Black and White Wedding Cakes

Black and white wedding cakes have become very popular. They work for both formal and casual events and complement any color scheme. A black and white cake is very elegant and lends itself to be easily decorated with a splash of color.   

Sources: picture 1, picture 2, picture 3, picture 4, picture 5, picture 6

Green Wedding Cakes

Today my fiancé and I had the first meeting with the bakery to discuss our wedding cake. We are still working on nailing down the appearance of the cake. However, we did decide the cake flavor. We chose white cake with the two outer filling layers in bavarian cream with fresh strawberries and the middle layer in chocolate mousse. Sampling the many different cake flavors was definitely a fun experience. Below are some beautiful green wedding cakes for inspiration.      

Sources: 

1. Apple Cake 

2. Green Cake

3. Hydrangea Cake

4. Orchids on Buttercream

5. Green Flower Cake

6. Leaves Cake

Pink Wedding Cakes

So I have been going through pictures and pictures of different wedding cakes. These pink cakes are too cute not to share. The ruffled cake is absolutely adorable and I am in love with the 3rd cake-so romantic! Which is your favorite?  

Sources: pictures 1,2,6; picture 3; picture 4; picture 5

Green & Yellow Wedding Inspiration Board

So today I have been thinking about my (our) wedding all day. The colors, flowers, shoes, dresses, honeymoon... the list goes on. I put together this inspiration board to organize my thoughts and concentrate on what I really want for the September wedding. You are probably thinking, September... but that's so far away! It really isn't a lot of time when you are a perfectionist like me! =)     

If you can't tell... the colors for the wedding are going to be gray, yellow, green, black, white. The bridesmaids dresses (all 9 of them!) will be in a grayish/silver, similar to the dress in the bottom row. The groomsmen will be wearing tuxes with a gray vest and tie to match the ladies, much like the picture in the bottom row. The trouble I have been having is deciding where to tie in the green & yellow. I do very much love the bouquet shown to the left of the margaritas. Maybe the bridesmaids will be holding something similar to that bouquet at my wedding. I am planning to hold an all yellow bouquet. 

We have an appointment next week with the bakery to discuss our wedding cake. I'm very excited about this, hoping it will be a fun and very sweet meeting.

Slow Cooker Desserts

I am starting to realize that slow cookers/crock pots are really amazing. They make cooking so easy, just throw all the ingredients into the slow cooker and come back in a few hours to a finished meal… or in this case, dessert! Check out some of these warming, comfort foods prepared in your slow cooker for those cold winter nights.  

Sources & Recipes:

1. Slow-Cooker Bread Pudding

2. Old-Fashioned Rice Pudding

3. Triple Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pudding Cake

4. Mocha Pudding Cake

5. Pumpkin Pie Pudding

6. Cinnamon-Raisin Bread Pudding

Sources & Recipes: 

7. Rocky Road Chocolate Cake

8. Walnut-Stuffed Slow-Cooked Apples

9. Triple Chocolate-Covered Peanut Clusters

10. Slow Berry Cobbler

11. Slow-Cooker Lemon Poppy-Seed Cake

12. Slow Cooker Maple-Sauced Pears

Valentine's Day Gifts

Show your appreciation this Valentine’s Day by giving those around you something small and thoughtful-homemade food gifts. These would be great to give neighbors, teachers, friends, family, and co-workers. 

Sources & Recipes:

1. Chocolate-Dipped Hazelnut Shortbread Hearts

2. Chocolate Truffles

3. Cordial Cherries

4. Chocolate Sweet Hearts

Sources & Recipes: 

1. Raspberry-Fudge Truffles

2. Simple Fudge

3. Easy Valentine Sandwich Cookies

Valentine's Day Party

What can be more fun than an intimate gathering of 4-5 kids getting together to make their unique Valentine's Day hearts for that special someone. I put together all the supplies (pink and red hearts) crayons and markers and let their imagination be their guide. I also included an assortment of candy for kids to choose from, in a mainly pink color palette, both to enjoy and to include with thier Valentine's Day cards. Gum balls, chocolate mints, taffy, jelly beans, and hot pink chocolate lips will delight them and pink iced tea to be sweetened to
taste with pink rock candy will quench their thirst. Cute!  

