DIY Scent Bricks

I'm sure most of you guys buy candles.  I know I sure do.  And I'm guessing a lot of you have the Scentsy-style warmers.  So, that means you buy candles and you buy the scent bricks (scented wax)...I do anyway.  What are you supposed to do when you've burnt the candle down and there's still a bit of wax at the bottom?  Throw it away?  NO.  Here's what ya do.

  

Melt what's left of your candles

Once the wax is melted pour it into an ordinary ole ice cube tray...be careful the candle jar is probably HOT

After wax has dried and hardened for a few hours, pop it out, just like ice...I used a few different candles, so I labeled mine...Tyler Candle Company in Family Tradition and Butter Vanilla and Yankee Candle in Almond Cookie.  Can you tell I like food scents?

Finally, place scent brick in warmer and enjoy.

Now you don't have to throw away any candle wax again.

National Cake Day

Happy National Cake Day.

In honor of this day of cake I will be telling you a story about a cake my mom and I made at the first of this year.  I don't know about you guys, but my mom and I always see things on TV or in stores and say, "we could make that."  Well for once we tried, here it goes.

So you may or may not know that I have a dream to own a bakery someday.  In preparation for this day in the future I have taken a cake decorating class and baked countless cupcakes to formulate the best recipes.  Well, I received a message from a high school friend wanting me to make a beautiful, 2 tiered first birthday cake for her daughter.  I was super excited.  But wait...I've never done that before...but what do my mom and I always say?...we could make that.  Oh, did I mention that my kitchen was in the middle of being remodeled so I had to go to my parents to bake and decorate?  Anyway, I'll just stop at that.  My mom and I together made the cake and some cupcakes...I knew once that cake was delivered that I would NEVER make a tiered cake again, cupcakes are my specialty.

Here's the cake...definitely not like the professionals, but it tasted so good

...and to make you laugh

This is what my mom's kitchen looked like after 

*A final note...Some things are best left to the professionals.

Happy Cake Day

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, tomorrow!  I decided to post today because I know tomorrow will be crazy busy for everyone.  I've decided to share a few pictures of some fabulous looking pies I've found at foodgawker (I might even sneak a few of my own pictures in!).  After all who doesn't have pie for dessert on Thanksgiving?



I know strawberry isn't a traditional Thanksgiving pie, but this one looks beautiful and tasty.



Pecan pie bars...amazing



Coconut cream pie



Pie on a stick



Pumpkin whoopie pie

This is a cherry pie I made last year...turned out ok, I guess

I made this messy looking apple pie last year

Sorry about the ugly "harvest gold" counter tops in my pie pictures...you gotta love old houses, not.  They have since been replace...maybe I'll share the transformation with you guys later.  Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving and don't eat too much...oh and have an amazing Black Friday, I know I will.

cupcakes to go go...a sweet review

I've said before that cupcakes are my absolute favorite dessert.  Since I'm such a cupcake fanatic I have taken it upon myself to find the best cupcakes in the OKC area.  Today I'm reviewing cupcakes to go go.  I have been numerous times (I love cupcake) and have tried quite a variety of flavors.

Location:  cupcakes to go go is located in Edmond.  Location wise...I don't know what to say...any location in Edmond can be a hassle to get to.  I'm in Edmond at least once a week, so it works for me.  Oh, they also have a cupcake van "food truck" that will deliver and that makes scheduled stops around OKC and the state, really.  The van makes cupcakes to go go just a little different than other cupcakeries.

Cost:  At $2.25 per cupcake, cupcakes to go go is one of the lowest, if not the lost priced cupcakeries in Edmond.  Ronny considers these cupcakes the best in Edmond based on this factor alone.

Selection:  cupcakes to go go offers a "daily 8" as well as a few different cupcakes each day.  Their menu lists over 40 different cupcakes all named in the theme of travel.  I've tried quite a few different cupcakes and haven't really been disappointed.

Cupcakes:  Today I got 3 cupcakes, Strawberry Hill, Salted Lake Caramel and Coconut Coast.

