seasonal

Loving Lately

This is the time of year that every baker (home and professional) thrives on. I get totally blown away by the creativity; the elaborate pie crusts… the eggnog flavored, well everything. If you are, or live with a baker, you totally understand the refrigerators full of butter (or countertops full, because they are softening to room temp); you are not surprised by perhaps multiple 10 pound bags of flour; you don’t get shocked anymore by copious amounts of powdered sugar. It’s par for the seasonal course. My kids probably wouldn’t think anything was out of the ordinary if I said “tonight we are trying out new bundt cake recipes for dinner!” (That’s a good idea, actually.) However, in spite of all of the options, right now I am totally obsessed with Gingerbread House Cakes. Totally.

Courtesy of Pinterest

Never mind that WordPress changed all of their formatting and this already technically challenged blogger is completely thrown. Does anyone really know what they’re doing? …Of course, I am ecstatic that Tiffany Thiessen introduced me to perfect mashed potatoes in her new cookbook, Pull Up a Chair. I am completely disheartened that the Chicken Pot Pie recipe from Magnolia Table turned out more like Chicken Pot Soup. (Side note: did anyone else try that recipe?) But nothing compares with my excitement of the fantastical world of fairy tale inspired, elegant and simultaneously rustic, sweet and scenic, modeled confections known as Gingerbread House Cakes. Nothing. 

Pink Gingerbread Dream House Drip Cake by Veronica Arthur.

Gingerbread House Cakes are perfect all winter long. The epitomize the the spirit of the season without being too specific to one day. They seem so special, and at the same time so approachable. If you can slather on some white frosting, and assemble even a store bought gingerbread structure, maybe rinse and dry a few winter greens, and sprinkle a little powdered sugar… well then, you too can participate in this beautiful trend!

Image courtesy of Pinterest

Naturally if one big centerpiece isn’t your thing, or maybe you have a classroom of 24 little people to accommodate, you don’t have to feel left out.

Image courtesy of alittlebitofsillinessreally.tumblr.com

Maybe you are willing to make cookies, but nothing else! Hmmm…. Here you go!

Image courtesy of taste.com.au

If you’re looking for the whole effect with a real shortcut, Nordic Ware has you covered. Shoot, you can even buy it from Williams-Sonoma with a mix! (There’s no shame in that game.)

Image courtesy of Williams-Sonoma.com

But just consider this:

Image courtesy of @cgoedke

It’s (almost) magical. 

I’ll be in the kitchen.

Featured image courtesy of Postcards and Pretties

Loving Lately ❤

Loving Lately #1: Seasonal Parties – Harvest Celebration

Admittedly, I am not crafty. But I know people who are! My mother for example has an artistic flare that passed me right by. She gets inspired by her six grandchildren and makes every season come alive in fun and innovative ways. And although I may not come up with these ideas, I certainly appreciate them! How adorable are these little pumpkins? And better yet, they are delicious, because they are Rice Krispies Treats! I know what you are thinking. Do they have organic food coloring? Well I like India Tree’s natural food dyes. (But I’m not saying that’s what my mom did.)

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Our gathering took place at the family cabin, and at night for a little ambiance we lit a pumpkin style lantern. Originally made to light the way outside, the lanterns were made from repurposed hanging flower pots. The hollowed and carved pumpkins are set on a bed of colorful leaves and filled with a candle. Creatively my mother used paper bags and coffee filters for the bow! (People need to get creative in the woods.)

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For entertainment we the kids played rounds of tic-tac-toe. Who needs pencils and paper when you have pumpkins and sticks?

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Not really true to character she also made some pumpkin cake pops, covered in white chocolate and sprinkles. -That is to say carrying out a theme is all her style, but molded bakeware is more of my thing… So I’m pretty sure I’m rubbing off on her.

The party included good eats, and fun drinks too… which I’ll be sharing with you in the future. But for now I’ll leave you with this:

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Because even though they’re not organic, they are a Michigan company. And you know I have to make a plug for my Michigan companies. 😉

Sidenote: I’d like to give credit to the sites my mom uses for ideas which are partially hers and some variations of things she saw on the world wide web, so I will in-part simply credit the internet.