Sweets To Impress

Make-Ahead Frozen Buttercream Cake Decorations

As a Wilton brand Ambassador, I'm most fortunate to be able to try new products and create projects with existing ones. For Valentine's Day, I … [Continue Reading]
Meringue Cookie Heart Pops

While I was making Meringue Heart Cookies for a recent post, I thought how cute they would be sandwiched with white chocolate ganache or white candy … [Continue Reading]
“Be Still My (Meringue) Heart” Cookies

Chocolate might reign supreme as the sweet choice for Valentine's Day but if something lighter tickles your fancy, meringue heart cookies just might … [Continue Reading]

Mar 14, 2012

St. Patrick’s Day Cupcakes with Bailey’s Irish Cream, Frangelico and Crème de Cacao Buttercream Icing

As if my favorite espresso martinis weren’t decadent enough I made espresso martini cupcakes for St. Patrick’s Day with buttercream icing made with Bailey’s Irish Cream and a few of its flavorful, sweet, high octane friends. These friends play together beautifully and are three of the five ingredients in the espresso martinis that I love. Bailey’s is creamy goodness. Frangelico is hazelnut-flavored liqueur and Crème de Cacao has a light chocolate flavor. For the cupcakes, I substituted the liquid ingredients… [Read More]

Filed Under: Cupcakes & Party Cakes, DIY Treats, Seasonal, Specialty Treats Tagged With: baileys irish cream, boozy cupcakes, creme de cacao, cupcakes, Frangelico, st. patrick's day, st. patrick's day cupcakes, st. patrick's day treats

Mar 12, 2012

Springtime Tulip Cookies!

The weekend was perfect here in sunny SoCal and the flowers were making their seasonal debut, especially in my kitchen. Butterflies were visiting. And ladybugs too. Getting ready for springtime baskets of nature’s smiles. I can hardly wait until our real garden is as colorful. With gentle friends fluttering and buzzing about. Spring. Officially 8 days and counting. Have a sweet, colorful week. Sugar Recipe & Tutorial Royal Icing Recipe & Tutorial Colors used: Americolor – deep pink, electric green,… [Read More]

Filed Under: DIY Treats, Spring & Easter Cookies Tagged With: cookie decorating, cookies, Decorated Cookies, Easter, flower cookies, flowers, spring, spring cookies

Mar 4, 2012

A Big, Beautiful Birthday Cupcake with Tushie Cookies!

jumbo birthday cupcake with stars and fondant ribbons

Only the most glam birthday cupcake would do for my wonderful friend, Suzi, and her most fabulously stylish daughter, Rebecca June, who describes herself on her blog as an ~ Interior Designer. Jewelry Addict. Clothes Horse. TV Junkie. Wife and Mother to a Rescue Dog. Suzi and Rebecca sparkle. Some people just seem to do that. I knew my design had to include glittering stars – (made from thinned royal icing, piped and filled in on top of cloth covered… [Read More]

Filed Under: Cupcakes & Party Cakes, DIY Treats, Tushie Cookies Tagged With: baking, birthday cakes, birthday party, color flow, cookie decorating, cookies, cupcakes, Decorative Cookies, friendship, Jumbo Birthday Cupcake, sparkle, stars, Tushie Cookies

Feb 24, 2012

Decorated Nautical Cookies!

The fleet is in! Are they nautical wedding cookies? Nautical Save-the-Date cookies? Nautical birthday cookies or nautical baby announcement cookies? Let’s set sail … … and send up the flags. Let’s signal L.O.V.E. … and Happy Birthday to my love bug, G.E.J., who turns 21 this weekend. Save-the-Date for a nautical wedding or to announce the very special arrival of a new member of the crew. The Scrabble possibilities are endless when you know the nautical alphabet or you can… [Read More]

Filed Under: Birthday Cookies, DIY Treats, Party Favors, Summer & 4th of July Cookies Tagged With: birthday, Birthday Cookies, cookies, cookies with fondant, Decorative Cookies, fondant, nautical cookies, sail boat cookies, save-the-date cookies

Feb 17, 2012

Cocktails With The Congressman

It’s what on the Congressional agenda for tonight. Tonight we’re taking the Congressman and his lovely wife (my BFF since college and my matron of honor) to our favorite restaurant in our area. It’s always a very fun evening when the four of us get together for dinner and I’m looking forward to it since we haven’t been able to get together since before the holidays. Recently, I asked Cathy at Stitchfork Designs to put on her creative thinking cap… [Read More]

Filed Under: Miscellany Tagged With: monograms

Feb 17, 2012

“Ooh la la” Give-away Winner!

Mrs. Kindergarten, jump to the head of the class because YOU are the winner of the “Ooh la la” Give-away! Congratulations! The winner was chosen by random.org where I don’t think I’ve ever seen the number 1 come up before. I was so surprised. lol! Thank you to all who entered. I love hosting give-aways and I hope you had fun too! SHARE THIS POST:

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: baking, baking supplies, give aways, sur la table

Feb 14, 2012

Happy Valentine’s Day and Give-Away Reminder

Five Valentine’s Day projects complete and one more to go! This is what I’ve been working on since Sunday – nearly 100 heart cookie pops for a trade show that is being held today. I rushed all the cookies outside to take a photo before I left and then packed up my car. I loved the heart light dangling over my monogram on my L.L. Bean tote so I took another photo. Can you tell I’m sleep deprived? Who takes… [Read More]

Filed Under: Party Favors, Valentine's Day Cookies Tagged With: baking, party favors, valentine's day, valentine's day cookies

Feb 13, 2012

Seattle (Macaron) Space Needle Cupcake Topper

This past weekend my family had two occasions to celebrate so I decided the requested chocolate cake would incorporate both upcoming events – a Valentine’s Day birthday of my brother and the departure of my nephew, his wife, and baby-to-be who leave this week to make Seattle their new home. When I thought of Seattle, it was obvious to me what I had to make – the space needle! I made a batch of lemon macarons without color tinting… [Read More]

Filed Under: Birthday Cookies, Cupcakes & Party Cakes, Decorated Cookies, Fun Ideas, Specialty Treats Tagged With: birthday, birthday party, cake, celebrations, chocolate, chocolate cake, chocolate icing, coffee, cupcakes, decorating ideas, Dessert, dessert decorations, family, valentine's day

Feb 10, 2012

“Ooh La La” Give-Away!

I’m celebrating my third blogging anniversary with a little Parisian flair. When I recently took a French macarons baking class at Sur la Table, I found the cutest little stand-up Eiffel Tower treat bags that are tied with double-faced hot pink satin ribbon! I knew one thing – I must have them. Okay, I knew two things. I had to share a set with you. And because the Eiffel Tower is much more fun when shared with others… … I… [Read More]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: baking, baking supplies, give aways, sur la table

Feb 8, 2012

‘Tushie Cookies’ for Valentine’s Day!

Amy from Ohio had a great idea. She asked me if I would make her my Tushie Cookies for her boyfriend for Valentine’s Day. How could I resist such a sweet and fun request? Amy had a couple more requests – pink, red and… … Tiffany blue with Ben’s name in a black tattoo! Tushie Cookies aren’t just for bridal showers anymore! You’ll find more ‘Tushie’ Cookies at these links: ‘Tushie’ Cookies I – Bridal Shower ‘Tushie’ Cookies III –… [Read More]