I tried made the baby booty out of fondant and used buttercream and berries to decorate the cake. I also dyed the inside of the cake with different shades of pink.
I also made some chocolate cupcakes with berries and mint leaves. I used my buttercream recipe on these too.
Buttercream Icing
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup Crisco
4 cups powdered sugar (2 lbs)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tablespoon milk (if thick)
Directions:
Cream together the butter and Crisco with a mixer.
Slowly add in 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time.
Add the vanilla, if it seems too thick you can add a bit of milk.
Marshmallow Fondant Recipe
Ingredients:
16 oz. Mini Marshmallows
3 TBSP water
2 lbs Powdered Sugar (4 cups)
Crisco
Directions:
Grease a large glass bowl with Crisco.
Pour in the marshmallows and water; then microwave at 30- second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.
Reserve about 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar. Place the red of the powdered sugar in a large bowl of a standing mixer.
Grease the paddle attachment with Crisco and pour in the melted marshmallows on top of the powdered sugar.
Beat until a dough form; there will be a lot of loose bits and sugar in the bottom of the bowl.
Grease a clean work surface with Crisco and dump out the fondant and all the loose bits. Grease your hands liberally with Crisco and knead the mixture together, just like kneading bread, for about 5 minutes until smooth.
Grease hands again as needed. As the fondant becomes smoother, use the reserved powdered sugar to coat the surface to keep it from sticking.
Once smooth, you can divide and color the fondant. While working with one piece, cover the remaining fondant with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
When you have your colors finished coat the fondant in a light layer or Crisco; wrap in plastic wrap and place in a large baggie for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
Store at room temperature for several months. To us it, dust the surface and rolling pin with powdered sugar and roll out to 1/8 of an inch.
We don’t go over bored for Valentine’s Day, but we always get the kids these little heart cream filled chocolates and try to have dinner together.
Affirmation Hearts
I cut out hearts and wrote attributes, strengths, and affirmations on them for each child. Then I taped one to their door each day until Valentine’s Day. First thing in the morning on the 14th, I placed their name and the rest of the hearts for them to see when they woke up that morning. They really enjoyed this and looked each morning to see what the newest heart said.
Baked Spaghetii and Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 package spaghetti
1 lb. ground beef
1 jar spaghetti sauce
2 cups shredded cheese
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Cook and drain spaghetti noodles.
In a separate pan, brown and drain ground beef.
Add spaghetti sauce and warm through.
Spray a pie dish or casserole dish with cooking spray, then add spaghetti noodles.
Top with sauce and ground beef mixture.
Top with cheese.
Place in oven for around 10 minutes or until cheese is brown on top.
Warm the meatballs in the oven with marinara sauce for 30 minutes.
Serve with garlic bread and salad.
Chocolate Raspberry Tarts
Ingredients:
2 eggs
2 teas. water
2 TBS flour
1 sheet pastry puff
1/4 cup chocolate chips
16 raspberries
2 TBS powdered sugar
Directions:
Beat the eggs and water with a fork.
Sprinkle flour and unfold pastry sheet.
Roll out into 16×16 inch square.
Brush pastry with the egg.
Cut into 16 squares (4×4)
Place 1 raspberry and 1 teaspoon of chocolate chips in the center of each square.
Fold the pastries over to form triangles and crimp the edges with a fork.
Prick the tops of each pastry and brush with egg.
Place onto baking sheets and freeze for 15 minutes.
Our family loves Disney and Family Movie Night, so we have joined them together for a family Disney Dinner Night. Tonight mom got to choose, so it was Beauty and the Beast, which was a bit too fancy of food for the preteens to enjoy. I chose to make versions of the recipes that are mentioned in the song, “Be Our Guest”. We watched the live action version of Beauty and the Beast since it is probably my current favorite of the Disney movies. I hope you have as much family fun as we did.
Cut the pizza dough into 2″ wide strips and then spread slightly to bring each strip to 3″ wide.
Spoon some pizza sauce onto the dough strip, and spread evenly.
Sprinkle some cheese onto the sauce, and then make an overlapping layer of pepperoni slices.
Roll the strip lengthwise, to make a pizza rose.
Place the finished roses on a lined cookie sheet. You can fan out the pepperoni slices slightly.
