THE BEST VALENTINE'S DAY COOKIES??

Valentine's Day is my next big holiday to obsess over and what better excuse to bake up some treats and get crafty.
Check out these adorable cookie decorating ideas for Valentine's Day.

CUPCAKE SUGAR COOKIES!!

How cute r these? I am on the

search for a cupcake and martini glass cookie cutter.

I love the hand printed notes on each.

I love the little square cookies. I think I'm going to make ones that look like envelopes...love letters that is.

Olive you. I made my son a onesie that said this.

Look at the cute sugar heart in the middle with royal icing stripes. Divine!

Here is a great sugar cookie recipe:

"The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies" from Allrecipes.com
Yields: 100 small cookies
( I decided to add almond extract instead of vanilla)

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely on wire rack.

"Sugar Cookie Icing" from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons milk
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (I used strawberry extract for some of them)assorted food coloring

In a small bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup until icing is smooth and glossy.

Divide into separate bowls, and add food colorings and extracts to each to desired intensity and flavor. Dip cookies, or paint them with a brush.

NOT YOUR MOTHER'S APRON

I have been looking for a reason to buy another one of these cute aprons from Anthropologie, so on my way to a friend's house for Christmas Eve dinner I thought it would be the perfect hostess gift for someone who loves to cook.

I had to snap a shot of these super cute aprons with my new Nikon D40 while in Anthropologie in Westport, CT today.

I love the halter cut on these...cute enough to wear naked;)

These are from hostess with the mostess
I love the pockets in contrasting colors of fabric!
My search for the perfect 3 yards of fabric is coming soon. I quess it's time to spark up that new sewing machine my mom gave me. xoxo

So of course this leads me to think that instead of buying 100 aprons why don't I try to make one??? Ummmm.
I think I'm going to need a really cute book to do that.
Believe it or not I found retro apron patterns at Walmart.

A must have for any beginner,
I got mine PLUS a few more today from the book club
(10 for 1.00 plus shipping)

"A is for Apron" The cutest aprons ever are in this book. . I read about it on Apron Thrift Girl and then decided to purchase. Great tutorials for the first timer like myself.

TIME TO MAKE THE DONUTS...

The Perfect Dough Recipe
Ingredients:
4 to 4-1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. kosher salt
2 1/2 tsp. dry active yeast
1 cup lukewarm milk
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
2 Tablespoons melted unsalted butter

Now as Age would say,
"put on your sweatpants."
In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine 4 c. flour and salt.

In a small bowl, mix the dry yeast with 2 Tablespoons of the milk and 2 Tablespoons of the sugar and let sit until foamy (about 5-10 minutes) Add the remaining milk to the flour along with the yeast mixture and turn the mixer on low to blend. Add the eggs and melted butter and mix into a soft but not sticky dough. If necessary, add a little extra milk or flour, but only 1 Tablespoon at a time.

Move the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic or you can do this in the mixer.

Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours.

With a lightly floured rolling pin, gradually roll out the dough to about 1/2-inch thick. Let the dough rest periodically to relax it.
Cut the dough with floured biscuit cutters. Re-roll scraps to make as many doughnuts as possible.

Place doughnuts on a floured surface lightly covered with a dishtowel until risen, about 20 minutes.

Heat vegetable oil to 350 degrees F (use a thermometer with a clip)
Carefully lower doughnuts into the oil, adjusting heat as needed to maintain the temperature. Flip the doughnuts several times to cook evenly, about three minutes total.
Transfer to cooking racks lined with parchment

Dust with powdered sugar or fill with jelly as soon as they are
cool enough to handle. To fill with jelly, insert tip of the pastry bag into the side of the doughnut until it begins to come out.

I can't wait until morning to perk a nice cup of coffee and have
1....or...2 or 3 of these!

Yummy Red Velvet Lollipops

I originally saw these masterpieces on Bakerella's website and decided to
try them for my friends upcoming birthday bash. I hate the spongy
texture of box cake so I am going to
try using homemade cake &
my recipe for cream cheese frosting. The trial run turned out great!

Red Velvet Cake recipe

(I love Paula Deen's, it is super moist)

yields about 40 lollipops

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

cream cheese frosting

Ingredients:

1 pound cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

you will also need...

1 package candy chocolate melts

(found at Micheal's)

wax paper

Now let's get to making these little goodies...

1. After cake is cooked and cooled

crumble it up into large bowl.

