Martha at JCP

I truly enjoy creating items that people will remember and talk about months after the event has transpired.  To ensure that this happens I put a lot of thought into the presentation of the items that I am creating.  In the case of a graduation party not only to I need to get a memorable gift but I also need to make sure it looks professionally wrapped and classy.

To ensure that this happens I choose paper, ribbon, and a card that coordinate. Also, be sure to get good quality papers to work with.  My personal rule is . . . the thicker the paper the better it will hold up and wrap.   JCP's new Martha Celebrations line has great products that mach and ensure a great look.  For this graduation gift I went with silver wood patterned paper, silver ribbon, and matching card. Luckily, I am a fairly good at wrapping and this is the end product. ---Jasin

Angie and I would like to apologize for our lack of involvement on Kitchen Couture blogs.  We have been busy getting ready for my graduation and our vacation.  But, your in luck because this post is a true treat.  For my graduation Angie and I decided that we would make the cupcakes for the parity.  Now if you know anything about Angie and myself ... presentation is everything.  For this occasion I turned to Martha for some guidance.  All of the materials used in the presentation of the cakes where from Martha Celebrations collection found at JCP.  The cakes where from the January/February 2013 Food Network Magazine with my own little twist added to them.

The two types of cupcakes we made where Grasshopper and Chocolate Blackout Cake aka the Orgasm Cake.  The cakes where made from a basic homemade chocolate cake and vanilla cake recipe.

To make cakes bake chocolate and vanilla cupcakes in your favorite designer liners.  I purchased the Cupcake Corer and a decorating kit form William and Sonoma. After the cakes cooled Angie and I cored the cakes and filled them with the mint and chocolate filling.  We then topped with mini chocolate chips for the Grasshopper and white sparkling sugar for the Orgasm.

For the decorations I wanted to keep it clean and classy and not so much "graduation".  I went with a white and silver them.  I also wanted to add a fun twist to the decorations and presented little candy cups that Angie and I filled with an assortment of different candies.

The fallow photo's provided a better description of the our work and how we set up the table.   

 
 

Kermit's Apple Dipper's

Let's face it...Kermit the Frog made from an apple is fantastic! Pair it with peanut butter & it's presentation is perfect. The next best thing about this recipe is how quick it is to make, should take you 10 mins or less!

You'll Need:
1 green apple
1 red apple
1 marshmallow
Black edible marker
Sharp pairing knife

For Peanut Butter Dip:
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
2 tsp lemon juice

The recipe is fast to whip through; however, the write up of the steps would take too much room on this blog. For space purposes I will provide the link below to capture the 12 steps, enjoy!

http://family.go.com/food/recipe-1022462-kermits-green-apples-peanut-butter-dip-t/

Homemade RockStar Gummies!

With Spring on its way it's time to whip up something fresh & creative! These homemade RockStar Gummies are a lot of fun to make! Depending on preference of taste you may want to mix different flavors of fruit & juice before you find the perfect combo. The Strawberry Orange flavor used in this recipe was great, but very healthy tasting so please keep that in mind while making. Enjoy!

-1/4 cup Lemon Juice (or freshly squeezed)

-1/4 cup Lime Juice (or freshly squeezed)

- 3 oranges 

- 2 cups strawberries

-5 packets of Original Gelatin (Unflavored) 

-1 tablespoon honey

-Squeeze as much juice from the orange as a possible (should equal 1/2 cup)

-Measure 1/4 cup of lemon juice and 1/4 cup of lime juice

-Combine: lemon juice, lime juice and orange juice.(citrus juice) If you do not want to waste the orange, add the remainder (pulp) into the juice. 

-Dice two cups of strawberries.

-Add: strawberries and citrus juice to a boiling pot.

-Remove mixture from stove and add to a blender or food processor. Add 1 tbsp of honey

-Blend until smooth.

-Let the hot mixture cool 5-7 minutes

-Let the mixture simmer on medium until fruit is extra soft.

-After the mixture has slightly cooled, add five packets of gelatin to the blender. 

-Blend until there are no clumps.

-Add to a flat baking sheet or tin.

