tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15704748117886030642024-02-07T13:12:43.267-08:00Sweet as Honeysweets & crafts & blogheatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-27129613106251522992011-05-13T22:00:00.000-07:002011-05-13T22:01:20.732-07:00paper banner<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; ">Sometimes I love being broke and unemployed. For instance, it comes in handy when I want to watch six straight Doctor Who episodes. No pesky work to get in the way! Also, lack of funds means I have to get very creative and crafty with gift giving. For my mom's birthday (which i remembered all by myself, thankyouverymuch), I decided to create one of those cute mini banners that have been so gracefully hung all over the internet. And a sweet little picture frame with a matching, even mini-er banner!</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZ9AAdMRTaP6mUsS85pPwsK_LfhmIf7x_hAlQYGq6JRS2m78YavqRBEE1rx8Ut58-sAFwAoWHeUtUOpAg2rJl9tOM-pehhhyy2DtHyQqlYlzKWoqYQ64M0rd717WEALe9ERnqBbXMKxc/s320/IMG_2123-1.JPG" border="0" height="214" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEupPD8OZB_I_tlaW7JAbQQT8rNkpG8CyCPr3q6feodzV0RD_EEY4gPdNkrUXjlHt8cIPnPQqYtrDHScS_dcgM-LgXejmAo4UizYnBzzIxSmMzJh-tmGTuEEEgdXYzR4MtJ840JVDmC0/s320/IMG_2132-1.JPG" border="0" height="214" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7H7jr7zr3HhpwSMCNxbsR8S_DKpr7rv0sdcDZK2ysgpQ63InkR7AWhQoKYcyzJJ3fpNNhTTdGL8N4bapLj7yM1vcrbDDEC0isrV4vQ3vUSQzPGvOTJsjTQjZ1LbqIqovYgul4ik0cz2w/s320/IMG_2133-1.JPG" border="0" height="320" width="213" /></div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-17828257027228102992011-05-09T20:03:00.000-07:002011-05-09T20:18:36.035-07:00Mini Honey Cheesecakes<p class="MsoNormal">The beautiful and sweet Krystel of <a href="http://www.coutureeventssd.com/">Couture Events</a> asked if I could supply a recipe for one of the desserts that I made for the fun Milk & Honey Photoshoot that we shot a while ago. I am happy to oblige:<br /><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Mini Honey Cheesecakes</b><br /><i>Crust</i><br />1 cup graham cracker pieces<br />¼ cup sliced almonds<br />¼ tsp cinnamon (approx.)<br />3 Tbl butter, softened<br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Filling</i><br />2 pkg cream cheese, softened<br />3 Tbl honey<br />2 eggs + 2 egg yolks<br />1 cup sour cream<br />1 Tb grated lemon peel<br />1 tsp cornstarch</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Preheat oven to 350</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">°</span><br /></i>Line mini muffin tin with mini muffin cups. In a food processor, combine graham cracker pieces and sliced almonds. Pulse, scraping down sides, until almonds are finely chopped. Add butter and a few dashes of cinnamon and pulse until mixture resembles gravel. Spoon about one teaspoon of the crust into each muffin tin. Now, grab that tacky souvenir shot glass your aunt bought for you on her last trip to Hawaii. Use it to firmly pat down the mixture into the bottom of the muffin cup, making it as even as possible. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Blend the honey and softened cream cheese. Beat in eggs and egg yolks, then add sour cream, lemon peel, and cornstarch. Beat until mixture is smooth. Fill each muffin tin about ¾ of the way full, and bake for 12-14 minutes. The cheesecakes might seem a little jiggly when you pull them out, but they will set after they have cooled. (If your cheesecakes start cracking on the tops, pull them out of the oven immediately! They are definitely done!).<br /> Let them cool in the tin for a few minutes, then take them out of the tins and let them chill completely in the fridge (at least 30 minutes). Before serving, <i>carefully</i> remove cheesecakes from the paper muffin cups – by this point they’ll most likely be all crinkly-looking anyway. Right before serving, top each cheesecake with a "smidgen" of honey. You know, a smidgen*. Considerably less than a dollop, but more than a pinch.