Countdown to Christmas Day 11....Santa hat cupcakes

These cupcakes are really cute and super fun! My favourite part of any cake, is the icing and these cupcakes are definitely all about the icing. Here's how to make them.....

INGREDIENTS

* Ingredients for your favourite cake mix batter (I just used a 90 cent packet mix) 

* 125g butter, at room temperature

*2 Tbls milk

*1.5 cups icing sugar, sifted

* 300ml thickened cream

 INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Make cake mix as per instructions and divide into patty pans. Cook as per instructions.

2.  Beat the butter in a bowl, until white and creamy

3. Add the icing sugar and milk, and beat until all combined.

4. Add drops red food colouring and stir until combined. Continue this process until you get the desired red coloured icing. 

5. Place in an icing bag and pipe on top of the cake, in a swirl pattern, moving up,  from the outside, into the middle.

6. In a seperate bowl, beat the cream, until it forms soft peaks.

7. Place in a piping bag, with a shaped nozzle of your choice. Pipe dots of cream around the base of the red santa hat and then pipe one dot on the  top.

8. Place in the fridge until firm. The cream does melt quickly if they haven't been in the fridge.


Quick tip if you didn't already know.....
Put your piping bag inside a large glass and turn the top of the bag over the top of the glass. Then pour your icing into the bag. Pull the top of the bag up & twist. Cut the tip of the piping bag and your ready to pipe!

And that's it...enjoy!

Kylie xx

Countdown to Christmas Day 12...Santa's Popcorn Crunch

One thing that our family loves to do in the Christmas season, is watch Christmas movies. We decided to get the movie channels just for over the holidays and for the 13 nights leading up to Christmas they are playing different Christmas movies. Our little family are loving it. Christmas movies wouldn't be complete though without some Christmassy snacks. I found this fun recipe for popcorn, called 'Santa Crunch Popcorn!' Hers's how to make it.... (recipe adapted slightly from http://www.twosisterscrafting.com/santa-crunch-popcorn/).

HOW TO MAKE SANTA CRUNCH POPCORN

Popcorn

1/4 cup Butter

3 cups Mini Marshmallows

Red & Green M&M's

Red & Green Peanut M&M's

Christmas Sprinkles

1. Cook your popcorn however you normally like to and sprinkle with salt.

2. Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a medium sauce pan.  Once the butter is melted add 3 cups of mini marshmallows. Stir until the marshmallows are melted. Turn off the heat.  Add 1 tsp. of vanilla.  Do not overcook.

3. Pour the marshmallow mixture over the popcorn and then gently fold the popcorn with a spoon until most of the kernels are covered in mixture.

4. Once the popcorn is covered in marshmallow mixture it is time to add the M&M's.   You want the marshmallow mixture to still be warm and sticky.  Then sprinkle the M&M's & sprinkles to finish!

We had it tonight during our Christmas movie. It’s yummy and also fairly easy to whip up!

Kylie xx

Countdown to Christmas Day 13....Choc Peanut Butter Christmas Bark

If you like chocolate and peanut butter, then you will love this recipe. It is delicious and perfect to have with a cup of tea or coffee. 

You will need:

1 x 375g bag of milk chocolate melts (I used nestle)

2 Tbls butter

2/3 cup peanut butter

Christmas M&M's 

Green sprinkles

Instructions:

1. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.

2. Place the chocolate in a microwave proof dish and melt in microwave for 1 minute. Stir thoroughly.

3. Pour into baking dish and spread evenly.

4. Place peanut butter and butter in a microwave proof dish and melt in microwave for 1 minute. Stir thoroughly.

5. Pour mixture on top of the chocolate and swirl around, mixing both layers together slightly.

6. Drizzle M&M's on top, followed by the sprinkles.

7. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes or until set.

8. Cut/break into pieces and serve, or store in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 2 weeks. 

Enjoy eating!

Kylie xx

Countdown to Christmas Day 14 ....Gingerbread Houses

I love that every Christmas My Church runs a ladies Gingerbread House making night. I am far from the best at decorating (as you can see below...excuse the cellophane that it is already wrapped in!) but I love doing it! Next year I will remember to spend less time talking & more time decorating oops!!
  

 The kid's look forward to having a gingerbread house every Christmas to smash and eat too. It's become a bit of a tradition at Christmas for us. If anywhere local is running a gingerbread night near you, go along. It's tons of fun. You can also buy your own kits from shops. I found this one today at Kmart for $10.

It's not just a house, it's a little village! And all for $10...bargain! You will need to purchase your lollies & make your icing too. So here are some pictures of  some awesome Gingerbread houses! Maybe you will find some inspiration...

