Wedding Shower Cakes

Well, I did not get around to making any "special" snack this past week because I was helping out with a church wedding shower for a wonderful couple!  So I was too busy making this...

 AND this...

(There were actually three cakes but the third was just another rose cake so I did not include it in the pictures.)
 
The rose cakes are SOOOOOOOOooo easy to make and just require one type of decorating tip - yep, you read that right - just one tip:  1M.  I have been wanting to try it ever since I saw the pictures and read the tutorial here:  http://iammommy.typepad.com/i_am_baker/2011/02/rose-cake-tutorial.html . 

This gal is just such an amazing, creative, fun blogger - and did I mention inspiring?  She just makes the most wonderful things that look so complex but CAN be made by those of us who don't have a cake decorating class under our belts yet.  So head over there sometime this week and take a peek - I think you will be pleased you did!!  :)

As for the other cake, I decorated that with some additional tips I had.  My dear hubby bought me a huge cake decorating kit for my birthday (I have added a few tips since then), and it was way more than what I expected and came with a lot of tools that I have been learning to use and love!  I posted a link to the one caddy kit I believe is the same as the one he bought for me in a local craft store (check your local craft store and if they offer 40% off a regular price item coupon, use that for a substantial discount!).  I also posted a link to a smaller decorating kit and to a tool that makes a huge difference if you are interested in getting that really even surface for cakes - a cake leveler!  :)  The larger caddy includes a leveler I believe, but you would have to double check on that!  :)  Happy cake decorating!!  :)



Linking to:
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/
http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/

Cranberry Marvel: three ingredients = wow factor!!! :)

Okay, so it is a little late for the Fourth of July, but this was so good, I figured it shouldn't have to wait til next year.  Let's call it a culinary marvel.  In fact, I practically named it just that, "Cranberry Marvel"- marvel because it is amazing what you can do at the last minute with what you have lying around in the cupboards, freezer, or fridge.  :) 

So as the story goes, it was Fourth of July, and while I was busily making wedding shower cakes (more on that later on possibly), I was thinking - hmm, I should come up with some sort of red, white, and blue dessert for today (nothing like the last minute, right?).

Vanilla ice cream and blueberries were readily available in our kitchen, but I needed something red.  Uh oh - out of strawberries!  But then I remembered we still had some frozen cranberries in the deep freezer.  Sooo - I took those out and threw them together with brown sugar and a little brandy and cooked them.  Voila!  Cranberry Marvel!  A delicious blend of tart and sweet - especially yummy served warm over vanilla ice cream! But I bet it would taste awesome over a dense white chocolate cake as well. :)  In fact, why not throw caution to the wind and try it both ways - or just eat it straight out of the pan (yep, I think it is that good)!

Here is the rough version of what I did and used (a.k.a. recipe):

Ingredients:
1 1/2 to 2/4 cup of frozen cranberries
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 Tablespoon of brandy

1.  Combine cranberries and sugar in small saucepan over medium low heat and let cook uncovered for about 10-12 minutes (you should probably hear the cranberries popping by then).  Make sure you stir it occasionally during that time.

2.  Add the brandy and stir to combine.  Cook mixture for another few minutes (maybe 4 or 5?). 

3.  Take mixture off heat (don't forget to turn off the burner) and let sit until you are ready to use it. 

4.  Pour over ice cream (top with fresh blueberries if you like) and ENJOY!!!  :)

Stars and Stripes Snack - Happy Fourth of July!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!  :)

Stars and Stripes Snack Details:

**Star in the middle is a star cookie cutter with blueberries inside and star strawberry on top (you should be able to find star cookie cutters in different sizes at your local craft/kitchen store or find some online - see links below for an idea of what is out there).

** Muffin cup #1 (12 o'clock) - cottage cheese

**Muffin cups #2 and 4 (3 o'clock and 9 o'clock) - strawberry pieces

**Muffin cup #3 (6 o'clock) - slices of string cheese (the stripes of the snack)

**Garnishes:  star strawberries and string cheese circles with blue stars drawn on top with a food marker.

For more fun snack/lunch ideas check out these creative mommas!

http://meetthedubiens.blogspot.com/

http://michellesjournalcorner.blogspot.com/

By the way:  I could not find a direct link to the blue muffin cups that I have, but the link for the red below should take you to a place where you can switch colors if you wanted the blue.  :)

Linking to: http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/2011/07/this-weeks-cravings-37-linky-party.html

More Gender Reveal Party Ideas - At Last!

A VERY long time ago, I believe I said I would post more "gender reveal" party suggestions.  I am here to say - I slacked off.  Or was just too busy.  Or maybe a little of both. 

