The Power of a Cookie

Thank you so much Josh for being on the podcast and sharing your story with us. You’re an incredibly talented young man with a love to help others and I can’t wait to see how you use your amazing gifts to make this world a better place! 

Don’t miss a thing because you can follow Josh on his amazing journey. Follow him now on Facebook at Peaceful Pastries and Sweets.

Bear hugs,

Summer’s Sweet Shoppe Cookie Academy Podcast

Thank you so much Summer for being our guest on the podcast today. Click here if you’re looking for Summer’s Top Tips for Baking Cookies with Kids at Any Age. No need to look any farther because you can find Summer at the links below. 

Now let’s learn all we can about decorating cookies so we can go out there and change the world one cookie at a time!

Bear hugs,

Episode #27 How Do I Keep My Sugar Cookies from Spreading?

Supplies That Help Keep My Sugar Cookies from Spreading:

Do you have questions about sugar cookies spreading? Let me see if I can help a little.

There’s nothing worse than making cookie dough, cutting out your cute little shapes, placing them on a cookie sheet and sticking them in the oven only to remove a baking sheet full of cookies that have spread so much you can’t tell what shapes you baked in the first place. It’s like your heart kind of sinks and melts like those cookies did while they were in the oven.

I have a few tips that might help you prevent that from happening. Here are some questions I get asked a lot.

Good question! There are several things that can cause your cookies to spread and we’ll cover as many as we can today.

There are my top 10 tips to help prevent your sugar cookies from spreading. I hope you find something in there that will help your cookies hold their cute cookie cutter shape! It works for me and I hope you find something that works for you!

You can also watch a video on Just Flip That Sugar Cooke Dough if you want to see how I flip that mat after the dough gets cold and I’m ready to cut out the cookie shapes.

I’ll also make a post and listed these steps in an FAQ under Bearfoot Basics. It has a PDF you can print out and hang on the fridge. You may not use all the steps but like I said before, maybe there’s a step or two that will help your cookies hold their shape as they bake.

Please let me know if you have any questions about your sugar cookies spreading.

Bear hugs,

Are you ready for a great podcast? I hope so because we’re going to Bake at 350 today with Bridget Edwards!

I’m so excited to share this podcast with you guys. Bridget Edwards is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. As you’re listening to the podcast you’ll hear about the first time I saw her in person. She was sweet, graceful, elegant and extremely beautiful. I was scared to death to meet her, but when I did, she was kind and friendly. It’s something I’ll never forget.

A few years ago Karen Summers asked me to be an instructor at Cookie Con. I asked a few blogger and cookie decorators for a photo of the first cookies they made and a photo of a cookie they’d recently made. This “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries” was the recent photo that Bridget shared with me. It’s one of my favorite cookies ever. The yellow and red look amazing and the cherries she’s piped look perfect. They look real. It looks like you could reach into the photo, pick up a cookie, and eat it! These are an awesome set of cookies and I’m very grateful she shared the photos with everyone at Cookie Con.

If you want to see the photo of the first cookies she made, you can see them on YouTube in the ‘Bearfoot Basics Sugar Cookies 101 Part 3‘ video. It’s a long video so if you want to skip to the part that shows Bridget’s cookies, move the video slider to 35:39 minutes to see them. It’s hard to believe they’re her first because of the pretty writing on them.

When looking on the internet I see decorators using several things that Bridget taught us. The one I use most often is her coffee filter tip, If you haven’t seen it you can find it here at her Coffee Filter tutorial she made back in 2008. It’s a priceless decorating tip!

If you search her blog at Bake at 350, you’ll find lots of great tips and tricks that will help you decorate cookies. Bridget also shares wonderful recipes and Trader Joe’s tips. I think you need to head on over and search her site and look at her social media links below. You’ll see amazing cookies, delicious recipes, and tips you’ll use every time you decorate cookies. Did I mention she’s amazing? Well, she is!

Episode #25 Sweet Dani B Life is Sweet with Dani Fiori

(Photo Courtesy of The Martha Stewart Show)

What a happy photo with Dani, Martha and the adorable decorated sugar cookies. I love the candy and sprinkles Dani uses to make them. The display with the jars is a very smart way to display holiday cookies, The only problem I have with this display is that everyone will eat the cookies before the holiday arrives. I think I’ll take the snowman and gingerbread man with the tree or Santa and the reindeer. I have an idea, let’s all share all the cookies!

