Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Tea Party Tuesday in Disney World!

 Happy Tea Party Tuesday!! 

I will not be joining the Tea fun this week because
we are on our SURPRISE trip to Disney World.





To read the FUN Surprise Post Click HERE!! 

I will share something from my "to do" list that I found on Pinterest!






Original idea here!


For each teacup, you’ll need:
  • Cup-style wafer ice cream cone
  • Round sugar or shortbread cookie
  • Decorator’s icing
  • 2 gummy rings candies
  • Assorted candies, popcorn, or trail mix to fill the teacup
Instructions:
1. Use a serrated knife to carefully cut the cup portion of the ice cream cone from the handle (an adult’s job). Discard the handle and set the cup aside for now.
2. Place a gummy ring candy on the center of the cookie, using decorator’s icing to “glue” it in place.
3. Set the ice cream cone cup on top of the gummy ring. Again, use a thin line of decorator’s icing to hold the cone in place, if needed.
4. For a teacup handle, slice the second gummy ring in half. Gently press the cut ends of one of the candy halves against the cone to stick the handle in place.
5. Fill the cup with a few candies or other snacks, and it’s teatime!


Please enjoy your tea today and link up! 
Please visit some of the other blogs linked up and show some LOVE!

I will come visit for tea when I get back and 
look forward to what you bring!


Thank you for joining me for Tea! Link up whatever you have..just join the fun but PLEASE link back here somewhere on your blog. It is also important to try to visit some of the other links. It is so nice to receive a comment from a new visitor so spread the love!! Enjoy your fabulous week and PLEASE take the time for TEA. Hugs, Trish
































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Thursday, August 25, 2011

Shhhh It's a SURPRISE....We are Going to Disney World!

Shhhhhhhh...can you keep a secret?
We are going to...




Disney World!!


On Friday morning, our daughter will wake up and ask for breakfast.

She will be served Mickey Mouse Pancakes 
with a side of this poem:

 
Sophia Rose, this is one MAGICAL DAY...
A wonderful surprise is only seconds away.
Your wildest dreams will soon be here...
Your bags are packed because fun is near.
The airplane is waiting, so finish your meal,
We’re visiting Mickey the Mouse and
YES....this is FOR REAL!
It’s a Good Bye to Summer and isn’t this NEAT
We’re leaving RIGHT NOW for this
MAGICAL TREAT!!!!"

WE LOVE YOU SO SO SO MUCH!!!


I can hardly stand it!
And to add sprinkles on the cupcake, 
we are flying our 12 year old niece to come with us
on this magical adventure which will be an added
extra special bonus SHOCKER, for Sophia. 

You, my dear are going to FLIP OUT!


My niece, Jocelyn!!

Sophia, idolizes her cousin!


I deeply thank my husband for making this Magical Adventure possible!



So, I hope you understand why I won't be visiting and commenting
on all of your great blogs in the next week.  
I will still post for Tea Party Tuesday!!


FUN SWEETS/FOOD and CRAFT LINK PARTIES YOU MIGHT LIKE:

 Mouth Watering Mondays, Melt in Your Mouth Mondays, Mingle Monday, Made it on Monday Sumo's Sweet Stuff Made by You Mondays Making the World Cuter Mondays Motivate Me Monday Joy of Desserts Dittle Dattle Amaze Me Monday Jam Hands Recipe Share Monday Mangia MondaysTUESDAY Confessions of a SAHM Delicious Dishes Cupcake Tuesday Let's Do Brunch Tempt my Tummy Tuesday Mandi's Tasty Tuesday Topsy Turvy Tuesday  Handmade Tuesday  Tasty Tuesday Tip Me Tuesday  Time Out Tuesday  Get Your Craft On WEDNESDAY Cast Party Wednesday Lil' Luna Ginger Snap Crafts Wonka Wednesday Whatever Goes Wednesday Wow Us Wednesday Look What I Made Wednesday What I Whipped Up Wednesday Let's Do Brunch Whatever You Want Wednesday Wow Me Wednesday This Chick CooksTHURSDAY Sweet Treats Thursday Sweets This Week  Thursday Show Your Stuff House of Hepworths Brambleberry Cottage FRIDAY: Tidy Mom Inspiration Friday Feathered Nest Friday Bacon Time Friday Party Sweet Tooth Friday Show and Tell Friday It's a Hodgepodge Friday Weekend Wrap Up Flaunt it Friday  Sassy Sites Friday Fun  Fridays Unfolded Food on Fridays Friday Flair Foodie FridayWEEKEND Sweets for a Saturday So Sweet Sundays The Girl Creative   Sundae Scoop

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Monday, August 22, 2011

Tea Party Tuesday ~ A Special Tea Party!

