Coffee Filter Wreath

Censtational Girl is having a link party today...yippee! Her blog is quite amazing and every DIY-ers dream.  The party is featuring "Christmas Crafts," and I am showing off one of my favorites - the coffee filter wreath. This wreath is easy-peasy and adorable! You can place it on your mantle, hang it with festive ribbon, or leave it plain and use it as part of your holiday tablescape. There is a great tutorial here. Enjoy! 

Christmas Cake Pops

Edie is hosting her second link party of the week, and we're moving from appetizers to desserts. I chose my new, favorite recipes of the year - - Red Velvet Cake Pops. These cute little things can be made in any flavor you'd like, but red velvet is fun and festive (not to mention scrumptious). My dear friend Haley introduced me to these bad boys...and I've been addicted ever since.

Ingredients
1 box red velvet cake mix (yields approx 20 cake pops) Yes, I use a box mix...don't judge me 
Indredients included in cake mix (eggs, water, vegetable oil)
Lollipop sticks (Michael's, JoAnn's, other craft stores)
12 oz white or dark melting chocolate (fondue chocolate works best)

1/2 container cream cheese frosting

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F
Follow cake mix instructions and bake cake as you normally would 
Remove cake from oven and let cool
Transfer cake into large mixing bowl and add frosting (it's OK if cake breaks -- see next step)
Kneed cake and frosting until mixture appears "doughy"
Roll dough into balls
Melt chocolate on stove or in microwave (careful not to overheat)
Dip sticks into melted chocolate and place into center of cake ball (chocolate will help cake form to stick)

Place cake pops in freezer to cool for 30 minutes

Dip cake pops into melted chocolate (making sure entire "pop" is covered)
Twirl off excess chocolate and top with cake crumbs (or sprinkles, chocolate chips, etc.)
Place cake pop stick into styrofoam and allow to harden


Enjoy!

Holiday Appetizer

Edie is hosting an appetizer link party this week and I am so excited! Lots of yummy new recipes to add to the book before Christmas. Today, I am sharing one of my favorite apps of all time - bacon wrapped dates...Holy.Deliciousness. The first time I experienced this appetizer party in my mouth was at Cafe Ba Ba Reeba in Chicago. My recipe is a slightly different, but equally delicious version found below.

Ingredients
12 Pitted dates
1/2 Cup cream cheese (or any cheese you choose - goat cheese is delicious, too)
1/2 Cup brown sugar
4 - 5 slices of bacon 

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F

Slice dates in half, and open them up

Pinch off pieces of cream cheese, and place them into the center of the dates

Close the halves of the dates, roll them in brown sugar, and wrap with a half-slice of bacon

Secure each date with a toothpick

Place in baking dish 

Bake for 20 minutes, or until bacon is crisp

Turn dates over after first 10 minutes for even cooking

Serve over bed of spinach drizzled with balsamic for a lovely holiday display

ENJOY! 

My Favorite Space

My favorite space in our new home is our living - dining room. Our place has a very open floor plan. The kitchen flows into the dining room, and the dining room into the living room. This is my favorite area to hang out at home. 

painting inspired by JEN

Posted at THIS link party