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Throw a Board Game Party with Goodwill

Monday, September 17th, 2012

I am so excited to share with you today some easy craft projects you can do to create a beautiful board game party theme for a fun game night with your friends.

I recently hosted a board game party and created all of my fun decorations from supplies I found at our local thrift store and the dollar store.

The total cost spent on all of these decorations was a mere $30 and I am so proud of how this theme turned out.

I hit our local thrift on a half off sale day to score these three vintage board games for a total of $2.44 (for all three)!

What a steal!

The first thing I did with my supplies was to create a board game banner to edge my party table.

For this you will need board game paper cards, a deck of cards (optional), play money, extra wide bias tape, and a hot glue gun with glue sticks.

Using your hot glue gun, add two drops of glue on each side of the front of your board game piece and secure it to the inside front of the bias tape.

For the reverse, add one drop of glue and then secure again to the opposite inside of the bias tape.

Repeat this in a sequencing pattern all down your banner.

I decided to create two of these, one to edge my table and one above my table on my ledge.

To secure it to your table, just use safety pins or straight pins to pin it to your tablecloth.

Isn’t that the cutest?

I had a lot of food to serve and not a lot of platters to use.

Good thing we have those board games, right?

Pick up three clear glass candlesticks in the same size. If you can’t find them there, you can grab them at the dollar store.

Using a primary spray paint color, spray paint these with your favorite color.

Let them dry for an hour.

Clean off your board game with a Clorox wipe (we will be serving food on it).

Invert your candlesticks upside down because we want the wide side of the candlestick to secure to the board game to create a more stable surface.

On that side, apply your hot glue all along the edge and secure it to your board game on the bottom to create a base for your serving platter.

Hold it secure for a couple of minutes.

Repeat this process with the two other candlesticks, creating a triangle base on the bottom of your board.

Isn’t this the cutest serving platter?

By raising your food up, you will have more room to add platters below and create interesting levels to your food.

You can also use other board games without a stand to place your food on lower levels.

Doesn’t that look awesome?

To add some more interest to my table, I also created hurricanes to display the smaller board game pieces.

Again, you just need clear glass candlesticks or even brass ones, that are often in abundance at Goodwill.

Spray paint these your favorite color and then add glass bowls or containers on top to finish them off.

If you can’t find these at your store, you can also check the dollar store for small glass fishbowls and vases that can be used.

Using an epoxy glue intended for glass (I used an Elmer’s epoxy glue that I picked up from my hardware store), secure the glass bowl to the top of your candlestick (just as shown above using a hot glue gun).

Fill it with you favorite vintage board game pieces from the board games you bought.

I absolutely love the vintage pieces that you can find in old board games.

Just remember, these hurricanes can be reused for other parties and spray painted again in whatever your party theme colors might be.

Since I was on a spray painting frenzy and I had so many great dishes to share for this party, I also created these DIY chalkboard food label frames.

You can grab the tutorial for this project as well as the recipes for all of the dishes I created for this party to replicate what was created here.

Now grab your best girlfriends, have everyone bring their favorite beverage and board game (check out this list for great games to grab at your favorite thrift store), and have a fun board game party evening that your friends will always remember!

What happens to be your favorite board game?

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Tags: Board Game Banner, Board Game Decorations, Board Game Party, Goodwill Blog, Goodwill Tips
Posted in Celebrations, My Work | No Comments »

12 Great Tailgating Recipes

Thursday, September 6th, 2012

12 Great Tailgating Recipes Hip-Hip-Hooray! Tailgating season is finally here and today I wanted to showcase to you twelve great dishes you can take with you to your next tailgating event. After all, what tailgating event would be complete without a great dish to share with friends?

It may surprise you that I don’t care a thing about football…Oh, who are we kidding? I am sure you already knew this about me. I will admit that I may not love the game, but I am all about the yummy food, drinks, and festivities with friends that surround the games.

