Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Glitter Christmas Ornaments


Got this idea from Pinterest, these are glitter ornaments I made and the best part of them is the glitter is on the inside so it doesn't get all over the house. To make buy clear ornaments at the craft store, take the cap off the ornament, use pledge clear floor cleaner and squirt inside ornament. Carefully cover the inside of the ornament with the cleaner, not shaking, just rolling inside to not cause bubbles. Once entire ornament is covered pour any leftover liquid back into the pledge bottle. If you have any bubbles in the ornament, use a toothpick or bamboo skewer and pop any bubbles. Using a funnel (I made my own with scrap paper) poor glitter inside ornament and hold your finger over the top hole of the ornament and shake glitter around entire ornament. Once the entire ornament is covered with glitter pour remaining glitter back in glitter container. For glitter I used martha stewart glitter (got it at michaels with a coupon) and can't wait to get some more colors to make more of these. They are so easy and addictive to make.


Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Milk Chocolate Cheesecake

I added chocolate turkeys I made with a mold I have to make it a little more festive for Thanksgiving.
  • 1 3/4 cups crushed shortbread cookies
  • 1/4 cup chopped almonds
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 3 oz grated milk chocolate
  • 4 oz chopped milk chocolate
  • 3 - 8 oz packages of cream cheese
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 4 oz chopped bittersweet chocolate
  • 2 tbsp milk
  1. Preheat the oven to 350
  2. For crust put cookies, almonds and 1 tbsp sugar in food processor till finely chopped, add melted butter
  3. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and up 1 1/2" on the sides of a springform pan
  4. Sprinkle crust with grated milk chocolate and set aside
  5. For filling, in a small saucepan heat and stir chopped milk chocolate on low heat until melted and smooth. Take off heat and let cool.
  6. In a large mixing bowl beat cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup milk and vanilla until well combined. Beat in flour, beat in cooled chocolate.
  7. Add eggs, beat on low speed just till combined. Set aside 1/2 cup of the filling. Pour remaining filling over crust.
  8. In a small saucepan heat chopped bittersweet chocolate over low until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Combine with reserved 1/2 cup filling and 2 tbsp milk.
  9. Dot bittersweet chocolate over filling and use a knife to swirl into filling.
  10. Place the springform pan in a water bath and bake 50-55 minutes.
  11. Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes. Lossen the crust from the sides of the pan with a sharp knife. Let cool another 30 minutes and remove the sides of the pan.
  12. Cool cheesecake completely on rack. Cover and chill at least 4 hours before serving.


Monday, November 28, 2011

Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies


Work got a little crazy so I haven't posted in awhile. I will be posting lots of recipes and crafts for the upcoming holiday season. Here is a new favorite cookie recipe

  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 cup softened butter
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 whole eggs + 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 6 oz bittersweet choc chips
  • 4 oz milk chocolate chips
  • 4 oz white chocolate chips
  1. Cream butter and sugars till fluffy
  2. Add in eggs and yolk and vanilla. Beat until incorporated
  3. Add baking soda, salt and flour and mix till combined.
  4. Fold in all chocolate chips
  5. Refrigerate overnight
  6. Preheat oven to 350
  7. Scoop dough into rounded tablespoons, place 2" apart on cookie sheet
  8. Bake 9 minutes and then transfer to cooling rack