Royal Wedding Fever

This month as been a whirlwind sort of month for travel and activity for our family and although time has been a bit scarce, I could not resist jumping on the Royal Wedding Fever Train.

I really wanted to make something with more of a WOW factor. I had so many design ideas swimming in my head but in the end I had to go with "Fast and Semi-Fancy". 

 and...

together...

The printable is a FREE download that I found at Living Locurto! 

This site is nothing short of amazing if you are looking for all kinds of inspiration.

I ended up giving these fairy cakes to my friend Liz, Proprietor of the Mad Hatter Tea Room.  She is hosting a Royal Wedding Tea at her Tea Room and I was so disappointed to be out of town and miss this special event.  I hope she enjoyed them.

Following the cupcake blogs out there, I have been so impressed and mesmerized by the Royal Wedding designs for all sorts of confections. 

The cookies made by awesome cookie designer, One Tough Cookie are nothing short of amazing. To check out her site (you can order cookies too) click HERE.

 (From One Tough Cookie)

How about these beauties from Carolines Creations.

And these from Sugar Ribbons

To see the Royal Wedding Cake Photo Stream click HERE. 

Being a LOVER of all things TEA related, I was interested to see if there were any Kate and William teacups or teapots in production yet…..of course there are!!!

Here is a glimpse from the past….

What a divine beauty Diana was.

To Kate and William, I hope your lives are blessed with lots of laughter, hope and your dreams fulfilled.

This is my life in royal wedding cupcakes and teacups today! 

~ Trish

Linking to: Sassy Sites

Teacher Appreciation

May 3rd is Teacher Appreciation Day.  Show your appreciation, they deserve it!


Here is a simple but lovely idea for Teacher Appreciation Day:


Teachers who inspire know that teaching is like cultivating a garden.  ~Author Unknown

~Click to Enlarge~

How about adding a cool personalized printable...I think so!

~Click to Enlarge~

To make this for YOUR child's teacher just do the following simple steps:

1. Bake a batch of your favorite cupcakes and frosting.  I like to use a crusting buttercream. 

2. Whip up a batch of sugar cookies.  I use the recipe from The Decorated Cookie Blog

3. Using a MINI flower and watering can cookie cutter (I used one from the this set: Wilton 12 MINI Easter Cookie Cutters) cut out your shapes and insert a toothpick into the dough carefully.  Place on parchment paper and bake according to your recipe.

If you do not have a watering can or flower cookie cutter just make your own template by finding an image you like on the internet and print onto cardstock.  Then cut the image out and place onto your chilled rolled out cookie dough and use an exacto knife to cut out.

4.  Color your frosting and using a "hair/grass" tip -- Wilton 233 -- pipe the grass onto the cupcakes

5.  Make your Royal Icing.  I usually use Wilton's Royal Icing recipe that can be found HERE.

An Alternative to RI can be found on The Decorated Cookie Blog (see link above). 6.  I frosted the flower with white RI as you can see and we let it dry for a few hours.  Then, Sophia used the Americolor markers and colored a flower onto the white icing for a personalized touch.

7.  I frosted the watering can and added some blue ribbon adhered on the back of the cookie with royal icing for the look of water pouring out the can.  CUTE!. 

8.  The printable is FREE and modifiable to any childs name and can be found at Skip to my Lou by clicking HERE.  I just LOVE this site.

9. Now the FUN part... ASSEMBLE!  To transport, I placed in a cute container, covered the cupcakes with a fun polka dot treat bag and included a gift card that was tied on with a pretty ribbon.   

~IMPORTANT ~ FAST AND FANCY ~ ALERT~

**If you are not feeling this adventurous..THAT IS OK! Just purchase a nice potted plant and download the FREE printable above and use as a plant stake.



We have been blessed with wonderful teachers so far on our daughters journey.  Miss Lynn at My Own Montessori for preschool and kindergarten and now Mrs Rerick and the great family at St Andrew Catholic School.

We thank you deeply!


These quotes are worth reading for a good laugh....

The only reason I always try to meet and know the parents better is because it helps me to forgive their children.  ~Louis Johannot


If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I'll promise not to believe everything he says happens at home.  ~Anonymous Teacher

This is my life in teacher cupcakes, I hope she likes them!!