Here are my top twelve choices for taking to your next tailgate:

1. Roasted Corn Salsa– Fresh chopped tomatoes, roasted corn, and parsley are tossed with just a little red wine vinegar, olive oil, hot sauce, salt, and pepper to create this unique and easy appetizer. What makes this appetizer unique is the process of broiling your corn under the broiler to add a smokey flavor that will have your friends begging for the recipe!

2. Cheddar Apple Pie Dip– One of my favorite combinations for fall eating is cheddar and apples. If you haven’t tried this before, it is the perfect balance of sweet and savory and they all come together in this easy dip to tailgate with. Diced on top is a mixture of red and green apples that have been tossed with brown sugar, cinnamon, and coarsely chopped walnuts. The layer underneath offers a surprise of cheddar cheese mixed with cream cheese and sour cream, cooked until hot and bubbly. Serve with your favorite cinnamon chip or cracker.

3. Lentil Soup– Looking for a wallet-friendly soup to feed a big crowd? Lentil soup is the perfect answer to feasting on a budget. If you haven’t cooked with lentils before, you should really give them a try! Unlike dried beans, lentils do not require any pre-soaking overnight prior to being cooked. Instead, most cooks recommend that you first pick over these legumes, and remove any that look broken or damaged. A quick rinse after you have picked out the damaged lentils, and you are ready to go. The ease and minimal prep time for cooking these is why lentils are a wonderful and easy addition to any soup and the perfect soup to tailgate with!

4. Pesto Chicken Tortellini Soup– This tortellini soup brings together all of the flavors that my family loves, but is a versatile recipe that could be created with what is at your supermarket that day. For our vegetarian readers, the chicken tortellini and chicken broth can easily be switched to a cheese-filled tortellini with vegetable broth instead. I used basil pesto in this, but you could also try a sun-dried tomato pesto or omit the pesto altogether if it is not a favorite of your family. Versatility is the beauty of a good soup recipe and this recipe is quite versatile! Not only is this sup a crowd pleaser, but it also is an easy soup to double or triple for your tailgating needs.

5. Homemade Tomato Soup– This tomato soup is all of our favorite flavors in the perfect merriment for our family. Chicken stock, whole tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and a little heavy cream are all mixed together. To cut the acidity, a pinch of sugar and a healthy dose of pesto round out the flavors. Be warned, a single batch makes enough to serve a small army. I love to serve this soup with a variety of fun crackers, croutons, or shredded cheeses for topping.

6. Cookie Dough Dip– This dip was nicknamed “Crack Dip” after the bowl was scraped clean when I brought it for Thanksgiving one year. I love to bring a sweet dessert dip that can be an unexpected surprise among the savory dips that are usually offered for tailgating spreads.

7. Bacon & Ranch Cheese Ball– This cheese ball is so embarrassingly easy, but is always a showstopper when I bring it to any get together. I try to always keep these ingredients on hand in my fridge or pantry for the unexpected get together for the games!

8. Double Tomato Bruschetta– This bruschetta is a double tomato bruschetta which combines the super sweet and chewy flavors of the sun-dried tomatoes with the delicious juiciness of the Roma tomatoes. The flavors together are phenomenal and are mixed with just a little balsamic vinegar,olive oil, garlic, and a little fresh garlic. You can prepare this one a few hours in advance, allowing the flavors to marinate together and break down the tomatoes a bit, or you can prepare it and eat it within ten minutes of preparation. I promise it won’t last long wherever you take this one!

9. Black Bean & Roasted Red Pepper Soup– Looking for a soup that will stick to your ribs through the whole day? I happen to have just the soup for you! The spices in this soup are perfect , the roasted red pepper adds a beautiful color and flavor to the soup, the sour cream adds that perfect balance of creaminess, and the beans add that filling soup combination to help keep you full throughout the day, while the chicken broth makes this soup light enough that even black bean soup haters could learn to love it… well, most black bean soup haters. This is a great soup to double or triple depending on the crowd that is gathering!

