Monday, September 19, 2011

Nutty Ham and Cheese Acorn Tea Sandwiches for Tea Party Tuesday!

Happy Tea Party Tuesday!

Boy oh boy do I need a cup of tea.

These past few weeks have been NUTS!
Which inspired these little fall delights for your 
Tea Party enjoyment!

Nutty Ham and Cheese 
Acorn Shaped
Tea Sandwiches




The pecan brown butter on top (and inside) is DIVINE!

I could eat all 6....and I did. 

With a little help from Sophia and James. 

Tea Sandwich

1 recipe for Pecan Brown Butter - see below
24 slices of pumpernickel bread cut into acorn shapes with cutter
24 slices of Virginia Ham cut into acorn pieces
12 slices deli-sliced fontina cheese, cut into acorn shapes

Spread Pecan Brown Butter onto once slice of bread and layer 2 slices of ham and 1 slice of cheese.
Top with bread.
Spread 1 tsp Pecan Brown Butter onto top third of sandwich to resemble an acorn cap

Pecan Brown Butter

1/2 cup butter, soft
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 T honey

In small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat and continue to cook until butter begins to brown and has a nutty aroma. (6-8 minutes)
Remove from heat and strain - discard any solids.
Let sit at room temperature until set, approximately 1 hour.
Add pecans and honey, stirring to combine.
Use immediately or store covered in refrigerator for up to 5 days.


For a printable recipe click HERE!


Yummy little acorns!


Remember the amazing RS Prussia Teapot that
my Mom gave me for my birthday?

Well, a Teapot without a Teacup is like 
Thelma without Louise 
around here, so...

This cup did not have a mark on the bottom.....I named her, GLORIOUS!


Taaaaaa  Daaaaaa!

Stunning isn't she?

THANKS MOM!!

This week, I am brewing the most lovely tea called 
Evening in Florence.

It is truly one of my all time favorites.
I purchased it from a wonderful Tea Room called
Aprille Showers not to far from my home.

To visit her online store click Here!

What are you sharing for tea this week...link up below!

Sharing some tea and nuts 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 Crazy for Crust 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 Cooks Gooseberry PatchTHURSDAYArtsy Girl 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 am excited to see what YOU are bringing for TEA!




Wednesday, September 14, 2011

What you can learn from CoCo Chanel and other Winners!


I love strong women.


A favorite lady of mine is Coco Chanel.
Photo Credit

She is one of those people, I think of
when asked...if you could have dinner with someone famous, alive or dead, who would it be.....?





I like her style, her moxie, her sassy strut 
and thoughts on life.

These are some of my favorite quotes from
Coco Chanel that inspire me.

"My life didn't please me, so I created my life" 

"Since everything is in our heads, we had better not lose them" 

"The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud."
"In order to be irreplaceable, one must be different."

"How many cares one loses when one decides not 
to be something but someone." 

"Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door." 


I call on them at times when I need a 
kick in the pants reminder that 
life is what I choose to make it.

I chose to make Coco Chanel inspired cupcakes.





Coco Chanel is definitely a winner....are YOU?


       "LOVE your little pencils you made! Too cute!!! 
And I'm a follower =o)"
 Via random.org
Thank YOU Erin!!

Congrats on winning the 
Americolor Markers and 
Christmas Cookie Craft Book!





Thanks to everyone who left a comment!


Sharing Chanel with:



 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 Crazy for Crust 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   It's a Blog Party

Monday, September 12, 2011

Happy Birthday to ME on Tea Party Tuesday ~ Celebrating the Kolache!


Friday, Sept 9th was my wonderful Nana Marcy's birthday. 
Miss you Nana!

To see the post click Here

My mother left the most heartwarming comment for me
on that post that I will treasure forever:
From Your Mom
First thing this morning in my Fosbinder tradition I sang Happy Birthday to my Mommy. She is BY FAR the nicest lady I have ever run across and lucky me to have called her Mom. I remember back on 9/9/1975 after I had called and sang my Birthday song to her she returned my call at the end of the day and said, "I guess, I'm not going to get my baby for one of my Birthday gifts this year." She so wished to have YOU COME on her Birthday that year but 3 days later there you were in all your glory. Since I was born on her mother's birthday she so hoped you would have been born on her's. She did tell me once that September 12 was close enough. She was always and always will be proud of you and is smiling at the thought of you making kolaches. I learned from the master, My Mother, but mine never ever tasted like hers. 
You truly touched me today!!
Love Mom

 September 12th is MY birthday!

