Some years ago I was on jury duty. Because I was at university, the idea of doing something that didn’t involve listening to a lecturer drone on filled me with excitement. It wasn’t an inconvenience like it would be now passed off with a teeth gritted “civic duty” but something I looked forward to. I was hoping for an interesting case-who doesn’t? Yet the luck of the draw, and probably a good thing, was that it was a robbery. A good thing in that it wasn’t anything more gruesome. I don’t know if I could look at actually murder scene photos. I mean to watch it on Law & Order is one thing but real ones are far too frighteningly real.
It was a robbery case in which a young man held up a chemist. He was dishevelled and the cheap shirt and tie appeared to be purchased solely for this appearance as he struggled with the tie as if it were a noose around his neck. He had very little in the way of alibi-an alibi witness who he only knew by his first name and who could not be produced. The staff from the chemist store were reliable and clear in their testimony. It seemed to everyone on their side that he was guilty.
However, despite out gut instincts, his poor testimony (described as shifty at best) we had to find him not guilty. Not because we didn’t think he was guilty, we all thought that he was, but the prosecution hadn’t done their job of proving him guilty which is of course where the burden of proof rests. I remember their shocked faces when the sentence was read out. It was a family business and people were wondering how we could have let him go. We were led out one way and everyone in the courtroom another so we couldn’t explain why we had come about with that answer. I didn’t feel guilty for that because we did what we were supposed to do and the judge had reiterated that they had to prove that it was him beyond a reasonable doubt just before we went in for deliberations. But I have been thinking about it lately given the developments in the U.S. trial of Casey Anthony.
With so much focus these past few weeks on babies in a most disturbing light I wanted to do something that was light and cute and joyful. And that’s where my friend Christie comes in. She has a baby girl called Poppy who has the most squeezable cheeks. Poppy was about to become baptised and Mr NQN and I were invited along. I decided to make some cookies for Christie to serve her guests at the meal after Poppy’s baptism. When I was talking to her on the phone I mentioned what I was going to make little baby cookies and after some discussion we decided on Poppy and Friends cookies – like a United Colours of Bennetton baby cookie selection to reflect who Poppy might become friends with and her half French African cousin that was to come in the next few months. Then Christie asked if I wouldn’t mind making them as a little gift and putting them in little bags with ribbon and I happily obliged.
Even at the age of 8 months she’s a real charmer that Poppy. At home a couple of days before I showed them the just finished cookies. Poppy craned her neck right around Christie who was between us, looked at me and looked me straight in the eye and gave me the widest smile I could have imagined. It was like being blown a kiss -that was reward enough! I first saw the idea for these on Sue’s fantastic site and knew that I’d have to make them. I used a Queen Royal Icing mix that I was sent which worked very well. It was enough to ice the 150 small cookies made (but I found that the measurement on the packet for the water to be added was more 80-90ml rather than the 50ml specified). Still it was great in that no sifting was necessary and it could be mixed together easily with a spoon and a bowl.
They were put into small cellophane bags and tied with ribbon and brought to the lunch afterwards. We had to dash off after the cake was cut but Christie told me that they were a hit with the family. And Poppy, well she is a hit with me 
So tell me Dear Reader, have you ever been on jury duty? And what did you think of the Casey Anthony verdict?
Itty Bitty Baby Cookies
For cookies
- 85 g/3ozs butter, softened
- 140g/5ozs white caster superfine sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 180g/6ozs all-purpose flour plus extra for rolling
- Royal icing mixture (see below)
- Kopykake edible writing pens (from Little Betsy Baker)
For Royal Icing
- 1 egg white (30grams/1 oz)
- 1-2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 150grams sifted icing sugar
- gel colours to reflect desired skin tones
DIRECTIONS
1. Make cookies. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Stir in the flour. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with a small, round cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 cm apart on parchment paper. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.
3. Make Royal Icing by beating egg white with lemon juice until foamy on low speed increasing to medium speed. You want two textures for the Royal Icing, a stiff one to pipe the outline and a runnier one to fill in the outline. Add sifted sugar by the spoonful while beating until desired consistency is reached. You want it a little stiff in order to pipe the outline however, if it is too stiff, add a tiny little bit of warm water. Always cover your Royal Icing with cling wrap as it dries out easily. Spoon some of the royal icing into a piping bag or a strong ziplock bag and pipe a fine outline around the cookies. Allow to set a little for 20-30 minutes.
