mini cheesecakes & toppings

I got to bring a dessert to a bridal shower a few weeks ago and in typical Carrie fashion 

I wanted something fun, but simple. 

So I decided on mini cheesecakes and a few toppings 

(blackberries, chocolate chips, strawberries, coconut chips, whipped cream, and pecans).

They were cute & yummy!

life on instagram - Christmas treats

There's been a lot of sugar lately!  

Below are just some fun Instagrams from the last few weeks. 

Gingerbread houses. 

Simple reindeer cookies (idea from here). 

Thankful for companies like Betty Crocker, Wilton, and M&M's who make baking easy!

Some days I just need cute and easy. 

Chow Time!!! Puppy chow (or muddy buddies) is my weakness. 

Recipe here. I use more cereal and less powdered sugar and want to eat it ALL DAY. 

Homemade sugar cookies. 

Ugly sweater cookies! Super fun. Kit from Walmart. 

BUT my favorite thing about Christmas is celebrating with Fresh Life.

If you live... anywhere! you can join us this Christmas and celebrate with us. 

www.freshlifechristmas.com for locations and times and to watch live online.  

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

cranberry walnut pancakes

A few weeks back I had a genuis idea of making cranberry walnut pancakes. 

I then decided they were so good I should share the recipe with you. 

You're welcome. 

Yep. My love of cranberries just grows. 

The thing is, there's no crazy recipe. 

It's just pancakes with chopped cranberries and walnuts. Oh and syrup. REAL maple people. 

 I made the pancakes according to the box (I grew up on Bisquick pancakes and I L.O.V.E. love them).

Pour 1/4 cup prepared mix onto hot griddle, sprinkle with cranberries and then walnuts, when edges are dry and little bubbles are forming, flip and cook through on the other side.  

Yummy syrup. 

 I garnished with more cranberries and walnuts, but honestly I didn't love it. 

My mouth is watering!!!

A few more days until Christmas!

I have BIG plans, how about you?

flavored sugared cranberries

It's no secret I love SUGARED CRANBERRIES. 

I've been making them for a few years now (see here & here).

BUT this year I tried something new... 

 FLAVORED sugared cranberries! 

The inspiration came from Victoria of A Sublet Revelry who loves these treats as much as me 

(maybe even more!). 

 My first thought was they would taste so good with a hint of Orange AND I was right! 

 Then I thought coconut and maple! Well, the coconut was good, but maple... not so much. Ha!

 I love making these treats to eat, but they also make a fantastic gift!

This is an old jelly jar. I spray painted the lid and then glued a little tree to the top.

But, it needed something more... 

So, I put a bow on it. 

Here's my updated recipe for these YUMMY cranberries.

Sugared Cranberries 

Ingredients

3 cups granulated sugar

3 cups water

1 bag fresh cranberries (12 ounces, I think)

3/4 cup superfine sugar

1.5 teaspoon flavoring (orang, coconut, or ???)

Combine granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring mixture until sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer; remove from heat. (Do not boil or the cranberries may pop when added.) Stir in cranberries; pour mixture into a bowl. Add flavoring and stir. I usually let it cool a little before putting it into the refrigerator.  Cover with plastic wrap (I place the plastic wrap directly on the berries/liquid) and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

My new coating technique- Drain cranberries. Sprinkle 1/4 cup superfine sugar over cranberries while still in colander and toss around. Sprinkle 1/4 cup superfine sugar on a rimmed baking sheet. Add the cranberries to sugar on baking sheet. Using a spatula spread out the cranberries so none are touching and shake the pan to make the cranberries roll. Sprinkle remaining sugar over cranberries and shake some more (the pan stays on the counter and just move the pan back and forth till all the cranberries are covered).  Let stand at room temperature until dry rolling around the cranberries occasionally. 

These have become a HUGE hit with my friends and make for great hostess gifts, party favors, or gifts. Enjoy!

A few other fun and yummy CRANBERRY recipes/crafts- 

Cranberry Maple Walnut Muffins

Sugared Cranberry and Popcorn Cake Garland

Sparkling Cranberry Brie Bites

Stringing Cranberry Words

Upside-Down Cranberry Cake

Cranberry Wreath

Simple Cranberry Christmas Cake

Check back later this week for another YUMMY cranberry treat! 