But every once in a while, my mind starts whirring in that direction again (usually when I see someone else's gender reveal party or someone announces a pregnancy, etc.).  So, today I am going to post some ideas for gender revelation parties because there seem to be so few online. 

Now, I will not have time to go into great detail or creativity like I did with the "What Will it Bee" party or "What's the Scoop?" ice cream reveal, but I will at least get the ball rolling with some themes and if anyone out there wants me to suggest creative ideas to go along with one or two in particular, just leave a comment or send me an email and I will see what I can come up with for you!  :)

I DO ask that if you happen to choose one of these ideas, you would share the love and mention or link back to my blog.

AND if you would like to send me pictures of your own gender reveal or child related party, please do so!  I'm on the hunt for creative suggestions implemented in parties and pretty photography helps too!  :)  I may just feature you with a post and a link to your blog if you have one!  :)  Please understand I may not be able to respond to all requests due to time constraints - but I'll see what I can do!  :)  


Okay, without further ado, I give you....

GENDER REVEALING IDEAS (I may add to this list later on):

**Introducing the Main Attraction!  
   - Theme would be circus related. 
   - Gender revealing moment - decorate a large box in advance to look like an old fashioned circus stand with a large question mark on it.  Fill it with helium balloons in the color of baby gender and maybe write the gender on some with marker.  Seal the box with a big bow or tape.  Choose someone special to untie or open the box at the end of the party and let the balloons tell the rest of the tale!  I believe I saw the balloon gender revealing idea on a forum somewhere and thought it would tie in well with this theme.  :)

**Sugar & Spice or Snips & Snails? 
   -Theme would be sugar/candy/spice and "snips" of different kinds of blue cloth/paper and toy snails, of course. 
   -Gender revealing moment could be when guests receive their favor bags.  Beforehand, make cookies (snails if it is a boy or candy shaped sugar cookies for girls and frost traditional pink or blue).  Place inside simple cloth favor bags with a question mark stamped on the outside.  When guests get ready to leave, pass out the bags, count to three and let everyone open their bags to reveal the gender.

**Vintage Toy Baby Reveal
   - Theme would be vintage style toys.
   -Gender revealing moment - spell the name of the gender with toy blocks  glued to the bottom of an old glass container/jar.  Then fill the container with more blocks or vintage toys or vintage candy and have it be an activity for people to guess the number of items in the container (saw this guessing blocks idea online for a vintage toy baby shower and loved it!).  At the end of the evening, take each item or block out and count altogether as you remove them.  Once they are all gone, the gender will remain and be revealed as well as the number of items in the jar.  The person who guessed the number of items correctly gets to name your baby - just kidding - they get a small prize of some sort.  :)

**"Who is the "Ducky" Winner?" or "I'm So 'Ducky' to be Joining My Family in (month due date)" 
   - Theme would be ducks or rubber ducks. 
   - Gender revealing moment -write the gender of the baby in permanent marker on the bottom of a rubber duck and float the duck in a special jar or bowl as a centerpiece with a large question mark on it.  At the end of the party, choose a person to pick up the duck and reveal the gender.

**Mystery/Puzzle (wording could be something like:  Enjoy a good mystery?  So do we.  Solve the question: what will it be?).  
   -Theme would be mystery of course.  Invitations could be a puzzle that the guests must put together to learn the event time and place and details.  Another invitation idea would be a riddle which, once solved, takes guests to a baby website you have set up and which lets them know the event details.
  - Gender revealing ideas - use lemon juice to write the gender reveal name on paper and let guests have a fun night of mystery and clues (you could have people be on teams according to what they think the gender will be) which lead up to the moment when one team finds the secret envelope (question mark on the front of course) and figures out how to reveal the gender (use a heat source or hold up to the light).

**  Our Little Treasure - Boy or Girl?
  -  Theme would be treasure and treasure hunt.
  - Gender revealing moment - send guests on a treasure hunt or give guests a map when they arrive (could also split people into teams according to what they believe the gender will be).  Have the treasure hunt end when one person or team finds a bag of keys you have hidden.  In advance, amid the other keys, hide a key inside which will unlock a chest (could decorate it to look like a treasure chest) with the name of the gender inside (you could use sparkly rhinestones, etc. glued to the bottom of the chest to form the gender word.).  Hand each guest a key, letting each person try his/her key in the lock until one fits and reveals the surprise.

