The NEW box of chocolates

So, this is what I think should replace those heart shaped boxes of chocolates....

This one was a chocolate covered strawberry cake for two,

I also did a salted caramel devils food cake....

Seriously, if my husband brought me this I would melt!

(too bad I'd have to make it for that to be possible)

Harry Potter Premier Night

I have a problem...

I will use any excuse POSSIBLE to throw a party and make treats.

This time, it was the premier of 

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1

 

I thought the treats could be so fun for this party!

We started off with some

Skele-Gro (punch)

Pet Spiders (spider rings)

& Mermaid Scales (pretzel goldfish crackers)

I rimmed the glasses with these gold sprinkles I had,

love that my black crystal goblets were PERFECT for this!

We also had Gobblin Ears (chips) and Nimbus 2000

(these brooms were ADORABLE- my friend, Amy, made them)

Veritaserum (ice water)

My little Hedwigs

(this was a tricky treat, I almost frozen used croissants and thinly sliced them into 16 slices a tube. I stuck two together and unrolled about an inch making the ears. Brushed the owls with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Press pretzel goldfish cracker upside down for beak and bake according to croissant package directions. When they were cooled, I used a star tip and made chocolate icing eyes...you could also use Hershey kisses. Not hard, just lots of steps.  But totally CUTE)

The treats definitely help make a party 'themed'

and this one was VERY themed, lol.

April Fool's!

My monkeys got this for April Fool's Day last year...

 Hotdogs...oh, wait....that's a.....

Banana covered in peanutbutter, with a squirt of strawberry jam on top and placed in a hotdog bun?!

Yep!

so this year I served up these....

mmmm...a deliciously sweet cupcake

or actually

a meatloaf cupcake with mashed potato icing!!

Eat Up!

There were also vanilla ice cream mashed potatoes with caramel gravy and I used pretzel bites for chicken nuggets. 
My sister in-laws had a much better idea for chicken nuggets though, they rolled out those frozen Sara Lee Cheesecake bites a little bit and rolled them in graham cracker crumbs.  They also rolled Starbursts and Airheads into carrot squares (like the frozen kind) and peas...super cute! I didn't get the memo til after I'd already done it! 

Gotta try these, they are the perfect pranks for little kids. I've decided to do a 'food prank' each year now, it was so fun these last two years!

St. Patricks Day

Dublin Derby Dessert Hat!

 Our 'Catch The Rainbow' dinner!

It's actually pigs in a blanket with mashed potato clouds.

So Simple:

Roll the tube of crescent rolls so that the little dashes blend together, then place rows of 1inch hotdogs (so you can arch it). Before rolling it up I sprinkled shredded cheese on top of everything. Then using food coloring paint the rainbow colors...I wish I'd known the orange and yellow would be so similar, I would have skipped one and done purple at the bottom instead!

If that didn't sound simple, comment your question and I'll answer it!

Toasted Tuscan Salad

This time of year I start craving salads, fruit, and anything fresh I can get my hands on. 

And this, is my new obsession!

Toasted Tuscan Salad

here's what you'll need

a loaf of sourdough bread fresh from the bakery

three-four deliciously ripe tomatoes 

fresh mozzarella: the ball or tube shape, sealed in a pkg with watery-milk looking stuff (deli section)

fresh basil

good Extra Virgin Olive Oil, it makes a difference...promise

and sea salt to taste

 here's what you'll do

start by 'chunking' the sourdough bread into bite-sized pieces like this

 toast them in you're oven's broiler, start with just a couple minutes then flip and do one more minute.

These are SO easy to burn....speaking from experience, so keep your eyes on them!

When they are perfect, take them out and toss them in a nice BIG bowl.

Now the Mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil...

You'll want to cube the mozzarella in smaller bite-sized chunks than the bread.

Before you dice the tomato, seed it (scoop out the seed and goo) you don't want a lot of extra moisture in this salad or your bread will go soggy, yuck!

Then chop up the basil, to really release the flavor turn your blade flat on top of the basil (flush with counter) and pound on the knife with your fist....don't know why it works, but it gets fresh spices to release even more flavor!

Throw your mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil in with your bread and give it a light toss.

 Now slowly add your olive oil, a couple tablespoons at a time tossing til- you'll probably need 4-6

 Add your sea salt to really bring out the fresh flavors in this salad and enjoy!

 because it is delicious!

and I should probably mention....extremely addicting!

I'd love to hear some of your favorite salad and fresh foods recipes-

Post them in the comments if you'd like to share!

Neopolitan Cake

My little angel, Kimbree turned 1!

Look at this little cutie, she needed a fun cake...

I had this image in my head of a cake bigger than her.
I made her a four tiered neopolitan cake, it was massive!!

I was torn between a modern design and a vintage design,

this was the compromise.

And the birthday girl loved it, mission accomplished.

Happy Birthday Baby Cakes!!!

Every Super Bowl NEEDS a Cake

You know I had to make a Super Bowl Cake...

...it was too good a chance to pass up.

My husband, who is a huge football fan and happens to be an extremely talented artist, wanted to collaborate with me.

I love what we came up with...

 Signed by US!!!

 It looked like you could actually pick it up and throw it, so fun!