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Friday, August 10, 2012

'Stick' to These Breakfast Recipes...No Utensils Needed!


Growing up, we all enjoyed those yummy carnival foods like corn dogs, corn on the cob, and kabobs. Now as adults, we have been savoring sweet cake pops, pie pops, and marshmallow pops. It's hard to believe how many of our favorite foods and desserts are served on a stick! These foods are so appealing because they are the perfect way to prevent spills and crumbs; even from the messiest eaters. They are also a simple yet fun way to serve foods and get rave reviews at any summer party or event!

But while there are a plethora of lunch, dinner, and dessert ideas that can be eaten on a stick, there is still one thing missing from the list...BREAKFAST ON A STICK! So wake up, brew a pot of coffee, invite some of your closest friends over, and enjoy a brunch filled with some of these scrumptious breakfast staples on sticks . . .

Pancake Pops
(Courtesy of Melissa at No. 2 Pencil via Tater Tots and Jello)


Ingredients:
(Makes approximately 20 bite size pancakes)
  • 20 lollipop sticks
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 Tablespoon of sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup of plain fat-free Greek yogurt
  • 1-2 Tablespoons of milk, depending on the thickness of yogurt you use
  • 2 Tablespoons of butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
Directions:
1.  Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Add Greek yogurt, butter, and lightly beaten egg to the same bowl. Add enough milk to make the batter stir-able (1-2 Tablespoons depending on the thickness of the yogurt). Stir until just combined. You will have a very thick and creamy pancake batter.


2.  Scoop out a heaping teaspoon of pancake batter. Drop the pancake batter onto a hot griddle. Give the pancake about a minute to set up on the griddle side so the lollipop stick won't go all the way through. Then place the lollipop stick in the batter just shy of the top of the pancake. Press stick down and use your spoon to smooth out the valley in the batter, that way you will have pancakes that look perfect on both sides. Space the rest of the pancake pops out, so you have room to add the sticks.



3.  They cook really quickly since they are so small. About 4-5 minutes on the first side, and around 3 minutes of the second side. Once the edges start to dry out, they are ready to turn.

4.  To flip the pancake pops use a small spatula to lift them a bit, then you can use the lollipop stick to give them a quick turn. The lollipop stick will be warm, but not too hot to handle. Just be careful not to touch the griddle.

5.  Once they are finished cooking, pile them on a platter and serve with your favorite topping (fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, or whipped cream) and warm maple syrup.


Pop Tart Pops
(Recipe by Eventity: Bakerella)


Pop Tart Ingredients:
  • 1 cup fresh cherries, pitted and diced
  • 3 Tablespoons of sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons of corn starch
  • 2 Tablespoons of water
  • 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract
  • 1 package of prepared pie crusts
  • Wooden popsicle sticks
Glaze Ingredients:
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1-2 Tablespoons of milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
  • Food coloring and colored sugar (optional)
Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small saucepan, combine cherries, sugar, corn starch, and almond extract. Heat on stove over medium heat until mixture has thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Unroll pie crusts and use a pizza cutter to slice them into 1 1/2 " x 2" rectangles. You can use a ruler to measure into equal sizes. Just use a butter knife to score your pie crust before cutting.

2.  Place wooden popsicle stick on the top of one of the cut rectangles, then spoon a small amount (about 1 1/2 teaspoons) of cooled cherry filling, into the center of the pie square, taking care not to get it near the edges. Gently lay a second rectangle over the top of the cherry filling. Press the edges of the rectangles together with a fork. Transfer to a baking sheet. Bake Pop Tart Pops for 8-10 minutes, or just until the edges begin to brown.

 (Image by Wonder How To)

3.  In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make glaze. Tint with food coloring, if desired. Spoon over cooled Pop Tart Pops, sprinkle with colored sugar, and allow the glaze to harden slightly before serving.

 (Via Wonder How To)

Mini Cinnamon Roll Pops

(Image by Bread In Five)

Ingredients for Dough:
  • (2) 1/4 ounce packages of active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup of water (110 degrees F)
  • 1 1/2 cups of buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
  • 4 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon of fine sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
  •  Lollipop sticks
Ingredients for Filling:
  • 1/2 cup of butter, melted
  • 1 1/4 cups of brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon
Vanilla Glaze Ingredients:
  • 1 heaping cup of powdered sugar 
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon of heavy cream
  • 1-2 teaspoons of milk
Directions:

1.  In a bowl of the electric mixer (with a dough hook attached), empty the yeast packets and add the warm water. Let stand until creamy and slightly thickened (approximately 10 minutes). In a small saucepan heat the buttermilk until it is warm to the touch. Pour the warmed buttermilk and the oil into the yeast and mix well.

