Sisteroo

Suiting Up For Spring and Summer!

noreply@blogger.com (artist) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:02:00 +0000

Another successful bargain hunt! I still can't get over the quality and quantity of clothing at this year's Northwest Arkansas Rhea Lana Spring Sale.

Take a look at my two favorite outfits from the RL shopping trip: matching green polo shirts, green and blue plaid shorts, and (not pictured, because honestly, who wants to wear shoes?) two identical pairs of blue and red Crocs clogs.

Total price for all this cuteness? $24. I kid you not. Let me break it down for you:

(Polo + shorts + crocs) x 2 = 24 (!!!!)

Yup. I still can't believe it myself. All items are in fantastic condition. Apparently, some boys just don't destroy clothing like mine do. Which makes it all the more fortunate that I buy my boys' clothing at such great prices. Shopping consignment means I don't have a nuclear meltdown if a Lacoste polo gets shredded on the playground gate. Or if one adorable Sperry shoe gets flung out the car window on the freeway. Or if a pitcher of cranberry punch mysteriously tips onto some classy Ralph Lauren khakis. (Not that I've experienced any of these horrifying things...um...). When disaster meets clothing, it's OK. Boys will be boys. I'll just buy another $5 pair of name-brand pants at the next sale.

So I'm already resigned to the fact that most (if not all) of my purchases at this year's sale will be stretched and jumped in and splashed upon and loved to tattered little pieces. And then I'll get some more clothes to love at Rhea Lana's fall sale :)

Spring Has Sprung (finally!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sisteroos) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 22:30:00 +0000

I’ve got two boys who are (literally) climbing the walls over here, waiting for “popsicles, shorts, sand, popsicles, swimming, popsicles and (did I mention?) popsicles.” The weather is warming up at last, which means it’s time to shop for some cute spring/summer frippery. This couldn’t be more perfect timing--our upcoming Rhea Lana consignment event begins next week! (check out dates and location here).

If you’re wondering what to purchase this spring/summer season, I've created an inspiration board (above) and gathered up some of my favorite trends.

COLOR: Rich jewel tones paired with neon accents are just about the coolest thing I've seen in kid's clothing. YELLOW, PURPLE, BLUE and GREEN are the favored colors, but if you like ORANGE and PINK, those appear as accent colors in both boys and girls pieces.

PATTERN: Plaid, plaid, plaid! You'll be seeing it everywhere--in button-down shirts, shorts, skirts and swimwear. Stripes are always in style, so it's never risky to purchase a few classic items that can carry you into fall. Floral prints are super popular in girlswear this season. Expect to find blossoms of all sizes--from giant poppy prints to itty bitty forget-me-nots.

CUT: For boys, classic polos, button-down shirts and short sleeve tees are staple buys. Swim trunks and shorts are slightly longer, and slim-cut. You'll see some maxi dresses and flowing cuts in girls' summer dresses. Rompers are back in style, as are preppy skirts and wider-leg shorts.

The nice thing about all of these trends is that I'll likely find a ton of them at the consignment sale next week. Colors and patterns rotate quickly in childrenswear, so what's in-style this year will be back in five to seven(ish) years.

I'll report back next week with my favorite fashion finds! Crossing my fingers for a successful bargain-hunt!

Dark Chocolate Ganache Easter Egg Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Lawyer) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 23:47:00 +0000

Easter dinner has always been a big event in the Sisteroo household. In addition to the usual leg-of-lamb, cream-drenched scalloped potatoes, grilled asparagus and butter-soft rolls, we are quite serious about our desserts. Actress's Easter Coconut Carrot Cake is always a huge hit and an annual Easter staple. But this year I decided to up the ante with a dark chocolate, buttercream-filled ganache cake shaped like an Easter egg. The recipe is ridiculously simple and sure to impress your guests. I'm thinking this cake will become a Sisteroo Easter tradition too!

DARK CHOCOLATE GANACHE EASTER EGG CAKE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

1 box dark chocolate cake mix (I used Betty Crocker)
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. confectioners' (powdered) sugar
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 12-oz bag semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. water
Optional: malt ball eggs or other Easter candy for decorating

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare dark chocolate cake mix according to directions. Bake the cake in 2 round 9" cake pans.

2. While your cake is baking, prepare a simple buttercream frosting by beating the 1/2 c. butter with 1 Tb. of the whipping cream, then adding 1 1/2 c. confectioners' sugar until stiff peaks form. Set buttercream aside.

3. Once your cakes have finished baking, remove from the oven and let cool.

4. Prepare a "simple syrup" to preserve the cake's moistness (since it will be refrigerated) by heating 1/2 c. granulated sugar and 1/2 c. water in a saucepan until boiling. Let boil for 3 minutes.

5. Use a serrated knife to flatten the bottom cake layer. Stack the cakes on top of each other and carve off the edges of the cake to create an egg shape.

6. Lightly brush the simple syrup over the top of each cake layer using a pastry brush. This will preserve the cake's moistness, even after refrigeration.

7. Pour the 12 oz bag of chocolate chips into a glass bowl. Pour 1 1/3 c. heavy whipping cream into a small sauce pan and heat on medium high, stirring constantly, until it is just boiling. Quickly pour the hot cream over your chocolate chips and stir with a whisk until the chocolate is completely melted. Chocolate ganache...complete!

8. Incorporate 1/4 c. of the chocolate ganache into your buttercream. Spread a thick layer of the chocolate buttercream between your cake layers.

9. Slowly pour the remaining chocolate ganache over the top of the egg cake, letting it coat the top and sides completely.

10. Use the remaining chocolate buttercream to pipe decor around the bottom layer of your egg cake. Decorate with Easter candy as desired.

11. Refrigerate for 2 or more hours (up to overnight) before serving.

Good luck ganache egging, Sisteroos!

St. Patrick's Day Chocolate Mint Trifle

noreply@blogger.com (Lawyer) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:01:00 +0000

I've been working on the perfect recipe to lure the leprechauns away from their pot o' gold this year, and I think I've found it with this mouth-watering chocolate mint chip trifle. Your friends (small and large) will be doing the Irish jig over this concoction of layered devil's food cake, mint chocolate ganache, chocolate chunks, and thick mint whipped cream. The best part is that it only calls for 4 basic ingredients and takes less than an hour to create, baking time included! Luck of the Irish, indeed!

CHOCOLATE MINT CHIP TRIFLE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

1 box Devil's Food cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)
2 12-oz bags semi sweet chocolate chips (OR 5 Hershey's "XL" 4.4 oz chocolate bars)
1 quart heavy whipping cream (if your trifle dish is large like mine, you might need a quart and a half!)
3 Tb mint extract
Optional: green food coloring

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare Devil's Food cake mix according to directions. Bake the cake in 2 round 9" cake pans. (NOTE: measure your trifle dish before baking--you want your cake rounds to fit in the dish! Most trifle dishes are between 8" and 9", so 9" cake rounds should fit nicely. You may need to trim your cakes slightly to fit.)

2. While your cake is baking, pour one 12 oz bag of chocolate chips (or break up 2 1/2 large Hershey's bars) into a glass bowl. Pour 1 1/3 c. heavy whipping cream into a small sauce pan and heat on medium high, stirring constantly, until it is just boiling. Quickly pour the hot cream over your chocolate chips and stir with a whisk until the chocolate is completely melted. Mix 1 Tb. of mint extract in. Guess what...you've just made mint ganache! Refrigerate the ganache until layering time--it needs to firm up a bit.

