Here is an amazing 3D origami flower video tutorial that will teach you step by step how to make those beautiful flowers out of card stock paper .. Enjoy !
Friday, May 11, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Chocolate Cups with Cream and Berries ..
These bite-size desserts satisfy sugar cravings without any of the heaviness normally associated with chocolate. To make the shells, paint melted chocolate inside paper candy cups. Once set, peel the paper away. Or simply buy premade cups; try Belgian Victoria chocolate dessert cups, $59.99 for 70, sephra.com. Spoon or pipe a mixture of whipped cream and creme fraiche into each cup, top with a berry of your choice, and serve.
Ingredients
Makes 60
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup creme fraiche
- 16 to 24 ounces fresh berries (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, or blueberries)
Directions
- Melt chocolate in a small bowl over a pan of simmering
water. Remove from heat. Using a small paintbrush,
coat bottom and sides of 1-inch paper candy
cups (wilton.com). Set on a tray; refrigerate until hardened, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, set bowl in the
pan of water (don't turn the heat on) to keep warm. - Remove the cups from the refrigerator; brush on a
second coat. Refrigerate again until set, 30 minutes
longer; store up to 3 days. - Just before serving, gently peel wrappers from
chocolate, and discard. Whisk cream and creme
fraiche in a cold mixer bowl until medium-stiff peaks
form. Place in a piping bag fitted with a 1/4-inch round
tip. Pipe into the cups, and top with berries.Source:
Monday, May 7, 2012
Mini Candied Apples ..
Yum .. easy party treats on a stick .. a mini candied apple recipe .. Enjoy ! :)
Ingredients
- Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Insert a 3 1/2-inch bamboo skewer into top of each apple. Set aside.
- Bring sugar, corn syrup, and 1 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until light amber and mixture registers 315 degrees.on a candy thermometer, 14 to 16 minutes. Immediately place pan into an ice-water bath. Remove, and let stand 2 minutes.
- Working with 1 apple at a time, dip into caramel, turning to coat completely and letting excess caramel drip back into pan (use a spoon to help with coating if needed). Transfer to prepared sheet; let cool completely. Candied apples can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place up to 3 days.Note: You will need wooden skewers to hold the apples. If the caramel becomes too firm, reheat it over medium heat until it softens.Source:
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Strawberry Ice Tea ..
Ahh, a nice recipe I've found for a fresh summery iced tea .. enjoy ! :)
Strawberry Iced Tea
2 cups whole frozen strawberries
32 fluid ounces, brewed tea, make hot then let cool
1/3 cup white sugar (amount can vary depending on desired sweetness)
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 punnet of fresh strawberries
mint leaves
ice
Serving: 5
1. Blend frozen strawberries in a food processor until smooth, then strain
2. Mix together pureed strawberries, tea, desired amount of sugar to taste, and lemon juice
3. Chill
4. Decorate and serve with a fresh strawberry (stem removed), ice and a sprig of mint
5. Enjoy!
Source:
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
"Do-it-yourself" Party Checklist ..
Who doesn't like to party ! .. but, in order to pull off a successful event, you will need to write down the most important elements .. this includes using a checklist to assist in helping to ensure the party is the hit of the season ..
Party planning checklists make things go very smoothly and remove the worry of forgetting anything aside .. & because parties should be fun for the planner as well as the guests, here is a very helpful and simple step by step checklist that is ready to be used ..
Party Planning Checklist:
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A FEW FIRST STEPS
|  |
- determine the type of party (formal, special occasion, holiday, etc.)
- decide if you want drinks, finger foods, buffet, full meal, or other
- choose a party theme
- decide how many guests you would like to invite
- set a date, time, and place for your party
- determine a date by when guests must RSVP
- book your location and pay any deposit
- make a shopping list -- including small items like napkins and candles
- make lists of tasks that can be done in advance and those for party day
|
BUDGET
| |
- decorations, including flowers, plants, or props
- food and beverages
- other services (caterer, parking attendant, wait staff, etc.)
- invitations and postage
- rental space
- entertainment (music, DJ, etc.)
- tables, chairs, and other equipment rentals
- other miscellaneous expenses
|
FEW WEEKS BEFORE
| |
- put together your guest list and gather addresses and phone numbers
- order invitations
- purchase decorations, paper goods, and other supplies
- contract for any services (caterer, entertainment, etc.)