** "Meet Our Little Monkey" or "Boy or Girl - Not Knowing is Driving Us Bananas!"
- Theme would be monkeys and bananas.
- Gender revealing moment - in advance, write the gender on the outside of a banana with permanent marker. Hide the banana at the bottom of a container full of bananas with a sign that reads "We are going to go bananas if we don't find out soon!". At the end of the party, let each guest take a turn grabbing a banana from the container and searching all over it to see if theirs reveals the gender. Eventually, someone will find the one which tells the surprise!


**  "B" is for Boy and "G" is for Girl - an alphabet gender reveal
   - Theme would be alphabet.
   - Gender revealing moment - see the blocks idea from the vintage toy reveal idea above or make letter cookies according to the gender and hide in favor bags.  Another idea would be to hand each guest an alphabet card in a sealed envelope as they arrive.  At the end of the party have everyone gather together and take turns opening their envelopes one at a time and pulling out the alphabet cards inside.  Depending on the gender - you will need to decorate the "b" or "g" card to make it stand out from all the others.  Eventually someone will open the envelope with the sparkly letter inside revealing the gender.  OR you could just have an envelope ready with the letter inside and when everyone is gathered together, have all assembled sing the alphabet song while passing the sealed envelope from person to person.  When the song is finished, the last person holding the envelope is the lucky one who opens it and reveals the "g" or "b" card.

Busy Baby Blocks!

NOTE:  If you like what you see and read on my blog - PLEASE take 3 seconds to vote for me!  Just click on the Circle of Moms badge at the top of my blog, find my blog name on the list (I believe I am in the 40's area), and click on the hand to cast your vote!  You do not need to be a member to vote.  Thanks so much!!! :)

If you have an infant, then you probably already know about the "changing table wiggles (or maybe I should say -woes)". Simply described: you place your infant on the changing pad and instantly the body of the child becomes a twisting, grasping mass where anything remotely close by (and even some things you thought were unreachable) is considered fair game in said infant's eyes.

Solution? Well, you could always put toys nearby, but then they might not be readily available for play later on when you need them. And who really wants to wash a teddy bear or toy that came into accidental contact with a dirty diaper? Not I.

Then I had an "AHA!" moment.

Now, I am not sure when the "aha" moment actually occurred - but does it really matter? What is more important is that I HAD an "aha" moment. :)

I had been storing up a few small Gerber baby food containers because they just seemed so perfect for...well...for something. So I thought, why not put objects inside them to create noise, glue them shut and keep a few close by to hand the baby as a distraction during a diaper change. And of course, I didn't want them to look...well.."blah", so paint would have to be involved. Thus, "busy baby blocks" were born.

Now, before I tell you how to make these easy, peasy "blocks" - PLEASE keep two things in mind:

1. NEVER leave your baby alone with these. I tried to make these safe in case my baby did manage to pop one open, but they are NOT something I would be comfortable throwing in a crib or pack-n-play while I have my back turned away.  

2. These are not the "holy grail" of distraction. Yes, they may keep your child occupied for a bit - but eventually (like most toys) your child will outgrow them or just start looking for another sparkly or noisy thing nearby. Don't be discouraged - just eat some chocolate and think of this as an opportunity for finding another creative solution. :) But in the meantime, enjoy the moments when your baby is enthralled by his/her new "busy baby blocks".

What you will need:

**Gerber containers

**paint (non-toxic)

**glue gun

**safe items to put inside the "blocks".  This is VERY important.  For safety's sake, just assume your infant will one day figure out how to pry open a lid, so you want to make sure that whatever is inside the block will not be a problem if the child does. (Examples:  just a few grains of rice - if your child managed to open a block and swallow too many, it could be dangerous so only use a very small amount, little bit of dry oatmeal flakes - again use only a very small amount, broken cheerios, large jingle bells. I used VERY large jingle bells that would be hard for my baby to swallow (although not impossible for him to get stuck in his mouth) if he ever did manage to open the block.  HOWEVER, keep in mind that if the small ball in the jingle bell falls out, that could be a serious hazard.  You may want to further safety proof them by placing the bells in a small mesh bag first and then placing the bag inside the block OR just skip the bells altogether. 

Directions:

1. Paint the INSIDE of the Gerber container and lid. If you want to have a two color design, paint with one color first and let it dry. Then go back over the inside with a different color (see photo below). 
P.S.  My daughter helped me paint some of these, so this might be a fun activity for older siblings to work on with you.  :)
IMPORTANT: Don't paint the inside rim of the lid that overhangs when the container is closed. That part is exposed to the outside ultimately and thus exposed to baby's mouth.  Your paint SHOULD be NON-TOXIC, but who really wants paint of any sort in their baby's mouth?

2. Add items to each container.


3. Working rapidly with your glue gun, make a line of hot glue along the edge of the container and quickly press the lid onto the container.



