Baked Fish

I really enjoyed the opportunity to Watch Learn and Create.  I have played around quite a bit with contouring cookies – all thanks to Julia.  Some have been elegant, some whimsical and plenty of attempts at exact replications- (some were successful, some not!)  This time, I wanted to try something completely new - for me anyway.  I decided to go fishing!

My favorite dough to contour is Julia’s cut-out gingerbread.  However, humidity is a huge problem right now for me.  So, I opted instead for Julia’s gingerbread construction recipe with a leavening modification.  I’ve used it before and it is very reliable for contouring.

I purposefully cut the halves to join together flatter than a full sphere.  Most fish have a relatively thin shape. I played around with different ways of decorating – the possibilities are truly limitless. I shamefully did not completely think through the assembly and decoration process ahead of time and truly have no excuse.  Julia @Julia M. Usher, Samantha @Aproned Artist and Manu @Manu biscotti decorati are masters of process and always so generous with sharing the steps.  One of these days, I'll learn.

The seams are mostly hidden with the exception of the face.  I had a number of ideas for improving the face, adding details and overall clean-up… but I ran out of steam.  (Blame it on the humidity!)

I love these guys - so adorable!!!!

Funny that you mentioned my construction gingerbread. I just got a question on the main challenge post about adapting my recipe for high humidity, and I said I really don't. That's because I've found over time that my construction gingerbread will also get soft if not iced and not stored properly in humid conditions. It starts out a bit tougher/sturdier, but . . . ambient conditions still take a toll. But I'm glad to hear it served your purposes for this most delightful project!

And the school of fish!! So darn cute!

Oh my dear Lisa @LisaF, I absolutely LOVE your challenge entry here ❤️. So very creative and a wonderful application of using a cake pan to get the shape. It's perfect, Lisa! The ombre color selection looks just right and the face is adorable . So many fish I've seen (especially at the dentist's office. LOL) are very flat and your entry illustrates this beautifully. It looks like your fins assist the base cookie that supports the fish. Am I seeing that right? They all came out great! This is such a fun challenge. And I love that you made a family of fish .

I know what you mean about the "process" of creating a design. It can sometimes be hard to "see" the finished image in your head which is why I typically use construction paper to make models. I draw it out on paper and play around with a variety of techniques. I, too, draw a LOT of help from the wonderful contributors on CC. Aren't they just amazing?! @Julia M. Usher, @Manu biscotti decorati and Samantha @Aproned Artist ❤️. Many thanks to you, Manu @Manu biscotti decorati, for the length of time allowed for this challenge. 

Wonderful work dear Lisa ❤️❤️❤️ Hugs...

Oops, you forgot to put this entry into the challenge clip set, so I just did that for you. The set is now called "Cookie Connection Challenge Entries".

Beautiful work Lisa @LisaF. Love all the details.

This 3-D fish cookie 🐠 is so amazing and the little ones too 🐡🐟!  What a clever idea, Lisa @LisaF and how original!
Clever use of the brush embroidery technique for the scales and what a nice idea to airbrush! What about hiding also an additional treat inside the cookies for a further element of surprise? Altough this cookie is already a  suprise, and so inspiring.

@Julia M. Usher posted:

I love these guys - so adorable!!!!

Funny that you mentioned my construction gingerbread. I just got a question on the main challenge post about adapting my recipe for high humidity, and I said I really don't. That's because I've found over time that my construction gingerbread will also get soft if not iced and not stored properly in humid conditions. It starts out a bit tougher/sturdier, but . . . ambient conditions still take a toll. But I'm glad to hear it served your purposes for this most delightful project!

I'm still searching for the ultimate construction dough recipe.  Yours is definitely up there in terms of ease of making, rolling, etc.  But, you are absolutely correct, exposure takes it toll.  I have found that the margarine I use makes a different for contouring.  Not for flat pieces but certainly for hemispheres.  It seems to have to do with the percentage of vegetable oil?  Margarine is hard to come by in my area (though I can easily locate 20 different brands of butter!) When I noticed inconsistent results I put on my Julia Usher hat and tried to figure it out.  I'm not completely sure if the vegetable oil is the distinction but I did figure out that Land O Lakes brand works the best for me. 

@Julia M. Usher posted:

And the school of fish!! So darn cute!

Thank you so much Julia.  My apologies for the incorrect category posting.  Even though you so graciously make corrections, I hate it when you have to use your precious time to do so.  Some days, I think it's my brain that is softening the most over time!

@Cookies Fantastique posted:

Oh my dear Lisa @LisaF, I absolutely LOVE your challenge entry here ❤️. So very creative and a wonderful application of using a cake pan to get the shape. It's perfect, Lisa! The ombre color selection looks just right and the face is adorable . So many fish I've seen (especially at the dentist's office. LOL) are very flat and your entry illustrates this beautifully. It looks like your fins assist the base cookie that supports the fish. Am I seeing that right? They all came out great! This is such a fun challenge. And I love that you made a family of fish .

