Lemon Blueberry Cake Truffles

Random Thoughts I Had Today:

I could put my entire face in that bowl of yummy-awsomeness! 

Speaking of popcorn, where on earth did Mason put his lunchbox ... full of underwear?!

Oh, I should to hop on VS.com and order that new perfume I tried at the mall.

  Look at THAT! I could totally recreate it ... like tomorrow!

Where's my to-do list?

Does the hubby have pants clean for work tomorrow?

I think this blog needs a new header.

Gah, Candice {from Phineas and Ferb} is particularly annoying today!

 Hahahahahahahahaha! I'm sure I'll see that as a bumper sticker soon.

hmm...have I paid my car taxes for this year yet?

Did I pay last year's ... !?!

Ugh, I'm having a fat day! 

Oooo, I want something sweet ... something lemony! 

Ingredients
adapted from Bakerella
9x13 Lemon Cake, cooled
2 cups Lemon Buttercream
Blueberry Preserves
1 Package of White Chocolate Bark

Method
In a large bowl or food processor, mix cake and frosting together until completely combined.

Roll quarter size balls in hands and press an indention into the center with a finger. Place a little of the blueberry preserves in the center and cover completely with cake mixture. Roll in hands until smooth. Place truffles in the refrigerator for at least an hour to set.
Place bark in a microwave safe bowl and melt according the package directions. Dip each truffle in the white chocolate, making sure to cover completely, and sit in a mini cupcake liner. Decorate with sprinkles {or whatever you would like to use} and let set up.

PAR-TAY Time!
Cast Party Wednesday - Lady Behind The Curtain

Fried Cheesecake Bites

It's date night!

Whaa Hoo!

We don't get very many of these anymore,

so when the time comes, we take full advantage!

We usually opt for a 

romantic dinner out!

{I need a night off every once and a while!}

But, this time I wanted to save a little $$.

So, I prepared our

Date Night Dessert:

Fried Cheesecake Bites

Ohhh Yeah!!

This recipe is beyond easy!!

And, only take a very short few minutes

to prepare ... all you need is a little prep

and you're ready to go! 

Ingredients

Frozen Cheesecake Bites

Prepared Puff Pastry, thawed

Egg Wash

Method

Preheat deep fryer to 350 degrees.

Cut puff pastry into equal squares, about 3x3 or 4x4, depending on the size of your cheesecake bites. Remove cheesecake bites from freezer and place in the center of each square.

Make an egg wash from one egg and a splash of water, whisking until combined. Paint all four sides of the pastry with egg wash - this will act as the glue that will bind the pastry together. 

Fold each corner over into the center and pinch the edges to close. This forms a little pouch.

Deep fry at 350 degrees for about 6 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the pouches are floating. Drain on a paper towel and let cool slightly. Serve warm with ice cream or room temperature with chocolate and/or raspberry sauce.

Your love will simply

be smitten

with this yummy treat!

Enjoy and Happy Baking!

PAR-TAY Time:
Crazy Sweet Tuesdays - Crazy For Crust
Cast Party Wednesday - Lady Behind The Curtain

Pistachio Cardamom Cake

I was given a huge

bottle of ground Cardamom

by my mom yesterday!

Score!!

So, I rushed home,

gathered the ingredients

and started a Persian-inspired cake batter.

{To only realize I was out of pistachios!!}

Ahh!! ran through my mind!

But, then I saw a box of

Pistachio Pudding Mix ...

Ingredients
1 box French Vanilla Cake Mix
1 box Pistachio Pudding Mix
1 cup Flour
1/2 cup Sugar
1 cup Whole Milk
1 cup Sour Cream
4 Eggs
5 tbsp Butter, room temp.
3/4 tsp Ground Cardamom
Zest of half Orange
Splash Vanilla Extract

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease three 9 or 10 inch cake pans and set aside.
In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, slowly mix the dry ingredients together. Add eggs, milk cream and butter and stir until combined. Add the zest and vanilla and beat on medium speed until a smooth batter forms. Pour a third of the batter into each pan and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when tested in the center of the cake.

While the cake layers are cooling, start the frosting.

8 oz. Cream Cheese
1 stick Butter, room temp.
2 tbsp. Whole Milk or Cream
2-3 cups of Powder Sugar
1/4 tsp. Ground Cardamom
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract, or One Vanilla Bean - insides only.

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together. Slowly add milk and powder sugar until desired consistency is achieved. Add cardamom and vanilla to finish. Use to fill the layers and ice the outside of cake.

The pudding makes the cake

SUPER MOIST!