(the thickness of your pan should be determined on how thick you prefer your gummy bears to be)

-Add to refrigerator for one hour to firm. 

-After your gummy mixture has cooled and firmed, remove it from refrigerator. 

-Cut out gummy stars with a extra small cutter. Feel free to use any shape you’d like. 

(I bought mine at Hobby Lobby)

Strawberry Orange Flavor Makes: 18 Servings

-Per Serving: 20 Gummy Bears

14 Calories, 0g Fat, 4g Sodium, 38g Potassium, 2g Carbs, .05g Fiber, 1.5g Sugar, 2g protein

This recipe maybe found on Taralynn Mcnitt's blog below:
http://undressedskeleton.tumblr.com

Applesauce Cinnamon Oat Muffins

Ready to whip up a batch of something healthy and hearty? These Applesauce Cinnamon Oat muffins  will fill you up without filling out the waistline. Great for on the go and to snack on they make the perfect portable addition to your meals. Check out the recipe below!

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup fat-free milk
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 egg white
• TOPPING:
• 1/4 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In another bowl, combine the applesauce, milk, oil and egg white. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill muffin cups coated with cooking spray three-fourths full.
• Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over batter. Bake at 400° for 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Yield: 10 muffins.

Nutritional Analysis:

One muffin equals 222 calories, 6 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 3 mg cholesterol, 265 mg sodium, 37 g 

carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 5 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat, 1/2 fruit.

This recipe can be found on www.tasteofhome.com, enjoy!

Mocha Cake

Ready to kick your next chocolate cake up a notch? Look no further than this Mocha Cake, a delicate blend of coffee and chocolate to satisfy that sweet tooth.

"Mocha Cake"

1 1/2 cups (packed) brown sugar
1 cup flour
6 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup brewed coffee
1 stick (4oz) unsalted butter melted
1/2 cups mini semisweet chocolate chips
Confectioner's sugar
Whipped cream

Preheat oven to 350*. Grease 8-inch square baking pan, line with parchment, then grease parchment. In bowl, whisk brown sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Make a well in center. Whisk eggs & vanilla into the well to blend. Gradually whisk in coffee and butter, then whisk in surrounding dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips; transfer batter to a pan. Bake until toothpick comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool in pan on rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Cut into 16 squares; serve with whipped cream. Serves 16.

This recipe can be found in the Jan/Feb 2013 Rachael Ray Mag.

Enjoy! :)

Friends over for dinner

One of my favorite things to do is to entertain! For this event I invited two friends over for dinner. I really wanted to make something down-home and hardy. . .  I mean after all it is wintertime. For this meal I pulled out Rachael Ray's My Year of Meals. I made her Chicken Potpie Casserole with her simple piecrust and for dessert I mad Chocolate Cookie Stacks with Lemon Cream. Sadly, I will not publish the recipe for the casserole due to its length. If you find yourself pulling out her cookbook to make this amazing dish be mindful of the wine you use. A sweet wine will leave a lasting impact that you can taste in the dish. I made this mistake and it really made the casserole have a sweet taste, I tend to enjoy my foods to be a little saltier. But, the meal still received positive reviews and the gust really enjoyed it. Also, when making this dish be mindful of time. This casserole will take you at least 3 hours to make. 

To make the Chocolate Cookies Stacks with Lemon Cream you will need: 1cup heavy cream, chilled. 1/2 cup lemon curd. 16 chocolate wafer cookies, such as Nabisco Famous.  4 tsp. finely chopped store-bought candied lemon peel.  

In a large bowl, using mixer, whip cream until stiff but not dry, about 5 minutes. Gently fold lemon curd into cream. Line 4 large custard cups or ramekins with jumbo muffin-cup liners. Place 1 cookie in bottom of each. Top each with about 21/2 tbsp. lemon cream. Continue layering cookies and cream, using 3 more cookies per stack and ending with 1tsp candied lemon peel. Refrigerate until cookies are soft and cream is set. At least 6 hours, or overnight. Makes 4 tip: the longer the cookies have to set the softer and fuller they will be!