Saturday, December 4, 2010

Decorating with Cranberries

Cranberries are wonderful, inexpensive little fruits that can be used to liven up holiday entertaining & decorating. This time of year, cranberries are most often used to garnish beverages. Here are a few different ideas for using cranberries…   
A dramatic table centerpiece (top left photo): Using half toothpicks, skewer fresh cranberries to various sizes of foam balls, available at local crafts stores. Cover the foam completely with berries. Rest the balls on top of shapely glass, silver, or mercury glass candlesticks to create statuesque topiaries.

A fabulous mantle (top right photo): Fill glass vases with cranberries and candles.

A joyful forest (bottom left photo): Use pearl-head pins to attach cranberries to a foam cone. Start at the top and then spiral the fruits around the cone down to the base.

A floating candle display (bottom right photo): Make an amazing candle display with cranberries and water. Place a silk rose bud in the bottom of a vase (place small weights inside the bloom) and then slowly fill the vessel halfway with water. Gently place a handful of cranberries on top of the water and then add a floating votive to the center.

You can also create a cranberry garland: String fresh cranberries into a simple garland using a needle and monofilament line. You can string only cranberries or intersperse popcorn or wooden beads in between to bring a variation of texture. Hang them on your mantle, around a metal chandelier, or on your Christmas tree.

Here are some ideas for entertaining with cranberries:
Festive silverware: Place your silverware on a red napkin, bind with green ribbon, and decorate with cranberries, leaves, and mini pine cones.

Place Cards - Sprinkle cranberries into votive candle holders. Cut out paper circles and write each guest's name on a circle. Trim paper circles with red and add one to each votive for a creative place marker.

Ice chips – Freeze cranberries with just enough water to cover them. When water is completely frozen, remove from tray, break into pieces, and add to your ice bucket.

all sources from BHG

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Christmas Tree Desserts

Nowadays Christmas trees for sale are popping up all over the city. I'm sure many of you have already started to trim your trees. Here are some ideas for Christmas tree inspired desserts.


For an easier way to make Christmas tree cupcakes, pipe green frosting high, decorate, and top with a shimmering star.

Everything is cuter on a stick! 
Source: christmas tree cake pops

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

10 Peppermint Desserts You'll Love

Peppermint just screams holidays. Using crushed candy canes or peppermint mints is a great way to add festive color and a refreshing, cooling flavor to your desserts.
  1. Peppermint-topped Brownies
  2. Peppermint Layer Cookies
  3. Peppermint Patties
  4. Candy Cane Cake 
     8. Peppermint Bark
 
    10. Little Peppermint Cakes - This is an easy fix. Just take pound cake (you can use a store bought one) and top with a white chocolate peppermint topping.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Hanukkah Ideas


Hanukkah is early this year, so it's best to prepare early! This table uses the traditional Israeli colors (blue and white) with silver to give it a shimmering, elegant look.

Below are some great favor & gift ideas:
  1. Celebrate the Festival of Lights by giving out wrapped candles and matchboxes
  2.  Stylishly wrap your gelt
  3. Create dreidels out of paper and fill them with all kinds of goodies 
  4. Dreidel gift-card holders are a perfect way to dress up your gift 
Now for some fun eats: 
Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of…. marshmallows! These edible dreidels would be fun to make with the family and since they have so few ingredients, you should not hesitate to try them. They simply require: marshmallows, chocolate kisses, pretzel sticks, and dark and white chocolate.
 
These festive sugar cookies would definitely brighten up your dessert table

Try a challah bread pudding for dessert. Keep in mind that you can substitute the raisins and cherries with different types of dried fruit.