Bunny Bottom Cupcakes

 Ethan wanted to make a Easter treat to take to school and this is what he decided on.  I knew it wasn't going to be simple so I had him help me.  I love our time in the kitchen together.

 I copied these from this website.  We did ours a little different.  I didn't want to make carrots out of fondant.  I don't like to color the stuff and I didn't want to make a thousand of them.  In the end Ethan was happy with how they turned out.

Here is the recipe for the marshmallow fondant which I thought was super easy to make.

Marshmallow Fondant

• 4 cups Loosely Packed Mini Marshmallows
• 2 Tablespoons Water
• 4 cups Powdered Sugar, Plus Additional For Dusting
• 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Shortening

To make marshmallow fondant, place marshmallows and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 1 minute on high; stir until marshmallows are melted and blended.

Place confectioners’ sugar on top of the melted marshmallow mixture in the bowl. Fold sugar into marshmallow mixture with a shortening-greased wooden spoon. Place shortening nearby your workspace so you can reach into it with fingers.

Grease hands and counter generously. Dust counter with extra powdered sugar.

Turn marshmallow mixture onto counter; it will be sticky. Knead like you would dough, until fondant pulls into a firm, smooth ball, that can stretch with no tearing. Add enough confectioners’ sugar in between to avoid sticking. If the marshmallow fondant is tearing easily, add 1/2 teaspoon of water at a time. *Being in the South I didn't have to add any extra water or sugar. It was perfect.

Always cover fondant with plastic wrap. Any unused fondant can be stored in double plastic wrap so it does not dry and crack.

We started by rolling out balls to make the bum of the bunny.  Then we made the little feet shapes. Ethan was impressive.  We even got Jared to help us with a few feet since 40 of these suckers seemed overwhelming. I used left over pink frosting to make the pads.  I wasn't about to cut all that  out in fondant. We then made the bunny tail by rolling out the ball and used scissors to add texture.  I used melted chocolate to glue everything together.
Carrots- all you need is scissors (with shortening on the blades), fruit slices, and sugar to add to the cut sides of the slice (it makes it a lot less sticky.)

Ethan wanted to add Easter eggs (jelly beans) to this carrot patch.
We also added crushed oreos under our bunny to give it the effect of him digging underground.
Although it took us 2 days we had a lot of fun and he said his friends loved them!

Magic wands

I made these for Mindi.  They are for Corrine's 4th birthday princess party.
I used my star shaped cake pop maker to make the stars.  I used a 12 cupcake box mix which is the perfect amount of batter for these little things.
After they cooled I dyed white almond bark pink using gel colors and dipped a sucker stick in the chocolate then inserted it into the star.  I put them in styrofoam to dry then dipped the whole star in the chocolate very carefully because they are so soft.

This is how Mindi displayed them.

I also made these cupcake toppers for her cupcakes.  I have a crown mold that I first piped pink chocolate into to make the design.  Once that dried I added the white chocolate to make the crown.  

Here's what the cupcakes looked like.  Mindi did an awesome job!  Thanks for sending me the party pics!

Lucky Rainbows

 Wyatt wanted to bring this to his preschool class to celebrate St. Patricks Day.  He was so excited!

I used a Halloween cauldron for the pot of gold (Rolo's)

 Jill and I made these for some friends at church.  I love Pinterest!

Rainbow Twizzlers and Rolo's.  Super Easy!

Treats, tears, and tributes!

 9 years ago today this hero, my brother, was killed in Iraq.  He is a hero in so many ways. There were many times my family expressed concern for his safety whenever he was called over seas but he always responded with the same thing, "Someone has to do it and if I die then I died doing what I love."  He knew that freedom and liberty are not free, they are paid through the blood and sacrifice of him and so many others like him. We are so blessed!

