Geekcookies

[edit] Idea

After the GameCookies success, we needed a new challenge. So we found online an instruction how to create pixel mapped cookies. Of course with space invaders.

Also the known shape mappings of M.C. Escher inspired us after we found a 3D printable mold.

[edit] Testing

A first run was made. The intial methode using the playdoh extruder kinda worked but was very labor intensive. Then we used the stripes method of the christmas invaders. This proved to be very effective as the stripes are easier to handle and the build up is faster. We also tried the sirpinsky cookies. This brought the idea to reduce the space invaders with the same method so we get smaller but more cookies.

Puzzled MC Escher birds
Chocolate bird
Mixed color bird
assembling pixel extrusions
starting 2nd row
really messy
4 pixels in one go
2nd row done
half invader
finally finished
cut and ready for baking
hot invaders
pixeling
the finished invaders block
testing the stripes method

[edit] Creating

We use Shortcrust dough.

[edit] First day

Make the dough, half normal, half chocolate. Count 30 minutes per Kg of dough (in reality it is 2.2Kg). Rest in fridge for a couple of hours.
Roll out plates of same width of 550g each (cut the dough in 4). Count about 20 minutes per Kg. Put back in fridge.

preparing
mixing
mixing
magerine
and flour
all ingedients
yes, rhum!
one spoon
wrrrr
rrrraaaaa
done
FUUUUUUUU
unloading
scraping all tiny bits
set into fridge
same thing again
portioning
this time with cocoa
the cocoa spoon
done
yummy
fridge filled
rolling
rolling
more rolling
choco plate
more to do
the Two Towers

[edit] Second day

Put chocolate plate on top of white plate, stick them together using egg white
put into fridge
Cut this combined plate into stripes of 0.5cm
put into fridge
Cut the other plates into 1cm stripes
put into fridge
assemble stripes into your favourite pixel monster
put into fridge

A lot of fridge. Can also use freezer to make the stuff handable. Or do all the work, outside, in the cold night.

towers back from fridge
more rolling
choco plate
workspace
rolling for fishes
cutting fish
makerbot printed form
stuff ready
cut into 1cm
1cm choco
egg white as glue
glueing
aim
splotch!
cut into 5mm
1cm dual color
arrange
move to freezer
create pattern
stripe by stripe
trick to move stripes
stripes from freezer
putting on pattern block
taking form
finished block
ready to fridge
carefully
done for today

[edit] Third day

Cut the block into 5mm slices
bake with 200°C for 8 minutes
cool
eat (only the ones with a bad shape please)

Prepare workspace, and wash hands
Get block and start flattening
Flip to side
And more flattening
It's not going really straight
Make it straight
Chop off the ends
Looks a bit like an invader
Rolling away
roll roll
squeezed nicely
while block is in freezer...
damn good tasting stuff
out of freezer
cut in 5mm slices
ready to go into 200°C
not perfect. It's modern art!
stay there for 8 minutes
awesomly smelling delicious result
more brown
don't bake too much, else the pattern gets lost
and next one please
last batch for today
building new block for tomorrow
piece by piece
taking form
put egg white in between layers
finished. wrap up
fridge it
build the next one
fridge that one too
todays baking result
clean your tools

[edit] Fourth day

roll out cut 2 more blocks
cut them
bake them
cut fishes
bake those

Cut shapes
A bird? A fish?
Invader
Invaders and birds
cutting once
cutting two
cutting three
invaders invasion
ready to go
baking
also choco birds
choco
after bird birth
stacked invaders
birds flocking
cut more
scrape remaining to form new
same recycling for chocolate
today´s result

(maybe not enough time today, continue next week)

[edit] Fifth day

All Invaders are done, just need to do more Escher birds. We do this in 2 parts as it's tough for the back to be hours in that working position. So first a small batch on Friday evening.