How to Make Cake Ball Pops!

Posted on Jun 4, 2012 in Recipes | Comments Off

I didn’t really get what the point of cake pops were at first.  I thought ‘eat a piece of cake if you want cake’.  After giving them a go I now see the fun in making them…and they are pretty dang good!  They’re a cute way to jazz up a table, to pass out as party favors, sell at charities, etc.

What you’ll need:

• A box of cake mix (and the necessary components to bake a cake…eggs, oil, etc) or make a scratch cake
• A can of frosting
• Candy coating, chocolate bark, etc
• Lollipop sticks  (if you make this recipe without the sticks you have yourself cake balls)

How to make them!

1.  Bake a standard sized cake according to the recipe.  Let it cool and then ruin it….yes, I said ruin it.  Break apart and crumble the cake into a large mixing bowl.

2.  Mix in half of a can of frosting and smoosh it together.   Roll golf ball sized amounts of the cake/frosting mixture into balls.

3.  Melt a small amount of candy coating or chocolate, dip one end of the stick in it, and then place it in the cake ball.  This step isn’t necessary, but it makes a huge difference in preventing the cake from falling off of the sticks.  It only takes an extra minute to add a small amount of melted candy on the end of the sticks before placing them in the cake balls and once the candy cools it ‘glues’ the two together.   You can then place them in the refrigerator to cool and keep there shape, so once you dip them in coating it’s easier.

4.  Melt your candy coating or chocolate bark in a double boiler or in the microwave.  If you melt it in the microwave melt small amounts at a time, on 1/2 power, and stirring it occasionally as it melts.  Stick the cake pop in the melting coating, start to lift it out, and slowly turn it to let some extra coating drip off.  Apply sprinkles immediately (if you want) before the coating cools.  I used a piece of styrofoam to set the cake pops in while they cooled.

Make these for all sorts of holidays and use different items to decorate…..nuts, coconut (to color it set shredded coconut in a plastic bag, drip in a little food coloring, and shake it up), sprinkles, etc.  You can also add a little food coloring to the white candy coating to make the pops different colors.

Do not refrigerate them, but you can freeze them.  You can set them out for grabbing or wrap them individually.

If you don’t use sticks, here is an example of cake balls.

A Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!

Posted on May 24, 2012 in Entertaining | Comments Off

We decided to have a ‘spring fling’ again this year and when looking at the calendar we realized the first Saturday of May fell on Cinco de Mayo….a great excuse to have a fiesta!  This inspired me to make some new decorations and perfect some much loved recipes from the past.  I set up a burrito bar with some amazing meats, made gallons of beergaritas, and displayed some festive themed treats (all recipes will be up soon, so check back).

I spray painted numerous wine and beer bottles with an array of colors for inexpensive table decor, but after all that I took a break to play my new addiction, Bingo! I had recently taken a trip to Mexico, so I picked up a bunch small sombreros and 10 maracas to place around the party.  The Mexican flag was purchased online for less than $5 (with free shipping). The large drink dispenser is full of beergaritas and the beverage tub has an assortment of Jarritos soda.

The burrito bar was set up on a back kitchen counter.  I taped up some colorful fabric and decorated with Hispanic canned foods, flowers and maracas.

To save time I used a boxed sugar cookie mix, but added cinnamon to give more flavor.  A little white frosting, sprinkles, and gumdrops make these cute sombrero cookies.

I cheated on this dessert as well and used a box cake mix…it’s the decoration that matters when it comes to something like this.   I just used a little food coloring and black frosting gel to make the Mexican flag.

I like to cover the TV when having parties….why not make everything more festive?!?

We strung colorful banner across the kitchen and placed Mexican pots and statues above the cabinetry.

Nothing says ’fiesta’ like our dog, Greta (who is intently waiting for pepperoni in this shot…it’s the only way we can keep her still).

‘Texas Caviar’ is always a hit.  For the recipe Click Here

Why not decorate the back of your toilet?

Make colorful and cheap streamers by coloring doilies, cutting them in half, and taping them across with string.

