Space Wedding : Planet Centerpieces

The idea came

from this photo:

The base are balloon weights from Dollar Tree

To represent the family we used 4 planets

2 2.5 inch ones for the parents

2  2 inch for the children

Instead of being scientifically correct

it was decided to take each ones

favorite color and create their

own planets

The paint was sponged on with a dauber

for the best coverage

placed on skewers

rubber banded and tapped together

and hot glued to the base

the planet stems are anchored

by using 2 of the star branches 

twisted around the taped

base

The bottom is then reattached 

To take up more area on the table

12x12 mirror tiles from Lowes were used

The centerpieces worked out to be about $5 a piece!

We added Dollar Tree star shaped tealights

!st scuff up the finish w a sading block

I attached them to the box with

poster ticky tack

Then sprayed them with

Krylon Shimmering Purple

in retrospect I would

do a few things differently

because this spray 

is difficult. I would've 

base coated them

with black paint

thus decreasing how much of 

this paint I use - it is rather pricey

at $10 a can (I used 50% off coupons)

but it still was $10 for 

40 of them

They needed multiple coats

and the glitter part had a tendancy

to clump

I would consider just spraying

the item with purple paint 

then adding glitter

The end product:

Pumpkin and Sausage Stuffed Shells

1 jar Aldis Pumpkin Chipolte Pasta Sauce**

abt 15  lg pasta shells

mozzarella cheese

1lb  package ground sausage (could use hot or sage sausage)

Boil shells until al dente. Drain

Fry up sausage with bell pepper and mushrooms or any other veggie you would like - onions or zucchini might be good - would be great place to use leftover vegggies

Pour a small amt of sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Place drained empty shells on top of the sauce and spoon fill w the sausage mixture. Pour the remaining sauce on top of the shells and sprinkle w cheese Bake at 350 until hot and bubbly

** I did find a recipe for a pumpkin chipolte sauce here  if you don't have an Aldis - I have not tried it

Galaxy Themed Card Holder

For my daughters space themed wedding

I couldn't find a card holder that 

really worked well with the theme 

so I made one!

It started with 50/50 mix

of glue and water

and Sunday's newspaper

I found if I mixed it and put

it back into the empty

bottle and used it to

spray a small amt

it worked best 

Now I will say this is VERY messy!

I started covering it with the colored pages

of the paper and alternated 

with black and white print

this kept me straight on which layer

I was on

I did 5 total layers

I left an area big enough for the slot for card 

and a hand to fit into

The last layer I used a paperbag

Once all covered I let it dry for 

4 days

I then covered it with jet black paint

I let that dry for a day 

Then drew the constellations 

on it.

I picked the astrological signs

of the bride, groom and their children

I then added when they 1st met, engaged, and married

I filled in with their favoite ones.

I used othe old school method of

pencil to transfer then used

a silver fine point paint pen

After that I put 2 layers

of Modpodge

I let that dry for a day

 then I cut the slot out of the ball

 and gently pulled the ball out 

I decided it needed some bling 

so I used one row of rhinestones

For the base i covered a stryofoam ring

from the Dollar Tree

with satin ribbon 

and add rhinesotn bling from the Dollar Tree

Pretzel Buckeye Brownies

I got the orginal recipe here

Of course I adapated it a bit

Heat oven to 350°F. 

1 box brownie mix (I like Aldis brand)

2 eggs

1/4 C water

1/2 oil

Mix according to 

the pkg instructions

Pour abt half on top 

of a parchment line pan

• Peanut Butter Swirl
  ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  ½ cup powdered sugar
  2 tablespoons butter, melted
  ½ teaspoon vanilla
• In small bowl, mix Peanut Butter Swirl 
  ingredients until smooth. Drop by spoonfuls  
  on top of brownie batter in pan. 
  Spoon remaining brownie batter 
  between peanut butter spoonfuls. 
  Use knife to swirl the two together. 
  Top with remaining pretzel twists.
• 
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or
•  until brownies are set
  and appear dry around edges.
  Cool 30 minutes.

Chocolate Glaze

½ cup semisweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons butter

In small microwavable bowl,

 Microwave Chocolate Glaze ingredients

uncovered on Medium

(50%) in 1-minute intervals until melted

 and smooth,

about 3 minutes. Heat just until melted;

do not overheat. Drizzle over

cooled brownies.

Let stand 20 minutes before cutting.

Easter Meal

 Lemon Tartlets

Pretzel Chicks and Chocolate Peeps

Strawberry "Carrots"

Deviled Eggs Fruit Salad Carrot salad

Beef Sliders, Ham, Mac n Cheese

Salted Maple Bacon Truffles

I needed to adapt this a bit as I found it to be too moist

The original recipe can be found here

Salted Maple Bacon Truffles makes abt 54

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

3 cups flour

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp maple extract

1/2 cup finely chopped, cooked bacon (1 used 2 pkg of prechopped bacon)

 

Topping

1 pkg chocolate almond bark

1/3 cup very finely diced, cooked bacon

coarse sea salt

 

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until fluffy.

Add in the flour, condensed milk, maple extract, and bacon.

Stir until well combined. 

Using a small cookie scoop (about 1 Tbsp),

scoop dough onto a cookie sheet covered with plastic wrap

or parchment paper.

Roll the dough into balls so they are round

Freeze balls for about 20 - 30 minutes to firm up.

When dough is chilled;

melt chocolate on the stove top in a pan

Be careful not to over heat the chocolate or it will seize. 

Dip a ball into the melted chocolate

and then shake off any excess.

Quickly sprinkle a pinch of the very finely diced bacon

and a smaller pinch of sea salt onto the top of the truffle

before the chocolate solidifies.

Repeat with the rest of the truffles.

 

Once they are all dipped they do not have to be frozen.

You only freeze them for a short time

to make them easier to dip. 

Because of the bacon they should probably

be kept in the fridge until ready to serve. 

  

Green Tomato Cake

Wonder what to do with those extra pesky green tomatoes?

 Tired of fried green tomatoes?

Make Green Tomato Cake!

This is a very moist spice like cake that freezes well.
I made the cupcake version this time

Green Tomato Cake 

Makes 1 - 9x13 inch cake pan

can make cupcakes as well

1/2 C butter or margarine 

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1C white sugar

 1 tsp baking soda

2 eggs 

1/4 tsp salt

2 C all-purpose flour

 1/2 C chopped nuts

1/2 C raisins 

4 C chopped green tomatoes

1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 Tbsp salt

Wash, peel and dice green tomatoes. 

Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon salt.

 Let stand 10 minutes.

 Place in a colander 

and rinse with cold water and drain.

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. 

Cream butter and sugar. 

Add eggs and beat until creamy.

 Sift together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda and salt. 

Add raisins and nuts to dry mixture; add to creamed mixture. 

Dough will be very stiff. Mix well. 

Add drained tomatoes and mix well.

Pour into a prepared 9 x 13 inch pan. or muffin tins

Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 to 45 minutes (for loaf)

abt 15-20 min for cupcake
or until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean.

Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar or 

frost with your favorite caramel 

or cream cheese frosting.