2. Mix in cream cheese frosting. Using your hands...it's messy but you get the best results this way!

3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and insert lollipop stick & lay on cookie sheet. (Should make around 30)

4. Place in refridgerator for 2 hours or pop them in the freezer for 1 hour.

About 5 minutes before you take the balls out start getting your chocolate ready:

5. Melt candy melts per directions on bag.

6. Using the lollipop stick on each dip and roll in chocolate and stick in styrophone block to cool.

Thanks Bakerella for the awesome idea, I hope you like my version;))I love your blog!

Perfect 5 Minute Chocolate Glaze

I needed a glaze to go over a chocolate cake I was making but wanted something to just drizzle over the top and dry with a nice shine without a ton of corn syrup. I substituted butter for corn syrup in a recipe I found.
It looked and tasted wonderful. I decided to add toasted hazelnuts over the top last minute but if there are peanut allergies you can pile some fresh rasberrys in the middle.

Perfect for Christmas Eve at Adrian's. HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Ingredients
3 tablespoons cocoa
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons warm water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
Melt your butter.
Add all other ingredients.
Stir until well mixed and smooth.
Add more water if you want it thinner at this point.
If using as icing and you think it's too thick just let it sit for a few minutes.

Flavored Christmas Coffee

Since my son was born I have been

obsessed in thinking of crafty ways to

document his growing & changing without filling my fridge door with countless photos...even though he is precious!

Love ya rumps, xoxo

I heart coffee, to say the least so I had an idea tomake my own homemade flavored coffee. I roasted the beans & then ground them adding peppermint extract, crushed mint for color, cinnamon & hot cocoa powder. I made some cute labels with his nickname "RUMPS"on them & I just love this project.

Oh yah, the coffee is pretty good too;)





My Hubby drilled holes in these wooden presents I found at Micheal's & I was planning on threading ribbon and using them as name tags and they double as keepsake ornaments.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thrift Store Chocolate Spoons

Chocolate Spoons
12 Spoons (I found great mismatched ones at the local goodwill store for .50)
1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate*
Fun extras: crushed peppermint candy, melted white chocolate, sprinkles, shredded coconut
Waxed paper
Clear Plastic wrap
Ribbon

Melt chocolate in the microwave. Set timer for 2 minutes or so, taking care to stir every 30 seconds or so.

Spread out a sheet of waxed paper. Dip clean, dry spoons into the chocolate, then place them on the waxed paper. Allow the spoons to cool slightly, then dip them in the chocolate again. Repeat until chocolate reaches the desired thickness on the spoon. While they're still warm, add the "extras" if you're using them. Place spoons in the fridge to set. Once firm and cool, wrap each one in plastic wrap and tie with a ribbon. I added then to the side of a homemade jar of flavored coffee. They look great!

Exceptional Pomogranate Mojito

As I thought about what drink besides the spiked homemade eggnog to bring to Adrian's Christmas Eve gathering this year(she was nice enough to have myself, boyfriend and yelling 1 year old to her home) I wanted to try for a way to incorporate my vanilla sugar and also use pomogranates in the drink and then found this! Walla, it makes me very happy!

POMOGRANATE MOJITO WITH VANILLA SUGAR
2 oz pomegranate juice
2 oz white rum
1 tbsp vanilla sugar
4 oz club soda
6 mint sprigs
cracked ice

1
In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients except the mint and shake well.
2
Mull the mint in the bottom of a cocktail glass.
3
Strain the pomegranate mixture into the glass with the muddled mint, and serve.

CHEERS...I can hear the glasses clinking already.

Homemade Vanilla Gifts

I found this great idea for HOMEMADE VANILLA EXTRACT..YUMMMM. The mastermind behind this project is Lisa of Laundry Tree. And now, notes and recipes in Lisa's words:

Vanilla Extract Recipe
Some recipes call for Everclear. I had Smirnoff vodka so that's what I used.

16-ounce jar or bottle with tight-fitting lid
16 ounces vodka, top-shelf brands not required
6 vanilla beans

Cut the six vanilla beans in half lengthwise, leaving about 1 inch connected at one end. Put the beans into the jar and pour in the 16 ounces of vodka. Cover tightly and store in a cool, dark place for about 8 weeks. Give it a gentle shake about once a week.

I EVEN ENCLOSED THE LINK TO THE LABELS I USED!
http://www.laundrytree.com/labels/vanilla_extract_label.pdf

Vanilla Sugar Recipe
I used spent beans from making vanilla extract to flavor the sugar. Dry them a couple of days before adding them to the sugar.

