Adventures in Sewing

 In May I went to California to see my sister and meet my youngest niece. While I was there my sister mentioned she had a bunch of fabric but no time to sew. She intended to sew, but her baby came so quickly that it just didn't happen. Feeling her pain and needing something to do I offered to take the fabric and make some clothing her her 2 girls.

Throughout the summer I sewed like a mad woman and learned a few things here and there. 

The biggest thing I have learned is that I really wish I had a teacher who was a seamstress who could help my in this sewing endeavor. I would so love to be able to make clothing from commercial patterns that look professionally done and eventually learn to draft my own patterns. The second was reinforce the crotch of the pants. 

I am currently making halloween costumes and will hopefully post when they are done.

Product Review: Pampered Chef Cookie press Vs. Wilton Cookie Press

 During Christmas time I love to make these eggnog spritz cookies from Betty Crocker. I have probably been making them on and off for the last 15 years. The tough part about these cookies is that they require a cookie press.

When I first started making them I bought a Wilton Cookie press at Michael's and it has worked just fine. The one problem is that the cookies are always so small.  

Maybe it's just me, but who wants to eat a dainty little cookie. 

This summer during the lockdown for the Covid-19 I found a pampered chef cookie press for like $10 on a yard sale site in my area.

Since I pretty much love Pampered Chef stuff I jumped on it. The best part about this cookie press is it looks like it makes pretty big cookies.

During the lockdown I baked a fair amount of cookies, but saved the spritz cookies until now (Christmas). Excited I pulled out all the ingredients (see below for the recipe) and my pampered chef cookie press.

Once everything was mixed well I loaded the press with the dough, put on the template and started to press.  Sadly things did not go well and my cookies looked like crap. After try 4 times I switched to my trusty wilton cookie press and had at it.

The dough kept sticking

The pretty cookies are
from the Wilton Press. 
The blob is from
the Pampered Chef press.

So long story short I ended up using the Wilton press to make the cookies and gave up on the Pampered Chef one. I will try again  one of these days, but in my opinion just get a Wilton Press and skip the Pampered chef one.

Here's the cookie recipe: (fyi I'm not sure I get 6 dozen cookies but it does make quite a few).

Glazed Eggnog Spritz 

Servings: about 6 dozen

Ingredients

Cookies

¾ cup granulated sugar

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 tsp vanilla

2 tsp rum flavor

1 egg

2 ¼ cups flour

1 tsp ground nutmeg

Rum Glaze

2 TBS butter or margarine, melted

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp rum flavor

1 TBS water

½ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)

 

Directions

Cookies: Heat oven to 350° (if using dark or non-stick cookie sheet, heat to 325°). In large bowl beat granulated sugar and sugar until fluffy. Beat in vanilla, rum and egg until smooth. Add flour and nutmeg. Place ¼ cookie dough into cookie press and press on ungreased cookie sheet desired shapes. Bake 6 to 10 minutes until edges are lightly brown. Cool 1 minute then move to wire rack to cool completely.

Rum Glaze: In a small bowl stir all glaze ingredients, except nutmeg, together until smooth. Pour mixture into small sandwich bag (or icing bottle). Cut corner of bag and drizzle glaze over cookies. Sprinkle nutmeg over glaze before it sets.