Indoor Smores!

I saw this idea a few months back. It was one of those "Why the heck had I never thought of that!?" moments! In fact I planned a Scavenger Hunt Date for Darren and I to cuddle up and make these outside on a blanket! Kaiden loves making smores because he gets to play with fire, under our supervision of course! And we love it because it keeps Kaiden busy and happy for about 15 minutes. lol. How cute would this idea be at a party!? For a party you could use a variety of chocolate candy and cookies!

Here's what you'll need:

Sterno Canned Cooking Fuel- Looks like this, sold at Wal-Mart!

Skewers

Marshmallows

Graham Crackers or Fudge Stripe Cookies

Hershey Chocolate Bar or some other delicious, easily melted, small candy!

We used Jumbo Marhsmallows and Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!

And the end result is delicious!

Bridal Cake Pops/ Bites!

I am so excited about these! My friend's sister is having a little Engagement Party and I was asked to make my famous Cake Bites and a few Cake Pops! They turned out better than I had planned! The wedding colors are Brown and Teal FYI! =)

These are made the same as my previous post Frankenstein Cake Pops, but I will go ahead and make a quick review.

I used:

2 Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mixes

1 Container of Cream Cheese Frosting

White Chocolate Chips or Almond Bark

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

What I did:

Mix and bake the cakes according to their package directions. Let cool for about 50 minutes. You want the cakes to be ever so slightly warm. Try not to cool completeley. (If you cool completley, you will end up using more frosting and the dough will be super sweet and will be really soft and slide off when you try to dip them.)

Crumble both cakes into a large bowl and add the whole container of frosting. Mix until you form a dough. Freeze the dough for about 1 1/2 hours. Freezing makes the dough so much easier to work with!

Roll the dough into balls. I use a Tablespoon to measure out the dough. It makes the PERFECT "bite size" pieces! Freeze the cake balls for about 30 minutes.

Dip the cake balls in chocolate! I use a corn cob holder to dip the cake balls in chocolate. Try to tap off as much excess chocolate using the side of the bowl. They work great for me! Freezing will help the cake balls from sliding off when dipping them in chocolate. If they ever start sliding, just place them back in the freezer for another 30 minutes.

When you are done place them in the fridge until you are ready to eat them. They taste best cold! Then the chocolate is crunchy and the centers are soft, YUMM!

I had so much fun creating these "Wedding Cakes!" I'm sure you can guess as to how I assembled these! But if you're curious, I used 3 tsp. dough for the bottom, 2 tsp. dough for the middle and 1 tsp. dough for the top! I put them on lollipop stick and dipped in white chocolate. Then I topped with a heart sprinkle while the chocolate was still wet! I found these particular sprinkles at Wal-Mart! They come in a 3 pack and are made by Wilton!

Don't you just LOVE how my teal turned out!? It is so bright and fun! Looking back I bet I could have added a touch more green, but these will work fine!

I can't stop looking at them! They are so bright and beautiful!

A few tips:

If you don't have a double boiler, you can always make one! I use a ceramic bowl that fits perfectly over my small saucepan. If you're unfamilar with them, all you do is place a little bit of water in the saucepan and the steam from the water boiling melts the chocolate. This is especially helpful when dipping chocolate because it keeps the chocolate nice and smooth! I also add 1 tsp. of shortening to every cup of chocolate I melt to thin it down and make the dipping process faster and easier. Try it! It works!

I knew I wanted to use a teal color but could not find teal color baking chips anywhere, so I decided to make my own color. I used white chocolate chips and GEL Food Coloring. NEVER use liquid food coloring in chocolate, it will ruin it. And use the gel food coloring sparingly. A fun tip when melting chocolate is to drop any excess chocolate you have into quarter sized pieces onto wax paper! Place them in the fridge until they have set and store them in a Ziplock for when you melt chocolate again!

Owl Cupcakes

How cute and EASY are these!? I first saw these a year ago when my sister in law brought them to us. Since them I have seen them all over the internet and in magazines! There are different ways to make them. Some use the oroiginal candy corn for the noses, some uses brown M&M's for the eyes. But they all turn out delicious!

Here's what I used:

1 Devil's Food Cake Mix

Chocolate Frosting

Oreo Cookies

Junior Mints

Caramel Candy Corn

Mix and bake the cupcakes according to package directions. Once they are cooled, frost with the chocolate frosting and assemble as shown!

I used a dab of the chocolate frosting to secure the Junior Mints to the Oreos.

Butterfinger Caramel Apple Bites!

Who says caramel apples are just for October!? I say they work all through the fall, and even into Christmas! As a kid, my family often had Christmas at my Aunt's house in Salt lake City. There they have a wonderful chocolate shop known as Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and they just so happen to have the most delicious carameled apples. We got one each year in our stockings! This recipe tastes just like them, but I've improved them by making them bite size! Now you get more caramel and sugary goodness in each bite! I won't lie and say this caramel recipe is easy. In fact it's super finicky, but if you can get it to the perfect "soft ball" stage, then the battle has been won! You might want to find a friend to help you, my husband and I always make caramel together. There is a lot of stirring involved and we usually switch off. The labor of love is totally worth it though, this is the BEST caramel recipe I've ever tried!

Just a warning, if you choose to make these "bite size" you will want to make them the same day you plan on eating them. After making these for the first time I was upset to find the next morning that the caramel had dripped off all the bite size pieces. It takes quite a few hours, but the apple's juices will eventually break down the caramel into a liquid and then it's all over. If you want to make these in advance I would suggest dipping the apples whole.

As prep work you will want to lay out a good layer of powdered sugar over a big piece of wax paper.

I used a sieve to make the layer more even.

In a big suacepan add:

1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 Cup White Sugar

1/2 Cup Karo Light Corn Syrup

I also prepare a bowl of cold water to test for the soft ball stage.

Cook these ingredients on MEDIUM heat stirring CONSTANTLY with a WOODEN SPOON. (Yes all of those are very important!)

If it is cooking too fast, you can turn the heat down a smidge.

Stir, stir, stir. LOTS of stirring!

Once you get the mixture to a soft ball stage remove from the heat and add 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract.

This is what it looked like before I added the vanilla.

Here is a very short video on how to recognize the soft ball stage.

Quickly cut the apples into bite sized pieces, insert a toothpick and dip into the caramel!

Place on the powdered sugar/ wax paper.

Place all of the apples in the fridge to quickly let the caramel set.

While the apples are setting in the fridge, melt some white chocolate in a bowl. Also chop up a few Butterfinger Bars. (I only cut up and usd 2 apples and 2 Butterfingers was more than enough!)

Dip the caramled apple bites into melted white chocolate and then quickly into the chopped candy pieces.

Set on wax paper.

Yes these were as delicious as they looked!

I tried to fancy them up a bit with a chocolate and white chocolate drizzle. I don't know how I feel about it. lol. But, it was SOOO good! Maybe I just need to work on my "drizzling" skills.

Bubblegum Cupcakes!

My brother LOVES Bubblegum flavoring so when I saw this idea on Pinterest I knew I would have to make these for his Birthday! They were a hit and super delicious! There are a TON of flavorings you can find online! I found mine on Amazon!

Here's what I used:
1 Box White Cake Mix and ingredients to bake it.
Blue Food Coloring
1 Dram of Bubblegum Extract
Cherry (or Strawberry) Frosting
Classic Vanilla Frosting

Here's What I did:
Made up the white cake mix, add ing some blue food coloring and the dram of Bubblegum Extract. 1 Dram gives it just the right amount of flavoring without being to overwhelming or too sweet. If you want a stronger flavor, you might want to add 2 Drams. Bake like a cupcake! Mix 1 container of Cherry Frosting with 1/2 container of Vanilla Frosting. I did this to enhance the Bubblegum flavor without being too overwhelming! Then I topped with mini Gumballs!

Pumpkin Pancakes with Buttermilk Syrup!

These are seriously the BEST Pumpkin Pancakes Ever! They taste like Pumpkin Pie, but a 1,000 times better! Seriously better than IHOP's version! This is my good friend, Lauren's, recipe. I'm so happy she shared it with us! Darren and Kaiden are obsessed, heck we all are!

Pumpkin Pancakes

2 C. Bisquick

1 C. Pumpkin

2 Tbs. Brown Sugar

1 Tbs. Pumpkin Pie Spice

3 Tbs. Oil

2 Eggs

2 tsp. Vanilla

1, 12 0z. Can of Evaporated Milk

Whisk all ingredients together and cook like a pancake. I set the griddle temperature between 325 and 350. ;)

Homemade Buttermilk Syrup

1 1/2 C. Sugar

1 C. Buttermilk

1/4 C. Karo Syrup

1/2 C. Butter

1 tsp. Baking Soda

2 tsp. Vanilla

***I usually make the syrup before I make and cook the pancakes. Also, use a much larger saucepan than you would think, since the syrup foams up to about double it's size and is an awful mess to clean off a stovetop!***

 In a large saucepan add  sugar, karo surup, buttermilk and butter to a boil stirring constantly. Boil on medium heat for 4 minutes. Take off the heat and immediatley add the Baking Soda; the syrup should foam up a lot! Stir in the Vanilla. Let the syrup rest a few minutes so the foam settles down. Scoop off any excess foam before serving.

I honestly believe the reason these pancakes are so good is because this syrup contrasts so well with these pancakes! YUMMMM!

Awesome Baby Shower Gift!

I LOVE Baby Showers!! I won't lie, I hope to get invited to them just because I have hundreds of ideas! Well I was lucky enough to go to my friend's baby shower last week. I have become a pro of putting together Diaper Cakes, which are really fun, but to make them "cute" I have easily spent $50- $60!! These kinds of gifts would bankrupt me, thus I only make them for family. I'm going to share with you what I put together for just $20, and could easily be much less depending on sales and the brands you choose.... or what you choose to put inside!

First let me share where I got my inspiration from! I like their idea too, but I wanted to make it a bit more over the top! Plus, people have their own diaper brand preferences. lol. http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=6764316

My version includes a large receiving blanket, 3 burp cloths and other items I like to have on hand in my diaper bag.

Here are the supplies I used!

1 large Bottle, a set of 2 Pacifiers, travel Q-Tips (I've seen in the Travel Isle and the Baby Isle), small Baby Lotion, small Diaper Powder (found in the Travel Isle), matching Ribbon, and a Silver Platter (from the Dollar Store).

You will need 1 1/3 yard of fabric for the receiving blanket and burp cloths. Also another 1/3 yard for the burp cloth's backing.

You will also need little items to assemble, such as sewing supplies, foam tape, some string, scissors, etc.

I made the receiving blanket with the dimensions 45x38. I used a CD (or DVD) to round the edges. I made it very simple. No backing. Just a single layer of flannel fabric. Sometimes simple is best! Then all I did was serge the edges to keep them from fraying. I don't actually have a serging machine, I just used a complicated zig zag stitch. :D (If you're not a sewer you can also just use a store bought receiving blanket. I would just suggest something thin.)

I was able to make 3 burp cloths out of the remaining fabric. The dimensions were 14x10! I found a coordinating fabric for the backing since burp cloths need the extra absorbency! I just layered the 2 fabrics and "serged" the edges. (Have you seen the burp cloths made out of cloth diaper? You could easily use those too!) (For simplicity you can just buy some baby washcloths instead!)

Once the burp cloths are finished, roll them up like so. (Fold in half lengthwise and roll up.) Use a rubberband, or string, around the middle to keep them in place.

Fold the blanket up so the width is the same length as the burp cloths.

This is how it will look when you're done folding the blanket!

Find the center of the blanket by holding both of the ends and placing 1 burp cloth inside.

Add in all 3 burp cloths!

Add in the large bottle and tie the top with string!

Now we are going to assemble the adorable bundle together! I used foam tape on the bottom of the items to keep them from slipping and sliding around.

Assemble the items inside the blanket!

Tie the pacifiers around the top and have them dangle on both sides. I used 1/4 inch ribbon!

Tie a BIG Bow right on top. I also hot glued mini bows to where the pacifiers were tied with ribbon!

VOILA!!!!!!! Put it on a silver platter and take it on over to the Momma To Be!

Zombie Cupcakes!

I know this is a few days past Halloween, but these are too cute not to post about! Save these for next year or for a Zombie Party! I know those are pretty popular with the kiddos at the moment.

These are pretty simple.

Here's what you'll need:

1 Box of Chocolate Cake Mix and everything you will need to make it!

Vanilla Frosting

Oreo Cookies

Milano Cookies

Black Cake Mate Frosting and Tip Set

1/4 Cup Lime Green Candy Melts

Wax Paper

Pen and Paper

Lime Green Food Coloring, I used the color from the Neon set

1, 8 oz package Philadelphia Cream Cheese

1 Egg

1/3 C. White Sugar

1/4 tsp. Salt

1. Mix your Chocolate Cake according to package directions. Set aside.

2. In a bowl mix together 8 oz. cream cheese, 1/3 cup white sugar, 1 egg, and 1/4 tsp. salt. You will want to use an electric mixer and mix for about 2 minutes. Add lime green food coloring. Set aside.

3. Put cupcake paper liners in a cupcake pan. Fill 1/2 the way with the chocolate cake batter. Add 1-2 tsp. of the "surprise filling" right on top!

4. Bake for the required time the cake mix suggests.

5. Take 1/4 cup of your lime green candy melts, add about 2 tsp. shortening and melt in the microwave.

6. While the candy melts are melting down, draw a "Zombie Hand" on a piece of paper. Mine is about 2 inches tall. Make sure to draw a long arm to stick in the "earth!" This will be your template for all of the zombie arms.

7. Take a small ziplock bag and cut a hole in it. You dont have to use a tip like I did with these Cake Mate ones, but it will only help. A small hole would also work. :D

8. Add the melted chips to the baggie and squeeze it to the tip!

9. Place the wax paper over your Zombie hand drawing and pipe away!

They don't have to be perfect, they are the "living dead" ya know! haha.
10. Put the frosting into a bowl and whip it up with an electric mixer for about a minute. Take about 12 whole Oreo cookies and put them in a blender or food processor until very fine. Add the crushed Oreos to the frosting and whip uintil thoroughly blended. Set the frosting aside.

11. Take 10 Oreo cookies, minus the cream filling, and blend until very fine. Set aside.
12. Carefully cut the Milano cookies in half, horizontally, and use the black Cake Mate frosting with the fine tip to spell out "R.I.P." for the headstone!
13. Assemble the cupcakes as follows:

I made this same idea into mini cakes using a 4 inch spring form pan! I also added Candy Pumpkins and "trees" made of chocolate licorice and black wire. =)