A few months back I lost a special patient 
of mine to Pulmonary Fibrosis

To see my tribute post click Here

Last Wednesday Sophia and I hosted his wife for lunch
at the "Ooh La La Tea Room" (aka my house).

Since his death we have kept in touch
and it was so wonderful to see her.

She told me many fun stories and 
I shared some of my own.

She told me that Joe thought of me as a second daughter.
That made me cry.

It was one of the best days I have had in a 
long time and I needed it very much.

I would like to share with you a wonderful 
chilled soup that was absolutely delightful!



Strawberry Champagne Chiller

 (For a printable recipe click Here)

I have made several chilled soups this
season and this was by far my favorite.



Other items on Le' Menu included:
1. Fruit Medley Pecan Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
2. Pecan Dilled Chicken Salad on Croissants
3. Mint Cream Cheese Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
4.  Cherry Blossom Petit Fours
5.  Peach Hat Pies  (see here for tutorial)

Tea Selection was White Peony





I was in a bit of a rush (what's new) so I didn't 
get to style the table photos and the lighting was bad,
but my motto @ blogging is...LIFE before blog..
NOT blog before LIFE.


As always, my Recipes page is full of these
and many, many other fun tea party menu planning ideas!

So...what are YOU bringing to Tea Party Tuesday this week?

Having Tea with these blogs, check them out!


TEA, INSPIRATION & TABLESCAPES:  

OTHER FUN SWEETS/FOOD and CRAFT LINK PARTIES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
 Mouth Watering Mondays, Melt in Your Mouth Mondays, Mingle Monday, Made it on Monday Sumo's Sweet Stuff Made by You Mondays Making the World Cuter Mondays Motivate Me Monday Joy of Desserts Dittle Dattle Amaze Me Monday Jam Hands Recipe Share Monday Mangia MondaysTUESDAY Confessions of a SAHM Delicious Dishes Cupcake Tuesday Let's Do Brunch Tempt my Tummy Tuesday Mandi's Tasty Tuesday Topsy Turvy Tuesday  Handmade Tuesday  Tasty Tuesday Tip Me Tuesday  Time Out Tuesday  Get Your Craft On WEDNESDAYCast Party Wednesday Lil' Luna Ginger Snap Crafts Wonka Wednesday Whatever Goes Wednesday Wow Us Wednesday Look What I Made Wednesday What I Whipped Up Wednesday Let's Do Brunch Whatever You Want Wednesday Wow Me Wednesday This Chick CooksTHURSDAY Sweet Treats Thursday Sweets This Week  Thursday Show Your Stuff House of Hepworths Brambleberry Cottage FRIDAY: Tidy Mom Inspiration Friday Feathered Nest Friday Bacon Time Friday Party Sweet Tooth Friday Show and Tell Friday It's a Hodgepodge Friday Weekend Wrap Up Flaunt it Friday  Sassy Sites Friday Fun  Fridays Unfolded Food on Fridays Friday Flair Foodie FridayWEEKEND Sweets for a Saturday So Sweet Sundays The Girl Creative   Sundae Scoop



Thank you for joining me for Tea! Link up whatever you have..just join the fun but PLEASE link back here somewhere on your blog. It is also important to try to visit some of the other links. It is so nice to receive a comment from a new visitor so spread the love!! Enjoy your fabulous week and PLEASE take the time for TEA. Hugs, Trish



























































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Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Bonfire S'more Cupcakes



Still relaxing up north...

Enjoying some s'mores by the bonfire.

 Or how about your s'more on a bonfire on a cupcake!




Listening to stories about my terrible 80's hair.

And savoring every deep belly laugh that 
comes out of my sweetie, Sophia Rose. 



Good times....good times. 

Bonfire Cupcakes
 (Betty Crocker Best Desserts 2011)

(For printable recipe click here!) 

Ingredients for 24 cupcakes:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup water, hot
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 3/4 cup shortening
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 20 individually wrapped red cinnamon hard candy disks (from 7-oz bag), unwrapped
  • 20 individually wrapped yellow butterscotch hard candy disks (from 7-oz bag), unwrapped
  • 60 pretzel sticks, broken in half
  • 48 miniature marshmallows, toasted, if desired
  • 24 toothpicks
  • 7 ounces marshmallow creme
  • 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon lemon-yellow gel food color
Cupcakes: 
  1. Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
     
  2. In medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder; set aside. In small bowl, mix hot water and cocoa until dissolved; set aside.
     
