Sweets and a F-R-E-E-B-I-E

These sweets were made for a client that absolutley LOVES the coated pretzel sticks and marshmallow pops. She sometimes orders for no reason at all, just so she and her family can munch, munch, munch. Hey I would do the same thing because they are GOOD! These can also be used for the fourth of July for their color scheme. I am going to make some fourth of July ones and post a tutorial so you too can make some!

So with the fourth of July on Monday, I am giving you a Free printable. I actually designed these last year and offering them up again this year. Print as many as you like!



4th of july tags

{New} Cookies N Cream Cupcakes

I first made cookies n cream cupcakes last year and they were Delicious! You really can't go wrong with oreo cookies and a cupcake. Tying them both into one recipe = AMAZINGNESS! I made these for a client that was celebrating her husband and her mother's birthday the same weekend. I figured out how to frost them better. TIP: just cut a decent size hole in the decorating bag and don't use a tip! Worked so much better.

I love my Cupcake boxes!!!

The frosting technique, I tried the very first time HERE, didn't go so well. Some of the cookies got stuck in the tip of the decorating bag and it was just a mess. So I tried to smooth it out with a decorating knife.

This is what they look like on the inside! YUMMY!!



{Recipe} Strawberry Banana Smoothie

This post is a little different from the normal baked, sweet recipes. I noticed that I have been eating way too many sweets and not drinking enough fluids. I made the vow once again to try and get healthy. *crosses fingers to hopefully stick to the plan* So far, I have been drinking lots more water (Crystal Light works great too - no sugars) and started running longer distances. I have been exercising for a while, but stuffing my face with yummy sweets makes the work outs useless. I have pushed myself to do 8 miles on Monday and 7 miles on Tuesday. My legs are really feeling it!!!!

So to start my mornings off a little healthier, I have began making smoothies again. I used to make them all the time in high school minus the yogurt - didn't like it back then. Everything that goes in to it is good for you! Leaves you feeling full and energized.

All you need is Bananas, Strawberries, Light Strawberry Yogurt, Ice, milk and Cream Of Coconut (used to come in a can) oh and a BLENDER, of course!

And Tada! You will start your day deliciously! The great thing about these smoothies is that you can easily change up the fruits and yogurt flavors to create your own creations. The milk can be changed to orange juice or pretty much any kind of juice! So many options for one recipe!



 

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

 

Ingredients:

 

2 bananas

6 - 8 strawberries (green stems cut off!)

1 container light Strawberry Yogurt

1 cup of milk

2 tbsp Cream of Coconut

1 1/2 - 2 cups of ice

 

Add all ingredients together in the blender, making sure to add the ice last. Cut on high speed and MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE LID ON! Blend until smooth and you dont hear any more ice chopping/crushing.

 

If you want a thicker smoothie add more ice. Thinner smoothie? Add less ice

 

Hope you enjoy! Tell me when you have tried it out!



{Free Printables} Father's Day

Father's Day is definitely coming up faster than we can believe and I wanted to create a list of free Father's Day Printables for you! Life is so much better when you can print all the pretty and cool stuff right from your own printer. At least, I think so!

First up are my printable Father's Day party tags. I love how the combination of colors came together.

 And my Father's Day Gift Tags I designed last year.

Next up is this super Awesome SUPERHERO set from Oh Happy Day on Alphamom. It is so creative and CUTE!

Kim of The Tomkat Studio shared her Father's Day cards created for HGTV readers earlier this week and I love the clean look.

I came across this card with ties on the front on Paisley Wallpaper and love the over all look!

This last set of printables, I found via Peas and Thank You's for Piggy Bank Parties 

and wow what a great printable package. Includes cupcake toppers, banner, and invitation like cards that can be used as menu cards too

There, You have my round up of FREE Father's Day Printables. Get to Printing!

{Recipe} Marshmallow Fondant

Hey guys! Have you ever tasted a cake with fondant icing and was like about to barf?! That would be the commercial stuff that taste like plastic and rubber. Seriously who came up with that to put and a scrumptious cake? Why would anyone mess up a great cake recipe with that nasty fondant?

Good news is that there IS a great tasting fondant out there. Actually, there is 2. One is by Satin Ice and the other is Marshmallow fondant that you can make at home. It behaves just like the regular fondant, only tastes so much better. The possibilities are endless when making decorations.

Here it is on this Spiderman cake I made for my nephew. (just the decor. The cake is iced with white buttercream icing)

Marshmallow Fondant Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 package (16 ounces) white mini marshmallows (use a good quality brand)
• 2-5 tablespoons water
• 2 pounds (about 8 cups) sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening

Makes about 2 pounds marshmallow fondant.

Instructions:

To make marshmallow fondant, place marshmallows and 2 tablespoons of water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 30 seconds on high; stir until mixed well. Continue microwaving 30 seconds more; stir again. Continue until melted (about 2 1/2 minutes). (I usually grease my bowl and spatula before working things will get STICKY)

Place 3/4 of the confectioners' sugar on top of the melted marshmallow mixture. Fold sugar into marshmallow mixture. Flavoring can be added at this point if desired. Place solid vegetable shortening in easily accessed bowl so you can reach into it with fingers as you are working. Grease hands and counter GENEROUSLY; turn marshmallow mixture onto counter. Start kneading like you would dough. Continue kneading, adding additional confectioners' sugar and re-greasing hands and counter so the fondant doesn't stick. If the marshmallow fondant is tearing easily, it is too dry; add water (about 1/2 tablespoon at a time) kneading until fondant forms a firm, smooth elastic ball that will stretch without tearing, about 8 minutes. (NOTE: you can actually use your mixer with a dough hook to do this part - just grease the qt bowl and the dough hook really good)

It's best to allow Marshmallow Fondant to sit, double-wrapped, overnight. Prepare the fondant for storing by coating with a thin layer of solid vegetable shortening, wrap in plastic wrap and then place in resealable bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible. Marshmallow Fondant will keep well in refrigerator for several weeks.

When not working with fondant, make sure to keep it covered with plastic wrap or in a bag to prevent it from drying out. When ready to use, knead fondant until smooth. Roll out fondant 1/8 in. thick.

To color fondant: If you need to tint the entire batch of fondant, add a little icing color to the melted marshmallow mixture before adding confectioners' sugar. For smaller amounts of tinted fondant, add icing color to portions of fondant as needed.

Begin to knead the portion of fondant just like you did before. As you work it, you will begin to see streaks of color coming through from the center. Continue to knead until the streaks are gone and the fondant is a uniform color. Your fondant is now ready to be used or stored as outlined above.