Joy to my Cupcakes

Well if you know me you know I love cupcakes, and if I have an opportunity to make them I jump at it, so I'm going to a Christmas dinner party Sunday night and I wanted to make fun Christmas treats for the after party, now I have hundreds of cookies left -not kidding- haha---but I wanted to make maybe a taco dip, fruit dip, this new potato onion cheese dip I found absolutely divine ! (I'll give you that recipe later)

But I decided to make some cupcakes as well and wanted to make some snowmen :) I've made may snowmen cupcakes in the past but I wanted them to be extra cute this time:) I found this recipe because I love love love almond so I'll make these cupcakes....

Almond Cupcakes
1/2 c butter, room temp
2/3 to 1 c sugar( depends on how sweet you like it)
3 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond
zest of one small lemon
1 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c milk
Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts and lemon peel. Mix flour, salt, and baking powder, stir in and then beat in milk.
Pour into lined muffin cups and bake 18-20 minutes at 350. cool

Cream Cheese Almond Frosting

8 oz cream cheese room temp
4 tbs butter
3 c confectioners sugar
1 tsp almond
1/2 tsp vanilla

beat butter and cream cheese together until mixed. Add rest of ingredients and beat until fluffy. Add a little cream if needed to get the right consistency. Use to frost cupcakes

and decorate them like this I believe :)
..............

to build/construct these cute little fellows you will need to:
*make your cupcakes two sizes, some in normal muffin/cupcake pans
and some in the smaller pans that make the mini muffins,
*put the smaller one on top of the large cupcake attaching it by frosting the bottom of the small one
*then frost your cupcakes as you wish- with the frosting above or your own
*cover both balls with coconut
*stick a big marshmellow on top for the head :)
* two pretzels or chocolate liccorice for arms-chocolate liccorice is gross to warn you so i use pretzel stix :) haha- some ppl use cinnamon stix but you can't eat those so i don't
* then an upside down reeses cup for a hat
*cinnamon drops for buttons or chocolate chips I like sometimes :)
* then decorate their little faces however you wish :)
These are an excellent crowd pleaser and BIG hits with the little ones :)
Have Fun :)
Happy Holidays
XOXO
MissSweetTreats <3

Bring on the Bacon !

Sooo delicous---PERFECT for a party dish-- Excellent finger food-
and so fast and easy to make :)

All you need is lettuce, tomatos, sour cream, nice juicy bacon, and little bread bagettes

You need to chop/shread the lettuce
dice the tomatos
fry up that wonderful bacon and chop it into small pieces
find a nice big plate
plop lots of sour cream in the middle
surround it with lettuce all around the edge of the plate
top lots of tomatos on the sour cream
the bacon goes on top of that
then line the edge of the plate with your bagettes
WONDEROUS !

Your Set :)

XOXO
Meghan

Apron Giveaway

Maple Lane is hosting a giveaway
a beautiful red half apron
head on over and check it out :)
Hurry it ends Dec. 10th :)

XOXO

BLOGGER REUNION !!!

Hi All,
Thanksgiving!!!!
Had a wonderful Turkey Day !! Hope you all did too :)
Started off with baking numerous delicious pies--- so good!
and of course the Macy's parade :) Tradition for sure !
Enjoyed the 3 F's (Family, Food, and Football) very much !!!
all the cooking and baking and then shopping on top of it made for one CRAZY WEEKEND---
so much happened in my few days away from BloggaLand !!!!

But, speaking of Thanksgiving Cooking we had fried turkey this year--
I was quite sceptacal at first spiting witty comments in my initial disgust about just eating at McDonalds-- America is fat enough and then we take a tradition of home cooked turkey through it out the window and FRY POOR OLD TOM ! UGH
I'm saddened to say I've been dragged to the dark side, because the fried turkey was AMAZING !
Literally melted in your mouth-- as with all my other family recipes I can't let you have this one either :( But if you can get enough info from this---give it a try for Christmas :)
the turkey was injected with a creole butter seasoning (which combined is like a cajun but not to spicy buttery flavor of deliciousness)
and then Tom was rubbed down heavily with a garlic and herb spread-- also fantastic :)
Well let me tell you after all these fabulous flavors were put together and then fried-- I just have to tell you-- one of the best turkeys I have EVER tasted :)