- plan your menu and purchase non-perishable foods and drinks
- contact any friends or family you want to help with the party
- address and mail your invitations
- pick out the music
- contract for any equipment rental (chairs, tables, etc.)
|
ONE TO TWO WEEKS BEFORE
| |
- confirm any friends, family, and hired service people working the party
- pick out your party outfit and have it cleaned
- finalize the space layout and decorations
- shop for bulk of perishable food
|
TWO TO THREE DAYS BEFORE
| |
- clean your house if party is at home
- begin decorating
- gather your supplies and equipment together
- shop for any last-minute food or supplies
- touch base with contracted services
- assign specific tasks to your volunteer assistants
- make preparations for cleaning up, returning equipment, etc.
|
WHEN THE BIG DAY ARRIVES
| |
- finalize the decorations and place settings
- instruct any hired and volunteer helpers
- relax and enjoy yourself!
Source:
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
A "Special Delivery" Baby Shower ..
By: Eman Bawazir
Oh, how fun! .. tell me who doesn't love the feeling of expecting a package ?! .. specially when it's something so special ! ..
here is a not so ordinary baby shower party that I've created & styled .. which was a "special delivery" themed party .. done to one of my favorite friends Arwa, as she was expecting her second baby girl ..
The Party idea revolved around letters, packages & special deliveries ! .. and every little detail in this party had something to do with it .. i loved playing with shapes, colors & heights in this event to give a warm & whimsical feeling to it ..
Dinner was all finger foods and salads in cups .. Guest favors were a surprise, each guest had to pick a postage stamp number that matches the number on their lucky package ;) .. i'll leave you with the pictures .. Enjoy !
Oh, how fun! .. tell me who doesn't love the feeling of expecting a package ?! .. specially when it's something so special ! ..
here is a not so ordinary baby shower party that I've created & styled .. which was a "special delivery" themed party .. done to one of my favorite friends Arwa, as she was expecting her second baby girl ..
The Party idea revolved around letters, packages & special deliveries ! .. and every little detail in this party had something to do with it .. i loved playing with shapes, colors & heights in this event to give a warm & whimsical feeling to it ..
Dinner was all finger foods and salads in cups .. Guest favors were a surprise, each guest had to pick a postage stamp number that matches the number on their lucky package ;) .. i'll leave you with the pictures .. Enjoy !
 |
| Color scheme .. |
 |
| Theme basic elements .. |
 |
Invitation card ..             |
Parisian Macarons ..
Sweetness ! .. an easy macaroons recipe for every occasion ..
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups plus 1 teaspoon confectioners’ sugar
- 1 cup (4 ounces) finely ground sliced, blanched almonds
- 6 tablespoons fresh egg whites (from about 3 extra-large eggs)
- Pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- Macaron Filling
- Directions
- To make the macarons: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar and ground almonds. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip egg whites with salt on medium speed until foamy. Increase speed to high and gradually add granulated sugar. Continue to whip until stiff glossy peaks form. With a rubber spatula, gently fold in the confectioners' sugar mixture until completely incorporated.
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. Fit a pastry bag with a 3/8-inch #4 round tip, and fill with batter. Pipe 1-inch disks onto prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between cookies. The batter will spread a little. Let stand at room temperature until dry, and a soft skin forms on the tops of the macarons and the shiny surface turns dull, about 15 minutes.
- Bake, with the door of the oven slightly ajar, until the surface of the macarons is completely dry, about 15 minutes. Remove baking sheet to a wire rack and let the macarons cool completely on the baking sheet. Gently peel off the parchment. Their tops are easily crushed, so take care when removing the macarons from the parchment. Use immediately or store in an airtight container, refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
- To fill the macarons: Fill a pastry bag with the filling. Turn macarons so their flat bottoms face up. On half of them, pipe about 1 teaspoon filling. Sandwich these with the remaining macarons, flat-side down, pressing slightly to spread the filling to the edges. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
- Variations: To make coffee-flavored macarons: In step 1, add 2 drops brown food coloring to the egg whites after they are whipped. In step 4, blend 1/2 cup macaron filling with 1 1/2 teaspoons espresso powder dissolved in 1/2 teaspoon warm water for the filling. To make cassis-flavored macarons: In step 1, add 2 drops purple food coloring to the egg whites after they are whipped. In step 4, use 1/3 cup good-quality cassis jam for the filling. To make pistachio-flavored macarons: In step 1, add 2 drops green food coloring to the egg whites after they are whipped. In step 4, combine 1/2 cup macaron filling with 1 tablespoon pistachio paste for the filling.
Source:
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