3. While your cake is STILL baking, make your chocolate chunks by melting your second 12 oz bag of chocolate chips in 30 second intervals in the microwave until fully melted. Pour the melted chocolate onto a cookie sheet, spread to 1/4 in thickness with a spatula, and let harden for 5-10 minutes in your freezer (or 10-20 minutes in your fridge). Once the chocolate is fully chilled, scrape your spatula along the pan, breaking the chocolate into large chunks. If the chocolate is too soft to break, let it re-set in the fridge. If it's too hard, let it warm for a few minutes on the counter.

ALTERNATIVE METHOD: freeze 2 of your 4.4 oz chocolate bars and break apart with a meat mallet or other hard object. Instant chocolate chunks!

ALTERNATIVE-ALTERNATIVE METHOD: Forget the chocolate chunks. Just use your chocolate chips as they are!

4. Your cakes should be done now. Take them out and let them cool on the counter. While cooling, make your whipped cream by pouring the remaining heavy whipping cream into a large metal bowl and whipping on high for 5-10 minutes until the cream forms soft peaks. While whipping, incorporate 2 Tb of mint extract, along with sugar and vanilla extract to taste (I usually add 1/3 c white sugar and 1Tb vanilla extract). If desired, add 5-10 drops green food coloring for a colorful presentation.

5. Using a serrated knife, slice each cake round in half so that you have 4 very thin cake rounds.

6. Time to layer! Place a small amount of mint whipped cream in the bottom of your trifle dish, then place one of the cake rounds on top. Spoon a layer of chocolate ganache on the cake round, then top with a layer of mint whipped cream and a handful of chocolate chunks. Place another cake round on top, and repeat the process.

7. Use the remaining whipped cream to create the top layer. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chunks. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to eat.

Irish luck to your mint-trifiling, Sisteroos!

President's Day Apple Flag Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Lawyer) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:32:00 +0000

I'm a patriotic American. I eat apple pie, watch baseball in June, mistrust the metric system, and wear a fanny-pack while traveling abroad. (The latter not since the early 90s. Thankfully.) So it shouldn't surprise you, Sisteroos, that I decided to bake a decidedly American pie in celebration of this upcoming President's Day. I used my hands-down favorite apple pie recipe and a no-fail buttery pastry crust for this red, white and blue concoction, and the results were simply flag raising!

APPLE (and BLUEBERRY and CHERRY) FLAG PIE RECIPE

For the crust: (I use Martha Stewart's Pate Brisee recipe with a few modifications of my own)

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (plus 1/4 cup flour for rolling out)
1/2 teaspoon salt (1 teaspoon is far too much)
2 tablespoons sugar (you really do need some sweetness to balance the crust)
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, cold, cut into small pieces
1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

1. Combine flour, sugar and salt, and gently mix with hand mixer or in food processor until combined. Add butter and pulse or cut in the butter until mixture resembles pea-sized coarse crumbs.

2. While mixing, add the ice water in a steady stream, just until the dough holds together without being wet or sticky. Do not overmix or add to much water--start with 1/4 a cup and only add additional water by tablespoons until dough holds together. There should still be unmixed butter flecks throughout the dough. This is what makes it flaky!

3. Place the dough on a floured work surface. Press it together, then divide in half and shape each half into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight.

For the pie:

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/8 cup water
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
6 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced thinly
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup cherry pie filling (with whole cherries)
1 egg white, lightly beaten

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out your bottom and top crusts. Cut star shapes and stripes from the top crust and set aside. Place the bottom crust in your pie dish and brush with the egg white (to prevent the crust from getting soggy).

2. Melt the butter in a saucepan and stir in water, flour and cornstarch until it forms a paste. As it begins to simmer, add vanilla, white sugar, brown sugar and spices, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

3. Take sauce off of heat and immediately pour 3/4 of sauce over the top of your peeled and sliced apples. Mix lightly and pour coated apples into pie shell. Quickly cover the top of the apples with blueberries and and pie dough stars and stripes, then brush remaining glaze (which must be hot to remain liquid) over the crust and blueberries. Finish by placing lines of cherries between the pie dough stripes.

4. Place pie dish on top of a cookie sheet lined with foil and bake at 350 for 50 to 70 minutes, until apples are soft. About 10 minutes before completed, pull pie out of oven and brush the crust with milk and coat lightly in crystal sugar.

5. Let pie cool and set for an hour prior to serving.

Good luck patriotic pie-ing, Sisteroos!

Homemade Valentine's Gummy Candy

noreply@blogger.com (Lawyer) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:45:00 +0000

Happy Mandatory Store Bought Candy, Card and Flowers Day! In celebration of the upcoming holiday that I simply can't bring myself to loathe because it involves pink hearts and sparkles (and chocolate), here are some spectacular homemade Valentine's-themed fruit jellies I whipped up. I made mine in peach, strawberry, orange and raspberry flavors, but you can try any flavor you like!

HOMEMADE VALENTINE'S GUMMY CANDY RECIPE (a.k.a. FRUIT JELLIES)

2/3 cup strained fruit juice concentrate
3 Tb. unflavored gelatin (I used 3 packets of Knox)
4 Tb. water
4 Tb. corn syrup
6 Tb. granulated sugar
Colored sanding sugars or nonpareil sprinkles

1. Lightly spray silicone or plastic candy molds with non-stick cooking spray. (Fun shaped ice cube molds also work well, as long as they're not too large and deep...your gummies would never set!)
2. Pour the unflavored gelatin and water in a bowl and let it sit at room temperature for 3-5 minutes.
3. While the gelatin is softening, place the juice, sugar and corn syrup in a medium saucepan and heat until sugar dissolves.
4. Stir in gelatin and continue stirring until gelatin dissolves completely and the mixture begins to boil. Let boil one minute, stirring constantly.
5. Spoon into silicone or plastic candy molds and refrigerate or leave on counter until completely set. You'll know it's ready when you press the gummy and it's no longer sticky (it should softly spring back from your touch.
6. When set, turn out of molds and roll in sanding sugar or nonpareil sprinkles.

Good luck gummy candying, Sisteroos!

Easy Party Meringues

noreply@blogger.com (Lawyer) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 04:50:00 +0000

(Meringue flavors from bottom to top: root beer, peppermint, strawberry cheesecake, egg nog, peppermint, coconut, strawberry cheesecake)

I don't know about you, but I'm stuffed. I spent this holiday season gorging on confections of every sort--pies, cakes, cookies, candy, cocoa...ooof. So with the New Year (and serious diet resolutions) fast approaching, I figured I'd better come up with a guilt-free, fat free dessert to sate my ferocious sweet tooth. Enter the crispy, light meringue...

At only 30 to 40 calories per cookie, meringues are the perfect dessert to offset the gluttonous holiday season. They're also extremely versatile, and can be mixed with just about any flavor. Below, I'll take you through peppermint, coconut, egg nog, root beer, and strawberry cheesecake variations.

BASIC MERINGUE RECIPE

--3 large egg whites, room temperature
--3/4 c white sugar
--1/2 tsp cream of tartar
--pastry bag and large decorating tip (I find that 2C, 2D, and 1E work well)
--parchment paper

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 225 degrees Farenheit.

