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Pi Day, 2012

March 13, 2012 Leave a Comment

Did you know that tomorrow, March 14, 2012 is “Pi Day”?  What exactly IS Pi Day?  Well, I googled a definition and found this:

“Pi, Greek letter (π), is the symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Pi Day is celebrated by math enthusiasts around the world on March 14th. Pi = 3.1415926535…”

Blink… blink.  Ok, then!  Honestly, I’m not ever going to be accused of being a math enthusiast… but I do like PIE… so in honor of “pi” day, let’s chat about PIE, shall we?

From Quick Dish, a great tutorial on making mini peach pie in a jar!  Perfect for a shower or party dessert!


An absolutely GORGEOUS triple berry pie recipe from Instructables, with detailed instructions on how to make a decorative pie crust like this:

I found a great tutorial series on MarthaStewart.com, for making decorative pie crusts.  The series was technically written for Thanksgiving, but definitely works for pi…er… pie day!

For a non-traditional, but YUMMY looking pie, check out the Family Kitchen… and her S’mores pie:


And last (but not least), check out this recipe from Country Living, for MINI cherry pies.  I think these would be perfect come summertime for an afternoon/evening barbeque.


So glad those math enthusiasts came up with PI day, aren’t you?

 

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Chocolate Silk Tux Pie with Scrumptious Nut Crust

March 5, 2012 Leave a Comment

This may be my husband’s all-time favorite dessert.  I created it for Passover, when Jews don’t eat products with leavening (so no flour crusts).  But my husband far prefers this chocolate silk pie with the nut crust.  You can easily pour the filling into a pre-baked pie crust or a graham cracker crust.

This easy chocolate pie is a snap to make.  The filling is rich and luscious.  Keys to success?  There’s really only one.  And that’s when adding the beaten eggs to the hot chocolate mixture you only add a teeny bit at a time to slowly bring down the temperature of the chocolate filling.  Otherwise you are going to have little bits of scrambled eggs in it.  Believe me when I say I learned the hard way:)

Chocolate Silk Pie (adapted from a 1981 Gourmet magazine recipe)

Crust

  • 1.25 cups minced walnuts or pecans
  • 2 T. light brown sugar
  • 2 T. unsalted butter

Filling

  • 3/4 stick (6 T). unsalted butter
  • 4.5 oz. unsweetened chocolate
  • 3/4 cup superfine sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/8 tsp. salt

To Make Crust:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
  2. Spray a 9″ pie plate with non-stick cooking spray.
  3. Mix crust ingredients in a medium bowl until well moistened.  Press mixture into  the pie plate and bake in a preheated  oven  for 10 minutes.  Let the pie shell cool in the plate on a rack.

To Make Filling:

  1. Lightly beat eggs, set aside.
  2. In the top of a double boiler set over simmering water heat butter, unsweetened chocolate, and sugar until the chocolate is melted.  Mix thoroughly. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool 10 minutes.
  3. Add 1 Tbsp. of the lightly beaten eggs into the chocolate mixture and stir quickly to incorporate.  Repeat two more times.  Then add the remaining eggs to the filling and mix until well blended.
  4. Pour the mixture into the cooled shell.  Cover tightly with plastic wrap, letting the wrap touch the surface of the filling.  Chill the pie for at least 4 hours.  Slice and serve with whipped cream if desired.  Can be frozen.

Planning a party?  Turn to Diva Entertains for great birthday favors, baby shower favors and so much more!

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Oreo Brownie Cupcakes – Amazingly Simple To Make!

February 27, 2012 Leave a Comment

Oreo Brownies

This recipe, and the beautiful photography,  comes from Camber over at Instructionables. That website is devoted to pictorials of DIY projects including recipes!  And the recipe itself?  *DELICIOUS*.  And  oh-so-easy to make!  Thanks Camber!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Oreo Brownie Cupcakes,   Makes 12

  • 1 box brownie mix, 8×8 inch size
  • 24 Oreo Cookies
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 12 muffin cup baker with paper liners.

Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. For each cupcake cup spread 1 teaspoon of peanut butter over 2 Oreo cookies and stack them on top of each other. Place oreo stacks into the cupcake lined muffin cups. Spoon 2 tablespoons of brownie batter over each stacked oreos and let it run down the sides of the cookies. If you have left over brownie batter, bake separately in a separate baker or muffin tin. Bake cookies and brownies for 18 to 20 minutes, until brownies are cooked through. Let cool completely then serve.

 

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Mardi Gras / Fat Tuesday!

February 17, 2012 Leave a Comment

Fat Tuesday is almost upon us, and if you are looking for last minute decorations OR recipes, I’ve got a few for you!