A week ago my oldest son Ethan came home with a very fun surprise.  They did a podcast segment at school about Heroes.  He was so excited for us to hear his.  Most of the other kids talked about their parents so I was getting ready to hear the words My dad is my hero but instead he said my Uncle Clint is my hero.  I was so thrilled and got chocked up as well.  I tried so hard to get just his segment downloaded but it was impossible.  He talked about how special Clint is to our family, that his middle name is Clint, that we watch the news clippings and his funeral on DVD to remember him, and he even did research online to see how he died and the exact date he was killed.  It is so sweet!  After we listened I told him that his 9 year anniversary is coming up and we should do something special.  He said he wanted to make cookies and share them with his class.  He is so my kid, always thinking treats!!

 There was no doubt in Ethan's mind that he wanted to do flags.  We have tried to teach Ethan respect for the flag and what it represents.
After Clint died I will never look at the flag the same.  He taught our family how to take proper care and have respect for the flag. I have never seen more flags flown in someones honor.  There were hundreds of them lining the streets on the day of his funeral. It was awe inspiring watching the soldiers carefully fold the flag that draped his coffin.  There wasn't a single wrinkle.  Ethan loves watching this on the video and knows now that the flag is so much more than beautiful colors representing states and colonies.

 I can honestly say that this treat has been the most rewarding one I have ever done.  I can't explain what it felt like but it was so much more than a cookie to me.  I took a walk down memory lane with my best friend. I was reminded what was important in life.  I reflected on my life and hoped that my brother is proud. I thought about what all these colors mean.  I promised to be better about not taking my freedoms for granted.  I needed these reflections, I have missed my bro so much this year.

 Ethan said he loved taking the cookies into his classroom because he wanted to tell everyone why he brought them.  He loves talking about his hero just like me!

 Every March my family likes to pay tribute to Clint so we try and do something to honor a hero.  My kids usually pick firefighters.  This year was no different.
The only way we know how to say thanks is with a treat and a card.

The Butterfinger cupcake:
1 box yellow cake mix
3 eggs
1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups crushed Butterfinger candy bar
Mix everything but candy bars for 2 minutes.  Add 1 cup candy bars. Bake 350 for about 15 minutes. Cool. Frost with my favorite chocolate frosting. Sprinkle with remaining crushed Butterfinger.

The Oreo and Peanut Butter Cup cupcake. Click here for the recipe.

I topped them with these firetruck chocolates.  I know they are childish but these cupcakes needed some color.

We scheduled a tour with the fire station when we delivered them and invited our friends from our church playgroup to join us.  We made these mini lemon cupcakes to give to everyone who came.
Thank you hometown heroes for spending time with us today!

*Thanks Mindi and Jill for all your help with these.

* I hope I didn't bore you with this post.  I wish I was better with my words but I love talking about my hero.  Thanks for listening.

Music to my...mouth

 I was asked to bring 2 dozen cookies for Wyatt's music program at preschool.  I decided it would be fun to make sugar cookies.

 I used black chocolate to make the music notes. I filled a piping bag with the chocolate and traced the image I found online onto wax paper.

 These were easy to frost.  I filled a piping bag with my cream cheese frosting and my biggest round tip.  I piped the frosting on in a swirl, added the music note and used black frosting to add the dots.

Happy singing, Wyatt!

Cinderella's Ball

My friend Alicia knows how to throw a killer party.  Maggie turned 5 and she wanted a princess party but also wanted boys to come.  So my super talented and creative friend decided to make it a royal ball.  The boys were told if they didn't want to dress up like princes' they could wear super hero attire. She had a red carpet up her super long walkway/stairs.  As you entered the house there was a beautiful royal dance floor and a yummy buffet table with what better than hot dogs, cheetos, and cupcakes.  I loved it.  She went all out.  The kids danced their tails off!  She had a bubble machine, balloons and confetti (that dropped from the ceiling), and glow in the dark wands. Her playlist was epic! The kids were singing along and dancing.  I have to remember this for the future!

Maggie wanted Cinderella slipper cupcakes.  I helped Alicia with these.  Well by help I mean I baked the cupcakes and swirled the frosting on.  She made the slippers from a chocolate mold we found at our local bakery supply store.

I love how simple yet elegant the slipper looks on this Cinderella blue cupcake.

This was the buffet table.  I love how she mimicked Cinderella's dress on the front of the table. So so fun!  Thanks for the memories Alicia!  I loved helping you!