Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Perfect Holiday Petit Fours

I always wanted to try to make petit fours, I will def try to recreate these ones from Wilton for my goodie boxes this Holidays








Tools:

Ingredients:

  • Red-Red Icing Color
  • Christmas Red Icing Color
  • Kelly Green Icing Color
  • Holly Sprinkle Mix
  • instructions

    *Combine Red-Red and Christmas Red for red shown.
    Bake and cool sheet cake. Cut cake into 2 x 1 1/2 in. rectangles and 2 in. rounds.
    Position cake pieces on cooling grid placed over sheet pan and cover with thinned royal icing; let set.
    Use tip 2 to pipe designs on cakes in white, red or green.
    Attach holly sprinkle decorations on rectangle cakes with tip 2 dots of icing; pipe tip 2 red holly berries in centers. 

     Love them! they look like mini gifts


    Enjoy!!

    xoxo

Candy Cane Cookies

I tried this recipe from Wilton and not only is really easy to make, the cookies are the most adorable thing I've ever seen!


Ingredients:

Makes: About 24 cookies.

Techniques Used:

  • Working with Tinted Cookie Dough

    Instructions:

    Preheat oven to 375ºF. In large bowl, cream butter with sugar with mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extracts. Add flour 1 cup at a time to butter mixture, mixing well after each addition. If dough becomes too stiff, add water, a teaspoon at a time. Do not chill dough.
    Divide dough into 2 balls. Color one ball of dough red with icing color. Pinch off a 1 in. ball of each color dough. On flat surface, roll ball into 3-in. long strips. Place red and white strips side-by-side; roll them together until the two colors have wrapped around one another and are twisted together. Curve the strip at the top to the shape of a candy cane and place on ungreased cookie sheet; gently press Sparkling Sugar into dough.
    Bake 8-10 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool on pan 2 minutes; remove to cooling grid and cool completely. 

    Best look:
    Hang them from a glass of milk or a hot cup of cocoa!


    Enjoy!!

    xoxo

Monday, November 29, 2010

Free Printable: Wish List & Your Resolutions for the New Year!

Hello Everyone !

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving and that you're getting ready for the Holidays.

First things first, to start December with the right foot you need to start working on your Wish List for Santa and your Resolutions for the New Year!

Here's a little gift to get you started!




Ready to use

Just Print * Cut * Use

Enjoy!!

xoxo

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

DIY Fall Fun Desserts

A little last minute DIY desserts ideas... Yesterday when I went to the grocery shop I stopped to pick up some pop-tarts for my fiance and found out that they have become really fancy these days! They had all types of yummy flavors, that seriously I wanted to bring a box of each of them home. I usually don't eat them and it's prob because my fiance only gets "chocolate" everything! and that what's my only interaction with them in the past...but not anymore after tasting the Frosted Pumpkin Pie Limited Edition flavor! 
YUM :)



I know you're prob thinking..."How in the world am I suppose to give Pop-Tarts to my guests for dessert?" so simple... you make a few changes and voila! 

Presentation says it all...so here 2 ideas for an easy to make and really tasty sweet after your guests are done with Thanksgiving feast.


PopTarts Dessert Idea Take 1


All you need is a small cookie cutter. I used a Heart shaped one 2" for bite size.

Place PopTart in a cutting board and cut mini PopTarts with your cookie cutter. Place them in a microwave safe tray and warm them up just for a few seconds before serving...noone will be able to tell what they really are!

The best part: The really taste like a pumpkin pie! They look beautiful with pumpkin filling and perfect frosting on top...your guests will think you spend hours baking these cuties. Everybody will love them...

I was able to get 4 mini hearts out of each PopTart, this means 2 dozens for the whole box!

 So cute!


PopTarts Dessert Take 2

 Pumpkin Pie PopTarts a la Mode

(This recipe comes on the back of the box! )
  • 1 Kellogg's® Pop-Tarts® Frosted Pumpkin Pie toaster pastries Limited Edition
  • 1 cup reduced-fat frozen vanilla yogurt
  • Fat-free caramel ice cream topping, toasted pecan pieces, and/or cinnamon (optional)

Directions

1. Coarsely break KELLOGG’S POP-TARTS FROSTED PUMPKIN PIE toaster pastry into pieces.

2. Place frozen yogurt in 2 dessert bowls. Top with toaster pastry pieces. Drizzle with ice cream topping or sprinkle with pecans or cinnamon, if desired.
Enjoy!!
xoxo

Monday, November 22, 2010

Mini Desserts

There's nothing better than seeing something you like in the "mini" version! It brings a smile to everyone's faces...At least that's what happens to me when I see tiny things :) ...so what about Mini Desserts for this Thanksgiving?

Get inspired by these pictures and start baking!

