Halloween Cat Cupcakes

Happy Halloween – well, almost anyway!

Today I went up to school to celebrate Halloween with the kids, and these were the cupcakes I brought for my daughter’s class.  I used the Sugar Sparkle Black Cats from a previous post by making them into picks.

To make the edible “picks” I just “glued” a pretzel stick with melted chocolate to the back of the black cat, and I let them dry overnight.

*I set mine on parchment to dry – which made peeling them off a breeze!

The edible cats were a huge hit with the kids!

Linking to Tidy Mom, I Heart Nap Time

Foodie Christmas Idea Guide 2011

I love to shop - as in ”I-know-the-UPS-guy-by-name” love to shop!  So here are some of my top picks for foodies this Christmas season – these are all items that I’m crazy about, and use often.  I hope they help make your holiday shopping easier, or simply inspire you to think of the perfect gift for the foodie in your life.

These are Rainbow Pottery Prep Bowls, and I love them.  I bought them on Etsy from Karin Lorenc.  You can search on Etsy for other prep bowls if these aren’t available.  Besides being gorgeous and useful for all sorts of things (prepping, individual portions, etc.), Karin ships quickly.  I believe she only lists items when they are available to ship – so check back if they’re not listed, or convo her.

I have to confess that I’ve bought these exact bowls from her twice – once for my dad for Father’s Day, then another time for myself.  Both times there were wrapped carefully and arrived in perfect condition.

These squeeze bottles are really handy for homemade dressings, melted chocolate, or decorating cookies with royal icing.  On the left is a Wilton bottle I purchased at Walmart in the cake decorating section – where you’d find all of the frosting tips.  The middle (red) one I bought online at The Webstaurant Store (which has a great selection, but sometimes their quantities are large & shipping can be high- so make the most of it).  The last bottle (with the decorating tip) I bought from Karen’s Cookies - they’re reasonable and ship fast.

From the left, is a Wooden Mug Holder that I bought on Etsy to hang cookies and yummy soft pretzels on (for a carnival birthday party), but it could also be used for mugs.  Next are the milk bottles - which always seem to be on a waiting list – so order early, or search around.  I’ve also seen them for sale at Shop Sweet Lulu, but I haven’t had the pleasure of purchasing from them yet.

In the back is the lovely turquoise Fiestaware Baking/Pizza Plate that my friend Janna talked me into buying (the color only, that is).  I like it since I can slide it into the refrigerator easily (with a three layer cake on top), it’s dishwasher-safe, and (the real clencher) it’s made in the U.S.A.!  And finally, the practical Vermont Cutting Board, also made in the U.S.A.

I love these cookbooks. . .and about 300 others.  From top to bottom:

1. The Family Kitchen - buy it used. . .it’s worth it.

2. Summertime Anytime Cookbook - another used book choice

3. Baking With Julia

4. Snack Attack

5. Kids in the Holiday Kitchen

6. A Homemade Life

7. The Good Stuff Cookbook

8. Bobby Flay’s Burgers, Fries, and Shakes

9. Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey: Desserts for the Serious Sweet Tooth

10. Barbecue, Biscuits, and Beans

11. The Whimisical Bakehouse

12. Clinton St. Baking Company

13. Debbie Macombers Cedar Cove Cookbook

14. Bobby Flay’s Throwdown!

15. The Pastry Queen: Royally Good Recipes from the Texas Hill Country’s Rather Sweet Bakery

16. Baked

Bee Stand

It’s actually a stand for a beverage jar, but I use it as a cute display for my cupcakes and muffins.

Antique Rose Cake Plate

This plate is gorgeous and makes any occasion special.

Dough-Rising Bucket and Yeast Measuring Spoon

With the tub you’ll never have to worry about getting your dough to rise again, and the spoon measures out a packet of yeast (if you buy the yeast from a jar).

Paula Deen Pie Board

This board is large, and it’s great for kneading dough on because I can quickly change my location (and mess) if I need to share my counter.

Parchment Pan Liners

These liners are the perfect size for my cookie sheets – the shipping price is high, so buy a bunch!

Red Melamine Pour-Spout Bowl

This bowl is dishwasher-safe, lightweight, and small enough for the kids to use.

Pastasaurus Rex

He makes dishing up spaghetti fun.

12-inch Flat Roux Whip

This is a sturdy (dishwasher-safe) whisk for making gravy, and I’ve even been known to mix with it.

Big Digit Timer

This timer has easy to read digits, and after it goes off, the timer begins to count up so you know just how long you let your cookies burn in the oven.

Portable Timer/Clock

This timer is in high demand at my house because it’s on a string (and there’s a nifty magnet on the back which ensures it can always be found on my refrigerator).