  3. In large bowl, beat shortening with electric mixer on medium speed 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1⁄4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping bowl occasionally. Beat 2 minutes longer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
    On low speed, alternately add flour mixture, about 1⁄3 of mixture at a time, and cocoa mixture, about 1⁄2 at a time, beating just until blended.
     
  4. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about 2⁄3 full.
     
  5. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pans; place on cooling racks to cool.
Icing: 
  1. Line 15 × 10 × 1-inch pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray. Place unwrapped cinnamon and butterscotch candies in freezer plastic bag; with hammer or meat mallet, finely crush candies. Pour crushed candies into foil lined pan; spread in thin layer. Bake at 350°F 6 to 8 minutes or until completely melted. Cool completely before handling.
     
  2. Remove lid and foil seal from jar of marshmallow creme. Microwave uncovered on High 15 to 20 seconds to soften. In large bowl, beat marshmallow creme and butter with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until smooth. Tint frosting with yellow food color. Frost cupcakes.
     
  3. On each cupcake, arrange 5 pretzel pieces to look like logs of campfire. Break cooled sheets of melted candies into pointed shards. Insert candy pieces in tops of cupcakes around pretzels to look like flames.
     
  4. Place 2 marshmallows on one end of each toothpick. Insert other end of toothpick into each cupcake.
SO SO SO CUTE!!!

Linking up to several great parties that can be found HERE including these:
Lark's Country Heart  
Ginger Snap Crafts 
Lil' Luna 
Confessions of a SAHM 
THURSDAY Sweet Treats Thursday Sweets This Week  Thursday Show Your Stuff House of Hepworths Brambleberry Cottage Tablescape Thursday  FRIDAY: Tidy Mom Inspiration Friday Feathered Nest Friday Sweet Tooth Friday Show and Tell Friday It's a Hodgepodge Friday Weekend Wrap Up Flaunt it Friday  Bacon Time Friday Blog Party Sassy Sites Friday Fun  Fridays Unfolded Food on Fridays Friday Flair Foodie Friday
Sweets for a Saturday 
So Sweet Sundays! 
This Chick Cooks! 
Sundae Scoop 
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Monday, August 15, 2011

Tea Party Tuesday - Miracle Makeover and Cabin Cookies

I had a totally different post 
elegantly prepared for Tea Party Tuesday 
this week but as I started to edit the pictures,
I realized I just wasn't feeling it...

I am feeling pretty lucky.
I am feeling pretty humbled by the 
blogging community this week.

From the outpouring of "A Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey" 
posts all over blogland in honor of fellow 
food blogger Jennifer Perillo's husband who passed
suddenly from a heart attack.....

...to all the amazing posts about the 
Miracle Makeover 
for Charlie, sponsored by
Design Gives Back and these blogs...





Pink Saturday @ at How Sweet the Sound/ Beverly
Spiritual Sunday @ Spiritual Sunday /Charlotte & Ginger
Country Wings in Phoenix @ Country Wings in Phoenix/Sherry
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on The Porch/Susan 

Kelee Katillac has done it again, bringing
her special skills in design to bring
joy to others.


I was overwhelmed with gratitude and respect
for those who go above and beyond to help others.


The story of Charlie, a young brain tumor patient, certainly 
struck a cord with me on a personal level. 

As many of you know, I LIVE with a brain tumor.
Read my story here.

How can you help?!
Leave a comment at the participating blogs
Each comment equals $1.00 toward donations.
You can return daily to comment now through Aug 18th.
If you choose to create a post linking back to 

Design Gives Back 
  

Also - please visit fellow bloggers, Marydon
and Kathy at A Delightsome Life and leave 
a comment on their blog posts
for Miracle Makeover!!


I hope I am getting this all right. 


This week I am lucky to spend with my awesome husband, 
child and Mom and Dad at a wonderful 
deep woods lake home in Northern Minnesota.

To learn how to drawn on food with edible writers visit the Decorated Cookie Blog
It is breathtaking here.
I made these cookies on Father's Day for
my wonderful husband, James, who just loves
to be up north, on a boat, relaxing amongst 
the serenity of the water.


I thought I would share them for tea today.


Sugar Cookies with Fondant Cut-outs, Colored Piped Buttercream and Edible Writers....Easy Peasy!!!!

Next week, please join me as I share a wonderful
Tea Party Menu and a perfect
Strawberry-Champagne chilled soup
 that is beyond DELICIOUS!!

Thank you for your flexibility this week...
I just had to follow my heart.