I am not a huge strawberry cake fan, so this is Ronny's review rather than mine.  This is a strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting (strawberry cream cheese frosting was also available).  "Delightful...it has real strawberries in the cake and I like the crunch candy sprinkles," Ronny.

This is a caramel cake with a salted chocolate frosting.  I have to say I am a little let down, compared to what I've had before.  The cake is marketed as caramel, but all I could make of the cake was a dense, slightly dry white cake.  The frosting was creamy, very rich and chocolate-y.  It had a caramel drizzle on top and sea salt either in the caramel or just on top...I'm leaning toward it just being on top.  There is a chocolate pretzel garnish, I didn't eat it, but can see the tie in between the sweet chocolate and salty pretzel.  Over all the flavor isn't bad...I liked the salty sweet combo...but I wouldn't choose this flavor again solely because of the dense, dry cake.  (Did you happen to notice the cupcake wrapper is pulling away from the cake?  I'm happy to see professionals have this issue too.)

This is a coconut cake with an almond cream cheese frosting.  It was pure coconut goodness.  I have to admit that I did eat this cupcake 2 days after I bought it, so I won't judge the cake on the fact that it was dry (what a bad reviewier I am).  The cake did have a strong coconut flavor...what I would expect from a coconut cake.  There was even coconut in the cake...that's a plus.  The frosting was almost amazing.  The almond flavor was very destinct...I LOVE almond flavoring.  It kinda reminded me of wedding cake frosting (yummy).  I will definately get this one again.

Overall cupcakes to go go is a cupcakery that you need to try.  It is at the top of my list.

It's because you're FABULOUS

I suppose inspiration can come from anywhere, right?  Well last week I watched Bad Teacher with Ronny.  You know, the movie with Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake...where Cameron is a less than appropriate teacher.  Anyway, I fell absolutely in love with Cameron's red, red, red lipstick.

I have never been a big fan of wearing lipstick.  I typically wear Burt's Bees chapstick and on a "special" day I might wear a nude shade of lipstick.  But after seeing Cameron's red lipstick I decided that I would get a red lipstick and wear it on a non "special" day.

So literally the day after I fell in love with her lipstick I went to the MAC  counter to get some.  I did my research and knew that Russian Red was THE red to get.  I mean it was made for Madonna to wear on her Blond Ambition tour.

                         

The woman at the counter had to do no work because I had already sold myself on it...I loved it.  I did ask her something though and the answer was amazing and something to remember.  I asked her, "If I wear this lipstick in the daytime will people stare at me like I'm crazy?"  Here is her answer, remember it...IF PEOPLE STARE AT YOU IT'S ONLY BECAUSE YOU'RE FABULOUS.

This lipstick can change your mood, your outlook and your appearance...it's FABULOUS.

Wassail

Sometimes you just need something nice and warm to drink on a freezing day.  Sometimes you need something to make your house smell so delicious and remind you of the holiday's.  It really doesn't matter why you make wassail, just make...it's delicious...you won't regret it.

I've read quite a few recipes for wassail and they are all different.  The basics do stay the same though.  There is usually some kind of fruit juice and some kind of spice.  I haven't found a recipe yet that is the same as the one I use.  Mine is a little sweet, a little tangy, a little spicy (the holiday kind) and I think a lot delicious.  Here it is.

Wassail

1 large can pineapple juice

1 bottle cranapple juice (64 oz)

1 cup sugar

3 cinnamon sticks

10 whole cloves (I never count...I'm just guessing)

Combine all ingredients in large pot and cook over medium to low for about 1 hour.  

Throw the cinnamon sticks in whole and if you have a spice ball the cloves can be put in that, if not, just throw them in...but don't drink them.  I have also made this in a crock pot set on low...works fabulous as well.  I refrigerate the wassail after cooked and then heat a cup at a time.  I'm not too sure how long it will last in the refrigerator...mine never seems to stay around more than about a week or so!

Dont' be afraid to try it...I'm sure you'll love it.

