Hosting a Circus Themed Baby Shower (Snacks!)

I think that the circus theme is absolutely adorable. It’s versatile, gender neutral, bright and FUN! I offered to host a baby shower for my best friend, and the sex of her baby is a surprise. This sent me into a research frenzy trying to think of a great theme to make it unique and interesting: CIRCUS!

Well the favors were easy because there are a ton of these adorable circus themed baby shower favors by Kate Aspen. Decor is also simple: yellows, bright reds and lots of fun animals.

I was pretty stumped with the snacks. I wasn’t having a lunch time or dinner time affair, so I didn’t need to worry about meals. I did, however, find it very important to serve snacks and finger foods. Here are some of the fun ideas that I came up with:

Pretzel Rods – dipped in white chocolate and red/yellow/blue sprinkles.

Popcorn – Yes, I said it! there are adorable popcorn containers that go so well with this theme.

Rice Krispie Treats – this is a fun one, especially if there are children invited. This is a traditional “circus” food and can be decorated to match your colors.

Fruit Skewers – these are big this year for any type of event so I really wanted to bring them into the shower. They are healthy and can be customized for any event.

Baby Shower Favors

Graduation Party Snack Ideas

Graduation time is here. Whether your graduate is moving on from preschool, elementary school or college, it’s certainly a date to celebrate! It’s a milestone! Many families celebrate by hosting parties for their graduate.

I know that for my parties, I usually over-do the food. I make huge meals with a ton of choices. I always have left overs (after I have sent food home with guests. This year, however, my daughter just graduated from pre-school, so I am making some adorable graduation themed snacks that are sure to be a hit.

Fudge Diplomas:

These are simple and easy. All you need is a Keebler fudge stick with a ribbon. You can also do this with ham and cheese (rolled into a diploma shape). So cute!

Personalized Rice Krispies:

This is a fun and easy one. You can buy the already made rice-krispie treats or you can make your own. You then spread the frosting of your choice. (for my party, I am making a station for these so the kids can spread their own color and create their own sayings.

Now, since I have the food all figured out, I had to share the adorable invitations that I sent out. It’s an actual graduation kit! Isn’t it adorable?

Family BBQ Recipe Fun

 

The warm weather is around the corner which means that the BBQ season and family outdoor activities are here! I am big on hamburgers and hotdogs because they are cheap and easy and the sides are very fun to make. I like to get fancy and serve on my Murano Glass Dishes to “spice” things up. Although let’s be honest, sometimes I just serve on paper plates. (Easy on the clean up!) Here is a great kid-friendly recipe from Disney Family.

Prep Time:
20 minutes

Ready in:
35 minutes

Recipe Ingredients

1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1/4 cup shredded Gruyere cheese

1 pound 90%-lean ground beef

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons paprika

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Recipe Directions

1. Preheat grill to medium-high or preheat the broiler.
2. Combine Cheddar and Gruyere in a small bowl.
3. Gently mix beef, Worcestershire, paprika and pepper in a large bowl, preferably with your hands, without overworking. Shape into 8 thin, 4-inch-wide patties. Mound 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture on each of 4 patties, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Cover each with one of the remaining patties. Crimp and seal the edges closed.
4. To grill: Lightly oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the stuffed patties over medium-high heat, about 4 minutes per side for medium-well. (Be sure not to press the burgers as they cook or they’ll split open and the cheese will ooze out.) To broil: Cover a broiler pan with foil and coat with cooking spray. Broil the stuffed patties in the upper third of the oven, about 4 minutes per side for medium-well. In either case, let the burgers stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Glass Murano Favors

Baby Shower Ideas: Cake Pops

Cake pops are the latest craze. When I browse Pinterest, I am constantly seeing beautiful displays and they are always involving cake pops!

Unfortunately, I’ll be honest. I’m not a cake pop expert. I did a search and I found this site: www.lovefromtheoven.com and they have an awesome tutorial for making cake pops!

