Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Sweet Things: My Mom & Viennese Whirl Cookies

This is my Mom. She's in Germany where it is cold. My mother enjoys wearing red. It looks good on her and well she's Asian so it's definitely a lucky color. This is important because my Mom likes to visit the Spielbank with her extra pennies and time when she isn't quilting ...

Anyhow I believe I told you one of my dear friends, Mrs. B. brought me back 3 beautiful balls of red chunky baby alpalca yarn. It was so soft and squishy and I knew just who would appreciate a gift knit up in it. The Moms. Et me voila!


*yes that is a New England Patriots blanket in the background. No accounting of her taste in American Football teams, but you know, my stepfather is from Mass. and they were stationed in both RI and VA so there's a lot of Eastern Seaboard loyalty there ;)

This weekend my experimental bake was Viennese Whirl Cookies or biscuits rather from the great blonde pink wearing Mary Berry.


I did fuss with it because, well that's how I am. 1. I'm lazy and didn't want to make my own jam, and apparently the boys have been eating almond butter and raspberry jam for breakfast so I was out of raspberry jam which meant I had to settle for strawberry. Don't get me wrong, I love strawberry jam, but for baked things we usually turn towards raspberry and apricot because it's not so sweet. 2. I also ended up doing an ermine frosting instead of buttercream because ermine is fluffy and buttercream is heavier and the cookie is so buttery as it is. Really either would work, this is a personal preference.


Cookie issues: 1. The biscuit itself was bigger than I intended. I'm not sure if when baked they spread like my @ss (too much) or if I just piped them like my @ss (too much) but they were much bigger than I anticipated. I didn't want to overbake the cookie and still found them very delicate, easy to crumble so you know, I'm not sure how much I want to do this any time soon when there are so many other sandwich cookies one can do with frosting.

Though the fluffiness of the ermine frosting has me thinking more along the lines of homemade devil dogs or drugstore /hostess cupcakes (I'm looking at you Bridget). Well hopefully I'll get to that in the next month of weekends or so.

Back to the glamour of everyday life and minimizing my CNN intake. ;)

Stay Crafty Kids ... you'll make yourself smile at the very least and maybe someone else too.

39 comments:

  1. Gorgeous scarf, your mom looks beautiful in it. Viennesse whirls are some of my favourite cookies, they look absolutely delicious. Nice job! Bet you're happy that MC are 3rd in the table. CJ xx

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    1. Thank you CJ. I am always interested in everyone's cookie likes. I think we get comfortable doing the same thing and then never realizing what other tasty delights are out there till a friend shares! I had never even heard of them before!

      YES! I am please ManCity is moving back up the table. I can't look away from watching Liverpool implode and I say mean mantras in hopes that Chelsea will lose some momentum. They are my favorite villains to cheer for a loss.

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  2. Mom and scarf and just gorgeous! She looks so happy I'll have to forgive that Patriot thing going on although I have to confess I was a fan too until the politics thing came up.
    Those cookies are amazing. I have been on a cookie binge lately. Pepperage Farms though. Lazy me.

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    1. Thank You Araignee. I must not let Mom read this blog or she will get a fat head. LOL. Yes Mom doesn't like the politics part, but her team is her team for a long time, just like you. I think you can both suss that out how you want and be OK.

      I love Peppridge (sp) too. They used to hide the Milanos from me. But not the orange ones. I can't eat that orange extract flavor.

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  3. your mom looks happy! that is a long way to go to visit her or her to you :)

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    1. Thank you Karen. It's a long way to visit but I do love my mother and I know she loves me. We haven't lived together since I was 12 and it seems most of the time she always lived far away so every visit means a lot to us both.

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  4. Your Mom looks beautiful in her scarf! The cookies look wonderful, too!

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    1. Thank you DH, I like to fuss and as grumpy as I can get around my people, I do like to make others happy.

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  5. Love the pic of your Mom and her scarf - beautiful! And those cookies? I am STARVNG right.now. I've never heard of Viennese Whirl cookies, but I'm checking out the link now.

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    1. Let me know how the cookies turn out if you try them or tell me what you like to bake! Thanks for the kind words and the visit!

