Ay ya ya.....fiesta!

When I think of fiesta I think of The Three Amigos, sombreros, margaritas, pinatas and burros or donkeys. So when Little Monkey's 3rd birthday theme became a fiesta complete with taco bar and chili pepper pinata, I knew that I had to make donkey cookies.

I love to bake. I love starting with flour and sugar and a little salt, add some heat and voila! Cookies! Cake! Pastry! Pie dough...well, we're working on that one. Anyway, there is something magical and soothing about being in the kitchen for me. It's a way for me to pour my love into something that is shared with others. I never keep an entire batch of anything for myself. Pieces and slices and servings are doled out to friends, co-workers, family, DH's coworkers. Anyone. If it wouldn't be weird, I would leave anonymous  baked goods on strangers front doorsteps.

I hum, sing, dance and concentrate fiercely when I'm baking. When I'm icing cookies I end up with hand cramps and a chapped lower lip. I am like a small child concentrating on getting it "just right" and subconciously alternate between licking and biting my lower lip while I pipe and add details.

My kitchen looks perfect when there is disarray such as below...

The end result wasn't as great as I'd have liked, but I will be the first to admit that I am a very large Type A. Nothing short of perfection makes me happy when it comes to what I put out there.  I figure that no one at the party will even notice the uneven blankets when they taste the killer chocolate icing. Oh yeah, no dyed brown icing here....it's chocolate all the way!

Baking is my way of having my dream job for a few hours. Surrounded by baked goods...that's a great job!