And, the cardamom and orange

flavors meld so well together!

The hubs gave it

2 thumbs up

and cleaned his plate!

{Coming from someone who thinks Reese's is the best thing on earth, I'd say that's a compliment!}

Sugar and Spice ...

... that's what

little girls

are made of!

Today was a very special day

for a dear friend and

her little bundle of joy!

Anne Marie is due in late September

and to get ready for her arrival,

a beautiful baby shower took place Saturday afternoon!

I provided the sweet treats
including a 2 tier Cake,
Cake Truffles and French Macaron favors.

The center was made of tissue paper flowers glued to a Styrofoam round.

Hot pink tulle was wrapped around the cake board and added to the girly, whimsical theme.

This is my Charleston Style Pound Cake
with Vanilla Buttercream.
Marshmallow Fondant decorations adorned the outside.

The favors included 3 petite
French Macarons.
A Strawberry, Key Lime and Vanilla Bean.

Here is a shot of my inspiration
behind the color scheme
and cake decorations.

I pulled elements from the rocker's fabric, which also plays a major roll in the nursery.

It was a perfect shower
for a wonderful friend
and exceptional mother!

Thoughts4Thursday

Happy Thursday 

to all!

I've seen lots of bloggers

confess to what they carry

in their purses ...

So, I'm joining in on the fun!

Hope you all are having a 

FABULOUS WEEK!

Evans' Baby Shower

My super cute

little sister

is expecting her first

baby boy!

She's a talented

comedian

who will be one fabulous

hot momma, too!

She cracks me up - i heart her! :)

And, a few weekends ago

I put together a shower

in Evans and her honor.

Here is how it turned out:

 A Sunburst Mirror Wreath I made, that will also hang in his nursery.

"E" is for Evans

The Spread

Savories:

Up close shot of the Ham Biscuit. They were spicy and sweet! Yum!

Sweets:

These fabulous little suckers are from This Charming Candy Co. I made edible dirt from chocolate cookies and just stuffed the suckers in the mini flower pots. It made such a cute presentation!

Click HERE to visit their etsy shop!

The cupcake liners were bought HERE.

 I made several of these banners from construction paper  and twine I found right at AC Moore. 

Favors

This was a basic Puppy Chow{from Svory Sweet Life} recipe that I just added Kettle Corn, Chocolate Chips and Pecans into the mix! And, Tada - Puppy Munch! :)

Leaving you with a shot of her gifts! This is one blessed momma and {already} spoiled little boy! 

I LOVE YOU BOTH!

xoxo

You Can't Buy Happiness ...

Just a lil' something

to ponder

on this gloomy

South Carolina Saturday:

Tee Hee!

It made me

SMILE!

Hope you're having

a happy

weekend!

Orange-Chocolate Cupcakes

Do y'all watch Cupcake Wars?

I just recently got into the show

and now DVR every episode 

so I don't miss a one!

I just LOVE all the ideas

and cutting edge flavors

that are discovered through 

the pressure to impress.

About 2 weeks ago

there was a contestant who 

used a hallowed out orange

as the cupcake liner ...

GENIUS, right!?!

Needless to say,

that got my juices flowing!

Here's my take:

Ingredients for Six Cakes
{adapted from Stefani Pollack of Cupcake Project}
Cupcakes:
3 Oranges
1/4 cup Flour
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Instant Coffee or Espresso
1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
2/3 cup Dark Cocoa Powder
2/3 cup Orange Juice
3 tbsp. Butter, melted
1 egg
1/4 cup Dark Chocolate, roughly chopped
Zest of 1/2 Orange

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut each orange in half and juice, reserving for later.

Hallow out the inside. Turn each half on it's side and slightly trim the bottom, giving it a flat surface to sit upon. Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients together until combined. Fill each half orange with batter, being sure not to over fill.

{ FYI: This is over-filled ... lol, made quite a mess! ;) }

Place each half orange on a baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when tested in cake. Let cool.

Nutella Ganache
1/4 cup Nutella
1/4 cup Dark Chocolate, roughly chopped
In a microwave safe bowl, place ingredients in the microwave and cook for 30 seconds. Remove and stir. Cook for 30 more seconds and stir again. It should be a great ganache consistency.
Dip cooled cupcakes into ganache.

Candied Orange Butterflies
If you would like to make these super cute and yummy little butterflies, I followed THIS recipe from foodnetwork.com.
Top each cupcake with a butterfly and serve with a spoon!

I don't even have words

to describe how

flippin' fantastic 

these little guys are!