2. Using a thoroughly clean metal bowl and clean beaters (any residue in the bowl or beaters may prevent the whites from stiffening), beat egg whites on medium high until slightly foamy. Add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form.

3. Slowly add the sugar while beating the egg white mixture on medium. Increase the speed to high and beat until the mixture is shiny and the whites form stiff peaks. Make sure not to overbeat the whites. If they become dull or chunky, you've likely overbeaten. (However, if your whites don't keep their shape after piping, you haven't beaten enough!)

4. Fold in desired coloring or extract (see suggestions below). Spoon mixture into pastry bag with decorating tip.

5. Pipe egg white mixture into small 2-3 inch rounds on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet.

6. Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until meringues are firm to the touch (not soft like a marshmallow). You'll know they are finished if you can pull a meringue off the parchment paper by it's peak without peeling off the top.

7. Turn the oven off, crack the oven door open, and leave the meringues inside to cool. When the cookie sheet can be removed without a hot pad, they're finished!

PEPPERMINT MERINGUES

--ingredients from Basic Meringue Recipe, above
--1/4 tsp peppermint extract
--1/4 tsp vanilla extract
--red gel food coloring
--small food safe paintbrush

1. Prepare Basic Meringue Recipe above.

2. Fold in peppermint and vanilla extracts to egg white mixture.

3. Using a small food safe paintbrush, paint three stripes of red gel food coloring up the inside of your pastry bag. Fill your pastry bag with the egg white mixture and continue the Basic Meringe Recipe above.

COCONUT MERINGUES

--ingredients from Basic Meringue Recipe, above
--1/2 tsp coconut extract (I got mine HERE)
--1/4 tsp vanilla extract
--1/3 c shredded coconut

1. Prepare Basic Meringue Recipe above.

2. Fold in coconut and vanilla extracts and shredded coconut to egg white mixture.

3. Fill your pastry bag with the egg white mixture and continue the Basic Meringe Recipe above.

EGG NOG MERINGUES

--ingredients from Basic Meringue Recipe, above
--1/2 tsp egg nog extract (I got mine HERE)
--1/2 tsp cinnamon

1. Prepare Basic Meringue Recipe above.

2. Fold in egg nog extract and cinnamon to egg white mixture.

3. Fill your pastry bag with the egg white mixture and continue the Basic Meringe Recipe above.

ROOT BEER MERINGUES

--ingredients from Basic Meringue Recipe, above
--1/2 tsp root beer extract (I got mine HERE)
--1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1. Prepare Basic Meringue Recipe above.

2. Fold in root beer and vanilla extracts to egg white mixture.

3. Fill your pastry bag with the egg white mixture and continue the Basic Meringe Recipe above.

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE MERINGUES

--ingredients from Basic Meringue Recipe, above
--1/2 tsp cheesecake extract (I got mine HERE)
--1/2 tsp strawberry extract (I got mine HERE)
--red gel food coloring

1. Prepare Basic Meringue Recipe above.

2. Fold in cheesecake and strawberry extracts and red food coloring to egg white mixture.

3. Fill your pastry bag with the egg white mixture and continue the Basic Meringe Recipe above.

Good luck meringueing, Sisteroos!

White Mint and Dark Mint Oreo Truffles

noreply@blogger.com (Lawyer) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:12:00 +0000

Sisteroos, I've been meaning to make Oreo truffles for years. The recipe is so simple I could bake them in my sleep and upside down, possibly while reciting the Declaration of Independence (When in the course of human events...). And it involves cookies and chocolate, two spectacular foods that compliment each other perfectly. So it's quite a surprise that I'm just now getting around to making these. You can bet I won't wait to make them again!

I played around with the traditional Oreo truffle recipe a little to get the consistency of the truffles just right. I'd recommend purchasing the "double stuff" variety and adding extra Oreo crumbles, in addition to 2/3 cup of powdered sugar to thicken the texture and balance the cream cheese flavor. Finally, I HIGHLY recommend adding a touch of mint to these truffles--it pushes a very tasty truffle into mouth-watering territory...

WHITE MINT OREO TRUFFLES

--1 1/2 packages Double Stuff Golden Oreos
--1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
--1/2 tsp mint extract
--2/3 c powdered sugar
--1 bag white chocolate chips
--1 Tb vegetable oil
--Food coloring of choice

DARK MINT OREO TRUFFLES

--1 1/2 packages Cool Mint Oreos (they don't make a "double stuff" variety since these already have a thicker-than-usual filling)
--1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
--1/4 tsp mint extract
--2/3 c powdered sugar
--1 bag dark chocolate chips
--1 Tb vegetable oil
--Food coloring of choice

DIRECTIONS

1. Pulse Oreos in a food processer or blender until no large pieces remain. Blend cream cheese into Oreo crumb mixture. Mix until smooth.

2. Add mint extract and powdered sugar to mix. Pulse until smooth.

3. Lay parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Roll the Oreo mixture into 2-inch balls and place 1 inch apart. Place in freezer and allow to set at least 1 hour.

4. Reserve 2 to 3 tablespoons of your chocolate chips. Melt the remaining chocolate chips and vegetable oil in microwave on medium, stirring every 30 seconds. Using a fork, immerse each truffle into the chocolate. Tap the fork on the edge of the bowl to remove excess chocolate.

5. Return to parchment paper and let chocolate harden.

6. Melt the 2 to 3 tablespoons of chocolate chips with a dash of vegetable oil. Add a food color of your choice once the chips are melted. Drizzle over your truffles. Let harden and prepare for serving.

Good luck Oreo truffling, Sisteroos!

DIY Industrial Candlesticks

noreply@blogger.com (Lawyer) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 20:59:00 +0000

(Note: these candlestick holders are sturdy and large. From left to right, they stand 6 1/2", 4", 5" and 6 1/2". They hold regular-sized 10" tapers.)

Hardware stores are not my thing. This isn't especially surprising, is it? They're sorely lacking in baked goods and bling, and are instead heavily stocked with dreadful things like manure and two-by-fours. It's not exactly Lawyer Sisteroo style. Husband, on the other hand, would live in a hardware store if I'd let him. So it was with much glee that he dragged me to the local hardware store this weekend to pick up a sprocket (or a spring?) that came loose from our barbecue. It was while I was standing (miserably) in the nuts and bolts aisle of said local hardware store that the idea for these industrial candlesticks hit. These giant hex nuts are a cool and modern twist on your standard candle holders. They look gorgeous on a coffee table or mantle, and would make the perfect DIY holiday gift for that uber stylish friend who has everything. The best part? You can bling them out a dozen different ways. I'm thinking that hardware stores have just become my thing....

Here are a few different ways I decorated my candlesticks:

Minimalist plain industrial style (i.e., no work at all):

Modern red lacquer style:

And of course...metallic bling style:

To make your OWN holiday industrial candlestick holders:

1. Pick up an assortment of large, medium, and small hex nuts from your local hardware store, with one small tapered hex nut for the top of each candlestick (Large = 1" Medium = 7/8" Small = 3/4"). While you're still in the store, stack the nuts on top of each other from largest to smallest (or alternating large-medium-large-medium-small-medium-small-etc.) to make sure you have the sizes and candlestick height you prefer.

