Sweetology

Monday, October 17, 2011

Ronald McDonald House Cupcakes for a Charity Dinner ~ Happy Tea Party Tuesday

Happy Tea Party Tuesday!

WOW

What a WILD and CRAZY WEEKEND!!

In the past 3 days I have designed over 80 cupcakes!

WHEW

I was going to post another fillo mini tart recipe but

I received an amazing call on Friday and I wanted to

share this experience while it is fresh in my heart.

The call was to ask me

if I would be interested in donating

CUPCAKE CENTERPIECES

for the

Ronald McDonald House

Charity Dinner

This dinner is being put on by volunteers

who serve a home cooked meal

to the parents of sick children who are

receiving treatments for their respective diseases.

I wished I would have had more time

to put into my designs but they needed the cupcakes

by Sunday and I was also hosting a fun

Halloween Extravaganza for

some families at my daughter's school

so I had to chose some designs that were

quick, yet seasonal and meaningful.

Here is what I whipped out:

Excuse the photo quality I was rushing like a mad woman!!!

I might not have made the most

glamorous, elaborate designs...

and looking at the photos I see tons of

flaws in my piping and technique...

but in the end, I hope this brings a smile

to a person who needs their heart lifted.

And here is why I chose what I did:

1. SUNFLOWER – ALWAYS WITH ITS FACE TO THE SUNSHINE

““The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.”

2. BEAUTIFUL FALL LEAF AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EMBRACING CHANGE

“Without change there would be no butterflies”

3. THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE – A SYMBOL OF HOPE AND COMMUNITY

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."

We talk about the importance of "taking time for tea"

and this weekend I realized that my "tea time" was spent

doing something for others, not myself, and in that

simple action my cup is overflowing.

The words ring true..."no man can can sincerely try to

help another without helping himself".

The POWER of saying, Yes...Yes I can.

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

Sharing "tea" with:

TEA, INSPIRATION & TABLESCAPES:

Rose Chintz Tea Time Tuesday

Martha's Favorite TeaCup Tuesday
The Plumed Pen ~ Tuesday Tea for Two!
Tea Cup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations

Teacup Thursday

Tabletop Tuesday

Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

A Return to Loveliness

LACE Wednesdays

Tablescape Thursday

Pink Saturday

The Tablescaper ~ Seasonal Sundays
StoneGable - On the Menu Monday!
Tuesday Cuppa Tea!

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

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

What NOT to wear on Halloween...a Cupcake Story

I thought it was my duty to
get out a much needed
Public Service Announcement
for all parents who are in the process
of buying or making your child's
Halloween Costume.

Many people love Halloween.

Personally, I am not a fan.

And it all stems from her:

Yes, Miss Piggy.

Oh she isn't as INNOCENT as she looks people...Read on.

Now, I am sure all of you THINK you have the

bestest mother in the world, but sorry...truth is..I DO!

By way of her witty, crafty and fiscally conservative ways (especially on Halloween), my sisters and I lived a good life and never new that we were, in fact, NOT the Rockefellers.

In all her glory, my Mom did commit one

fatal mistake during my rearing.

She made me a "homemade"

Miss Piggy Halloween costume.

That I had to wear to a 5th grade school Halloween Party.

With a pillow stuffed in my costume to "fatten me up".

Tied with a rope.

Donning my "paper plate on a string Miss Piggy mask" that had the snout custom made out of a Styrofoam cup complete with

two holes poked in the end for "added realness".

Or to avoid re-breathing my own CO2.

Yikes that Orange Shag!! Oh and yes people, I do have 5 fingers in real life...WTH?!

I wore the damn costume, because I never liked to argue with my Mom much...she and my Dad worked hard.

So I sucked it up.

And ended up with a "prize" and 20 years of therapy.

Hey you're a PIGGY...Miss PIGGY WIGGY...Hey PIG!
OINK

You STINK like a PIG, PIGGY!

Little Creeps.

The "Judge" of the costume contest took pity on my ridicule
and in a FEEBLE attempt to divert attention,
made it WORSE and awarded ME the PRIZE for
BEST COSTUME.

Thanks a--hole.

Winner or Wiener?

As you can see, I haven't moved on.

Now, to return the favor in life, I made Sophia this fantastic

watermelon slice costume a few years back.

Nice SEEDS!

Happy Little Watermelon!

Everyone thought she was a ladybug.

This is a WATERMELON...Not a Ladybug!

It almost came to blows with the neighbors.

PEOPLE...SEE THE HAT!
DUH!!

So...in a nutshell think long and hard
about the Halloween attire you
place on your child this year.

Gotta go..I am making Sophia
her costume again this year.....NOT!

Sharing this PSA with:

Tablescape Thursday

Pink Saturday

The Tablescaper ~ Seasonal Sundays

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

Monday, October 10, 2011

Fall Tea Party Ideas ~ Pumpkin Spice Tea Sandwiches and Spooky Pumpkin Tassies

Happy Tea Party Tuesday!

The links last week were amazing.

I enjoy so much what everyone brings to the

Tea Party and try to visit each and every one of you.

As I stated last week, I have been ~~obsessed~~

interested in the endless possibilities

of using the mini fillo tart shells!

Last week I offered a great recipe for

Ham and Asparagus with Gruyere Mini Tarts

I was thrilled to see how popular it was!

This week my inspiration came from

picking pumpkins and decorating for fall.

The simple, yet elegant, snacks this week

are sure to please anyone you plan to host

for a Fall Tea Party.

First in the line up is

Pumpkin Spice Tea Sandwich

I found this sitting on the shelves at Target and just

knew I had to make something with it!!

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese!!!

