Easter is a holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and decorating eggs has been a tradition associated with this holiday for a long time. Eggs are used to symbolize new life, which is an important aspect of Easter because it represents the idea of Jesus rising from the dead and giving people new life.
In many cultures, decorating eggs for Easter is seen as a way to bring color and fun to the holiday. People often use brightly colored dyes, paints, and stickers to decorate the eggs, creating unique and beautiful designs.
Another reason for decorating eggs is to give them as gifts to friends and family. In some cultures, eggs are given as a sign of good luck, and during Easter, people often give decorated eggs as a way to share the joy and spirit of the holiday with others.
So, decorating eggs during Easter is a fun and meaningful tradition that helps people celebrate the holiday and its themes of new life and renewal. Whether you enjoy painting, dyeing, or simply admiring beautiful eggs, there are many ways to get involved in this special tradition.
Here is a list of the most celebrated women in History
Cleopatra: Cleopatra was the last Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt and is perhaps one of the most well-known women in history. She was known for her intelligence, political savvy, and beauty, and played a key role in the transformation of Egypt into a major power.
Marie Curie: Marie Curie was a pioneering scientist who made significant contributions to the fields of physics and chemistry. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the first person (male or female) to win two Nobel Prizes in different fields.
Joan of Arc: Joan of Arc was a young French warrior and saint who led the French army to victory against the English during the Hundred Years’ War. She is hailed as a national hero in France and is considered a role model for women everywhere.
Queen Elizabeth I: Queen Elizabeth I was the Queen of England from 1558 to 1603 and is one of the most celebrated women in English history. She is known for her strong leadership, intelligence, and political savvy, and is often referred to as the “Virgin Queen” due to her refusal to marry.
Mother Teresa: Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun and missionary who dedicated her life to helping the poor and sick in India. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work, and is revered as a symbol of compassion and selflessness.
Rosa Parks: Rosa Parks was an American civil rights activist who is best known for her role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Her refusal to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger sparked the boycott and played a key role in the civil rights movement.
Malala Yousafzai: Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. She gained international attention for human rights advocacy, especially the education of women and children in her native Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northwest Pakistan, where the local Taliban had at times banned girls from attending school.
Amelia Earhart: Amelia Earhart was an American aviator and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She was a pioneer for women in aviation and remains an iconic figure in American history.
Yes, July is here and I know 4th of July is the most celebrated holiday but I just want to think outside the box and do something fun for this month. Please forgive me America, no matter what, me and most of the people in this country, will still be celebrating our independence. God Bless America! But let’s celebrate this month with a Flamingo Luau Party since flamingos are still such a hot theme this summer.
Here are a few things you should know before starting this recipe.
1. It is going to take you half the day at least, so make sure you have hours to dedicate.
2. Make your icing,do your tinting, and fill your bottles while your dough is chilling. This will be a messy process.
3. Keep your dough as cool as possible, this keeps your cookies shape while baking. Using powdered sugar instead of flour to “flour” your surface also helps.
4. Using a sil-pat baking mat will ensure your cookies turn out pretty darn nice (even coloring and not too much spreading), as long as you don’t bake them too long.
NOW, ONTO THE RECIPE!
DECORATED FLAMINGO COOKIES – SUGAR COOKIES WITH ROYAL ICING
You will need:
One recipe Sugar Cookies, baked.
One recipe of Royal Icing, tinted in pink, yellow.
Black sanding sugar & Black non-pareils for decoration.
Flamingo Cookie Cutter
Baking supplies including a cookie sheet, rolling pin, sil-pat or parchment paper & spatula.
SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar; mix until light and fluffy.
With mixer running, add egg, milk, and vanilla; mix until well combined.
With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
Move dough to a work surface. Shape into 2 discs, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with nonstick baking mats or parchment paper; set aside.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness.Cut with your cookie cutter.
Transfer to prepared baking sheets, leaving an inch in between. Bake until lightly golden, about 10 minutes; do not allow to brown. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
ROYAL ICING RECIPE
1 lb powdered sugar
5 tablespoons meringue powder or 2 large egg whites
food coloring
water
Directions:
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine sugar and meringue powder. Mix on low speed, add a 1/2 cup water. For flooding, gradually add more water a tablespoon at a time until you reach a consistency where the icing is ribbon-ing. Mix until icing holds a ribbon like trail on the surface of the mixture for 5 seconds when you raise the paddle.
Separate and divide the icing into bowls and tint each, one with pink and the other with yellow food coloring.
Use the icing to decorate the cookie as shown in the photos, use sanding sugar to define the tip of the flamingo nose and a nonpareil for his eye.
Allow to dry for at least 12 hours before handling.
We wish you great success with your decorated flamingo cookies! Remember, if you run into a snag, Martha always knows the answer. (Not to leave you hanging or anything but she is the master cookie maker!)
Pineapple Macarons guarenteed to bring a smile to your face!
Macaron Recipe Makes about 2 dozen completed macaron sandwiches
INGREDIENTS 3 egg whites ¼ cup sugar Yellow gel food coloring 2 cups powdered sugar 1 cup almond flour (I recommend the Honeyville brand from Costco)
DIRECTIONS 1. Whip egg whites until foamy, then slowly add in ¼ cup sugar. Whip for 8-10 minutes until stiff peaks form. Add in gel food coloring and combine. 2. Sift together powdered sugar and almond flour. Whisk to combine. 3. Add powdered sugar mixture to egg white mixture, then fold together until batter flows off of spatula slowly but continuously – see video! 4. Transfer to piping bag fitted with round piping tip, then pipe out macarons onto mat (or parchment paper lined baking sheet). Let set for 20-60 min, or until “skin” forms on top. Macarons should be tacky to touch, but not wet. 5. Bake at 300F for 20 minutes, or until macarons remove cleanly from baking sheet. Do not underbake!
Pineapple Buttercream Makes a generous amount of frosting for 24 completed macaron sandwiches
INGREDIENTS 2 sticks (1 cup) softened butter 3 cups powdered sugar ¼ tsp salt 3 T pineapple juice ¼ cup finely chopped pineapple pieces (or crushed pineapple)
DIRECTIONS 1. Whip together butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add ¼ tsp salt. 2. Add in pineapple juice and pieces, then continue whipping for 3 min.
Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix 1/2 C crushed pineapple 1/4 C pineapple vodka 2 eggs 1/2 c oil Buttercream Frosting: 1/2 C Butter (at room temp) 1/2 C Butter Shortening 1/4 C Watermelon Vodka 4 C Powdered Sugar Pink food coloring Supplies: Push pop containers Jellyroll pan Parchment Paper Piping bags or ziploc bags
1. Make the cake: Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Make the cake mix and bake according to directions on the box or until you put a toothpick in the center and it comes out clean. Take the cake out and let it cool. 2. Mix the buttercream. Cream the butter and shortening together. Add the vodka. Once everything is mixed, slowly add the powdered sugar until you get to the desired consistency. Spoon into a piping bag. 3. Assemble the cake pops: With the plunger in the bottom of the treat pop container, use the rim as a cutter and push the end cake to the bottom of the container. Quick tip: use a second plunger to push the cake down into the tube. Pipe the icing in a thick layer on top of the cake, then layer again with cake. Add a final layer of buttercream to the top and garnish with sprinkles if you like and place the lid on top.
