Tutorial Tuesday: Frosting Filled Cupcakes

Wow!  It seems like it's been forever since I've blogged, but I'm hoping to slowly start blogging again!  Thanks to all of my followers who have been patient with me over the past couple months!

Two weeks ago today was one of the most exciting days I've had during my pregnancy.........it was gender reveal day!  My hubby & I decided we wanted to find out what we were having, but instead of just calling our families, we wanted to tell them all at once during dinner.  But of course, we couldn't just tell them.....that would be too easy!  So we decided to make frosting filled cupcakes, pink frosting for a girl and blue for a boy!  So off to the internet I went to find out just how to fill the cupcake with this special frosting.  And I thought I'd share this very easy tutorial with you.

1) Using whatever recipe you desire, bake your cupcakes & let cool. 
(Okay, so I cheated & used a box mix.)

2)  Using a sharp knife, cut a cone shape out of the middle.

3) Fill the hole with frosting.

 3) Place the "cone" back on the cupcake, gently pressing down.

4) Add icing to the top to cover your cut.

It's that easy!!!

So back to the story......we had dinner with our families, making them wait the whole night to find out what we were having.  They loved the suspense & were constantly trying to get us to accidentally slip up & say "he" or "she."

Then came dessert.  Everyone picked their color of cupcake, and at our direction, they all took a bite at the same time......and this is what they saw!!!


So, in case you didn't catch the icing in the middle.....
It's a Girl!!!

Can't wait to meet our sweet baby girl in early February!

Tutorial Tuesday: Easy Dry Erase Board

You might remember back in March, when I included this "Menu Board" on my "All About the Effiel Tablescape"?

Did you think that I wrote the menu on a piece of paper & then inserted it? 
Well, actually, I wrote right on the glass, using a dry erase marker!

And it gave me an idea!

If you're like me, you're always jotting down little notes, reminders, & ideas.  So instead of all those little pieces of paper, why not make a fun, decorative dry erase board to capture some of those thoughts?

All you need is a picture frame of your choice, some scrapbook paper (or fabric), & any other embellishments you might want to add.

Simply cut the paper to fit the frame.  (If you want to use fabric, cut a piece of cardboard, tightly wrap the fabric around the cardboard, & hot glue the edges to the back.)

You could add ribbon or other embellishments to the frame, as well.

I used a 8X10 picture frame I had in my craft room for these examples, but obviously if you wanted a hanging dry erase board, you could use a much larger frame.  And it could double as a piece of art!

One of the fun things about these "dry erase boards" is that they are so versatile & only limited by your imagination.

Set one in the kitchen to jot down grocery items, a recipe, or a weekly menu.

Simply change the paper, & use it for a party or other special occasion.

A quick change of paper can take you from season to season, too!

In fact, you could even have a photo as the background!

The possibilities are endless!  About $.50 & a minute is all it takes to give it a whole other look!

Be sure to use dry-erase markers on the glass. A quick swipe with a damp paper towel & you're ready for a new message.

Have fun!

I'll be joining the following parties:
Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle
Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally
Craft-O-Maniac Monday @ Craftomaniac
Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
Masterpiece Monday @ Boogie Board Cottage
Organizing Mission Monday @ Organize with Sandy
Hoo’s Got Talent @ Night Owl Crafting
Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts
What I Made Wednesday @ Sweet Peas & Bumblebees
Thrilling Thursday @ Paisley Passions

Tutorial Tuesday: Bacon Cheeseburger Quiche

Do you like bacon cheeseburgers?  Do you like quiche?  Well, then this recipe is for you!

Good for lunch or dinner or even a brunch, this is an easy, low-carb recipe.

What you'll need:

1 lb. very lean hamburger meat

1 small chopped onion (optional)

4 slices crisp bacon, chopped in bits (or to make it even easier, you could just use packaged bacon pieces)

3 eggs

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup half-n-half

8oz. shredded cheddar or swiss cheese

garlic powder to taste (optional)

salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1) Brown hamburger meat in skillet (with onion if desired), adding salt & pepper to taste.

