How to transfer flood icing to a squeeze bottle . . . Works for Me Wednesday

Over the last few weeks, I've gotten this question over and over again in the comments, in my email and on twitter:

"How do you get flood icing from the bowl into the squeeze bottles?"

Here's my secret...I don't have a secret.  I just pour it in.

Take an empty squeeze bottle,


and icing thinned for flooding,


preferably, do not try to do this while holding a camera in one hand.


Pour in s-l-o-w-l-y.


There we go; that's better.


I'm right-handed, so normally, I hold the container of icing in my left hand and with a silicone spatula in my right, carefully guide the icing into the bottle.


{Sometimes it gets messy, but usually I can make it with no spills.}

If it does plop over the side, wipe it up with a damp paper towel.

There it is...my non-secret secret.

I guessing someone has a better (neater) way.  Spill it, sister (not literally). 

How to Clean Icing Tips . . . Works for Me Wednesday

OK, remember last week's WFMW post?  It was "how to clean squeeze bottles".  I teased that this week I would post "how to clean toilets."  You guys....I scared Mr. E.  He read the post then immediately texted me.  He was worried that I used the word "toilets" on a food blog. 

{Mr. E....I love you for looking out for me. ♥  Aaand, I just used it 2 more times.}

On to cleaning icing tips...

This might be my least favorite part of cookie decorating.  The dreaded tip cleaning.

1. Let your icing bags sit on the counter for several hours, or overnight, and hope someone else will clean them.

2. Fill a glass with hot soapy water.

3. Remove the tips from the couplers.  Drop the tip and the coupler tip in the soapy water.

4. Squeeze the extra icing out of the bags.

5. Working from the small part of the bag, push the remaining piece of the coupler and work it out of the end of the bag. Place in soapy water.

6. Let the tips soak for a few minutes....several minutes if you've waited a while to clean them. *cough*

7.  Scrub the inside of the tips and couplers with a tip brush.
 
(I use the spiral looking end.  There is also a cone-shaped tip brush that is difficult to find, but awesome.)

(I do this under running water and hold the tip down, so I can see the water running through it....especially important on smaller tips.)

8. Let the tips dry on a drying rack.  They are supposed to be rust-proof.  To make doubly-sure they remain rust proof, dry with a paper towel, or stick them in a 150 degree oven for 5-10 minutes.  

That's it!   It's not too hard after all.  (But still see if your hubby will do it.)

---

If you haven't visited us on University of Cookie in a while, here's what you are missing:

• Shelly's Soft Sugar Cookies (I'm SO making these!)
• a video tutorial on brush embroidery (yes, on COOKIES) from Ali B.
• a video about icing consistency from Marian
• Callye shows how she applies sanding sugar to her cookies

Come join us over at University of Cookie!  Tuition is *always* free!

How to Clean Squeeze Bottles . . . Works for Me Wednesday

The good news?  You've just decorated 5 dozen cookies.

The bad news? Your husband is on a business trip and YOU are the only one left to clean the squeeze bottles.

Truth be told, I'd much rather clean out squeeze bottles than icing tips.
{If you want more information on using squeeze bottles for flooding cookies, please visit this post.}

First, pour out the majority of the icing.


Then, fill with hot, soapy water.  Let it soak a few minutes.


Next, shake and squirt out the water; refilling with clean water.
 

Continue shaking and squirting out the water until it runs clear and is no longer soapy.  It's fun; I promise!


Now, turn upside down and let dry on a drying rack.

After a few hours, if the water hasn't all drained out, do the chopstick trick.

Here's the chopstick trick:

• twist a piece of paper towel around a chopstick,

• use the paper toweled-chopstick to dry up any lingering water drops.

{And isn't this the prettiest picture of a squeeze bottle & a chopstick you've ever seen? I know you've seen a lot.}


Voila! Clean as a whistle...and ready for your next batch of cookie decorating.

Next up, how to clean a toilet.

{I kid.}