Cactus - Cake Bites!

Cactus are so hot right now! I lived in Arizona for over a decade and I hated them. I moved there from the California coast at 16 - right in the middle of my high school years. I hated everything about our new home, as many teenagers would after a move. But in time I grew to love the desert. I love the monsoon season, I love the color contrast and I love the complete quiet that can be found. My husband is a desert man and I know he misses it. Lately with the cactus craze, I've been painting more cacti and the other day I had an idea to make a cactus cake bite. Now you can too!

What you will need:

1 package of the super mini cake cones

1 package of any shade of cocoa candy melts (or you could temper chocolate)

1 package of mini marshmallows

1 package of graham crackers

1 package of Oreo - S'mores (though you could use any flavor - I just thought this went the best with the other flavors)

1 package of vanilla frosting (again, you could use any flavor)

1 package of green candy melts

assorted sprinkles, sanding sugar

I love these super mini cake cones - I keep finding new ways to use them. They are the perfect base for cake bites.

Slowly melt your cocoa candy melts. The bags give directions on how to melt in the microwave, but I adore my double boiler. Either way, once they are melted you will want to dip each cone in the chocolate and set to the side to harden. Don't fuss too much about any imperfections; they are to imitate pots and rarely those are perfect.

I let mine sit over night and work on them the next morning. With a sharp paring knife, you can trim down the base to help it sit right. You can also shave any really big areas of too much chocolate. Save the extra bits of chocolate - you will need them in just a minute.

Stuff mini marshmallows down into the pot. This will help weight it and allow it to sit. It's also a yummy surprise once the cake bite has been devoured.

*You could also use gummi bears or any other favorite small candy.

Melt the extra chocolate candy wafers and cover the pot tops. Before it hardens, sprinkle crushed graham cracker on top. This will be the gravel or soil.

Drop all the Oreo crackers into a Cuisinart and blend until they are all crumbled up. Since it has the creamy filling, they will be slightly moist. Now you will add a dollop or two of the vanilla frosting. You want just enough frosting that the Oreo mixture will stick together like clay, but you do not want it too sticky!

There isn't a perfect amount of frosting - it depends on how many cookies you start with, the weather, etc.. I would start with a couple big spoonfuls and blend. Check until it's the desired consistency.

Shape the Oreo cake dough into the desired cactus shapes. Check out pictures of the real plant, look at clipart, and other cactus art. Try to vary the shape - you may find some are easier to work with than others. And then place in the fridge for 20-40 minutes (do not place in freezer!)

*When you are shaping the cake bite, gently test it on the pot to see if it is a good proportion.

While your cake pops are hardening in the fridge, place a toothpick in the center of each pot. Be sure to let the cake pop eaters know about this so they don't get an unpleasant surprise.

Melt the green candy to coat the cactus. I found a really fun bright green at Michael's - it's Wilton's Vibrant Green.

Get your decorating yummies out and ready to use. I picked out green sprinkles, green sanding sugar and a few other goodies. Explore your nearest baking supply store for things that maybe fun to use.

Then you will dip and decorate your cactus. I placed mine to the side to harden and then placed gently on the toothpick center of the pot.

I think these would be so fun for any desert or Mexico themed party. Wouldn't these be adorable table favors at a wedding or fiesta? Your guests will love that their personal cactus is completely edible and delicious!

Spicy Chocolate Brownies Recipe

When Kiddo was just a baby, I had an online bakery and kept busy entering culinary contests. I've always loved to be in the kitchen and in my younger days, I dreamed of becoming a pastry chef. However, the hours are long and the stress is high - not my ideal profession. I do not create recipes nearly as often these days with the three children at my feet, but I know one day I'll return to this passion. This brownie recipe is one that I created a few years back and actually had for sale. One of my clients made this into a regular dessert at their restaurant. It's spicy, full of chocolate and deliciously rich. It is the perfect treat to make for Valentine's Day (which is just a little over a month away!!)