(Photo Courtesy of Martha Stewart Living)

Here it is! The Martha Stewart Holiday Cutters is a fun set of cookie cutters. I love how Dani decorated them. Look at that cute little Santa cookie with his friends the deer, snowman, and partridge in a pear tree. This set of cookies is adorable! I love the way Dani decorated them. When you look at each cookie you can tell they’re decorated by Sweet Dani B. The way she adds sprinkles and candy to each cookie is her signature design.

It’s hard to find these cookie cutters but if you want the Santa, Dani has decorated one that’s similar. You can find Santa with Bag Cookie Cutter at Copper Gifts. She also has a Mrs. Clause Cookie Cutter. She has a lot of cookie cutters she’s designed at CopperGifts.com. I purchased her Yeti cutter back in September and I’m looking forward to decorating him soon.

There he is! That little Santa Cookie-The One That Started it All for me. I remember watching The Martha Stewart Show and seeing Dani decorate those cute little Santa Cookies with those magic little decorating bottles. I had never seen the decorating bottles and I was amazed. As I watched how Dani added each color of royal icing to the cookie and then added sprinkles I was hooked! Dani and Santa touched my heart and changed my career. Thank you, Dani, for showing me how to decorate cookies and start my own cookie journey. Making cookies is a great way to share happiness and cookie love.

Dani Fiori started Sweet Dani B Cookie Kitchen and Petite Party Studio about 2 years ago. I’ve enjoyed watching her in her shop online and how she teaches adult and kid workshops to show others how to decorate. Dani knows how to share the cookie love to everyone. Looking at the photos you can see the love Dani puts into her cookies and her shop. She’s made it feel warm and welcoming and a place I’d want to visit every day. The only thing stopping me is the shop is in New York and I’m in East Tennessee. Maybe one day I’ll get to visit, decorate, and share a chocolate chip cookie with her.

Oh yeah, did I mention Dani is an Emmy Winner? This girl has serious skills!

Here is Dani with her husband Keith at the ribbon cutting ceremony at Sweet Dani B Cookie Kitchen and Petite Party Studio. In the podcast, Dani mentioned that Keith painted and made things for the shop. He painted “Life is Sweet” on the cafe wall and it’s beautiful. What a sweet couple!

Dani talked about working as a waitress and at Ralph Lauren during the podcast. That must have been super exciting. I’m glad her career changed and brought her into the cookie world. Her cookies are cute and well designed and full of love. She gave me the tips on how to start decorating which led to The Bearfoot Baker Blog, 100 Animal Cookies Book, The Power of a Cookie, and The Cookie Network. Seeing her on The Martha Stewart Show changed my life and I’m very grateful.

Instagram: SweetDaniB.

Thanks, Dani for joining us on The Power of a Cookie. I can’t wait to see what you’ll make next!

Bear hugs,

Have you seen The Cookie Architect Rebecca Weld’s cookies? She’s an amazing cookie decorator. I love looking at the different designs she creates. The colors she chooses are perfect for each set of cookies. They’re truly works of art. She’s creative, artistic, and intelligent and it shows in each cookies she decorates.

When you wonder where the name Cookie Architect comes from well, it’s simple. She’s an architect with her own firm. Think about it, she designs building and that talent over flows on her cookies. They’re beautiful and one of a kind. I get lost in the fabulous designs and colors.

Rebecca is also a mother to two boys and makes cookies to give to friends and family. Even though she’s running her own architect firm and makes cookies for friends and family, sometimes she finds herself making cookies to help raise money for charity. She talks about that in the podcast so you don’t want to miss it.

I’ll be honest, her puzzle cookies make my heart happy. When you look at all those puzzle pieces it’s incredible how the beautiful pieces fit together. After you look at it you don’t want to eat it because it’s a work of art. All of her cookies look like art pieces.

I know you’ll want to follow The Cookie Architect with Rebecca Weld and see her beautiful creations so I’ve listed a few links below so you can follow her cookie art. I know you’re going to love the every cookie she makes with the gorgeous designs and colors.