10. Baked Apple Pie Donuts– I love baking donuts and these Baked Apple Pie Donuts are the perfect treat to take to your next tailgate! The dominate flavor in this one is definitely the apple followed by the earthy and nutty flavor of ground nutmeg that helps round out the flavor profile of these donuts. Once these delicate donuts are done baking, they are brushed lightly with butter and then dipped into a cinnamon and sugar coating that helps bring all of those delicious fall flavors together and that little bit of gritty, yummy crunch that just so happens to be my favorite thing about donuts. I guarantee that not a single one will be left within minutes of their arrival!

11. Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins– Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins are my family’s favorite side dish if it is fall or the dead of summer. I try to make sure to stockpile pumpkin for just this reason and you might be doing the same after making a batch of these for tailgating season. These are best served at room temperature which is just the right temperature for your next tailgate!

12. Sub Sandwiches- Walmart gave us a chance to throw a game party with their subs to showcase what an affordable tailgating party option these are. For $28, you can get a six foot sub with your favorite meats and cheeses and all of the toppings.

As you can see from the way that these subs got plated, I took the opportunity to throw a GAME party quite literally and hosted a board game night with my best girlfriends.

Here is a little sneak peek at my table and the spread that I did with my tailgating recipes for a fun board game night with friends. Be sure to check back next week for ideas on how to decorate, board game ideas, and other fun crafty projects you can incorporate within your own game party. This might be a fun one to throw for the wives while the husbands are enjoying the game!

Be sure to check out my tutorial this week for those cute DIY Chalkboard Food Label Frames! Those would make a fun addition to any game day party table that you might be creating!

Happy tailgating, friends!

I am a part of the Walmart Moms program, and Walmart has provided me with compensation for these posts. My participation is voluntary and opinions are always my own.

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Tags: Recipes, Tailgating Food, Tailgating Recipes, Walmart, Walmart Mom
Posted in Celebrations, Main Dishes, My Work | 6 Comments »

Creating Your Own Back to School Traditions

Tuesday, August 28th, 2012

In less than one week, my two sweet kids will be boarding their bus and heading off to their first day of school.

It is hard to believe that another fun summer is behind us, but if this picture offers any indication, I am just a tiny bit enthusiastic about getting back to our daily routines and having time to work without carving time away from my attention to them.

We truly have much to celebrate and be thankful for in our family – including our school milestones – and I always try to make these days as special as possible with a fun celebration dinner for the kids.

Today I want to share some easy ideas for fun school-year celebrations you’ll enjoy all year long.

Create a School Picture Tradition

I love to see how much my children grow each year and I’m always trying to think of a new way to capture this big moment in their life.

Create a sign that says what year they are going into school or search on Pinterest for free back-to-school printable signs to use for your big day.

To really take your sign to the next level, find a cute picture frame to put your sign in and spray paint it for a pop of color.

You could also hunt for a small chalkboard or create your own chalkboard using chalkboard spray paint and jot down their school year.

Try to capture the big things, like that growth spurt that seemed to happen overnight, and then capture the little things like their fancy new school shoes or their cool character backpack.

Even if you might have missed the moment on the first day of school, there is an opportunity to capture this all year long and no one will be the wiser that it wasn’t your kid’s first day back.

I promise that these pictures will later be a treasure to you and to your kids when they can look back and see how much they have grown and changed.

Create a Celebration Plate Tradition

One of our wedding gifts when we got married was a Celebrate plate that my mom picked up at our local greeting card store.

This tradition was handed down to me because when I was growing up, any time we had a celebration in our family, the special recipient got to eat on the special plate.

You can create your own Celebration plate that you decorate together using a plate from your local Goodwill store and a porcelain paint set that you can find at the craft store.

Use a waterproof marker pen to jot down the date and the exciting occasion you’re celebrating together on the back of your plate for a sweet tradition that can sit sweetly in your family budget.

Create a Fun Decorating Tradition

Our balloon wreath isn’t just for celebrating birthdays anymore.

I now hang this wreath in our doorway anytime there is a celebration to be had in our house including those school year celebrations.

You can make your own balloon wreath by covering a straw wreath with two large packages (of 72) balloons and attaching them with greening pins (in the floral aisle of your craft store).

This wreath can be used for any of life’s little celebrations… big or small!

