Latte Art / Heart - Video Tutorial

I've been wondering how they make these hearts in coffee. I found this video on YouTube & thought  I'd share with you. I know most of us don't have an espresso machine at home. That's probably a good thing.  I'm sure it's not as easy as he makes it look.

Found on Coffee Talk: Latte Art / Heart - YouTube

Here is some more Latte Art - Enjoy!!

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Tutorial

These are one of the easiest things to make.
Here’s what you need…

Pretzels. Chocolate. Sprinkles. You can also use things like M&M’s or mini chocolate chips to decorate with. That’s about it. I prefer the Snyder’s Olde Tyme Pretzels. Sometimes I do the rod pretzels, but usually it’s the Old Tyme. I usually use Wilton Candy Melts, but am not terribly picky when it comes to the white chocolate/almond bark.

For regular chocolate, I do prefer to either get the Wilton Dark Chocolate Melts or the chocolate from my local baking supply company.
So here we go. First thing I do is set up my work area…


I have my pretzels open and ready, my sprinkles open and ready, a pan to sprinkle over and plenty of wax paper to sit the pretzels on after they take a dip in the glorious chocolate.

Next, you will want to melt your chocolate according to the package directions. Two things to not do – over cook the chocolate or add water. I usually cook mine for one minute in the microwave at 50% POWER, than stir. They usually are barely starting to melt…


Than I return them to the microwave for another 15 seconds at a time...

I usually stir it really well, than go for one more spin in the micro.


Now you are ready to make some magic.


You will want to dip the pretzel into the yummy creamy chocolate….


You will likely get some chocolate on your hands. I consider this a bonus.


I gently tap the pretzel against the side of the bowl, before holding it over my sprinkle area. I always hold my pretzel, but you could also sit it down (probably on wax paper) as I did here. For photo purposes I had to lay the pretzel down, or grow a third arm, and laying the pretzel down just seemed like a quicker option.


If I’m making my pretzels for kids, which is often the case, I tend to go heavy with the sprinkles, because otherwise they all fight over whichever pretzel appeared to hit the sprinkle jackpot. Most adults tend to like a few less sprinkles (and I personally prefer the crystal sugar sprinkles).


When using the sugar sprinkles, you can dip the entire pretzel into a bowl of sprinkles. I find this works best when the chocolate has cooled and thickened a bit. If the chocolate is hot and runny, you will literally have a hot mess. A yummy hot mess you can clean up with a spoon, but it does slow down the process.






I usually package them up, two per package with cute little toppers, to give out. I will do a post on how I do those next week (though I am hardly original, there are a ton of cute toppers out there).
And there you go! You have darling & delicious chocolate covered pretzels to give away (or eat later that night, I’ve tried both options, and either one works well).

Sugary. Salty. Sweet. Enjoy & Eat!





Enjoy :)

DIY Gumdrop Roses

Looking for a sweet alternative to roses this Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or any flower giving occasion? These gumdrop roses are so easy to make, and a whole lot cheaper!

View this Food Tutorial

These Gumdrop Roses are super easy to make and turn out very professional-looking. They would be wonderful as a party favor or a gift. Much cheaper than buying real roses around Valentine’s Day and sweeter too.

{valentine’s, freebie} I Need S'more Friends Like You!!

Please click through to get the free printable, Found on - {valentine’s, freebie} can you handle s’more Valentine printables?

7 Different Valentine’s Rice Krispie Treats Decorating ideas

 
 Found Here

Found here

 

Found here

Make these bright, colorful heart shapes for your little Valentines. Use a little frosting to "sign" them with love.

Found here - love this one xoxoxo

How clever - you need to click through to see how easy this was :)

Here is sure to be a Valentines Day crowd pleaser…On a stick is a good idea to avoid sticky hands.


 
Strawberry Pop Treats


Recipe & Instructions

What You Will Need

• Cooking spray
• 3 tablespoons margarine
• 6 cups mini (or 60 regular-size) marshmallows
• Red food colouring

• 9 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• Heart-shaped cookie cutter
• Plastic bags, yarn

What To Do

1. Let the kids coat a baking sheet with cooking spray then set it aside
2. Melt the margarine in a large pot over low heat.
3. Let the kids carefully place the marshmallows in as you stir, you can count with them as they do it, counting each marshmallow they place in the pot. (Make sure you explain to them about splashing or the baking fun will turn into hot margarine on your top!)
4. Stir the marshmallow and margarine continuously until they melt.
5. Remove the pan from the heat and let the kids put drops of red food colouring into the mixture while you stir, until you reach your desired colour.
6. Let the children add the Rice Krispies into the mixture while you stir and continue stirring until they are evenly coated with marshmallow.
7. Spoon the mixture onto the baking sheet.
8. With waxed paper (or lightly buttered hands), smooth out the mixture, spreading it to an even thickness.
9. Let the kids cut out hearts with the cookie cutter.
10. Have the kids place each heart in a plastic bag while you tie a yarn bow
11. Place in the fridge until you are ready to give them out!

Homemade Sugar Cubes

I have these on my other blog, and thought they would be good here too. :)

Cute idea found here. I added some other photos I found on the internet for ideas.

Homemade Sugar Cubes

Summary: How to make homemade sugar cubes

Preparation time: 5 min
Cooking time: 5 min (in total)

Yield: 24 aprox, depending on the size of the mold you use

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon water (to make the rose sugar cubes, I used water infused with berry tea instead of plain water)
• Any mold suitable for microwave. I used this one from Silikomart

Directions

1. Put sugar and water into a bowl and stir with the spoon until the sugar is thoroughly and consistently moistened
2. Put the sugar mixture into your mold. Press down the sugar in each hole with the spoon (or with your fingers) to ensure both that the sugar is firmly packed in and that there are no large air holes
3. Microwave for 30 to 40 seg
4. Let cool on the mold for a few minutes, and unmold carefully
5. Keep on an airtight container