The Cookie Architect

Remember in the podcast when we talked about the first cookies The Cookie Architect made? Here is a picture of her snowflake cookies. I don’t know about you but I’m having a hard time believing these are the first cookies she ever made. WOW! They’re so pretty.

Thanks for listening to The Power of a Cookie. I’m so happy Rebecca was a guest and told us about her cookies. I hope you’ll join me and spend some time looking at her cookie photos and get lost in her designs. I know most of you all ready follow her, but if you don’t you should totally check out her website. When you see her cookies you’ll know they’re works of art!

Bear hugs,

  Episode #23 I’ve Got This with Melissa Blake

I have to admit, I haven’t met Melissa in person. As a matter of fact, I didn’t know who she was until she sent me an email encouraging me after I had my brain tumor removed. She sent me the sweetest email and she told me of her recovery story. I couldn’t stop reading the email. As soon as I read it I sent her an email thanking her and asked if she would be a guest on The Power of a Cookie Podcast.

As I read how Melissa had been battling cancer and heard about the surgery and treatment she’d gone through, I was encouraged because her story was guiding me through the things she described. I learned so much from her in that email and knew I had to ask her into sharing her story with everyone. I think I shocked her a little, but she agreed. While you’re listening to the podcast you’ll feel the warmth and love that I felt when I read her email. She’s an amazing person.

Melissa was sweet and sent us some pictures of her beautiful children and a few cookies she’s made. I’m inspired after seeing these. The love you see in the photos with her kids and the joy you see in her sweet cookies will make your heart happy. I hope I get to see her in person one day just like all of you who have encouraged me and shared your love with families like Melissa’s and mine. You are a blessing to us.

Enjoy Mellissa’s photos and get inspired when you listen to the podcast.

Check out these Christmas Cookies that were inspired by Slupr Patisserie. Look at that white royal icing. I think they’re adorable. Just think, finding power in a cookie that helps you judge how far you are in your recovery. WOW! That’s a powerful cookie and a powerful cookie decorator!

I thought the title of this podcast “I’ve Got This” was perfect after hearing Melissa’s story. She’s got this and so do so many other people going through different health treatments. The strength they have is amazing and inspiring. It’s encouraging and I’m thankful for their stories.

Thank you, Melissa, for encouraging me and teaching me to have patience with myself. Your story is helping me with recovery.

You all can follow Melissa Blake on Instagram. Find her by clicking this link: Melissa on Instagram.

Bear hugs,

Episode #22 Bouncer the Big Brain Tumor:

Episode #22 Bouncer the Big Brain Tumor:

Okay, the podcast will tell you several things about how I ended up having brain surgery to have a massive tumor the size of a tennis ball removed from my brain. Let’s just say the last two years I’ve been pretty sick. I did visit my doctor but I ended up leaving his office with prescriptions that I never filled because whatever they were I knew they wouldn’t help.

Well, I didn’t see my mom or my mother-in-law on Christmas because I was too sick to sit in the car and ride there. I had been losing weight and couldn’t eat anything. The last week of February I was so sick I thought I was going to die. I’m not joking. I was on the couch and praying Alan would come home from work and help me. When he arrived God gave me the strength to sit up to talk to him. I told him we had to find someone to help me because there was something very, very wrong with me. He immediately got online and called a doctor some people told him about and her staff scheduled me for an appointment on March 4th. They also said we needed to plan on spending an hour with her because she was going to examine me and talk to me about my issues. I honestly have never had a doctor spend an hour with me so I’ll be honest, I didn’t believe it. Guess what? She spent one hour and fifteen minutes with me. I was shocked! And blessed because she asked the questions I wanted to talk about so she could figure out what my body was going through.

I have a thyroid issue and I thought that could be the problem but boy was I wrong! My new doctor ordered lab work to check my levels but she also told me she wanted to order an MRI. I’m claustrophobic but I didn’t care. I needed the MRI so her office was going to arrange all the details and call us to let us know when the appointment was. They called and told me that Monday, March 11th at 11: oo I needed to go to Knoxville for the appointment. Perfect. I was finally going to find out why I was so sick.