2. Purchase a wooden dowel that fits through the smallest hex nut snugly (it will be loose on the largest hex nut, but you will remedy this shortly). Cut to size by threading the nuts on the dowel and cutting 1/2" below the top edge of the last nut (you need to leave room in the top nut for your candle).

3. Prepare a simple paper mache (one part water, two parts glue, one part shredded newspaper) or purchase a light drying dough (e.g. Fimo Air).

4. Place a dab of strong glue (I used E6000. Gorilla Glue or another strong, slow drying glue should work fine) on the bottom 1" portion of the wooden dowel, and thread the largest nut down onto the base. Fill the space between the dowel and the nut with the lightweight paper mache or Fimo Air. The nut should be firmly wedged around the wooden dowel.

5. Place glue along the top edge of the threaded nut and on the next 1" portion of the dowel. Thread the next nut on the dowel and press firmly on the nut below. Repeat the paper mache/clay stuffing in the space between the nut and the dowel (you will need to stuff less and less as you move to the smaller nuts). Once you are finished stacking and gluing all of the nuts, let dry several hours.

6. You may prefer your candlesticks in their original silver. To add a little color, spray your candlesticks in the color of your choice, and then finish with a coat of high gloss spray. I used Rustoleum Enamel for the red candlesticks and Krylon Metallic for the gold and silver candlesticks.

7. For added bling, use a glue gun to affix round gemstones or other fun objects on alternating hex nut levels.

8. Finish your candlesticks off with some taper candles--I was able to fit regular 10" tapers in my candlesticks (you can whittle the candles down with a knife or melt the ends with a match for a minute if the fit is too snug).

Good luck candlesticking, Sisteroos!

Homemade Peppermint Joe Joes

noreply@blogger.com (Lawyer) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 01:27:00 +0000

If I were superwoman, I am convinced that my kryptonite would be Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe Joes. (My thighs and rear are SO grateful that they're only in stock during the holidays. Good gracious.) I love Candy Cane Joe Joes so much that I decided to make my own this year...and believe me, these things are JUST as good (if not better) than the original!

I'm all about shortcuts these days, so I decided to make the cookie base with a boxed cake mix. I also thought these would be extra deadly with a dip in white chocolate--you can leave this step out, or toss your pre-Christmas diet to the wind like I did...

HOMEMADE TRADER JOE'S PEPPERMINT JOE JOES

INGREDIENTS

(For the cookies):

--1 box dark chocolate cake mix
--2 eggs, beaten
--2/3 c. shortening

(For the filling):

--1/4 c. salted butter
--1/4 c. shortening (you can measure it by filling a Pyrex cup to 3/4 cup with water, then adding shortening until the water level reaches 1 cup)
--2 c. sifted powdered sugar
--4 regular sized candy canes, crushed

--1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

(For the white chocolate coating):

--1 package white almond bark or white chocolate chips
--1 Tb. shortening

--4 regular sized candy canes, crushed

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 cookie sheets.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix, eggs and shortening until well blended.

3. Roll the dough into TINY, TINY, quarter-sized balls (the cookies spread while cooking. A lot. And you want these cookies to bake to the size of an Oreo cookie, which is pretty small. Experiment with your preferred size.).

4. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheet.

5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in your preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

6. While your cookies are cooling, crush your candy canes by placing them in a plastic bag and using a meat tenderizer or rolling pin. Make sure not to over crush--you don't want a fine powder, but rather small bits that leave a little "crunch" in your frosting.

7. Combine the butter and shortening in a mixing bowl, and mix until incorporated.

8. Slowly beat in the powdered sugar until incorporated. Add the peppermint extract, beat until combined, then add your candy cane bits and stir until just combined.

9. To assemble the cookies, match your cookies with a pair of roughly equal size and shape. Pipe the filling onto the center of the cookies using a pastry bag and 1/2 inch pastry tip. Sandwich the frosting side cookie with a matching cookie.

10. OPTIONAL: Melt the almond bark or white chocolate and shortening in double boiler. When melted, dip cooled cookies about 1/3 of the way into the melted chocolate. Set on wax paper and sprinkle liberally with candy cane or sprinkles. Let dry for 30 minutes.

11. Try to restrain yourself.

Good luck Peppermint Joe Joe-ing, Sisteroos!

DIY Silver Lace Heels

noreply@blogger.com (Lawyer) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:59:00 +0000

I bought a darling little gray dress for the holiday party season. And Sisteroos, you all know the cardinal rule of the LGD: you simply must have a coordinating pair of fabulous heels. This pair of dove gray pumps (the gray version of THESE) has been sitting in the back of my closet for who knows how long. They were a little too plain to fly solo with the dress, so I spruced up the heels with a silver brocade lace twist. Read on to find out how...

This delicate lace heel looks great for the holidays, but would also be lovely for a wedding, a bridal shower, prom...you name it. I revamped my heel in monochromatic colors, but a two toned heel would look fabulous too!

1. Tape off the heels with painter's or masking tape.

2. Blend gray and tan acrylic paints to match your shoe color (or try a different color altogether for a bolder look). Paint this on your heel as a base for the silver "lace" to grip. Let dry completely.

3. Find a fun silver lace or leaf sticker pattern at your craft store. I used THIS, but there are quite a few varieties out there. Apply the pieces to your heel in a tight pattern, cutting to fit the shape of your heel.

4. Apply a fine border of black gloss acrylic paint along the edges and in the crevices of your lace pattern to create an "aged" look. Let dry.

5. Apply a light spray of clear acrylic gloss to your heel (making sure to avoid the rest of the shoe). This will set your lace and prevent peeling. I used THIS.

6. Slip on your heels and hit the town!

Good luck revamping your holiday heels, Sisteroos!

Pumpkin Chocolate Gingerbread Trifle

noreply@blogger.com (Lawyer) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 02:26:00 +0000

I have a horrible holiday confession: I don't really care for pumpkin pie. (*Gasp! Zounds! The blasphemy!*) So this Thanksgiving, I decided to turn my dessert apathy around with a spectacular pumpkin chocolate gingerbread trifle. Try replacing your pie with this delectable (and incredibly easy) treat on Thanksgiving, and see how many grateful people come to the table!

I experimented with a few flavor combinations and came up with this simple recipe that even the most novice baker can master:

INGREDIENTS

1 box Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix
1 box Betty Crocker Gingerbread
4 eggs
1/3 c oil
15 oz canned pumpkin
1 quart heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c powdered sugar
1 small canister chocolate hazelnut spread (e.g., Nutella)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Prepare Spice Cake Mix according to package (3 eggs, oil, etc.). Mix in 15 oz can of pumpkin until well incorporated. Pour into 2 round cake pans and bake until toothpick comes out clean. Set aside to cool.

3. Prepare Gingerbread according to package (1 egg, water, etc.). Pour into 2 round cake pans and bake until toothpick comes out clean. Set aside to cool.

4. Pour whipping cream, vanilla, and powdered sugar into a large metal bowl. Beat on high for 5 minutes or until whipped cream creates soft peaks.

5. Spoon hazelnut spread into a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds or until spread pours easily from a spoon.