<br /><i>Makes about 24 mini cheesecakes.</i><br /><br />This could be fun to try with normal sized cupcake tins as well. Just increase the bake time a bit (again, be wary of cracks in the tops of the cheesecakes!), and make sure they have ample time to set in the fridge. Also, these would be yummy with all sorts of toppings. Like raspberry sauce! Or sugared strawberries! Yum. How sweet :)<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>*update: Did you know that "smidge," "dash," and "tad" all have uniform measurements? There is even a special <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pinch-Dash-Smidgen-Measuring-Spoons/dp/B000E8OPVS">measuring spoon set</a> if you're going to be precise about it! I think I need one. </i></span></p>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-37225906363585522792011-03-30T15:37:00.001-07:002011-05-09T20:19:10.968-07:00Sweet as HoneyI just got back from filing for my fictitious business name... and the winner for the name of my business is.... dun dun dun.... <b>Sweet as Honey</b>! Thanks to <a href="http://coutureeventssd.com/blog/">Couture Events</a> for the inspiration :) Here is a sneak preview from the photoshoot I worked on with them yesterday!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FwdLWo355sFx4SKPrtFHM0gCwtnXzGSMpviyVGgSlqOSOdOQT7LwCQPg_cyEzAxQiwh858y2hOLvsJHVbn6UeIvaWgb5c7W5t6e3VpFE5BnwvYUjJtzoDUEn2T1dEPu3z95hp5FaQGf6/s1600/blog+5.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0VI7cBxuUu5gaPQdDP3Gc7SInbdLGUr0463ToGR3m7d0sOku6L5540pOk3ub_7gBY5NlAKivXpjEwRfpl5FXd7oq5aq3PeVprmxOY5ivM5oqicmSpUtEDYawH9H11VcWNAPhOmCmdzWx/s320/blog+1.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590010355825805970" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FwdLWo355sFx4SKPrtFHM0gCwtnXzGSMpviyVGgSlqOSOdOQT7LwCQPg_cyEzAxQiwh858y2hOLvsJHVbn6UeIvaWgb5c7W5t6e3VpFE5BnwvYUjJtzoDUEn2T1dEPu3z95hp5FaQGf6/s320/blog+5.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590010365986586402" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNad_o0lUdUqNZDJqpv9cBpfAyd7kzyVdc_IiJZvFmtvLeeE9TMKXPzfbbiSTrdtPn6NEZPG6jeTgWfweUqEYmHRlyuD5fYUl_fQeimXE1pj1f1jJY0wzpDBf-FTGAvv5Qo4gvBLCQe9D8/s1600/blog+4.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNad_o0lUdUqNZDJqpv9cBpfAyd7kzyVdc_IiJZvFmtvLeeE9TMKXPzfbbiSTrdtPn6NEZPG6jeTgWfweUqEYmHRlyuD5fYUl_fQeimXE1pj1f1jJY0wzpDBf-FTGAvv5Qo4gvBLCQe9D8/s320/blog+4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590010364115098610" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5gNIMa_8kORkPsKRrsOckeSOtibK7lxzbBdKGiUTIa2tj2WrzQE0mRuZjsSUNvt3W96VmVZ1KBG9GkrAJXkmGk_TwLKBFj3t4fNwUQhbykFx5A4SsjjM-V4Dmnkjd-woqhDh4I4WN0XS/s1600/blog+3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5gNIMa_8kORkPsKRrsOckeSOtibK7lxzbBdKGiUTIa2tj2WrzQE0mRuZjsSUNvt3W96VmVZ1KBG9GkrAJXkmGk_TwLKBFj3t4fNwUQhbykFx5A4SsjjM-V4Dmnkjd-woqhDh4I4WN0XS/s320/blog+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590010362275490578" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkGm0EOh8Re3P9SjfrcbzspxSogoOUMq3Jlo1TTskUundAtyWQ8ecliSHy7OlHlPA9SNyNZSRybKo-1PmFKAPzLA3H1KKrihARONHJNqPpGX4UjKGsNwyQrSVg4nTEHhp33z9PuzNohXt/s1600/blog+2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkGm0EOh8Re3P9SjfrcbzspxSogoOUMq3Jlo1TTskUundAtyWQ8ecliSHy7OlHlPA9SNyNZSRybKo-1PmFKAPzLA3H1KKrihARONHJNqPpGX4UjKGsNwyQrSVg4nTEHhp33z9PuzNohXt/s320/blog+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590010362053997122" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-64201522576808952132011-03-18T09:33:00.000-07:002011-03-31T18:32:03.800-07:00Valentine's Day!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQSPQL9OOiKrZ5PceIyDBHmNFeacV0Jzh4TFylUuKXeMzQTrMMaWR3gaoQMw2QeJhICPwW7GQCjmCLLH0wqSqmepp7yYqSTapOvBLEJalgrCGtgOVW3v2QVJSQZuWfJ7zVMCKZMdOVFGJ/s1600/blog.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQSPQL9OOiKrZ5PceIyDBHmNFeacV0Jzh4TFylUuKXeMzQTrMMaWR3gaoQMw2QeJhICPwW7GQCjmCLLH0wqSqmepp7yYqSTapOvBLEJalgrCGtgOVW3v2QVJSQZuWfJ7zVMCKZMdOVFGJ/s320/blog.