She gives 3 methods for making cake pops and her favorite ways. Then she goes into details about dipping and decorating them. I highly recommend trying all 3 methods to see which way best suits you. Plus, you can taste all of them, you know, to make sure that they are all edible and delicious (wink wink!).

I personally like the cake pops because you can display them any way that you’d like. You can stick them out of a Styrofoam ball display, arrange them in a vase, display them stick-side-up.

You can also get creative with the decorations and colors. Cake pops, for example, are very popular during gender reveal parties, with pink on one table and blue on the other. Cake pops are so universal and can really go with any theme, I think you should give them a try, and taste, the next time that you host a baby shower!

Baby Shower Favors

Easter Dessert–My kids favorite!

 

I love Easter. My kids quite enjoy it as well. As I was browsing recipes, I came across an old favorite of mine. It’s Malted Mousse Cake by Better Homes and Gardens.

I think I like it so much because it’s so creamy and delicious, and it also leaves room for the children to decorate it with anything.

Ingredients

• 6 ounces amaretti (about 3 cups) or shortbread cookies
• 1/2 cup hazelnuts
• 5 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 ounces white chocolate
• 1 1/4 cups whipping cream
• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
• 1/3 cup milk
• 2 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons plain malted milk powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 – 8 pastel malted-milk candy eggs or malted-milk balls (This is where I mix it up a bit!)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. For crust, in food processor bowl combine amaretti and nuts; process to fine crumbs. Add butter; process just until combined. Pat in bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown. Completely cool in pan on rack about 45 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, in small saucepan melt white chocolate with 1/4 cup of the whipping cream; set aside.

3. In small microwave-safe bowl sprinkle gelatin over milk; let stand until gelatin is softened, about 3 minutes. Microcook gelatin mixture, uncovered, on 50% power 15 seconds, just until gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir gelatin mixture into white chocolate mixture. Refrigerate, stirring often, until chocolate-gelatin mixture is chilled and begins to thicken.

4. Meanwhile, in extra-large mixing bowl beat cream cheese, sugar, malted milk powder, and salt on medium until light and fluffy. Gradually add thickened gelatin mixture; beat just until combined. In medium mixing bowl beat remaining 1 cup whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until blended. Spoon into cooled crust. Refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours or up to 8 hours.

5. To serve, remove sides of pan; place on serving plate. Top with malted milk eggs; slice cake. Makes 12 to 16 servings.

Speaking of Easter dessert, have you seen this adorable dress? My daughter will be wearing it for the festivities. After all, while dessert is my favorite part of Easter, my 2nd favorite is dressing my daughter!!

Lilac Embroidered Organza Butterfly Dress

Valentine’s Day for Kids: Snacks and Crafts

My children are young. 4.5 and almost 2 to be exact. Valentine’s Day is a fun, light holiday where I like to pick a few activities so that they can celebrate the fun and love that we cherish so very much.

This year, I picked something that they could both become involved with. We picked a sweet treat and a craft.

For the craft, I brought out my scrapbooking supplies. I scattered glitter, paper, stickers, markers, glue… the list goes on! This was an outdoor activity, for sure. We made valentines! We made some for daddy, grandma… anybody that we could think of until this got “old” to them. After the cleanup (which wasn’t TOO bad… because we were OUTSIDE!), it was time for the sweet treat.

Now, I thought for hours about this sweet treat. What could I make that could involve both kids? My daughter is 4.5 and she can really help with anything. My son, on the other hand, is just under 2 and it’s difficult to bake and have a good time. Then I had the perfect idea:

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods!

These are fun and festive because you can decorate them with anything and a mess is welcome. I highly recommend doing this outside too, because it’s seriously messy (and delicious!).