6. Using a serrated knife, slice each cake round in half lengthwise so that you have 8 very thin cake rounds.

7. Starting with your pumpkin cake, place one round at the bottom of your trifle dish (you may need to trim the cake edges slightly to fit in the base of the dish). Pour a thin layer of hazelnut chocolate over the cake and spread to the edges of the dish. Spoon 1/2 cup of whipped cream over the hazelnut chocolate and spread to the edges of the dish. Top with a thin cake round of gingerbread. Repeat the hazelnut chocolate and whipped cream topping. Top with another pumpkin cake round, and so forth.

8. Use the remaining whipped cream to create the top layer. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to eat.

Good luck pumpkin trifling, Sisteroos!

Simple Squash Soup & Vanilla Biscuits

noreply@blogger.com (Lawyer) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 06:04:00 +0000

Husband and I had our first kidlet recently. For those of you who don't know, I'll let you in on a little secret: babies are stark-raving crazies who commandeer every last nanoparticle of your time, sleep and sanity. If they weren't so darn adorable, we'd all be tempted to replace them with puppies.

Because of my cute little time sucker, I don't have many minutes to spend in the kitchen. By necessity, I've come up with all sorts of time-saving recipes that can be prepared with one hand while I'm feeding my baby with the other hand and rocking his bassinet with my foot. This simple Fall soup can be prepared in 20 minutes flat, using only your microwave. The biscuits are even simpler, and will be in your oven in less than 10.

SIMPLE MICROWAVE SQUASH SOUP
(Makes approximately 5 servings)

Ingredients:
--4 12oz packages (approximately 6 cups) of frozen squash (Ralphs has a great product for only $1.00 a box)
--1.5 8oz packages cream cheese
--3 c chicken broth
--1/2 c sweet onion, diced
--2 Tb butter
--1/2 tsp dried majoram
--1/2 tsp ground black pepper
--1/8 tsp ground cayenne pepper

1. Place the frozen squash in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 10-15 minutes, or until the squash is heated through. Stir every 5 minutes to prevent burning.

2. While your squash is microwaving, dice your onion and rinse under cold water to remove any acrid taste.

3. Once the squash is out of the microwave, toss your onion into a microwave-safe bowl with the 2 Tb butter. Microwave on high for 4-5 minutes, or until onion is opaque in color.

4. Place cooked squash, cooked onions, chicken broth and spices into a large pot. Mix well using an immersion blender or hand blender.

5. Heat cream cheese in microwave until soft (30-40 seconds), then place into pot and blend with immersion blender until incorporated.

SIMPLE VANILLA BISCUITS
(Makes 8 large biscuits)

Ingredients:
--2 c all-purpose flour
--2 Tb sugar
--3 tsp baking powder
--1/2 tsp salt
--1/2 c shortening
--3/4 c vanilla almond or soy milk (I used unsweetened; sweetened would work fine as well)

1. Preheat oven to 375.

2. Place dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, salt) in a standing mixer (you can also use a large bowl with a hand mixer). Mix briefly until incorporated.

3. Add the shortening and mix on high until the shortening has broken into little balls--around 1 minute.

4. Add the vanilla milk and mix until a soft dough forms.

5. Flour your countertop. Roll or press out dough to 1/2 in thick. Cut into circles using the top of a drinking glass.

6. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.

Good luck simple cooking, Sisteroos!

Homemade Halloween Costumes

noreply@blogger.com (Sisteroos) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:38:00 +0000

I love Halloween. It was by far my favorite holiday as a kid, comprised of equal parts chaos, equal parts Pixy Stix, all wrapped up in a chocolate-stained, bedazzled costume resembling one of the Jem Holograms, circa 1985. Nowadays, I've lost the taste for Pixy Stix but I still get excited just thinking about Halloween costumes. (And rhinestones. And Jem Holograms.) Husband and I usually joke throughout the year about our upcoming outfits, and then spend a good part of October patching together the punchlines. Here are a few of the results, including this year's creation, featuring our brand new baby guppy. (Thank you to Husband who played supermodel for this post.)

DIY AQUARIUM COSTUME WITH BABY FISH

Supplies:

Baby fish costume (I got THIS ONE)
PVC pipe and PVC corner connectors
Black baseball cap
Black duct tape
2 rolls clear cellophane
Colored construction paper
Scissors
Glue stick

1. Make a 4 foot by 2 1/2 foot rectangular tank using PVC pipe and corner connectors (you can cut the PVC pipe to size in the store, or use a hand saw at home like I did).

2. Cover the PVC pipe in black duct tape (this is not just for looks, but to help secure the structure).

3. Create "suspenders" from duct tape and tape these around the front and back pipes for carrying straps (make sure to reinforce this with tape several times...the fish tank is heavier than it looks!).

4. Cover each panel of the tank in clear cellophane using duct tape.

5. Cut out aquarium plants, bubbles and fish from colored construction paper (search for "sea life clip art" to get some ideas). I used sparkling blue tissue paper for the bubbles to give them an iridescent look.

6. Glue your cutouts to the sides of the tank using a glue stick (which worked surprisingly better than heavy-duty craft glue).

7. Tape another panel of cellophane over the top of your cutouts.

8. Print out a sign reading "PLEASE DO NOT TAP ON THE GLASS." Tape to the black baseball cap.

9. Step into your tank, pick up your baby fish, and you're ready to swim!

DIY ADULT PRINCE CHARMING COSTUME

**(For a kid-sized version of this costume, check out Actress's earlier post HERE)
Supplies:

White chef coat (I used something similar to THIS)
Red or black dress pants
Thick gold ribbon
Blue and red ribbon
Gold and silver star and "seal" stickers (similar to THESE)
Flat piece of cardboard
Yarn (the thicker, the better)
Gold spray paint
Double sick tape
Scissors
Glue gun
Crown and scepter (you can make these easily with cardboard, paper towel tubes, etc., or just pick them up at a dollar store)

1. Glue or double sick tape a thick piece of gold ribbon down each outer side of the dress pants.

2. Using ribbon and seal stickers, create a ribbon/medal panel on the left lapel region of coat (this is a highly decorated prince!).

3. Cut out two heel shaped pieces of cardboard for the shoulder epaulets.

4. Cut out 80 or so 6 inch pieces of yarn and tape these around the bottom underside edge of the cardboard.

5. Spray paint the epaulet pieces gold and glue or tape on the shoulders of the coat.

6. Use gold ribbon to create a belt and sash around the coat.

7. Find yourself a Cinderella and head to the ball!

DIY ROCK PAPER SCISSORS COSTUME

Supplies:

Bike helmet or baseball cap
2 white foam boards
Colored construction paper
Tin foil
Scissors
Duct tape
Light blue and pink markers
Gray and brown paint

1. Use your paint to create a marbled, blotchy gray and brown pattern on 6 or 7 pieces of white construction paper. This should create a "stone" effect. Let dry.

2. Crumple the dried construction paper slightly and cut into rock shaped pieces. Tape these to your helmet or cap, covering it entirely.

3. Cut three large holes down the left side of your foam boards (I used a pair of sharp scissors, but an x-acto knife would work well too).

4. Using a ruler or straight edge, horizontally "line" your foam boards with blue marker leaving a larger margin along the top. Using a pink marker, draw a vertical line to the right of your cut out holes. This should look like a piece of lined paper.

5. Using duct tape, create "straps" that connect the top backs of the foam board together. You should be able to fit your head between the straps so the foam boards hang evenly on your shoulders.