Any other cranberry ideas/recipes I should know about?!

candy corn oreo cupcakes

Have you tried Candy Corn Oreos? They're pretty tasty! 

I thought they would make for a fun cupcake... 

 Side-note- I'm in love with my new cake stand from Target. 

The best part of these cupcakes is the half Oreo on the bottom.

These don't split as well, so they have more filling than usual. 

 

Candy Corn Oreo Cupcakes

Adapted from Anne Byrn 

Cookies and Cream Cupcakes from 

Cupcakes from the Cake Doctor

30 Candy Corn Oreos (or any Oreos) 

1 package plain white cake mix

1 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt (you can substitute sour cream)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Line 24 cupcake cups with paper liners.

3. Separate 12 Oreos and place one half Oreo in each cupcake cup. Place them in the cup filling side up. 

4. Place remaining 18 Oreos in large Ziploc bag and SMASH away! 

5. Place cake mix, yogurt, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Mix away! Low for 30-ish seconds, scrape down sides, then beat on medium for 1.5 min and scrape down sides again. Mix in (on low) 1.5 cups of crushed Oreos until well combined. 

6. Spoon in 1/3 cup mixture into each cup and place in oven. 

7. Bake cupcakes 18-20 minutes or until lightly golden and spring back when you touch them. 

8. Cool on wire racks for 5 min. and then remove baked cupcakes from the pan to cool on a wire rack.

9. Now for the frosting!

Buttercream Frosting 

1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature 

3 cups powdered sugar sifted

3-4 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

The remaining crushed Oreos

In a large mixing bowl blend butter for 30 seconds or until fluffy. Stop the machine and add sugar, milk, and vanilla. Blend on low until sugar is incorporate and then on medium until light and fluffy. Add up to 1 tablespoon more milk if frosting seems too stiff. Add remaining Oreos and mix on low until fully combined. 

10. Place a heaping tablespoon of frosting on each cupcake and swirl around. Then sprinkles!

OR you can color the frosting and layer it like I did on some of mine (see below). Just omit the crushed Oreos.   

11. These cupcakes can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for a week. That's IF there are any leftovers! ENJOY! 

I'm really liking these Oreo cupcake creations and I have more in the works, so check back soon! 

Also, see the Birthday Cake Oreo Cupcakes I made a while back. 

Do you have a favorite Oreo or Oreo creation? Please share! 

Linking here-

Tip Junkie
BruCrew Life

bacon s'more

Fact. I love s'mores and this time of the year is the best time to enjoy them. 

Last night I had dinner and a bonfire with some awesome friends.

While chatting in the kitchen I saw one last piece of bacon from the hamburger toppings and BAM! 

My brain exploded.... BACON S'MORE!!! 

(I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of this, but I don't care.)

If you follow me on Instagram (@carrierowe) you already saw this creation, but here it is again. 

I know, I know, it's not the prettiest food picture you've ever seen, but that's besides the point.

It was actually quite the team effort to take the picture!

Thanks guys!

The verdict... YUM!

Why do I look so frightened??? Hmmmm. 

Next time I will place more bacon between the marshmallow and chocolate AND 

maybe even figure out how to incorporate maple syrup. 

If you want some S'MORE awesome s'more inspiration (ha! get it?!?) check out these posts form 

Elsie and Emma over at A Beautiful Mess (here and here). 

P.S. Thanks Sara and Amanda for the pics! 

Would you try a bacon s'more?

What are your favorite s'more creations?

labor-LESS day

Happy Labor Day friends!!!

Years ago Carrie {Cue The Confetti} and April {illi Style} were together in sunny SoCal on this glorious holiday

and though we can throw a mean party from scratch, we decided that Labor Day was ridiculous.
This is a federal holiday and who wants to labor on a holiday, not us. So we started a better holiday:

Labor-less Day, as in do less work.