I can’t help myself when it comes to theme parties….I’m a sucker for a few cheesy elements!

Maybe I went a little overboard on spray painting sticks, but I get obsessed sometimes and have to have every color of something.

Now that summer is here throw yourself a little fiesta!

Wedding! Retro Bridal Makeup

Posted on May 22, 2012 in Lifestyle | Comments Off

I had the pleasure of attending a wedding this past weekend with a retro rock vibe.  I was also able to do the bride’s makeup!  I snapped this photo before her false lashes were added (so you can see more the look of the eyeliner).  Also, I applied a red lipstick on her for the reception, but we kept it more subtle for the ceremony with the soft peachy pink lips below.

5 Ways to Make Caprese Salad

Posted on May 16, 2012 in Recipes | 1 comment

I love the simple flavors of a caprese salad….basil, fresh mozzarella, and tomato.  Purchasing fresh ingredients is the only way to go. If you have space to grow your own basil and tomato plant, even better.  Even if you don’t have a yard you can grow these in pots.

I also add a dash of kosher salt and drizzle balsamic glaze (I like the brand Blaze) to really give a punch of flavor.

1.  Caprese on a Stick:  Spear cherry tomatoes, fresh mini mozzareall balls, and basil leaves on toothpicks to serve as an easy appetizer

Serve in a martini glass for a little extra something

Same idea, but with balsamic glaze drizzled:

2.  A Bowl of Caprese: Chop up all the ingredients, mix together, and people can dish up the amount they want

3. Caprese Pastry Bites:  Cut pieces of puff pastry, fill with the chopped up caprese, wrap up and bake at 400 degree for 15-20 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and puffy.

4. Traditional Caprese Salad: Layer your ingredients

5. Arugula Caprese Salad:  Use arugula, chop up tomato and mozzarella, and use the dressing recipe below (or just use oil and vinegar)

Dressing for arugula caprese salad (thanks to my friend, Christina, for making up this recipe)

• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• a handful of fresh basil leaves
• 1 shallot
• 1 garlic clove
• salt and pepper to taste
• juice from 1/2 a lemon

Blend together in a power mixer

50 Shades of Grey Book Club Party Ideas

Posted on May 14, 2012 in Entertaining | 3 comments

A few years ago some friends and I started a book club….a dirty book club. We have read a handful of R-rated books, such as Some Girls, Sugar Babe, Candy Girl and more.  However, we also switch it up with ‘normal’ books…Shanghai Girls, The Shack, The Other Boleyn Girl,  etc.

We get together every couple months, a different person takes a turn hosting, and we all bring different bottles of wine to share. This month’s read was 50 Shades of Grey and I hosted. Below are some ideas for you to decorate with a gray theme, whether it’s for a similar book club or just because you like the color!

Of course, I had to glitter something for the night. Below are some wine glasses that I made to help identify our beverages.  Learn how to make these: Click Here

This cake was fun to make.  I used boxed cake mix (make sure you buy a white cake and use only egg whites, so the food coloring stays true…same goes for the frosting.  Get white cake and frosting, not vanilla – as it’s creamy in color).  I separated the cake mix in 4 equal parts and added varied amounts of black food dye.  I then separated the frosting in 3 equal parts, added varied amounts of color and then blended them together up the side and top of the cake.

These are medium sized doilies that I painted various shades of gray, cut in half, and taped to string.  I also made the gray tissue poms.  For directions on how to make them Click Here

I bought a 12 pack of glass votives at the craft store and decorated them with different materials.  Some are wrapped with different gray ribbons, lace, glitter, and scrapbook paper.

I love spray painting sticks.  It’s an inexpensive way to make a large centerpiece with a bold statement.  I painted a bunch glossy white and held them in place in the vase with gray toned rocks.

I made these bookmarks for the girls (but forgot to pass them out that night!).  I printed them on a silver linen paper, glued that to a cardstock weighted scrapbook paper, and finished them with a ribbon.

Look in the center…I even found gray M&Ms at the party supply store.

I used paint cans to vary the height the decor.