{Click on their links for easy access to the recipes}













 So cute, so much fun...so hard to decide right?

Enjoy!!

xoxo

Friday, November 19, 2010

Friday Wedding: Tori + Dean - Chic Vow Renewal

How romantic and exciting  is to renew your vows with that special someone ...and even more exciting if  you get to throw a chic party to celebrate with friends and family your love for one another! That's exactly what Tori and Dean did!

Check the pictures...the color scheme is so fun and sophisticated!

Yellow+Gray+White and a pinch of Gold...


Oh so in Love!

Enjoy!!

xoxo

sources:

Thursday, November 18, 2010

DIY S'mores Pop Favors

Having an event coming up and don't know what will be something that guests of all ages will enjoy? What about S'mores on a stick! They are really easy to make, try it yourself!


You will need:

1 Bag of regular size white marshmallows
Milk Chocolate melting candy or Hershey chocolate chips
1 box of Graham Crackers (I used Cinnamon Graham Crackers!)
1 bag of white lollipop sticks (4")
 Wax paper
1 tray
1 small bowl for melting chocolate


 What to do:

1. Make marshmallow pops by inserting the lollipop stick into the marshmallow. Make as many as you wish.
2. Crush the Graham crackers in a small bowl as fine as you wish.
3. Place milk chocolate candy melts in a microwave safe bowl and follow directions from the product and how to melt it, I usually do less than 1 minute and stir. Don't let it burn, it will make it unmanageable.
4. Once that your chocolate is ready and smooth, proceed to dip the marshmallow pop in it and remove the excess with a spoon. 
5. Dip your chocolate lollipop into the Graham crackers crumbs.
6. Place the S'more Pop in a tray with wax paper on it for easy remove. Let the S'more pop solidify and ready to eat!

*This will make great favors for your next event specially in the Fall, no one can resist a S'more and hot cocoa.

I recently made S'mores wedding favors for a local bride...she loved the idea of using cinnamon crackers instead of the original ones...I also added white sprinkles to her S'more favors to give them a more elegant look!



Enjoy!!

xoxo



Thanksgiving - Kid's Table

You probably know by now what tableware you're using  for Thanksgiving, the menu and the drinks...but what about the Kid's Table? This is as important as your adult guests, they are looking forward to get together and have a good time too!


Surprise them with something like this!!  




I found this great blog and they're giving this FREE Printables away!!

This is what you have to do:

Go to It's Always A Party at The Parkers blog read the directions to get yours on your email box!!


Enjoy!!

xoxo

Thursday Party: A First Birthday Party with Vintage Tricycles and Kites

I love when I see soft colors and vintage themes..."Tricycles and Kites" is a perfect idea if you are a vintage and you're looking for some inspiration for celebrating your little one with style!

This party was created to celebrate little Max, Sarah (his mom) used soft blues and browns to add to the vintage flair...and accented details throughout the party with natural twine and brown paper bags, materials that are easy to find, inexpensive and gives a very classy feel, so you can create this on your own too!

Get inspired with the pictures of this beautiful 1st Birthday Party, this will work perfect for a little girl too...Check more details at Catch My Party



Beautiful pictures...right?

I love how she presented the party favors, hanging from a baby cloth hanger...a really sweet touch!


Tips:

1. Don't forget that the invite is a very important part of your celebration, with this you're letting you're guests know that this will be fun and won't want to miss the eye candy! So a coordinated invite will be perfect!

2. Before picking your color scheme, check what you already have at home, statement pieces will help create a more put together look! ex: if you have a yellow tray and a beautiful blue linen...go for them! you can always find paper goods to fit just about any color scheme these days :)

3. Saving with style...Just like Sarah used paper brown bags and tied with natural twine for a really chic look...if you want it to look more modern, just use a fun polka dot ribbon, you will get the same effect!

Enjoy!!

xoxo

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Meeting Bakerella!

Last Saturday I woke up so excited because I was going to Bakerella's Book signing... I even baked some cupcakes for her the night before...

 With cute mini cake pops made out of fondant on top :) her signature pop!

So we arrived to Williams-Sonoma and they were baking pumpkin treats for the people coming to the signing, she was on time!. We met her mom first...can I tell you...she was soooo much fun (really people around me will not let me lie) she was talking to us about how was the last city they visited and the things that she liked...just very sweet!


Then...there she was...and we were all excited :)   she was so warm and excited to see us all, how cool is that...you can tell she was genuinely touched seeing people calling her name.


She took time to answer some of the questions we all had...for example, did you know why she named her blog Bakerella?  She said that she was looking for something short and easy to remember when she first opened her Flicker account, back in the day when she was trying to caught "Cupcakes Take the Cake blog" attention (and oh boy she did!)...at first she thought about Jane Fondant! and almost picked that one... but then "Barbarella" the movie came to her mind and came up with Bakerella...genius! I love it...sounds so much fun...I must confess that I used to think is was related to "Cinderella" LOL silly me.