6. Cut out large two scissor handles using orange construction paper.

7. Cut out matching metal scissor pieces using tin foil.

8. Tape the scissor handle cut outs to the metal scissor cut outs, and tape one pair of scissors to each leg.

9. Get ready to throw down some serious rock, paper, scissors matches on Halloween night!

Good luck costuming, Sisteroos!

Favorite Finds for Fall

noreply@blogger.com (artist) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 20:28:00 +0000

Consignment follow up: I scored BIG TIME! Rhea Lana's sale (going on from October 21-27 at Ozark Center Point Place) was the biggest yet (over 100,000 items consigned!!!). I got a little bit of everything: super cool, colorful and cute, fresh and preppy. And nearly everything I found was less than $6!
Here are a few of my favorite finds:

The Cool Kid Total cost: $15
Arizona Jean Company Rockstar hoodie
Calvin Klein gray skinny jeans
Converse kicks in golden brown

Fresh Style Total cost: $17
Gymboree rainbow stripe zip cardigan
Gap Kids slim jeans
Sperry Top-Siders

Totally Preppy Total cost: $21
Gymboree orange-stripe shirt
Ralph Lauren orange sweater
Carter's Navy cadet pants
Ralph Lauren logo shoes

We're all pretty happy over here--I'm thrilled that I stayed within my budget, and my three-year-old is thrilled to wear something other than pajamas.

Consignment Shopping for Stylish Kids

noreply@blogger.com (artist) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 16:44:00 +0000

We need some new duds, pardner.

It’s fall again, and I’m facing last year’s dilemma: my three-year-old has outgrown all his clothes. It seems he’s shot up five inches in just as many weeks, so all the cold-weather purchases I’ve already made for him aren’t going to last through the end of the month.

What’s a mom to do???

This year, I’ve got an ace in my pocket. An upcoming Rhea Lana consignment sale is just the ticket for filling our closets with warm, affordable, adorable clothing. Now the only problem is figuring out what to purchase.

I’ve developed a shopper’s plan for design-conscious moms who want their kids to rock this season’s fashion trends without wrecking the budget. It’s easy to find these items at consignment sales like Rhea Lana, because the same styles in kids’ fashion rotate fairly quickly (think a five-year cycle instead of the typical ten-year women’s fashion cycle). This means that the fashions often showing up in consignment are back on trend. Double Ace in pocket!!

Here's my shopper's plan for the Fall 2012 season:

Shop COLOR! This season, color is making a huge comeback for kids. The more subdued charcoals and browns of last year have been replaced by nearly neon pinks and greens for girls, and vibrant blues and purples for boys. Don’t be afraid to try adding new colors to your kiddo’s wardrobe--just pair particularly punchy brights with toned down jeans, skirts or accessories.

Look for the detail. Detailed tees are big this season, with fancy line-art, funky graphics, and punchy pop styles. When shopping consignment, look for art that doesn’t look dated--try to avoid purchasing items with a production year prominently displayed.

Fancy Pants. For girls, dresses and leggings are still stylish. For a little flair, find ruffled or glammed-up leggings for your petite tot. Simpler styled leggings are more appropriate for older girls.

Old School is new school. Preppy fashion is still big for boys, with graphic rugbies, more tailored shoes, and long-sleeve polos topping the wish-lists of fashion-savvy moms.

Rugged but tailored. Cadet-inspired pants, though more rugged, are also showing up on fall fashion runways, often paired with those detailed tees mentioned above.

Below are items that are almost always in fashion. These are staple purchases you really shouldn't pass up if the price is right.

For boys:
You can’t go wrong with corduroys, plain boot-leg jeans in medium to dark blue, flat-front khakis, polo shirts, and classic-patterned button-down shirts.

For girls:
Cardigans, dark blue jeans, classic-cut sweaters (rounded neck, simple pattern or solid colors), knee-length dresses, and simple smocked dresses (for girls under three) are adorable every year.

Wish me luck shopping! I'll be back with an update after the sale...

Gray and Orange French Nursery

noreply@blogger.com (Lawyer) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:08:00 +0000

Finally! It's complete!

In true Sisteroo (read: "unhinged") fashion, I decided to DIY this baby room myself, down to the bare-bones details. Which means husband and I have spent a good part of the last two months nailing, caulking, sanding, painting, upholstering, sewing, spray painting, decoupaging, and glue gunning ourselves into complete DIY exhaustion. The result? A darling French-style gray and orange nursery that reminds me of Paris in the Fall. Check out the pictures and item descriptions below, and sit tight for tutorials on how to DIY your own Parisian baby room!

A few item links:

Large dresser and nightstand: 1960s antique pieces, painted in Swan Wing W-F-400 and Porpoise 790E-3 with Venetian hardware by Knobware

Bookcase: 1940s antique piece, painted in Swan Wing W-F-400 and Sparrow 780F-4

Upholstered chair: Custom-designed from The Find, Newport Beach

Crib: Baby Cache Heritage Lifetime Crib

Crib bedding: Custom sheets in Gotcha Storm Twill fabric by Premier Print

Table and floor lamp: French Candlestick Floor Lamp and Table Lamp, painted and finished in satin white

Lampshades: Basic white shades decoupaged in Waverly fabric print (...Curses--I can't find the original Waverly print anywhere. I've linked to a similar print. I'll keep looking.)

Curtains: Hand sewn in Vapor Shimmer Satin

Valance: 1950s antique French headboard, painted in Swan Wing W-F-400, Porpoise 790E-3 and Sparrow 780F-4, and hand upholstered in Vapor Shimmer Satin

Balloon race at the Eiffel Tower painting: 1940s antique frame painted in satin white, custom painting by Artist.

Wall paint: 25% saturation Natural Gray UL260-11 above the chair rail moulding, 75% saturation Natural Gray UL260-11 below chair rail moulding

Chair rail moulding: Hand-installed, American Wood Colonial Casing

Wainscot moulding: Hand-installed, FRP Polymer Interior Inside Corner moulding

Orange velvet throw pillow: Sanela cover with Gosa Aster pillow

Orange picture frames: Baroque Orange by Six Trees

Eiffel tower: Home Decorators bronze model, painted in Koi UL12-18

Orange and blue balloon print: "Welcome to this World" print by Curly Girl Designs (sent by a very dear friend, and ready to hang above the crib once the white frame I purchased arrives!)

Mother/baby elephant figurine: Wood carved, painted Startling Orange S-G-230

Resin bookcase owl and elephant: HomeGoods finds, painted in Safety Orange enamel and Flame 210B-7

Rocking horse: a gift from a dear friend, painted in Anonymous 780F-5, Gentle Rain 790E-2 and Koi UL12-18

Baby rocking chair: a gift from a dear friend, painted in Swan Wing W-F-400

Orange and white striped toy boxes: Kasset boxes, hand painted in Startling Orange S-G-230 stripes

I'll be back soon with DIY tutorials. In the meantime, good luck nursery designing, Sisteroos!

Potted Chocolate Cheesecake

noreply@blogger.com (artist) — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 19:52:00 +0000

It's chocolate cheesecake. That looks like a plant. Seriously, guys--what's not to love?! Martha Stewart did this last year with chocolate pudding, but I'm more of a decadent-dessert-girl myself and decided to tweak the recipe and presentation a bit. Read on for the recipe and more mouthwatering pics. Mmmm...