2) Remove & mix in bowl with bacon pieces, breaking up large clumps with a fork or pastry mixer until you have a fine mix.  {Hint: I actually used the pre-cooked microwavable bacon so it's faster & easier.  I simply heat it 'til it's crispy.  Or if you want even easier, there's always packaged bacon pieces!}

3) Drain of excess grease & press into bottom of a deep-dish pie pan.  {Glass pans work just fine, too.}

4) Combine remaining ingredients in mixer bowl & whip well.

5) Pour mixture over hamburger meat.

6) Bake at 350* for 40-45 minutes or until top is browned & "set."

7) Cool 15-20 minutes before slicing.

ENJOY!

I'll be joining the following link parties:

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday @ Blessed with Grace
Fun With Food @ Paisley Passions

Food on Fridays @ Ann Kroeker

Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum

Savory Sunday @ The Sweet Details

Tutorial Tuesday: Dressing Up Diapers & Other Little Tidbits

This post is more of a tidbit & idea post than it is a tutorial {although I will share links to a couple of tutorials a little further down}, but I hope that it provides at least a little inspiration for someone out there in blogland.

I don't know about you, but when it comes to baby gifts, I often want to give something practical, but at the same time, I want it to be fun & cute.......something pleasing to the eye.  

A package of diapers, though extremely practical, is typically not very eye-catching........now you could just wrap it in cute paper or throw it in a gift sack & call it done, but you know me.......that would be too easy!  And if you've been following my blog for a little while, you've probably learned that I'm all about gift baskets! {Click here to see some of the gift baskets I've put together over the past few years}.

So how do you dress up diapers to make them a little cuter?

Well, one idea is to display them in a cute bucket or container.

This past week, when I was buying a gift for a co-worker's baby shower, I decided to put together this fun little bucket of diapers.

I began by purchasing a plain black metal bucket on clearance at Hobby Lobby, and then "dressed it up" using chalkboard paint, scrapbook paper, ribbon, & trim.

So how exactly did I "dress it up", you ask?  Well, back in February {before I had a single follower!}, one of the first posts I did was a tutorial on how to make these fun buckets.  So rather than repeating the instructions, feel free to click here to get the scoop.  It's really rather easy!

 

One of the benefits is that you can choose any theme or color scheme.  I chose pink, black, & white for this one to coordinate with the baby's nursery.  {Even the little piece of chalk is pink!}

But I've also done lavendar & green in the past.

You can also make it pretty much any size you want.

{You could even use a large beverage tub if you wanted!}

 The possibilities are endless!  You're only limited by your imagination!

 Once the bucket was complete, I simply took the diapers out of the package, rolled them up, secured them with coordinating ribbon, & filled the bucket.

Not only are the diapers practical, but the little bucket can be used for a variety of baby items later on!

Of course, you could fill it with other baby goodies, too!  It doesn't just have to be diapers.

So what about for boys? 

Just skip the ribbon & trim and use boy scrapbook paper, or you could forgo the scrapbook paper altogether, & simply paint a little chalkboard in the center!

You could even make one as a wedding or birthday present.  Just adjust the colors & content as appropriate!
And while you're at it, make one for yourself, too!
***************************************************

Another idea of dressing up diapers is to make a diaper cake.

{Click here for a tutorial}.

 


Again, you can decide on the theme, colors, & size!

What other baby gift ideas do you have?  I'd love to hear them!

