Pie Is the New Cupcake

Perhaps by now you have heard that the ever popular cupcake is trending out and making way for PIE!! 
So until pie is worn out as the dessert of choice it is still offbeat if you are going to have it for your wedding.


One of our Offbeat team members, Dionne, from Dionnesimone,  made a great chocolate pecan pie for her daughter's reception. The pies were star shaped. She says pecan pie lasts well and freezes great. You could make them well ahead of time to save yourself the stress of last minute preparation.


Here is the recipe and a few comments from Dionne:


1/2 bag of chocolate chips
2 tbs butter
1 c corn syrup
1/3 c granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp fresh grated nutmeg (optional)
1 1/2 cup pecan halves
prepared graham cracker pie crust

Heat oven to 350
Microwave chocolate and butter in a large bowl (using short intervals - you don't want to scorch the chocolate) Stir.
Stir in corn syrup, sugar, vanilla and eggs (make sure that eggs are last - you want the corn syrup and sugar mixture to cool the chocolate a little so you don't cook them on contact) 
Stir in pecans & nutmeg. 
Pour into pie shell.
Bake for 55 min or until knife inserted 1 inch from center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

For mini pies simply use the mini pie crusts and cook for aprox 40 min or until the knife comes out clean.

This recipe doubles and triples beautifully.

Package each mini pie in celophane bags purchased at craft store. Add a pretty thank you tag to the top. Use your imagination and accent with ribbon, stamps or flowers. The mini scrapbooking brads make wonderful attachments for the flower petals.

Of course you can't go wrong with good ol' apple pie. Here is a recipe from Better Homes and Garden Cook Book for 


Apple Crumb Pie

1 cup sugar separated in to halves
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tsp grated lemon peel
6 cups thinly sliced apples (2 lbs)
3 tbs lemon juice
pastry crust
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp mace
1/4 cup softened butter

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tbs flour,and lemon peel. Sprinkle apples with lemon juice, add sugar mixture and toss to coat. fill pastry with apple mixture. Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour and spices in a seperate bowl. Cut in butter till crumbly, sprinkle on top of apples. Cover crust edges with foil. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove foil, bake for 30 min more or until topping is golden. 

Makes 8 servings.

Or if you prefer not to make the pie you can order them from Etsy sellers. Here is one from KaysSimplyHomemade.

Michaelann
http://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageFrocksOfFancy

Fresh fruit for your sweet day

Wedding days can be chocked full of not so good for you food.  A 'non-traditional' approach to wedding day nummies would be; to provide locally harvested organic fruit dishes and desserts.  This healthy alternative will certainly shine with the outrageous colors only mother nature can produce (hehe produce).  The warm weather of the summer months also guarantees a less expensive food bill.  Buy in season fruits to compliment your event.

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips

Fruit Kabob

Links;

http://pinterest.com/pin/13604765/

http://pinterest.com/pin/12208441/

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/jennifer-and-joshua#slide_13

Healthy eating!!!

Krissy

Make Believe'N Wedding Alternatives LLC

www.etsy.com/shop/krissy167

www.facebook.com/makebelieven

A Warm Natural Glow

SwankUnderpinnings

Want to have a warm natural glow on your wedding day but don't want to expose yourself to the harmful rays of the sun/tanning bed or get that fake sprayed look..... Then here is your Eco/Green Tip of the Day, Eat your YELLOWS, ORANGEs, and REDS.

It is a best to get a rainbow of colors in your diet but foods that NATURALLY have yellow, orange, and red (no M&Ms don't count) will add a great warm color to your skin. You will not only look healthy for your special day, but also, these veggies have beta-carotene which is a type of pigment found in plants, especially carrots and colorful vegetables.

KRISSY167

Here are some more great benefits you will get from beta carotene:

~ Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A which  is needed for good vision and eye health, for a strong immune system, and for healthy skin and mucus membranes. 

