What is it about sweets and sticks? Perhaps it’s about a parading of decadence. Or perhaps it’s mere conveniece, a way to hold something sticky or gooey without mussing your fingers. Candy and chocolate and Valentine’s Day….the perfect combination. So why not add sticks? Here are some sweet inspirations for your honey. First, from Martha, these beautiful cookie pops … Read More ...
BitterSweet, Part One
These Christmas trees made from chocolate cake, mint frosting and sprinkles are just too cute. BitterSweet tells us how to make them from cone shaped paper cups (not waxed). And now, check out my next post, BitterSweet Part Two. I had to devote two entries to this blog so you wouldn’t miss out on all the great things offered.… Read More ...
Homemade Cocoa Mix (as Promised)
Making some homemade marshmallows for gifts or for yourself? These recipes and packaging tips for hot cocoa mix are the perfect complement. First, find mini cocoa gifts from the blog of Cathy Filian, as seen on Creative Juice on HGTV and DIY. Next, learn to make these hot chocolate cones from the crafty blog, “about a girl.” 
And … Read More ...
Marshmallows! (Coming Soon…the Cocoa)
It’s definitely turning to winter here in DC, even if there isn’t any snow on the ground. (Sigh. I wish it would snow.) What’s better this time of year than a steaming mug of hot chocolate? A steaming mug of hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows. Here are three blogs with three different recipes.
First, pictured above, “The Homesteading Housewife… Read More ...
Handmade (Edible) Christmas Gifts
There is an infinite source of material for a Handmade Christmas Day post in the world of edible crafts. Just about any fun food can be packaged as a gift. And so, I searched for sites that included just that… packaging. Martha has a couple features with great edible gift ideas and equally great packaging ideas, including detailed instructions and … Read More ...
Walking Through a Pocky Wonderland
I’m so glad to have stumbled upon “Not Quite Nigella,” a lovely, Australia-based foodie blog. Travel with the writer through her pocky forest. She provides details of her journey making this Japanese treat (cookie sticks dipped in chocolate) as well as gorgeous photography, recipes, how-tos and tips along the way. She experimented with organic fairtrade cocolo, cranberries, … Read More ...
Throw a Snowy Party…or Install a Skylight
O’ Domino…. so much more than a magazine. Their site offers decorating galleries, a hearty blog, DIY projects, answers, crafts, how-tos and more. Learn how to build a fire, make homemade Christmas ornaments, remove wallpaper, build a closet, install a skylight, consolidate old lipsticks. Click here for ideas on planning a White Christmas party (see the picture above), like … Read More ...
Bilingual Cheesecake Ornaments
Clumbsy Cookie gives us the recipe and step-by-steps to create these stunning edible ornaments made from cheesecake, jam and fondant. So clever! AND she has the instructions en espanol, too. (Forgive me, I can’t figure out how to type the tilde on this computer. Hmmm… will have to figure that out.… Read More ...
Sweet Simplicity
The perfect gift for the chocolaholic statistician. This simple “Chocolate Pie Chart” can be found and purchased ($20) from the super-simple-n-sleek-mathematically principaled site of “Mary and Matt.” Titled “Website.” Of course. The pie is found in the “General Store,” but also check out their “blog“, as well as “friends,” links … Read More ...
Foodie Contests! (one for kids, too)
Many, many thousands of dollars are out there for creative foodies. Win a $5,000 kitchen makeover or other incredible gift packages for the kitchen from Pilsbury with their “Make America Sweeter” contest. Enter your essay and photo of your sweet goods (using Pilsbury products) before December 31st.
Jif Peanut Butter has contests for kids and grown-ups. Kids can … Read More ...
Owl Cupcakes (What a Hoot!)
OK, groan at the whatta hoot part, but not the cupcake part. So cute and clever and easy to make–with Oreos and M & Ms. The instructions are courtesy of “Ezra Pound Cake,” a wonderful foodie site by a pastry chef/writer. Of course, she had me at her site name (as a fellow lit masters gal, I appreciate … Read More ...
Chocolate Curl Tutorial…from The Pioneer Woman
Learn how to make chocolate curls–essential for any fancy dessert–from The Pioneer Woman. The Pioneer Woman is an incredible site from a city woman turned rancher. She has recipes, cooking tips, and a home and garden section, but what really makes this site stand out and read like a narrative are the stories of her ranch, children and … Read More ...
Mmm…Bacon 5 Interesting Bacon Recipes
That’s right. A whole post dedicated to bacon (forgive me vegetarians, but these were too interesting to overlook). First, lollyphile. The San Francisco based company uses only high quality ingredients. That’s real bacon, sustainably farmed. They are only a year old, so thus far have three flavors: Maple-Bacon, Wasabi-Ginger, and Absinthe (yes, legal).
The uber-clever blogger of “not martha” … Read More ...
Chocolate Princess and Chocolate Madonna
Chocolaholic? Artist? Baker? Check out both of these sites for great chocolate inspiration. La Cerise, a Zurich-based blogger, created this Princess cake-topper from chocolate as a much tastier alternative to fondant. (And goodness knows, we could all use a tastier alternative to fondant.) She offers very detailed notes and step-by-step instructions, and photographs along the way. I’ve been getting more … Read More ...
Learn to Make Mini Chocolate Pumpkins
The blog “Cake on the Brain” offers a step-by-step tutorial to making these cute mini chocolate pumpkins perfect as a cupcake or cake topper. She has a slew of other categories and recipes to peruse, too, so you may spend a bit of time with “Cake on the Brain.”… Read More ...