Busy Brunette Bakerista

Happy National S'mores Day!  S'mores on a stick? Why didn't I think of this earlier? No more long sticks, messy graham crackers, and marshmallow everywhere  over a bonfire. You can make these any time of year and enjoy them during a festive winter party, neighborhood potluck, or team dinner. HOBO* S'mores 36 large marshmallows  1 container (16 oz.) of dark chocolate frosting 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs  2 cups of semi-sweet mini chocolate chips 36 lollipop/cake pop sticks (find them at any craft store or baking supply store) First, line cookie sheets with wax paper. Insert one stick into one marshmallow at a time and place on cookie sheet.  If you can't find graham cracker crumbs, take whole graham crackers, break into quarter pieces, place into a food processor and blend until it turns into crumbs. Then, scoop out frosting from the container into a glass bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds or until frosting fe...

Year-Round Holiday Cookie Bars *I will be taking a break for a while so look for my next post in April or May 2018* Happy Baking Everyone!! Sometimes the best cookie recipe is the easiest. Bake these for any special occasion, holiday, or birthday and I bet they’ll be a family favorite. You can use different colored sprinkles, sugar, or cupcake toppers too. 2 eggs (1 cup) two sticks of butter, softened 2 bags of sugar cookie mix {17.5 oz. bag} 1 can of vanilla frosting (or homemade frosting of your choice) sugar sprinkles (holiday colors) Follow instructions on bag of cookie mix. Heat 350 degrees for nonstick or 375 degrees for regular cookie sheet. Using a large spatula or wooden spoon stir two bags of cookie mixes, two eggs, and two sticks of softened butter in a large mixing bowl.  Spread dough into a large baking pan with a rim (you can use a sheet cake pan, jelly roll pan, etc.).  Bake for 15 min. Cool.  ...

I had so much fun planning the big, double 16th birthday party for my twins. After spending weeks going down the "Pinterest rabbit hole" where I'd pin photos after photos of party decoration ideas, themes, food, designs and other details, I narrowed it all down and made a party plan! Since the birthday party was for a boy and  a girl I didn't want it to be confused with a Sweet Sixteen with a lot of pink, so I chose neutral colors of seafoam green, royal blue, white and silver.  My first DIY craft idea was of using various size"16" numbers for decoration. I purchased flat, large wooden numbers at my local craft store. Then I pulled photographs from our albums, and photocopied them at a reduced size - (or, you can print out photos from your computer onto copy paper and reduce the size). I placed the photocopies on each large number and laid them down to cover the entire number. Using scissors, I trimmed off the edges and then used Mod Poge glue, foll...