DIY Food Gifts

December 7, 2011December 7, 20112 Comments

Having trouble finding the right gift for your favorite coworker or your aunt? A gift filled with homemade treats can be the most thoughtful and successful. It can take a little time but your recipient will appreciate the personal touch and it can save you a little money.

1. Chocolate Pretzel bites. Recipe is here. To add a festive twist, use seasonal color M&Ms and hershey kisses. My personal favorites are the white chocolate peppermint kisses. Put in a nice jar and add a bow.

2. Homemade Peppermint Hot Chocolate. So easy! Just grab a jar, throw in some hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, chocolate chips, and some crushed pepperminy candy. Delicious and presentable gift.

3. Cookie Mix in a Jar or S’mores in a jar. Grab your favorite ingredients for cookies, and put in a jar. Attach the recipe and voila!

4. Reindeer Food.

Not a baker? Thats ok, buy small cookies or chex mix and just decorate the bottle. I found this on Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats’ blog. Below is a frappucino jar form Starbucks. How thrify & creative!

4. Cookies in take-out Chinese container. Buy or bake- the packaging makes all the different. have a variety of Christmas cookies and just throw them in a decorative container!

Strawberry Trifle (Healthy recipe)

November 28, 2011Leave a comment

Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving filled with joy & delicious food. With that said, during this holiday season it is hard to stay on a healthy track with all the holiday treats around. My idea is that the next holiday gathering I go to, I am bringing a healthy dessert because when there are delicious healthy choices amongst the cookies, brownies, and cheesecakes, it may make healthy choice just a little easier.

Ingredients:

10-ounces frozen, unsweetened strawberries
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 1/4 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
2 egg whites

Directions:

Combine strawberries and sugar in a food processor and blend until smooth, about 30 seconds.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine strawberry mixture and yogurt.
In a separate bowl, use a hand mixer to whisk egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
Add egg whites into the mixture and stir until smooth. Spoon into serving glasses and chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish with mint just before serving.

*You can also add angel food cake to this recipe which is a very light cake.

Thanksgiving Decor

November 21, 2011November 21, 20113 Comments

Food is a huge part of Thanksgiving but setting the perfect ambiance is important to a perfect holiday dinner as well. From simple pumpkin and gourds to extravagant centerpieces, a little fall flare will bring your gathering to life.

{Adorable Pilgrim hats made with chocolate cookies, mini reeses, and frosting}

{Use mini pumpkins has a candle dish. so easy}

{or use mini pumpkins as candy dishes}

{Loving the blue&orange combo for this dinner table}

{Get creative with seasonal fruit&veggies}

{oh, and the perfect hostess outfit!}

Baked Apples with Pecans

November 16, 2011November 16, 2011Leave a comment

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it starts the Christmas season and the idea of gathering with my family and eating delicious homemade food makes my mouth water every year. Since I have yet to cook a turkey, I usually try to bring something simple like a dessert or a side (baby steps). Baked apples are so delicious and festive so I knew this would be the perfect recipe to share and you only need a few ingredients!

Ingredients:

4 tart green apples
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 bag pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Scoop out the core from top of the apple, leaving a well. Do not cut all the way through. Stuff each apple with 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, and pecans. Place in a shallow baking dish and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, until sugar begins to caramelize and apples are tender.

Witch’s Hat Cupcakes

October 5, 20111 Comment

Halloween is just around the corner and even as an adult, Halloween never gets old. I love all the fun costumes and creative snacks. Here is a cute, easy cupcake recipe that will get you in the Halloween spirit.


Ingredients

24 cupcakes (baked from your favorite recipe.. I like Devil’s Foodcake)
Orange frosting
1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon of shortening
Bugles Corn Snacks
Chocolate-covered mints or cookies (such as Grasshopper Fudge Mints)

Recipe

Frost the cooled cupcakes with the orange frosting.
Melt the chocolate chips and shortening in the top of a double boiler or microwave. One at a time, dip the Bugles into the melted chocolate, using a spoon to help coat them completely, then set each one on a chocolate-covered mint or cookie.
Chill the hats in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, then place each one on top of the cupcake.

Below are some other fun Halloween cupcake ideas.

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