First, a DIY post on making festive pinwheels, from Mardi Gras Outlet.  You will find so many fun things at Mardi Gras Store.   And for all of their Mardi Gras Craft Tutorials Click Here:

Adorable cupcake toppers (FREE PRINTABLES for Mardi Gras) from TomKat Studio:

This new post is for a more “kid-friendly” Mardi Gras mask, BUT you could easily use the Mardi Gras Mask tutorial from Twig and Toadstool, and create something elegant:

No Fat Tuesday party is complete without a King Cake Recipe.  Check out this this from the Brown Eyed Baker:


You’ll definitely need something to DRINK while celebrating, so click over and check out the Mardi Gras Drink Recipes from Simply Stated:


And finally… two Mardi Gras Recipes! One is a healthy Jambalaya recipe from SheKnows.com .  Also a crawfish fettuccine:

Happy Feasting!

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Homemade Caramel Sauce – So Good!

February 13, 2012 Leave a Comment

easy caramel sauceI was so happy when my friend Liz at That Skinny Chick Can Bake blog shared her scrumptious caramel sauce recipe.  She’s a fabulous cook and her recipes never disappoint.  If you’ve only sampled the ‘out of a jar’ stuff up until now – this easy caramel sauce will have you wondering what took me so long to make it myself?

caramel sauce recipe


Caramel Sauce…adapted from Dorie Greenspan’s Around My French Table

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
Put the sugar, water and corn syrup into a medium saucepan.  Cook over medium high heat, swirling the pan, but not stirring until the caramel turns an amber color.
Lower the heat and carefully add cream and butter…standing away from pan to avoid splattering.  When bubbling subsides, stir sauce till smooth.  Add vanilla.  Pour into heatproof jar (I use a Pyrex measuring cup).  Cool to warm or room temperature before serving.

Brought to you by Diva Entertains – exceptional favors for exceptional parties!
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Yummy Fun Valentine Cookie Recipes

February 3, 2012 Leave a Comment

I can’t believe it’s actually February.  It feels like I turned around once, and January was gone in a FLASH!  Thankfully, we still have a little time left to prepare for Valentine’s Day.  You can read our post with Valentine Party Bites here and our MORE Party Bites post HERE….

And today’s post will be devoted to Valentine cookie recipes and tutorials!

I think I may have shared this recipe/tutorial before, but they are just so pretty, and I think perfect for unique (non-heart) Valentine cookies.  From Sprinkle Bakes, colorful spiral cookies:

From Glorious Treats, check out this wonderful recipe and how-to… gorgeous Valentine heart cookies, without a lot of effort (or talent) required! And here’s a video on How To Flood Cookies, that’s the white part below.  I never realized how easy it is to do!

Here is something TRULY unique… AND fat-free and calorie free!!  OK, it’s not an ACTUAL cookie, but I just loved these, and couldn’t help sharing.  Valentine Fortune Cookies, made from scrapbook paper!  Included with the tutorial is a FREE download with circles and fortune cookie print-outs… or you can create your own with her helpful instructions!

You’ve heard of the Pioneer Woman, right?  (Just say yes, even if you haven’t). She has a super-fun chocolate cookie recipe to create Valentine’s Day Cookies (you can buy stencils very inexpensively at craft stores):

And finally… these days, it just wouldn’t be right to do a cookie post without including at least ONE Valentine cookie POP recipe!  So, from Pillsbury, here you go! (Cookies On A Stick are all the rage!)

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Homemade Dark Chocolate Pudding – Another Version!

January 30, 2012 Leave a Comment

Homemade Chocolate Pudding Recipe

Early in my marriage I discovered that my husband loves dark chocolate.  And dark chocolate pudding goes straight to the top of the list!  In an earlier post I shared this Homemade Chocolate Pudding Recipe.  It was my favorite version before I found the one featured today.  I really can’t say one is better than the other – just different because of the ingredients.  My original does not include eggs while today’s does.  That makes the texture a bit creamier.

Today’s pudding recipe comes from Cook’s Illustrated magazine although I’ve modified it a bit.  Also – I used Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Cocoa but it certainly isn’t necessary.

 

Homemade Dark Chocolate Pudding

  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp espresso powder
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 Tbsp. cocoa
  • 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 1/2 cups whole milk (actually – I use low-fat or no-fat all the time)
  • 5 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into 5 pieces
  • 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Stir together vanilla and espresso powder in bowl small bowl or cup; set aside.  Whisk sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt together in large saucepan.  Whisk in yolks and cream until fully incorporated, making sure to scrape corners of saucepan.  Whisk in milk until incorporated.