Valentine's Day Desserts for Two

Valentine’s Day is a day that celebrates love and romance. Making the effort to put together a nice dinner for your date/loved one is a romantic gesture and it can also be easier on your wallet than going to a crowded restaurant. Set a romantic table for two with nice linens, napkins and candlelight. Serve a wine or champagne that will complement your meal (check out 17 romantic food & wine pairings). Finish the meal on a high note, with individual desserts- one for you and one for your guy/gal. Dark chocolate, strawberries, raspberries, and grapes would be good accompaniments to dessert. Here are some individual dessert recipes that will make both you and your date swoon.

 

Sources & Recipes: 
1. Strawberry Mousse with Meringue Hearts 
2. So-Easy Chocolate Souffles 
3. White Chocolate Panna Cotta with Dark Chocolate Sauce 
4. Molten Mocha Cakes 
5. White-Chocolate Semifreddo 
6. Chocolate Fondue 
7. Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse 
8. Double Coffee Tiramisu 
9. Sparkling Sorbet Floats

For additional elegant dessert ideas, take a look at my previous blog post, Champagne Desserts 

If you are planning to make a special cocktail for Valentine's Day, take a look at 12 champagne cocktails. 

Valentine's Day Cakes

Valentine's Day is fast approaching. You may consider putting in a little effort to make the day as wonderful as it possibly could be. You may want to follow one of these cake recipes which are sure to bring a smile. These would be great to share with that special someone, bring to a Valentine's Day bash, office party, or family gathering. Have fun!

Sources & Recipes: 

Buttermilk-Mexican Chocolate Pound Cake

Fabulous Red Velvet Cake

Sacher Torte Heart with Truffle Top

Blackberry-Raspberry Truffle Cake (I tried this one and it was delish!)

Sprinkles' Strawberry Cupcakes 

Heart Cake

Valentine's Day for Kids

It's that time again... time to break out the school list to send all of your children's classmates Valentine's Day cards for Valentine's Day. Instead of purchasing the overdone cartoon valentines found at the local store, try something new this year. Here are some creative valentines your kids will be proud to bring to class.

Handmade Candy Valentines:

Sources from MS

Sweet Spot Hearts: 

Snip candy hearts for an entire class in a snap. To make, cut a heart from a strip of candy dots, and glue it to a piece of construction paper. With scalloping scissors, cut construction paper to create a border around the heart.

Personalized Candy Bags:
To make these custom treat packages, cut out a picture of your child, scan it, and print onto heavyweight matte paper. Cut tags using pinking shears for the bottom edges, draw hearts, and stamp or write a message on each one. Fold the tags and tape them to cellophane bags filled with sweets.

Heart-and-Lollipop Flowers: 
1. Use card stock to make a half-heart template about 3 inches high and 1 1/4 inches wide. Fold a 12-by-3 1/2-inch piece of construction paper in half vertically, and trace four half-hearts along the fold.
2. Cut out hearts; unfold.
3. Stack hearts; punch a hole 1/4 inch up from bottom. Position petals to form a flower, making sure holes line up. Secure by applying glue around holes; let dry. Write name on a petal. Insert lollipop.

Baked Valentines:

Sources & Recipes:
X's and O's Cupcakes
Warm & Fuzzy Heart Cookie Pops
Rice Krispie Valentine Treats

For the ambitious bakers, you may want to try these pops:

Source & How-To:
Valentine's Day Cake Pops

For the less ambitious bakers, try this super easy fix:

Source: Easy Valentine Treats
Oreo Cakesters + heart shaped cutter = cute and easy Valentine's Day treats. These would be easy for kids to do by themselves.

Simple Super Bowl Fixes

Still debating what to serve all the football fans this Sunday? Let's face it, guys like simple. Desserts that are simple are easy to make and usually taste the best. Here are some simple, no fuss desserts that will perfectly accompany chili and nachos.