Bake on the bottom rack of your oven according to the dough directions, typically about 12-15 minutes, until the dough is golden brown.
If the pepperoni starts to overcook before the dough is finished cooking, place a sheet of tinfoil gently over the pizza roses, shiny side up.
Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving alongside additional pizza sauce.
Entrée: Beef Ragout
Ingredients:
1.5 lbs. sirloin steak, cut into chunks
4-5 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
3 carrots, finely chopped
2 celery sticks, finely chopped
2 tbsp minced garlic
8 oz. tomato sauce
2 rosemary sprigs
2 bay leaves
10 oz can diced tomatoes
14.5 oz. can beef stock
Parmesan Cheese
No Yolk Noodles
Directions:
Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a stovetop pan over a medium-high heat and brown the beef until dark.
Drain the beef in a colander to remove the fat while you cook the rest.
Wipe out the pan with kitchen paper, then add about 2 tbsp oil, the onions, carrots, celery and garlic with a pinch of salt and cook for 8-10 mins over a low-medium heat.
Stir in the tomato sauce and cook for a further 3 mins. Add the herbs, tomatoes and stock, season and bring to the boil, stir the beef back into the sauce and reduce to a simmer.
Add to crock pot for 3 hrs. Stir or use a fork to roughly shred the beef.
Cook the pasta in a large pan of salted water for 3 mins, drain then tip into the ragout, toss together with some of the parmesan.
& Cheese Souffle
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons Butter
3 Tablespoons Flour
1 cup Milk
4 Eggs
1 cup Cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon Mustard Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon White pepper
4 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400ºF.
Grease and flour ceramic baking dish. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter and flour to form a roux. Stir and cook until it thickens and takes on a golden color, about 2 minutes.
Add the milk and stir well to incorporate. Let cook for two minutes before removing from heat.
Allow the flour-milk mixture to cool for about 5-10 minutes before proceeding with the recipe.
In a small bowl, beat your eggs until light and frothy.
Add the eggs, cheese and seasonings to the mixture.
Put the soufflé mixture into the prepared dish and sprinkle the tops with the Parmesan cheese.
Place in the lower half of the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, until well-browned and puffy. (sadly my soufflé sank in).
Vegi: Soup de jour
Ingredients:
1/4 cup of unsalted butter
3 medium white onions diced
42 oz. of beef broth
1/2 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp. of Parmesan cheese
slices of a French baguette
4oz of provolone cheese
Directions:
Sauté onions in melted butter in a large pot for 30 minutes.
Add beef broth, garlic powder and salt, then bring to a boil.
Let boil for a minute then reduce heat and simmer (uncovered) for 50 minutes.
Add parmesan cheese and let simmer for 10 more minutes.
Pour a few cups of soup into a large Pyrex.
Put some cheese slices on top.
Put it in the oven on broil until the cheese began to brown. (For about five or six minutes).
Cut the baguette and dip into soup as you eat.
Fruit: Pie & Pudding “en flambe”
We got our idea for “en flambe” from the epicurious blog; but sadly, ours didn’t turn out very tasty at all.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tea vanilla
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into bits
In a 10-inch skillet, stir together the 3/4 cup sugar, vanilla and the vinegar. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved.
Cook over medium heat, without stirring, for 5 minutes, or until the mixture is amber in color (like a brown paper bag).
Remove from the heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter and swirl until the butter has melted. Let cool for 10 minutes.
Carefully arrange the apples over the sugar mixture in concentric circles, being careful not to touch the hot sugar mixture.
Dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
Place the puff pastry over the apples and tuck the sides down around the apples.
Sprinkle the 1 tablespoon sugar over the dough. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and crisp and the pan juices are bubbling.
Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully invert onto a rimmed pie plate to serve.
Drink: Mrs. Potts Strawberry Iced Tea
One of the recipes that all of the kids enjoyed! YAY
Ingredients:
6 cups brewed tea
4 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups sugar
Directions:
In a saucepan, boil the strawberries, sugar, and water.
Lower the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Cool slightly.
Pour the syrup through a fine colander into a gallon pitcher.
You can freeze the solids in ice cube trays.
Pour the tea into the pitcher with the syrup and stir.
Chill completely.
Serve over strawberry ice cubes.
Dessert: Try the Grey Stuff
Another delicious recipe for the kids!
