Happy 2016 Update

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Mine was very nice – boys home, family for dinner, all healthy, and a new MacBook Pro which I’m finding difficult to transition to from two decades of using a PC.  I’m selling more images through Getty Images and wanted some better resolution than what I was working on. I don’t even know the name of the screen I had on my old laptop but the screen looks different at every angle. Color balance and exposure was always a challenge for me. It’s going to take me awhile to adjust but eventually I’ll get the hang of it.

I did lots of baking for friends over the holidays – from big, glistening snowflake cookies –

snowflake cookies

… to formally attired gingerbread men…

formal attired gingerbread men

… and, uh, not so formally attired gingerbread men…

50 Shades of Grey cookies

Funny, both attired gents were invited to the same party by my wonderful friend Trevor Kensey at SisBoomBlog! who wanted “naughty” and “nice” cookies and let me tell you, designing 6 different “outfits” was not easy! After all, how many ways can you make a harness?!? In case you’re wondering, the leather was all made with black fondant. I guess you could call these 50 Shades of Gingerbread or Folsom Street Fair cookies. The Folsom Fair apparently kicks off Leather Week in SF. If you look it up, be warned these cookies are the G-rated edition!

So difficult to put all the holiday baking cookie cutters away, take all the pretty decorations down, say good-bye at the airport and gather the linens. I’m going to take a little new year blogging break as my lovely MIL fell down on Sunday night, broke her hip and is already recovering from surgery. She did great. Nothing slows down this 93 year-young lady.

The cast iron (or lead) “toys” below are from when my MIL was little. It’s part of an elaborate set that includes farm animals, buildings, trees, bridges and a train. It’s close to 100 years old. I think it’s so cool!

Enjoy the first week of 2016!  Wishing you a very happy new year!

vintage skaters

 

 

 

Shaking It Up With Snow Globe Decorated Sugar Cookies

Have you heard of a Secret Santa/Cookie Exchange?  It’s a natural combination when you’re part of the Wilton Cake Decorating’s Sweet Treat Team. Hmmm, then I had an idea that had me shaken and stirred!  Mostly shaken.  🙂 As in shakin’ those sprinkles! Click on the video below and you might be shaken too!     Snow globe cookies! Watch it snow! ❄️ #cookies #decoratedcookies #decoratedsugarcookies #shakeitoff #snow #wiltontreatteam #wiltoncakes #wilton @wiltoncakes #sweetswap A video posted by Marilyn (Mac) ?… [Read More]

Holiday Cookie Decorating Workshop at West Elm South Coast Plaza

I’m so excited that West Elm South Coast Plaza has asked me me return to teach a holiday cookie decorating workshop at their store in Costa Mesa! There’s lots of info on West Elm OC’s Facebook page where you can sign up for the class ! We’re going to have a flurry o’ fun! Here’s the workshop info from West Elm South Coast Plaza’s Facebook page– Want to impress your friends and family with your cookie decorating skills this holiday… [Read More]

Decorated Ornament Sugar Cookies DIY and Snowflake Fondant Plunger Cutter Give-Away

pink ornament cookies

I’m dreaming of a pink Christmas with sparkling snowflake cut-outs and if you are too you’ll want to enter and win this give-away for a PME Snowflake Fondant Plunger Cutter Set of three but first let me show you how to decorate pink ornament cookies using the fondant snowflakes as decoration. These punched out snowflakes of rolled fondant will dress up all your baking finery this season from cookies to cupcakes! To make the cookie dough, you’ll need a great… [Read More]

Decorated Snowflake Cookies– Gathering The Dough and Re-Rolling The Post

decorated snowflake cookies

What does your cookie forecast look like this season?  Merry and bright with a high chance of pretty and delicious snowflake cookies?  Snowflakes are a wonder to me.  When I was around twelve I experienced falling snow for the first time and it turns out to be the only time so far.  In the palms of my gloves, I recall I was amazed to see the ice crystal patterns of the individual flakes.  I thought all falling snow must be… [Read More]

Mini Snowflake Cookies

Good things do come in small packages.   Especially in bite sized ones.After icing the cookies with thinned icing and letting them dry, I brushed them with aqua colored luster powder for a soft blush of color. I then piped the details on the cookie and finished with a single silver dragee in the center. For the presentation I used paper loaf pans that I never got around to using for baking cranberry bread for Thanksgiving. Another small package and… [Read More]