...The best part? You can eat the mint sprigs along with your chocolate dirt and cheesecake soil. That's called having your cake and eating it too.

POTTED CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
22 Oreos, crushed
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 bunch of fresh mint sprigs
12 clear votive candle holders (or other small, pot-shaped vases), thoroughly rinsed in soapy water

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Mix butter and crumbled Oreos. Press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in the sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 65 minutes or until cake center is set. Cool to room temperature.

Use a large spoon to scoop out the cheesecake into pot-shaped votive candle holders (I got mine here). Once the cheesecake is scraped out, crumble chunks of the crust on top of each cheesecake-filled pot. Stick a sprig of mint into your cheesecakes.

LICK ALL THE SPOONS WITH CHEESECAKE ON THEM, and then eat two (or three) cheesecakes.

Tell yourself you will never, ever, ever, ever eat so much cheesecake in one sitting EVER again. Ever.

Easter Coconut Carrot Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Sisteroos) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:49:00 +0000

You've been looking for the perfect Easter dessert and Jello salad just isn't going to cut it with the kids. What you really want is a big, moist carrot cake, decorated to the nines, and served with a hearty scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can even rationalize that you're all getting a healthy serving of carrots with each slice.

Above: with sweetened shredded coconut and white chocolate butterflies using this tutorial.

Carrot cake is the only dessert I serve on Easter and it is always a hit. It is so rich and hearty that people rarely even need to go back for a second slice, especially when served with ice cream and a smattering of Easter candy throughout the evening.

Carrot Patch. I used real little carrot pieces and planted them in rows of chopped pecans.

EASTER BUNNY'S TOP SECRET CARROT CAKE RECIPE

Ingredients:
3 cups grated carrots
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional for nut allergies)
1 (8oz) can crushed pineapple with juice

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease 2 circle cake pans or one 9x13 inch pan with shortening all along bottom and up sides, then dust with flour so it cake will not rip when you try to take it out. Or fill regular or mini cupcake tins 1/2 to 2/3 full of batter.
2. In a large bowl, combine grated carrots, flour, white sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in eggs, oil, vanilla, pineapple, and chopped pecans. Spoon batter into prepared pan(s).
3. Bake in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes (for circle cake pans--it will be less time if you're doing cupcakes), or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.
*TIP: The best way to grate the carrots is to buy full, long carrots and grate them with a fine cooking grater (such as a small-holed cheese grater). Most food processors have a food grater, but the holes tend to be fairly big and big grates of carrots do not taste as good as finely grated carrots. You also do not want to blend them, because you need the carrot texture and do not want a paste.

Easter Basket Weave

I normally make my carrot cake with the below delicious recipe for a cream cheese frosting but note that the cream cheese frosting does not "firm up" very well. If you are going to do delicate decorating, you will either need to add quite a bit more powdered sugar, or use a different frosting recipe.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar)
1 (8oz) package Neufchatel cheese (cream cheese works too, but Neufchatel tastes better)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup coconut

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, Neufchatel cheese, butter, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
*TIP: leave the Neufchatel cheese out on the counter for an hour or so and it will be softened for you to mix. If you pull it directly from the fridge, you will need to microwave it for several minutes ON 40-50% POWER (please do not cook it!) to get it softened.
Frost your cake and immediately coat with coconut

Peep's Nest. Green dyed coconut flakes.

I LOVE making mini carrot cake cupcakes for the neighbors. Kids love them! I do a big frosting swoosh on top with sprinkles and a chocolate Robin's egg or a big jelly bean.

Have a delicious Easter!

-Actress

Brown Thumb Terrariums

noreply@blogger.com (Lawyer) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 02:05:00 +0000

I am a touch obsessed with the terrarium craze going on at West Elm, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and the like. So obsessed, mind you, that I went out one afternoon and bought ten hanging terrariums, brought them home, and then let them moulder in the guest bedroom for two months while I pondered, "what in heaven's name am I going to do with ten hanging terrariums?"

The primary problem, you see, is that I have a brown thumb. And by "brown thumb," I mean that every species within the flora taxonomy withers to a tragic shade of brown when my thumbs are near. So after a little thought, I simply decided to make these terrariums imperishable. Read on to find out how...

1. First, find yourself a fun terrarium or two. There are so many options to choose from! I picked these hanging terrariums from CB2 because they make a perfect addition to my balcony. You might want to try the English bell jar cloche or birdhouse variety if you'd prefer to set up your terrarium on a desk or tabletop.

2. Visit your local craft/florist shop and select a variety of green and brown floral mosses (I bought mine at Michaels).

3. Next, pick three or four kinds of artificial greenery. The goal is to find pieces that can be cut and shaped in your terrariums. I picked a selection of fern and garden greenery by Ashland.

4. Arrange the moss at the base of your terrarium and glue gun in place. Arrange several pieces of artificial greenery in the moss and affix with additional glue.

5. If you're hanging your terrariums, purchase some 18-gague wire (I mixed a variety of black, copper and green for fun). Cut a piece twice as long as the length you intend to hang your terrarium. String the wire through your terrarium and wind the wire around itself several times. Hang in place.

Good luck with your brown thumb terrariums, Sisteroos!

Milk & Dark Chocolate Easter Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Sisteroos) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:17:00 +0000

I thought I was being clever last week when I created this very real looking faux chocolate Easter display while Husband was away on a business trip. (Yes, he tried to eat a wood bunny when he arrived home, and yes it was funny). Turns out, the joke's on me. I salivate every time I pass the living room, and usually end up helping myself to the leftover Valentine's chocolates I hid from myself last month. This chocolate-themed Easter display is going to be the death of me. If you're a masochist like I am, and need to gain five pounds before Easter, read on to find out how to make your own chocolate Easter display...

I tested a boat-load of painting techniques to get the most decadent milk and dark chocolate effect, and the best result also ended up being the easiest.

For milk chocolate effect:
1. Buy or make some papier-mâché eggs (I got the medium and small eggs from Hobby Lobby)
2. Spray paint with five or six layers of Krylon Leather Brown Gloss paint. Allow 30 minutes of drying time between layers.

For dark chocolate effect:
1. Mix black and brown paint until you get an almost-black hue. I used Folk Art Enamels Licorice paint and Ceramcoat Dark Brown acrylic paint.
2. Give your papier-mâché eggs two thick coats.
3. Spray or paint the finished eggs with a clear lacquer to get that satiny chocolate sheen that makes your mouth water. I used Minwax Clear Polycrylic Protective Finish in satin finish (gloss was too "shiny").

And finally:
Hot-glue fishing wire to the eggs, and hang on your Easter tree.

I purchased my easter tree from Save-On-Crafts.com, and the faux chocolate bunnies in-store at Gordmans. The cute cream-colored satin bows on the bunnies' necks are from the 1/4" satin ribbon collection at Walmart.

A very delicious Easter to you all!

Happy Birthday, Actress!

noreply@blogger.com (Sisteroos) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:45:00 +0000

Actress, making your cake was quite the challenge. There was no way I could show up the positively decadent chocolate cake Shrink made for you yesterday. (It's so unfair I'm not there to share it with you guys). So my cake is but a second course to Shrink's luscious first. I had some trouble drumming up a digital delight to perfectly suit your personality. You're definitely not vanilla, and chocolate is a bit too mainstream for you. Funfetti isn't classy enough. Nor is strawberry. Spice cake is gross, and I'll bet you wouldn't even consider eating gingerbread on your birthday. Then it hit me. Red Velvet Cake. It's perfect: unique, beautiful, elegant. Yup, you're totally red velvet. Happy Birthday, Actress!