Recipes:
Mini Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Chocolate Nutty Mini Football Treats

These snack mixes are perfect to munch on while watching the game. You may want to make a double batch because they go quickly! Pick your favorite from the three different varieties below.

Recipes:
Crisp & Spicy Snack Mix
Orange Chipotle-Spiced Pecan Mix
Sweet Chipotle Snack Mix

Football Cupcakes & Cake Pops

Super bowl is this Sunday. If you are hosting a super bowl party (or going to be a guest at one) you might consider making football themed desserts. Here are some cool football cupcake ideas for game day. 

Sources & Tutorials:
1. Football Candle Cupcakes
2. Chocolate Football Cupcake (sorry no tutorial for this one)
3. Football Cupcakes

Here are some cupcake liners you may want to use:

Sources
1. Football Corset Liner (Click for directions/how-to)
2. Touchdown Liners (available for purchase)

Here is a tutorial for football shaped cake pops (the kids will definitely love these):

Tutorial:
Football Cake Pops

Spicing Up Life with Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a good source of manganese, iron, fiber and calcium. Just 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon daily lowers blood sugar, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglycerides, which is especially beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon has an anti-clotting effect on the blood, which means that it can help improve circulation. It can even act as a preservative when added to food by inhibiting food spoilage. 

Studies have shown that if you consume a half teaspoon of cinnamon powder mixed with 1 tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast it can significantly relieve arthritis pain... so much so that after a month of following this simple regiment, one can walk without pain. Studies have also shown that smelling cinnamon can boost both cognitive function and memory.  

To get your daily dose of cinnamon, try sprinkling it on oatmeal, applesauce, yogurt, sweet potatoes, and grilled fruit. Here are some cinnamon inspired recipes to try: 

Recipes:

1. Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apples 

2. Cinnamon Crisp-Topped Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread 

3. Banana-Cinnamon Waffles 

4. Cinnamon-Sugar Cookies 

5. Fresh Fruit Salad with Nutmeg-Cinnamon Syrup 

6. Cinnamon-Date-Pecan Rolls 

7. Cinnamon Apple Raisin Bread Pudding 

8. Pumpkin-Cinnamon Streusel Buns 

9. Cinnamon-Apple Cake

Super Bowl Party Desserts

Hand held sweets are the best option for a super  bowl party. You won’t have to labor over slicing a cake and worry about missing a single play or commercial. These bars will be sure to please a crowd of rowdy football fans. 

Recipes: 

Five Layer Bars 

Savannah Cheesecake Cookies 

Espresso Caramel Bars 

Dark Chocolate and Cherry Brownies 

Low Country Cookies

Tequila Bars

For some more great super bowl dessert ideas, visit my previous blog post: handheld desserts

Dark Chocolate Has Health Benefits!

I cannot live without chocolate. But not any kind of chocolate, I only crave dark chocolate. The reasons we all love dark chocolate is because it obviously tastes wonderful, it stimulates the production of endorphin (makes you feel good), it has stimulants such as caffeine, and it contains serotonin (acts as an anti-depressant). But dark chocolate has many more benefits, in particular health benefits; it has many essential minerals including magnesium, copper, potassium, manganese, and most significant, flavonoids (antioxidants). Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (8 times the amount found in strawberries). A small portion of dark chocolate everyday can help keep your heart and cardiovascular system running well. Studies have shown that dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure and also lower cholesterol by up to 10 percent.

To get the best benefits from dark chocolate, consume no more than 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of dark chocolate a day. Choose a dark chocolate that has no less than 65 percent cocoa content. Also choose a pure variety of dark chocolate or one with nuts, such as almonds. Stay away from anything that has caramel, nougat, fruit fillings, etc.. The fillings just add fat and sugar and take away from many of the health benefits of the dark chocolate. Lastly, savor and enjoy the complex taste of dark chocolate. If you are a true chocolate lover, you may be interested in this link – a system for tasting chocolate.

PS – for best results, don’t have your chocolate bar with a glass of milk. This combination has been proven to prevent the absorption of antioxidants into your body.   

   

Rich chocolate desserts are also a great way to show your loved one how much you love them on Valentine's Day. Here are some great dark chocolate inspired desserts. 