Kick You In The Pants Till You're Nutty Brownies

* 1 cup butter, softened

* 2 cups of white sugar

* 4 large eggs

* 1 tsp. vanilla extract

* 1 1/4 cups flour

* 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

* 1/2 tsp. baking powder

* 1/2 tsp chipotle or chili powder

* 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

* 1/4 tsp. salt

* 1/2 cup chopped walnuts OR slivered almonds

Frosting:

*1/2 cup butter, melted

* 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

* 2 cups powder/confectioner sugar

* 1/2 tsp. chipotle or chili power

* 1 tsp. vanilla extract

* 2 tbsp. milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13" pan.

Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar at medium speed until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add in vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and chipotle powder. Gradually stir into the butter mixture until incorporated. Spoon into greased pan and gently spread mini chocolate chips on top. Bake for 35 minutes.

To make the frosting, beat butter, cocoa, powder sugar, chipotle powder, vanilla and milk in a large mixing bowl at medium speed until ingredients are moistened. Spread over the baked brownies and top with nuts.

Enjoy!

I know you will love these and would love to hear if you make them.

Happy New Year!

XO,
Jenny

Easter Cupcakes!

Mmm... Easter treats by far are my absolute favorite! I love the colors, I love chocolate and honestly I do enjoy nibbling the ears off milk chocolate bunnies. I've been searching Pinterest for some cupcakes to knock my socks off. I love single serving desserts -- helps me with portion control and it's really easy to ship the rest off with my husband to work the next day.

As I was searching on Pinterest, I mentioned these Cadbury Egg Cupcakes to my hubby and he was literally drooling before I could finish my sentence. He's a Cadbury Egg maniac! Well my short search was over, I don't think I would be allowed to make anything else. These amazing creations were created by Pizzazzerie - head on over for the recipe.

Now what color to decorate them with?? 

Results for WoW #11 and tutorial - Details for #12

Miss Isabelle turned 3 last week - and she had 5 parties.

Yup - 5.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that she is still talking about her birthday

and wants to know when she'll have another party.

For her family party I made chocolate dipped cheesecake pops.

I don't remember when Isa first had cheesecake, but what I do remember

is that she would NOT share it - any of it.

She absolutely adores it!

The cheesecake pops were pretty easy to make,

though the looked nothing like recipe pics.

I used this recipe.

I used a classic Cheesecake Factory cheesecake.

It was frozen overnight in our deep freeze.

This part is a little tricky.

I think my cheesecake was too cold, but it quickly got too warm.

Be ready to toss it back and forth from the freezer to making the pops.

Here are the yummy bites waiting to be dipped in delicious chocolate!

Be sure to push the candy sticks in deep and freeze the pops again for at least an hour.

And here they are post dipped and sprinkled with

yellow & pink sugar.

As you can see, they aren't perfectly shaped.

A lot of that issue was because the chocolate coating was a little chunky.

When you make these, be sure the chocolate is completely melted.

That part is a little tricky because the chocolate will be hot since it's melted

and then it starts to melt your cheesecake.

But if you let the chocolate get too cooled, then it forms chunky on the pops.

Either way...they taste fabulous!

And no one knows what they are "supposed" to look like..

Here is the birthday girl blowing out her candles.

I love that she isn't a traditional cake girl!

*****

Kathleen submitted a sweet mini birthday bunting.

I love the idea of placing this on the refrigerator.

My kiddos would stare at it all day!

A unique take on birthday bunting and oh so cute!!

Craft Challenge #12

"Our hearts are with Japan"

This week has been so heartbreaking, it has been difficult to watch the news.

For this week, I propose making something in honor of Japan.

Anything from food to quilts, this amazing country

offers endless creative inspiration.

Want to join in on the fun?

Leave your link on this post by midnight (MTN) of next Tuesday.

You can read the details of WoW here.