Create a Fun Meal Tradition

Nothing says celebration like a big plate of your favorite food. In our house, the most requested dish is my spaghetti and meatballs.

When celebrations arise, whether it’s a great report card or the first day back to school, let your children make the dinner selection for the night.

We have had everything in our house requested, from our favorite sub sandwiches to a taco bar night to homemade pizza.

Not only will you not have to plan dinner one night, but the bonus is your kids will eat it and love it!

Whatever you do, I can assure you that your children will long remember and appreciate!

I wish you many celebrations all school year long!

Looking for the perfect recipe for homemade spaghetti & meatballs to celebrate your kids and their first day back? I have you covered with this easy sauce and baked meatballs that rival any Italian restaurant. Double or triple the sauce and meatballs for delicious meals that you can eat all week long!

Homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs

For Sauce:

3/4 cup chopped onion (we omitted because we don’t like onions)

5 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup olive oil

2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes, undrained

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon white sugar

1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

3/4 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

For Meatball (this recipe will make enough for a double batch, half to eat and half to freeze):

1/2 cup plain bread crumbs

1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons whole milk

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 1/2 cups grated Romano (or Parmesan)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pound Italian turkey sausages (remove the casings)

1 pound ground beef

To make sauce: Saute onion and garlic in 1/4 cup olive oil until onion is translucent. Stir in tomatoes, salt, and sugar. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer one hour and thirty minutes. Stir in tomato paste, basil, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and meatballs and simmer thirty more minutes. Gently break apart the tomatoes with the back of your wooden spoon. Five to ten minutes before serving, add in your meatballs and then serve over a big bowl of your favorite pasta.

To make meatballs: In a medium bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, eggs, milk, ketchup, Romano cheese, and the salt and pepper. Add the turkey & ground beef, then gently stir to combine. Make your meatballs the standard size and put them on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for ten to fifteen minutes. When done cooking, drop in the baked meatballs for a few minutes. This will be just as delicious with a lot less mess and fewer calories.

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Tags: Back to School, Celebrations, Goodwill Tips, Home & Organization
Posted in Celebrations, Family, My Work | No Comments »

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling

Monday, August 27th, 2012

Looking for an easy steak marinade for your next cookout? These steaks can marinate in a freezer bag while you prepare your side dishes. This recipe elevates any cut of steak so no need to spend money on a filet mignon.

Adding flavor and tenderness to an inexpensive steak is so easy to do with a simple steak marinade.

If I am spending a lot of money on a more expensive cut, like a gorgeous filet mignon, I skip the marinating and allow this cut of meat shine.

The truth is, we don’t often purchase filets though. We, instead, rely heavily on the old, “who has steak on sale this week?” method for selection instead.

One technique that I’ve mastered over the years is thinly cutting my beef to disguise any toughness in texture.

It is why you often see inexpensive cuts, like skirt or flank steak, cut very thin strips for tacos.

Which steak is best for this recipe?

I happened to hit a great sale on NY strip steaks, but normally I would use this recipe on tougher cuts of beef that would benefit from being tenderized.

This recipe is great for cuts of beef like chuck steaks, hanger, skirt, or flank.

Consider any tougher cuts of beef that you might prepare in your slow cooker too.

New York Strip Steaks from Grocery Store

Should you marinate a New York strip steak?

I did marinate my New York strip steaks, but this is definitely not necessary! This cut of meat is tender and flavorful without a lot of intervention.

What is the best way to cook New York strip steaks then?

Fancy cuts of meat don’t require a lot.

Since New York strip steaks are so tender, they don’t require anything beyond a pat of butter.

steaks on the grill with vegetables

What cooking method is best for each cut of beef?

I recommend taking a peek at this article on 4 expensive cuts of beef that are big on flavor. This guide should help explain which cooking method is best and help you understand the difference in flavor profiles between different cuts of meat.

For example, how ribeye and New York strip steak differ?

That, and all your burning questions about the difference between filet mignon and top sirloin are worth reading so you can adapt your cooking techniques based around steak sales.

I really think this is an incredible guide for beginner and experienced cooks.

