Monday, August 1, 2011

Sewing 101

Great Brunch Ideas

Mini blueberry pancake stacks....brunch anyone?
Blueberry pancake sliders


Ham & Cheese Sliders.
Ham and Cheese Sliders
adapted slightly from the Recipe Club

24 good white dinner rolls
24 pieces good honey ham
24 small slices Swiss cheese
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup miracle whip

Poppy seed sauce (you probably could half this...I had plenty extra)
1 T poppyseeds
1 1/2 T yellow mustard
1 stick butter, melted
1 T minced onion
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and miracle whip. Spread onto both sides of the center of each roll. Place a slice of ham and a slice of Swiss inside of each roll. Close rolls and place them into a large baking dish or heavy cookie sheet. Place very close together.

In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients. Pour evenly over all of the sandwiches. Let sit 10 minutes or until butter sets slightly. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for 2 additional minutes. Serve warm.

** sandwiches can be assembled a day ahead and kept in the fridge ready to bake.

French Toast with Strawberry Butter. #breakfast
Heart shaped strawberry French Toast

Strawberry cream cheese croissants
Ingredients:1 package of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
1/4 cup of homemade strawberry jam
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup of confectioners sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg + 1 tsp of water for egg wash

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.



In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla. Cream until there are no lumps.

Unroll each crescent roll. On the fattest part of the triangle place 1 tsp on cream cheese mixture and one tsp of jam. Roll into a croissant shape.

Whisk together egg and water for egg wash and brush over each croissant.

Bake for 8-10 minutes until croissants are golden brown and inside is no longer doughy. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

Enjoy!
All recipes were found on Pinterest.com


How to turn mason jars into lanterns

So, here's a little tutorial for you, courtesy of the dapper Mr. Beeper.




Sunday, July 31, 2011

My Weekend Project

This weekend I found this wood crate. I decided to paint it and use it as a tray on my dining table. Wood crates have so many purposes.


Things I Love

Anything with Birds!

Chocolate & Peanut Butter

Cool Cupcakes

An Amazing Craft  Room

Lace

A Beautiful Heel

Everything Wedding

Ruffles

Vintage

Yellow & Gray Combination


Saturday, July 30, 2011

Hummingbird Cupcakes

Hummingbird Cupcakes
These cupcakes will make a great addition to any Luau or your next party.

Hummingbird Cupcakes
Makes 24
Ingredients:
For the cupcakes:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/3 cups mashed ripe banana
2/3 cup crushed pineapple, drained
2/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted (optional)
2/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
For the frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2 large pineapples, peeled (for the flowers)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350º. Line cupcake pans with paper liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, vanilla and sugar and beat until blended and smooth. On low speed, beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Mix in the mashed banana, then the dry ingredients. Beat just until incorporated. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the pineapple, walnuts (if using) and coconut.
Fill each prepared liner about 3/4 full of batter. Bake for 20-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pans for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the frosting, combine the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, or until combined and smooth. Mix in the vanilla extract. Gradually add the sugar until completely incorporated. Increase the speed and continue beating until the frosting is smooth. Frost cooled cupcakes as desired.

Note: Annie recommends increasing the frosting by 50% if you like higher frosted cupcakes. I have always liked cake more than frosting and actually prefer mine frosted lower. However, if you love frosting, your best bet is to make a little extra.

To make the pineapple flowers, preheat oven to 225º. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats. Using a melon baller or measuring spoon, remove the “eyes” from the pineapple. Slice as thinly as possible (we used an electric knife) and transfer to prepared baking sheets. Bake for about 30 minutes, then flip and continue baking until the pineapple is completely dried, anywhere from 30 minutes up to an hour more. Place in cupcake pans to cool to form the flower shape. If you want to speed up the process, you can increase the heat to 300º, which will result in a deeper color. If you do this, make sure to frequently check the pineapple so that it doesn’t burn. Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days.

As seen on Annie’s Eats, cake from Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes, frosting adapted from Confections of a Foodie Bride

Friday, July 29, 2011

Current Flag Bunting Project & A Favor Tray Find

Here is the current flag bunting project I am working on for a vintage shower.

I also, found this great find. A box in the most beautiful colors. I am going to use it as a serving tray for favors. Macarons inside stamped small brown bags.