1 vanilla bean, whole or scraped
2 cups granulated sugar

If vanilla bean is whole, slice down side of bean with back of knife and scrape seeds into airtight container with the sugar. Bury bean in sugar and seal tightly with lid. Let sit for 1 to 2 weeks. Use as you would regular, granulated sugar.

ENJOY.

Vintage Inspired Pin Cushions

IN SEARCHING FOR NEW WAYS TO USE AN OLD SWEATER I FOUND THESE.

For the cupcake inspired ones you will need 3-4 pairs of CLEAN wool socks & 2-3 elastic bands & white squiggle trim.

First take 2 pairs of socks and roll them together, secure outside with elastic band. Make sure to dome them as they will be the middle of your cupcake. Now using a piece of cardboard wrap a sock securely around it and secure this layer to the other with elastic & glue. Hide the band with squiggle trim and you are done!

For the fabric pin cushions you will need:

1. Styrophone ball or dense cotton backing
2. vintage fabric
3. thick thread or ribbon in contrasting color
4. wool felt for top piece

Cut fabric in circle leaving a little room for top, you will cut this later;wrap fabric around ball and cut; glue down remaining (no need to be to careful because the whole thing will be concealed with the felt.) At this piont you can just add felt star to the top or you can add some ribbon or thread up the sides also. glue down top and walla...the cutest pin cushion ever!

Yarn & Felt (my new obsession)

In my effort to make a entirely homemade Christmas tree this year here is a project that i think is pretty cute.

Baby socks are the best for fitting around smal ball ornaments just cut the top and glue around. Make sure to use a good strong glue like Gorilla Glue so that the sock stays put.

I decided to wrap some old ball ornaments with yarn that I had lying around. Just use the ornament dab some glue and start rolling. Make sure to use a thick bunch of strands in the same color to get a uniform look. I'm going to add toothpicks in an "x" pattern to simulate the needles. I think i love them! I also found these cute ornaments from anthropologie that i am going to try to re-create.

WISH ME LUCK;))

HALLOWEEN COCKTAILS

Vampire Juice

In a tall glass with ice mix:
2 oz Finlandia Lime Vodka
4 oz tomato juice
1/2 teaspoon fresh horseradish
Splash of steak sauce (any brand)
Splash of hot sauce
Garnish with eye ball radish

To make ice “eyeballs”. Peel radishes, leaving thin streaks of red skin on to represent blood vessels (see image). Using the tip of the vegetable peeler, or a small, knife, carefully scoop out a small hole in each radish, roughly the size of an olive. Stuff a green olive, pimiento side out, in each hole. Place one radish eyeball in each section of an empty ice cube tray. Pare the radishes down a bit to fit, if necessary. Fill the tray with water and freeze overnight.

Yummy Baby Cereal Cookies...on a stick!

I was searching for ways to incorporate baby cereal and other iron-rich foods into a finger-food diet for him. So I decided to make cookies with all that baby cereal I had in my cabinet. They turned out delicious! My son Jesse loves them and I give him one for breakfast with some fruit. To mix things up, I sometimes add a banana or a handful of raisins to the mix & bought a pumpkin cookie sheet with the stick inserts and he went crazy.

SERVES 24

Ingredients
1/4 cup molasses or substitute 1/2 molasses for pumpkin puree
1/4 cup butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups infant cereal
3 tablespoons whole milk
Directions
1Preheat oven to 375.
2Grease a cookie sheet or spray with nonstick spray.
3Lightly cream molasses and butter.
4Mix in egg and vanilla.
5In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and cereal.
6Add to the butter mixture.
7Blend.
8Add milk.
9Drop on the cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
10Bake 10-12 minutes.

Sealing Butcher Block Countertops

We recently remodeled our kitchen and decided to go as earth friendly as the budget would allow. I opted for butcher block counters which I love. I have been going back & forth with how to go about sealing them & after 7 months of trial...A SOLUTION.

Linseed oil is a drying oil(I found it at walmart for 4 dollars)...works great, seals and protects against scratches, is cheap & ofcourse food safe after it cures.

Just sand down surface with 220 grit paper, clean with non-ammonia base cleaner to remove dust and then wipe on the linseed. Use a little at a time to make sure you get the same sheen all around.
You have to do this once every 2 months but it's actually fun and gives the most natural looking glow to the wood without nasty polyrathane everywhere.

Good luck.

