Today we are absolutely honored to be having Marie Porter from Celebration Generation guest post for us! Marie is one awesome chef/baker and has been featured in magazines such as Every Day with Rachel Ray and Wedding Cakes. I highly suggest you check her out! Can't get enough of Marie's blog? Don't worry, she's published a few totally awesome Celebration Generation cookbooks (with more on the way!). Without further ado...Marie from Celebration Generation with Confetti Bars... Photo credit goes to Michael Porter Confetti Bars! (Butterscotch, Peanut Butter & Marshmallow Bars)Growing up as a kid on the Canadian prairies, confetti bars were a common offering at social occasions. Whether Christmas, birthday parties, wedding socials, or first communions - if there was a spread of food to be had, you could bet that these bars were somewhere on the table. Of course, I’m not able to take any credit for this recipe - it’s one of those things that you’re just taught when young, … [Read more...]
Russian Tea
I was a bit of a tomboy growing up but every now and then I liked to be girly and invite my friends over for a tea party. My favorite tea that my mom made was Russian Tea. My friends loved it too! Here's what you'll need to make Russian Tea for your little girl's tea party (or just for yourself!): 3 cups powdered orange drink (such as Tang) 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup instant tea 2 packages lemon jello 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ground cloves large mixing bowl air tight storage container The above recipe makes quite a bit of tea so if you don't think you'll drink it very fast, I would cut the recipe in half. Mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Make sure to mix well. Store the powdered mix in an air tight container. Serve 3 tsp mix per 1 cup of hot water (or mixed to taste). That's it! Super easy and super yummy! … [Read more...]
Ice Box Pudding
Don't let the title fool you...this is NOT pudding! It's a desert made by layering Lady Fingers with rich chocolate filling and served with whipped cream. Ice Box Pudding has been a family tradition since well before I was born. It's been handed down from my Great-Great-Grandma, to my Great-Grandma, to my Grandma, to my dad mom, and now to me. Traditionally the desert served for the men's birthdays (instead of cake), in my immediate family, it is the desert served on Christmas Eve. You see, my dad's birthday is Christmas Eve. My Grandma was adamant that on Christmas Eve they celebrated my dad's birthday and not Christmas. Thus Ice Box Pudding is served on Christmas Eve. Somewhere my mom has the recipe written in my Great-Grandma's handwriting but unfortunately, she couldn't find it in time for this post. Above is the recipe that was handed down to me. Written in my mom's handwriting, laminated, and ringed into a small book full of other family recipes. For such … [Read more...]
Santa Trail Mix
Pintrest- you've probably hear of it, and if not you probably live here... it's a rock...in case you can't tell If you're not on Pintrest and would like to be then shoot me an email and I will be happy to send you an invite (it's exclusive like that). I saw a great idea for a Christmas trail mix on that site and I though to myself "self, that is some tasty looking mix! You should make some and add your own jazz and spice to it." My kids were happy that I had that conversation with myself because it sure is yummy! Here's what you will need: 2 cups of red and green M&Ms 1 cup of dry roasted peanuts 1/2 cup of Craisins or other dried fruit 2 cups of Chex cereal (I used the rice version) Pretzels (holiday shaped ones are best) Bugles mini marshmallows coarse sugar 1 package of red melting discs (candy aisle) 1 package of green melting discs (same aisle) 1 package of white chocolate chips (or almond bark) Shortening Assembling the Santa … [Read more...]
Reindeer pops
Have you ever wondered how people made those adorable cake pops? (You know, the cupcake-like treats on a stick). Well here you go! Let me first preface this with "it is NOT like you thought." Both Jamie and I originally thought that somehow you baked the cake batter into ball shapes by using molds. NOPE! First thing you do is to bake a cake according to the box directions (or if you are a show off you can make a cake from scratch "insert eye roll here"). Once the cake has completely cooled you cut the cake into quarters and take each quarter and crumble it. Once you are done crumbling it, it should look like this: After crumbling the entire cake add 3/4 of a can of frosting to the cake and stir. Roll into 1inch diameter balls and place on a cookie sheet. Refrigerate the "balls" overnight. Cover them with wax paper to keep them from drying out. Once the cake balls are chilled insert some sticks into each ball. Carefully melt your chocolate in a double … [Read more...]
Make your own rock candy
When I was little my mom used to do a lot of science projects with me and my sister. One of my favorites was growing my own crystal candy (or rock candy). I couldn't wait to wake up in the mornings and see how much my crystals had grown. Then I couldn't wait to eat them after I thought they had grown enough! I was shocked to find out that when I talked about doing a rock candy tutorial for our blog, both Lindsi and my husband had never heard of rock candy, let alone made their own! Seriously, who's never heard of rock candy?? (*Lindsi edit- butting in...I have heard of rock candy before...just never heard of making your own) Here's what you'll need to make your own rock candy (FYI--I doubled the recipe to make 2--one for each of my girls): 1 cup of water 3-4 cups of table sugar clear glass jars wooden skewers (cut the pointy tip off) clothes pins or something similar food coloring (optional) 1) Boil the water. 2) Slowly add sugar small bits at a … [Read more...]