Happy Monday to all -- Don't forget about Cyber Monday -- so kick back with some left-overs in your easy chair and shop shop away :)
Get Shopping <3

XOXO
MissSweetTreats <3

Happy Monday

I was in NYC Friday and I happened to order some beer battered apple and onion rings at a cafe we stopped at-- which is strange because i just recently watched an episode of Giada at home on the Food Network and she showed us how to make these- so when i saw them on the menu I had to order them :)
SOOOO GOOD !
And so simple to make

Beer Battered Apple and Onion Rings


XOXO
Happy Baking
MissSweetTreats <3

10 Year wish list.......

Wasted Wednesdays

This wednesday--- a
Cappucino Rum Shake for everyone that needs a drink :)

Ingredients

* 1 pint (2 cups) softened coffee ice cream
* 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) dark rum, or to taste
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 cup whipped cream
* Garnish: unsweetened cocoa powder and cinnamon sticks

Preparation

In a blender, blend ice cream, rum and ground cinnamon until smooth but still thick and pour into 2 chilled stemmed glasses. Top drinks with whipped cream and garnish with cocoa powder and cinnamon sticks.

XOXO
MissSweetTreats <3

Monogram Chick is hosting a wonderful giveaway for her 100th Post and its a good one:)
Head over to her blog to check it out, and Please....tell her that Shhhh...Call me Miss Sweet Treats...Sent you over !!!!! :)
THANK YOU <3>

XOXO
Happy Monday
BelieveInMe<3g

Hey Y’all!

It's Paula Deen :) I just love this woman- excellent cooking-rockin personality- sweet as sugar and just a riot to watch and listen to....the thing I really love about Paula is the fact that she just LOVES food- its not about the fat and calories its about creating an excellent meal !
Paula has an amazing story and I'm sure many of you have heard it before, but here's a snipet :)

You know, I meet so many wonderful people everywhere I go that are willing to share their life story with me, that I want to share a little bit of my story with all of you. Of course, there’s more in my new memoir – It Ain’t All About the Cookin’ – but, for now, I hope you pull up a chair and visit with me here for a while!

Everyone has a beginning, and mine really starts in my Grandmother Paul’s kitchen. I promise you, she knew everything you ever needed to know about making the perfect Southern meal. Every day I was amazed at all the things she knew and shared with me – cooking techniques, tips, secret recipes, and, most importantly laughter, life lessons, and love! Of course I didn’t know it at the time, but those would be the things that would always pull me through.

Following this carefree and wonderful time in my life, I graduated from high school, and married my high school sweetheart. Like all young people, nobody could tell me anything at the time, and I set out believing I’d be the perfect wife and mom and he’d be the perfect husband and father. Well, needless to say, that’s where things started to turn. First, there was the sudden and heartbreaking death of my beloved father, followed by the loss of my sweet mom just a few short years later – when our mom died my little brother Bubba was only 16, I was 23, and had two little babies of my own to raise. Everything that held me together was gone, and I truly didn’t know where to turn and felt frozen in my tracks. I managed through the next decade or so, but again things took a major turn for the worse when my husband announced one day he had taken a job in Savannah. I was 40 years old and was having such severe panic attacks that I literally could not leave my house, becoming a prisoner in my own home.

But, you know – things happen for a reason, and one day it just dawned on me: I was going to take control of my life and my destiny! So, I decided to do what I do best – taking a lesson straight from Grandmother Paul – and started The Bag Lady. With $200 and the help of my boys, the real adventure began. Of course you can read The Lady & Sons history page, but from the beginning we were blessed with faithful patrons that have become like family to us that allowed us to blossom. Our bag lunch delivery and catering service turned into a full-service restaurant and we went from leasing a place at the Best Western hotel to our very own place downtown.

During that time I’ve had my first cookbook “discovered” and more published, had the honor of receiving the “International Meal of Year” designation by USA Today, of having not one, but two of my own shows on the Food Network, and opened up another restaurant – Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House - with my little brother Bubba. And, guess what? I’ve even been star-struck myself appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show and meeting Oprah herself!