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585463412472655634" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Fortunately, being broke and being a baker are not mutually exclusive</i></span>...</span></span></div></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><div style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">as long as you still live at home where your parents stock the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><div style="font-style: normal; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">pantry. Anyway, This year, I told Steven that I would be baking a gift for Valentine's Day, and I just needed one flavor/ingredient to base my gift off of. He could choose anything, and I am very surprised that he did not choose bacon! Instead, he requested toffee. This was a challenge, since I had never even had toffee </span></span></div></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><div style="font-style: normal; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">before, much less made it. This was certainly my first little </span></span></div></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><div style="font-style: normal; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">adventure into candymaking - candy thermometer and all!</span></span></div></span></i></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">After </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><div style="font-style: normal; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">some hard work, a few burned batches of toffee, and a 7/11 run </span></span></div></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><div style="font-style: normal; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">for Heath Bars, I ended up with a beautiful batch of Pecan and Almond Chocolate Toffee, and some Espresso-Toffee Cupcakes with Mocha Buttercream Frosting. And I couldn't help but </span></span></div></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><div style="font-style: normal; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">add the heart garnish :)</span></span></div></span></i></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">I got to use so many new, fun ingredients this time around! I received a bottle of vanilla from </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><div style="font-style: normal; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">the Dominican Republic. It has a </span></span></div></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><div style="font-style: normal; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">wonderful, almost tropically sweet taste to it. Also, I finally found instant espresso! I've been looking for it for a while, and I think I'll be making a lot of "mocha" recipes that I've bookmarked for the last few months.</span></span></div></span></i></div></span></i></span></span></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWFd8ebkZ0BOCSMpvoOKfRrJJyZA-SOxgqE5tKz_-6CYymixmSmOAnP3kyjhUxrXiX_w0vR1UZUbyggFjWEinmVpoaGEgdB0aIPcmF3fRkr2fK0avvRho3svfCzDD1ieVYEMJbPn59dLC/s320/blog.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585464304015351298" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><br /></span></u></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><u><br /></u></div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-30175396623595385572011-02-05T10:00:00.000-08:002011-02-05T10:11:22.880-08:00Happy Halloween! Ok, this is post is a liiiiitle late. But hey, being a kindergarten teacher tends to take up more time than you would think. So here are some cake pops that I made and sold for Halloween last year. <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7hooKtWJw6RGWQr21F0uRNRyL4he3kqA__T2B29SXWeqDyDaYmV7_ZthR7X4B6_f0tdnFB_RL7wrWRmr-OWVfZ8uJEUFv7a1K7Ucbk5UFgTke8WWy3kRG1_6IqMsa4mMZijozqp1LWDp/s200/cakepops+008.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570267771023016338" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoFzFg3_F1A5uaqClvUJz6PqqjRDAF3nmFEJmuLQ5sCZXnlminzh8ZwwaFX_cbCsgmMHrB4anaCW48Lh5G1jlMI4PPXyh6nx3QsYhfcpigMyzWP21bZjIlcSyNsY5HYcmUenf48izJdQj/s320/halloween+013.