Such Pretty Things

Target Tuesday: Sprinkle Containment

My sprinkle collection has really gotten a bit out of control lately.  I think it was my last visit to HomeGoods that really pushed me over the edge of reasonableness.  I mean, did I really need six bottles of this pretty, sparkly sugar when just one or two would have been plenty?

Well, yes.  It was so pretty.

But, what to do? It seemed that some sprinkle containment was desperately needed.  Soooooo, I went on over to Target and got these...

Target has a wonderful selection of inexpensively priced jars and storage containers in their kitchenware aisles. I chose some cute little acrylic canisters (RE Style Brand, three in a set) and the Anchor Hocking glass jars (my favorites for storing just about anything). The adorable mini canisters are great for storing smaller quantities of sprinkles and baking bits...

And the glass jars are perfect for storing larger quantities of bulk baking supplies. For example, I was magically able to turn those six bottles of sugar into just one! Presto...total sprinkle containment!

Happy Tuesday!

:-)

Jessica

Pretty Parties: Ribbon Flag Picks

While this is hardly an original or new idea, I thought I would share some pretty ribbon picks that I have been working on for an upcoming party.  I just love ribbon picks - they are such an inexpensive and easy way to spruce up hors d'oeuvres or simple cupcakes.

Plus, it's a great way to use up your precious ribbon scraps! All you need are ordinary food-safe toothpicks, ribbon, glue gun or non-toxic glue stick and scissors.  Just cut a small length of ribbon and glue it around the top of the toothpick. Once dry, use your scissors to cut a small triangle from the side-edge of the flag.  Or try using a pinking shears for a scalloped effect.

And you can make them in any combination of colors or designs you want to match your party decor.

Personally, I love this candy-colored striped ribbon with my pastel sprinkled-mini-cupcakes!

XOXO

Jessica

The Cake Decorating Party: The "Cake"

I can't believe I almost forgot to show you Mini-mini-me's cake from her birthday party last month...

Isn't it a masterpiece!  I just love her sense of color and form.  I'm just sorry I didn't get a good picture before a slice was taken out!

The bakery where we had the party (Just Cakes) did an incredible job. They provided each girl with her very own cake to decorate.  They were shown how to ice the cakes and then they were given a zillion pastry bags filled with prettily colored buttercream (the real deal!).  Each bag had a different pastry tip, so they could experiment with making different shapes. The girls were also shown how to work with fondant and how to make buttercream roses...a little advanced perhaps, but if you look real closely, you might see Mini-mini-me's first attempt at a rose!

The girls all did a beautiful job and really seemed to enjoy "sampling" the buttercream. And if you think Mini-mini-me may have over-done it a bit with the icing, I can assure you that she showed more restraint than most. :-)

Happy Weekend!

Jessica

Japanese Cupcake Decorating Supplies

My husband came back from a recent business trip to Japan with these...

Evidently, cake and cupcake decorating is HUGE in Japan, with shops devoting aisle after aisle to just sprinkles and dragees!  Who knew?

I especially love all the cool packaging.  These are sold in tiny packages, for one-time use...

And everything is so delicate and dainty - no two ton containers of jimmies to be found! Just look at these teeny, tiny dragees.

I forgot to ask my husband to try to translate the packaging this morning, but I am assuming that this the the Japanese version of our Wilton candy melts...

And how sweet are these little floral cupcake cases...

They also make really wonderful boxed cake and cookie mixes, like this one for French Macarons!

Most of these items are from The Loft, a beautiful department store in Shibuya, Tokyo. I've been to Japan several times, but I don't remember seeing anything like these. Now I want to go back and see it all for myself.  Too bad I don't love flying (seriously terrifed!) and it's a 14 hour flight!

:-)

Jessica

Sugar Flowers

I bought these pretty sugar flowers for an upcoming project and I just had to share them with you.

They just looked so lovely sitting there all nestled in the box.

