"The Learning Cookies"

Well, actually, they're Christmas cookies, but for me it was a learning experience.  I've been wanting to learn how to decorate cut-out cookies with royal icing for years.  This year, I finally decided it's never going to happen if I don't just jump into it and give it a go.

I watched YT videos until three a.m.

I visited a gazillion cookie-making websites and cookie blogger posts.
I watched all the YT videos AGAIN.....
I wondered if it would actually be possible.
I eventually found myself ordering supplies from Amazon.
I went to Hobby Lobby to see what else I should probably have.
I decided to actually bake the cookies and hoped they would not only taste great, but hold their shape so I wouldn't have to start all over with a different recipe.

The above list could go on and on.... but I'll spare you!  In the end, it took me a few hours to make the cookie dough, chill it, cut the cookies out, chill them again and bake them.  I survived that part, at least.  They were quite flavorful and retained their shape.

Now.... for the dreaded royal icing challenge!  It's what I have feared the most.  So many different ways it needs to be prepared, depending on what exactly you want to do with it.  There's stiff consistency, medium, outline, and flood consistency.  And they need to be just right for the best results.  So much to learn!

Then, there's the questions brought to mind when trying to decide which "best" is really the best one.
Every video, every website, every blog post.... they all have the "best" way of doing things.

Oh my.

Well, this was my first attempt at trying to learn how royal icing behaves and trying to get the consistency right.

I know this much:
I need to take lessons.
I need to learn how to make decorated cookies happen in a more organized fashion.  My normally sparkling kitchen looked like a tornado passed right through the center of it by the time I finished.

I'm not entirely unhappy, I did learn a few things, but mostly, I learned I have plenty more to learn.
Oh..... and I learned that I think I'm going to enjoy it!