Design your own POP ART

I thought it would be cool to have my son's little angel face done in pop art but was not willing to pay 300.00 for it, I searched the web and found this free download for trial use of pop art 2.3 software to use http://www.soft32.com/download_129260.html! Just upload your pick, you can even pick the color sceme. Then save to your computer and email it to http://sircooper.com/ to print out poster size. 20x30 for 15.00! Awesome deal & I think it's sooo much better then a thousand plain baby pics. I'm addicted.

UMMM What Can I Chalkboard Next?

I just finished covering my boring white fridge with chalkboard paint. I apsolutlely love it. Here are the steps I used below...my boyfriend tells me it's all in the prep work so take your time;)

1. Sand down the doors of the fridge with some high grit paper to get the shine off. No need to go crazy just a once over will do.

2. Tape off the doors with painters tape, maybe even remove handles and replace with something new & modern.

3. Clean fridge doors and apply Rustoluem "rusty metal primer" 2 coats should be good.

4. Use rustoluem chalkboard paint, it can be tinted 14 different colors! I chose the grey color and had them add alot of black at the paint counter.
ENJOY! A brand new fridge for $30 without your old one ending up in a landfill somewhere.

Cute as-a-Button tree project

I just was at the craft store and came across a huge container of buttons and had to find something to do with them. I found this great tree project using:

1. cone styrophone

2. buttons

3. push pins (pearly ones look cutest)

4. container to place the cone in

(a little glue under the buttons helps secure them better)

This entire project will cost about $6-10 and is

the cutest thing ever!

Why Not Dye Eggs With Nature

I saw this adorable idea and loved it. Wish i saw it during easter season...It uses beets, cabbage, candle wax, vinager & oil to color the eggs. You can't beet the coloring..lol. Here's the link http://www.curbly.com/ you can print out for future projects.

Organic Cupcakes Take the Cake...Blueberry White Tea Cupcakes;)

1/2 cup unsalted butter organic softened, 1 cup organic cane sugar, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 1/2 cups organic unbleached all-purpose flour, 1 3/4 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 cup strongly brewed Starbucks Berryblossom white tea, 2 tbsp skim milk powder.
Cream together butter, sugar, beat in eggs one at a time, add vanilla, sift together dry ingredients and add to wet mixture alternately with brewed tea.
Bake at 350 F for 20 - 25 minutes. Makes 12 cupcakes.

To make the frosting, I just used brewed white tea rather than water in a standard fluffy frosting (water, sugar, cream of tartar, vanilla, egg whites). The tea flavour was not very noticeable in the frosting, unfortunately, but definitely there in the cupcake. You could grind white tea leaves into a powder and add those to the batter for a stronger flavour, but I wanted something mild.

My mommy green list

1. Leave your car at home for a day and try walking or biking. If work is too far away to walk, take public transit or carpool. One city bus eliminates the emissions of 40 cars.

2. No more water bottles. Instead, I am buying a refillable drinking bottle made of aluminum. These bottles are 100% recyclable even at the end of their lives. This means no more wasted water or plastics for me. http://potterybarn.com/ for great bottles that say "do your part". Luv them!

3. Make your own baby food! It is so much fun to do with all the cool things they have out now try http://giggle.com/ for great ice trays to store by fresh baby. I also save about 25.00 a week buying local fresh veggies & fruits instead of that "organic" baby food in glass jars.

4. Choose foods produced organically. Support your regional farmers and farming industry: buying locally and in season is better for the environment than buying foods that have been shipped hundreds of kilometres to your local market.

5. Put a composter in your backyard or use your green bin to reduce household waste. ( I am looking for a cool white ceramic composter right now for the kitchen, they have them with carcoal filters so you won't smell a thing...I want to stop paying for dirt!)

6. Paint a room in some of the new paint with No Voc"s! I just did my house and in the midst of doing a room soon to be a daycare. Try http://freshairechoice.com/ and get 3 FREE samples of this great paint.

7. Set your thermostat above room temperature in the summer and below room temperature in the winter. For each degree you adjust, you can save 5% on your utility bill and 1% on your energy use.

8. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). A CFL uses only 25% as much energy as an incandescent bulb and lasts 10 times longer. ( I did this and reduced my bill by $150 a month!) I spent 150 on the bulbs so it paid for itself in only a month.

9. The simple act of recycling has more impact on the environment than the average person thinks. The amount of wood and paper North Americans throw away each year is enough to heat five million homes for 200 years.

10. This is a great opportunity to brag. Tell someone what you're doing to make the world a better place. Support the cause. Encourage them to get involved too. (Crazy how it is actually trendy now to be GREEN, so take advantage!)