All of my dreams really are coming true. I’ve married my soul mate, Michael Groover – gaining a whole other extending family with Anthony and Michelle in the process, managed to raise two wonderful and successful boys, Jamie and Bobby, and created a wonderful career by doing what I love best. And, the icing on the cake? The birth of my first grandchild, Jack, in 2006.

But, you know what, none of this would have happened if I hadn’t of taken the good with the bad, embraced both the heartache and joy, and taken control of my life when I thought it could not have gotten worse. Most of all, during good times and bad, I’ve had the love and support of family, friends, and you – my fans. From my heart, I always wish you love and best dishes, from my kitchen to yours. And I can’t wait to continue the adventure with you!
(Courtesy of pauladeen.com)

Along with Paula's story I give you 2 of her best recipes chosen by the fans....

The Lady's Cheesy Mac
and
Baked French Toast Cassarole

Happy Baking :)
XOXO
MissSweetTreats<3

I'm an Only Child-but I can share...

YUM !
Here are TWO of my absolute favorite Fall Time Desserts (who am I kidding I have 1000 favorites)
These are family recipes- but once again family recipes are SWORN to secrecy haha
so I found the alternatives on Food Network
for you all to try :)
They are pretty darn close, Enjoy!

Almost Famous Pumpkin Cheesecake-
Can you say Fabulous !

Pumpkin Roll Cake- the one thing this has that mine doesn't however is toffee (which I love) and I am adding it to ours this year :) Shhhh



XOXO
MissSweetTreats <3

Add a Cranberry Granny.....

Sooo Thanksgiving is so super close and I love that, because I pretty much LOVE food :)

and as I've told you millions of times before I'm a sucker for tradition-- 

so anyway on the topic of food and tradition- that is pretty much the definition of 

Thanksgiving is it not? 

Well add in a few Indians and Pilgrims and then we've got the definition :)

So Thanksgving !

My favorite  thing about thanksgiving is my Granny's homemade cranberry sauce 

(she absolutely HATES when I call her Granny)- every time I do I swear I get the chill of the devil from her evil glare-haha....the irony: My grandma isn't old in the slightest shes the grandma that still bakes everyday of her life- gardens, runs, has parties, plays cards, cherishes beautiful jewelry (that I get when she gets new things-YAY) and wears the sweetest Track Suits Ever ! :) BA haha- God I love her :)

Thats the reason why its a bit Ironic that I call her Granny

So now that you've met Granny-- her cranberry sauce- I wish I could give you the recipe soo you could try this stuff--its phenomonal-- like really its the best-- sweet, tart, bitter, chunky and just about the best thing I can ever have---However she refuses to leak the secret of her recipe so I guess you'll just have to imagine :) 

But because I can't give you THE recipe-- I found some really amazing recipes for cranberries that you should definitely try.....

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Black Forest Cookies

These I have actually made before and if you like cranberries and chocolate these are AMAZING!-- I like to make them with dark chocolate and no nuts though- thats my twist :)

Cranberry Pumpkin Cookies

These too I have made- and I LOVE them- but I also am in love with just about ANYTHING pumpkin

Banana Cranberry Bread

This just sounded good- but I would add chocolate chips (YUM)

Happy Almost Thanksgiving

Happy Baking

XOXO

MissSweetTreats<3

Wearing Mascara Giveaway <3

So exciting -Wearing Mascara is doing a giveaway
for her 100th post- but hurry it ends at 11:59 TONIGHT-
comment on her post you'll be entered 1 time
become a follower be entered 3 times
and then post about it in your blog and get entered 5 more times
9 TIMES :)
Oeeee
Winner is Announced Tomorrow ----So Exciting :) <3
Show her some love, her blog is Splendiferous :)

Xoxo

BelieveInMe

Candy Corn Cookie Bark

So I have had a HUGE sweet tooth lately and I've been baking up a storm- Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and Pumpkin Whoopie Cookies and so much more =)
Even though this is a Halloween sort of theme I don't mind--everyone loves candy corn =)
I was toodeling around some blogs this afternoon and found this recipe on Miss Understood's page and thought I would share it. I will let you know how it is. But how can you go wrong - Candy Corn and Chocolate-- YUM !!!

