At 7:30pm last night the annual Thilo Family cookie decorating competition was held in the kitchen. Despite fewer participants than in past years, the competition remained stiff (older and grayer) and a new rivalry may have emerged. It all started off with Sue setting up the event by mixing and rolling the dough, but early support was needed from Sam with a quick run to Fred Meyer for more powdered sugar and food coloring. Sue narrowly avoided a misconduct penalty by providing only fluorescent colored dyes, a clear violation of competition rules. Luckily, after an hour of so or baking and some savvy icing creation by Sue, the table...err...counter was set.
Early on it appeared that Sam may have won the contest uncontested. With more than a dozen cookies under his belt, a puke-c0lored (mixed by Sam) 'N' and 'U' to commemorate his Alma Mater, and a strong sugar high, it appeared to be the icing on the cake for his third straight victory. However, this is still the Thilo Family Cookie Decorating Competition, so additional competition was certainly expected.
Sue started strong with an array of Christmas Trees, Candy Canes, and even a delightful Christmas Angel. Clearly making a run at the crown, Sue surged into the lead with a tasteful Snowman and capped it all off with stylish green and pink boot (above). Just when it appeared Sue had things wrapped up, Tom came out of nowhere to stake his claim to the title. Previously Tom had been no more than a hopeful bystander, save for the few attempts at cookie decoration that were no better than fingers full of icing and dropped cookies on the floor.
(Tom applying icing with his tongue on the first cookie)
Perhaps it was the sugar talking or the challenging Jeopardy! questions on TV that motivated Tom, but a new-found talent may have emerged last night. His first attempt or two included licking the frosting to shape it on the cookie, but after quick instructions by Sue that a knife would be more appropriate and within the rules, Tom actually started making some decent looking cookies.
Then, the competition really started heating up. Sam brought out the big guns and started using toothpicks, while Sue resorted to red and green sprinkles. With a surgeon's touch Tom concocted a Christmas Tree complete with ornaments and lights of icing. Sam dug deep and created another bell, but was satisfied to watch as Tom skillfully sculpted his Christmas desserts. Eventually, it became such a route that Tom shouted out, "What next? An angel, no problem. I could ice the bottom of my shoe and it would look better than Sam's cookies!" Perhaps, father, perhaps.
Take a look at some of the highlights below and listen for the final verdict.
6 comments:
Cookies!!!
* Sam, what kind of twilight zone are you living in where you’re the reigning champion of the cookie contest? We need to check the record books because I may not do much, but I certainly decorate a mean cookie. I have visions of a carefully frosted snowman complete with an orange carrot nose and a festive read and green scarf around its neck. Let’s just set the record straight once and for all.
* I hear Sarah has been making cookies of her own in DC, so I bet she has a thing or two to say about the contest. I imagine Sam will contend that cookies manufactured outside Kootenai County don’t count. But, I’m not feeling too bad for Sarah because she already has Maggie’s cookie recipe and Mom’s truffle recipe. All the more reason for me to get married asap!
* I especially enjoyed the film footage. I got a kick out of Jeopardy! playing in the background. Also, it appears that Mom only knows out to frost yellow cookies- she has four in front of her and is working on the fifth. Nice bell, Dad!
Went to Maggie's craft party - ate 2 of her cookies and brought a plateful home. No wonder my cholesterol is high. Also, I made thumbprints this afternoon, using the leftover non-neon frosting.
Also, I made multi-colored bells, and I'm damn proud of it.
To set the record straight: the last two years in Madison I baked those cookies on my own and always won the contest against...myself.
I just made the 2nd round of Maggie's cookies for the year. They are quite delicious...I'm sure they will be a big hit at work tomorrow. It's a good thing none of you know the ingredients in Maggie's recipe...all of our diets would go out the window! P.S. I just put together an amazingly beautiful silver platter with Maggie's cookies, Mom's truffles, peanut butter chocolate balls, and Russian teacakes. I AM THE CHAMPION!
Sometimes it's good to review old comments. I'm not sure if anyone will read this comment of mine, but I find it interesting how Christmas cookies brought out the competitor in all of us. I challenge everyone to a cookie competition next year when we reunite. Hopefully, Sarah and Paul (yes, Paul, you'll be dragged into this, too) will be there for a healthy (and not so healthy) bake-off. Roll up your sleeves because things are going to get messy.
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