Place saucepan over medium heat; cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thickened and bubbling over entire surface, 5 to 8 minutes.  Cook 30 seconds longer, remove from heat, add butter and chocolate, and whisk until melted and fully incorporated.  Whisk in vanilla mixture.

Pour pudding into bowl; press lightly greased parchment paper against surface of pudding and place in refrigerator to cool, at least 4 hours.  Serve!

 

Turn to Diva Entertains for fun and fabulous party favors!

 

 

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Peacock Wedding Theme

January 26, 2012 1 Comment

One of the hottest trends in wedding themes right now is the Peacock theme…from garters to bouquets… from place settings to wedding gowns… all with rich blues, purples, greens.  If you are looking to add a dazzling display of color to your wedding…consider the peacock!  And you know I have inspiration for you!

From Brides.com, a gorgeous purples and pink peacock bridal bouquet.

Adorning the back of each chair at your reception with flowers, peacock feathers, and greenery – FAB!

For your peacock wedding cake, there are a LOT of variations to choose from.  As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, if you just love a design, you can print the photo and take it to your bakery to recreate!  From Project Wedding, an incredible peacock cake:


From CakesWeBake.com, another version, with fondant feathers and a rice crispy peacock (rice crispy treats are very easy to shape into forms:):

From Decorate the Cake, a full-blown tutorial in making this WHITE peacock cake.  Isn’t it fabulous?:

What about accessories? Click on over to The Garter Girl to see several lovely peacock garter designs:

From CyberOptix, an array of colorful peacock tie options for the groom and his groomsmen (I’m thinking rehearsal dinner!):

And finally, from our own DivaEntertains.com shop, we have a category devoted to exceptional Peacock Wedding Favors and even “Save the Date” peacock magnets:

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Wednesday WOW – Gold Glamorous Wedding Cakes

January 25, 2012 1 Comment

Nothing says “glam” more than GOLD… and today I have some fabulous Gold Glam wedding cake inspiration for you!  If you find one you love, print it out and take it to your baker to recreate!

From Brides.com, a layered white and gold wedding cake… gold fondant cake “scales”, glitter dusting, stencils… they are all used on this gilded wedding dessert:

From Martha Stewart weddings, a gorgeous stenciled PINK and gold cake masterpiece.


From Erin Ever After, a fabulous post about Succulents and Gold inspirations for weddings… including one INCREDIBLE golden wedding cake:

And one more from Brides.com, a gold fondant cake, with lovely matching peony.  Definitely click through on this one because they also showcase 24 other cakes perfect for a glam wedding:

Now, just in case you would like to make your OWN golden cake masterpiece, I found a recipe and tutorial.  From Bake Decorate Celebrate, the Glimmer of Gold cake.  And if cake decorating isn’t your thing, a supermarket bakery should easily, and inexpensively, be able to recreate this cake because the roses and other details are second nature to cake decorators.  Take this picture to the store and ask them to recreate a 6″ inch cake for you so that you can sample before you commit.

 

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Cupcakes for Kids!

January 24, 2012 Leave a Comment

It’s time for more cupcakes, and wow, do we have some FUN cupcake designs and recipes for you today!

Perfect for the soccer team, or a soccer-theme birthday, check out these easy-to-make Soccer Cupcakes, from Wilton.  Everything you need to recreate these can be found in the baking aisle of a craft store – don’t forget your coupons.  If the frosting ‘grass’ seems to intimidating, just frost as usual with green tinted frosting – it will still look great!:

Having a Disney-themed party, or celebrating with a Mickey Mouse fan?  You’ll definitely need to try these adorable Mickey Cupcakes from Sweet Tooth.  Made with Oreos, they couldn’t be any cuter… or easier!

A perfect compliment to a Garden party or Tea party, would be these Flower Cupcakes, found ivillage.com!  I would have NEVER thought of using sprinkles and m&m’s to make flowers, but these are SO, SO cute!

Another winner in the Flower/Garden party category are these Mum cupcakes.  Decorating with marshmallows never looked so good (and so easy)!

For the SUPER-STAR, you simply MUST check out these Karaoke Microphone Birthday cupcakes.  They are fab, fab, fab!!  Made with mini ice-cream cones and donut holes… the perfect cupcake choice for your singing or rockin’ kiddo!

Mini donuts, tootsie rolls, and airheads… what a combination!  And they all add up to make these super cute Apple Shaped Cupcakes.  All that’s missing is the WORM!  Of course, those would be easily added… just grab a bag of gummy worms too!

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