2.  In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda. Stir the flour mixture into the liquid mixture 1 cup at a time, until a soft dough forms. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead 20 times. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rest for 15 minutes. While dough is resting, combine melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

3.  Cut the rest dough in half, and roll it out into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Spread the cinnamon-sugar-butter mixture over the dough and roll it into a log. Pinch the seam to seal. The diameter of the log will have to be the width of a mini muffin tin (approximately 1 inch). Thin out the log, if necessary, by stretching it out with your hands.


4.  Either use a pair of kitchen scissors to snip off 3/4 inch wide discs , or use thread or unwaxed floss to wrap around the log and tie a knot to cut slices. Place slices into greased mini cupcake tins and wrap with plastic wrap. Let rest for 30 minutes (or cover and refrigerate overnight). Repeat with the other half of the dough. 


 5.  Prepare glaze by placing sugar in a medium bowl and whisk in heavy cream and vanilla. Add milk one teaspoon at a time to achieve desired consistency.

6.  If baking right away, preheat oven to 325 and bake 12-16 minutes, until lightly golden. Let stand approximately 2 minutes before removing from tin with a spoon. Insert lollipop sticks. Either pour prepared vanilla glaze into a dipping bowl for serving or spoon and drizzle over cinnamon rolls.


What a delicious way to start your day! Think of all the possibilities that these fabulous recipes can be used for...a special breakfast for your kids' first day of school, a romantic breakfast in bed for your sweetie for your anniversary, or the perfect pick-me up for your children and their friends the morning after their next sleepover.

So, add these tasty breakfast treats to your morning menu and remember...no utensils are needed! Have a wonderful weekend!


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Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: The Sweetest Little Flower Girl & Ring Bearer Announcements:)

I am loving this adorable trend that is growing more popular by the minute at weddings everywhere; brides & grooms tossing up the idea of the more traditional scattering of flower petals and using pretty announcement signs for their flower girls & ring bearers instead.

Less messy, super sweet, and an open doorway to endless creativity, these signs make absolutely terrific props for your wedding photos also ~ so basically, you can have your cake and eat it too!





And for the trip back down the aisle . . .



These signs are the perfect way to announce the newlyweds as they make their first stroll as husband & wife, don't you think?  You can either have a trusty adult all prepped for the sign exchange sitting in the front row, or make the banner double-sided, if your littlest wedding party members are old enough to understand.

I just adore the thought of an 'Introducing, Mr. & Mrs' sign too!  Need a custom one to match your wedding?  Well, just send us a message to the Juneberry Etsy shop and we will be sure to whip you up a printable PDF file that you can put together yourself for a fraction of the cost!


It certainly has been awhile since we had a 'Wedding Wednesday'....we definitely won't be staying away so long again :) Photobucket

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Tutorial Tuesday: DIY Ruffled Fabric Lamp Shade . . .


Are you all about the Ruffled Cake craze and wishing you could enjoy one of those beauties all year long?  Well, now you can bring the fluffy goodness to your home decor with this simple little project from tater tots & jello and mama says sew.

Perfect for a baby's nursery, a little girl's room, or a feminine sitting area and completely inexpensive too . . . you will be amazed at just how easy it is to put together one of these lovely lamps of your own and finally embrace your inner design diva!  Here's what you do . . .

DIY RUFFLED LAMP

Supplies You Will Need:
~ Lamp & Lamp shade (I would head to your local thrift store and pick one up-then repurpose the base with a can of spray paint from the craft store - I like Krylon from Michael's:)
~ Glue gun & 10 or so glue sticks
~ 1 1/2 yards of Burlap or other stiff material (felted wool works well too and gives you a few more color options!)

Directions:

1.) First, cover the shade in a layer of burlap.  Cut a piece big enough to go all the way around the shade and fold over about an inch to the inside on the top and bottom.  Only glue on the inside along the top and bottom of the lamp shade, pulling the burlap taut as you go, so the glue doesn't leak through the holes of the burlap on the outside:)


2.) Next, cut the rest of the burlap into strips. Cut them double the width you want your ruffles to be, and about 1.5 times as long as your shade is tall. Fold them in half and press them off with the iron.


3.) Now you’re ready to glue the ruffles to the shade.  Put several inches of glue on the fold of your burlap and glue it onto the lamp in a squiggly line.


(This is the strip before it is stuck onto the lamp shade.  It’s straight where it hasn't been attached to the shade and bent where it has already been glued to the shade.)



As you go, don’t make the burlap ruffle all the same way to add interest.  You’ll end up with gaps, which you can fill as shown below:  The arrow is pointing to the gap.



And now the gap has been filled with a ruffle of burlap. . .


Close-up of the finished shade . . .


And the final masterpiece . . . 


As always, a touch more inspiration . . .




And a little of the felted wool version, if rustic isn't your thing . . .





