Red Velvet and a Reader Recipe

Okay here a couple great recipes that I know you will love.

The first one is the Red Velvet cupcake from a couple posts back. I got the recipe from JoyofBaking.com

The recipe there is for a layered cake. I just used cupcake tins and baked them for less time (14 minutes in a convection oven). Pay special attention to the frosting recipe. Red Velvet is usually doused in cream cheese frosting. (It does have cream cheese, don't worry.) But it ALSO has mascarpone cheese, which has recently become another favorite of mine. This leads me to my next flavor. . .

Back at Christmas time reader Clandestine Road shared this outrageous heavenly frosting with me. It's a whipped mascarpone cheese frosting. Perfect on any flavor cake, waffles, pancakes, ANYTHING for that matter. It was a smash hit at out New Years Eve gathering... I was going to take photos then, but alas they disappeared as soon as they were frosted! Thanks Angela! This ones a keeper!

Mascarpone Frosting
2 (8-ounce) containers mascarpone cheese, room temperature
1 cup cream
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Put the mascarpone cheese, cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla
into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer whip the cream mixture to soft peaks.

French Hot Chocolate

This Recipe for French Hot Chocolate came from Beth over at the Stories of A to Z.

It is INCREDIBLE! It's basically a rich chocolate whip cream that you can stir into warm milk. It turns the milk thick and frothy, just like gourmet hot chocolate... Tempted yet?

With all the rain and gray skies we've had lately this was a PERFECT late afternoon treat!

Make sure to go visit her for the recipe!

We only have one fancy mug (so that one was mine) I thought it was safer to give the kiddos identical mugs.

My husband even had a glass when he got home. Irresistible!

Cupcakes for a Cure

These cupcakes were made for a customer who wanted to raise breast cancer awareness at a business meeting. May all their efforts be blessed.

Chocolate cake with a cream filling, and piped with rich fudge.

To make the fudge topping combine 1 can sweetened condensed milk and 3/4 C chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave it in 30 second intervals until it is melted and smooth. (Stir it a lot) Let it cool at room temp for about an hour. It will thicken and become spread/pipeable.


Red Velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.
Leave a comment if you would like the recipe for this one.

Large Picture Frame Makeover

I've always wanted a BIG family picture.

This year for Christmas my talented Sister in Law Alexia (who is a photographer)
made that wish come true!

The prized picture needed a worthy frame, so...
of course off to the Good Will I went!

Our picture is 20X30 and I wanted it to have a big dramatic frame.

This lovely goose painting was in just the right size frame! About 3ft x 4ft.

I also picked up another frame that fit our family pic perfectly.

So bye bye geese, bye bye funky golf print from the other frame.

Hello black spray paint!

I also picked up one of those cutsie wood embellishments from Lowe's and painted it black too.

I cut a piece of 1/8" hard board (or masonite) to fit the large frame. I covered it with burlap, using spray glue to adhere it.

The burlap in this picture looks wavy...but it's not. (That's why I leave the photography skills up to my Sister in Law.)

Now time to assemble it. I stapled the burlap covered hardboard into the large frame, and placed our family picture into the smaller frame. I mounted the smaller frame right smack in the middle of the burlap board. (Glued it on with a lot of epoxy.) I also attatched the cutsie black embellishment with epoxy. And it was done!

Hanging it was the hardest part. It is so HUGE and HEAVY! And of course I wanted it to go way up high. So I accepted defeat and asked for the help of a super tall person with a gigantic wing span.

I love it! Thanks Lex, I will treasure it always!

Valentines Cookie Boquet

This boquet was made using the same sugar cookie recipe that I always use. The only difference is I inserted a cookie stick into them before I baked the cookies. I tried experimenting with purchased cookie sticks and skewers. Skewers do NOT work. The cookie slides right off! I think they just aren't thick enough.

Shabby Coat Rack

Remember those plastic gold candle wall sconces? I had a little fun with them today.

Now they have a new look!

I used the two candle sconces ($4) the thrift store cutting board ($3) and a 4x4 post (5.50)

I screwed the cutting board into the bottom of the post.

Then glued the candle sconces on with some epoxy.



Primed and painted with black spray paint. Then sanded the edges.

Fresh Junk

Every January when Christmas is over and nicely tucked back in the boxes, when I've had my fill of baking, I get project CRAZED! It's time to freshen up the house. The regular every day decorations rarely go back in the same spot and I can't help but add some new things. . . junk style!

Like these pillows for my bed

These super ugly geometric pillows came with my couch. They have been sitting in my closet taking up space for 2 years. In less than a hour they had a new look, and so did my bed!
The incredible girls over at Shanty 2 Chic came up with this fun wreath hanger, I could not resist making one! BTW, I love EVERYTHING they make!

Instead of purchasing a spindle thingy for mine I used an old table leg that I rescued from my brothers fire wood pile. How could someone burn such cute little legs! Here's the rest of them. . . Hmm. . . maybe I'll make more wreath hangers.

Then there is these fun spindles from my grandma's rocking chair. I LOVE the peeling pink paint. I haven't decided what to do with them yet. . .

Sorry I got distracted with cute spindles.

Here's the finished wreath hanger.

Here's a sneek peek at some of my latest junk finds. I can't wait to turn it into great stuff!

Thrift stores, road side junk piles, grandma's basement, ANYWHERE. . . I love a sweet find.

King size foot board- 10 bucks!

Isn't this a darling little goose painting? Not. This is going to be part of the frame for our new family picture. It is 3ft x 4ft. Thank you Good Will.

And check out this awesome stuff!! I spent a total of $15.00! If you're like my husband you're saying to yourself "should have been free". But I am so excited!! Everything is getting a complete makeover. Stay tuned.

This awesome gold plastic stuff is my favorite! It's hidious, I know. . . but not for long!