Hint If Use Pastry Bags And Need To Flood Big Area With Ri
Baking By TracyLH Updated 11 Nov 2008 , 3:45pm by AgentCakeBaker
Hi Ladies,
Okay, I am a pastry bag gal and I just finished flooding 4 1/2" rounds and came up with a idea that really helped me. I know many of you likely already thought of this, but for those who didn't, it sure helped me!
Rather than using a #4 or #5 to flood a big, open area as I usually do, I used a #45. It is horizonal and has a skinny opening (kind of like a basketweave tip without the grooves). It filled in quickly without adding too much icing and I was done in record time! Whoo hoo!
I just thought I would post this in case it helps someone else! I know others spoon the icing on or use squeeze bottles, but if anyone out there is a pastry bag gal like myself, it might be worth a try!
Try not to laugh too hard if this is a well known hint and I never knew! 
Tracy, don't count us squeeze bottle gals out so quick. I just looked at my little kit, and I do have a #45 Yipee...Can just put it on like our other tips!
Thanks for the info! I was trying to be clever and put a big round on, like a #10 and 11....May as well have just taken off the top and poured the whole flipp'n bottle on at once!
Hi Shiney - Cool! Obviously I am not versed in the squeeze bottle techinque! I too tried a large round and "Oops!" Way too much icing - too deep! Glad this idea works for the squeeze bottle idea too. I am sure others will have great ideas to add as well. 
having one of those "duh" moments!
GREAT, GREAT, GREAT idea, TFS!
Tracy, you are a genius! Like JenWhitlock, I'm sitting here and saying "duh." I've given this a lot of thought, ruled out the #12 because of what Shiney described , but I like the control that having a tip gives, which I didn't feel when I tried cutting the bag w/o a tip. So... I'm digging out my 45!!! I may just have to give you a commission on the time you will save me by sharing your discovery! 
Thank you, thank you, thank you Tracy - you rock!!!
You'e welcome! When I tried it I did a "Duh! Why didn't I think if this before!". I was almost dancing around the kitchen (causing the family to think that mom has lost her mind!). I was so excited that I just had to pass it on! One step closer to making these cookies less time-intensive!
If I can just add, Just Do It! Last night (before reading tracy's post) I was squeezing, squeezing out of a too-small tip to flood because I was in a hurry and didn't want to transfer icing into a different bottle that could accommodate a tip. Today my wrist is feeling the pain. And I'm a court reporter, that's not a good thing. 
Thanks Tracy for the hint about tip 45, I'll have to try it. I'm a squeeze bottle gal. I just thought I'd add an additional tip as well...
My mom bought me the squeeze bottle kit from Pampered Chef as a gift. It comes with three squeeze bottles that are accordian shaped and interchangeable tips. I really didn't think that I would be able to use these, however, I noticed that Wilton tips fit these bottles too. The accordian shape allows you to squeeze from the bottom with very little effort. I will have to try tip 45 on the bottle and see what happens. I'm not sure how much the squeeze bottle kit costs, but it might be nice to put on your holiday wish list.
Schmulie
schmulie, Great timing! My SIL had a PC party in another town, and the squeeze bottles and micro scraper were the only two things she thought I might be able to use for my cookies....I'm excited to try it. Wonder how easy it will be to clean up, with the accordian shape.
Shiney,
The PC bottle kit comes with a cleaning brush. They haven't been too bad to clean. I just soak them, rinse them out and put them in the dishwasher --not really sure if they are supposed to go in the dishwasher, but I haven't had a problem. Hope they work out for you! 
Schmulie
Thanks for the tip! I feel so stupid now. I've always just clipped the very end of my parchment bag and took the hard way around finishing them.
I wish I would have read this before last weekend. I just made 9 dzn cookies in the last 4 days flooding a 4" round and my hand was killing me.
I know what to do now!!! Thanks so much!!!
Another tip I thought of after reading this was to thin the icing really good and use a pastry brush to spread the icing in 1 or 2 strokes!
Trying to make it as easy as possible!
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