If you use this method to make a medium rare New York strip steak, you will want to cook it to 140 degrees and then allow it to rest before cutting.

Speaking of New York strip steaks, I can’t wait to try this frozen New York strip steak technique in my kitchen soon.

I don’t want to grill. How do I cook a steak like a restaurant does?

Tired of paying premium prices at your local steakhouse?

One of the best time investments I have made has been learning to make our steak dinners at home.

The trick is starting the steak on the stovetop and then finishing it in the oven.

The best part is that everything can be done in ONE cast iron skillet.

Did someone say LESS DISHES?

Count me in!

Once you master this cast iron skillet method, you can enjoy a weekly steak without the guilt.

I can’t recommend my pan seared oven roasted steak recipe enough.

This is my recommendation for that restaurant experience in your own kitchen.

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling finished

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling Plated

What can I marinade my beef in that isn’t made of plastic?

Consider purchasing one of these reusable glass dishes for your marinades.

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling

Today I wanted to share with you a recipe I tried for a steak marinade.

I am no stranger to marinated steak and the beauty of creating a great steak meal at home. In the past, I have relied on a little balsamic vinegar and olive oil marinade.

I was looking for a fresh marinade recipe and stumbled upon this one.

Honestly, I have never tried a better steak marinade recipe than this one and it is made from ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

For the best results, you will want to marinate your steaks for 24 hours.

Simply add steaks to a gallon size bag (I double bag these or use a freezer bag instead) and then add marinade ingredients to the bag. Seal the bag, removing the excess air, and store it in the fridge until it is time to grill.

Now that I have tried this recipe, it is highly likely I will never make my steak any other way again. You won’t believe the flavors in this and none of them overpower the delicious taste of the meat itself.

Best Steak Marinade in Existence

Recipe Type: Main

Author: Adapted from AllRecipes.com

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Total time: 15 mins

Serves: 6

A flavorful steak marinade that will enhance the flavor of any cut of meat you might find on sale at your local supermarket.

Ingredients

1/3 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder
3 tablespoons dried basil
1 1/2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon minced garlic

Instructions

Place the soy sauce, olive oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, basil, parsley, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl and whisk well.
Pour marinade over desired type of meat.
Cover, and refrigerate overnight. Grill meat as desired.

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Looking for great grilling side recipes? Check out these easy side ideas!

corn on the cob on the grill

grilled brussel sprouts

three cheese grilled potatoes

quinoa salads in a jar (with spinach & tomatoes)

Happy grilling!

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Tags: Grilling, new york strip, steak, Steak Marinade Recipe
Posted in Celebrations, Frugal, Main Dishes, My Work | 1 Comment »

Back to School ’12

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

It’s back to school day today. We have crammed in a whole summer full of fun. I am going to miss these two little ones! I hope! everyone is having a great start to their school year and wanted to share with you a few pictures today!

I was a smart mom this year and we did all of our pictures the day before school so we could really focus on getting ready for our day without any interruptions. It also gave us a good practice run in our uniforms before the big day.

xo,
Amy

Posted in Celebrations, Family | 16 Comments »

Fun Ways to Celebrate the Olympics

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012

Are you as excited as I am for the Olympic games to start?

In our family, the Olympics is something to watch and celebrate together through fun crafts and activities.

It is an opportunity to learn about other countries, to admire amazing athletes, and a time of celebration for our country.

The Olympic games are fast approaching and I am so excited to share a few fun ideas for craft and activities you can do to celebrate this exciting time.

Today I wanted to share with you seven fun activities you can try together as a family to make the Olympics extra special for your kids.

Olympic Medal Cookies–

What could be sweeter than receiving an Olympic medal?

How about an Olympic Medal filled with a cookie?

AlphaMom offers this sweet little Olympic craft to do with your little ones.

Stumped for a cookie idea?

I highly recommend an Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Sea Salt Cookie for your medal filling!

Olympic T-Shirts–

With a simple painted ring pattern on an inexpensive thrift store shirt, this is a craft that is easy enough to do with kids of all ages.