During the MRI the medical team that was running it saw something so they stopped the procedure and told me they needed to add contrast. When the contrast is injected into the body it improves the quality of the MRI images. The contrast is called gadolinium and some people are allergic so I requested they get Alan because I wanted to speak to him before that happened. They found Alan in the lobby and brought him to my room so I could see him. No big deal. I just wanted to see him in case I had a reaction to the contrast so we continued the MRI. I did it! I got through it without having a meltdown. We went home and I got sick again. UGH!

Then my new doctor called and told me the results of my lab work. It wasn’t awful but it wasn’t great either. She adjusted my prescription for my thyroid issue and she prescribed vitamins and informed me I needed to start them soon. Alan and I went to a local pharmacy and got them. Thank goodness I felt good enough to go. It was like going to a resort because it had been so long since I’d been out of the house. We found the vitamins and they buy one get one free. That was a nice bonus!

Next, the big phone call came. I was in the living room on the couch sick and couldn’t get up so Alan answered my phone. I could tell he was focused on what he was saying and I could tell the other person on the phone shared that focus. It was the day after my MRI and my doctor called to tell us I had a massive tumor and needed to see the neurosurgeon immediately. We needed to be at the office in one hour and we lived an hour and fifteen minutes away.

Once we got to the office I met the nicest doctor, staff, and nurses ever. They explained how I needed surgery and it needed to happen Tuesday. I finally knew what was wrong with me. It felt good to know that there was something and people were willing to take care of me. So Tuesday at 5:30 am I was at UT hospital and at 5:39 they were preparing me for surgery.

Surgery went well. I woke up pain-free, I have my vision back, and I remember things without asking the same question three or four times in a row.

Then I felt something. I felt YOU ALL! I felt you praying for me. My daughter and son read me Facebook messages, Instagram messages, and texts messages. They told me how much money was being donated on the Go Fund Me page and I was overwhelmed! You know I didn’t cry because I had a brain tumor. I cried because of how much love I felt from you! I had no idea that so many people knew my blog or me. You all are the reason I’m healing so well. You’re the reason my recovery is going so well. You’re the reason I can look at the hospital bills and know that everything will be alright. It’s you. You’re the angles that have lifted me and carried me through this. Thank you! For some reason, the words thank you don’t seem like enough. I want to give you all bear hugs and share a cookie with you. I want to show you how much you mean to me because you showed me so much love that I’ve had a pain-free recovery.

I still feel the love you’re sending me. I still feel the prayers you’re praying for me. I still feel the speedy recovery taking place and it’s because of you. Thank you! Please keep praying. I go back to the doctor tomorrow to have my 2-week follow-up appointment. I will also have another MRI in six months to make sure “Bouncer” the Big Brain Tumor doesn’t come back. I have to admit, for the past few days, I’ve been working on this podcast. It’s been 2 weeks and one day since my surgery. I haven’t felt this good in years! That’s because “Bouncer” has been growing in my brain for the last five to ten years. Now he’s gone and God is showing me what to do with my life. He showed me before but because of your love, I see things very clearly. I’m going to do what He wants me to do and the first thing is to tell you how you’ve blessed me. You’ve blessed me more than any of us will ever know!

The second thing we all need to do is continue to show this love to others. Who knew having Cookie Camp with a few people I knew online would lead to such a strong, kind, loving community? Not me. I thought it would be a fun weekend. Nope. It was a weekend that changed my life and showed me how much love is in this world. Again, it’s because of you. Thank you!

I’m getting a few tears now so I’m going to share a few pictures of my family with you. Then, I’m going to have a talk with God and tell him again and again how thankful, grateful, and blessed I am because of you. I love you all and you’ll never know how much you have touched my heart and my life! God bless you all!

This is my oldest son Chase cutting my chicken so I can eat it. The first meal I’d had in weeks. UT has good hospital food! Thanks, Chase for the help!

When I woke up from surgery I asked Tylor, my other son, to make me chicken and dumplings. He said he’d make them and we’d eat them. Well, thanks to the drugs I was under I told him I didn’t want to eat them. I just wanted to watch him to make them! Well, he made them when I got home and we all ate them. This guy can cook! Thanks Tylor!