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 106px; height: 160px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570269012419606722" />The "eyeballs" are red velvet cake with white and red candy coating, an m&m, and a miniature chocolate chip. The pumpkins are chocolate cake with orange candy coating, green candy leaves, and a chocolate "stem."<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbtuqIJUD34ObxHjJyhYOisfrobv4ZdWgEwM-bAeTXyZ4lfx6QaC08IuqQQioc-t_cAXbELdNzJ2qahlv-YpAHW5Y3WtR7pbyskhA3GYnNI2JEQdeYjydws427fdgo6_mZoFRwMvrhMlO/s320/halloween+00311.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570269166863726946" /><br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsbxoWA2AVYO6gY0h0bGV32ZkRyuHijlMSCmXvsQR9c-D3Cxz0LsmmNmmm8cyHjDhyphenhyphenxw6RajJTw3C99JHowCRexscNqMP43YyulwcNsXObXX1DDPxv8kyWI9uQosWJSGzr4CeH2gbwNeu/s200/cakepops+020.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570269638747816594" />heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-33517628468808344932010-10-17T15:50:00.000-07:002010-10-17T15:51:50.081-07:00people actually buy this stuff?!?Turns out that if you give away baked goodies long enough, people will start ordering them from you! Ordering and pricing information for San Diego coming soon...heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-13562838670379506782010-10-17T15:35:00.000-07:002010-10-17T15:49:11.465-07:00cake pops<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgIEhVMmqqHph-_LIKJgy_aqrhrIfBD4TubMi9ZFLo9gIT5BUYx5tToxUpnfZ8kBMP3P0av7adYTfOJ_c-yagIC6hzzxrJ1bj4rgAMEvfzo_NXhyWYlW0LHTzL2NuAql6-Ogo1Os0q_OW/s320/_DSC0536.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529147759400728210" /><div>I finally was able to document a batch of cake pops! I had never had my Nikon handy when I made them - and these things don't last long enough to be photographed... As Abby from NCIS would say, these things are more addictive than pistachios.</div><div><br /></div><div>I got the recipe for these sweet little cake bites from <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/category/pops-bites/">Bakerella </a>- who is pretty much a superhero in the baking+blogging world. I mean, she's been on Martha. Forreals.</div><div>I started out making real cake pops - with lollipop sticks - but </div><div>the lollipop-stick-less version is a lot easier. But I still call them cake "pops" because cake "balls" seems to always bring on an onset of giggling. Can't imagine why...</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhDmg23TXmI9yESLjqI1YxWs-c03sBkQC8zKbtKs0a2fLlXa5CDlvGyxlrXYG__Zi-AyO6HMl6ITpajyN-c-nK2r5HOKx5shuks3-apXdZItAzi2gobPR2757pye2BjDzH5ZzTy55AtjZ/s320/Red+Velvet.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529150380059620050" /><div>So, these cake pops in particular were made for an anniversary celebration. There are chocolate cake pops covered in dark chocolate <a href="http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E310A5F-475A-BAC0-513EBB4AAC195A7E&fid=3E32DFEA-475A-BAC0-51B68534387FF8B9">candy melts</a>, and red velvet cake pops covered with vanilla candy melts. Both contain cream cheese frosting, which I prefer because it has a mild and less-sugary taste than other frostings. Oh, and I only use half a can of frosting, while the original Bakerella recipe calls for a whole can.</div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjFTEI4Foygh4WRO8kBco7Tn4J03e3GLXg5aNeRgkaMUrssybMgc1WCjS9XXu3Rg7XwmqTMAmbvhyYZYmM3m3em5_FfGPIQCqDNHN4QKwrewZHFFWlNUjxmOOBwJ3edEtCaEkqc5lVki7/s1600/_DSC0555.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-44092316476120673072010-09-11T22:37:00.000-07:002010-09-11T23:05:39.232-07:00Spaghetti!