Sunday, November 9, 2014

snowmen cupcakes


MARSHMALLOW SNOWMAN CUPCAKE TOPPERS
Supplies:
  • White cupcakes with white frosting
  • Regular marshmallows
  • Jumbo marshmallows
  • Oreos
  • Dark Chocolate Truffles (we used Mint Creams from Trader Joe's)
  • Wilton Decorating Gel in black
  • Betty Crocker Cookie Icing in white (black optional)
  • Shredded coconut
  • Pretzel sticks
  • Confetti dots
  • Fruit roll
  • Starburst candy (orange)
  • Directions:
    To make the snowman face, take one regular sized marshmallow and draw a face on it using the black Wilton Decorating Gel. Try to pick marshmallows that are flat on the top and bottom so your snowman will stand straight.
    To make the hat, pull an Oreo apart (use the side without the frosting). Squirt a dollop of Betty Crocker Cookie Icing on the top of one cookie and affix your chocolate candy. If you only have white icing, just use a touch less so it doesn't squish out the side. For the candy I used Dark Chocolate Mint Creams from Trader Joe's, but you can use chocolate truffles, or even Rolos. I like dark chocolate candies to match the color of the Oreos.
    To make the carrot nose, take one orange Starburst and cut tiny angled slivers. You can easily get 20 noses from a single orange Starburst.
    To attach the nose, cut a small slit in the front of the marshmallow and push the nose into the marshmallow.
    To make the body, first trim about 1/4 of the jumbo marshmallow off the bottom. This can help even out the marshmallow if it got a little squished in the bag.
    Put a dab of the white Betty Crocker Cookie Icing on the back of three confetti dots then attach them to the front of the body. And finally, to add the arms, stick pretzel sticks into the sides of the jumbo marshmallow.
    To make the scarf, cut slices of fruit roll that are at least 6 inches long and 1/4 inch wide.
    To create the fringe, use a sharp knife and make 3-4 cuts at each ends, each about 1/2 inch long.
    Now it's time for assembly.
    Start with your white frosted cupcake.
    Add the body.
    Now add your snow. First I attached shredded coconut. You can optionally sprinkled on some white sanding sugar to give it a little sparkle.
    Put a little swirl of the white Betty Crocker Cookie Icing on the bottom of the head, and set it on the body.
    Now add the scarf - just wrap it around the base of the head.
    And finally, to attach the hat put a swirl of the the Betty Crocker Cookie Icing on the bottom of the cookie, and set it on the head.
    One thing you can run into putting this together, is that if your marshmallows aren't flat, the head and hat can slide off before the cookie icing firms up. It's best to pick marshmallows that aren't too lopsided. And when you cut off the bottom of the jumbo marshmallow, use it as an opportunity level it out.
    And voila! Aren't they cute?
    Almost too cute to eat... but not quite. :)

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

21 foods you didn't know you can freeze

1. Fresh corn on the cob

1-fresh-corn-on-the-cob
Fresh corn can last the better part of a year if you get it in the freezer right away — husk and all.

2. Avocados for guacamole

2-avocados-for-guacamole
Wash and cut the avocados in half before peeling them. You can freeze the halves or peel and puree the avocado along with lemon juice and then store the mixture in a freezer for up to six months.

3. Hummus

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Hummus also freezes well. Place it in a freezer container and drizzle the top of the hummus with olive oil before sealing the container. Thaw it in the refrigerator for a day; then mix well before eating.

4. Garlic and Ginger

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Place crushed garlic in ice cube trays.

5. Chips

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6. Buttermilk for baking

6-Buttermilk-for-baking

7. Flour

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Like many foods, flour lasts longer in the freezer. Surprised? Maybe not. But have you been keeping flour in your pantry all this time? That’s what we thought. Most bakers prefer to keep their flour frozen, as cold ingredients make for a flakier pastry crust.

8. Organic peanut butter

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9. Eggs without shells

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Crack your eggs and store them (without shells) for six to eight months in bags or in ice cube trays for use in recipes or for scrambled eggs. Just let them thaw in the fridge before using.

10. Cooked rice and pasta

10-Cooked-rice-and-pasta
Freezer meals are nothing new, but you may be surprised to learn that you can also save time by cooking large batches of plain pasta or rice at once and freezing it in individual portions for later use. When you’re ready to eat, sprinkle with a bit of water and heat it up in the microwave.

11. Chicken broth

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Chicken broth doesn’t last very long in the fridge, but in the freezer it can last four to six months.

12. Pesto

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As with avocados, a pesto habit can get expensive. Luckily you can keep store-bought or homemade varieties in the freezer for months at a time. Just make sure the container isn’t too full or there won’t be room for expansion.

13. Pasta sauce

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14. Freeze & Preserve Fresh Herbs in Olive Oil

14-Herbs-in-olive-oil

more details here..

15. Tortillas

15-Tortillas
Tortillas can be frozen well for months at a time. As they may dry out a bit, place them in the microwave in a damp paper towel briefly to revive them before preparing for a meal.

16. Homemade cookie dough

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17. Chocolate

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18. Bananas

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19. Potatoes

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20. Mushrooms

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Freeze mushrooms for pizza toppings or casseroles. They defrost quickly in the fridge.

21. Nuts

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You can freeze nuts and seeds to keep them fresh for baking and other needs. Best part? You don’t even have to defrost them.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

squirt happy turtlecakes



What You’ll Need
Cupcakes
Frosting
Sour Peach Gummi Rings candies
Gumdrop candies (red and green)
Spearmint Leaves candies
Mini chocolate chips
Wooden kitchen skewer or toothpick
How To Make It
  • 1
    Frost the cupcakes.
  • 2
    For each cupcake, slice off and discard the bottom half of a red gumdrop. Place the gumdrop top on the center of a Gummi Ring to create a turtle shell. Set the shell atop the cupcake, pressing down slightly to stick it in place.
  • 3
     
    For fins, slice a Spearmint Leaves candy in half. Then use an oval fondant cutter to cut each half into two pieces, as shown.
  • 4
     
    Use the outer pieces for the front fins and the inner pieces for the hind fins.
  • 5
    For the head, use a kitchen skewer or toothpick to poke eyeholes in the sides of a green gumdrop. Then press a mini chocolate chip into each hole, using a dab of white icing to help hold it in place. Set the head in place, again pressing down slightly so that it sticks to the frosting.