Ace of Cakes

It's images like these that make me want to take a cake decorating class. Has anyone ever taken one? My friend Lauren, who lives in Texas, took one and said that after just a few short lessons it's quite easy to master. I know your local Michael's Craft Store offers classes. I'd probably take a class if someone did it with me!

photo via Style Me Pretty

Lucky You!

Ireland is by far one of the prettiest places I've ever visited. It makes me kind of fond for good ol' St. Patty's Day.
It also makes me wish I was throwing a party. Aren't these cupcake toppers cute! Find them at How About Orange. Better yet, throw a party and invite me!

Argh Matey!

I have two reasons behind this post. One, to let everyone know that I seriously have the cutest nephew! And two, my sister-in-law really knows how to throw a great kids birthday party.

I love the creativity that goes into planning a child's birthday party, which is why I tend to post about them. This post is a little late, but I just had to share the details of this pirate party.

Kohen, my nephew, is going through a serious pirate phrase. If you run into him and ask him what a pirate says, he'll reply, in a "scary" voice, "Argh Matey!"

The party came complete with an amazing pirate ship cake, and a ship full of little pirates.

Valentine Dinner

I think the trick to making a really good meal is finding the perfect balance for your palette. I love my new cookbook, because you can find great menu ideas that do just that.

The first recipe that caught my eye was the Tuscan Lemon Chicken. So easy and so good. When combined with Confetti Corn and Stephmodo's Herb Roasted Potatoes it was perfection.

Really, the best part about this meal is that I didn't have to pre-plan my menu. I just searched for recipes for items I already had on hand.
This meal is definitely going to be a staple at my house, and for those of you celebrating Valentines Day at home, this would be sure to impress.

Winter Picnic

I have a birthday coming up and this gave me an idea. Wouldn't it be fun to get a bunch of friends together for some cross country skiing and we can pack a winter picnic? Hopefully it would be like the one Sweet Paul suggested on design sponge, consisting of homemade cookies, hot chocolate and great sandwiches. The sandwiches above are filled with greens, chicken, avocado, tomatoes and aioli. I think you could get me all the way around the trail if I knew I could eat this at the end of it.

Stress Less Dinner Party Ideas

Real Simple has some great tips on a "Stress Less Dinner Party." I especially like the idea of skipping the formal tablecloth and using a roll of brown craft paper for the tablecloth. Not only does it look great, but makes for easy clean up. To add to this already great idea, I would place some crayons on the table if your guests include small children. It would provide the kids with some entertainment so the adults could actually carry on a conversation! I'm also really loving the simple place cards.
Take a look at the menu Real Simple provides, it looks tasty. If you try it out let me know how it goes.

Party in a box

I have a couple of nephews with birthdays coming up, and I thought this was a great idea.

Seriously, why haven't I thought of this? This esty seller has created a "party in a box." Talk about cutting your party planning time in half! Check it out here. How fun would it be to sell customized party kits? Almost as fun as the little chef's party I posted here.

This would be a great way to make it look like you put a lot of hard work into your child's party without any of the hard labor. And for $30 it's not a bad price.

Cupcakes

I provided the refreshments for a church function a couple of nights ago and was pretty pleased with how it turned out. I went with a cupcake theme and served red velvet, pumpkin, and german chocolate. My favorite is the pumpkin (which I already shared a while back), but the german chocolate is a close contender. I have to admit that this is the only one I cheated on and made from a box, but the frosting I made from scratch, which you can find here.

As far as the decor went, I kept it pretty simple and stuck to things I already owned, with the exception of the acorns which I found at the park.

Tip: Since I like cake served chilled, it worked best to freeze the cupcakes and frost them frozen and then they will thaw within an hour.

Baby Shower Ideas

My niece Kellie just had a baby girl and named her Alexis Mae (how cute is that name?!). Actually, I have a lot of family and friends having babies these days. So I thought maybe some of you do as well. Here's a couple of great things I found around the internet that might spark some ideas for a great baby shower:

How cute would these paper owls look spread out all over the tables? Found via A Delightful Blog

Then I'd grab all of my scrap fabric and make a banner like this one to hang above the table.

Image found via flicker

For the gift? I would make another one of these bird mobiles I made for my new nephew last January. For a free download go here. Or give me a call if you have questions about how to assembly it.











Now I kind of wish I was throwing a baby shower for someone!

Thanksgiving Invite

Thankgiving is my favorite holiday because it's all about food and family. Over at Design Mom is the great idea to send out Thanksgiving Invitations. I have never thought of this, but I think it's a fabulous idea!