4. Check the entire block to make sure all paint on the outside has been removed. Check to make sure the lid is  really secure on each block.

5. Place in a box or basket close to the changing table and let your baby enjoy!
 

BTW: I am participating in a blog contest for the top 25 creative mom blogs and would LOVE it if you would cast a vote for me!  :)  The button is on the sidebar and you don't have to be a member or sign up or anything to vote - just click the button which takes you to the site and cast your vote.  You can vote once a day so if you feel extra generous and want to cast a vote on another day - I would LOOOOVVVVEEEE it if you would!  Thanks so much!

Linking to:  http://delicateconstruction.blogspot.com/

The Sweet Ballerina Snack

Don't you love getting packages in the mail - the good kind with fun things inside that you ordered with a birthday or Christmas gift certificate?  Weelll, the delicate pink muffin cups you see in the snack above were part of said wonderful package.  :)  They were practically begging me to be part of a ballerina snack as soon as they left the box.

Pink baking cups:  "Pleez, oh pleez, Michelle!  We have leeved (lived) for dees (this) moment!"

I am thinking their accent was definitely French.  Anyways, who am I to refuse talking pink muffin cups?  So without further ado, I give you "The Sweet Ballerina Snack":

**Leotard:  peanut butter sandwich with strawberry cream cheese on top.  The bows on the leotard are made from canadian bacon.

**Muffin cups #1 and #3 (sides of "tutu"):  strawberry banana yogurt

**Muffin cup #2 (middle of "tutu"):  canadian bacon

**Pink Fluffy Stuff:  cotton candy.  Please forgive the clumpy look of it -  my vision was for the puffy, wispy kind.  I quickly learned that cotton candy doesn't necessarily stay nice for long periods of time and definitely not when moisture is added (like when you touch it with wet fingers).  It just seemed to fit the fluffy tutu idea so well, I had to give it a try.  Although it didn't turn out quite as "tutu-y" as I had hoped, I think my daughter didn't care so much what shape it was in when she ate it and enjoyed the unexpected little treat. (The stuff we bought at the store had some blue cotton candy mixed in which is why some of it might have  a slight blue tinge here and there.)

**Garnishes:  strawberry hearts, string cheese flowers with red center added using a food marker, kiwi fruit leaves.

**Not shown are muffin cups #4 and 5:  bananas and string cheese

Homemade Chipotle Peach Gummi Bears - YUMMMM!!

Peach, chewy goodness with a hint of yummy chipotle for an added kick!  Not only are these little bear gems a cinch to make, they taste good too!  When I first realized that one could make one's own gummi bears so easily, it quickly became part of my "To-Do-With-Kids" list for the summer.  Fortunately, Father's Day was right around the corner so I decided after our first gummi bear attempt (grape flavor), we would jazz up the next try to give it more of a manly adult flair.  A quick taste test and I knew we had a winner!  My husband felt the same way and polished off the gummi bears the same day we gave them to him!

(Word of caution:  if you are trying these with small children, make sure YOU handle the chipotle part and warn them that the chipotle part of the gummi bear will be hot/spicy.  You might want to try one first!)

We used the basic recipe from this blog (Skip to my Lou) and then added our chipotles (in step #5):  http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/01/06/homemade-gummi-candy/

YOU WILL NEED:

** 1 - 3 ounce box of jello (we used peach)

** 2 - 1/4 ounce packages of unflavored gelatin (I think we used Knox brand and I think we used maybe an extra half a package to increase the chewiness of the gummi candy)

** 1/3 cup of water

** small saucepan

** mold for making candy (We used one we found on clearance at a craft store.  Make sure it is safe to use for heated purposes because the gummi mixture will be hot at first.   Sorry I could not find a link to the exact mold I have; BUT if you cannot find one at a store near you, you might be interested in some of the other fun possibilities I found while searching - see links below.)

**minced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (if you want to make the peach chipotle gummi bears)

RECIPE:

1.  Mix the jello and unflavored gelatin and water together in a saucepan (not over flame yet).

2.  Heat ingredients in the pan over medium heat until the gelatin has dissolved.

3.  Pour the mixture into a container for pouring (remember that it will still be hot so don't use a pouring container that will melt when heated).

4.  Pour mixture into your mold.

5.  If you are making peach chipotle gummi bears, this is where you would quickly add a small piece or pieces of your minced chipolte pepper by pushing them gently into the gummi filled mold - just enough so they get covered or semi-covered with the gummi mixture.

6.  You can let these cool completely on the counter or speed things up by placing them in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes (just don't forget them in the freezer!).

7.  Peel out of the mold, eat, and ENJOY!!  :)