<div style="text-align: center;">A wonderfully corny pick-up line about spaghetti inspired these cupcakes, which i recently made for a wedding reception here in Bonita. They are vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting "noodles." The "meatballs" are coconut and chocolate candies - a d.i.y. recipe I got from the Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine. I used a homemade strawberry glaze as the spaghetti sauce.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUjKo9Rjth5NGha6T60w2WuLmdpgs0_BE3c8xk-X9yYcCyveVDYOPDT0pswWteDBU7A88CtuDR1tZaNhBBLWtfecRYg2avNgcRWHnaGp7WBxxAJcGcyU-w9vWyfMH4yMMzxzYmny8gW24/s320/spaghetti.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515903819121648562" /><div style="text-align: center;">Pretty cute if I say so myself.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrkqfchxDJ8ihW-0og9HaFH7OmX1It14DRRMtimI_nbFB7732q4JzOp5Tr2l15hsxaIQnkUZ3eFdONIRszICVfLpH_LsSrZdnLh8xrhiYfVLzTrCFn0h3QXcZCSA_F8DZYYBj8GPF8tLy/s320/spaghetti+plain2.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515903808283537890" /><div style="text-align: center;">(these were even adorable before they were finished with the sauce!)</div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-24350060571162191142010-09-11T22:23:00.000-07:002010-09-11T22:36:35.630-07:00Signature Cupcake?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJoVkg1HlTcCkuw9I77zAljEDHnL-cV4dCdT-qFOm6FyjwQkZy1kUdPoXBeJsQHltE1OneRiTFX60kfWzi61fF6SzWYvtAfL_8Np-EV0Tex2kLB4O8QZU8EA44OloRCo8NtaYU4nAM2NQ/s1600/almond+custard.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 287px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJoVkg1HlTcCkuw9I77zAljEDHnL-cV4dCdT-qFOm6FyjwQkZy1kUdPoXBeJsQHltE1OneRiTFX60kfWzi61fF6SzWYvtAfL_8Np-EV0Tex2kLB4O8QZU8EA44OloRCo8NtaYU4nAM2NQ/s320/almond+custard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515895160823729346" /></a><br />A few weeks ago, while snacking on my absolute favorite Dark Chocolate Almonds with Sea Salt and Turbinado Sugar from Trader Joe's, I thought that all those flavors together would make a pretty awesome cupcake. So, I decided to try an almond cream filled cupcake with a chocolate ganache and a pinch of raw sugar and sea salt. I thought they would be pretty rich, so I finally invested in a mini muffin tin so I could finally make mini cupcakes. <div><br /></div><div>I used Martha Stewart's recipe for her <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/almond-cream-filling">Almond Cream Filling</a>. Steps one through four result in an almond custard and the addition of heavy cream in step five turns the custard into a cream. Well, we forgot step five, so attempt #1 at this signature cupcake was an almond custard filled cupcake. They're pretty cute, though. </div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-56072755210871540762010-09-11T13:12:00.000-07:002010-10-13T10:16:34.399-07:00Cupcakes!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguu3nGQ0tCqn67Rzr105JWPbWrVgmfRogJY6MrSOGWC8zJ5nJpDEQMUMh4K7EQZL6qz4Rjn4r8PNC0C_ErZ7qudjELolZ1CGnCkP4bt8PDq6duCQrZ6pbUQilQaakpHwC3aW4kiE9nB00v/s1600/green+tier.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguu3nGQ0tCqn67Rzr105JWPbWrVgmfRogJY6MrSOGWC8zJ5nJpDEQMUMh4K7EQZL6qz4Rjn4r8PNC0C_ErZ7qudjELolZ1CGnCkP4bt8PDq6duCQrZ6pbUQilQaakpHwC3aW4kiE9nB00v/s320/green+tier.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527580552185231698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvUiEbeb4cKucfteGsj7-7j9CHdTQNKuyKXrpC19mWOECWWuSPwuN_KA-413ufr2Xl5gfaiLV3HeaBHL-OrOyI2ifGnTPzkKyCF4PPVNy-qgehDrABz-QkKtAOeUTsFF5EXChBjUT24MH/s1600/red+velvet.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvUiEbeb4cKucfteGsj7-7j9CHdTQNKuyKXrpC19mWOECWWuSPwuN_KA-413ufr2Xl5gfaiLV3HeaBHL-OrOyI2ifGnTPzkKyCF4PPVNy-qgehDrABz-QkKtAOeUTsFF5EXChBjUT24MH/s320/red+velvet.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527580547701681170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeUi3rXX7WeGoi-6UAH_-6N4YRD74nwABUBd5pXJ95sHDFg6lyYYkF1vo14r9tevpzuHHGpNO5ARoQjsuf_nqQfuCbGo96Pq7YwZ4nmiakRa83iVz6HB2FrJhFFxHnTEJOJdM-16RzEcq/s1600/sunflowers+007.