Ingredients:
3.4 oz box Vanilla Pudding Mix
1 1/2 cups Milk
15 OREOs, crushed
8 oz Cool Whip
Edible Sugar Pearls, as desired
Directions:
Make the vanilla pudding according to the boxed directions, however only use 1 1/2 cups milk rather than what is called for.
Place the pudding in the fridge to thicken for 5 minutes as you crush the OREOs.
Mix the OREOs into the vanilla pudding until completely combined.
Add the Cool Whip and stir gently until just combined.
Refrigerate for 5 minutes before placing the pudding into your serving dish and decorate with edible sugar pearls.
Thanks to my wonderful family for try all of my fancy foods!
We do all of our Christmas celebrations on Christmas Eve each year. So for Christmas day I decided to put out finger foods for the kids as they were coming and going throughout the day. This way I don’t have to be in the kitchen cooking, so I can enjoy Christmas day too.
Hot Chocolate Bar
My kids are crazy about hot chocolate. We got some different flavors, but I also just made some in the crock pot to have out all day. Then we added marshmallows, mints, chocolate chips, chocolate wafers and chocolate stirring spoons. I added a scoop of peppermint bark ice cream to mine… YUM!
Cheeseball Platter
My husband loves cheeseballs so we have one almost every holiday. I placed salami, crackers, and cheeses along with the cheeseball.
Fruit Pizza
Ingredients :
Crescent Roll Dough
Cream Cheese 8 oz.
Marshmallow Cream 1 can
Fruit Diced Tiny
Directions:
I spread the Crescent Roll dough on a pizza pan.
Then I baked it according to the directions on the can.
Mix together the Cream Cheese and the Marshmallow Cream to spread on the Crescent Roll.
I cut the fruit into tiny pieces.
I placed the left over fruit and dip in a platter for the kids.
Vegi Pizza
Ingredients :
Crescent Roll Dough
Sour Cream 1 tub
Ranch packet
Vegetables Diced Tiny
Directions:
I spread the Crescent Roll dough on a pizza pan.
Then I baked it according to the directions on the can.
Mix together the Sour Cream and the Ranch packet to spread on the Crescent Roll.
I cut up the vegetables into tiny pieces.
I placed the left over vegetables and dip in a platter.
Cheesecake
My simple little pleasure, cheesecake!
Christmas Potpourri
I got the idea for Christmas Simmer Pot gifts from https://mommymadethat.com/stovetop-potpourri-gift/. We made these for teachers, baby sitters, coaches, and neighbors. Just add orange slices, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and pine tree sprigs to some simmering water. Smelled delightful all weekend.
Family Christmas
The kids all got X-men Storm shirts from Baby Storm this year!
My brilliant boy is now 16! He loves music, science, computers, games, outside, Lord of the Rings, family and friends!
Chocolate Freezer Pie
Ingredients:
8 oz. Hershey’s bar
8 oz. Cream Cheese
16 oz. Cool Whip
2 Prepared 8 inch Graham Crust
1/4 cup milk
Directions:
Heat the chocolate and 2 tablespoons of the milk in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until melted.
Beat the cream cheese and add the remaining milk. Add chocolate mix and beat until smooth.
In a bowl, fold the chocolate mix into the cool whip and blend until smooth.
Spoon the mix into the crusts. I decorated the pies with some extra cool whip and shaved chocolate bar for my son’s birthday.
Freeze for 4 hours.
Sweetwater Music Store
I took him to the largest music store in the U.S. Sweetwater in Fort Wayne, IN. He was like a kid in a candy store. He played all of the instruments and then choose his birthday gift.
I got him an effects pedal for his electric guitar for his 16th birthday! He picked it out at Sweetwater.
His little brother got him a Lord of the Rings map.
She just loves watermelon, so we did a “One in a Melon” party. She just loved the balloons and swimming pool.
Watermelon Tie Dye Shirts
I made tie dye shirts for the kids!
Watermelon Shoes
I found a pair of read shoes and added a green stripe with a Sharpie around the base, then I added black seeds!
Watermelon Decorations
Baby girl loves the balloons and points to them everyday for a week after the party!
I made a watermelon banner of monthly photos of Baby!
“One in a Melon”
Watermelon Food
We had lots of watermelon themed foods and candies!