I know what you mean about the "process" of creating a design. It can sometimes be hard to "see" the finished image in your head which is why I typically use construction paper to make models. I draw it out on paper and play around with a variety of techniques. I, too, draw a LOT of help from the wonderful contributors on CC. Aren't they just amazing?! @Julia M. Usher, @Manu biscotti decorati and Samantha @Aproned Artist ❤️. Many thanks to you, Manu @Manu biscotti decorati, for the length of time allowed for this challenge. 

Wonderful work dear Lisa ❤️❤️❤️ Hugs...

Thank you so much for your kind words Carol.  You are seeing correctly, the fins do help with the propping up.  In retrospect, I wish I had put fins on all of them to keep them upright instead of attaching them to a base cookie.  It would have actually been easier and more stable. For some reason, I got it in my head that they had to be stable before airbrushing and I think that's incorrect. I was also incredibly conflicted about whether or not it was okay to have bare gingerbread exposed on the fins.  Again, I made some incorrect assumptions that resulted in unecessary complications.  Part of the learning that's for sure.

@Cookies Fantastique posted:

Oh my dear Lisa @LisaF, I absolutely LOVE your challenge entry here ❤️. So very creative and a wonderful application of using a cake pan to get the shape. It's perfect, Lisa! The ombre color selection looks just right and the face is adorable . So many fish I've seen (especially at the dentist's office. LOL) are very flat and your entry illustrates this beautifully. It looks like your fins assist the base cookie that supports the fish. Am I seeing that right? They all came out great! This is such a fun challenge. And I love that you made a family of fish .

I know what you mean about the "process" of creating a design. It can sometimes be hard to "see" the finished image in your head which is why I typically use construction paper to make models. I draw it out on paper and play around with a variety of techniques. I, too, draw a LOT of help from the wonderful contributors on CC. Aren't they just amazing?! @Julia M. Usher, @Manu biscotti decorati and Samantha @Aproned Artist ❤️. Many thanks to you, Manu @Manu biscotti decorati, for the length of time allowed for this challenge. 

Wonderful work dear Lisa ❤️❤️❤️ Hugs...

Thank you so much for your kind words Carol.  You are seeing correctly, the fins do help with the propping up.  In retrospect, I wish I had put fins on all of them to keep them upright instead of attaching them to a base cookie.  It would have actually been easier and more stable. For some reason, I got it in my head that they had to be stable before airbrushing and I think that's incorrect. I was also incredibly conflicted about whether or not it was okay to have bare gingerbread exposed on the fins.  Again, I made some incorrect assumptions that resulted in unnecessary complications.  Part of the learning that's for sure.

@Zeena posted:

Beautiful work Lisa @LisaF. Love all the details.

Thank you dear Zeena😘

@Manu biscotti decorati posted:

This 3-D fish cookie 🐠 is so amazing and the little ones too 🐡🐟!  What a clever idea, Lisa @LisaF and how original!
Clever use of the brush embroidery technique for the scales and what a nice idea to airbrush! What about hiding also an additional treat inside the cookies for a further element of surprise? Altough this cookie is already a  suprise, and so inspiring.

Thank you for your kind words (and this challenge!) Manu.  I did think of hiding treats, which also made me think of so many of your delightful creations! If I went that route, I would definitely use Julia's cut-out gingerbread recipe.  The icing and assembly did not take as long as I feared and that recipe is definitely a crowd pleaser.  It would be a fun party favor for children.  Thank you again for encouraging us1

@LisaF posted:

Thank you so much Julia.  My apologies for the incorrect category posting.  Even though you so graciously make corrections, I hate it when you have to use your precious time to do so.  Some days, I think it's my brain that is softening the most over time!

No problem at all!

One thing for certain is that you are never short on creativity when it comes to your entries. These cute little fish are so adorable - and you picked the perfect shape. I don't know where these fish cookies are now, but I am sure they would make the most interesting conversation piece!

@Sweet Prodigy posted:

One thing for certain is that you are never short on creativity when it comes to your entries. These cute little fish are so adorable - and you picked the perfect shape. I don't know where these fish cookies are now, but I am sure they would make the most interesting conversation piece!

Thank you so much for your kind words Christine.  LOL - you are very correct - they have sparked some very funny remarks.  Video chats have frequently been interupted with "Is that a fish?!"😂

OMG!! Lisa, this fish is sooooo wonderful!!! Love it totally!! ❤️  @LisaF

@Icingsugarkeks posted:

OMG!! Lisa, this fish is sooooo wonderful!!! Love it totally!! ❤️  @LisaF

thank you so much my friend.  I had a lot of fun with this one!❤️😘

Love it Lisa,well done!!!Great jobI am glad you added some photos from process❤️

@Petra Florean posted:

Love it Lisa,well done!!!Great jobI am glad you added some photos from process❤️

Thank you so much Petra.  I hope all is well with you 😘

@LisaF posted:

Thank you so much Petra.  I hope all is well with you 😘

Yes,yes thanks for asking. You are so sweet😍Just very busy summer season ❤

He’s adorable! Well done.

@Tina at Sugar Wishes posted:

He’s adorable! Well done.

Thank you so much Tina!❤️

How gorgeous! Super fun!

@Evelindecora posted:

How gorgeous! Super fun!

Thank you so much my friend!❤️