Archive for baking
Tis the Season for…
Posted by: | CommentsBAKING!!!
In other words, dipping fondant, truffles, turtles and giant pretzel rods…
…mixing and rolling cookies…
…baking pans upon pans of squares…
…stirring up eggnog, cinnamon and gingerbread loaves…
…I could go on and on…
December for me is all about the kitchen and the wonderful aromas I can create with the ingredients I splurge on this time of year.
This photo represents all the dipped chocolates my girlfriend and I pump out every Christmas and about 18 hours worth of work. Every year we seem to add another flavour or two! We made:
2 batches of Peanut Butter truffles
2 batches of Oreo truffles
2 batches of Cinnamon truffles
200 turtles – once you’ve had homemade – you can’t go back!!
600 dipped fondant chocolates in almond, vanilla and coconut flavours
Every year, I also get together with my two very best friends and we spend a day dipping these giant pretzel rods in caramel and then chocolate. In one day, we were able to pump out at least 500 of these – I didn’t get a final count!
These are simply amazing – caramel, chocolate and salt together in one heavenly marriage – who could ask for anything more!
So now you may be able to understand why my absense for the blogging world – I’m a bit preoccupied right now with my ingredient pile – they must be used!!!
I do have a card for you today though.
I had a lovely evening with one of my stamp clubs last week (or was it the week before? I can’t keep track as the days are moving so fast!) and we made 4 projects while enjoying a lovely pot luck spread.
This card was pretty much a direct CASE from Chat at Me, My Stamps and I. So greatful to talented designers out there for making my creative days more productive!
I’ll post all the projects from this class over the next week – you’ll just have to come back for a nice little visit!
I wish I could give you a dipped pretzel…
TTFN!
Natasha
Cookie Box Tutorial
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How many of you give out a plate of cookies at Christmas?
HaHa!! I knew it – lots of you!!! Me too!
This year, let’s throw away those paper plates and plastic wrap and give cookies away in this!
I was able to fit a dozen cookies in this box – the dimensions are 2 3/4″ x 6 1/2″ x 2 3/4″ .
Here’s the step-by step instructions for you:
Step 1:
Stamp a 12″x 12″piece of cardstock as desired. I used Bravo Burgundy, Bells & Boughs stamp set and shimmer paint.
Score one side at 2 3/4″ and 9 1/4″; turn cardstock 90 degrees and score at 2 3/4″, 5 1/2″, 8 1/4″, and 11″.
Step 2:
Cut off the two un-neccessary thin ends.
Step 3:
Cut on all horizontal score lines up to intersecting score lines – this creates your side ends.
Step 4:
Cut off 1 3/4″ off set of 1st tab ends. This creates the box lid…
Step 5:
Round all 4 lid corners.
Step 6:
Create a 2 1/2″x 4 3/8″ rectrangular template; lay template on box top and trace; cut out with paper cutter.
Cut a piece of acetate sheet to 3 1/2″x 5 1/2″ and adhere to inside of box covering the window.
Step 7:
Fold on all score lines folding the acetate sheet as you go.
Step 8:
Apply double-sided tape to the last two tabs on each end as shown in photo above. Fold up box starting at far end and finished at box lid. Fold lid into box with tabs on the inside.
Decorate as desired…then send me a link or photo of your creation- I want to see!!!
TTFN!
Natasha
Cake Pops
Posted by: | CommentsThere has been almost zero stamping done around here for over a week! My 13 year old, Kira, and I have been busy creating other things – take a look:
I visit Bakerella weekly to see what little treasures she has shared with the online world and have admired her many versions of cake pops. When she finally decided to author a book, I waited for months. I stocked the bookstores and Costco, every week patiently waiting for it to be available in Canada. Then, one evening a couple of weeks ago, as my girls and I were coming out of a movie theatre, we stopped in at Chapters before going home, just in case…
and it was there! We have been busy creating cake pops ever since…
Kira made these ice cream cone cake balls all by herself!!
This one is her favorite!! Way too cute!!
Then we had to try our hand at making this Halloween foursome – skull, mummy, jack o’lantern, and ghost.
We tried some other designs as well, but I forgot to take photos before they were snatched up!! Next time…
I promise to get back to stamping soon…
TTFN!
Natasha
Pumpkin Bread
Posted by: | CommentsI had SO much fun visiting with my stampin friends who came on Saturday for my annual Christmas Card Class! Thank-you all for coming!! You have a really good start on your holiday cards now!
Each guest was greeted with this when they arrived in the morning:
I had mini loaves of pumpkin bread – one for each person – just the right thing for that mid-morning hunger crisis!
I found good use for my Stampin’Up! fabric too – love the red dots!
I received this recipe from a good friend of mine – I’m pretty sure she’d let me share it with you! It’s amazingly moist - you have to try it.
PUMPKIN BREAD
2/3 cup shortening
2 2/3 cups sugar
4 eggs
1- 16 oz. can pumpkin
2/3 cup water
3 1/3 cup flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. each cinnamon & ground cloves
2/3 cup chopped nuts & raisins (both are optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans. (I of course, used 6 mini loaf pans).
Mix shortening and sugar; add eggs, pumpkin and water. Blend in flour, soda, salt, baking powder and spices. Stir in nuts and raisins if using. Pour into prepared pans.
Bake 1 hour & 10 minutes (mini loaves took about 45 minutes)
Enjoy!
Natasha