Insert crickets chirping...ha ha!

This past birthday weekend, I decided to honor
my late Nana and do something I have been 
wanting to do for a long time......
bake kolaches!

My Nana was FAMOUS for her kolaches.

What is a kolache you say?
Well first, it is pronounced "Kol - la - chee"

Basically, it is a Czech pastry that dates way back and is thought to have originated as a wedding dessert!
To learn more about the kolache and its history click HERE.

I first attempted a kolache recipe I thought was perfect for fall:

Pumpkin Kolache's with Cinnamon Cream



And yes, it is PERFECT for a Fall Tea Party!


To get the PRINTABLE RECIPE click HERE!

While these kolaches were very tasty (almost more cream puff-y), they did NOT LOOK or taste like my Nana's kolaches so 
I took back to the kitchen to try a recipe 
that looked closer to her creation.




Yep, that is pretty close!


oooooh delish!


For the printable recipe for this basic kolache click HERE!


I used both canned poppyseed filling as you see here as well as apricot preserves and both were amazing! 


I added a little powdered sugar glaze on these! Oh YUM!


Mission Accomplished.  Heart Warmed. 


But it gets better....
This year my Mom gave me the most amazing gift EVER!

WOWZER!


This is one of the PRIZED teapots in her collection.



 RS Prussia!!  I about flipped my teapot lid!

I will share the other amazing tea treasures that she bestowed upon me in the future...I was mesmerized!!!

I also was given several other wonderful items including 3 
of my Nana Marcy's aprons! 


My Nana would wear the apron on the far right when the priest would come for dinner on Sundays!

They are so delicate and lovely and make me feel 
wrapped in her love when I wear them.

I wore one a few weeks ago while hosting the
church fundraiser tea in my home.
To see that post click Here!

As I write this, all I can feel in my heart is love.
Sometimes I get frustrated with things in life, 
but it is times like this that I pay attention to how 
my heart feels and keep this feeling close 
when uncertainty creeps in. 

So here is to birthdays and Nana's and mothers and tea and friends and well...just the JOY of being who I am.

Don't forget to link up below!


Sharing memories and kolaches 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 Crazy for Crust 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 Cooks Gooseberry PatchTHURSDAY 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 am excited to see what YOU are bringing for TEA!







Friday, September 9, 2011

The Sweetest Lady I have EVER known.


Happy Birthday to my Nana Marcy



Grandpa Frank, Nana Marcy



She was the sweetest lady that ever lived.
Nana with her kids...Bob, Jim, Jan (my mom), John
She is dancing with the Lord in Heaven.


Photo Credit


I miss her very much.

My Nana made the most AMAZING kolaches. 
Amazing.

I have never attempted the infamous kolache.
In honor of my Nana's Birthday and my birthday on Monday I am going to attempt to make some kolaches this weekend!


I hope she is proud of me and what I am doing in my life.


I love you Nana.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Easy Back to School Treats + Giveaway!


School started on Tuesday for Sophia Rose.


Notice my awesome, amazing, "light up-give you a seizure" shoes EVERYONE!



It was bittersweet.



Kind-of.

It is time to get back to a routine.

She was bummed and told me she prefers her "leisure time".

My child lives a NICE life...so does her buddy!


Ya...don't we all. 


I too am going "back to school" in a way...I have to 
start studying for my PA Boards!!  


This is me, cupcake style.


Insert *GASP* and deeeeep looong siiiigggh of PAIN!

Every 6 years Physician Assistants have to 
retake the medical boards.  
This will be my 12th year and thus, second time 
to experience this joyous occasion....NOT. 


It is A LOT of work (so the blogging will be taking a 
backseat) but hey, I need to make the 
REAL dough to make the dough...ya know?! 


Ha ha.

I planned some FUN surprises for Ms. Leisure's lunch 
this week that included these EASY treats.



The school bus idea I adapted from here at Family Fun.



But I came up with the pencil idea myself 
using fruit flavored tootsie rolls and 
a touch of black fondant! 

And my trusty, not rusty, Americolor edible writer!



