“There is no remedy for love but to love more.”
-Thoreau

“A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.”
-Ingrid Bergman

“You don’t marry someone you can live with – you marry the person who you cannot live without.”
-Unknown

“Some love lasts a lifetime. True love lasts forever.”
-Unknown

“Better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.”
-St. Augustine

Valentine’s Day hugs, mb

This is a delicious and easy dessert to make for Valentine’s Day or any day for that matter.  It looks like you worked all day to make it, but in reality the prep time is less than 45 minutes.  This is best made the day before and allowed to chill overnight in the refrigerator for easier slicing.

This is a great ‘basic’ torte recipe allowing for variations/substitutions.  In place of the cherries you can substitute raspberries or strawberries and adjust the filling accordingly.

Cherry Torte

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature

2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

2 egg whites{room temperature}

1 teaspoon coconut extract{or strawberry, cherry, etc.}

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup shredded sweetened coconut

Filling

1 cup currant or cherry jelly

Frosting

1 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

Cherries for garnish {optional}

1.  Preheat oven to 350º.  Line a jelly-roll pain with waxed paper & lightly coat the paper with cooking spray.

2.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl.

3.  Beat together butter and sugar in second medium-size bowl until light and creamy.  Add egg whites and coconut extract; beat until fluffy.  On low speed beat in flour mixture and buttermilk in 3 additions.  Fold in coconut.  Spread in prepared pan.

4.  Bake in 350º oven for 25 minutes or until cake springs back in center when lightly pressed with finger.  Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes then remove from pan to rack to cool completely.  Trim 1 inch from short ends of cake.  Cut crosswise into thirds.

5.  Prepare filling: Place jelly in a saucepan and simmer until melted-approximately 6 minutes.  Allow to cool.

6.  Spread half of the filling over one layer.  Top with another layer and spread with remaining filling.  Top with third layer.

7.  Prepare frosting:  Beat together the heavy cream and sugar in medium-size bowl until thickened. *I place my mixing bowl and beaters in the refrigerator to chill before whipping cream* Spoon the cream into a pasty bag and pipe on top of the cake.

8.  Place cake in refrigerator overnight to allow for easier slicing.  Garnish with cherries, raspberries or strawberries before serving if desired.

Serves 12

cherry hugs, mb

I tell my kids this is punch and sometimes put it in a punch bowl….but…just between you and I it’s just a glorified float!  To make the little ones feel special for Valentine’s Day I make them this 1~minute punch….get a pen and paper ready for the ingredients….I’ll wait right here…..okay….ready…..

Vanilla Ice Cream

Code Red Soda Pop {or any red pop you prefer}

Put the ice cream in a cup, preferably a clear one so the kids can enjoy the ‘view’, and slowly pour in the pop.

That’s it!

{psssttt did you notice the heart shaped ice cream in the bottom half-don’t you love when things like that just happen!}

happy punch/float hugs, mb

I love this idea for a card  – I made something similar to this a few years ago for my husband for Father’s Day and framed the pics….we still have it hanging in the house….it’s a ‘card’ you would definitely want to keep! from Martha Stewart

Homemade stamps – there is a full tutorial for this that is easy to follow & a great idea on BHG

What a cute & easy candy heart necklace from Family Fun

Homemade lollipops from BHG

Delightful presentation for basic candy…from Martha Stewart…of course!

The are just so silly looking…but so cute …from Family Fun!

A handy holder for Valentine Cards from Kaboose

This is such a great idea….recycle a party hart with some stickers, ribbon and tissue paper and you have a cute little carrier for candy from Family Fun!

What a great way to GIVE candy-unique & personal from Martha Stewart

xoxo, mb

Sweetheart Jamwiches from Southern Living

Raspberry Meringue Heart from BHG

Valentine Cookie Pops from Pillsbury

Hot Chocolate Meringue Cake from Country Living

Deep Dark Chocolate Cake from Country Living

Grilled Chocolate Sweetheart from Southern Living

Layered Heart Cupcakes from Martha Stewart

I am going to try one….or two…or three of the above…just not quite sure which one{s} yet.

If you have any favorite Valentine recipes to share, please let me know-I would love for you to share!

pink, smooshy, Valentine hugs, mb

I love to make chocolate covered treats for Valentine’s day, birthdays…basically any chance I get.  It is so easy to do, looks so darn good on a plate & tastes delicious.  I use whatever chocolate I have on hand – chocolate bark or chocolate chips.  If using chocolate bark you don’t need to add anything-just melt according to the package directions {you can use white chocolate, milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, etc}.  Melt a little at a time because the chocolate will set up quickly & will not give the smooth appearance that you want.  If adding jimmies sprinkle these on immediately after dipping so that they ‘stick’.

For the strawberries, rinse thoroughly and pat dry.  The patting dry is important as any water/moisture that is present will not allow the chocolate to adhere properly.

If using chocolate chips, follow the directions on the package for melting.  This is the recipe I use and is from Hershey’s.

Directions:

1. Cover tray with wax paper.

2. Place chocolate chips and shortening in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 1-1/2 minutes or just until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred; cool slightly.

3. Holding strawberry by top, dip 2/3 of each berry into chocolate mixture; shake gently to remove excess. Place on prepared tray.

4. Refrigerate until coating is firm, about 30 minutes. Store, covered, in refrigerator. Coats about 5 dozen small strawberries. (About 1 cup coating).

*Butter, margarine and spreads contain water which may prevent chocolate from melting properly; oil may prevent chocolate from forming a coating.