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  6. How lovely does your mom look in that great red scarf!

    You are killing me with your baked goodies. KILLING ME.

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    1. Thank you Bridget. I often get inspiration for what I want to try and make from other people. Your memories of moving to your place and the story of the cupcakes were inspiring. I like your writing. I wish I could bake for you.

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  7. What a fun post. I LOVE seeing your mom smiling with that gorgeous scarf ! And I love all things Mary Berry so I am really impressed lady with your baking! You can enjoy a few of those amazing looking cookies for me please!!???

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    1. Oh Kathy, I'm really impressed with your cookie discipline. I bake cookies the way I often knit, because I want to try to make something specific not necessarily that I want to eat it. Except for chocolate cake. ALWAYS goes back to chocolate cake.

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  8. Your Mom's smile is contagious, and from the photo, I can tell she is a delightful person - one I would like immediately. The red scarf is beautiful - well done!

    I marvel at all your baking results.

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    1. She is a HAM. She's so funny. We both talk a lot my poor sister can barely get in a word edgewise. I'm happy she's happy. Thank you for the kindness.

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  9. Your Mom looks great in red!

    Now I want cookies. I always get so hungry when I come to your blog!

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    1. Thank you Valerie! I always want a new dress when I come to visit you ... and a cat ... and to knit fAST and fabulous like you!

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  10. Your mum is so cute! Love that scarf on her. How patient you are to make such a cookie.

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    1. And thank you about my socky socks. I need to finish Peppermint. Had a set back so rented a frog or two recently.

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    2. I like to fuss in the kitchen. Fuss fuss. I want to knit socks but I'm so busy with the blanket!

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  11. They look absolutely yummy --- and I'm all about a big-a$$ cookie!!!

    Your mom looks very happy about her new lucky scarf.

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    1. My neighbors texted me to say they were tasty. That's always a good sign. ha! I would make you the biggest cookies possible.

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  12. Your mom is cute as a button in her red scarf! I wish that I could knit my mom more things but it stays so hot in Vietnam.

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    1. Thank you! I was having this conversation with another friend of mine -- my grandmother is in Thailand. We were thinking some kind of light silk linen blend shawl. My family in Thailand crochets in cotton usually, but not nec. garments.

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  13. Well I have to say this post has put a smile on my face! I'm a total cookie monster and in my opinion no cookie is ever big enough. LOL! Your mom has an infectious smile and looks very pretty in the scarf,

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    1. "No cookie is big enough." I feel like we have a t-shirt slogan right there! You're very kind. thank you!

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  14. what a great pic of your mom!!!!! (she's obviously tickled with her scarf!!!!).....and your baking just put a couple inches on my thighs just reading about it.

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    1. I am so glad you can see her happiness. She loves to be happy and she loves a thoughtful present. She cares more about being acknowledged to this day, than any kind of fancy gift. That has always been her style.

      As much as I love baked good. It's pasta these days that has me getting out for that lunch time walk. Gotta earn my pasta ... hehe.

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  15. Your Mom is as beautiful as you my friend, you are right red looks stunning on her. Pooh on the Patriots win again!

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    1. Aww thanks. I've been thinking of you a lot Mere. Wishing you the best.

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  16. Just bought Mary B's baking bible book for Al for her birthday ! Wheeee!

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    1. Ooo! Tell Al I'd love a full report when she's gotten into it a bit! :) You're a sweet MomLady.

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  17. Cute picture of your Mom! She does look good in red.
    Those cookies look delish -- but too fussy for me.

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    1. I think fussy is a great description of those cookies. I can find something else to sandwich hehe.

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  18. Nice scarf! It looks like your mom really likes it, too. Where in Germany is she? You sure find interesting recipes!

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    1. Thank you, Judy! My mother lives in Schönaich which is a municipality of Boblingen just outside of Stuttgart. It's a sweet place. I like to recipe explore. heh.

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  19. Some of us are perfectly happy to see a Pats blanket ;) Your mom is a lovely lady, that's a perfect gift!

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    1. Thanks lady, and you know I understand team loyalty. I'm a fan of at least one team that everyone loves to give me a hard time about. All in good fun :)

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