Friday, December 4, 2009

Peace On Earth~

Goodwill To Men~



I made a batch of Ina's shortbread.. the kind I love for Brigitte..I like sugar cookies too..don't get me wrong but shortbreads? I can't resist the temptation!!

I saw these doves w/ almond wings last year in a magazine...but never found a dove cutter..well ...Ohmygoodnessand... Sur La Table.(How I wish we had one!!)
I bought 16 cutters @ $1.00 each..On my hands and knees spinning the montage..my husband couldn't see me.. ! He had had enough by then..was looking eye level for me.. and of course..could not see me because I had found this spinning Toys R Us for me:)

Needless to say..the dove came home..

I baked cookies and the dove was one of the first..

La Recette..

Ingredients
3/4 pound unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt; then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and roll shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.

Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick and cut with a 3-inch heart-shaped cutter. Place the hearts on an ungreased sheet pan and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Note: The edges of the shortbread are ever so slightly sharper if you chill the cookies before baking them. I cut out the cookies days ahead and bake them the day I serve them.
Note..I bake mine at 325.



I placed the almonds on the wing and tail w/ some piping gel..you can use icing..etc..



Thank you Ina.. and Sur La Table...♥
I made two other kinds of cookies w/ Ina's recipe..I'll post them soon..in case you want to try some different things..I love seeing different ideas during the holidays..It inspires me..

28 comments:

  1. What a wonderful idea! I love the simplicity of the ingredients too. I can see them in little hands flying around your kitchen :)

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  2. What beautiful little cookies, with perfectly decorated little wings. Wonderful, Monique.

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  3. how gorgeous are they! i will try your recipe today for my cookies too, so excited to play in the kitchen! i love love love their almonds, pire genius!

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  4. Gorgeous!!! How creative... and they look like they taste fantastic!

    Blessings-
    Amanda

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  5. I couldn't bring myself to eat those dove cookies! They look so pure and pristine ... with the almonds, perfect! The light makes them look even more angelic. So beautiful, in that soft, white light. You ALWAYS get the lighting right, Monique! :)))

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  6. D'abord j'adore les shortbreads, et ces colombes sont superbes, il n'y a pas d'autre mots, c'est tellement un plaisir de venir te voir chaque jour, un vrai bonheur
    Bon week end

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  7. I've never had one of Ina's recipes turn out bad. Another winner!

    Beautiful doves, Monique. Just gorgeous!!

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  8. Your cookies are so lovely. Delicate and perfect for this time of year.

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  9. Your doves are beautiful. I wish I could find them. Love Ina's recipes.

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  10. They are absolutely darling! I love your personal touches, too.
    You made me chuckle, with J looking for you. :)

    Cannot wait to see what you will do with all of your new cutters; you always WOW us! xo

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  11. Monique those cute little doves are so pretty! They are decorated just the way I like them too, sans frosting.

    I also adore the stars you put into your top photograph. How did you find them? Is it a photoshop edit from a filter?

    Laura

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  12. Oh Monique...it is snowing here and we are putting up our tree and then I see your beautiful little cookies...they are simply gorgeous!
    I love them!
    You put me in the mood!
    L~xo

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  13. What a beautiful blog you have. I love the snow falling, it's magical. The doves are lovely. I am always visiting Sur La Table in San Francisco. I marvel at the many treasures they carry. I find myself lugging lots of things home to New York.
    I'm not sure if you already have it, but I tagged you for an Honest Scrap Award. You inspire me! Pam

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  14. M...Yeah!!! Love, Love, Love these!!! I am in charge of desserts for Christmas and I will surely try these...almonds on the wings...love that. I must have a Dove in that cookie cutter bag somewhere! Heading for the pantry...keep them coming my friend, xoxo~Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings...

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  15. You make everything look so beautiful and heavenly and angelic! Those doves look too pretty to eat and the almond wings just made me speechless...so ingenious. Monique youre a marvel!

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  16. You know what I love about your photos? It's not just the recipe that you show, it's a whole composition. I imagine that you must have a warehouse full of birdhouses and snowmen and plates and candles and shells and...and...and...

    I learn from all your posts.

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  17. That Dove couldn't have looked anymore better, real and handsome. Why didn't I chance upon your blog earlier????

    Damn....I'm missing out a lot, lots to catch up. Imma go browse your blog now!

    Love it!

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  18. Thank you! But it was the magazine's idea.. Wish I could think of themm..Oh lala..

    Ina's recipes are so good..I think the fact that I find her charming and she seems so nice.. makes me want to try her recipes..

    Laura..I use a photo editing program..photobrush.. but I did find this for you..in case you do not have it for the sparkles..there are probably many..hope this link helps..

    http://photo.net/digital-darkroom-forum/00Tq9Z

    Quinn,happy to meet you too..:)

    Happy Holidays..

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  19. Love Ina's shortbread cookies. Your photos brought out the beauty of those shortbread cookies.
    You have a beautiful blog.

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  20. Peace doves are dear to my heart. I have made them in just about every way...and I love your interpretation. I want to reach out and try one!! They are too beautiful to eat, but I'd manage ;-))

    Thanks for the inspiration...Diane

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  21. Beautiful shortbread doves...I wwon't be able to eat them?
    ronelle

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  22. Bonjour Monique, elles sont magnifiques qu'on ose à peine les manger.

    Passe une belle journée.

    Josée xx

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  23. J'adore ne pas être régulière sur ton blog ... juste parce que lorsque je passe, je m'en mets plein les yeux ... et que c'est tellement bon ! Tu crois qu'un de ces oiseaux pousserait sa migration jusqu'à Cannes ? Je le croquerais bien s'il se posait sur le rebord de ma fenêtre ... ;o)

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  24. Pass these cookies out to all the cranky souls on the planet, and you would have world peace.

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  25. The cookies are beautiful and I love how you photographed them.

    Carolyn

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