(This pretty cottage teacup reminds me of our cabin this week..photo credit here)

 
Sharing cabin cookies and tea with:
TEA, INSPIRATION & TABLESCAPES:  

OTHER FUN SWEETS/FOOD and CRAFT LINK PARTIES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
 Mouth Watering Mondays, Melt in Your Mouth Mondays, Mingle Monday, Made it on Monday Sumo's Sweet Stuff Made by You Mondays Making the World Cuter Mondays Motivate Me Monday Joy of Desserts Dittle Dattle Amaze Me Monday Jam Hands Recipe Share Monday Mangia MondaysTUESDAY Confessions of a SAHM Delicious Dishes Cupcake Tuesday Let's Do Brunch Tempt my Tummy Tuesday Mandi's Tasty Tuesday Topsy Turvy Tuesday  Handmade Tuesday  Tasty Tuesday Tip Me Tuesday  Time Out Tuesday  Get Your Craft On WEDNESDAY Lil' Luna Ginger Snap Crafts Wonka Wednesday Whatever Goes Wednesday Wow Us Wednesday Look What I Made Wednesday What I Whipped Up Wednesday Let's Do Brunch Whatever You Want Wednesday Wow Me Wednesday This Chick CooksTHURSDAY Sweet Treats Thursday Sweets This Week  Thursday Show Your Stuff House of Hepworths Brambleberry Cottage FRIDAY: Tidy Mom Inspiration Friday Feathered Nest Friday Bacon Time Friday Party Sweet Tooth Friday Show and Tell Friday It's a Hodgepodge Friday Weekend Wrap Up Flaunt it Friday  Sassy Sites Friday Fun  Fridays Unfolded Food on Fridays Friday Flair Foodie FridayWEEKEND Sweets for a Saturday So Sweet Sundays The Girl Creative   Sundae Scoop

I can't wait to see what you are bringing to tea - thank you!






Thank you for joining me for Tea! Link up whatever you have..just join the fun but PLEASE link back here somewhere on your blog. It is also important to try to visit some of the other links. It is so nice to receive a comment from a new visitor so spread the love!! Enjoy your fabulous week and PLEASE take the time for TEA. Hugs, Trish






































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Friday, August 12, 2011

Peanut Butter Pie in Memory of Mike Perillo

Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey.




I did not make this pie. 
I bought it.

I spent extra time with my family instead of baking from scratch.

Time.

It goes so quickly...in a flash life can change. 

Take the TIME to tell the people who matter you love them.

It is amazing to see how the blogging community has come together to support Jennifer Perillo and her family during this time of loss.

I am so proud to be a part of this community.

To the Perillo's, you are in our thoughts and prayers.



A long life may not be good enough, 
but a good life is long enough.
~ B. Franklin 

Sharing this tribute with
 Beverly at Pink Saturday
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Tuesday, August 9, 2011

A Banana Split Cupcake!!


Ever have one of those days?  

Me tooooooooooooo!

Want to share a Banana Split?




Cupcake Style of course!


For you Trivia Buffs....I LOVE me some TRIVIA!

One of the most popular desserts in America, the Banana Split 
was invented by David Evans Strickler, a 23-year-old apprentice pharmacist at 
Tassel Pharmacy in Latrobe, Pennsylvania in 1904. 

Strickler created his Banana Split with three scoops of ice cream (vanilla, chocolate and strawberry) on a halved banana topped off with chocolate, marshmallow, nuts, whipped cream, and a cherry (he also commissioned a local glass company to create a long, narrow dish to accommodate a banana).




The price for the Banana Split triple sundae was 10 cents, twice the price of other sundaes, but it immediately became popular with students of Saint Vincent College.

  News of the sundae spread regionally and Strickler eventually bought 
the pharmacy, renaming it Strickler’s Pharmacy.
 
Wilmington, Ohio also claims their city as the birthplace of the Banana Split. In 1907, restaurant owner Ernest Hazard staged an employee contest to create a new sundae to attract students from nearby Wilmington College.

  Employee creativity was low and Hazard ended up splitting a 
banana lengthwise and piling ice cream on top with whipped cream, 
sliced strawberries, crushed nuts, shaved chocolate, and a maraschino cherry.



  Wilmington celebrates Hazard’s concoction every June with a 
Banana Split Festival.

Much credit for the national popularity of the Banana Split goes to Walgreen’s drug stores.  Founder Charles Rudolph Walgreen adopted the Banana Split as the chain’s signature dessert in the late 1920’s.