Kate’s Creative Space offers this fun craft idea to her readers and we think it pairs perfectly with a great t-shirt your probably already own!

DIY Olympic Torch–

What child doesn’t dream of carrying around their very own Olympic torch?

Hoosier Homemade showcases a fun craft that you can do to create your very own Olympic torch made from some commonly found items at your local craft store.

Olympics Party Fun–

Why not throw a party for your family or for a group of families to celebrate the Olympics?

A Small Snippet has you covered with everything from patriotic foods to great Olympic game ideas to play together, to fun ideas for decorations that don’t cost a lot.

Before heading to your local superstore, check your favorite thrift store for creative games and prop ideas for your very own mini-Olympics.

Olympic Torches Made From Recyclables–

If hitting your craft store for supplies to make an Olympic torch isn’t in your budget, this Olympic Torch from The Idea Room is made from common items you have in your home and recyclables.

These torches are made from a paper plate, a paper towel roll, and red & gold tissue paper.

This is one that even the smallest child can do.

Be sure to lift these high and participate in your own round of fun family Olympic games.

Olympic Rings Necklace–

Even moms can jump in on the Olympic excitement with this cute craft, from Remarkably Domestic, for an Olympic Rings Necklace.

This necklace is made from simple rings covered in Chinese knotting cord to create those Olympic rings everyone loves so much.

This would be a fun craft to do while watching your favorite games this year!

Discus Throw Frisbee–

Are your kids excited about the Discus Throw?

This craft from My Sister’s Suitcase is a fun one for kids of all ages.

Print a design for the front of your Frisbee and then have your child decorate it to their heart’s delight.

What are some ideas you have for celebrating the Olympic games with your family?

Don’t miss these other great ideas from MomAdvice.com:

S’more Toppings Bar Party

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Tags: Goodwill Tips, Olympics, Olympics Activities, Olympics Crafts
Posted in Celebrations, DIY, Kids Crafts, My Work | 1 Comment »

Ice Cream Sundae Bar Party

Monday, July 16th, 2012

This week you will find me over at the Snackpicks site sharing about a food that I am sure we are all passionate about…ice cream. Visit this article for tips and strategies for throwing your very own ice cream party. I am sharing everything from shortcuts to make the party process easier to creating your very own ice cream sundae topping bar.

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Tags: ice cream, ice cream party, Snackpicks, sundae bar
Posted in Celebrations, Desserts | 1 Comment »

Art Gallery Birthday Party

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012

A few months ago, my brother sent me a text with this picture. He was having his first art gallery showing in New Orleans and wanted us to get the chance to see what it looked like. I couldn’t wait to show Ethan because it has always been a dream of his to be an artist.

My son’s reaction to the picture was “I wish I could have an art gallery showing…”

It was with that one statement that the vision for his tenth birthday party was created. An Art Gallery Birthday Party was on our party agenda for this year and I started gathering ideas and materials to make this gallery showing special for him.

Today I wanted to show you how we pulled off his own Art Gallery Birthday party. This idea is the perfect party for a budding artist and gives them a chance to show off their work to a captive audience. It also happens to be a very inexpensive theme and gives your child a chance to be creative since they have the opportunity to help in the creating of the party itself.

Once our art gallery theme was decided, Ethan started gathering and working on pieces he would like to debut in his art gallery. I got inexpensive cotton twine and purchased mini clothespins to create the display for his art work. He worked on pieces for the gallery all summer long and then he selected the ones that he wanted to hang for the gallery showing.

I hung three balloons upside down over our kitchen table and placed a penny inside each one to help hold it down and steady over our table. I found that handy tip on Pinterest and it worked like a charm for creating a pretty display over our table.

Over our gallery display, I spray painted large paper mache letters to spell his name. I found them at JoAnn Fabric, on sale, for $1.99 each and then spray painted them in a coat of Krylon Metallic Matte Aluminum Colored Spray Paint (found at Walmart) to finish them.

I mounted the letters over our patio window with a little painter’s tape on the back to hold them into place. The same painter’s tape held our gallery display in place on each side of the window.