Candy Corn Cookie Bark

14 to 16 whole Oreos, broken up
1½ cups mini pretzels, broken into pieces
1 lb white chocolate (chocolate wafers work best... try Wiltons or Guittard brand)
1 cup candy corn
brown and orange colored sprinkles
1. Place waxed paper on large cookie sheet. Spread cookies, pretzels and about 3/4 cup of the candy corn into a 13x9-inch rectangle on the waxed paper.
2. Place chocolate in glass measuring cup and heat in microwave for about 1½ minutes. Stir and then microwave for about another 30 seconds until melted and smooth.
3. Drizzle melted chocolate immediately over cookie mixture, spreading with spatula (if needed) to coat evenly. Top with reserved candy corn and colored sprinkles. Work quickly before chocolate hardens.
4. Place into refrigerator until firm. Remove and gently break apart into small pieces for serving. Store in airtight container.
Yield: About 2 dozen pieces



Emmm Happy Baking :)
XOXO
MissSweetTreats <3

Pumpkin Whoopie Cookie Pies :)

Absolutely Divine- Just in Time for Thanksgiving :)

5 Stars - Heavenly <3>

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 cups firmly packed dark-brown sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 cups pumpkin puree, chilled
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 
  
• FOR THE CREAM-CHEESE FILLING
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Make the cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves; set aside. In another large bowl, whisk together brown sugar and oil until well combined. Add pumpkin puree and whisk until combined. Add eggs and vanilla and whisk until well combined. Sprinkle flour mixture over pumpkin mixture and whisk until fully incorporated.
3. Using a small ice cream scoop with a release mechanism, drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Transfer to oven and bake until cookies are just starting to crack on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of each cookie comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely on pan.
4. Make the filling: Sift confectioner' sugar into a medium bowl; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until smooth. Add cream cheese and beat until well combined. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla, beat just until smooth. (Filling can be made up to a day in advance. Cover and refrigerate; let stand at room temperature to soften before using.)
5. Assemble the whoopie pies: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Transfer filling to a disposable pastry bag and snip the end. When cookies have cooled completely, pipe a large dollop of filling on the flat side of half of the cookies. Sandwich with remaining cookies, pressing down slightly so that the filling spreads to the edge of the cookies. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate cookies at least 30 minutes before serving and up to 3 days.

Just a tip if you want to use fresh pumpkin its better- more work obviously but better :)
Happy Baking
XOXO
MissSweetTreats <3>

Dr. Seuss Cake Extrodinare

Four top cake artists design cakes inspired by some of Dr. Seuss' s popular books,
including Horton Hears a Who, Green Eggs and Ham,
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and Cat In The Hat!
The winner takes home $10,ooo.
I caught a re-run of this episode this past Saturday actually- it was quite amazing -
4 top cake designers were assigned a Dr. Seuss book to work with and had about 6 hours to create a Dr.Seuss cake and battle to win 10,000 dollars.Other elements were used, rather than just cake- Fondant (thin layers of dough to coat cakes that gives the cake a smooth and perfect finish), Rice Krispies, Molding Chocolate, Food Dyes, dowels and various frostings were used to complete these four cakes.
In the end with a 97 point score--the Cat in the Hat Cake by designer
Mary Maher (3 time champion) took the ribbon =)
Her cake was superbly crafted and contained so many elements of the book itself--
little additions like a fish and teacup really pushed her over the top !
2nd Place was the Green Eggs and Ham cake which was also full of vibrant details =)
XOXO
MissSweetTreats <3>

Pink Cake Box <3

HOLY CAKES 

CHECK THESE OUT

    
                                                                                                    
                                                                        

Founder: Anne Heap--- Anne is a graduate of the Pastry Arts Program at the French Culinary Institute in NYC.  Since she was six years old Anne has had a love for baking aroused by her mother, and now over 20 years later Anne is a phenomonal pastry chef 

and founder of Pink Cake Box. Anne graduated for Advertising in 2001--baking fresh goodies for co-workers and friends joking that some day she would own her own cookie shop-- and today her success at Pink Cake Box--has opened doors to many clients and corporate events, she has appeared on The Food Network--In Modern Bride Magazine--People Magazine and many others.