Every year my mother-in-law invites the immediate family over the Sunday before for our own Thanksgiving meal and it has become one of my favorite traditions.

I'm dying to cook a turkey and am currently working on perfecting a stuffing recipe, so hopefully I will have that to share before the holiday comes.

If you have any fun traditions please share.

Halloween Party

Have you ever had your calendar fill up before the month even starts? That's my October. It leaves me wondering if this is any indication of what the up coming holidays are going to be like? Since I really don't have time to plan a Halloween party, I figured I could at least put together what I would do if I had the time.

For invites I would do something similar to these from Martha Stewart.com. You can find the boxes and some moss for cheap at the craft store. Years ago I made fingers that look similar to this out of sugar cookies and almonds dyed red for the fingernails. Super cheap, super easy, super crafty!

I would definitely serve some homemade doughnuts. A couple of options are to follow the recipe I found on Better Homes and Garden for Pumpkin Doughnuts. You can also check their site for 28 Yummy Pumpkin Recipes! I've also been dying to try the easy version of homemade doughnuts by buying pillsbury biscuit dough, make a hole in the middle, fry them in vegetable oil, and make a glaze of powdered sugar and juice from an orange.

For decor I would find some jars to fill up with classic Halloween candy and top with a pumpkin, like I found on Martha Stewart.com. The great thing about this is that they make for great decor and party favors. My version would probably be similar to this, but I would use some canning jars I have sitting around to fill with candy to give to all my guests.

Have a Happy Halloween everybody! By the way, you can use all of my ideas if you invite me to the party!

Cupcake Phenomenon

I get asked all the time about the cupcake stand I used at Husbands Birthday Party. I actually found it at TJ Maxx (love that store!), but with the cupcake phenomenon we are experiencing, I see them popping up everywhere. My favorite is at Crate and Barrel. In fact, I like this one better than mine! Go check it out, buy it, and you'll see how you will find ways to use it.

Tip of the Day

Always keep lemons and limes on hand to perk up any recipe. Seriously!
If you haven't noticed, a lot of my recipes involve lemon zest or lime juice, etc. Lemon zest can be used in meats (remember the roast) and even desserts (remember the coconut cake) or the juice from a lime to add a little zing to any drink, not just diet coke! They even make for great centerpieces, like I used for Husband's birthday.

They're cheap and last a long time in the fridge, so stock up!

Even Ina Garten agrees (click through the slide show)

Image via House Beautiful

How fun!

Check out Design Mom and the amazing party she planned for her little girl! She hired Sticky Fingers (in the Denver area) to come and set up, entertain, and clean up. Now that's what I'm talkin' about! The kids made customized chef hats, then were taught how to cook a meal. What was the meal you ask? Parmesan and Ricotta Gnocchi over Peaches with Prosciutto and Parmesan plus Honey Lavender Dressing. I don't even eat that well! And it sounds like the kids loved it.


What a cool business concept. Throw parties and teach kids how to cook. Anyone up for it?
When I'm a mom I hope I'm half as cool!

Sunday Dinner

We had family over this Sunday for Travis and Nikki's birthdays. On the menu:

Chuck Roast

Season with Salt & Pepper, fresh rosemary, lemon zest from one

lemon, and 2 garlic cloves. Put it in a crock pot on top of carrots and onions

and pour 2 cans of beef broth over it. Cook on low for about 8 hours.

Carrots

(placed on the bottom of the roast with onions)

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Homemade Crescent Rolls

Homemade Raspberry & Peach Jam

Eclair Cake

The roast just fell apart, it was really good. Putting a roast in a crock pot is great because the only thing I had to do right before the guests arrive was the potatoes and gravy. The best part of the meal really was the rolls and jam. My friend Lauren gave me this recipe years ago and it's turned into a family favorite.

Lauren's Crescent Rolls:

2 Cups warm Water

2 Packages Quick Rising Yeast

1/4 Cup Oil

1/2 Cup Sugar

2 Teaspoons Salt

1 Egg

5 1/2 Cups Flour

In a large bowl pour warm water over yeast and let sit for about 10 minutes in order to activate the yeast. Add the rest of the ingredients and combine. Let stand for 1-2 hours for the dough to rise. Divide dough in half, roll out in circles and cut into pie shapes. Roll into crescent. Place on lightly greased sheet. Cover. Let rise for 1-2 hours. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes, until slightly golden brown. Makes about 2 dozen, depending on the size you make the rolls. I like them big, so I usually only make 16 large rolls.

A great tip I've learned when it comes to cleaning up after serving a large group is to always make sure your dishwasher is empty. That way you can gaurantee you'll have room for all the dirty dishes after dinner. This means making sure you clean up as you cook.