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeUi3rXX7WeGoi-6UAH_-6N4YRD74nwABUBd5pXJ95sHDFg6lyYYkF1vo14r9tevpzuHHGpNO5ARoQjsuf_nqQfuCbGo96Pq7YwZ4nmiakRa83iVz6HB2FrJhFFxHnTEJOJdM-16RzEcq/s320/sunflowers+007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527580540671914946" /></a><br /><br />So when I was lazing around at home for a few weeks this summer and getting addicted to <a href="http://stumbleupon.com/">stumbleupon</a> all over again, I started baking. And then I started taking pictures of things I was baking. And then, people started asking me to bake them stuff! Who knew?<div><br /></div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-61599477621152927192010-01-15T19:55:00.000-08:002010-01-15T20:26:58.997-08:00Feeling Crafty.<span style="font-size:130%;">Well, artsy-crafty, not scheming-crafty</span><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><br />I was finally able to use the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bend-Rules-Sewing-Essential-Guide/dp/0307347214">sewing book</a> that Lynsey got me for Christmas! I decided to make a couple bibs for my master teacher, since she has been wonderful and helpful while I've been in her classroom, and I won't be around when she has her baby in May.<br />They were simple, cute little bibs made with cotton for the front and soft cotton flannel on the back. Since she is a big USC fan, I made a USC bib, and since she (and I) went to Biola, I also made a Biola bib.<br /><br />USC Bib...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sc3p7iKzAzg_YM77OvNldyyhjly8Uf7r3IbBn8oRdMWbBUOg_NeR61WYt3QvF6pza0QpLlHxpmEu1au6wK4GRt_psWMAW1cvl3qTZMJz5DsnLjnlul_Mbgh2dwFqXOzdO6dWBAfj3MTY/s1600-h/JAN2010+029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sc3p7iKzAzg_YM77OvNldyyhjly8Uf7r3IbBn8oRdMWbBUOg_NeR61WYt3QvF6pza0QpLlHxpmEu1au6wK4GRt_psWMAW1cvl3qTZMJz5DsnLjnlul_Mbgh2dwFqXOzdO6dWBAfj3MTY/s320/JAN2010+029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427186931231479714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Biola Bib...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8a6kCiOKEvmg5CkYSlzUVSMVj05rwTFc5cCwdPEZ1sjmGYE7PMAmVodw04IwDHp3wrNI_VwJL8zgKgYAZWZwsZD-ninEA4ufapo14gp8-W5sicNdNDErdZMNssSTjHBi5ILk6mOCxabh/s1600-h/JAN2010+028-1.JPG"> </a><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8a6kCiOKEvmg5CkYSlzUVSMVj05rwTFc5cCwdPEZ1sjmGYE7PMAmVodw04IwDHp3wrNI_VwJL8zgKgYAZWZwsZD-ninEA4ufapo14gp8-W5sicNdNDErdZMNssSTjHBi5ILk6mOCxabh/s1600-h/JAN2010+028-1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8a6kCiOKEvmg5CkYSlzUVSMVj05rwTFc5cCwdPEZ1sjmGYE7PMAmVodw04IwDHp3wrNI_VwJL8zgKgYAZWZwsZD-ninEA4ufapo14gp8-W5sicNdNDErdZMNssSTjHBi5ILk6mOCxabh/s320/JAN2010+028-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427181968426210466" border="0" /></a></div>For the Biola one, I used white muslin and stamps to make the "Biola" label, sewed on with a zigzag stitch.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1FgKpuWjkepp3cdS1QKWtpzzWoDINoNgtG9aqmmCdZULK05z1AyM4e4WyKJpuUFOrMg3MpTQP3WS_iZ4TpT1Mbl1nXOJ4y4ZBBz0oPwqPwKFDkl_TfZIIDyBmkHQaxDLiPc7HHuY2V3R/s1600-h/JAN2010+027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1FgKpuWjkepp3cdS1QKWtpzzWoDINoNgtG9aqmmCdZULK05z1AyM4e4WyKJpuUFOrMg3MpTQP3WS_iZ4TpT1Mbl1nXOJ4y4ZBBz0oPwqPwKFDkl_TfZIIDyBmkHQaxDLiPc7HHuY2V3R/s320/JAN2010+027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427187979718501874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />And, they have little nifty snaps!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgO3lsQAtnw24AQoKOjFWruZVHCU4Jn9sNZpMSM31NEHObcjsVmCESnOEvzxJLAlhG_D4Vbs-KbBEOxPzjbi7jJDmQzPJxwRH7g6JA_4VSGkJVvnT228bTW3P2BkfFv14-GrCdvzK7wmXO/s1600-h/JAN2010+030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgO3lsQAtnw24AQoKOjFWruZVHCU4Jn9sNZpMSM31NEHObcjsVmCESnOEvzxJLAlhG_D4Vbs-KbBEOxPzjbi7jJDmQzPJxwRH7g6JA_4VSGkJVvnT228bTW3P2BkfFv14-GrCdvzK7wmXO/s320/JAN2010+030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427188850383640082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-23382124916822402622009-11-23T10:22:00.000-08:002009-11-23T10:41:33.356-08:00Ephesians 2<pre style="font-family: georgia;" id="embed"><a href="http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/1371504/Ephesians_2" title="Wordle: Ephesians 2"><img src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/1371504/Ephesians_2" alt="Wordle: Ephesians 2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 4px;" /></a><br />So, just discovered wordle.com<br />It's pretty entertaining. I'll probably be entering my next paper in<br />here and seeing what it comes up with.