Recipes: 

1. Dark Chocolate and Ginger Biscotti 

2. Salted Chocolate Tart 

3. Chocolate Bundt Cake 

4. Outrageous Warm Double-Chocolate Pudding

5. Chocolate Decadence 

6. Dark Chocolate-Chunk Brownies

7. Dark Cocoa Buttermilk Cake with Cocoa Mascarpone Frosting

8. Double-Chocolate Cupcakes

Pink Candy Bar

Saturday was a pretty fun day for us - I was hired to put together the favors and create a candy bar for a beautiful wedding that took place at the Stone House at Stirling Ridge in Warren, New Jersey. The Stone House is a magnificent venue for a wedding featuring a decor that is patterned with raw wood, stone and metal and provides a modern backdrop to its secluded natural setting.

We arrived early in the morning to set up our display and I think it came out gorgeous. The wedding was less traditional; there were no place cards, so the candy display was the first things that guests saw as they entered into the lobby. For those who came early or came directly to the venue, the candy bar broke the ice and gave everyone something to sample and discuss while they waited for the event to begin.    

The couple's color scheme for the wedding consisted of black, gold, and different shades of pink and purple. I decided to keep the candy bar in pink and black. There was an array of different pink candies to sample (taffy, grapefruit gummies, jelly beans, chocolate hearts, and watermelon sours) in apothecary jars. There were also pink rock candy, black and pink striped candy sticks, and black licorice (a personal favorite of the mother of the bride). A big hit on the table were the lovely dark chocolate covered pretzels, drizzled with white chocolate and sprinkled with hot pink nonpareils. 

Candy favor boxes were made so people could fill them with their favorite candies to take home. The boxes had black tissue paper and cute pink tags that had the initials of the couple and the date of the wedding. The kids thoroughly enjoyed the candy buffet, but the way the adults participated helped to create a truly memorable event. I was thrilled to be part of this wedding and I can't wait for the next event! 

9 Quick Breads

Sorry for the recent lapse in posts, I have been working on a few projects that I look forward to sharing with you shortly. In the interim, here are some great recipes for quick breads. Quick breads are exactly that, quick and easy to make and can satisfy a number of hungry stomachs. These are great for breakfast, snacks, or even dessert.

Recipes:
1. Yogurt-Zucchini Bread with Walnuts
2. Cranberry-Sweet Potato Quick Bread
3. Pumpkin-Honey Beer Quick Bread
4. Hazelnut-Fig Quick Bread
5. Carrot Quick Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting
6. Cranberry-Orange Bread
7. Two-Colored Squash Loaf Cake
8. Mini Cherry-Pecan Streusel Loaves
9. Coconut-Pineapple Loaf Cake

Power Fruits - Part 2

The BLUEBERRY

Studies have shown that the antioxidants in blueberries make it a potent protector against heart, brain and age-related maladies. Blueberries are one of the most potent antidotes to oxidative stress, a process that ages you. Blueberries also help your brain produce dopamine, a chemical that enhances memory, coordination, and feelings of well-being.

Recipes: 

Blueberry Tart 

Blueberry Muffins 

Blueberry-Buttermilk Pancakes 

Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping 

The CHERRY 

Cherries are a top source of perillyl alcohol, which kills cancer cells but spares healthy cells. Cherries are also believed to reduce inflammation. Tart cherries (particularly Montmorency) contain significant amounts of melatonin, a hormone that helps normalize your sleep cycles. Melatonin also scavenges free radicals (molecules that attack healthy cells), and having low levels of this hormone has been linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Recipes:
Oregon-Chocolate Cherry Cookies 
Fresh Cherry Tart 
Tiny Cherry and Almond Tea Cakes 
Cranberry-Cherry Crumble

The STRAWBERRY ! (my favorite) 

Strawberries have many nutrients, such as: vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, folic acid, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, copper, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. They also have added benefits of fighting cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis -- and they keep you in optimum health for decades to come. 