Mini Melamine Berry Colander

I use this colander just about every other day for the kids fresh fruit.  It’s really small, so it’s perfect for their little hands to carry.

Kitchen Shears

I have about 3 pairs of kitchen shears, and I like this pair because they’re dishwasher-safe.

Ring Bell - scroll down to the 6th item!

The ring bell is the 6th item down.  The picture looks different from the one above, but this is the style of ring bell I was sent when I placed my order.  If you have any questions I would suggest contacting Kitchen Carvers before placing your order.  Also, check the homepage - sometimes there is a free item with (a minimum) purchase offer.

I have purchased six of these.  In my defense, four of them were for gifts!  I keep one of them on the ledge by my kitchen sink so I can easily remove my rings before washing my hands, or handling raw meat, etc.  I also think this would make a lovely wedding shower gift.  This is another item proudly made in the U.S.A.

Mini Food Chopper

I use my mini food chopper a lot – especially for small jobs, like chopping onions or grinding cookies.  It’s a perfect gift for those who already have large food processors, newlyweds, and college students.

I hope you’ve enjoyed previewing my list of my Christmas ideas – I had a lot of fun compiling it!  I have not received any form of compensation for my opinions, or referrals.

Happy Holiday shopping!

Linking to I Heart Nap Time

Sugar Sparkle Black Cats

This is (hopefully!) my last post for Halloween, I’m ready to change gears.  I was asked to bake cupcakes for my daughter’s school Halloween party to coordinate with the paper goods (pumpkin plates & bat napkins).  I thought pumpkin, bats, and black cats!   These were really fun to make, but don’t do what I did and not prep first!  I think they’ll be perfect to use as an edible topper on the cupcakes.

Sugar Sparkle Black Cats Adapted from What’s New, Cupcake?

2 cups of chocolate candy melts

2 cups of black sanding sugar

1/2 cup of royal icing, tinted orange or yellow

There is a cat template in the book (if you have it), or you can do what I did, and buy a small cat cookie cutter and trace a couple of cats onto your own copy paper.  Set the tracing sheet on a cookie sheet, then top with a sheet of wax paper.

Melt the candy melts in a double boiler set on top of simmering water; carefully scoop the melted chocolate into a squeeze bottle (if you have one), or a ziploc bag (with a small corner cut to pipe).  Pipe the outline of the cat, then fill in the center – gently tap the cookie sheet so the cat is smooth.  Then pour (I put my sanding sugar in a plastic cup) the black sanding sugar on the cat completely covering it.  Repeat.

Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for 15 minutes, or until set.  Gently peel off one cat at a time, shaking the excess sugar back onto the wax paper.  Then place the finished cat on a clean sheet of wax paper or parchment.  When you’re all finished, pour the extra sugar back into your cup and start the process again!

Pipe the tinted royal icing for the cat’s eyes and let dry completely overnight.

*I make one cat at a time to ensure that the coating hasn’t set before I shake on the sprinkles.

Boomer Sooner!

Enough said!  Well, that and “Beat Texas!”

Triple Chocolate Cookies with Chocolate Chip Faces

See that cute little finger?  She just couldn’t wait until I was done taking the picture!  These are super chocolately, so they’re not for the casual chocolate eater.  In fact, with the white chocolate chip faces (can you see them now?) they’re actually quadruple chocolate cookies.

Triple Chocolate Cookies Adapted from Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey by Jill O’Connor

12 ounces semisweet chocolate

1 ounce unsweetened chocolate

1/2 cup unsalted butter

4 large eggs

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chunks

1 1/2 cups semisweet milk chocolate chunks

White chocolate chips, optional

Preheat the oven to 350.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment.

In a medium glass bowl, microwave the chocolate (the first two ingredients) and butter until melted, about 2 minutes – stirring frequently to prevent burning.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs and the sugars together.  Add the vanilla and beat until fluffy.  Slowly beat in the melted chocolate, then sift in the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Stir until combined, then mix in the chocolate chunks.

Scoop the batter (about 2 – 3 Tablespoons each) onto the cookie sheet (I use a cookie scoop for this), and bake for about 12-15 minutes – the cookies should still be moist inside.  Let the cookies cool completely on the cookie sheet.

*To make the pumpkin faces, simply place the white chocolate chips into the cookie dough right after scooping and follow the baking directions!

Jill suggests sandwiching creamy ice cream between two of these rich cookies.  Yum!