You can make these sweet flowers yourself (with some royal icing and a little practice) or you can buy them on-line or at local cake-decorating shops.

Thank you everyone for all the wonderful emails and comments about my piece in Artful blogging!  As promised, I randomly chose a winner to receive my extra copy.  And the winner is....Jeanne of Jeanneszewczyk.blogspot.com.  Congratulations, Jeanne!  And be sure to email me your address.

Target Tuesday will hopefully be back next week...our local Target is currently under-going a MAJOR renovation and expansion.  I know it will ultimately be bigger and better, but for now I am having major withdrawal symptoms. :-(

Happy Tuesday!

Jessica

Fabulous Fairy Cakes

Fairy Cakes. I just adore them!

They are really just the British version of what we call "cupcakes" here in the States, but they are so very pretty and sweet.  Plus, I must admit that I am a bit of an Anglophile. :-) While there are plenty of fairy cake variations out there, I am crazy for the classic, flat-topped version. These are typically a light genoise cake iced in pretty pastel tints - a delicate flower or two adorning their velvet-smooth tops. Sweet simplicity.

I decided to make some yesterday.  I skipped the genoise and just used one of my favorite yellow cake recipes.

I believe that the secret to the fairy cake's elegance is that perfectly smooth, level iced-top.  This can be achieved by only filling your cupcake cases a little over half-way full with batter.  This ensures that the top of your cake doesn't rise past the ruffled top-edge of your cases.

You'll also need to wait until your fairy cakes are completely cooled before you ice them.  You will need to make a simple, fondant-style glaze.  You can find recipes on-line, but I just make my own using cream, confectioner's sugar, a bit of vanilla extract, and a touch of food coloring. It's always a good idea to sift your confectioner's sugar before using it.  This only takes a second (you can just pass it through a fine strainer) and will keep your icing from being lumpy.  Slowly add the cream to the sugar until you get the consistency needed - it should be thick, but also thin enough to pour.  Also, remember to tap your bowl of icing on the counter several times to remove any air bubbles.  Then slowly spoon over the tops of your fairy cakes, being careful to just fill them to the very top of the cases without spilling over the edge.  If you still see any air bubbles on the surface, use a toothpick to "pop" them.

This icing tends to set up quickly, so be sure to add any decorations right away or you will "crinkle" your tops (and we wouldn't want that to happen, now would we!).  I added little pastel royal icing sugar flowers to mine...

I love these fairy cakes so much!

Next time, I think I am going to make mini ones (petit four size)...wouldn't that be pretty for an Easter or Mother's Day treat?

XOXO

Jessica

 

 

 

Mini Donuts

I am so excited about these adorable mini donuts!

I baked them over the weekend and I think I could seriously become addicted to making them.

They are sooooo easy, super, super cute, and taste yummy.  These are baked, not fried, so you will need a mini-donut pan.  I found mine here. The pan only makes 12, so you may want to buy several if you are baking in quantity.  And you will need to, as these go very quickly (They are only about and inch and a half wide!).

The donut recipe can be found on the package and it only takes a few minutes to whip it up.  I would recommend using a round pastry tip to fill the donut cavities or else you will end up with batter all over the place!  And just fill them halfway. The donuts bake in just about five minutes, so watch them carefully. I glazed mine with pastel colored icing and sprinkled them with some custom-colored sprinkles (how-to found here).

You really, really need to try these.  Like, right now!

Well, I wish you all a very happy Tuesday!  I am off to warmer pastures for a few days, but I'll be back soon...

XOXO

Jessica

Pretty Cupcake Stuff

Today, I thought I'd show you some of my newest cupcake supplies.  As you probably know, I love cupcakes (and anything related to cupcakes!), so I am always on the lookout for new products.  I just discovered these new cupcake baking cups from Wilton the other day.

They come in a bunch of colors and I am completely smitten with their sweet ruffled edges!

And I've been meaning to show you these for a long time...

