How's that for a post title? Before you start imagining hideous rotary cutting accidents, spurting blood and ruined fabric (let's face it, that's the biggest worry, isn't it?), let me remind you that Hallowe'en is only NINE sleeps away!! Costume supplies are gathering slowly around here. I'm sure there will be some late nights next week because this week I am busy preparing for Quilt By the Bay (otherwise known as QBTB) coming up on Saturday.
In order to support my habit/addiction/not-so-secret-obsession (the EXACT same one all of you have, I'm sure), four years ago I decided to start a small business offering one-day quilting retreats. For 13 hours on a Saturday, 25 women gather to sew, laugh, share and EAT. Emphasis on laughing and eating. We do this 5 or 6 times a year. I love it, although the days leading up are busy for me, shopping, cooking & baking. It's great when QBTB falls near a holiday, because we all know that holidays = fun cookies. Thus:
In order to support my habit/addiction/not-so-secret-obsession (the EXACT same one all of you have, I'm sure), four years ago I decided to start a small business offering one-day quilting retreats. For 13 hours on a Saturday, 25 women gather to sew, laugh, share and EAT. Emphasis on laughing and eating. We do this 5 or 6 times a year. I love it, although the days leading up are busy for me, shopping, cooking & baking. It's great when QBTB falls near a holiday, because we all know that holidays = fun cookies. Thus:
We make these every year...they are great for freaking out friends at school. If you'd like to make your own, here's what you'll need to mix up in your cauldron.
BLOODY WITCH FINGER COOKIES
1 Cup (250 g) room temperature unsalted butter
1 Cup icing sugar
1 egg
1 tsp (5 mL) almond extract
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract
2 3/4 Cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
green food colouring (I use cake decorating gel)
3/4 C blanched almonds
small tube red gel icing
In a mixing bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg and extracts. Beat in flour, baking powder and salt. Add green food colouring until your dough becomes suitably witchy. Refrigerate dough for 30 mins. or overnight.
Pre-heat oven to 325F. Using about a heaping tablespoon of dough at a time, roll between your hands to get a finger shape. Squeeze in two places to form a middle knuckle. Press an almond in one end. Score the middle knuckle with a knife to make wrinkles (I forgot to do this part in the above photo). Place cookies on a sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill the sheet with raw cookies for 15 mins in the fridge, then bake for 20-22 minutes until the bottom is just starting to brown.
Remove from oven, cool 5 minutes. Pull up the almonds, squeeze some red gel icing in the dent left by the almond, then replace the almond so the icing oozes out around the 'cuticles'.
Leave a bunch on the counter and listen to the comments: Euwwwwww! Gross!!!! Yummy!!!
I'll be back in a few days with some photos from QBTB. I can't wait to see what everyone is going to work on!
7 comments:
okay, those are totally disgusting! but I have to make some immediately...
not only are they totally gruesome, they also taste really good! Would love to hear more about your QBTB days - is it open to the general public, or are they all filled already? They sound like a ton of fun, and what is better than spending a day with like minded people???
ewwwww!!! I don't think I could eat them, but like floribunda, am feeling compelled to make them! What's up with that??
Ack! Why am I compelled to comment on your posts in bullet points?!
1) Umm...yeah. Eww - GROSS.
2) Your QBTB sounds like a FANTASTIC idea!!!! Really, really, really fun. I used to take trips up to the Vancouver area (Richmond, to be exact) with the hubs' family...and it's nice to think of you and all your cohorts up there, working on your quilts. Too fun!
Ha ha, these are great! Thank you for sharing them!
I am so making these today. Thanks for sharing!
ooough these look fantastic for a Halloween party! Thanks for sharing - I'm printing it out now and putting in the cookbook! Plus sharing your link with a few of my friends!
Love from Texas! ~bonnie
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