<br /></pre><img style="font-family: georgia;" src="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.jpg" alt="" />heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-78304079375054050292009-11-22T11:55:00.000-08:002010-01-16T17:23:52.674-08:00Immanuel<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:georgia;" >Now, normally, I am a firm proponent of the "Christmas season comes after Thanksgiving" stance. I broke yesterday by purchasing and playing a Country Christmas CD, and yet again right now as I post this blog. I could not help it, though. And really, it is for a good cause. Christ's birth is cause for celebration all year round!</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:georgia;" >I found this gem by Charles Spurgeon in my </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.blogger.com/www.graceevfree.org">church</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:georgia;" > bulletin this morning. This is an exerpt from a Christmas sermon, "</span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.johnbunyan.org/PDFs/boch.pdf">The Birth of Christ</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:georgia;" >."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><blockquote></blockquote></span><blockquote><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“Immanuel.” It is wisdom's mystery, “God with us.” Sages look at it, and wonder;angels desire to see it; the plumb-line of reason cannot reach half-way into its depths; the eagle-wing of science cannot fly so high, and the piercing eye of the vulture of research cannot see it.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“God with us.” It is hell's terror. Satan trembles at the sound of it; his legions fly apace, the black-winged dragon of the pit quails before it. Let him come to you suddenly, and do you but whisper that word, “God with us,” back he falls, confounded and confused. Satan trembles when he hears that name, “God with us.”</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It is the labourer's strength; how could he preach the gospel, how could he bend his knees in prayer, how could the missionary go into foreign lands, how could the martyr stand at the stake, how could the confessor own his Master, how could men labour if that one word were taken away?<br />“God with us.” 'Tis the sufferer's comfort, 'tis the balm of his woe, 'tis the alleviation of his misery, 'tis the sleep which God giveth to his beloved, 'tis their rest after exertion and toil.<br />Ah! and to finish, “God with us,”—'tis eternity's sonnet, 'tis heaven's hallelujah, 'tis the shout of the glorified, 'tis the song of the redeemed, 'tis the chorus of angels, 'tis the everlasting oratorio of the great orchestra of the sky.<br />“God with us.”</span></blockquote><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">C.H. Spurgeon<br /></span>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570474811788603064.post-56949431996677918862009-11-21T22:32:00.000-08:002009-11-21T22:36:38.004-08:00Lorem IpsumJust wanted to fill some space and get my first post over with.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Lorem ipsum (the placeholder text) is actually derived from an ancient Latin text by Cicero and <span style="font-style: italic;">lorem</span> (do<span style="font-style: italic;">lorem</span>) <span style="font-style: italic;">ipsum</span> translates roughly to "pain itself."<br />Betcha didn't know that.</span>heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373471089633780849noreply@blogger.com0