4. Divide the remaining royal icing into three bowls or however many shades of skin you would like to make. Tint each one carefully-a little goes a long way and my pink hued skin colour ended up bright pink so I had to remix it. Add a little water (not too much and using a small spoon, fill in the edges. Place aside to set for several hours (or overnight) until completely set.
5. Using the edible ink pens draw on little faces!
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76 Comments | Add your own
So cute!
Cheers,
Rosa
I don’t know what is cuter the baby or the cookies…ahh the baby!!
too cute!!
Teh jury dilemma reminds me of something I learnt during one of the first few classes at first year law. The professor told us that during his first law lecture as a student his lecturer said “do not confuse law and justice”.
They’re so cute! What a great job you did!
Where do you find all the time to bake all these lovely goodies for your friends, plus bagging them up as well (I hate that part). They are super cute and I just love Sue’s site, she is one of the sweetest bloggers around.
I didn’t follow the Casey Anthony case, but goodness if she’s facing the death penalty I do not envy the jury. Never done jury duty myself. I imagine I’d secretly love it, as I adore Law & Order, but yes, really playing with someone’s fate…big deal. These cookies, and the too cute bub – just gorgeous
Heidi xo
How gorgeous are those cookies, but honestly little Poppy steals the show! (She will always be figlet to me <3 ) Adorable.
when do you sleep nqn?..so many biscuits..they and the baby are as cute as..jane
Thank you so much Lorraine! The biscuits were so adorable and a real hit as favours for my guests. I am so lucky to have you as my friend!
Ps. Poppy loves you too x
Oh. My. GAWD!!!! That is just toooo cute for words!!!!! I just love the little curl of hair running down the forehead!
These cookies are adorable! And so is Poppy – she has very squeezable chubby cheeks. I got asked to do jury duty once while I was at Uni and had to decine because I was doing a science project subject and couldn’t take time off – and now I am not allowed. Oh well.
These are sooooo cute Lorraine! Definitely a great way to also celebrate a baby shower or a one month thing!
Can you please let the baby know that she is tremendously gorgeous. Fanx. oh and so are your biscuits;)
T x
Gorgeous. They are a great idea and that was a lovely thing for you to do!
Indeed, look at those pinchable cheeks!
how adorable lorraine … such a lovely bub … and those cookies brought a smile to my face perfect even for a baby shower … and her cake looks amazing too loving the poppy flowers as the topper
Poppy is just heavenly! She has brightened up my morning. I love the cookies too.
Lorraine, Your babies turned out DARLING! (Thanks for the link-love<3) I love all the skin variations:) So cute. Poppy sure has kissable cheeks!
I have never been on jury duty and I was dumbfounded by the Casey Anthony verdict!?!
weeeee cuteness all around!!
An idea that I think I will steal one day, they are as cute as…..
I haven’t performed jury duty and never want to. A female co-worker once sat on a case which disturbed her greatly, and for a long time afterwards.
Lovely post. Gives me a lovely warm and fuzzy, for obvious reasons.
Funny, am in the process of planning the same for Nina. Though I wasn’t going to bore everyone with a formal celebration. But perhaps I should, so I can bake.
These cookies are just gorgeous Lorraine! well done
These are SO cute….you really take the cookie Loraine!
Your baby cookies are SO cute!!!!!!!!! Just gorgeous and I love their little cute smiling faces.
I’ve never had to do jury duty. I’m thankful for that.
Such gorgeous cookies Lorraine…and baby Poppy is just ANGELIC….beautiful photographs
Cookies are cute and so is Poppy.Such a sweet and generous gesture on your part Lorraine to bake and pack the itty-bitty baby cookies! Also, what a great cake , did her mum buy or make it?
I’ve never had to attend jury duty but my sister-in-law (who is now passed), used to get called up all the time. One case was so drawn out that she was there for 3 weeks.
One thing I can say, from my own experience is that seldom the ‘system’ gets it right , even when the evidence is staring them in the face! The words “beyond a reasonable doubt” are beneficial only to the criminal and detrimental to the victim!
Lorraine these are RIDICULOUS. Argh! You have broken my brain and set off all my baby-making hormones!
I’m practically lactating :\
So gorgeous….might have to beg you to make something beautiful for my little girls 4th birthday
(i could pay you!!!)