Death By Chocolate Rose Cake

noreply@blogger.com (shrink) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:39:00 +0000

Happy birthday to the best Actress I know (tomorrow)!! In honor of Actress's bday, I'd like to welcome the newest star of the Sisteroo blog: the death by chocolate rose cake. It involves chocolate chips, chocolate bars, chocolate cream, chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, and (of course)...chocolate roses.

The cake and outer icing is absolutely delicious. I got the recipe from Whipper Berry's blog.

Whipper Berry's Cake
1 Chocolate Cake Mix (I used triple chocolate which already has mini chocolate chips in it).
1/2 C Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup Sour Cream
1 Pkg. of instant chocolate pudding (small box)

Directions: Make the cake as directed on the box and add in the pudding, chocolate chips, and sour cream. Pour into 2 9-inch round cake pans. Bake as the box directs. The box usually has a range (25-30 minutes) and you'll want to bake for the longer time--add a couple more minutes if needed.
I usually bake my cakes ahead of time so I let my cakes cool after coming out of the oven. Then I wrap them up in saran wrap and put them in the fridge until they're needed. I've heard of people using the freezer too, but I'm always afraid of freezer burn flavoring so I stick to the fridge.

Whipper Berry's Chocolate Frosting--My outer layer
1 cup softened butter
3 oz. Ghirardelli 100% cocoa chocolate bar
4-5 cups powdered sugar
Milk as needed.

I don't have the pleasure of owning a double boiler or a glass bowl to create a pseudo double boiler, so I generally stick to the microwave for all my melting needs. Break you chocolate into pieces and microwave it for 2 minutes (stirring every fifteen seconds). Cream the chocolate and butter. Slowly add in four cups of powdered sugar. You may need to add some milk to help in the stirring process, but add it 1 Tablespoon at a time. Dependent on how you're decorating, you can add more or less milk.

As a side note, I make a similar frosting for all of my cakes that replaces the Ghirardelli with Hershey's cocoa powder. If you don't have the chocolate bar that recipe is also amazing. I don't have the exact recipe on me but it's almost identical to this one found on all recipes.

Shrink's creamy center:
1 small container of heavy whipping cream
1/2 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 T sugar

I like having a different middle layer than outer layer and thought I'd try something fun. What I did was I warmed up 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream on the stove (almost to the point of boiling). I took it off the stove and added in 1/2 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips.
I then whipped the rest of the heavy whipping cream as thick as it would go, added in the 1 T of sugar, and poured in the previous mixture of cream and chocolate.

I piped an edge of regular chocolate frosting (Whipper Berrys) on top of the bottom layer of my cake . Then I filled in the rest with my chocolate cream. You won't use all of the chocolate cream, but put it in the fridge and it will become a lovely treat to dollop on top of individual cake slices.

Putting it all together
So you put the second cake on top of the creamy layer and begin icing the cake! My icing was too runny to do roses on the sides so I did a traditional creamy side on the cake. Using the largest tip I had (Wilton 1 I believe) I drew circles on the top of my cake to give the appearance of roses (see iambaker ).

Hope you enjoyed (and wish Actress a happy birthday)!

Cheap and Chic

noreply@blogger.com (artist) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:36:00 +0000

To follow up on my recent post about shopping consignment, allow me to gush a bit over the PHENOMENAL Rhea Lana event I recently attended. Here are my favorite tot-sized fashion-finds from the sale:

1. Brightly-colored polo shirts, most of them Ralph Lauren and Gap. I love the navy and green one pictured above--SO CUTE!

2. Summer shorts in bold patterns and cargo-cut. I particularly love the Janie and Jack navy cargo shorts with a lobster belt--there's no way I could possibly get frustrated with my toddler when he's wearing these.

3. Ralph Lauren canvas boat shoes: perfect for summer parties with toddler friends.

4. The Children's Place leather boat shoes: my kid actually thinks these things feel comfortable, folks. That's a real win-win in my book.

5. Stride Rite leather sandals. There's something precious about a little boy in leather sandals.

TOTAL BILL for the items pictured above: $39.50

I kid you not. For that price, I could have purchased the RL shoes and just one of the shirts off the rack. Yup, I'm hooked on shopping consignment.

DIY Custom Wood Frame

noreply@blogger.com (Sisteroos) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:01:00 +0000

So we're redecorating. Not just a room or two, but our entire apartment, top to bottom, kitchen to closets. That's what happens when you find out that you're having your first kid, which means everything must be white glove perfect before his arrival. And as lovely and spacious as our apartment seemed just six months ago, it's now small and colorless and cramped and oh-my-word-my-child-will-feel-like-he's-living-in-Guantanamo. In response, I'm spending my pregnancy lumbering angrily about the rooms eating cream cheese with a spoon and shuffling the couches. Poor Husband.

Now lest you think I'm tearing down the walls on a pregnant spending rampage, I'm really trying to redecorate on the cost-efficient side, minus a few non-negotiables (please don't ask Husband about my multiple-hundred-dollar custom closet mood lighting). I had a half dozen or so old canvas oils I wanted to refresh and hang, so I dropped by our local framers to get a quote. The cost to frame just one canvas? $350. Har! There goes the kid's college tuition. Luckily, I found a fab solution while wandering the wood aisles of our local Home Depot: baseboard moulding. For those unfamiliar with this forest product species, it's basically a carved wood board that looks--by gosh--exactly like a picture frame. It's also extremely cheap ($0.50 to $1.50 a foot), and easy to cut. Read on to find out how baseboard makes a picture-perfect frame...

I framed a 1 1/2 inch stretched canvas, and these instructions work well for an object with some width to it. If you're framing a photo, watercolor or flat canvas, you may have to tweak these instructions a little:

1. First, check out the corner guard moulding at your local hardware store. This will be the back edge of your frame and the base that your frame moulding is glued to, so it needs to be about the same width as your canvas--mine was around 1 1/2 inches. Have the handy hardware associate cut four pieces of guard moulding that fit snugly around your frame.

2. Second, wander through the baseboard moulding section and pick a style and width that suits your painting. Moulding ranges from simple block cut to elaborate crown moulding--sky's the limit. Call that handy hardware associate back and have him cut four pieces of guard moulding, each with a 45-degree outward cut. Make sure to measure this moulding from the INSIDE of your guard moulding, since it will cover the guard moulding on the front of the canvas entirely, and will be a slightly smaller cut than your guard moulding.

3. Third, time for COLOR! Completely paint both your guard and baseboard moulding. I used some leftover black gloss paint from my modern buffet cabinet project. Use whatever shade and finish floats your boat.

4. Fourth, nail the painted guard moulding around the edges of your frame. I used two nails per side, which seemed to hold nicely.

5. Fifth, glue your baseboard moulding to the top of your nailed-in guard moulding. I used Gorilla wood glue, but any strong wood adhesive will do here. Let dry overnight.

6. Hang that painting, grab a spoonful of cream cheese, and admire your work!

Good luck framing, Sisteroos!