They are the prettiest paper baking cups!  They come in many patterns, but I am partial to these beautiful shabby floral ones...

...and these fun candy striped ones.

Wilton also has a new line of pastel pearlized sprinkles.

I am especially loving the pale aqua and light pink ones...

And finally, check out these adorable tea towels (from PaperChase - found at Borders Book shops) in this fun cupcake print...

Now, if I can just get through all of the girls' end-of-the-school-year activities and festivities, I might actually have some time to use them!

:-)

Jessica

The Tea Party: Part I

Well, we did it!  We survived having two birthday parties in the span of just one week. Yes, the "Tea Party" was this past weekend and I have to say that it was a great success.  My daughter had a wonderful time and I think all the party-goers (all 16 of them!) did, too.  Due to the fact that I have a ton of photos (and the fact that I am completely exhausted), I am going to show you the party details over the course of two posts.  

Today, I will be sharing the tea party buffet table and goodies.  Given that the party was scheduled for right after lunch, I focused only on sweets and decided to forgo any savory items like tea sandwiches. I've given a great many tea parties over the years and my experience has taught me that kids will always choose a cupcake over a watercress sandwich.  :-)

I made some of the desserts myself, bought some, and "embellished" some.  My pale pink petit fours were by far the biggest hit and not too, too difficult to make (I think I have finally mastered the art of poured fondant!).

I was so proud of my butter cream forget-me-nots...

There were mini vanilla cupcakes with vanilla butter cream...

I actually bought these at Whole Foods and just added some butter cream flowers.

We dipped some strawberries in chocolate...pink chocolate, of course.

These mini sprinkle cookies were quite popular (Martha's basic sugar cookie recipe)...

And a tea party isn't a tea party without piles of pastel meringues...

These were mint-chocolate chip...

I added some dishes of pretty candies...

...and my fancy sugar cubes...

And let's not forget the cake!

It was absolutely gorgeous!  The bakery, Fancy Cakes by Leslie, did a fabulous job!

Just look at colors of the beautiful butter cream flowers...and I love the touches of edible glitter!

For "tea", I served strawberry milk and pink lemonade in glass pitchers (sorry - forgot to take a picture).  As for table decor, I clearly went with a pastel, shabby chic look.  A floral-sprigged tablecloth and lots of white and pastel dishes and cake pedestals...

I bought several shades of pink roses and some Hydrangeas (because they are my favorites).

I will post Part II of "The Tea Party" later in the week and show you some more of the favors, crafts, decor, etc...

And don't forget to come back tomorrow for "Target Tuesday"...this week I will be posting on Liberty of London's new line for Target.  So unbelievably cool! You're gonna love it!

:-)

Jessica

"The Cabinet"

From the outside, it looks just like your typical, unassuming kitchen cabinet. Nothing particularly special. Nothing super exciting.  But my family knows better.  Oh, yes, they know full well what lies behind the closed doors of "The Cabinet".  They also know that it is strictly off limits to all and that any unauthorized raids of "The Cabinet" will not be tolerated.  :-) 

So, have I piqued your curiosity?  Do you want a little look inside?  O.K., I'll show you...

It's just my sprinkle and candy cabinet...

However, this is not the cabinet to come to if you are just looking for some jimmies for your ice cream cone or if you are in need of a quick chocolate fix.  No, no, this is my beloved collection of sprinkles, sugars, and candies from all over the world and they are reserved for only my most special of baking projects.

I have beautiful dragees and candied violets from France, sugared almonds from the UK, and teeny, tiny pastel candies from Italy.

Of course, you will find the basic sprinkles and sugars in there as well.

The contents of "The Cabinet" are always changing as I use up products, find new ones, and (sadly) discard outdated ones.

I really do love "The Cabinet" and I must confess that sometimes (when I hope no one is looking), I just open the doors and stare into it.

The sight of those colorful sprinkles and candies just make me smile!

Have a great Monday and I'll be back tomorrow with Target Tuesday...

:-)

Jessica