For the kitchen table, Ethan created a, “Welcome to a 100% Pure Epic Art Gallery,” sign and then we created these paint drip jars to add jars of flowers to our main table and the food table. The kids loved making these and they added a fun addition to our art theme.

Gallery showings always have fun appetizers and drinks so we wanted to create bite sized food to go along with his epic art theme. I served pulled pork sliders on little Hawaiian rolls, mac & cheese bites (recipe below), spinach balls, sides of potato chips in small coffee filters, and rounded out our menu with a little birthday punch, cheese ball, and a veggie tray.

I made all of the food the day before and had everything in my fridge ready to go for our party day. We had other engagements happening that day so that helped save a lot of time for me on the actual day.

No birthday party is complete without a great birthday cake. My friend, Nancy, made this cute birthday cake banner for us and I mounted it with two skewers I had in my grilling supplies. If you missed the recipe yesterday, this is a Chocolate Almond Cake with Chocolate Almond Frosting. It was a delightful way to end an evening of delicious small bites.

Ethan told me that this was his best birthday party yet, which makes me so happy to hear! We loved giving him the chance to shine and show off his talent to his party guests. This Art Gallery Party was a great way to kick off his big year of double digits!

Happy 10th Birthday, Ethan!

Mac & Cheese Bites

Recipe Type: Appetizer

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 25 mins

Total time: 40 mins

Serves: 18

Ingredients

12 oz. elbow macaroni noodles
2 cups butter cracker crumbs (such as Ritz)
3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
6 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
1 (5.2 oz.) package Boursin garlic herb cheese
2 tbsp. cold unsalted butter
2 large eggs
¾ cup milk
¼ cup sour cream
¼ tsp. salt
Pinch red pepper flakes

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350˚ F.
Bring a large pot of water to boil.
Cook the pasta according to the package directions until just shy of al dente.
Drain well.
Meanwhile, lightly grease standard size muffin pans with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, ½ cup of the shredded cheese, and melted butter and mix with a fork until combined.
Spoon a bit of the mixture into the bottom of each muffin well and tamp down with the flat bottom of a glass or other.
Once the pasta is cooked and drained, add it to a large mixing bowl with the remaining shredded cheese, the boursin and cold butter.
In a liquid measuring cup, combine the eggs, milk, and sour cream and whisk to combine. Add the liquid mixture to the bowl with the pasta.
Stir in the salt and red pepper flakes and mix until evenly combined.
Divide the macaroni mixture between the prepared muffin wells.
Bake until light golden, about 20-25 minutes. Let cool in the muffin pans at least 10-15 minutes, then carefully remove from the pan and serve warm.
TO MAKE AHEAD: Follow the directions above, but do not bake the macaroni bites. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge overnight. Bake as instructed.

Recipe Source: The Deen Bros. on Epicurious via Annie’s Eats.

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Posted in Celebrations | 6 Comments »

Chocolate Almond Cake With Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Monday, July 9th, 2012

It has become a birthday tradition in our family to let the birthday girl or boy select their own cake from my modest cookbook collection. When my son spied this Chocolate Almond Cake, he begged for me to make it for his special day. I will be honest and say that Chocolate Almond Cake would have been last on my list of culinary delights at the age of ten, so it surprised me a lot he would select it. Chocolate Almond Cake seemed a rather sophisticated birthday cake choice, but it made me happy to hear that this was the special cake that he wanted and proud of his smart little palate.

Chocolate and almond do make the perfect pairing and the flavors are laced not only through the entire richly moist cake, but it is also throughout the delicate chocolate cream cheese frosting that it is topped with. This cake was a huge hit at our party especially among the chocolate lovers in the group. The cake itself is rich, but the lighter chocolate frosting really pulls the cake together.

I decided to make two of these cakes so we had enough cake for all of our guests and ended up using three of the layers (shown here) for a fuller cake for our family. The last layer that I made was tucked into the freezer for my son & his friends who are coming this week for a birthday get together.