Linking up to:

Tempt my Tummy Tuesday
Tea Cup Thursday ~ Donna and Miss Spenser
Mom Road ~ Follow Along Fridays!
Tidy Mom ~ I'm Lovin It!
LARKS COUNTRY HEART ~ Made it on Monday!
Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrap Up

Tea Time Tuesday with a YUMMY Mint Julep Dessert

Welcome to one of my NEW features on Sweetology...Tea Time Tuesday!

Isn't that SWEET! In the future I hope to host a LINK UP party associated with these posts! A virtual Tea Party...how fun!

 

I am a girly girl who LOVES anything related to a Tea Party. Enjoying a pretty little dessert while sipping your favorite cup of tea or beverage out of a lovely tea cup is so relaxing. It is goooooood therapy!

Over the years I have collected a wonderful hodgepodge of teacups, teapots, creams, sugars, plates and serving platters.  Each one with its own memory of discovery. 

I have a rule in my house and that nothing is too pretty or too "good" to use.

I bust out my teacups and plates all the time, often for no good reason, if only just to brighten up the table with a dose of delicate and whimsy!

I can get lost for hours in an antique shop.  The stories held silent in those beautiful and dainty cups and plates must be delicious!!  I know my collection could tell a few good ones! 

With the Kentucky Derby on May 7th I thought these delicate Mint Julep desserts from Tea Time Magazine would be PERFECT!

Below is a sneaky little adaptation, if you need it FAST but FANCY!

Mint Julep Profiterole from Tea Time Magazine

Makes 24

The Yummies:

2 cups plus 1 tablespoon water, divided

1 cup unsalted butter, diced

1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped, seeds reserved

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

9 eggs, divided

1 tablespoon firmly packed light brown sugar

2 tablespoons chopped toasted almonds

Mint Ice Cream 

Chocolate-Bourbon Sauce (for how to click HERE) or you can use chocolate ganache or hot fudge sauce. 

The Work:  

• Preheat oven to 400°.

• In medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 2 cups water, butter, and seeds from vanilla bean and bring to boil. Add the flour and salt and stir vigorously with wooden spoon until the mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat and cool for 4 minutes. 

• Add 8 eggs, one at a time, beating well with a wooden spoon for 30 seconds after each addition. Stir until smooth.

• On an ungreased baking sheet, spoon or pipe 1-tablespoon mounds of dough, spacing 3 inches apart.

• In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining egg and remaining 1 tablespoon water. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat each mound of dough with egg wash, and sprinkle each evenly with the brown sugar and almonds.

• Bake until golden and puffed, 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely.

• Cut off the top section of each puff, and reserve. Pull out and discard soft interior dough.

• Scoop softened Mint Ice Cream into a piping bag, and pipe ice cream into hollow puffs. Replace tops.

• Drizzle with Chocolate-Bourbon Sauce. Serve remaining sauce on the side.

• Garnish with mint leaves, if desired. Serve immediately.

Note: Unfilled profiterole shells will keep for 2 to 3 days refrigerated in an airtight container.



For a downloadable/printable recipe click HERE. 

If you need this FAST and FANCY just substitute a cream puff shell, plain or chocolate bakery croissant, that is what I did! 

Cook smart, not hard people!

I did make my own mint ice cream buy adding mint extract (just a touch) to vanilla ice cream.  It was GREAT!

Now enjoy your treat with a nice cup of tea!

Every tea cup in my house has a story.  This one is the very FIRST tea cup I bought for my daughter, Sophia Rose, several years ago at one of our many excursions to the Mad Hatter Tea Room (Anoka, MN).  That place is so near and dear to my heart.

I also have to take a final minute and say HAPPY 8TH ANNIVERSARY to my wonderful husband James!

I made his favorite "chocolate candy cupcake" with chocolate ganache!

James,

Thank you for loving me the way I am

Thank you for our daughter

Thank you for your positive attitude

Thank you for your fiscal responsibility - and not cutting me off from Gymboree Thank you for calling me your "beautiful bride"

Thank you for giving more space in the closet

Thank you for allowing me to "girly girl" our home

Thank you for your unconditional support

Thank you for YOU

I love you.