~ Beta-carotene is an antioxidant, It protects the body from damaging molecules called free radicals. Free radicals cause damage to cells through a process known as oxidation. 

~ Studies suggest that people who eat 4 or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables rich in beta-carotene may reduce their risk of developing heart disease or cancer.

~ Studies suggest that high doses of beta-carotene may decrease sensitivity to the sun.

 Post by Beccijo of TheEnchantedCupboard ~ Enchanting Wooden Toy and Cake Toppers

DIY Desserts S'Mores and Cotton Candy

I don't care what party I go to I always, ALWAYS look forward to the interesting desserts that are offered.  Here are a couple of non-traditional choices.  S'mores and Cotton Candy.  Pair them with a rustic or carnival theme and you have a show stopper.

S'Mores Bar

How cool would a S'more bar be at your reception?  Make it even better by doing some DIY marshmallows and packaging them up as favors.  This recipe looks amazing and fairly easy to do.  The instructions are light hearted and clear.  Pair these with the unexpected Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or York Peppermint patties for something even better.

DIY Fluffy Marshmallows via SmittenKitchen

Are the marshmallows a little daunting for your DIY attempt?  Try out these S'more inspired truffles instead. Yummy!!!!

S'more Truffles

Create a signature drink for your festivities.  The Cotton candy Cosmopolitan fits the bill!!!!

Cotton Candy Cosmo

Go sticky sweet and romantic with heart shaped cotton candy sugar cookies.  I like the idea of playing with the colors of cotton candy to match your wedding colors.  Here is a how to on tinting your own sugar to make custom colored cotton candy.  Find a cotton candy machine at Amazon.com here.

Cotton Candy Sugar Cookie Pops

Cookies not your thing???  Cupcakes instead then.  Check out these whimsical cake creations.  I bet you could find a baker to help you create a wedding cake in this style :)

Cotton Candy Cupcakes

Hope you aren't drooling too much.  If you are that's okay.  Just wipe your chin and make sure no one saw a thing.  Discreet is the key.  I hope you enjoy these tasty DIY ideas as much as I do.  My Pintrest.com explorations when nuts when searching this topic.

Krissy

Make Believe'N Wedding Alternatives LLC

www.etsy.com/shop/krissy167

Madly in Love With: Tea

Maybe it is because of hours spent pouring over Alice in Wonderland when I was a child, but I’ve always been a gal who enjoys a good cuppa tea. From the delicate cups to the pomp and circumstance of an English high tea service, what’s not to love?

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found a whole world of tea drinks that would make the Mad Hatter proud. Why not stray from the usual offerings at showers and receptions with some of these nifty tipples?

For the spring shower:

Gin Tea & Lemon Fizz

1 cup water

4 teaspoons black tea leaves or 4 tea bags (such as Darjeeling)

1 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1 cup gin

2 cups sparkling water

Ice cubes

In small saucepan, bring 1 cup water to boil. Add tea leaves. Remove from heat. Cover and let steep 15 minutes. Chill overnight. Strain tea mixture into pitcher; discard tea leaves. Add lemonade concentrate and gin, then sparkling water to pitcher; stir to blend. Serve over ice.

For the post-wedding pre-dinner mix and mingle:

Sage Advice

Tea simple syrup:

1 cup brewed black tea

3 tablespoons honey

For the Cocktail:

3 fresh sage leaves

2 dashes Peychaud's bitters

3/4 oz. fresh orange juice

1 1/2 oz. rye

1/2 oz. Averna bitters

Make the syrup: Combine the tea and honey in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Reduce until syrupy, about 10 minutes, then let cool.

Make the cocktail: Combine 1/2 ounce tea syrup, 2 sage leaves, the Peychaud's bitters and orange juice in a cocktail shaker. Gently muddle the sage with a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon. Add the rye and Averna and fill the shaker three-quarters of the way with ice. Give it a short shake, then strain into a martini glass and garnish with the remaining sage leaf. Serves 1.