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Since we are firm believers that all parties should be adorable, even last minute ones,

we have these simple rules to observe for your Labor-less Day Soiree:

1. Reuse decor and supplies from other holidays

2. Reduce the amount you have to do

3. Recycle items you have at home instead of purchasing more

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REUSE

So, if you celebrated the 4th of July then you should have some decor left over from July. 
Here's what we had laying around:

This is April's 4th of July Cup Wreath. (Cups, straws, and plates.)

Being that it is still hanging on the door from July, we just left it up.

This is Labor-less day after all, so that seemed like the least labor intensive thing to do.

For paper products and utensils this is a great time to

1. Use disposable products for less cleaning and

2. Use leftovers from other parties so you don''t have to purchase more.

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REDUCE

Food: Veggie Trays and Pizza. Remember, Labor-LESS. LESS is more today. Keep it lazy, people.

For a fun dessert that is easy and obviously yummy: chocholate dipped... anything!

Just open up your cupboards and start dipping! Potato chips (YES!), oreos, pretzles, marshmallows.
Yes, you can dip fruit too. I (Carrie) have even dipped bacon before and it's delish. 

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RECYCLE

This is a great time to use all those jars you've been saving. You've been saving them... right?!
Use old jelly, peanut butter, mason jars to make a cute and easy way to serve drinks.

Oh and those leftover straws you have, use those too!

 If you have a child, dress that kid up... parties are always fun with cute kids running around. 

Here's April's daughter modeling the Patriotic Princess Dress. 

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  We hope we gave you some fun and easy ideas to truly enjoy the Labor-LESS Day!
  What tips or tricks do you have for last minute, easy get togethers?

If you enjoy this Labor-less Day awesomeness, and want more cute and fun ideas,
check these out: Easy Table Decor and Easy Banana Pops 

coconut chocolate cake

Well, I know we have Pinterest now a days to share links of what we find and love, 

but I wanted to share this yummy cake recipe I found via Martha Stewart. 

My sweet friend Charis loves chocolate and coconut, 

so for her birthday that's the kind of cake I wanted to make.
If you follow me in Instagram you already saw the cute cake. 

The little flags are made from Target (blue & red) and Joann's (silver) tape on 

toothpicks and wooden skewers.

In the middle of the cake I spread a layer of frosting, sprinkled coconut,
and then drizzled dark chocolate Hershey's syrup on top. The syrup was just for fun. 

The CAKE was the "Ultimate Chocolate Cake" & 

the FROSTING was "Coconut Cake Frosting" both found on Martha Stewart's web site.

The cake took a little more time than I was planning on, but it was so tasty it was worth it.

The frosting was delicious and made a lot.

They both turned out SO good!!! 

Ok, now I'm going to go PIN them. HA!

sweet 16 cake

I had the privilege of making a SWEET cake, for a SWEET girl, for her SWEET 16!

Izzi Ray is a wonderful young lady who loves the Lord, has a sweet heart and man, can she sing! Check her out!!

Izzi had pinned the cake she wanted... Funfetti Cake from scratch (recipe from The Kitchn). 

I frosted the cake with The Best Frosting I've Ever Had (that's what it's called and it's GOOD!).

It's a very SWEET cake, but that's why it's perfect for a SWEET 16.  

Look at those sprinkles!

ALSO, check out the CUTE invites Ashley of Thorn + Sparrow made for the party!

stuffed dipped strawberries

I have a new favorite TREAT....

Stuffed Dipped Strawberries!

 They are a yummy twist on chocolate covered strawberries.

What you'll need-

Strawberries
Chocolate melts or almond bark
Stuffings (I used coconut,  Greek yogurt with brown sugar, crushed oreos, crunchy peanut butter, and marshmellow fluff. Be CREATIVE, there are many things you can use!)
Toppings (I used sprinkles. Nuts would be great too)

What to do-

1. Wash/dry strawberries, cut off tops, and hallow them out

2. Assemble the stuffings (make sure the yogurt is cold)

3. Stuff the strawberries

4. Dip the tops in melted chocolate

With some of the loose stuffings it's easier to spoon the chocolate on top and

then set down to dry. 

5. Set on wax paper to dry

6. Sprinkle with toppings 

7. EAT!They can easily be put on a serving plate, or in a bowl for a SURPRISE treat.