Shots, Shots, Shots, Shots!!!!

Here we go.. bare with me now.. I'm a baker not a blogger..

I saw these amazing cookie shot glass pans from Wilton's and had to have them. I know better than to just order 1 pan of any shape, size, or style. So naturally I ordered 2. Boy am I glad I did. 1 batch of cookie dough makes 24+ shooter cookies. Each pan makes 6 shot glasses, so you do the math. Plus, you have to wait 10 minutes before you can take the cookies out of the pan. You'd be baking cookies for hours at that rate. So I totally encourage you to buy 2, or more, of the shot glass pans..

Ok, Let's get down to the goods.

The pans are called "Sweet Shooters" from Wilton's. 

You'll also need to make your chocolate chip cookie dough recipe. The package will include a recipe as well.
Pre-heat that oven to 350 degrees F and grease those pans!

I used a 1.5" cookie scoop. It was the perfect amount for imperfect tops to these cuties. You could go bigger if you want a perfect rim (you'll have to trim the cookie when it comes out of the oven).

Once the dough balls are in the pan.. push them down the bottom and up the sides.. I just stuffed the inserts in the 1st batch and they still came out well. The second time around I used my pampered chef thing and made them a little more even. 

Go ahead and put them in the oven and set you timer for 17 minutes. 

While they are baking you could get your chocolate ganache and buttercream made. If you aren't feeling that adventurous, poor a cup of coffee and scroll social media.

........................................................... Times up......... Pull those cookies!

When my cookies came out of the oven, the inserts were all wonky. I wanted the bottoms of the glasses to be flat on the inside. So I instantly pushed the inserts back into the baked cookie.

Let them rest for 10 minutes with the inserts.

Scroll more social media... pour more coffee... do a load of laundry... whatever is your thing at the moment.

Now they are ready to come out of the pan so you can bake the next set. Gently twist and pull.

Once they are completely cool, it's time to get creative!
I melted some white chocolate to dip the rims in and then straight into the sprinkles! Sugar rimmed shot glasses are yummy. Especially when that shot glass is a cookie.

How freaking fun are these💜?
The possibilities are endless on flavors, colors, combinations.

Once they are all dipped and sprinkled... Throw in some more sass and deliciousness... Ready?

  

I filled these half way with chocolate ganache and topped them with amazing buttercream.

Next time I make these.. I'm thinking chocolate cookie and filling them with a sinful Bailey's or Vodka spiked whipped cream.. doesn't that sound heavenly? I'm sayin... adult desserts✔

 These were super fun to make. If you have kiddo's, these would make a super fun rainy day project. Fill them with Fruit, M&M's, Cool Whip, Whipped Cream, Frosting... Get creative!

So lets chat about supporting local...
We all want to do it. We all want to support our neighbor and the "underdog". It's hard ya'll!
I try to buy things on etsy and from local shops. There are so many production companies out there, that at the end of the day, we all want to save a buck and end up there.
This is not new information.. but here is where my thought train is traveling. I am an at home baker. I have gotten pretty creative over the years of fiddling in the kitchen. Everyone says I should open a bakery. My accountant however, has no bakery clients that actually make money. I sat down and calculated the cost of a cake, I am making for a baby shower this weekend. It is for a friend of our family and I have no idea how much to "actually" charge. There is the cost of materials. Plus the idle and hands on time.. cost of kitchen use etc.. Cakes are expensive for a reason! Unless you are in a big city area, people can't justify paying $60+ for a small custom cake, or $3.50 for a single cupcake.
I have no idea if any of those comma's go in those places above... random thought...
So keep in mind as you are contemplating buying those handmade items or those $3.50 cupcakes... It takes time and material costs to make those amazing things. Time is the biggest cost involved that is rarely accounted for, in my opinion.. I'll spend hours on a baking project that keeps my kids out of my kitchen and away from me for hours. That isn't always a bad thing.. but when they are at school all day and I spend all weekend on a baking or chocolate project... That is time away from my family.
Alright, enough stalling... I have a baby shower cake and a birthday cake to make...
Catch ya'll later!

Yep... so here I am with this blog. I keep attempting to start over with it. Pick a theme.. but what..

I have had several people recently tell me that I need to start a blog. People who actually know me, want ME to start a blog.. I have tried Ya'll, I really have. I am just not that cool or interesting. I am all over the place. Half of the time I don't even know which way I am going. Like for real... sometimes I turn the wrong way out my own driveway.

Start a blog they say..

I don't know how to write. To be completely honest.. I can't write because that would have required me to pay attention in English class. I am horrible at reading books. I totally wish I was one of those people that read books. They seem so put together and studious. Then there is me.. I can whip it up in the kitchen and mom until the sun goes down.. but writing.. that is not my cup of tea. Which by the way I'm not with it enough for that either.. Just give me a cup of coffee with some milk and lets roll.. Or pour me a glass of red wine and find a seat on my porch to check out the stars.. That is me.. I am the coffee slurping... kitchen krushing... mom-ing aint easy... wine about it when the sun goes down lady. That's about it.

So start a blog..  Maybe I wont be one of those amazing instagram decor people.. because Lord knows I can't decorate and photograph anything, before my hurd of kids come tromping through the shot.... or those outstanding bakers on instagram.. you know with the cool how to video's because ummm.. I say ummm.. way to much. I know nothing about how to be a Youtuber... but maybe I'll just post my everyday shenanigans.. Why not.. Cheers to the New Year!!

Taking back the Joy this year...

My husband thinks I am crazy for having started decorating for Christmas. After all we have not even had Thanksgiving. The question of why decorate so early? It's not like I am a decorator or a home decor blogger. It is simply because us moms get caught up in getting everyone and everything ready, and perfect for every event of the season. Christmas programs, school parties, parties with friends, charity events, multiple family parties, gingerbread houses, cookie decorating, light shows, keeping the house clean-ish.... and don't forget Christmas cards, shopping, wrapping, sleeping (if you're lucky). We sometimes lose the enjoyment meant to come out of all these events.
NOT this year! This year I am taking the joy of Christmas back. This year I am decorating early!
I have planned my daughter's ugly sweater party to back up to our cookie decorating day. I am only rolling out sugar cookies and making icing 1 time this year. The rest of this Christmas season I want to be able to enjoy baking whatever floats my boat when the mood strikes. I want to be able to actually sit on my couch and watch Christmas movies with my family. That is why I am decorating early.
I would love to be one of those people that sees something on Pinterest and then follows through. That however, is NOT me. There always seems to be about a hundred things going on at once. See list above...
This holiday season, I actually followed through on a few decor items I pinned! 
The Target Dollar Spot was awesome this year in helping with that. Most of the other Pinterest inspirations were "junk" I had laying around. I nearly pitched half of the things in the pictures years ago. Thank goodness I kept them!

Well, I am off to clean my house before the chaos of the weekend with 7 people home at once begins. Tis the season to take back your Joy!
Later Loves!
XO
Brandi