Recipes: 

Strawberry Cream Cake 

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries 

Fresh Strawberry Pie

Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Strawberries

Power Fruits - Part 1

More than half of Americans don’t eat enough fruit. (As a fruit lover, I can say with certainty that I am not in the 60 percent). But many people do find it hard to have the recommended amount of two to three cups of fruit per day.

Eating fresh fruit will deliver the best nutritional value compared to many fruit products that claim “made with real fruit.” These so called fruit products such as: pop tarts, fruit juice, sorbet, fruit leather, chocolate-covered fruit, fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt, and even dried fruit have added sugars and calories and can skimp on other nutritional values when compared to the fruit in its pure form. Fresh fruit, canned and frozen fruits that don’t have any added sugars or syrups offer the best nutrients. Keeping a variety of fruit is best since each kind offers different benefits.

See below for descriptions of the powerful benefits of fruit. For those of you who find it too hard to have a fresh piece of fruit, I have included some fun recipes that go along with each fruit.

The POMEGRANATE  

Pomegranates are an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and have cancer-fighting antioxidants, specifically polyphenols. One glass of pomegranate juice has the same polyphenol content as two glasses of red wine, four glasses of cranberry juice, or 10 cups of green tea. 

Recipes:

Pumpkin-Orange Cake 

Antioxidant Smoothie 

Pomegranate Cheesecake with Clementine Gelato

Sweet Yogurt Sundae with Saffron & Pomegranate

The APPLE

Apples contain an ample dose of fiber (two-thirds of which is in the peel), some potassium, and a modest amount of vitamin C. Eating apples regularly reduces the risk of stroke and chances of dying from a heart attack. Studies have shown that apple’s antioxidant flavonoids and fiber can help lower cholesterol & that apples are the best fruit source of catechins (cancer preventive substances). An apple a day CAN keep the doctor away!

Recipes: 

Tarte Aux Pommes (Apple Tart) 

Granola-Ginger Baked Apples 

Double Apple Bran Muffins 

Emeril's Apple and Cranberry Crisp

The CRANBERRY  

Cranberries have moderate levels of vitamin C, dietary fiber as well as other micronutrients. Cranberries are also a good source of polyphenol antioxidants, which can help reduce cholesterol. Drinking 100% concentrate cranberry juice can help fight bladder infections by preventing harmful bacteria from growing. Cranberry juice can also prevent bacteria from adhering to teeth.   

Recipes: 

Cranberry Eggnog Tart 

Chocolate-Cranberry Parfaits

Cranberry-Poached Pears

Cranberry Crown Cheesecake

New Year's Resolution = Ice Cream Substitution

Who doesn't like ice cream?... and what better way to derail any diet than by indulging in this creamy dessert. Most New Year’s resolutions start with the desire to lose weight. I’m guessing it's on most of your lists. It definitely is on the top of my list since I need to get in wedding shape (which would mean that I actually need to use my gym membership!).

So then, why am I talking about ice cream? I want you to begin to think of yogurt as a new substitution for an ice cream sundae...think yogurt parfait. 

The power of yogurt may actually surprise you. Having a daily dose of yogurt has many health benefits. These benefits include: a ton of vitamins, probiotics, high protein, bone-building calcium, the ability to prevent high blood pressure, and healthy bacteria that can help ward off the common cold. It is recommended to choose plain or Greek yogurt, as they are more nutritious than flavored varieties. You may be thinking that plain yogurt is flavorless (I don't blame you, I once had the same view) but a little honey, cinnamon, and/or frozen fruit can go a long way. Parfaits are a creative and fun way to get both yogurt & fruit into your diet. A delicious way to enjoy a daily dessert completely guilt-free.

Recipes:

Lemon-blackberry parfait

Creamy apricot-ginger parfait

Yogurt parfait with granola, raspberries, and candied ginger

Strawberry parfaits

Papaya-berry yogurt parfait

Mango parfait

For those of you on the go, make a healthier choice at fast food restaurants (should they even be called a restaurant?) and get a small parfait (without the granola) at McDonald's for 130 calories. 

PS – If your dog gets an upset stomach, add some plain yogurt to their food… this has been tried and tested many times in my house with very good results. My dogs absolutely love yogurt probably because they know it has such wonderful health benefits =)