Fruit Pizza
Ingredients:
1 Sugar Cookie Dough
1 Marshmallow Cream
1 Cream Cheese
strawberries
kiwi
mini chocolate chips
Directions:
First grease a pizza sheet and place roll out the sugar cookie dough about 1/4 inch thick.
Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.
Let it completely cool.
Mix together the marshmallow cream and the cream cheese and cover the cookie.
Cut the fruit to small pieces and decorate to look like a watermelon.
Watermelon Cake
I cut off the sides of the watermelon and made stacked the chunks together. Then I added berries with toothpicks.
Watermelon Punch
INGREDIENTS:
14 lb. seedless watermelon
1 and 1/2 cups pineapple juice
1 and 1/2 cups sparkling water
DIRECTIONS:
Cut about one third off the top of your watermelon, then scoop out all the insides from both sides, and save the larger half for your “watermelon bowl”.
Blend the pieces of watermelon in a blender for several minutes to be sure there are no chunks.
Add pineapple juice and sparkling water to the “watermelon bowl” and pour in your strained watermelon juice.
Mix together and chill the punch and bowl in the fridge for about an hour or until ready to serve.
Watermelon Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 ½ cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
Red and Green food coloring
Mini Chocolate Chips
Directions:
In a bowl cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until smooth.
In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and baking soda. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir till soft dough forms.
Divide dough into 2 parts and color one part red and one part green with food coloring.
Shape the dough like a watermelon and add mini chocolate chips as the seeds.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Bake cookies for 8 minutes or until lightly browned and let cool.
Add buttercream icing (see buttercream recipe below) and mini chocolate chips.
Watermelon Cake
I followed the directions on the white cake box, but use the Minute Maid Watermelon juice instead of water and added pink food color. After I mixed up the cake I add the sprinkles to act like the seeds!
Buttercream Icing
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup Crisco
4 cups powdered sugar (2 lbs)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tablespoon milk (if thick)
Directions:
Cream together the butter and Crisco with a mixer.
Slowly add in 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time.
Add the vanilla, if it seems too thick you can add a bit of milk.
Watermelon Smash Cake
I made a smaller version of the cake for her smash cake, which she wasn’t too into.
Water Play
I found a watermelon sprinkler blow up pool and added water balloons too. This was a BIG hit with the bigger kids!
My son is crazy about the Wings of Fire book series AND Nutella. He loves dragons so I did my best to make him a dragon on a castle cake!
I made a chocolate cake mix and added a cup of Nutella, I also mixed Nutella into the frosting.
I just used chocolate bars and Nutella Oreo’s to make the castle with chocolate frosting. Then I made the dragon from my marshmallow fondant recipe.
Marshmallow Fondant Recepie
Ingredients:
16 oz. Mini Marshmallows
3 TBSP water
2 lbs Powdered Sugar (4 cups)
Crisco
Directions:
Grease a large glass bowl with Crisco.
Pour in the marshmallows and water; then microwave at 30- second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.
Reserve about 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar. Place the red of the powdered sugar in a large bowl of a standing mixer.
Grease the paddle attachment with Crisco and pour in the melted marshmallows on top of the powdered sugar.
Beat until a dough form; there will be a lot of loose bits and sugar in the bottom of the bowl.
Grease a clean work surface with Crisco and dump out the fondant and all the loose bits. Grease your hands liberally with Crisco and knead the mixture together, just like kneading bread, for about 5 minutes until smooth.
Grease hands again as needed. As the fondant becomes smoother, use the reserved powdered sugar to coat the surface to keep it from sticking.
Once smooth, you can divide and color the fondant. While working with one piece, cover the remaining fondant with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
When you have your colors finished coat the fondant in a light layer or Crisco; wrap in plastic wrap and place in a large baggie for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
Store at room temperature for several months. To us it, dust the surface and rolling pin with powdered sugar and roll out to 1/8 of an inch.
He is such a sweet, empathetic, brilliant, loving boy!
My oldest in now 15 years old! 15 years ago he taught me that it is possible to “fall in love at first sight”! He is a sweet, loving, and brilliant young man.
Ingredients:
9 inch Graham crust
8 oz. Cream Cheese (softened)
14 oz. Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/3 cup Lemon Juice
1 tea. Vanilla
1 can Cherry Pie Filling
Directions:
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy.
