A 'Not-Quite-A-Gingerbread' House

Here ya go...my attempt at a gingerbread house.

Okay, it's actually a sugar cookie house...because we don't have all the ingredients to make gingerbread.

And somehow it turned out looking more like a church.

Okay, so...here's a 'sugar cookie church.'

I apologize for all the smooshed-fingerprint spots on it, by the way.

We also don't have cream of tartar - the good ol' stuff that makes royal icing harden quickly - so I spent quite of bit of time holding this thing together as it dried ever-so-slowly.

Oh and isn't it nice how I took the time to clear off the counter to take some nice photos?

I just thought you might enjoy seeing all our peanut butter and spices and cutting boards, etc. in the background?

Thanks to the Madre and Padre for sending me the wonderful package of Christmas sprinkles, which provided the inspiration for some fun Christmas baking! I love you guys!

Happy Birthday, Lyle!

While the rain may have thwarted our plans to have a birthday cookout, we, at least, had a whole variety of bake goods to console us.

Happy birthday, Lyle!

JOHN & HOLLY

Let me tell you what...I am very much looking forward to this coming May 12!

On that day, two people I love very much will be getting married.

Congratulations, John and Holly!

BROWNIE GOODNESS

For a while now I've been looking for the perfect chocolate cookie recipes.

Of course, it had to taste delicious and hold it's shape.

That last part is very important when decorating cookies - if the cookies have too much rising agent, they'll spread while baking and what should have been a cute elephant cookie will turn into a big shapeless blog.

I came across this 'brownie roll-out' recipes on Smitten Kitchen.

I can tell you this recipe has definite potential...the cookies came out with a great brownie-delicious taste.

Next time, I'll roll out the brownies a little thicker and I think they'll be that perfect combination of brownie-goodness and decorated-cookie-delight!

Once I give this recipe another go and add my own touches to it, I'll be sure to post it.

A FEW MORE FLOWERS

BIRTHDAY CAKE

To celebrate Rachel, my co-Fellow here in Mokhotlong, and her big 27th birthday, I made a "cookie cake."

I know, it's a bit of a sad stand-in for a real cake...

Hmmm...well, we do what we can here in Lesotho.

Plus, I had to stay up to the wee hours of the morning to make sure these cookies were a surprise.

But what does it matter?! 

She had a lovely birthday despite the lack of a real cake.

BLUE & WHITE

INDIAN INSPIRATION

There are many fabulous cookie artists out there who create some really amazing cookies.

I've been particularly intrigued by the henna-inspired designs I've been seeing, so I though I'd give it a try!

(Side note: our teeny tiny kitchen is the only room that seem to stay even remotely warm as the cold African winter descends upon us...that is it stays warm if we have the oven cranked all the way up.

Clearly that means we need to sit in the kitchen and bake all day!)

While I'm fairly happy with how these turned out, I'm exciting to keep working on this new technique!

P.S.  If you'd like to read a bit more about my time in Lesotho, you can peek at my other blog Wander With Me.

PIE TIME!

One of my favorite things to bake at home are these little pies.

They're so quick and easy.

But I'll admit I've always used store-bought crust.

Making pie crust has always scared me.

Every time I've tried, it's been a miserable failure.

But I thought I'd give it another go here.

I mean I really don't think I'd be able to go a whole year without apple pie!

Would you?!

Well, I don't know what I did differently this time...

but the pie crust came together so easily.

And it was delicious!

These little pies were so yummy I ate half of the batch before I got around to taking pictures!

SUMMER FLOWERS

Y'all are starting to see more flowers right now, no?

Lucky!

It's just starting to snow here!

Snowing...

...in Africa!

So, I made some bright flowers to bring a little bit of summer to our cold, cold days.