I prefer to make my cakes in a two day process and the best part about this cake is that the flavors seem to meld better if they are allowed a day to set. I went ahead and wrapped the cooled cake layers in plastic wrap and then covered them in foil. When the cake is frozen it is much easier to decorate and I have a lot less crumbs to have to work around. That little tip came courtesy of a Michael’s cake decorating course I took and has served me well over the years of making and decorating special occasion cakes.

I am looking forward to sharing more about his birthday party in the upcoming weeks and hope these ideas will offer some party planning inspiration for your family!

Chocolate Almond Cake With Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Recipe Type: Dessert

Author: The Cake Mix Doctor

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 40 mins

Serves: 16

Ingredients

1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup water
1 package (18.25 ounces) devil’s food cake mix
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup canola oil
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 package (8 ounces) low-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1 stick of unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon pure almond extract (for your frosting)
4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare two 9-inch cake round pans by generously greasing them with vegetable shortening and then dusting them with flour. Set your pans aside.
Heat the chopped chocolate and water in a a saucepan over low heat until melted, stirring constantly. Set the pan aside to cool for ten minutes.
Place the cake mix, buttermilk, oil, eggs, almond extract, and melted chocolate mixture in a large mixing bowl. Blend your cake mixture until thoroughly combined.
Divide the batter between the two prepared pans, smoothing with a rubber spatula.
Bake the cakes for 28-30 minutes.
Remove the pans from the oven and place them on wire racks to cool for five minutes. Take cakes out of the pans and allow them to cool on the wire rack for thirty minutes.
Place the cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl. Blend well until combined.
Add cocoa powder, almond extract, and confectioners’ sugar and blend until the frosting is fluffy.
Frost your cake.
Place the cake uncovered in the refrigerator until the frosting sets, approximately 20 minutes.
Cover the cake with waxed paper and store in your refrigerator for up to one week.
To freeze the cake, wrap it in aluminum foil, for up to six months.
Thaw the cake overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

Looking for other fun cake choices? Here are a few of our favorites!

Darn Good Chocolate Cake

Blueberry Muffin Cake

Barbie Cake

Classic Orange Chiffon Cake

Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream Cheese Pound Cake with Warm Lemon Curd

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Tags: Birthday Cake, Celebrations, Chocolate Almond Cake, Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Posted in Celebrations, Desserts, Kid Eats | 7 Comments »

4th of July Block Party Tips

Monday, June 25th, 2012

4^th of July is near, so this week I have put together some tips and ideas for planning neighborhood block party.

When I was a child, each year I looked forward to the annual 4th of July block party.

I remember how exciting it was to be out way past my bedtime, eat loads of fun food and play flashlight tag through the neighborhood streets.

In a day and age where we often don’t even know our neighbors, 4th of July activities like block parties are a great way to create or renew friendships and strengthen your neighborhood’s community spirit.

Throwing a block party doesn’t need to be difficult or elaborate, but you will need a plan and ask some neighbors to help.

See below for my five key block party tips.

Invite the Neighborhood

If you have a neighborhood association or committee, you will have the makings of a great guest list.

If not, go door-to-door to request email addresses and names of the family members.

Go green by emailing invites (this will also save you the cost of stamps).

Ask for a small donation to cover the decorations, food and fun.

Publicize your event by putting up posters throughout the neighborhood and talking about it on your neighborhood’s social media pages if they have them.

Apply for a Permit

As soon as you’ve set the date, call your local police or municipal services department to notify them of your block party and see if you need a permit.

It’s best to make this call several weeks before your event.

You’ll also want to ask about roadblocks to keep the area safe.

Ask if your local police can deliver them the day before your block party to make setup easier.

Keep Decorations Festive & Simple

Decorate food tables with red, white and blue banners, hang tissue paper pom-poms on nearby trees, and fill glass vases or mason jars with red tissue paper and flags.

Make this cupcake pick wreath for your door and add some easy flag bunting!

Organize the Food

To keep the food easy and fair, have homes with odd house numbers bring a main dish and have homes with even house numbers bring side dishes or desserts.

Ask each family to bring their own folding tables, chairs, beverages and tableware.