All you need are these easy supplies:


And I made some easy apple shaped rice krispie treats 
for Sophia as well as some for the staff at school. 









Click HERE for the super "how-to" from 
the blog Gourmet Mom on the Go!  Thanks Mom!


I also have a fun Sponge Bob and Phineas & Ferb
treat to add to her lunch along with these 
AMAZING flavored Magic Milk Straws



I doubt this compares to her "leisure time" but
I am confident this will take the pain out of
getting back into the swing of things!

I wonder what will take the pain out of studying 
for MY boards...hmmm.....A GIVEAWAY!


How about a set of Americolor Markers!



And for upcoming Holidays how about...





Here are the SCHOOL RULES:
1. Leave a comment telling me you are a follower
2. Follow me on FB (click HERE and NOT on my sidebar) - good for another entry
3. If anyone can tell me how to fix my Facebook link on my sidebar I will send you the Cookie Book!
4.  Follow me on twitter or leave a comment if you already do - click here or the sidebar
5. Tweet or FB this giveaway and leave a comment
5. US and Canada Only Please

I am sharing back to school fun with:

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 Crazy for Crust 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   It's a Blog Party

Monday, September 5, 2011

Tea Party Tuesday - Tea Party Sweets!

Welcome to another Tea Party Tuesday.

I look forward to visiting more of you this week now that we are back from vacation and things are getting into a routine again.

Last spring I donated a
Five Course Elegant Afternoon Tea Experience
to the silent auction at my daughter's 
Catholic School's Spring Fundraiser.


I was surprised how popular of an item it was!




And flattered!




I recently hosted the lovely auction winners in my home.





I allowed them to chose the Tea Menu off my blogs
recipe page and they ended up with the following:

1. Strawberry Champagne Chiller
2. Fruit Medley Poppyseed Salad
3. Calla Lilly Tea Sandwiches
4. Mint Cream Cheese Butterfly Tea Sandwiches
5. Signature Black Forest Ham Quiche
6. White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Scones
They left the dessert choices to me and so I made some lovely Cupcakes, Petit Fours and these Teapot Sugar Cookies.

Inspiration for cookies found here

Now, I am NOT a cookie gal...I am so darn intimidated by Royal Icing and admire people likeMeaghan Mountford at the Decorated Cookie, Hanielas, The Enchanted Oven and other amazing cookie bloggers like, Sweet SugarBelle, Sweetopia and Bake@350

So..I cheated and used fondant to decorate these cookies but frankly, I am so glad I did and I highly recommend it!
This way, I wasn't stressed 
and I think they turned out fantastic!  




Plus, I used a great fondant that tasted wonderful.

The how-to is super simple...

Bake some Sugar Cookies----Check
Roll out some fondant----Check
Use fancy impression mat and roll on fondant----Check
Cut out fancy fondant with same cookie cutter----Check
Attach fondant to cookie with some buttercream----Check
Cut out or make some fancy flowers and adhere----Check
Put on some sugar pearls & dragees for added loveliness----Check



I will be sharing more this Tea Party in the upcoming weeks, but I am most excited to see what YOU are sharing this week!

I will be sharing Teapot Cookies 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 Crazy for Crust 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 Cooks Gooseberry PatchTHURSDAY 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




What are YOU bringing to TEA?



Friday, September 2, 2011

Pencil Cupcakes ~ A Must Do Re-do!


We just got back from our 
amazing surprise Disney Trip and I wanted
to make something fun, quick
and EASY for BACK TO SCHOOL.

I tried to think of something original but my brain was clouded up with "It's a Small World" playing over and over....and plus...let us be HONEST here...sometimes
other people just have BETTER ideas. 

and this great idea for PENCIL CUPCAKES.

I whipped these babies out in like 10 minutes.

I call it a Must-Do, Re-Do!

I had the fushia, silver and yellow cupcake wrappers on hand and just cut the fushia and silver wrappers down and glued them all together. The Queen has a great cupcake wrapper template you can use to make your own wrappers from construction paper, so click on the link to check it out.

I had some cupcakes frozen in the freezer and thawed those puppies along with some buttercream that I tinted the organe-y, light brownie color.
I also keep some wilton premade tube decorating icing on hand in red and black which really helped out here for the pencil tip!



VIOLA

Here is to people who have better ideas and to those who replicate their ideas to keep them in business!



 
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