The Signing...



This part was the best part for me... I was so thrilled that she loved the cupcakes I made for her, then the unexpected happened...she started tearing up, then I started...then some big tears came from my eyes...what was wrong with me (LOL) then she was like, don't cry I'm going to cry!...then I was like "I'm so happy for you!!"...and blah blah blah...'til this moment I don't know why, but I think it was just out of happiness?? that someone with such creative mind and skills will be appreciating my work!

Love you Bakerella!



Here I'm trying to cover up :( so no one can see my red teary face!

This was my first book signing experience and don't think I will be able to top it! Angie was the best :) 

I became a fan forever!!

Can't wait to see what she comes up with next...stay tuned to her lovely blog Bakerella

XOXO

Monday, November 15, 2010

Inspiration Board: Thanksgiving Royal

Hello there!

I wanted to share this Inspiration Board I created for Lisa (one of my local clients). She is having her In-Laws coming from out of town for Thanksgiving, so she wanted to make something special ...something better than just going out for lunch to a restaurant. 



Theme: Thanksgiving Royal
Colors: Oranges, Royal Blue and Gold accents
Place/Venue: Home-Dinning Room
Decor: Welcome wreath on the door made with orange flowers and gold ribbons, "Fall" banner hanging by the chimney or one of the walls in the Dinning Room, dress your table with a white linen, this will allow your vibrant colors to shine!...Place orange flowers in glass vases as a centerpiece (no water needed, to avoid messy spills) this looks great and adds sophistication to any table. Use vintage china in Royal Blue, place a napkin on top of each setting with each of your guest's name; add your guests name with a handmade tag, you can easily make this using vintage stamps (just like on the picture). Decorate the area around the table with aromatic candles in shades of gold. 
Food: Traditional Turkey made with family recipe, Honey Smoked Ham garnish with mini orange in a gold or glass tray. Serve your stuffing in individual mini bowls and decorate them with fall leaves made out of pie crust using cookie cutters. Don't forget the gravy, place it in a glass mini jar, guests will love how easy is to pour it on top of their plate! ...Cranberry Jelly Cake? put your cranberry jelly into a jell-o mold, cool it or freeze it and take it out of the mold and hr. before serving it, it will look beautiful in a mini cake tray!
Present your drinks with style in a carved pumpkin, holds the ice and keeps the drinks cold, you can also use dry ice inside or dry ice packs.
Serve your hot tea on a beautiful gold teapot. Have a signature drink or cocktail in blue.
Desserts: Pumpkin spice cupcakes, use royal blue baking cups and frost them with orange butter cream.
Have a tray with yummy and cute blue macaroons and add some orange candy in clear jars for your guests to have with hot cocoa or hot tea.



You like this?...start your shopping and plan ahead, it's always better when you start your baking and decoration at least 2 days before your party!

Enjoy!

xoxo

Sources:













Friday, November 12, 2010

DIY: Paper Bag Turkey

When I see fun activities like this one I wish I had kids of my own already! Look how cute and yummy is this Paper Turkey! Just in time for Thanksgiving Dinner people :)

 I read about this easy DIY tutorial at One Charming Party

The tutorial by Sara Westbrook is great and the pictures by Nicole Gerulat are amazing!


You will need: 3-4 bags of popcorn, a large brown grocery bag, 2 small brown lunch bags, a hot glue gun, scissors, white paper for the frills

Directions:
1. For the frill, take a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11″ white paper and cut it in half lengthwise. Fold the paper in half lengthwise and make small cuts with a pair of scissors on the folded half to create loops.
2. For the drumsticks, make one hand into a fist and stick it inside the lunch bag. With your other flat hand, press on the bag to mold and smash it down into a more rounded shape. Fill the bag 2/3 of the way with popcorn. Gather up the bottom of the bag and twist to keep it tight. Hot glue the beginning of the length of frill and wrap it around the bottom, twisted part of the lunch bag. Then hot glue the end of the white paper frill to keep it in place.
3. For the main bag, do the same thing as the drumstick to make the corners rounded. Fill the bag up full with popcorn. Fold the sides of the bag in and tuck the bottom edge under. Hot glue the edge shut. Hot glue the legs onto the sides of the “turkey.” It’s best to use a plain brown bag, but if you can only find one with writing on the outside, you can carefully turn the bag inside out and it will be just fine. Easy Peasy.
We used fresh parsley as a garnish on the platter, underneath the turkey.


Invite an adult guest of honor to “carve” the turkey with a real knife. Then everyone can enjoy some popcorn while they wait for the rest of the meal.
Enjoy!!
xoxo
 

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