This is my life in tea cups and 8th wedding anniversary cupcakes.

~ Trisha

You can find the recipe for chocolate ganache that I use by clicking HERE.

Linking up with these AMAZING blogs...please check them out!:

 Joy of Desserts!

The Rose Chintz Cottage

Martha's Favorites

Table Top Tuesday

Artful Affirmations

Lady Katherine Tea Parlor

The Silken Purse

Boobs

Did that get your attention?  Good!  We will discuss boobs in a second.

First of all, hope all had a great Easter!

Whooo hooooo I made the Monday feature on Lark's Country Heart Blog! Check it out by clicking her button below.



Thanks, Lark!!!

Those little Sweet Tweets are soooo cute and just because Easter is over does NOT mean you can't make a blue bird marshmallow pop!

Click HERE if you missed these cute little edible crafts!

I wanted to let everyone know that I am volunteering for Bloggers Bake For Hope.  

This event is a week long online bake sale from May 1st until Mother's Day with the sole purpose to raise money to support the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. For even MORE information click HERE.

By clicking on the highlighted link above (not the picture) you can view all the goodies for sale and as the winning bidder you will receive the AWESOME treat in the mail AND support Breast Cancer Research!

Never having been a fan of subtlety, I decided to donate these little boobies babies for the event....

I mean, we are raising awareness for boobs right?!

Cancer is serious, I should know...but...laughter is the BEST medicine.
Or is a mojito????  Anyway, I digress.

These boobs are not real, they are sugar cookie boobs frosted with royal icing and decorative sugar pearl necklaces.  I actually made these as a request for a friend who was going to a bachelorette party and had to bring something "naughty".  No problem there.

For the winner at Bloggers Bake for Hope, I am going to add a PINK RIBBON NECKLACE on each one, how cute!

Although these cookies do not have peanuts, I DO NOT have a peanut free home.

If you are visiting this site for details the recipe is adapted from here: Pam at Cookie Crazie.

The Royal Icing is from Meaghan Mountford and can be obtained by clicking HERE.

This is my life in boob sugar cookies for cancer awareness today.  Thanks for reading!

~ Trish

PS - Nobody is going to outbid me on those whoppie pies up for bid at Bloggers Bake for Hope....NOBODY!

Coming Home is Sweet. So is a Cookbook Winner.

The winner of the Cookie Sensations Cookbook from random.org is Laura F!!  Thanks for your comments and Congrats!

We drove to Nebraska to celebrate Easter with my family in my home town.


It feels so good to come home. 

To sleep across the hall from my Mom and Dad.  To have dinner made for us.

To laugh and be completely myself and feel...well...home.

Upon arriving home this time I could tell my Mom was excited about something.

She hurried me through unpacking our stuff and settling in.

She rushed me through all my ooooohs and aaaahhhs at anything new I spotted on her shelves when normally I would get the hour long story of what a "good deal" it was.

She escorted me down to her "craft cave" and it was in that moment I knew I was destined for something good.

You see...my mom is the most unique, amazing, witty, creative, artistic, spirited, wise, generous, beautiful, delicate, FIRECRACKER you will ever meet and in my heart I knew she had created me something special.

I had no idea.

For the past six months as I have embarked on my journey into the world of cupcakes and confectionery delights, my mom has been archiving my every step of the way. 

She had even saved those pictures I took from my cellphone camera to send her in those "quick" proud moments when I had just finished a new creation! 

The book she put together is beyond words.  I was humbled.

As I looked at each page carefully, I realized what I already knew. 

My mom knows me best.  She is my biggest fan.  My first true 'follower'.

Among her many, many talents, my Mom has found her creative outlet in scrapbooking.  She does this because it allows her to use her talents in a way that brings joy to others.  The definition of giving. 

 Like my mom, I too like doing for others.  Making an impact with positive actions. Hoping to leave my mark on them, hoping to leave a warm memory.

I am very excited for some new changes and sweet additions that will be coming to Sweetology soon!


