We just received a beautiful sample set in the mail from Spectrum Glass for our Creations Studio clients to view! I have been holding them up to the window, looking at the rich and vibrant colors- stained glass has got to be one of the most beautiful man-made things that I have ever seen. It got me thinking: what else can stained glass be used for? In the hands of a professional with a the proper tools, stained glass can transform into any number of beautiful things. In my hands? Well, let's just say it wouldn't turn out great. Band-aids would most likely be involved.
So how else can I incorporate such beautiful colors into my life? Candy stained glass!! Yes, that's right, I'm taking it all the way back to 2nd Grade! Courtesy of Simply Recipes, an awesome blog for any kitchen enthusiast, here is the recipe for beautiful Stained Glass Cookies, just in time for the holidays:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
20-40 hard candies (such as Life Savers or Jolly Ranchers), preferably in several colors
Method:
1. Pre-Heat oven to 375 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat.
2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add molasses and vanilla extract, mixing until incorporated. Add egg and mix until light and smooth, about 1 minute on medium speed.
3. Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture. Use electric mixer to blend just until flour is incorporated. Divide dough in half and flatten into 2 discs. Wrap discs in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least an hour and up to 2 days.
4. Remove any wrappers on candies and separate them by color into plastic bags. Use a mallet to crush candies.
5. Place one disc between 2 large sheets of waxed paper and roll to 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut dough into desired shapes. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Using a smaller cookie cutter or a knife, cut shapes into centers of cookies, reserving these center bits to add into extra dough.
6. Use a spoon to sprinkle the crushed candy into the hollowed-out centers of the cookies, filling to the edges. Try to keep the candy within the centers. Any candy specks that fall on the cookie will color the cookie.
7. If cookies will be hung as ornaments or decorations, poke a small hole in the top of each cookie before baking.
8. Bake 9-10 minutes. The candy should be melted and bubbling and the cookies just barely beginning to brown. Remove baking sheets from oven and place on wire racks to cool. Allow cookies to cool on pans at least 10 minutes; otherwise, the candy centers may separate from the dough. When cookies are completely cooled, remove and store in an airtight container. String with ribbon if you want to hang as an ornament.
Makes 2-4 dozen cookies, depending on how large you make them.
For step-by-step pictures and more, visit the Simply Recipes Stained Glass Cookies webpage.
For this week's Friday Fun Fact, here is a little bit to learn about Plasma Cutting, something that I have written for the Acutech website
Plasma cutting is an inexpensive method of metal cutting that came into fashion during the 1980s. Certain materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum, and copper, cannot be flame cut, which lead to the invention of Plasma cutters. Early plasma welding machines were paired with computer numerical control (CNC) technology to cut shapes in metal materials based on instructions programmed into the CNC machinery. The technology has had many years to develop and be refined into a method that is very cost-effective. Modernized versions of the plasma cutting machines have more precision than they used to and cost less than other cutting services.
The process is mostly used to cut metal, especially sheet metal and plate, using a plasma torch. These torches are either handheld or attached to a machine with a CNC program that guides the cutting process on a plasma cutting table. A power supply and arc starting circuit connect with as the plasma gas that flows through regulating cables and leads. In this method, a high-voltage spark within the torch body ionizes through the torch head to initiate a plasma arc. A plasma gas including argon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen mixtures conducts electricity to transfer energy from the electrical source of power through the torch. The intensely high temperature plasma cutting arc connects with the material being cut at temperatures around 25,000 degrees Celsius. The plasma cutting service slices through the material due to the extremely high temperature of the arc, and unlike traditional metal-against-metal cutting, there are no metal chips produced. This high temperature plasma arc melts metal and the gas flow eradicates the material from the below the cut, otherwise known as the kerf.
The plasma cutting method burns thicker material than laser cutting and water jet cutting. It uses gas and electrical currents to melt and cut the work piece rather than water or laser beams, which makes the cutting edge slightly rougher with a beveled and rounded top edge. Depending on the electrical current capacity and the type of metal, cuts can range from 1/8 inch to up to about 2 inches. Plasma cutters are much less expensive and economically favorable.
