book and of course add in some Ice Cream and I'm all set. Oh wait add in some napkins I don't want to get chocolate on my book :).

PRIZE: "My Mini Moment" contest. One lucky winner could win a one of 3 sensational mini-grand prizes: a mini-getaway to Napa Valley, Spa services for a year or a mini-home makeover. Women need to submit a essay and photo by June 7, 2010.

The best part is each mini Dove Ice Cream bar is 70 calories!! And for flavors check out Java Chips and Cappuccino flavors!

“Me-time” is important to the Dove consumers, so DOVE® Ice Cream Miniatures conducted a survey of over 400 mothers and an astonishing 70 percent of these ultimate multi-taskers are taking time for themselves each day. The “My Mini Moment” contest celebrates these cherished moments.

Everyone has their own idea of what their favorite min-escape would be. That’s why DOVE® Ice Cream Miniatures has given you three luxuriously indulgent choices.

BUY IT: I found it at most of the grocery stores I shop at price usually ranges from $1.79 to $3.99 depending on sales for the box.