Here is a little teaser to start:

I made this back in November.  It was one of the FIRST cupcake pictures I took.  The very first thing I grabbed to photograph this mini on was a tea cup saucer. 

Two of my favorite things (after family of course, silly)...cupcakes and teacups!

Get the 411 on this EASY Chocolate Cake and Peanut Butter Frosting Recipe  from Barefoot Contessa by clicking HERE.  I love this recipe!

I piped the top with a whiff of PNB frosting using a Wilton 1M and garnished with a quartered slice of a Reese's PNB Cup.  YUM.

Coming home always makes me reflective.

It also makes me inspired. I feel like I can do anything. No limits.

 Just support, love and home.


Thank you for reading my life in cupcakes today. Thank you Mom, I love you.

This is one of my favorite pictures of my mom. She is holding my daughter, Sophia Rose who at that time was about 6 months old. I know the picture has a glare and is not the sharpest in quality but I don't care one bit. 

I love this picture.

Here are some more pictures of our time here.....

This is my sweetie bunny, Sophia. We made our version of washcloth bunnies.

I was a rebel and made this sock bunny. Sock bunny likes having tea. 

My mom made these cool decoupaged eggs using a pretty NAPKIN...she rocks.

I thought this was a great idea....put a decorative bunny in a vintage purse and add some Easter grass!  CUTE!!!!

Happy Easter to Everyone!! Coming up next week is a fun idea for our Teachers!

~ Trish

SWEET TWEETS - FUN EASY EDIBLE CRAFT!!

This is a ROCKIN CUTE, quick and easy (aka fast and fancy) Spring or Easter edible craft from Meaghan Mountford's blog The Decorated Cookie.

I put one in Sophia's lunch the other day....



She likes her coconut nest!!

Click HERE for the how to.  I used marshmallows, NOT brownie pops.  My brownie pops always look...well, how should I put this....odd.

Recently I tried to mask the ugly with frosting....

DORKY!  A sweet kiddo from the neighborhood was over and said, "Mrs. Shamp, I like your mouse!"

It's a bunny.

Whatever.

I will be posting the winner to the Cookie Sensations Giveaway on Easter Sunday.  Click on the link to enter if you haven't already.

This is my life in sweet tweets today, thanks for stopping by!

Linking to these great places:












As well as....The Idea Room Hub!!

~ Trish

Ode to The Decorated Cookie Blog and a Cookie Sensations Giveaway! Plus a PEEP show....

Everything I have learned about the possibilities of food writing, I learned from Meaghan Mountford at the Decorated Cookie Blog.

This one is for YOU, Meaghan. (I know you love Peeps...)


Paging Doctor Peep..Doctor Peep...

Yes, Nurse...what is it??

Doctor Peep, we have a CODE CHOW DOWN, I repeat, A CODE CHOW DOWN.
Doctor Peep Rushes to the Bedside.....

Why yes, I see that you have been chowed upon.

Take two of these and call me in the morning.

The next morning...

I'm CURED!!!  Thank you Doctor Peep, you saved my life!

No problem, young Peep, all in a days work.


Did you know Doctor Peep is also board certified in Psychiatry??? 

Unfortunately for you peeps, he is not taking new patients at this time.


The 411:
These Peeps were made by using Wilton teal candy melts.  I melted the candy and dipped the Peeps.  After dry, I started drawing the "scrubs", stethoscope and red cross on the Peeps with edible food writers. As I have said many times before, Americolor are my FAVORITE.

When I first started making cake pops I got sooo frustrated with the random brand of food writers that I purchased at WalMart.  It was probably operator error, but to me, the Americolor Markers just work better.

I had almost abandoned all hope for mastering the use of the infamous edible food writer, that is, until the GLORIOUS day when I happened up the blog of Cookie Designer and Edible Craft Superstar, Meaghan Mountford.  Check it out by clicking HERE.

Not only are her cookies amazing and beautiful works of art, she has so many fun inspirations for food doodling.  I have never looked at marshmallows in quite the same way since.

I have given her the nickname that I hold to great distinction....
The Queen of Fast and Fancy.

I live for Fast and Fancy.  I work.  I am a mom, a wife, a blah blah blah, a whine, whine, whine....I need fast and fancy to survive here people.

