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Posts Tagged ‘Savvy Entertaining’

CopyKat’s.com Dining Out at Home Cookbook 2

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, tagged , , on September 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »

dining out cookbook If you’ve ever wished you could have a recipe for a dish from your favorite restaurant, check out the  CopyKat.com’s Dining Out at Home Cookbook 2 by Stephanie Manley.

This cookbook has everything from the Olive Garden’s much coveted salad dressing to the yummy Cinnamon Honey Butter from the Texas Roadhouse.

If you love Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice Latte, Dairy Queen’s Peanut Butter Parfait Bars or KFC’s Coleslaw, this book has got the scoop on how to create these at home.

You’ll find Drinks, Appetizers, Soups, Main Dishes, Sides, Desserts, Breakfast, Sauces & Dressings, and Favorites. She also share a conversion chart and recipe index, sorted alphabetically and by restaurant.

Manley is the creator and author of CopyKat.com. Since 1995, she has written recipes for restaurant-style dishes that anyone can create at home

Published through Ulysses Press, CopyKat.com’s Dining Out at Home Cookbook 2 retails for $14.95.

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Sunflower Cupcakes

Posted in Cake, Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, Party Theme, tagged , , , on September 27, 2013| 2 Comments »

sunflower cupcakes finished

As the finale for the sunflower themed party I hosted last week, I made sunflower cupcakes.

I started with a basic chocolate cupcake (you can make whatever flavor you like) then mixed up a bowl of buttercream frosting (see recipe below) and tinted it yellow.

sunflower cupcake base coat

Cover the cupcakes with a thin layer of frosting then fill a decorating bag or tube with frosting. I used Wilton Tip #101.

sunflower cupcake petalStarting in the center, pipe “petals” all around the cupcake. Just keep layer them one on top of another going around in circles.

sunflower cupcake frostedIt will use a lot of frosting, so be prepared.

sunflower cupcakePlace a mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in the center and ta-da! You are ready to go!

Buttercream Frosting

1 cup butter

5 cups powdered sugar

1 tbsp. vanilla

4 (or so) tbsp. milk

Beat butter on medium speed until light and creamy. Slowly incorporate four cups of sugar. Add in vanilla then mix in two tablespoons of milk and beat for about three minutes. If the frosting is too stiff, add more milk. If it seems thin, add more sugar.

She Who Had Too Much Fun Making These

 

 

 

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Peach Smoothies

Posted in Beverages, Entertaining Ideas, Recipes, tagged , , , , on September 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Peach Smoothie

For my sunflower themed party, I knew I wanted a fun, colorful drink.

Peach smoothies seemed perfect.

They were so easy to make and quite yummy (unless you ask Captain Cavedweller, but we aren’t giving him a vote in this particular instance).

The girls liked the drinks and I loved the straws!

Peach Smoothie ingredients

The ingredients are really simple (and I forgot to put ice in the photo – sorry!).

Dump everything in your blender, let it crunch and grind until it’s smooth. Pour in chilled glasses and garnish with a slice of peach.

Okay, here is the recipe…

Peach Smoothies

2 cups milk

2 cups frozen sliced and peeled peaches

1/4 cup orange juice

1 cup ice cubes

2 tbsp. sugar (optional)

1 fresh peach, peeled and sliced (optional)

Mix milk, frozen peaches, orange juice and ice in a blender. Mine has a smoothie setting. Use whatever will crunch up the frozen peaches and ice and get a nice smooth blend. Since I like things sweeter than normal people, I added a little  sugar to this, but you can skip if you want since you get some sweetness from the orange juice.

While the smoothie is mixing, set some glasses in the freezer to chill.

Once the smoothie is done, pour into glasses (six small or four large). For added panache, you can set a peach slice on top and finish with a fun straw. Mint leaves would also make a pretty garnish.

She Who Could Eat Peaches Every Day of the Year

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Sunflower Party

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, Party Theme, tagged , , , on September 24, 2013| Leave a Comment »

sunflower party theme 1Last week it was my turn to host our monthly book club meeting.

I decided to go with a Sunflower Party theme. We don’t have to do themes, but it’s fun and it helps me direct my jumbled thoughts.

I’ll be sharing some recipes and different things I did for the party this week.

Today, I wanted to share the sweet little sunflower pots I made for each place setting and then everyone took home with them.

These took about five minutes to make and turned out really cute.

Supplies you need - Reese's Pieces, mini clay flower pots, small sunflower stems (I used silk), tissue paper, wire cutters, scissors.

Supplies you need – Reese’s Pieces, mini clay flower pots, small sunflower stems (I used silk), tissue paper, wire cutters, scissors.

Cut tissue paper into small squares.

Cut tissue paper into small squares.

Wrap around your index finger and stuff into the pot, fluffing out the edges.

Wrap around your index finger and stuff into the pot, fluffing out the edges.

Stick a stem in the pot and hold it upright with one hand.

Stick a stem in the pot and hold it upright with one hand. If you are using silk stems in a bunch, use the wire cutters to remove them and cut to length. Mine were about four or five inches tall.

Then use the other hand to pour in the candy.

Then use the other hand to pour in the candy.

And that's it! How's that for a fast and fun party favor?

And that’s it! How’s that for a fast and fun party favor?

She Who Had Way Too Much Fun With This…

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