Oh yeah, remember my restaurant recommendation? Well, gift certificates and BBQ sauce make a great gift for guys who like their meat (Travis). And, homemade jam makes for a great parting gift for your guests. My cute niece, Kellie, recommended tying raffia to the container for better presentation.

Enjoy!

Italian Feast

While in Italy we had some amazing food and I've been wanting to recreate some of our favorite meals and share them with friends. We even brought home some spices and pesto that I've been dying to try. And seriously, how could you not miss drinking Fanta? It's either that, wine, or sparkling water, which left us without much options. They also look at you funny when you ask for tap water. Go figure.
I love how meals are an event in Italy so I wanted to experience it the same way, dining al fresco of course.

The menu

Bevande: Orange Fanta

Antipasti: Bruschetta

1st Course: Spaghettie Carbonara

2nd Course: Grilled chicken with pesto

Dolci: Tiramisu

The meal was good, but I think the only thing worth noting was the tiramisu. For the recipe go here. When we were in Rome we had the best strawberry Tiramisu ever, which is why I replaced the raspberries with strawberries. I also ran out of time and couldn't get to the liquor store for the orange liqueur, so instead I squeezed the juice from two oranges and about 1-2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar and simmered over medium heat to infuse the flavors (it worked out quite well).

The best part really was the company! Thanks Dave, Brittany and Madeline for joining us.

Party Like A Rock Star

We celebrated Husband's 30th birthday with a backyard party filled with lots of friends and fun. I have to admit that I didn't start planning it until the day before, but fortunately it turned out great. I kept everything pretty simple and kid friendly (since most of our friends now have growing families).

Here are the supplies I purchased:

A few pieces of cute paper (and stuck with a color scheme) - $5

Small cellophane treat bags - $2

Lemons and limes - $3

4 bags of lemonheads - $4

With the paper I made the garland that you see hanging from the trees and added a few details to some of the serving pieces. Then with the treat bags I made party favors for guests to take home.

Afterward, we enjoyed a game of volleyball with plenty of smack talk (some more than others - Robin!). We even had our very own cheerleaders :)

Action shots courtesy of Nat (thanks Nat!)

No time for homemade?

Last week I went to bookclub and wanted to bring something yummy, but had no time to make something from scratch. I love making rolls, and will have to share my recipe soon, but I just couldn't fit it in my schedule. So, I ran over to Texas Roadhouse (remembering how yummy their rolls and cinnamon butter taste) and bought up a dozen of them. They come all wrapped up nicely in a pretty box and are only $3.99/dozen! So, if you're ever in a bind this is a great option.

If you haven't ever had them, trust me, their that good!

Outdoor Entertaining

As previously mentioned, my house is WAY too small for entertaining. On the other hand, my backyard has room a plenty! Which makes for great summer parties. The only bad part is that I don't hardly have any outdoor furniture. What I have learned is that there are tricks to making it work. For instance, that utility table of mine....suddenly looks beautiful with a pretty tablecloth and fresh cut flowers from the garden as a centerpiece. You almost don't even notice the ugly folding chairs that are tucked into the table!

I love it when my cute sister-in-law Nikki entertains. And here's why:

a) she's all about good food and fun (no fuss)

b) she always has an unlimited supply of beverages, with an option that pleases everyone

c) you can hang out all night if you want (she's up for anything)

Images:

Galvanized Metal Tray I can think of so many ways to use this tray! Great to carry anything from beverages, to strawberries, to your paper products.

White Serving Tray with Melamine Serving Ware This tray is so versatile, it could work indoors or out, or even become a permanent fixture on your coffee table! Don't you love the melamine serving ware?

Under the Sea Serving Pieces I've had my eye on this for forever, just waiting for it to go one sale. Everything would look great in this from fruit, to seafood, to dips, to mini desserts.

Hmmm...I should have a party. Maybe a bunco tournament? or how about some Volleyball? Who wants to come? If we were at Nikki's it would be Rock Band all the way!

Wishful Thinking

If any of you have every been to my home you know that it's tiny! At least it feels that way. I love, love to entertain, but I just don't have the space for it. Which is why many of you haven't been over. I don't have a dining room, but I am constantly dreaming of what it would be like if I did. Right now, my dining consists of a small 4 person table in the corner of my tiny kitchen (and even then, it barely fits).

I am in LOVE with this dining room. Don't you just want to sit there for hours and eat fabulous food! I know I do. And the striped captain chairs...amazing!

Sorry, I don't even remember where I found this image. What I do know is that I'll save it for the day that I can finally duplicate it.

Have a lovely weekend....