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Thursday, May 28, 2009

How to make the cupcakes...


Marshmallow Fondant

1 x 16 oz bag regular or miniature marshmallows
1 x 2 lb bag confections’ sugar (icing sugar)
2 tbsp water
2 tsp flavoring (optional)
Shortening

1. Grease mixing bowl and a microwavable bowl that can be used to melt marshmallows in the microwave.
2. Place the marshmallows, 2 tbsp of water and 2 tsp of flavoring of your choice in the microwavable bowl coated with shortening and microwave on high for 1 min. Stir.
3. If the marshmallows are not melted, return to microwave for another 30 seconds. Stir.
4. Continue procedure till all marshmallows are melted.
5. Sift half of the confectioner’s sugar in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the melted marshmallow.
6. Mix until marshmallows are incorporated into the confectioner’s sugar.
7. Mixture should be thick but still runny. Sift in remaining sugar. Continue to mix until well incorporated (you can use dough hook if you want to use the machine to mix).
8. Mix well until it becomes like a dough consistency.
9. Wrap fondant in plastics and make sure no air gets into it. Let it sit for about an hour or so to cool down.
10. May need to add 1 tbsp of shortening or more while kneading MMF before rolling out.

Note:
1. You can omit the flavoring since the marshmallows have a slight vanilla fragrance already.
2. Before kneading MMF by hand remember to grease your palms and table top well with shortening.
3. Coat the MMF with shortening before wrapping with cling wrap and resting till ready to use. Can be kept in fridge for 1 or 2 weeks if well wrapped. If it is too hard to be use, you can microwave it for 10 sec or thereabout to soften it. If it is too dry, you can add some shortening to knead.

I made 2 boxes of cake mix...but i made the cupcakes a little bigger than the box calls for, so instead of 24 cupcakes each one made 21. I had a lot of the fondant left over.

I used Wilton store bought colored fondant for the flowers because i wasn't sure how to color the marshmellow fondant or if it would even work. But i am confident that you can color it and use it the same way. PLUS, it has a much better taste than the store bought fondant!

You roll out the fondant on wax paper.
Use a small cookie cutter (which they sell for fondant). They are the same as regular cutters, just smaller and themed.
Butter cream frosting to use as glue for the fondant to the cupcakes…To make the basic butter cream frosting, pay attention to the proportions: ¼ cup of confectioner's sugar, 2 tablespoons of butter, and 2 teaspoons of water. If you find that its consistency is too thick, just add more water. I added one drop of red to give it a little tint...but that is not needed at all.

I used flowers that had layers so you just cut the next size smaller and "glue" it on.


Then you will have beautiful cupcakes! I am going to try my hand at dinasours for Bella's b-day party in July! We will see what happens!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Fondant Cupcakes!

Fondant Cupcakes! I made marshmellow fondant cupcakes for Sierra's b-day! I LOVE how they turned out.
Kaya, Sarah, Shanna, & I made a ton of flower decorations...
I also decorated the cake for her to destroy with the same flower fondant.***There is a blog coming regarding that cake***
The following 2 pictures CRACK ME UP! I could not pry her away from the cupcake display! She loved eating them just as much as she did dreaming about them!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Sierra's b-day party

I walked all around our outlet mall with 4 kids and Sarah looking for the perfect May Birthday dress for Princess Sierra. It took a few hours, tears, snacks, and lots of whining before we found it! Once I saw this dress I was IN LOVE! It was the perfect color and design. (Come back tomorrow to see why)...I also think I found my perfect photo place in the house...our yellow playroom wall. I LOVE how the color made her dress look even better! She was scooting off the stool while i trying to get the perfect shot!
She didn't really enjoy opening gifts...but someone has to get spoiled, so why not Sierra! She probably knew what would happen to her new treasures. Her 2 big sisters would take them over...yes I wrote 2! Kaya plays in the playroom with the little kid toys just as much as the little ones :). But, that actually works to my advantage some of the times!

Sierra had such a big helper with her friend opening her presents! It was a lot of fun! We had such a good time with friends!

Monday, May 25, 2009

Sierra's 1st b-day!

For Sierra's actual birthday dinner, i gave her pasta and sauce! She loved it!
This was the funniest face i have ever seen a baby make...she kept doing it all through dinner...
She ate the pasta pretty good, but she made a HUGE MESS :).

This was Sierra's last stop before Kaya's choir performance...more to come on that!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE GIRL!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Our 3 silly sister's at the kitchen table

Here in the Rachi house hold we like to be silly! So here is a peak at the silly girls while they should be eating.....








Friday, May 8, 2009

Artisan Bread in Minutes


YUMMY!
This is the best simple bread recipe

Number of servings: 4

Ingredients:
1 1/2 Tbs active dry yeast
1 1/2 Tbs Kosher salt
3 cups warm (110 degree water)
6 cups all purpose flour

*corn meal (do not add in mix)

Directions:
Add all ingredients to a large bowl or container and mix until all flour is incorporated. Cover with a towel and leave on counter top at room temp for 2 hours.

Use the dough then or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Pizza stone on middle shelf, broiler pan on shelf underneath.

Pull out the piece of dough you want, shape it and let it rest on cornmeal on a pizza peel (wood flat surface) 40 minutes. Slash the dough, flour top.

Place on pizza stone in oven and pour a cup or so of hot water into broiler pan. Quickly close the door.

Bake 35 minutes

Approximate cost: $1.76

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Granola Bars

Play Group Granola Bars!
YUMMY!


PREP TIME 15 Min
COOK TIME 35 Min
READY IN 50 Min
Original recipe yield 24 granola bars



INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup raisins (optional)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* I also added 1/2 cup of flax seed


DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan. I doubled the recipe and it fit perfectly in a cookie sheet.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut.