Home » Posts filed under Winter/Christmas
Diposting oleh
good reading on Selasa, 17 Desember 2013
Looking for an easy, and really good food gift for Christmas? Well, look what I have for you!
These Chai Spiced Candied Pecans are
so good, and
so easy! They're my gift for all of the teachers and neighbors in our lives this holiday season.
What You Need:2-3 cups pecan halves (or walnuts)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2-1 tsp. cinnamon*
1 tsp. salt
1 egg white
1 Tbsp. water
*Note: Use any spice combination you like. Below are some of my ideas.Variations:Chai Spiced Nuts1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. cardamom
add 1 tsp. vanilla to the water and eggs.
Spicy Sweet Nuts add a pinch - 1/8 tsp. each:
- cayenne pepper
- chili powder
- ground cumin
- smoked paprika
Click Here to Read More>>
Diposting oleh
good reading on Selasa, 10 Desember 2013
"Tastes like Christmas!" That's what my husband said when he took a bite of these yummy bars.
What You Need:For the Crusts: 1 cup DARK brown sugar (or 3/4 cup brown sugar + 1/4 cup molasses)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes (chilled)
For the Filling:2- 8 oz. block cream cheese (at room temperature)
2 cups sugar (divided)
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1- 12 oz. bag of fresh cranberries
2 Tbsp. corn starch
Click Here to Read More>>
Diposting oleh
good reading on Rabu, 04 Desember 2013
Here's a fun holiday gift idea for you...
A cookie decorating kit for your friends and family.
Combine the icing, the sprinkles and the cookies all in one place... it's perfect! And perfectly fun.
What You Need: (for 3-5 kits)(I will describe each in detail below with recipe links) Cut-out cookies
Buttercream Icing
3-4 bottles of sprinkles
Disposable icing bags*
Mini treat bags *
*Available at craft storesClick Here to Read More>>
Diposting oleh
good reading on Sabtu, 30 November 2013
There are plenty of amazing websites out there devoted to those perfect, architectural-wonder gingerbread houses. This is not one of them.
My boys and I went to visit Fox 9 to show the weatherman, Cody, how gingerbread houses are done. Click the video above to see the segment, or you can
click here to go to the Fox 9 website.
Gingerbread houses in our house generally involve a
whole lot of sugar, layers upon layers of candy, marshmallows and sugar cereal, and who knows what else. And with kids, I think that's really what it's all about. Below are some of my ideas for making the kid-friendly gingerbread house a more fun experience.
It's all about the icingWhether you're making your gingerbread house with a kit or graham crackers or
Homemade Gingerbread, whether or not it stands up to the test of a child decorating it is all about the icing.
Most of the kits come with some pre-packaged icing, which is fine for adding your decorations and making snow around the outside of the house, but I've found that
real Royal Icing makes a
huge difference for getting the house to stay together.
Click Here to Read More>>
Diposting oleh
good reading
We love decorating gingerbread houses at our house. But admittedly, I'd never made them from scratch before this season. I was sure my awesomely soft
Gingerbread Recipe wouldn't hold up the decorations, and I don't usually eat the houses, anyway.
Graham crackers and store-bought kits worked well enough for us. Now I know. Totally worth it, making our own. Though I did have to add a lot more flour to get the dough stiff enough to hold up.
What You Need:For the house pieces:1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup molasses
5 - 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
For the Icing:1 lb. powdered sugar (about 3 1/2 - 4 cups)
1-2 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbsp. meringue powder
1/3 cup water
(See my Egg White Royal Icing Recipe if you don't have meringue powder.)For the Decorations:Cereal: Fruit Loops, Trix, Golden Grahams, Frosted Mini Wheats
Candy: Gum Drops, Mini Candy Canes, Mints, Gumballs, Cotton Candy
Teddy Grahams or Gingerbread Men Cookies
Click Here to Read More>>
Diposting oleh
good reading on Rabu, 20 Maret 2013
It's the first day of spring. And here in Minnesota, the high is not even 20-degrees. Instead of tulips and daffodils, we look like a giant snow globe... still.
I'm not too happy about this.
Let me explain, (with cookies) what it's like to experience winter in Minne-snow-ta.
November/DecemberThis is how we feel in November and December. Winter's here. Snow is pretty. The kids love sledding, snowmen. It's all good. We can do this!
JanuaryJanuary comes, usually the coldest time of year, it's dark all of the time. We're growing a bit weary of the cabin fever and the three hours it takes to get dressed to go outside. But it's not too bad. Surely it will be over soon.
February/March/AprilAnd then you have now. March 20. The first day of spring. More than a foot of snow still on the ground. Folks, I'm done! And honestly, when it stretches in to April, the words I use then shouldn't be on a family-friendly website.
To be fair, I grew up in Texas and Missouri. This winter nonsense kills me by about the second flake of snow. I've been here now for six winters. We'll see if I make it to number seven!
Click the Links Below to See:Vanilla Sugar Cookie RecipeRoyal Icing RecipeReal Spring Decorating IdeasAnd don't forget, if you shop at
Amazon.com through my link
, you support this blog and its contents. Thank you!
Diposting oleh
good reading on Jumat, 04 Januari 2013
Diposting oleh
good reading on Minggu, 23 Desember 2012
Whatever you do, if you have some
gingersnaps, and a bit of leftover
Swiss Meringue Buttercream icing in say, vanilla or ooooh...
caramel...
Whatever you do... DO NOT, under any circumstances, spread a little of that buttery yumminess between two gingersnaps... do NOT refrigerate them for 10-15 minutes.
Then, whatever you do, do not eat them!
.... Okay, do it! Just don't blame me when you gain five pounds... in one sitting.
Merry Christmas!
Click the Links Below to See:Gingersnap Cookie Recipe Vanilla Swiss Meringue Buttercream RecipeCaramel Swiss Meringue Buttercream RecipeAnd don't forget, if you shop at
Amazon.com through my link, you support this blog and its contents. Thank you!
Diposting oleh
good reading on Jumat, 21 Desember 2012
When you have to make teacher gifts, gingerbread houses for two Kindergarten classes, and you've signed up to bring treats for the teacher luncheon... that's when your kid gets sick with a fever for three days. So, simple is the name of the game for me this holiday season.
These cupcake ideas are as simple as it gets.
What You Need:Cupcakes (I used 10 standard and 9 minis in the tree, and
22 minis for the wreath)
Icing (I used
Creamy Vanilla Buttercream, but any icing would be great, even canned frosting!)
Green Sugar Sprinkles
Yellow Sugar Sprinkles
Brown Sugar Sprinkles (or use cocoa mix)
Optional:Red fondant (or red Tootsie Rolls or Starburst) for the bowSprinkles or other decorations (not seen here)Click Here to Read More>>
Diposting oleh
good reading on Rabu, 19 Desember 2012
Is anyone in your house on Santa's Naughty List?
Someone here is. And this candy coal will be inside of his stocking this year.
But I'm also planning to give these little bags of coal to friends, too, because.. well, they're funny. AND they're good.
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups, covered in black sprinkles. What's not to like??
What You Need: 1/2 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter (I prefer crunchy, but whatever you like.)
1 package of graham crackers, crushed (1/3 of a standard box of graham crackers.)
1 cup powdered sugar
1- 12 oz. bag chocolate chips or Chocolate Candy Melts
Black Sanding Sugar (sprinkle sugar)*
*Note: Black Sanding Sugar isn't terribly easy to find after Halloween, if you don't have a good cake supply store nearby. Online, it is, of course. But if you're in a pinch and want to make these right now, like I do, check out this blog post on Sugarbelle's Blog. Click Here to Read More>>
Diposting oleh
good reading on Senin, 10 Desember 2012
Diposting oleh
good reading on Kamis, 06 Desember 2012
Diposting oleh
good reading on Jumat, 30 November 2012
I am gearing up for the holidays. I know, I'm a little behind, but if it makes you feel any better, I do have about half of my Christmas cards mailed out!
Here's a little roundup of the treats I made last year. I have a few good ones I can't wait to make this year that I ran out of time to do last Christmas.
Do you have some treats you just can't survive the holidays without?? Tell me about them in the comments section below!
Click Here to Read More>>
Diposting oleh
good reading on Minggu, 25 November 2012
Diposting oleh
good reading on Rabu, 01 Februari 2012
I wish I'd prepared a big spread of Super Bowl Desserts for you today. Well, I kind of have... in a roundabout way. .
These guys are not too hard to make. All you need is cake, icing, chocolate and a little white chocolate.
You'll just have to pretend that the background has your favorite team's jerseys... instead of mine.
Take the cake pops off of their sticks and put them on cupcakes or cakes covered in grass, and you've got yourself a football field. (Click
this link to my Grass, Bees & Ladybugs cupcakes to learn how to make the grass-covered cupcakes.)
You could also make some cookies or cake/cupcake decorations out of the team's logos using royal icing, like I did (with other drawings) in
this tutorial.
And don't fret if you don't have the right cookie cutter, you can
make your own cutters by following this tutorial.
Or there's always simple, like my
New Year's Eve cookies. You could do something along these lines. They were REALLY easy to make. And fireworks are appropriate for a Super Bowl party, I think??
Sorry I didn't get a chance to whip up some fresh treats for you. I went on a trip with the family, and re-entry back home has been a bit rough. I have plans for two or three more fun ideas coming up, though, I promise. So, stay tuned!
Do you have a treat you just
have to serve at your Super Bowl get together? Tell me about it - or link to it in the comments section below!
And don't forget, if you shop at
Amazon.com through my link, you support this blog and its contents. Thank you!
Diposting oleh
good reading on Senin, 09 Januari 2012
I saw
this idea on another cookie decorating blog, and I just had to try it myself. I sent some to my nephews for Christmas, but I think it works any time in the winter as a fun activity or gift.
It does take a little bit of time, just because you need to mix up many colors, and cut out lots of little pieces, but as far as decorating goes, these are SO SO easy to do. No intricate details, no worry about color bleeding. Easy. (I let my kiddos help a lot with the sprinkles, too.)
What You Need:Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough (one batch will make 7-9 snowmen kits)
Royal IcingSet of 3 nesting biscuit cutters
Icing Tip #12
Icing Colors
Piping Bag and Tip # 1, 2 or 3
*Optional:triangle cookie cutterWhite and/or Clear and/or Orange sprinkles Bags or Boxes, tags and raffia ribbon for gifting Click Here to Read More>>
Diposting oleh
good reading on Senin, 02 Januari 2012
Isn't it so peaceful, this sparkly little snowflake cake? It's what a snowy day is supposed to look like.
If you want to make this cake
with me, I will be teaching
classes at a few community education locations around the Twin Cities that will teach you how to cover a cake with fondant and decorate it like this. A perfect wintertime activity with a few friends! (See below for class information.)
If you're ready to go it alone...
What You Need:8" round cake baked & cooled
2-3 cups icing
Spatula
Approx. 20-24 oz. white fondant*
Wilton Pearl Dust (white, silver or blue)
Blue Gel Coloring
Clear Vanilla Extract
Rolling Pin
Vegetable Shortening (to grease rolling surface)
Roll & Cut Mat or Parchment Paper for rolling fondant
Food-Safe Paintbrush
Snowflake Cookie Cutters
*Note on Fondant: Please click these links to see my posts aboutMaking Fondant from ScratchMaking Marshmallow FondantWhich Fondant is Best for CakesClick Here to Read More>>
Diposting oleh
good reading on Jumat, 30 Desember 2011
Fireworks sugar cookies to ring in the new year with your glass of bubbly.
I used little bits of leftover icing from my
Christmas cookie decorating to make these guys. I think they'd work on just about any plain shape of cookie. You could even use a knife and cut out squares or rectangles if you don't have basic cookie cutter shapes.
I didn't even bother to outline the background, I just used flooding black royal icing, then with teeny-tiny holes cut in my bags of the other colors of royal icing, I made my fireworks and words.
You know... I just thought about another way to do this... use melted chocolate or Candy Melts! Do the background in dark chocolate. Use a tip #1 or just cut the tiny hole in a disposable bag and use colored candy melts for the fireworks. Man! I wish I'd have thought of this earlier. My Chocolate-Loving Husband would have really, really loved that! Next time, I guess!
The recipes I used:
Royal Icing RecipeVanilla Sugar Cookie RecipeAnd don't forget, if you shop at
Amazon.com through my link, you support this blog and its contents. Thank you!
Diposting oleh
good reading on Jumat, 23 Desember 2011
Of course, there have to be sugar cookies for the last of the holiday baking.
This year, because I was mailing many of my cookies away, I decided to go simple, and sturdy. I went with all circles to decorate. I apologize for slacking and not doing many how-to photos.
Click Here to Read More>>
Diposting oleh
good reading on Kamis, 22 Desember 2011
These peanut butter and chocolate treats are two of my sisters' favorite holiday treats. And I call them healthy because they have protein (peanut butter) and Special K cereal. Breakfast, solved!
What You Need:1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
2 cups chunky peanut butter
6 cups Special K Cereal
6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
6 oz. butterscotch chips
Click Here to Read More>>
