Sheep Cookie Recipe

A few weeks ago, I published photos of the wonderful cookie 'sheepscape' that Emma made. A few of you asked for the recipe.  I contacted the publisher and asked it they would mind if I provided the recipe here. Well, first of all, they said that Emma's cookies looked 'fantastic'! And then they said that, although they don't ordinarily grant permission for recipes or extracts to be published, I was welcome to print the recipe here for the personal use of my readers. Thanks very much Parragon Books!

Farmyard Friends
Makes 25
(from '1001 Cupcakes, Cookies & other tempting treats')

heaping 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 1/3 cups superfine sugar

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

3¼ cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting

2 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

few drops of food coloring

tube of decorating icing

Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs and beat to combine, then sift the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix to form a dough. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 325°F/160°C.  Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Set aside one third of the dough and leave uncoloured. Divide the remaining dough into portions and knead in different food colourings. Shape the dough into animal shapes* and place the cookies on the baking sheets.  Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Add eyes and other features with the decorating icing.

*Fluffy sheep cookie: For the body, roll small balls of uncolored dough and lay them on the baking sheet, touching each other in an oval shape. Use colored dough to shape the head and feet.

Parragon Books Ltd, © 2009

Emma used a melted chocolate and cocoa mixture rather than food colouring to colour a small part of the dough (she only coloured about 1/3 of the dough). She didn't use decorating icing.

While the book shows the sheep-shaped cookies, Emma went one step further and created stars, a moon and a fence.

If you come here regularly, you already know that we have an enormous cookbook collection in our house. '1001, Cupcakes, Cookies & other tempting treats' really is a lovely book. We've made several recipes out of it and all have turned out beautifully.

All photos © Kathleen Maunder 2012

Gifts for the artist on your list

With Christmas approaching and shopping time diminishing (I wish I was feeling more organized right now!), I thought it might be helpful to suggest a few gifts for the artist among your friends or family members.

I own a lot of paintbrushes that I've accumulated over the years.  But I have to say that the brush in the above photo is my current favourite.  I bought it in Paris this summer.  Well actually my daughter Chloé bought it for me for my birthday while we were in Paris. Those are reasons enough to love it, but it handles watercolour beautifully and has the loveliest point. (Isabey 6225 series No. 8 brush)

I use paper from a number of manufacturers (Arches and Waterford among others) but this handmade paper from a small mill in Montreal is a favourite of mine.  It comes in sweet, small sizes with four deckle edges.  It has a lovely soft texture. It is sold in stores across North America. (Saint-Armand watercolour paper)

I bought these beautiful bird scissors in a sewing store.  I use them in my studio when I want to cut a precise shape out of paper but I also use them for mending or sewing.  Truth be told, mostly I like looking at them. (Stork Scissors by Premax, made in Italy--sold in sewing supply stores and also in the supply section on Etsy)

Micron pens would be a welcome gift to many artists--whether young or experienced.  They come in all different sizes (the number 02 is my favourite) and have micro pigment ink that is waterproof and fade resistant. They are perfect for sketching or doing a pen and watercolour painting. (Pigma Micron pens by Sakura)

There are lots of lovely art books that you could give an artist--a reference book, a biography of a favourite artist or a book illustrated by an artist.  The book above is one I love. It is written and illustrated by English artist Mary Woodin and it answers my love of both watercolours and gardens.  It is a visual diary of a year in her garden filled with luscious watercolours, descriptions of her plants and beautiful quotes.

The Painted Garden:  A Year in Words and Watercolors is available here.  I have just found out that she has published a garden cookbook too.  Guess what just got added to my Christmas list? :)

If you are looking for a gift for a child with artistic interests, there is a wonderful series of books by Laurence Anholt.  We have five of them in our household but there are more available.  They were enjoyed thoroughly by me and my youngest daughter Chloé. And even though they are written for young children, they travel between her room and my studio because we both still love them.

Each book tells the story of a famous artist. You get to see some of the artist's well-known work but also a snippet of their life--in each case told through the perspective of a child who has a special friendship with the artist.  Wonderful educational books with an emotional core. (Author Laurence Anholt)

From Camille and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt

Most artists are inspired by other artists. A painting or print from an admired artist would be a very thoughtful gift.  Here is a print that is on my list this year:

Lemon botanical plate on vintage French envelope by French artist Lucile Prache of Lucile's Kitchen

I love everything done by this wonderful artist! You can find her here and here.  I am very lucky to count her as one of my friends. :)

And finally, here is an idea that does not cost anything but would be valued by so many.  Artists need time to be creative.  Give the artist in your family a certificate that is good for babysitting, washing the dishes, walking the dog, making dinner, mowing the lawn, vacuuming the house--you get the idea--so they can have a little more time at their work table or in their studio.