All you need is:

• Pretzel Rods
• Melted Chocolate
• Variety of Sprinkles and candies

And that’s it! You and your children can dip the rods into the melted chocolate and then coat them in delicious and festive candies until you are finished! I have to say, my kids were totally involved…until their fingers became involved and then it was a fun “tasting” session! Ah well, it’s Valentine’s Day so a little sweet treat can’t hurt 🙂

Great Papers Red Hearts Letterhead With Stickers

Fun Valentine’s Day Recipe for Kids

We are almost into February and every store in the Country is all decked out for Valentine’s Day so I find my blog inspiration there. Valentine’s day is romantic and fun – generally a time for lovers to celebrate their love! I do enjoy celebrating love with my husband, but I also find that this is a fun holiday to celebrate with my babies!

I try to get them small Valentine’s day gifts. Sometimes a little chocolate, toy and stuffed animal. Nothing too big. Another fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? By cooking a fun, “love” inspired dish!

There are so many fun things to make with the kids, it was hard for me to find only one. I quite enjoy the idea of these Heartfelt Pancakes, because this year Valentine’s Day falls on a week day and what better way to fill your belly for school?

Ingredients

• 2 cups sifted flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. sugar (optional)
• 4 tsp. baking powder
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 cups plus 1 tbsp. milk (or buttermilk)
• 4 tbsp. butter or margarine

Directions

1. Preheat griddle over moderate heat while you mix batter. Sift (with a real sifter, if possible) flour, salt, sugar and baking powder into a bowl. Combine egg, milk, and butter in a separate bowl and slowly stir into dry ingredients. Mix well so lumps won’t gum up the process.
2. When a drop of cold water will dance on the griddle, begin cooking. To make a “pen,” funnel the batter into a squeeze bottle with a hole in the cap, such as a clean chocolate syrup container. On the griddle, shape the hearts one lobe at a time. They’re really just a V shape, which spreads out into a heart on the griddle. You can also write secret messages or your child’s initials. Top with fresh berries and maple syrup. Makes 24 pancakes.
   TESTER’S TIP: For a perfectly shaped heart, make regular round pancakes and cut them out with a heart-shaped cookie cutter.

Artisano Designs “Love is…” Party Dish Favor (Set of 2)

Feta: The Casual Yet Fancy Cheese Snack

 

I love feta cheese. It is salty, rich and delicious. I could probably find a million ways to use it. Salads are common, omelets, sandwiches, the possibilities are endless. I recently found one appetizer, however, that looks so simple, I had to give it a try. It’s called Feta Dip from Memories on Clover Lane (a fave of mine!)

If you are a “dipper” like I am, you will surely appreciate this dip. It’s simple, with only 6 ingredients. There is no cooking, baking, melting – nothing of the sort! Here is the deal:

What you need:

• olive oil
  1 block (1#) of feta cheese  (I don’t like the pre-crumbled kind because I think it is dry)
  tomatoes (any kind)…I use about 3 Roma’s
  1 bunch of green onions
  1 baguette
  Greek Seasoning (see pic below)
  1 large platter

1. Wet the platter generously with olive oil.

2. Dice the green onions and tomatoes.

3. Throw them on the olive oil.

4. Crumble the feta cheese and throw that on the platter.

5. Sprinkle the Greek Seasoning on top.  (I use about 3 tsp.)  I have seen this brand everywhere…it shouldn’t be hard to find.  (If you can’t find it, you can sub with oregano and a little pepper and some salt to taste.)

6. Mix it gently all together…

And there you have it. The beautiful reds in the tomato plus the green of the green onions. It’s a beautiful snack that really looked amazing on my black and white plates. I think I will make it for any special event, especially because it’s “no fuss” in my book!

notNeutral Black Links Serving Plate

Eggnog Rice Pudding

 

Aren’t these “Swish” Cup and Saucer sets cute? I’m constantly recommending them for special events and gatherings. Why? They are small, adorable and fun!

I came across a recipe for eggnog rice pudding. I happen to be queen of “standard” rice pudding, or so my hubby tells me. I thought this was an adorable idea for mini desserts on Christmas!