For you, when putting stamps on the invitation envelopes:

Green Tea Martini

1 1/2 oz. Charbay green tea vodka
1 1/2 oz. Zenn green tea liquor
1 oz. ginger vodka
1 oz. soju or sake
1/2 oz simple syrup
Juice of half lemon
1 dash habanero Tabasco sauce
Crystallized ginger for garnish

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker that has been filled with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a sliver of crystallized ginger. Serves 1.

Recipes from:

http://teapreneur.blogspot.com/2010/04/white-tea-martini-or-gin-tea-lemon-fizz.html

http://www.saveur.com/article/Wine-and-Drink/Green-Tea-Martini

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/sage-advice-recipe/index.html

Beer cookies for a casual wedding

Froo froo and fancy is not my style.  I prefer jeans and ponytails.  For couples that prefer a relaxed wedding reception I've got a very yummy cookie to be served along with a pint.
 Beer cookies:

1 cup salted butter, at room temperature

• 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting hands
• 1 cup pecans, chopped into very small pieces
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate morsels 
• 24 Snyder's pretzel snaps
• 
  
• -Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Line cookies sheets with parchment paper.

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar at low speed until it is smooth. Beat in the vanilla. At low speed gradually add the flour. Mix in the pecans and chocolate morsels with a spatula. With floured hands, take out about 1 tablespoon of dough and shape into a ball. Continue to dust hands with flour as you make more cookies. Place onto prepared cookie sheets. Press pretzel into the top of each ball flattening the ball a little. Bake for 40 minutes.  Cool on wire racks.

Parts of this receipe are compliments of the Food Network and Paula Dean,  I have doctored it into "beer cookies"

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/mexican-wedding-cookies-recipe2/index.html

ENJOY!

Autumn Wedding Favors - Hot Pepper Jelly

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Hot-Pepper-Jelly/Detail.aspx?src=etaf

I made this for family and friends one Christmas and was so surprised at how well received it was.  I recommended that they serve it over softened cream cheese with crackers.  I had people asking for this recipe for months.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups finely chopped red bell peppers 
• 1 1/4 cups finely chopped green bell peppers
• 1/4 cup finely chopped jalapeno peppers
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (1.75 ounce) package powdered pectin (available at your local super store)
• 5 cups white sugar
• 
  
• I use a blender instead of "finely chopping" and they turned out just as pretty and tasty.

Directions

1. Sterilize 12 (4 ounce) or 6 (8 ounce) canning jelly jars and lids (available at your local super store and amazon.com) according to manufacturer's instructions. Heat water in a hot water canner (or just use a large stock pot).
2. Place red bell peppers, green bell peppers, and jalapeno peppers in a large saucepan over high heat. Mix in vinegar and fruit pectin. Stirring constantly, bring mixture to a full rolling boil. Quickly stir in sugar. Return to full rolling boil, and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and skim off any foam.
3. Quickly ladle jelly into sterile jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the tops. Cover with flat lids, and screw on bands tightly.
4. Place jars in rack, and slowly lower jars into canner (large stock pot). The water should cover the jars completely, and should be hot but not boiling. Bring water to a boil, and process (boil) for 5 minutes.

Nutritional Information 

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 88 | Total Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg

To make this a wedding favor:

You will need colored yarn/twine/raffia/string.

Light weight fabric that coordinates with your wedding colors cut into 4x4 inch squares.

Card stock cut into tags.

Initial stamps.

Ink.

Hole punch.

After jars are completely cool (12-24 hours)  remove the metal ring that screws onto the top of the jar.  Center the fabric on top of the lid and screw the ring back on.  The fabric should be tight across the lid.

Stamp your initials onto the pre-punched paper tags and thread onto your yarn/twine/raffia/string.

Tie the raffia around the jar ring and make a bow.

Voila!  A autumn themed food favor.