The cake is

moist,

rich and

chocolaty ...

the ganache is

creamy,

smooth and

nutty ...

and the orange flavor

seeps into the cake

to flavor each bite 

perfectly!

{Oh, did I forget the butterfly? It adds wonderful flavor and crunch!}

Try 'em!

You will fall in LOVE!

Enjoy and

Happy Baking!

PARTY TIME:
Sweets For A Saturday - Sweet As Sugar Cookies
Weekend Wrap Up - Tatertots and Jello
Fat Camp Friday - Mangoes and Chutney
Weekend Show Off - Ladybird Ln.
Show And Tell - Be Different, Act Normal
Shindig Saturday - Kims Kandy Kreations
Strut Your Stuff - Six Sister's Stuff
Sweet Indulgence Sunday - A Well Seasoned Life
Savory Sunday - The Sweet Details
Savvy Homemade Mondays - Home Savvy A-Z
M.M.M. - C.R.A.F.T.
Craft-O-Matic Mondays
Amaze Me Mondays - Dittle Dattle
Mingle Monday - Add A Pinch
Recipe Sharing Monday - jam hands
Show Me What Ya Got - Not Just A Housewife
Topsy Turvy Tuesdays
What I Whipped Up Wednesday - Sugar and Dots
Cast Party Wednesday - Lady Behind The Curtain
What's Cooking Wednesday - Extreme Personal Measures
This Chick Cooks
Whatever Goes Wednesday - Someday Crafts
Sweet Treats Thursday - Something Swanky
Show Off Your Stuff - Fireflies and Jelly Beans
Recipe Swap - Prairie Story

Easiest Monkey Bread

Mason woke up this morning

telling me today was his birthday

and that we were having a party.

Which is super interesting

considering I distinctly remember

giving birth to him in a winter month!

Oh, the life of a 2 year old!

Dontcha just love what the lil' monkeys 

come up with!?

So, I decided to just go with it...

We watched Mickey Mouse ALL DAY,

played in his Spaceship Playhut

and I even made a little dessert to celebrate!

Mason's Half Birthday-Day

featuring:

{adequately named!!}

Ingredients
{adapted from Paula Dean}
Bundt-Style Pan
9 tbsp Sugar
3 tsp Cinnamon
1 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 stick Butter
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Dash of Salt
2 tubes of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
1/4 cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 cup Chopped Pecans

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon, mix well and set aside.
In a small sauce pan, melt the butter and brown sugar until incorporated. Stir in vanilla and salt and set aside.
Open the crescent roll tubes and lay each triangle out flat on a large cutting board or parchment paper.

Brush each with a little condensed milk and sprinkle with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Spray pan with nonstick cooking spray and sprinkle 1/2 cup of the pecans into the pan. Starting with the little end of the triangle, roll the crescent roll up and pinch the sides to make a bundle. Place half of the bundles into the pan, on top of the pecans. Spoon half of the brown sugar/butter mixture on top. Now, repeat - pecans, bundles, brown sugar/butter.

Bake for 45mins-1hour, then let cool for 10-15 minutes. Invert onto a plate/platter and serve warm.

Great Variations:

Add Chocolate Chips

Use Nutella instead of Cinnamon Sugar

OR Banana and Peanut Butter

Add Apple and/or Raisins 

Add a variety of Chopped Nuts

Mrs. Paula Dean used Chocolate and Banana

The combinations are honestly 

endless!

This bread's aroma 

is intoxicating -

so soothing and warm!

It smells just like

breakfast at home!

Ahhh...

Enjoy and Happy Baking!

Party Time:
Topsy Turvy Tuesdays
Show Me What Ya Got - Not Just A Housewife
Cast Party Wednesday - Lady Behind The Curtain
Whatever Goes Wednesday - Someday Crafts
This Chick Cooks
WOOT WOOT Wednesdays - The Tootsie Wootsie
What I Whipped Up Wednesday - Sugar and Dots
Under $100 Linky Party - Beyond The Picket Fence
Recipe Swap - Prairie Story
Sweet Treats Thursdays - Something Swanky
Show Off Your Stuff - Fireflies and Jellybeans
Creative Juices - Momnivore's Dilemma
Delightfully Inspiring Thursday - Delightful Order 
Sweet Tooth Friday - Alli N Son
Foodie Friday - Little Brick Ranch
Weekend Wander - While He Was Napping
Friday Flair - Whipperberry
Sweets For A Saturday - Sweet As Sugar Cookies
Sweet Indulgence Sunday - A Well Seasoned Life