If doing this with Oreos, marshmallows, pretzels, etc., I prefer to dip half of the food item {or a little more} into the chocolate and then sprinkle/decorate as desired.

chocolate hugs with jimmies! mb

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us. It’s not to late to make some last minute cards, decorations and treats!

What a great, simple idea for decorating your dessert. The hearts above have beaded sticks but could easily be made cutting out small hearts from pretty paper and taping to toothpicks. The numbers 1 and 4 could also be cut out from paper and mounted on some cardboard or wooden mounted numbers from a stamp set could be used.

What a precious card…made from your little one’s fingerprint. The complete directions are available at Family Fun.

Another adorable idea-pictures of your loved ones {use copies} glued to hearts and displayed along with other Valentine memorabilia-from Better Homes and Gardens.

What a decadent dessert for two! {recipe available from BHG.com}

Another Better Homes and Gardens great idea!

Fill a plain glass votive candle holder with candy nonpareils or small glass beads.

Don’t forget to decorate your headboard. This swag would also look great across a mirror.

Last but not least, Red Velvet Sweetheart Cakes…I will be making these on Friday for all of my little Valentine’s…and my big one!

I will be linking this post over at Hooked on Houses for Julia’s Rockin’ Blog Carnival….saunter on over there for some wonderful links and be sure to look at Julia’s posts…there are so many beautiful houses…so little time!

hugs, mb.

Cupcakes, Cupcakes, Cupcakes

I wanted to do some baking today and what could be better than….CUPCAKES {I am Hooked on Cupcakes}!

Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients:

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

3/4 cup warm water

3/4 cup buttermilk {alternatively 3/4 cup milk with 3/4 tablespoon vinegar may be used}

3 tablespoons oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350°.  Line muffin tins with cupcake liners. This recipe makes 18 cupcakes.
2. Sift dry ingredients together into a large bowl.
3. Add eggs, water, buttermilk, oil and vanilla and mix at medium speed until smooth.
4. Divide batter equally among muffin cups.
5. Bake approximately 20 minutes or until tops bounce back when lightly touched.
6. Remove from tins and allow to cool on wire rack before decorating.

Creamy Frosting

1 cup of milk and 5 level tablespoons of flour-mix well, cook over low heat in small saucepan stirring often until mixture is the consistency of pudding-remove from heat and allow to cool.

Using mixer, cream together 1/2 cup Crisco, 1/2 cup butter softened, 1 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.  Once thoroughly mixed, add “pudding” mixture 1/4 cup at a time and mix on medium-high speed for approximately 7 minutes.

♥sweet cupid hugs, mb.♥

As mentioned above, I am Hooked on Cupcakes…if you are curious about what other bloggers are hooked on, head over to Julia’s for her Hooked on Houses/Hooked on Fridays Blog Carnival!

I’m linking this recipe over at Wherever Forever and there are some amazing recipes over there….Superbowl Snacks….Irish Nachos…Wings….oh my!

]]> http://cupcakesandcrinoline.com/2009/01/valentine-cupcakes/feed/ 15 http://cupcakesandcrinoline.com/2009/01/hooked-on-valentines-day/ http://cupcakesandcrinoline.com/2009/01/hooked-on-valentines-day/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:45:16 +0000 mb http://cupcakesandcrinoline.com/?p=1334

Today, I am hooked on Valentine’s day!

X’s and O’s cupcakes to decorate with your little Valentine’s

Cards to Make for your Valentine’s

Candy to indulge in all by yourself…or share!

Keepsake envelopes to hold your precious love notes.

Clothespin Valentine’s to make….or keep.

Heart soap- a treat with no calories.

Ruby necklace-diamonds are a girl’s best friend…but rubies are nice, too!

I started with cupcakes….and I will end/leave you with cupcakes and cookies!

What are you hooked on this week?  To see what others are hooked on and perhaps find some inspiration, head on over to Hooked on Houses where Julia hosts the Hooked on Houses Friday Link Party.

hugs, mb.

p.s. All picutures link to the sites where you can find details on creating or buying these Valentine “hooks”.

Valentine's Day Treats from Target

Wanna’ go to Target?  When I hear those words uttered I am like a dog hearing someone rattle keys….I run to the car, panting, waiting to hear the doors unlock, jumping in and looking around…..who’s driving {okay…that’s me…get out of the backseat, calm yourself down….slowly and confidently get into the driver’s seat}.  I can go to Target and spoil myself all while spending less than $13.00.  There are few places that I can say that about.

The picture above is of the items I bought feeling as though I had just been given a day at the spa.  I love cupcakes {snort-of course!}, the color pink and Valentine’s day.  I bought an apron {no modern day June Cleaver should be without one}, some spatulas for baking {I could not pass these up…do you see the cupcakes?}, jimmies to decorate Valentine’s baked goods {cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes}, a set of kitchen towels and dishcloths {pink…with….cupcakes embroidered on the front}, a silicone baking sheet {cupcakes on the packaging} and a pink scrub brush.  Ahhhhh….I could just squeal with happiness.  All were purchased from the bins at the front of the store.  They have so many more delightful items for Valentine’s day but I had to stop myself…no need to be a glutton.

I will be baking cupcakes and such over the next few weeks and cannot wait to share them with you.

pink cupcake hugs, mb.

Hooked on Houses is hosting a Hooked on Fridays party so be sure to stop over there for some decorating inspiration and a host of great links to wonderful sites.