Beat in milk until smooth.
Stir in lemon juice and vanilla.
Pour into crust and chill for 3 hours.
Top with cherries and refrigerate.
We let the 3 month old play with the balloons. We tied them to her hands and feet, since she is kicking an waving non-stop… She loved this!
My son wanted to have a secret agent spy birthday party with his classmates. It was so much fun, and the weather cooperated with us too!
Crime Scene Gifts
Secret Agent Badges
“First thing you all need to do is to create your Secret Agent Badge. To figure out your Secret Agent name, you will draw a name from this “First Name” can, and then draw a name from the “Last Name” can. Then you can write your Secret Agent Name on your ID card. Next you can add your fingerprint to your ID card. Gently press one finger into the ink pad and carefully place it on the box in your ID card. Last choose a badge holder and place your ID card into it and clip it on your clothing.”
One girl even drew the name “Secret Agent”! I found the Badge Holders on Amazon.
Spy Gear
“Before we get started, we will need to equip ourselves with some Spy equipment. Unfortunately, the equipment has been kept under lock and key, so you will need to work together to release the supplies. To open the cuffs there is a key maze inside each cuff. Insert the lock pick in the maze and the rotate the lock pick left, right, up and down to follow the maze to reach the bottom and unlock the hand cuffs.”
The kids followed the clues around the yard and solved the puzzles to find the laser maze at the end. We used the Spy Code games that my boys already had. There are several spy contraptions in each game that we pulled out and used in our Mission Possible scavenger hunt. They have Spy Code Operation: Escape Room, Spy Code Yulu Break Free, and he got Spy Code Safe Breaker as a gift from Grandpa.
“Things to remember, if you come to a ‘Mission Envelope’ that is not the next number, just leave it alone until you get to that number… the envelopes must be solved in number order. Use the walkie-talkies to communicate and don’t open any of the “Mission Envelopes” until all of your agents are present. Work together to solve the code, and decide who will work on the Spy contraption. Who ever is not working the code or contraption can use the walkie talkies to find the next clue after solving is completed. Do not open the next ‘Mission Envelope’ until both the code and contraption have been solved for the current ‘Mission Envelope’.“
Laser Maze
Licorice TNT
Pop Secret Popcorn
Root Beer Floats
I scooped the icecream into jars ahead of time, so the kids could choose their flavor or icecream and soda. They really enjoyed these!
Party Foods
Basically I put out some of his favorite red and yellow foods to stick with my color theme. Watermelon, pineapple, salami and cheese and crackers, popcorn, and licorice, lemonade, and Koolaid!
Secret Agent Cake
I made a red, yellow, and chocolate checkered cake with my homemade white butter cream icing. Then I made marshmallow fondant to create the decorations.
Buttercream Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup Crisco
4 cups powdered sugar (2 lbs)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tablespoon milk (if thick)
Directions:
Cream together the butter and Crisco with a mixer.
Slowly add in 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time.
Add the vanilla, if it seems too thick you can add a bit of milk.
Marshmallow Fondant Recepie
Ingredients:
16 oz. Mini Marshmallows
3 TBSP water
2 lbs Powdered Sugar (4 cups)
Crisco
Directions:
Grease a large glass bowl with Crisco.
Pour in the marshmallows and water; then microwave at 30- second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.
Reserve about 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar. Place the red of the powdered sugar in a large bowl of a standing mixer.
Grease the paddle attachment with Crisco and pour in the melted marshmallows on top of the powdered sugar.
Beat until a dough form; there will be a lot of loose bits and sugar in the bottom of the bowl.
Grease a clean work surface with Crisco and dump out the fondant and all the loose bits. Grease your hands liberally with Crisco and knead the mixture together, just like kneading bread, for about 5 minutes until smooth.
Grease hands again as needed. As the fondant becomes smoother, use the reserved powdered sugar to coat the surface to keep it from sticking.
Once smooth, you can divide and color the fondant. While working with one piece, cover the remaining fondant with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
When you have your colors finished coat the fondant in a light layer or Crisco; wrap in plastic wrap and place in a large baggie for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
Store at room temperature for several months. To us it, dust the surface and rolling pin with powdered sugar and roll out to 1/8 of an inch.