Isn’t it pretty? I found it on theboysclub.net. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

4 egg yolks

4 egg whites

4 oz (12o ml) sugar, plus 1 tablespoon

16 oz (480 ml) whole milk

8 oz (240 ml) heavy cream

3 oz (90 ml) bourbon

1 tsp (5 ml) freshly grated nutmeg

1 tsp (5 ml) cinnamon

16 oz (480 ml) water

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) salt

1 tbsp (15 ml) butter

1 cinnamon stick

8 oz (240 ml) arborio rice

1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract

whipped cream, for serving

cinnamon, for dusting

Preparation

1. In a large bowl whisk the egg yolks with the 4 ounces of sugar until they lighten in color and appear to be thick. Continue to beat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the milk, heavy cream, bourbon, nutmeg and cinnamon. Stir to combine.

2. Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until soft peaks form. At this stage, slowly add the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar. Continue to whip on high until stiff peaks form.

3. Whisk the egg whites into the milk and cream mixture. Guess what?  You have just made eggnog. Set aside.

4. In a large heavy-bottomed pot, bring water, salt and butter to a boil. Add the rice and cinnamon stick, and return to a boil. Place a lid on it and reduce heat to the lowest setting. Stir the rice occasionally to prevent from sticking to the bottom, and cook for about 15 minutes until the rice has absorbed the water, but it is not completely cooked through.

5. Add the eggnog mixture to the cooked rice along with the vanilla extract. Cook at a simmer over low heat until the rice absorbs most, but not all, of the eggnog. It should start to get thick and sticky, about 8-10 minutes. Stir constantly while cooking to prevent the pudding from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

6. Remove the pudding from the heat, discard cinnamon stick and portion out into individual serving mugs. Allow to cool to room temperature and then place in the fridge to chill. Serve with fresh whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon.

Now pictures this tasty treat, served in a Swish Cup and Saucer set for your upcoming winter event! It will warm guests, while filling them with joy.

Weddingstar “Swish” Cup and Saucer Sets

Christmas Morning French Toast Casserole

 

Ah, Christmas morning. It’s generally the busiest morning of the year for my family. There are presents, photos, chaos. Then we go to my mom’s house and do it all over again there. We usually like to take an hour break from the festivities for a nice breakfast before we head to grandma’s house and begin with the presents and traditions there.

Usually my mom cooks. Eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast. Simple breakfast foods, yet they require her to stand at the stove stirring and flipping. Then we eat, and I help with the clean up. (Yes, that’s right folks. I am the cleaner-upper. Even at 28 years old, it’s still my chore!)

Well, last year I thought about trying something new. A breakfast casserole. It’s filling, all in one dish – bakes while we open presents – ready to eat when we are done. Who wouldn’t like this idea? Exactly, people. Everybody likes it.

Here is the one that I tried. It’s a French Toast Casserole. I tried it because I made the casserole the night before and chilled it overnight at my house. Then I was able to easily bring it to mom’s house and bake it. No fuss, no muss!

Prep Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter -melted
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 3 apples -peeled, cored and thinly sliced (or 1 can of sliced apples)
• 1/2 cup dried raisins or cranberries
• 1/2-1 loaf of French bread or any other sweet bread-Brioche, Hawaiian.
• 6 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla

Preparation:

Combine brown sugar, butter and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a 13X9 baking pan. Add apples and cranberries; toss until you coat the fruit well. spread apple mixture evenly over baking dish. Arrange slices of bread on top of fruit/sugar mixture.

Mix the eggs, milk, vanilla and remaining 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and pour over the bread; make sure the bread is completely soaked. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour or up to 24 hours.

Bake covered in a 375 degree oven for approximately 40-50 minutes. Uncover and bake another 5 minutes to lightly brown. Remove from oven and let cool for about 5 minutes; serve warm.

Clayberry Cottage Hand Painted Ceramic Snowman Server Dish