Valentines

I love Valentine’s day goodies, and chocolate sugar cookies sounded really fun to make.

I found a good recipe on this blog: http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com/2011/01/chocolate-rolled-cookies-recipe.html Her cookies are gorgeous! Glory uses royal icing for her cookies and it produces perfect looking designs but I decided to go for a soft Butter-cream frosting instead.  The butter makes the frosting soft and creamy.  I adapted my recipe from memories of mother’s frosting we made for cakes and cookies.  

The recipe is:

1 lb confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar)

¼ cup softened butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

Milk, add a Tbsp. at a time until you have a smooth creamy consistency.

Food coloring or cocoa powder for color

Decorative toppers and sprinkles

Use a mixer and cream the butter and vanilla with the powdered sugar.  Add the milk a little at a time until the frosting is smooth and creamy.  For sugar cookies I make the frosting a bit thinner than I would for cake.  It should spread easily with a knife.  If it is too thin it will drip off the edge of the cookie.  Too thick and it leaves lots of texture which is ok but the sprinkles won’t stick.  Frost a few cookies at a time and sprinkle decorative sugar on top while the frosting is still sticky.

CHA 2012

I’m trying to remember how many years it’s been since I attended my first CHA show.  I think I’ve been to at least 15-20 years worth (Laura has it been that long?).  In the beginning the show was called HIA and it was held twice a year rotating from one convention location to another year to year.   Back in the day you couldn’t even move down the aisles let alone push through to see a popular booth because so many people were there.  I remember studying the floor plan prior to walking the show floor just to make sure we didn’t miss anything or get lost in the miles of booths.  You only had to walk a day to learn that tennis shoes go with ANYTHING you brought to wear.  Over time things have changed, there are fewer booths and fewer attendees.  Even so I still look forward to the show.  

For me, CHA is rejuvenating.  I meet with vendors, customers, fellow designers, and spent time at my publisher’s booth.  So many people I’ve met over the years have become good friends and it’s nice to see them in person.  In the short time I was there I met up with Sonya Nimri who glowed with enthusiasm and excitement of being a mom and teacher.  As she zoomed in on kids craft ideas I found myself interested in kids crafts too now that I’m a grandma.  Yup, I can say it freely   “my name is Sherri and I’m a grandma!” but DON’T call me granny that’s pushing it too far.  I can still stay up all night and run a 5k.

Sherri & Sonya Nimri

I also ran into Suze Weinberg, Sara Hodson, Susan Kazmer, Jen Cushman, Jess Italia Lincoln, Jill MacKay, Ruth Rae, Jonathan Fong, just to name a few designers I admire.  Jewelry making is becoming more popular each year at CHA- Yay! 

Sara Hodson and Sherri Haab CHA 2012 photo from: http://suzeweinberg.typepad.com/