National Vanilla Cupcake Day

Happy National Vanilla Cupcake Day!  In honor of this most amazing day I am posting picutres of vanilla cupcakes I've found that look absolutely delicious.  Sorry I didn't make any...this fabulous day just snuck up on me.

                               

                               

                                

                               

                                 

All above cupcake pictures are from foodgawker.

Here are a couple of my own vanilla cupcake pictures.

                            

                            

                            

Enjoy the tasty day!

Tomato Basil Soup

This is a super easy soup that will warm you up on the chilliest of winter days.  It is perfect with a side of garlic bread  or great with a grilled cheese sandwich.

Here we go:  Diced tomato, chicken broth, cream, basil, sugar and butter.

Blitz tomatoes in blender until desired smoothness or chunkieness.

Add tomatoes and chicken broth to pan and bring to boil.

Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add basil.

Add sugar.

Add cream and butter.  Cook until butter is melted.  Then serve.

Tomato Basil Soup

1 (14.5 ounce) can tomatoes

1/2 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth

1 teaspoon dried basil (more or less to taste)

1 teaspoon sugar (more or less to taste...I like a little sweet)

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup butter

In a saucepan bring tomato and chicken broth to boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.  Add basil and sugar.  Reduce heat to low, stir in butter and cream.  Cook until butter is melted.

Makes 2 bowls full.  Adapted from allrecipes.

Banana Muffins with Grandma Millie's Caramel Icing

I'm sure a lot of you think your grandma makes the best _____ ever.  Well, Ronny, his brother and cousin all think their Grandma Millie makes the best EVERYTHING.  I mean we can go over there (they live like 2 or 3 miles away) and eat a sandwich and it'll be the best ever.  I will agree, I don't think I have eaten anything she has made that I didn't like.  She is amazing.

Most of the time I don't even try to make anything like she does.  There's no point...it'll never be as good as Grandma's.  But, this time I did.  This is her recipe for caramel icing.  Don't know if it was better, worse, or about the same as grandma's (doesn't the eye doctor say that, minus the grandma's ?) because Ronny wasn't home when I made these.  I'll just say they were right up there with her's.

Here's the muffin ingredients: Flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, egg, butter, bananas and apple (if you want).  Oh, and vanilla...musta forgot it.

Mash about 2 to 3 bananas...I had 2 bananas, so that's what I used...and grate 1 apple...whatever kind you have.

Add the bananas and apple to your mixing bowl.

Let your weiner dog lick the plate...this is a must!

Add the sugar.

Add 1 egg.  Crack it into a bowl first that way if there's shells in it or if it's disgusting you can deal with it then.

Add vanilla.

Beat mixture, then add melted butter.

Add flour.

Add baking soda, baking powder and salt.

Mix the batter just until moist.

Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups.

Bake for 18-20 minutes in preheated oven.

Let the muffins cool.  While they're cooling make the caramel icing.

Icing ingredients: butter, brown sugar, milk and powdered sugar.

Melt butter.

Once melted add brown sugar.

Add milk after butter and sugar have cooked on low for 2 minutes stirring constantly.

Continue stirring until it boils. (oh look at the bubbles)

After mixture cools add powdered sugar until the desired consistency is reached.

Yummy caramel icing.

Enjoy...and you never know, it might just be as good as Grandma's!

Banana Muffins

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour          
1 teaspoon baking soda                
1 teaspoon baking powder          
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 bananas, mashed
1 apple, grated
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Combine bananas, apple, sugar and egg in bowl, mix until all incorporated.  Mix in butter and vanilla.  Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, mix just until moist.  Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups.  Bake in preheated oven 18-20 minutes.

* recipe adapted from allrecipes.com.

Grandma Millie's Quick Caramel Icing

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 3/4 - 2 cups powdered sugar

Melt butter over low heat.  Add brown sugar and cook over low heat for 2 minutes stirring constantly.  Add milk and continue stirring until boils.  Remove from heat and cool.  Add powdered sugar until the desired consistency is reached.