This is my daughter Madison. She is smart, beautiful, and can do anything in this world! She is wearing a “Bouncer” Band! I didn’t know that I had to have my head covered every time I go outside for the next two years but the doctor said the sun could cause my incision damage so I bought some super cute headbands from Amazon. Once Madison saw them she made a purchase herself. Then, she sent me a text telling me she is wearing her “Bouncer” Band! Made me very happy!

bobbimscott named the headbands “Bouncer” Bands and I love it! My mom and daughter-in-law even ordered some! Thanks bobbimscott for the cool name for them!

Heres the gang with “Bouncer” Bands! Alan, Tylor, Heather, Madison and me! I love headbands!

This is Anne, Chase, Brooke, and Tripp. They’re at the Georgia Aquarium today and they’re sending me pictures. It makes me feel like I’m there with them! Thanks for sharing the pictures with me guys. I love the dolphin video!

These are my grandkids, Tripp and Brooke! Thanks for the wonderful picture of you! You both are awesome kids!!!!!!

Now don’t look any lower if you don’t want to see the size of “Bouncer.” I’m going to share an image with you on how big he was and an image on the CT Scan 5 hours after he was removed. Then, I’ll let you know what the doctor says tomorrow. So if you’re brave, scroll down and say #byebyeBouncer!

This is “Bouncer” and he was the size of a tennis ball. #byebyebouncer!

This is the CT Scan that was taken 5 hours after the doctor bounced “Bouncer” out of my head! See the dark area where “Bouncer” lived? It will take about three months for my brain to move back. I’m not driving any time soon and I’ll wear my “Bouncer” Bands for the next two years. I’ll let you know what the doctor says after my appointment tomorrow.

Thanks again for all the prayers, love, hugs, donations, and kindness you’ve given me. I feel and it’s helping me recover. I hope to start making cookies Monday or Tuesday. Won’t that be awesome? Making cookies three weeks after surgery! It’s because of YOU!!!!!! Thank you! I love you all!!!!!

Bear hugs,

Have you ever had a wonderful moment when you wished you had a camera and a microphone? That happened to me over Thanksgiving. My grandkids Tripp & Brooke wanted to work with me and make a podcast. Brooke called it a “compost” and Tripp and I told her it was a podcast. I don’t know if it’s because they’re my grandkids, but I really had fun making this #21 Marry Christmas from Tripp & Brooke Podcast.

#21 Merry Christmas from Tripp & Brooke

In this episode, you’re going to hear:

Did I mention I love the kids in this episode!

Here are the cookies Tripp wants to leave for Santa. Simple Reindeer Cookies.

Here is a tutorial for some Fun Reindeer Food for those poor little deer that are flying all over the world pulling that heavy sleigh. Poor little deer! Make them some food to help them with their long trip.

Now that you know all about Tripp & Brooke it’s time to find out who won the KitchenAid Mixer from The Cookie Network Royal Icing Recipe and KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway. Are you ready?

The winner of the KitchenAid Mixer is:

The winner of the Kitchen Stand Mixer is:

Bear hugs,

#20 Mama Mayer Bakery with Diane Mayer

I met Diane at Cookie Con and we formed an instant friendship. It started off by having breakfast together and inviting someone we didn’t know to sit with us. It was a great breakfast and an even better friendship that started that day. We don’t talk often because of busy lives, but when we do, we know why we’re friends. The power of a cookie brought us together and will help us stay friends for years to come. This is why this podcast is so important to me. You can take a little sugar, butter, and eggs and turn it into cookies that form friendships that will last a lifetime.

Diane has lived in different states and has made cookies along the way. She donates them to fundraisers, gives cookie gifts to people she meets, and to those who volunteer their time and efforts to something they’re passionate about. This is what The Power of a Cookie is about. Diane makes everyone she knows feel as if they are the most important people in the world one cookie at a time. She fills the cookie box with love and cookies made just for them. She’s a beautiful person on the inside and out and she makes a difference one cookie at a time.

This podcast is full of inspiration and how to come up with cute ideas on cookies to make. Mama Mayer Bakery will share how she comes up with the cookie puns and ideas. It makes me want to go into the kitchen now and begin baking something like Diane does with cookies and a lot of love.

If you want to know where to find Mama Mayer Bakery just follow the links below. I promise you’ll love her cookies and you won’t forget them!

Mama Mayer Bakery

Bear hugs,