Image found at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/481885228859137021/

Image found at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/465418942715859304/

Image found at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/334814553521803555/

Image found at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AVOeLfBL6szWFKfEj_8h1MS03QQJrvPM2CgrPIUFyiiyTRT9kJjEzSg/

Image found at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/423338433692536330/

Image found at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/572590540103484144/

Image found at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/529665606148077456/

Image found at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/471259548479528513/

Image found at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/64809682111314510/

Image found at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/143481938104737169/

Image found at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/525302744010978610/

Enjoy Creating!

Kylie xx

Countdown to Christmas Day 15....Cinnamon Honey Butter

Are you ready for this sinfully delicious recipe?? Apologies to anyone trying to loose weight! This is just deliciously naughty. And it doesn't help that it's so quick to whip up.

So what it is?? It is Cinnamon honey butter!!! For all my American readers, this recipe is probably not new to you, but we don't have anything like it in Australia! I love cinnamon toast, so this is just like a pre-made spread but with honey as well.

Here's the recipe:

1 stick of butter 

1/2 cup castor sugar

1/2 cup honey

1 tsp cinnamon.
(Recipe courtesy of "http://thefoodcharlatan.com/2014/11/24/cinnamon-honey-butter-recipe/"
I halved the recipe)

Throw it all in a mixer and mix till soft. 

Store in a container in the fridge and spread on hot toast, fresh bread or whatever else you can think of.

And most of all, enjoy every bit of it!!!

Kylie xx

Countdown to Christmas Day 16....Felt Christmas Trees and more

Today it's all about felt!! I have seen so many ideas for felt Christmas trees, which are perfect for those little toddler hands. Here are some links to some really great designs of trees and decorations.... 

http://www.twotwentyone.net/felt-christmas-tree-free-patterns/

http://sallyzblog.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/toddler-safe-2-d-felt-christmas-tree.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/69540104/Felt-Christmas-Tree

http://www.wildandwisdom.com/2013/12/07/toddler-friendly-diy-felt-christmas-tree/

http://eatpraycreate.com/2012/11/felt-christmas-tree-advent-calendar.html

http://scrapbooking.about.com/od/freepatterns/ss/freechristmasornamentpatterns.htm

http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/home-and-family/how-to/tanya-memmes-interactive-christmas-tree

http://www.bhg.com/christmas/crafts/make-christmas-ornaments-with-felt/?socsrc=bhgpin093012feltpoinsettia#page=20

There are so many awesome Christmas projects that you can make with felt. Here are some more ideas's...

Felt Interactive Olaf

http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2014/06/build-olaf-diy-toy.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/VvbGJ+(Growing+A+Jeweled+Rose)#_a5y_p=1763676 

Felt Christmas Tree skirt

http://www.livelovediy.com/2013/11/10-christmas-diy-ideas.html

Felt Christmas Trees

http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/diy-felt-tree-land-of-nod-knock-off.html

Enjoy Crafting!

Kylie xx

Countdown to Christmas Day 17...Chocolate Ice-cream Celebration Cake

Today I’m sharing the awesome ‘Chocolate Ice-Cream Celebration Cake’ that I found in the Women’s Weekly Christmas Classics book. I made it for a Christmas party last night. It is deliciously yummy but it really does need to be set overnight, otherwise the layers won’t look like right and the cake will melt into a gooey mess very quickly!! Thankfully it still tastes good. 

This is what mine looked like.

 This is what it is meant to look like! Mine is just a tad different!!

So here’s the recipe....

INGREDIENTS

2 x 220g bottles of Chocolate Ice magic

2 litres of cookies & cream ice-cream

1 litre chocolate ice-cream

500g Strawberries

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Spray a 22cm Springform pan with spray oil and line with baking paper.

2. Squeeze 1 bottle of ice magic over the base of the tin. Tap on the bench to settle and then place in the freezer until set.

3. Evenly Spread 1 litre of the cookies & cream ice-cream into the pan & smooth over with a spoon. Place in freezer for 1 hour or until set.

4. Evenly Spread 1 litre of the chocolate ice-cream into the pan & smooth over with a spoon. Place in freezer for 1 hour or until set.

5. Evenly Spread the remaining litre of the cookies & cream ice-cream into the pan & smooth over with a spoon. Cover and place in freezer overnight to set.

6. To serve, remove the side of the pan and carefully transfer to a chilled serving platter. Top with strawberries and drizzle with the 2^nd bottle of ice magic. Serve immediately.

Remember to set it overnight.

Enjoy!

Kylie xx