BTW My hubby has jury duty today!
I have serve two times on a jury. One case was about a veterinarian and his wife suing Orkin Pest Control for contaminating their house with a chemical that had been banned years before. The plaintiffs won the case and got punitive damages due to the Orkin people trying to cover up their use of a banned chemical.
The second trial was on a cut dried case of theft by a career criminal.
I hope I do not have to serve again. I lose a day’s pay each time I have to serve on a jury. The state of Fl does not pay enough to make up a days pay . I work for the state in another area of service.
They are so cute! Can you make pillow cookies next time too? With these faces on them.
lovely cookies and poppy is so adorable!
Cookies very cute, Poppy cuter! What a gorgeous moppet
!
YUM! i could really go a few of those right now! mmmmmmmm
These are so adorable! I have to say, I’ve never dont jury duty but I always wanted to do it. I love all those crime shows but I feel like if I ever got to do it, I’d prob have nightmares for weeks!
What a gorgeous baby and adorable cookies!
I’ve never been on dury duty but I dread that exact situation – having to decide between what I believe has happened and what the prosecution abd defence put forward as having happened…
On a more cheerful note, the bikkies are very cute – Poppy is one lucky girl.
Lorraine too cute, as always! So cute I could have another baby just to have the excuse to make them! I purposely did not keep track of that case, just as I’m doing my best to avoid the Leiby case. This sort of stuff keeps me awake at night…
My country doesn’t have juries anymore, but having studied the law, I always find it fascinating how juries work.
The baby cookies look absolutely fab though – and Poppy does have very very very pinchable cheeks ;p
very cute baby… + very cute cookies
Aaw they’re so cute! Made me smile on such a gloomy day
Those cookies are too damn cute Lorraine! But Poppy, oh my goodness what a sweetheart and those cheeks?!?!You’re right she has the most squeezable cheeks
The cookies are adorable, but Poppy steals the show!
these are gorgeous – and so is poppy
never heard of casey anthony and never been on jury duty but a friend of mine was on duty for a tough case and found it really hard
Aw adorable!!! those cookies look amazing. I’m thinking it would be a great idea to make these with my little cousin. She loves anything to do with babies and cookies of course.
You are 100% right. Those are, absolutely, the mose squeezable baby cheeks I’ve ever seen! I wonder whether, if I stuffed my mouth full of these cookies, my cheeks would also look squeezable…
So cute, both the cookies and those adorable chubby cheeks.
wow, you actually got to do fury duty, I’d love too. I think it would be so cool. A real life Law & Order….. I’ve never been. 
—Poppy is beautiful….I want to squeeze her fat cheeks!
And the cookies are sooo delectabley adorable. What a fun Treat for babies and adults alike!
xxxx
Ps. Lorraine, your home must smell like a sugary heaven.
Wow, they look soo cute! By the way, thanks soooooooooooooo much for looking at my blog! It meant so much to me as you are the person who inspired me to start blogging! I have read you’re whole blog (it took me ages) and i’m a massive fan of yours
What pinchable cheeks indeed! The cookies are almost as cute too.
I don’t know how I’d go on jury duty, if I had to I think I’d prefer a nice boring case, nothing gruesome. I agree that the “system” isn’t perfect, but it’s all we’ve got, it must have been hard to not be able to explain your verdict.
The cake and the cookies are gorgeous but not as gorgeous as Poppy I’m afraid. She has the cutest little cheeks!
I’ve never been called to jury duty but I reckon me saying this will result in a letter in the mail very soon.
So incredibly CUTE!!!
Poppy is gorgeous and your cookies are EEEEEK so CUTE!
It is disturbing the number of crimes that go unpunished due to our crap legal system and crap technology our cops have in this country. Pretty easy to be a criminal it seems.
Awwww, Poppy is soooo cuteeee!
I love her cheeks !!!
And u have the cutest cookies jus for her Lorraine!
I love ur truffle hunt post too!
these are so so cute! what a great idea. I’ve been thinking of venturing into cookie icing decorating
Ohhh, these are so adorable, Lorraine! And you’re right, Poppy is a real charmer…what a cutie! That sweet smile of hers must have melted your heart.
