Extreme Almond Chocolate Fudge Cake with a Banana Filling

crazy busy.
just posting pictures.
a happy father's day cake.
a grade eight graduation cake.
a banana-sliding disaster cake.
a sometimes-i-need-to-go-with-the-flow cake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day Cupcakes

I made these Valentine's Day cupcakes for a charity event my aunt was putting on. It was a great cause so I was glad to help. These are chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream. They are topped with a variety of Valentine's Day candy. I picked up the adorable boxes at Dollarama (it's all about presentation!). Here are some photos:

Merry Christmas: Chocolate Marshmallow Pops

A quick and very tasty treat. Chocolate Marshmallow Pops are great for a Christmas table centrepiece or an easy gift. I am not a huge fan of marshmallows (except for in S'mores), but the milk chocolate adds a great crunch along with the sprinkles.

Recipe:

- Milk Chocolate

- Sprinkles

- Marshmallows

- Lollipop Sticks

- Glass (Optional)

- Bow (Optional)

1. Place marshmallows onto sticks.

2. Melt chocolates in a microwave-safe bowl for 2 minutes or until smooth.

3. Dip marshmallow sticks into chocolate allowing excess to drip off.

4. Pour sprinkles onto chocolate. Do not dip into sprinkles...it makes a big mess.

5. Place in a cup to dry. You can also place them in the freezer for 2-3 minutes.

Adapted from:  Glorious Treats

Merry Christmas!

Enjoy :)

Mag

DIY: Christmas Centrepiece Arrangement

After working at a greenhouse this past year, I learned how to make centrepieces with different types of greens - and yes, they are real greens. They are super easy, but take a lot of supplies and a little practice. Add whatever bulbs, sparkly sticks, bows, and anything else you want to use to spice it up. They are great to add a natural Christmas-look to your home and will be the centre of attention at your holiday party.

Dessert: Christmas Jersey Milk Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Love making Christmas Cookies! These cookies can really be made anytime during the year, but in my family they are Christmas cookies. These cookies are amazing. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Recipe:

2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
4 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups oatmeal
3 bars of Neilson's Jersey Milk




The Oatmeal Cookie recipe has seen better days. The torn page had to be pasted into a book

Directions:

1. Mix wet and dry ingredients separately.

2. Combine ingredients and mix thoroughly.

3. Roll into balls onto a greased cookie sheet.

4. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees.

5. While the cookies are still hot and on the cookie sheet, press the the Jersey Milk chocolate squares firmly into the cookies.

 

Great for freezing and storing away until Christmas :)

North Pole Christmas Cupcakes!

Christmas is coming and there are a lot of holiday parties and holiday desserts that need to made and tasted! My dad needed cupcakes for his volunteer party at Habitat for Humanity ReStore. I saw this idea on Pinterest, but I just didn't like the photos I was seeing. Then my Crossfit friend posted a similar design online and I decided to give it a try. They turned out amazing. I appreciate the inspiration and check out her site, 3 Girls and A Cupcake for the most beautiful cupcakes!

Simple White Cake

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 tsps vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 tsps baking powder
1/2 cup milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and fill cupcake tins with baking liners.

2. Cream together butter and sugar.

3. Beat in one egg at a time. Add vanilla.

4. Combine flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Mix into cream mixture.

5. Finally, beat in milk until smooth.

6. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Cupcake Papers

Once the cupcakes were cooled, I inserted a cream cheese filling into the centre of the cupcake. I then topped the cupcakes with my vanilla buttercream icing and sprinkles.

Cream Cheese Filling

Icing and Sprinkles

The North Pole toppers are easy to construct.

You will need:

- candy canes
- gumballs
- icing
- paper
- pen

Break the top off a cherry or peppermint candy cane and remove the plastic. Stick the candy canes into the cupcakes. Take the gumballs and add a dab of icing. Attach the gumball to the top of the candy cane (royal icing would work better for this if you have it available). For the sign, I actually purchased Wilton's Food Writers and flat mini white chocolate wafers. However, the Writers didn't show up dark enough on the white chocolate (which was very upsetting). So I had to improvise at 1 am. I simply used scrapbook paper and a pen to write North Pole. I then attached it to the candy cane with icing. This sign wasn't ideal since the icing left a stain, but sometimes your choices are limited. They still turned out beautiful and more importantly, they were delicious.

Filling

Very sad to say that my little helper, Buddy passed away a couple weeks ago. So this guy, Onyx has been staying up late with me to help clean up spills and trying to look cute for an extra cupcake :)

Minty Christmas Cupcakes

I also made these cupcakes for the Open House at my work. These are vanilla, marble, and chocolate cupcakes and they are served with a vanilla buttercream frosting. Finally, they are topped with sprinkles and mint candies. Simple, delicious, and one lady even referred to them as decadent :)

More Christmas and Holiday Treats are Coming...

 

 

 

 

Featured on AmericaJR.com: Succulent Pumpkin Planters

My post from October on DIY Succulent Pumpkin Planters is being featured on AmericaJR.com. Click below to check it out!

http://americajr.com/news/pumpkinplanters1028.html

Halloween Dessert: Caramel Apples

Love buying Caramel Apples in the Fall. I always found that Candy Apples made such a sticky mess and stained everything red. But Caramel Apples... Caramel Apples are perfect. When made with peanuts they are a great combination of sweet and salty. After my mom was craving one the other night, I decided to find a simple recipe online and got to work.

Recipe:

6-8 apples
6-8 wooden sticks
2 bags of caramel chews
2 tbsp. milk
peanuts and/or sprinkles

Recipe adapted from All Recipes

Instructions:

1. Unwrap the caramels (probably the most time consuming part).

2. Melt the caramels with the milk in a pot. Mix continuously on low to keep it from burning. The mixture should be thick. Add more caramels if needed.

3. Wash apples and pierce with the wooden sticks.

4. Have your peanuts and/or sprinkles ready in bowls for dipping.

5. When the caramel is completely melted smooth, dip apples and allow the extra caramel to drip off.

6. Immediately dip into peanuts or sprinkles.

7. Allow the caramel harden and enjoy :)