Wanna know the bestest part EVER???  Many, many of her projects are so user friendly that I can do them with my daughter, Sophia (7).

We have made so many fun things together using her ideas as inspiration like this Love Bug. Click on the link for how-to's.

Memories.

That is so important to me.

The Giveaway
Meaghan has written an AMAZING cookie decorating book and I would like to share that book with someone who will use it to make their own sweet memories.

You can enter up to 3 times

Just leave a comment and tell me your best "sweets" memory...maybe baking with grandma or was it taking your first cake decorating class?? 

Like my NEW page on Facebook and leave a comment here so I know what ya did!

Follow me on Twitter (sweetology101) and Tweet about this giveaway with a comment here about that too.

Whew!

Winner will be chosen on Friday via random.org.

Can't wait for the giveaway? No problem - you can order the book by clicking HERE.  

Thank you for your psychotherapy, Meaghan.  I am a huge fan.

This is my life in Peeps again today, thanks for reading!

Linked up to:





Tempt My Tummy Tuesday! and Keeping it Simple!



~ Trish

Blogging Award, Dolphin Cupcakes and a tribute to the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life!

WOW!!  How fun...my FIRST blogging award. 

Thanks so much to The Addicted Baker for this award. 

You have to check out her blog (click on her link above). 

She is just in high school and has such amazing talent.  She is definitely destined for GREAT things with her generous spirit and baking talent. 

As part of this award I am supposed to tell 7 things about myself so here you go:

1. My mom is my biggest fan and inspiration
2. I am blessed with a wonderful husband and beautiful daughter
3. I collect pretty tea cups and tea pots
4. I love anything with an Eiffel Tower and Poodle
5. I wish my life was a constant Tea Party
6. I am a huge art history buff - Botticelli is my FAVORITE!
7. I have never taken "No" for an answer....and never will

I would like to extend this award to 3 special ladies with amazing blogs:

Lark from Lark's Country Heart!!
Sarah from Sarah Has Moxie!!  (oh yes she does!)
Jennifer from Home Sweets Home!!

All of you ROCK.

Now...how about some cupcakes?

We arrived back to Minnesota yesterday and I must say even though we had a great time, it feels so good to be home.

Probably our most memorable experience while in Florida was the adventure of swimming with the dolphins.  

Today, as I listened to Sophia re-live her amazing experience over and over, I was inspired to makes these:

The dolphin is such a precious creature.  Just like my Sophia.

We also had a great time picking sea shells.

I really like to use whimsical stickers as cupcake toppers.

Here, I backed the shell and heart stickers to a piece of fondant and then laid them right on the cupcake. 

I used a printed template from the Internet to cut out the dolphin from blue fondant. 

I simply find a shape I like, print and cut the shape out.  Then, roll out your colored fondant and put it in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes to firm it up.  Lay your template over the fondant and using an exacto knife, trace the edges. Smooth the edges once cut out.

FUN!!!

Also, did you know this weekend was the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life? Everyone knows someone or have themselves been affected by cancer.

I feel lucky to have had the privilege of making new friends in this crazy blogging world so far and one of those special ladies is Lark.  

This weekend she ran in the Relay for Life.

That is pretty cool – I couldn’t run my way out of a paper bag. 

I made her these cupcakes as a thank you! 

LINKING TO: HOOSIER HOMEMADE CUPCAKE TUESDAY!!

I used fondant for the toppers.  Red buttercream is on the left and textured white fondant on the right.  The recipe for the chocolate cake can be found by clicking HERE.

I had my daughter color the rainbow cancer awareness ribbon with edible food markers.

We talked about the different ways we can help others who have cancer.  Her idea was to write "cancer people" funny stories to cheer them up. 

Great idea, sweetie.

This week, I am working on a fun idea/tutorial for Teacher Appreciation Day, and of course some more CUPCAKES!

My life in cupcakes is brought to you today by dolphins and cancer awareness, thanks for reading!


~ Trish



(If you click on the pictures they open up into a bigger window.  I appreciate your comments and feedback very much.  If you like what you see, please feel free to share it on Facebook, Twitter or with your friends.)