Scrumptious Swirls: November 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

Nutella Pie Cookies ~

Nutella Pie Cookies with Heath Bar Crunch & Pecans ~

Do you have any pie crusts left over from Thanksgiving last weekend? Are you looking for a simple and easy yet ever so scrumptious treat? All you need is:

A love for Nutella

two ready made pie crusts I use Pillsbury brand

Pecans pieces

Heath Bar Crunch Toffee pieces.

Thaw out your pie crust as directed on the package. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Roll out the bottom pie crust on a piece of parchment paper. Spread the Nutella leaving about 1/2 inch to the edge. Sprinkle with pecan piece and Heath Bar Crunch Toffee pieces.

Unroll the top pie crust place carefully on top of the bottom piece and seal the edges with a fork. Brush a tablespoon or a bit more of milk on the top and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the top is crisp and golden brown. Remove from the oven let cool for a few minutes and cut into pie slices or smaller cookie pieces. Sprinkle confectioners sugar on top and serve!

Peace, Love & Nutella Pie Cookies,

Stacy

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Nothing says the Holiday season is almost here like Starbucks & Hostess with the Mostess

Nothing says the Holiday Season is almost here like Starbucks & Hostess with the Mostess well that & Starbucks signature holiday cup and drinks!

Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of attending with 9 other winners from the Hostesss with the Mostess blog the Starbuck Holiday kick-off party in NYC at the Gramercy Park Hotel (which I totally fell In love with btw & can't wait to go back during the holidays) . It was an amazing event with not a detail missed by Jenn & her team. From the venue to the stylish and oh so creative décor, to the coffee, cocoa & sweets from Starbucks the evening was top notch.

Before I share some photo’s that I took, I need to mention the “fabtastic”(new word that I learned that night) night out I had with my oldest daughter Haley who is 12. She was my +1 that night, and I surprised her when she came home from school to get her "homework done and get dressed in this we are taking the train into NYC for a Starbucks party!" “Mom are you serious or are you just messing around….what about practice? we are really going….wow my friends are never going to believe me, I am so glad you are lunch Mom tomorrow to tell them…I’m so excited, Let's get our Starbuck's ON!!!!” And off we went, we had a blast, lots of laughs and special time together, nothing that I will ever take for granted or forget. You get or at least I get very busy and forget how important one on one time is with your kids especially a growing 12 year old. Okay so onto the party~

As I had mentioned I was so impressed with the creative décor it was definitely what was needed to kick off the Holiday season and HWTM certainly Decked the Halls…….

Here was the invite from the HWTM blog the day before! So Festive!!

I really loved all of the details but particularly this tree made from I am guessing manzanita branches or coral or both! Jenn will be sharing lots of details and how-to's soon on her blog so we'll have to wait and read!

Pretty glittery bird ornaments~

This is my daughter getting her "Merry" on.....

Some shots of the dessert table~

My 2nd favorite element the simple hanging flowers~

The table setting~

Haley's favorite place the Cake Pop station. Did you know that Starbucks has Cake Pop kits? They do & they are perfect activity for a snowy winter day or at your holiday party!

That's all I have to share! Honestly I was very busy enjoying a scrumptious cocktail the Viatini their signature drink of the evening. All and all the night was so festive, fun, and memorable for my daughter and I, thank you Jenn & Amber of HWTM & Starbucks!

What was your favorite detail from my pictures? And.....

Be sure to click on the Starbucks link!

There's a sweet merry treat for us all from

November 17th-20th

hint: click on the video on the home page)

Peace, Love & Let's Merry~

Stacy

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Two weeks~ Blessed & Grateful

Last year I had hosted my first Thanksgiving Dinner at our home.

We enjoyed it very much & I wanted to share with you the simple yet elegant(if I don't say) table setting and other decor...........

I chose to make a simple banner with the words

"Blessed & Grateful" because that is what I truly am!

Seasonal Decor

Large hurricane filled with nuts and pine cones,

inside a smaller glass container to hold the sticks

Place setting with our menu and a pear

My favorite part was the cornucopia filled with fresh greens, apples and orange roses

Greens aren't just for Christmas Season,

add fall colors for a perfect Thanksgiving arrangement

Very simple "kids" table~ printed off some coloring pages as an activity while we ate (can you see they got to the table before I took the photo ;))

Our First Turkey! With lots of help from my Mom!

Desserts~ Apple & Pumpkin Pies & Chocolate Covered Oreo's

How about you? Do you host or travel to your family for Thanksgiving? What is you favorite part about Thanksgiving?

Peace, Love & Gratitude,

Stacy

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Decorate it yourself cakes with custom Fondant Pieces!

In the last year I have had the opportunity to create custom fondant pieces for some very colorful and creative parties! Just want to share some of the photos!

Buying a professionally decorated cake from a bakery is not cheap. But baking a cake yourself, with your little ones or buying an undecorated simply iced cake from your store and adding your own fondant pieces most certainly is affordable and FUN!