 
Traditional Banana Split Recipe:
1/2 cup scoop vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup scoop chocolate ice cream
1/2 cup scoop strawberry ice cream
1 large ripe banana
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup (or Hot Fudge)
2 tablespoons strawberry ice cream topping (or fresh strawberries)
2 tablespoons crushed pineapple
2 tablespoons wet walnut ice cream topping
whipped cream
cherries





Cupcake Banana Split
1. One Cupcake
2. Brown, Ivory and Pink Frosting
3. A marshmallow shaped like a banana...yes, I have those (don't ask) or use yellow fondant shaped into a lovely banana-like shape
4. Mini Red Gobstopper
5. Tiny bit of green fondant
6. Sprinkles 

Instructions:
 1. Frost Cupcake
2. Place "Banana" on Frosting
3. Pipe frosting colors on to resemble ice cream scoops
4. Add sprinkles
5. Add red "cherry"
6. Attach green stem with dab of corn syrup
7. Sit back and admire your creation 




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Sunday, August 7, 2011

A Toast to Tea Party Tuesday and Friends!!



Happy Tea Party Tuesday!
One of my favorite things to do while sipping TEA is
to flip through the STACK of Art History 
books I have on my shelves.  


I LOVE to meander through the pages with
Sophia Rose and teach her about a time gone by
and expose her to different worlds and the emotions they evoke. 



She, like her Mama, prefers Botticelli to Raphael and 
Tintoretto to Titan.



And of course Michelangelo is always welcome for Tea!


I was recently shopping around and came across a greeting card that donned this picture and something about it just called to me....


 

I bought the card and became intent on learning more
about the painting....the "behind the scenes" as I call it. 

Here is what I discovered about this painting:

THE TOAST 
by Richard Jack
 Painted on the eve of the First World War this picture is an 
evocation of a dinner held a century earlier, 
during which a toast is proposed to the young and beautiful hostess. 
A group is assembled in the dining room of a well appointed house, 
around a table laden with crystal. Secure in their prosperity, 
they are also saluting their good fortune. 
It is a depiction of a confident, and comfortable England.



Sophia and I had a great time dreaming up what 
we thought was going on in this picture. 

We named the young lady at the head of the table Rose (see her hair) and our final thoughts settled upon her family congratulating her for completing her studies as a Lawyer.  

(As of late I keep telling my child she is DESTINED to be a lawyer with 
her quick wit, attention to detail and pursuit of what is FAIR :)  

What are YOU toasting this fine week??

 

It is National Friendship Week so this toast goes out
to all of my dear friends who have enriched my life tremendously! 
A great way to toast a new or old friendship is at 
TEA TIME, of course!





Whether you drink tea or champagne in your tea cup this week just take the time to raise your cup and toast 
something you are grateful for in life!

 
The cupcakes above were created using a yummy chocolate cake 
and frosting recipe from MyCakeSchool.com. 
I then cut out a champagne glass using an exacto 
knife from white fondant and 
painted it lightly with edible gold luster paint. 
After adding some pearls to the glass,
I sprayed it with a gold luster spray. 

I will be showing more cupcakes on this theme later this week!

I am excited to see what YOU are bringing for TEA!

I will be toasting good friends and tea with:

TEA, INSPIRATION & TABLESCAPES:  

OTHER FUN SWEETS/FOOD and CRAFT LINK PARTIES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
 Mouth Watering Mondays, Melt in Your Mouth Mondays, Mingle Monday, Made it on Monday Sumo's Sweet Stuff Made by You Mondays Making the World Cuter Mondays Motivate Me Monday Joy of Desserts Dittle Dattle Amaze Me Monday Jam Hands Recipe Share MondayTUESDAY Delicious Dishes Cupcake Tuesday Let's Do Brunch Tempt my Tummy Tuesday Mandi's Tasty Tuesday Topsy Turvy Tuesday  Handmade Tuesday  Tasty Tuesday Tip Me Tuesday  Time Out Tuesday  Get Your Craft On WEDNESDAY Whatever Goes Wednesday Wow Us Wednesday Look What I Made Wednesday What I Whipped Up Wednesday Let's Do Brunch Whatever You Want Wednesday Wow Me Wednesday THURSDAY Sweet Treats Thursday Sweets This Week  Thursday Show Your Stuff House of Hepworths Brambleberry Cottage FRIDAY: Tidy Mom Inspiration Friday Feathered Nest Friday Sweet Tooth Friday Show and Tell Friday It's a Hodgepodge Friday Weekend Wrap Up Flaunt it Friday  Sassy Sites Friday Fun  Fridays Unfolded Food on Fridays Friday Flair Foodie FridayWEEKEND The Girl Creative  This Chick Cooks  Sundae Scoop
 


Thank you for joining me for Tea! Link up whatever you have..just join the fun but PLEASE link back here somewhere on your blog. It is also important to try to visit some of the other links. It is so nice to receive a comment from a new visitor so spread the love!! Enjoy your fabulous week and PLEASE take the time for TEA. Hugs, Trish
































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