White ruffled lamp (Courtesy of Little Inspiration)

Quick, easy, and downright fun crafty goodness!!  Happy Tuesday!
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Monday, August 6, 2012

A Vintage Lavender Baptism Picnic . . .




It is not often we run across a baby baptism that is put together as beautifully as this one; a gorgeous day, brought to us via On to Baby, and one for the record books...perfect for late summer or fall and simply breathtaking.

To celebrate her daughter Rylie's baptism, Cassidy Freitas dreamed up a stunning vintage picnic-themed reception in gold and white.  What happened next was an unforgettable event that was pure & sweet...just like the new baby girl!  Take a look . . .



Old family baby photos were displayed above a vintage pink typewriter, provided for guests to write wishes, prayers, or blessings to the sweet baby girl.  And I am loving those delightful mini-pies and the rustic details mixed with elegant lace . . .


The dessert table was topped with classic picnic baskets and filled with picnic-inspired treats, like lavender madeleines and apple pies “a la bow” . . .



Freshly squeezed lavender lemonade . . .


And the lovely little family, ready to celebrate!


Fabulous Vendors:

Photography: Nikki Kinowski Photography
Invitations & gold chevron/dot placemats: Sweet Paper
“Wonderfully Made” custom wood sign: maggiejanedesigns on Etsy
Custom Silhouette: Le Petit Enfants
Catering and burlap lace table runners: “Q” Catering (no website)
Picnic baskets and typewriter: vintage finds
Mom’s chevron sequin dress: Aidan Mattox from Bloomingdales
Rylie’s ruffle romper: Dream Spun on Etsy
Rylie’s Feather headband: Precious Little Things on Etsy


Just plain gorgeous, don't you think?  Hope your week is off to a wonderful start!! Photobucket

Thursday, August 2, 2012

FROSTED: A Little Something Fun to Do...Cupcake Fondue!!


Over the past few years, cupcakes have become all the rage.  And while we still love baking all of those beautiful frosted cupcakes with a variety of toppings, it's becoming increasingly difficult to come up with new and exciting ways to decorate and serve them in a unique way (like Misty showed us last week with the Cupcake Cakes).

So, I just had to share with you one of the most clever ways I have found to both serve cupcakes and wow your guests at the same time...CUPCAKE FONDUE!! Dip into this recipe...

(Image by How Sweet It Is)

Cupcake Fondue
(Courtesy of Amanda from Bake It Pretty at Pint Size Social)


You Will Need:
  • Miniature Sized Cupcakes in the Flavor of Your Choice, Cooled and Unfrosted (Use your favorite recipe or you can use some of my favorites from Ming Makes Cupcakes.)
  • Assorted Toppings of Your Choice (Sprinkles, Chopped Nuts, Colored Sugar, Coconut, Chocolate Chips, etc.)

Frosting Fondue Ingredients:
  • 3 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • 1/3 Cup Liquid (Orange Juice, Fruit Juice, Milk, or Water)
  • 2 Tablespoons Light Corn Starch 
**If you are in a hurry and do not wish to make your own Frosting Fondue, then you can always melt white chocolate, vanilla cream glaze, or any other frosting in your fondue pot.**

Directions: 

1.  Make a batch of your favorite mini cupcakes--homemade or from a mix. Make them nice and small so you don't feel guilty about enjoying two or three of them. If you use paper liners for baking, remove them after the cupcakes have cooled. Pound cake or any other firm cake works well for skewering, but any cake will do. Allow to cool completely before dipping. 


2.  Make the Fondue: Whisk together powdered sugar, liquid of your choice, and corn syrup. Adjust the consistency with a drop of liquid or a dash more powdered sugar until you have a smooth, thick glaze.  

 (Image by The Sweetest Occasion)

3.  Pour frosting into the fondue pot. You can heat the mixture if you want, but there is really no need to. If you choose not to heat the mixture, you can keep a small tea light or very low flame underneath for looks. Display toppings in small ramekins or portion cups and arrange around the fondue pot. Skewer cupcakes in the side and dip the top half into the fondue. Then flip the cupcake over and the frosting will drip nicely down the sides. Sprinkle liberally with your favorite toppings.

(Courtesy of How Sweet It Is)

 What could be more delectable than serving your guests these tiny freshly dipped fondue cupcakes? They are not only super easy to make, but also sooo tasty! It's also the perfect centerpiece for your child's birthday (and won't burn anyone if you decide not to heat the fondue).

You can even skewer the cupcakes with your favorite vintage striped paper straws for a bachelorette party or make a stunning dessert bar with a variety of different cupcake and frosting flavors for guests to choose from at any shower or sprinkle.

So continue to follow the cupcake trend while showing off your creative side with yummy Cupcake Fondue!! Have a wonderful weekend!



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