Happy Friday!

Yesterday was Australia Day, and since my husband & his family are Aussies, we're going to an Austrailia Day party tomorrow!  Had I seen this sooner I would have made these cute cupcakes to bring!  Ah, well.  Have a good weekend!

From The Cupcake Blog

Swanky Holiday Party Food!

Saturday we are hosting out "Friends (not family) Christmas Party" and this year instead of a sit-down dinner we're doing a cocktail party with lots of yummy horderves.  I'm trying to keep things somewhat simple so I can still enjoy the party and not be in the kitchen.  I've asked people to bring something to share, be it food or booze, and I'm working on a menu of items that can mostly be prepared ahead of time.  There will of course be the standard cheese platter but I'm still trying to keep the food more interesting and the presentation attractive.  Thankyou Pinterest for once again providing some inspiration on that front!

You're So Sweet You Give Me a Tooth Ache!

I had to post some pictures from this oh-so-girly Houston Bridal Shower!  Let's be honest, this is a FAR CRY from the bridal showers most of us had in church basements, the family restaurant, or Gramma's living room!   But sometimes is fun to indulge ourselves in a little eye candy and this shower is as sweet as a little girls pretend tea party!   For more pics and info, check out the original post here. 

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday everyone!  With the exception of a bit of sewing work I need to get done, I'll be spending my day in my kitchen baking up a storm for tomorrow big party!  There's going to be about 40 people joining us in our backyard for Brewfest so I've been staying pretty organized by typing out a detailed menu including timing the, er, "courses" and by writing up a food preparations schedule.  I've planned a plethora of food that can be prepared in advance for the most part so I can enjoy the party with my guests.  Martha Stewart would be so proud of me!   Last night I baked these cookies!  They are so cake-y and yummy, like the top of a muffin.  And super easy too!   Click the link below for the recipe! 

Iced Pumpkin Cookies Recipe

Late Summer Loveliness

I am kinda burnt out on weddings for the moment.  In fact it's come to my attention that it's suddenly late summer!  I feel like I missed the past 3 weeks, and I kinda did because I spent the majority of my time inside my studio working. Not that it wasn't worth it, but SRSLY, I need to be outside and enjoy what's left of summer before it's too late!  I've gotten a good start this week.  Went bike riding twice this week & I'm going again tonight, and last night I cooked a super yummy dinner for my hubby and me using herbs from the garden and we ate al fresco next to the fire pit.   Perfect evening!  I've got to get more of that in before summer's gone!

My husband and I are also planning a big backyard party for about 30+ people in mid-September and so I'm all about finding inspiration for that too!  It's a craft beer tasting party so you want it to be fun and casual but without feeling like a frat party.  It's sort of a delicate balance I think because if you go overboard with decorations & finery people feel like they can't relax but if it's too laid back... well like I said, it could turn into a frat party right out of Animal House!   So here's my late summer party inspiration!

 

Pretty Food

Recently I've been coming across some really lovely photographs of food, simple suppers, etc.  I really like the clean crisp simplicity of theses photos and also how they somehow make invoke a desire to lead a healthier life!

Above 2 images from The Kitchen

Image from Greige

Above 4 images from Sunday Supper

Image via Cabbage & Roses

Red Snapper via La Tartine Gourmande

Quail Eggs via La Tartine Gourmande

Pretty Pretty Cakes

Wedding cakes are such an art form and just when you think you've seen everything, you spy some cakes that just take your breath away!  These beauties are from Bobbette & Belle Bakery located in Toronto, ON.  Even if you're not going to be up ol' Canada way they provide great inspiration!

Cake Pops!

Have you heard of cake pops?  Move over cupcakes, I predict cake pops taking center stage as the trendy new wedding reception dessert!   Cake pops are so cute and just the right amount of cake & frosting.  Who even likes that dry boring sheet cake anyways?   At the end of a wonderful wedding meal you just need a little something sweet to finish and cake pops, well, take the cake!  Just look at these great photos of cake pops and try to tell me you don't want one! 

Pretty Pretty cupcakes

HAD to share these from photographer Paul Barbera.  Too beautiful to eat I think!

Ice Cream at a Wedding?

Okay so it's ice cream week over at The Kitchen and while I've resisted the temptation to go out and spent all the groceries money on frozen confections, all the pretty pics of gourmet ice cream has made me wonder why more people don't serve ice cream at a wedding.  Sure cake is traditional but most large weddings serve the guest sheet cake, and does anyone above the age of 10 actually like it that much?  Why not serve a few flavors of ice cream in a pretty dish or set up an ice cream buffet with sprinkles and the like.  Perhaps it's too messy and melty for a wedding but I know I'd welcome the alternative to the standard butter cream frosting.  What could be more refreshing at a hot late-summer wedding than ice cream after all?   Don't believe me?  Maybe the photos below will convince you!

 Rose Geranium Ice Cream with Pistachios - Find the recipe here.

Red Plum Sorbet with Lemon Verbena - Find recipe here.

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream - Find recipe here.

 Coconut Ice Cream with Roasted Cherries - Find recipe here.

Dessert Bar

I love the idea of doing a dessert bar at a smaller wedding or bridal shower.  This one over at Sunday Supper is almost too pretty to eat!  I love the lavender Cream
Croquembouche.  Tres Chic!