I Died on Sunday

Last year for Valentine's Day, my husband, myself and some friends of ours went to Appleton for a Death By Chocolate tour of restaurants and bars. We had fun, enjoying some yummy treats and some oh not so yummy (really gross) treats. Since Valentine's Day was on Monday this year, and since one of the couples was going to be away, we didn't make it this year. So to make up for missing it, the couple who was out of town, had us all over for our own Death By Chocolate (minus the gross treats).

A week or two ago, I saw a blog about "chocolate covered strawberries". These strawberries were actually red velvet cake bites shaped like strawberries and the dipped in chocolate. After seeing them I knew I had to make some for the event.

Instead of red velvet cake, I made a strawberry cake. I have yet to have success with a red velvet recipe, and I didn't feel this was the time to try. So after I shaped the "strawberries", I dipped the tops into red candy melts.

Then I dipped the bottom half into chocolate and drizzled a little chocolate over them to pretty them up.

For the green tops, I made up a batch of marshmallow fondant. I used a flower cutter to get the shape and then pinched each petal to give it more of a leaf look. Now I did dry the tops for a while, which I later regretted since I had trouble attaching them to the strawberries. I think if I had turned this drying tray over and had used the rounder cups, it would have worked better for me.

I attached the green tops with a little water and my berries were ready to be displayed.

I also made Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies, Peanut Butter Mallow Bars (not pictured) and three kinds of truffles, which I'll talk about next week.

Let me tell you, we all made pigs of ourselves and enjoyed all the chocolate that everyone had brought to share that day. Even the foot of snow that was falling outside couldn't stop us from enjoying the night. Thank you again to our friends Aimee and Steve for having us all over!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Just a quick post from me today. Last week I had an order from my friend Sharon for some vanilla cake pops for her daughter Lizzie's 5th birthday. Lizzie's birthday falls on Febuary 13th and Sharon wanted something that wouldn't look valentineish. Since Lizzie is such a bright young girl, (and I remembered how much I liked rainbows as a child), I suggested using the colors of the rainbow. Sharon loved that idea and away I went.
I loved the finished look of the cake pops. They were so bright and would looked great displayed on a dessert table. Both Sharon and Lizzie loved the cake pops, and I promise Sharon I will not sell them to you every week even if you beg me to. ;)

Go Pack Go

I live in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The happiest place on Earth right now. Everyone here is in heaven over the Packers' Super Bowl win! On what turned out to be the best day in the month of February (so far), we held our annual Super Bowl Party. I made some Packer themed treats for everyone to enjoy as they enjoyed watching the game. And I think the two Steeler fans who were here enjoyed the treats too.

First, I made some rice krispes pops dipped in chocolate. I have seen these on many different blogs and thought it would be fun to have all the desserts on a stick.

I was so, so happy when I found football shaped Oreos. They were perfect for the game. I got the sprinkles for the cake pops at my favorite local cake supply store. Nothing say Go Packers like green and yellow and football sprinkles.
My idea of having all the desserts on a stick ended when I decided that I didn't have enough desserts for the party. So the day of (about 1 1/2 hour before guest were arriving), I quickly made up these mini brownie cupcakes with a dollop of chocolate frosting. And of course some Packer sprinkles.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Since we here in Wisconsin, are having yet another snow storm and my friends and family out East are getting slammed by yet another snow storm, I thought today's post was appropriate. A couple weeks ago, after a snow fall, the kids and I made some snow ice cream. I had never heard of snow ice cream until last year. And I had never attempted snow ice cream until now. It was pretty easy and pretty tasty.

Start with 6-8 cups of newly fallen snow, 8 ounces whipping cream, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
Mix the cream, sugar and vanilla together until the sugar dissolves.
Pour the cream mixture over the snow and stir with a spoon until creamy. Add more snow if needed to get the right texture and it resembles ice cream.
Serve immediately. We made ours into sundaes with some chocolate sauce and sprinkles.
I should have added some more snow to my ice cream. It melted pretty fast, but the kids really didn't seem to mind one bit.