What you need:

*Brown Sugar Cinnamon Bread (Pepperidge Farm)

*Pumpkin Cookie Cutter (Wilton)

*Pumpkin Pie Spice Cream Cheese (Philadelphia)

*Pumpkin Pie Spice (optional)

*Regular Cream Cheese

*Green Food Coloring

*Toasted Pecans

*Piping bags (optional)

*Wilton piping tip 10 and 3 (optional)

**I am sure you could make your own version of the pumpkin spice cream cheese using regular cream cheese and adding 1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice and a touch of orange food coloring!!

The How-to ~~This is EASY:

*Cut out pumpkin shapes from bread

*Place pumpkin pie spice cream cheese in bowl and add additional 1/4 tsp of pumpkin pie spice (if desired) and 1/4 cup toasted pecans and whip together.

*Place regular cream cheese in small bowl and add a touch of green food coloring and whip together

*If desired, place pumpkin pie spice cream cheese mixture into piping bag with wilton #10 piping tip and pipe small amount onto pumpkin shaped bread - or just spread on with knife

*Using piping bag with wilton #3 tip, if desired, pipe green cream cheese onto top of pumpkin in shape of stem or spread on with knife

The next easy and fun tasty tea time treat is

Spooky Pumpkin Tassies

What you need:

*mini fillo tart shells

*1 can premade pumpkin pie filling (or make your own)

*4 oz cream cheese, softened

*whipped cream

*baking chocolate or chocolate candy wafers for melting

*piping bag with wilton #1 or #2 tip or plastic squeeze bottle

The How-to:

*preheat oven to 350 degrees

*thaw mini fillo tart shells

*mix can of pumpkin pie filling and 4 oz softened cream cheese

* spoon 1 tsp of filling into tart shells

*bake at 350 degrees for 16-18 min, times may vary

*to make the spider webs, melt chocolate and pipe little mini webs onto wax paper and let harden

*to assemble - pipe a dollop of whip cream onto top of tassie and place chocolate spider web on top!

VIOLA!

I stumbled upon the original idea for these on the Athens Site

awhile ago but for the life of me could

NOT find the direct link again!!

Simple, yet elegant cream teapot I got from Kirklands!!

I am enjoying these treats with the

creamy and smooth

Creme Caramel Tea

from my favorite Minnesota Tea Room, Aprille Showers!

What are YOU bringing for Tea this week??

I am having tea with:

TEA, INSPIRATION & TABLESCAPES:

Rose Chintz Tea Time Tuesday

Martha's Favorite TeaCup Tuesday
The Plumed Pen ~ Tuesday Tea for Two!
Tea Cup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations

Teacup Thursday

Tabletop Tuesday

Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

A Return to Loveliness

LACE Wednesdays

Tablescape Thursday

Pink Saturday

The Tablescaper ~ Seasonal Sundays
StoneGable - On the Menu Monday!

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

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough S'Mores.....So Bad but So Good!

I Love Fall!

For me, it means lots of

Bonfires.

And S'mores.

Now, I have eaten a lot of S'mores in my day but

Nothing...and I MEAN NOTHING compares

with these.....

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough S'mores

Yes...OMG, sums it up.

For the PRINTABLE RECIPE click HERE

Now, I am all about honesty...I wanted to make

my own chocolate chip cookies from scratch

like a good baking blogger, but the fact of the matter

is, I am SHORT on TIME these days.

So, I used some premade chocolate chip

cookie dough that I BOUGHT...like a smart woman,

who knows her boundaries.

However, I know the "from scratch" chocolate chip cookie

recipe YOU have from Grandma or the one I provided for you
in the printable recipe would make these even better!!

Hope you enjoy your weekend!

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

Monday, October 3, 2011

Tea Party Tuesday - Ham & Asparagus with Gruyere Mini Tarts for Tea

Happy Tea Party Tuesday

This week I would like to focus on the
importance of keeping things SIMPLE.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

~Leonardo DaVinci

Simple Elegance

Want to know a great item that adds
Simple Elegance to any Tea Party?

Yes, the Mini Phyllo (or Fillo for some) tart shell!!

To channel Rachel Zoe, I go BANANAS for these.


"Shut it down, Trisha! Your Cupcakes & Tea Parties are BANANAS....I just died!"

One of my favorite sites to get inspiration
for Tea Party Recipes is the
Athens Recipe Page

The site if full of yummy, and YES...
SIMPLE
ideas for Tea Time Treats!

I will be featuring some fun and SIMPLE ideas
from this site as well as my own creations
all through October.

Here is a simple tea time recipe I created
that literally takes 5 minutes to prepare.

I adapted Martha Stewart's
Asparagus Gruyere Tart
into a bite size yummy treat.

Ham with Asparagus & Gruyere Mini Tarts
1 package of Mini Phyllo Tart Shells
1 package 8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup of shredded black forest ham
1 - 1 1/2 cup of steamed asparagus (I used mostly the top third of the spear)
1 cup of shredded Gruyere Cheese
Dash of Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Preheat oven to 350
Thaw Phyllo Shells
Mix cream cheese, ham and asparagus tips and add salt and pepper to taste
Spoon 1 Tablespoon Cream Cheese Mixture into Tart Shell
Sprinkle with Shredded Gruyere Cheese
Top with Drizzle of Olive Oil

Bake in oven for 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly!!

Serve Warm

Ooooohhhh YUMMY

Want some SWEET TREATS to
make with those mini tart shells?

Check out my Recipes Page for some great
easy, quick, SIMPLE ideas.

Come back next week to find
a cute Halloween themed idea
for your Mini Phyllo Shells!!

Thank you for joining
Rachel Zoe and I for Tea Party Tuesday.