Linking to Tidy Mom, I Heart Nap Time

Where in Walmart is it – Part 2

I have this really bad habit of trying to memorize products in stores – what’s carried, where it is, etc. I always hope I’ll remember when I return in search of the elusive item
that my latest recipe is calling for.  This really isn’t the best mode of operation to employ if you’re shopping at Walmart.  Why, you ask?  Because they’re always moving stuff!

Truly, my motto when shopping at Walmart is “buy it when you see it, because you may never see it again.”  And I repeat this often to myself when shopping, and to others whenever they use any sentences with the words “Walmart” and “buy” in them.

Here is a typical sentence one might say to me, “I was at Walmart and I saw the cutest *whatever*, I wonder if I should buy it?”  Or, “I was in Walmart and they’re carrying my favorite *whatever*, I’ll buy it again next time I’m there.”

Those are two very big no-nos my friends.  Remember: “Buy it when you see it, because you may never see it again.”  Trust me on this one.

Moving on, a few weeks back I saw two older men looking around frantically for an item in the Pharmacy section of Walmart.  Truly, they were in a frenzied state.  So I thought to myself, hey, maybe I know where to find what they’re looking for.

Looking back, I should’ve just left this one alone, but hindsight is 20/20 – unfortunately.

So this is how the conversation went:

Me to tall guy: Can I help you find something?

The tall guy then awkwardly flashes a look of questioning shock to the big guy scanning the shelves, desperately looking for him to send him a lifeline to get out of my line of questioning, but the big guy only looks horrified.

Tall guys says: Um, we were just looking for some chigger cream.

Me: What?!  Chigger cream?  Um, have you tried nail polish?  (As I flash an incredulous, and rather suspicious, look at the big guy)

Tall Guy: We tried that last night and it didn’t help, he was up all night itching.

What in the devil were these guys doing???  And why isn’t tall guy itching?  Hm. . . . and how does he know the other guy was up all night, and Walmart is open 24 hours . . .

Me: Well, okay then.  I’m stumped!

At which point I quickly steer my cart away, partially frustrated that I’ve been stumped.  As I’m heading off to the baby section I’m thinking maybe it’s in the lice section (why can’t I let this go?  He probably doesn’t even have chiggers). . .so I head back that direction.

Then I see the same two men dart off with urgency towards the check out, and I have a temporary moment of insanity and think of rushing after them to find out where the cream is located.  Luckily I regain my senses before engaging in hot pursuit and subjecting them to an interrogation, and decide it would be more prudent (and far less embarrassing) to simply check the lice section, but alas there was no chigger cream.

By this time, their story isn’t looking even remotely credible.   Maybe they weren’t really talking about chiggers, maybe it was something way more personal and itchy.  One thing I do know, I’m never asking a man if he needs help in the Pharmacy section again.  Ever.  Lesson learned.

Still looking for some items in your store?  Below is a list of a few random items I’ve heard tend to hide in weird locations.

Cheesecloth – the sewing section in the crafts department

Tuna – can be found in Houston in the canned fruit aisle

Twine – perhaps in the hardware section – thanks for the comment Tara!

Empty spray bottles – the mopping aisle or (in the summer) the gardening section

Minced garlic in jars – produce section and sometimes the spices

Horseradish – next to the sour cream

Velveeta – next to the spaghetti sauce (crazy, right?!)

*just for the record, I don’t receive compensation for my posts and they are 100% my opinion!

 

White Chocolate Covered “Bones”

Happy October!  If you like chocolate covered pretzels, then this is the snack/candy for you!  I put my kids to work assembling the “bones” and I dipped them in chocolate in peace.

I made approx. 45 “bones,” and ended up with a small amount of leftover marshmallows, and over half a bag of pretzels – my kids love to snack, so they won’t go to waste.  If you don’t have a use for the leftovers, you may want to adjust accordingly!

White Chocolate “Bones” Adapted from Ghoulish Goodies

1 bag of mini-marshmallows

1 bag of pretzel sticks

1 bag of white chocolate or white candy coating (16 ounces)

Break the pretzel sticks in half, then stick a marshmallow onto both ends, pushing to secure to the pretzel – at times I felt like I was skewering them!

When you (or your kids) are all done assembling the “bones,” melt the chocolate in a double boiler.  If you don’t have a double boiler, place water in a pot and place a glass bowl on top so the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water.  Place the chocolate in the glass bowl and stir gently until melted.  Note: the water should just be simmering.

When the chocolate (or coating) is melted, place the “bones” in (one at a time) and coat with the chocolate.  With a small fork lift the “bone” out and place it on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.

When all of the “bones” have been coated with chocolate, place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for thirty minutes.  Take them out, and try not to eat them all by yourself. . or at least not all in one sitting!

Linking to I Heart Nap Time, Tidy Mom