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

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.

Sources: stained glass trees, linzer sandwiches, chocolate tree, gingerbread-cookie tree 

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

Sources: green christmas tree cupcakes, candy cane christmas tree cupcakes

Everything is cuter on a stick! 

Source: christmas tree cake pops

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 

     5.Crushed-Peppermint Cheesecake

     6. Chocolate Cheesecake Candy Cane Bars

     7. Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies

     8. Peppermint Bark

 

     9. Candy Cane Thumbprints

    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.

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.

Pie Bars

Since Thanksgiving is upon us, I’ve been thinking about other variations of the classic pie… specifically, pie bars. These little bars are easier to make than the real deal and are much easier to serve and eat. I'm all for less messy food when I'm eating so I think I will give these bars a try. Since I haven't made pie bars before, I looked online for some inspiration. Below are photos of different flavored pie bars that I thought looked delish!

sources: pecan pie bars, pumpkin pie bars, key lime pie bars, blackberry pie bars

Now to choose a flavor.... I'm thinking blackberry.    

Sticky Gooey Caramel

Caramel is a great fall flavor, full of warmth and richness. Of course, I’m hoping to have some wonderful caramel goodness in my Thanksgiving dessert table. I must say that one of the items I was most impressed with from my Halloween dessert table was the caramel popcorn. It was delicious!

I will definitely make this again for the upcoming holidays. For Thanksgiving, I’m thinking about re-introducing caramel popcorn but in the shape of popcorn balls.

Take a look at these popcorn balls on sticks. These are great to serve at parties or you can wrap them up and tie with a ribbon so guests can take home as a favor. The best part about having them on a stick is… no sticky fingers!

Sources: caramel macchiato popcorn balls, jell-o popcorn balls, chocolate drizzled popcorn balls 

Ice Cream and Cupcakes

Ice cream cone + cupcake = cupcake decorated as ice cream?

Sources: Ice Cream cone, cupcake, ice cream cupcake

 

CLOSE…. but not close enough

Here’s the real deal. Check out these ice cream cone cupcake creations.

Sources: Chocolate dipped cone, swirl cone, classic cones with cherries, sugar cones

What do you think-do they look more like ice cream or cupcakes?

To make ice cream cone cupcakes, simply pour cupcake batter into the cones, secure the cones with foil in a muffin pan, bake, frost when the cupcakes have cooled, and decorate. You can top your treats with some of your favorite ice cream toppings such as: whipped cream, chopped nuts, melted chocolate, caramel, sprinkles, and don't forget the cherry on top! You can find Martha’s how-to for sugar cone cupcakes here. 

Ice cream cone cupcakes are fun for kid’s parties and the sugar cone cupcakes make a great adult treat. Try making some of these for a party without informing guests that they are cupcakes and see if you can trick them!     

Yogurt Cornbread

This is a delicious recipe for cornbread that you must try. My fiancé, a native of South Carolina, absolutely loves this and says it tastes like true southern cornbread. The best part about this recipe is how easy it is! 

Yogurt Cornbread Recipe

                                               Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Ingredients

6 tablespoons butter

½ cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 cup plain yogurt (I used Fat Free)

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 cup yellow cornmeal (I used stone ground)

1 cup all purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

Directions

First and foremost, spray a 9 inch skillet with cooking spray and place it in the oven set at 375 degrees while you are assembling the recipe. This step is crucial to ensure your bread has a crispy exterior.

·         Melt butter in microwave; quickly mix butter, sugar and eggs. Beat until well combined

·         Combine yogurt with baking soda and add to the butter mixture

·         Stir in cornmeal, flour, and salt (few lumps may remain)

·         Take heated skillet out of the oven

·         Pour batter into skillet, making sure to cover bottom surface

·         Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean

Once finished baking, the cornbread should easily slide off the skillet, onto a plate. 

  
This will be a great addition to your Thanksgiving meal.