(Information: Courtesy of Pink Cake Box.com)

Ohhhh My Goodness !!!

Some of the Most fabulous cakes I have ever seen---- I just love them :)

Take a look---most of the cakes are courtesy of Pink Cake Box

fabulous designers by the way .....

Xoxo 

MissSweetTreats <3>

Election Day 2008

Barack Obama Vs. John McCain

Don't forget to Vote ! 

Have a say in the next leader of your country...

Long lines formed this morning as polls opened across the country

Malfunctioning machines and Impatience were just 2 of the factors involved in voting...

Yet that didn't stop people from voting for the next leader of the country ! 

Don't forget to watch the Election Coverage tonight 

when the polls close around 9:00 EST on CNN

HAPPY HALLOWEEN



There's a goblin at my window,
A monster by my door.
The pumpkin at my table
Keeps on smiling more and more.
There's a ghost who haunts my bedroom,
A witch whose face is green.
They used to be my family,
Till they dressed for Halloween :)


Have a Wonderful and Safe Holiday :)
Enjoy all the wonderous treats
XOXO
MissSweetTreats <3>

Savory Soapy Sweet Tooth!

YAY !
If you haven't heard of Bath & Body's line of Temptations Products- you better throw on your parka and go try it !--- The line includes many fabulous scents of 3-in-1 Body Products....
Bubble Bath, Body Wash and Shampoo-- many of the scents are seasonal like my favorites Pumpkin Pie Paradise and Simply Devine Cherry Pie !
These are truly Heaven on Earth-- I've had many compliments in the dorm bathrooms !!!
People can smell them for miles, and the thing is, they really smell like baking Cherry and Pumpkin pie, its devine :)
The soaps work up such a nice lather and leaves you in a silky creamy like state :)
And the best thing is it's Shampoo and Body Wash-- so you won't have fighting scents-- just delicious scents all around :)

You can find them at Bath and Body in store
or online at Limited Times:)
For $12.00...
Other Scrumptious Scents:
Twisted PepperMint
Sassy Strawberry Mint
Pecan Passion
Forever Frosting
Hello Sugar (*NEW) and Fabulous
Spiced Apple
Sugar & Spice
Perfect Peach
ICED TEA TWIST-- one of my favorites !!! <3 smells EXactly like Iced Tea and Lemon :)
Sunset Mango
Pomegranate Martini
Island Coconut
Glittery Gumdrop
Melon Cooler
Beyond Berry
Frozen Daqari
Vanilla Ice Cream <3
Banana Smoothie
Cinnamon Bun Heaven
and more........<3


Happy Bathing
xoxo
MissSweetTreats <3

Cook for the Cure !

October is Breast Cancer Month and I don't know about you but I LOVE PINK
and my mom was recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer--- so I'm purchasing this Kitchen Set for Christmas this year-- not only will my kitchen be FABULOUS but it will be Pink and everytime I cook I can think of the fact that I'm helping the cause :)
By purchasing the objects you're donating money to the cure :)
KitchenAide Pink Cook for the Cure products
Check it out :)
Happy Baking
xoxo
MissSweetTreats <3

Yay Cupcakes !

Um Hi ! 

Halloween is just a few days away and who doesn't love cupcakes- well I'll tell ya what I LOVe cupcakes ! 

It's perfect you don't feel obligated to eat a whole cake because it's a tiny cake !

 -- What a clever idea- Kudos to the Cupcake man!! 

Anyway as I've mentioned 100's of times before I LOVE Fall so of course I've been doing some baking lately ! 

Such as Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies a fall FAVORITE in my house, and ever so popular cut-outs-- ghosts-witches- pumpkins you know ! :)

And then my personal Halloween favorite !-- Homemade Peanut Butter Doughnuts with Chocolate frosting :) Delish :)

But as for those recipes--- I can't leak them--- family secrets :)

Anyway so I was like I haven't made a Halloween cake-- so we need to hop on that one :) 

But cake's waste quicker- not as convienent you know--- so i was researching Cupcake decorations and found some favorites :)...... and a few other Holidays as well :)

Happy Baking :)

Xoxo

MissSweetTreats <3