Patriotic shoes? Why not?! A dear friend was giving a talk about the history of shoes to her women’s group and asked me to make three dozen shoe cookies. The colors she wanted were red, white, and blue — to tie in with Independence Day. She even provided the shoe cookie cutter. I don’t know why, but I’d never done 4th-of-July cutout cookies, so I jumped at the opportunity to try something new.

Although 90% of the cookies I decorate are full of color, deep down I love the monochromatic look. I find white-on-white to be the most elegant look a cookie can have. So making cookies as party favors for weddings and bridal showers is one of my favorite projects. When the color palette is limited to white, texture and patterns become the focal point. These heart cookies embossed with floral patterns are a joy to bake and decorate. And, to my mind, white piping on white frosting is the height of grace and elegance.

What are little girls made of?

“Sugar and spice and everything nice...” Popular 19th Century Nursery Rhyme

The baby shower cookies marked the arrival of a beautiful baby girl to our family. The bibs, onesies, baby carriages, rocking horses, bottles, pacifiers, baby rattles, and rounds were a sweet reminder that wonderful things come in small packages. Her two big brothers were fascinated with the new addition and excited to have cookies to mark the occasion.