How funny that you mention jury duty! I’m like you — I got called when I was in college and was all too happy to oblige and take the time off university. I must have seemed a little too strangely eager though, as I wasn’t chosen to be a juror. And then of course when I was called more recently I was none to happy about my civic duty, lol!
Sooooo cute…Poppy and the cookies!
A little over 30 years ago, I worked in a photo lab. Part of my deal was checking the police and coroner photos, as I could stomach it and keep my mouth shut. There were single and double murders, and murder/suicide.One that stands out was a little girl who died as a result of her mommy’s boyfriend in a rage.It was a known case. I will never forget the story those photos told, and I will spare you the details. Remembrance of this makes me quite angry at Casey Anthony. But you see, Casey has deep issues in her mind, and so the question is..can we hate a person for being sick? We can certainly hate what she did, but most everyone in America wants her head on a platter.All we know about this trial was faux journalism and TV news commentary telling us what we were seeing, as like everything else they “report” on.
In essence, every person screaming “off with her head!” doesn’t really know enough to level such hateful, murderous judgement. I am ashamed of them. We need facts, not bias from a ‘news’ commentator.
Your cookies look really nice and I think Poppy’s cheeks are the cutest I’ve ever seen.
I’ve never been on jury duty. I don’t think I’d like to either, far too stressful!
Poppy is adorable, as are the cookies, great work!
x
Ok, two things. Firstly, I notice you have been putting more photos of babies on your blog lately.. HMMMMM? is there something we ought to know?
hehehe.. Secondly, Su-yin (@breadetbutter) has been making some awesome cookies lately and this reminded me of her.. yours and her decoration skills are brilliant!
Your friend must have been thrilled, Lorraine.. what a great treat to bring. I hated jury duty… bad injury claim with shady lawyer… I felt bad for the woman but, honestly, she hurt herself jumping a turnstyle…DUH! On top of which the medical expert was the shadiest looking guy I ever saw. She didn’t get a nickle.
There’s a doco on ABC iview called On Trial. If eps 3 and 4 are still up, they are the first murder trial ever to be filmed in Australia, and they were filmed in WA. It is so, so, sooooo interesting. And you’ll be pleased to know that both the prosecution and defence agreed there was no need for the jury to see crime scene photos. They used some very stylised computer imagery to show where the wounds went.
Absolutely beautiful baby… Just made my day seeing that precious face and the itty bitty baby cookies, Lorraine. Thank God for NQN*•*•* Aloha ♥
OMG you keep the cookies, I’ll take Poppy! What an adorable baby! I couldn’t stay away from her I know I couldn’t. I love babies.
I’ve listened to a lot of comments on Casey Anthony. My daughter lives in Orlando and my son-in-law is an attorney there. They both have strong views.
Truthfully, it doesn’t matter how any of us feel. As in your jury case, if there isn’t enough evidence to convict, they are to be considered innocent. Casey, OJ and your guy – same same. Maybe guilty but not proved.
Cookies are really cute.
Oh those cookies are adorable (and they baby quite cute too!). I’ve never done jury duty and I’m not allowed to now as a practising lawyer!
Omg soooooo cute! I got called for jury duty once then they didn’t even need me!
Awwww they are just adorable! So so cute.
Lorraine they are amazing!
I remember doing something like them in primary school as my teacher was having a baby. I used Arnott’s arrowroot biscuits with royal icing and some store bought gel icing which didn’t set in the end. I was extremely disappointed and my babies faces were all squashed and smudged! They were devoured by my classmates anyhow…
Poppy and her family are so lucky to have a talented friend like you! Those cookies are gorgeous.
I just feel sad about that trial. A poor little girl is gone and no one really knows for sure what happened to her. It’s ghastly.
omg how cute is that little poppy! delicious!
the cookies are adorable but that baby and her knitwear steal the show!
corrie
My little girl has great big chubba cheeks like that too, nothing better for big, squishy kisses
The biscuits are adorable, great party favours.
The one time I got called up for jury duty I got rejected from every trial!
Those are so incredibly sweet! What lovely cookies.
I dont know if there even is jury duty in the UK, but I wouldn’t have to do it, I’m not a British citizen.
*kisses* HH
chubby cheeks like that are just begging to be stuffed with equally adorable cookies.
Oh my, this is SOOOO cute! Love the simple yet effective design.
Poppy is such an adorable baby, those cheeks are asking for a biting. Excellent and thoughtful cookies!
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