I'm linking with the following parties:
Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle
Craft-O-Maniac Monday @ Craftomaniac
Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
Masterpiece Monday @ Boogie Board Cottage
Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style
What's Up Wednesday @ Sew Woodsy
Hoo’s Got Talent @ Night Owl Crafting
Make It Yours @ My Back Yard Eden
Show & Share @ Just A Girl
Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts
Thrilling Thursday @ Paisley Passions
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home
Pink Saturday @ How Sweet The Sound
Newbie Party @ DebbieDoos
What I Made Wednesday @ Sweet Peas & Bumble Bees
It's a Party @ A Creative Princess

 

Tutorial Tuesday: Gumdrop Flower Petal Cupcake Garnish

A couple weeks ago, when I shared my Flowers~N~Flutters dessert table, I promised you a tutorial on the "flower petal" cupcakes.  So here it is.

What you'll need:
Gumdrops
Granulated Sugar
Mint Leaves
{and cupcakes, of course}

Directions {Adapted from Southern Living's 101 Essential Southern Recipes}:

1) Using your fingers, flatten gumdrops to about 1/8 inch thickness, gently lengthening & widening to form desired shape.


2) Dredge lightly in sugar. 
{Tip: I found that if I gently rubbed a dampened papertowel on both sides of the gumdrop, the sugar stuck much better!}

3) Place on wire rack & let stand for about 24 hours.

4) Gently press the lower center of the petal inward, cupping the petal & curl the outer edges backward if desired.

5) Place the "point" of the mint leaf  in the icing to hold it in place.
(I cut the leaves down to the desired size, making a sharp point on one end.)

6) Add petal to cupcake.



I'll be linking to the following parties:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace

Cupcake Tuesday at Hoosier Homemade

Rednesday at It’s a Very Cherry World
Hoo’s Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting
Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts

Food on Fridays at Ann Kroeker

Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum

Sweet Tooth Friday at Alli-N-Son

Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound

Sweets for a Saturday at Sweet as Sugar Cookies
Savory Sunday at The Sweet Details
Craftomaniac Monday at Craftomaniac

Cupcake Sunday @ My Cozy Corner

Tutorial Tuesday: Buttermilk Poundcake & Powdered Sugar Glaze

Last week, I shared my "Flowers~N~Flutters" Dessert Table {click for post}, which featured this buttermilk poundcake.

So here's what you'll need for this tasty treat:

~ 3 cups all-purpose flour

~1/4 teaspoon baking soda

~1/2 teaspoon salt

~ 1 cup butter

~ 3 cups white sugar

~ 6 eggs

~ 1 teaspoon lemon extract (optional)

~ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

~ 1 cup buttermilk

Directions:

1) Mix together flour, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

 2) In a large bowl, beat butter with sugar.

 3) Mix in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

 4) Stir in lemon & vanilla extracts.

 5) Gently mix in flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. {I do about a third of each at a time}.

 You should end up with a nice, creamy mixture.

 6) Pour batter into greased, floured 9 or 10 inch tube pan.

7) Bake at 325* for approximately 90 minutes. 

{You might want to check it a few minutes earlier, but do not open the oven door until the cake has been in the oven for a least one hour.  When the cake begins to pull away from the side of the pan, it is a good sign it is done.}

 8) Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn onto a wired rack & cool completely.

The cake is delicious by itself, but if you want it a little sweeter, here's the glaze recipe:

What you'll need:

~ 1 lb. powdered sugar

~ 1/4  cup (or more) milk

~ 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Mix powdered sugar & milk together, then mix in vanilla.  Continue adding milk a little at a time until you reach your desired consistency. 

Pour over cake.

{Tip: If you don't want glaze all over your cake plate, sit cake on another plate to add glaze.  When glaze has hardened, carefully transfer to desired cake plate.}

I originally wanted to find edible, pesticide-free flowers for the cake, but didn't have much luck.  So I chose to place the flowers in a little water-filled cup, gently placed in the middle of the cake.

Enjoy!

I'll be joining with Foodie Friday at Designs my Gollum, Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage, Craftomaniac Monday at Craft-O-Maniac, Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting, Sweets for Saturday at Sweets as Sugar Cookies, and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace.  Check 'em out for more delicious recipes.