Friday's Favs

This week went by quickly and I am happy to report that we are finally getting some warmer weather! Forgive me if most of my favorite things this week have to do with flowers and gardening, but it has been a very long winter and the sight of anything green, or even dirt for that matter, makes me smile!

My son Timmy loves to help me in the garden . We planted 56 cloves of garlic a few weeks ago and they are growing like crazy. Naturally, this is a sign that spring is finally here. If all goes well, these will turn into 56 heads of garlic, which we will cure and store. I will update you as we grow.
 
 

I  received a new tropical hibiscus tree which is gorgeous! I will be purchasing a new planter for it and repotting it this weekend. We spend our summers down at the beach and  plan to keep this tree there. Look at the color of the flower! It doesn't even look real, but I assure you,it is. Simply beautiful.

 

Yesterday I took a quick trip to Target for a few things, and naturally came home with more than a few things! I found this tray in the dollar section for $5. It isn't as strong as galvanized trays,but it is pretty and
looks great with the gorgeous apricot daffodils from my garden.

I picked these tulips up at Trader Joe's this week and have to say they really were stunning. I buy flowers there from time to time, but these really stood out. They were wrapped in brown paper and a friend tells me that they are from Virginia. Hope that helps a bit if you are looking for some at your local store. There were 20 blooms in this bouquet.
 

Chocolate pudding pie is one of my favorites.  I posted a quick,easy recipe for this one a few days ago. Anything with chocolate makes me happy and I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a slice or two for breakfast this week. Bad, I know, but oh so good. This is a great recipe when you want something sweet without baking.
 
 

One of my favorite things about this week was making these adorable cat cookies for an  little girl's 5th birthday. Andrea from Momfessionals, threw a cat themed party for her daughter and when I tell you it was a party every little girl dreams about,I'm not kidding! I made these based on a pattern of gift wrap that she chose as the theme,and shipped them off in time for the celebration! They were so much fun to make and when I saw her daughter's reaction on her instastories,it made me smile. Special moments for sure. If you are a teacher, working mom, mom of little ones or just looking for daily inspiration, check our Andrea's blog. www.momfessionals.com .
   
    This was the gift wrap.

 

These are the cookies I created.

Well, that is all for now. I am off to make some sweets for the local softball team that is currently undefeated! Go girls!! Have a sweet weekend!

Gift Ideas for Mother's Day

Mother's Day is just around the corner so I thought I'd share some fun gift ideas. What better way to celebrate the special women in our lives than by supporting some incredible female entrepeneurs? Here is a list of wonderful gift ideas from some very creative ladies.
 

I think we all are familiar with Joanna Gaines. If your mom is a fan, her new cookbook would make a lovely gift. Add a little ribbon and a wooden kitchen utensil and you are all set! If mom is a big fan, a subscription to Magnolia magazine would be a nice gift idea as well.

   While we are talking cookbooks, this lovely lady from Arkansas not only opened her dream gift shop for the home, but also completed her first cookbook last year. Amy Hannon is a little dynamo,out promoting her book, hosting "Cook the Book" classes all while running her beautiful shop Eunamae's. Her book is filled with fun recipes and her message of love through food is inspiring! This book would make a great gift for any mom who loves to cook. If you happen to live near her shop,sign mom up for a class, or just stop in for a visit and pick something special from the wonderful array of housewares she offers. They will wrap it for you to give it that extra special touch! www.eunamaes.com
 

If your mother is like me and has a sweet tooth, then Iva Jean's delicious fudge might be the perfect gift. Her fudge comes in a wide variety of flavors and is a gift sure to please. A great company with a wonderful story. www.ivajeansfudge.com
 

Rosie O'Neill started Sugarfina, an elegant candy company with something for everyone. Choose from a small box of sweet treats to the more elaborate bento boxes or suitcases of goodies. I love their sea salt chocolate covered cashews and caramels, but there is a wide variety to choose from. The presentation is wonderful ,as are the treats inside. They even make rose' gummy roses for wine lovers. www.sugarfina.com
 

What is Mother's Day without flowers? Farmgirl Flowers is another great company with a female at the helm. Christina makes beautiful,unique floral arrangements. They are not only original, but they are wrapped in burlap which makes for a charming,rustic presentation. The prices aren't low, but if they are within your range, this makes a one of a kind gift for mom.

 

I'll be back with a few more gift ideas before the big day! Enjoy your day!

Chocolate Pudding Pie

 

If you know me or have followed my blog for a while, you know I am a person who bakes from scratch. That said, I realize that not everyone has the time or patience to do the same,and many readers have requested a few simpler recipes. I will try my best to throw in a few now and again.This is a quick one that tastes great,is easy to make and loved by everyone.Now that the weather is finally warming up, we are celebrating Communions and graduations, as well as having outdoor parties and BBQs. If you need to make a  dessert to bring along,or just to have at home for friends and family,this is a great choice. This pie is very basic, and the only "from scratch" part of the recipe is the whipped cream. I use a Kitchen Aid mixer,but you can whip the pudding and cream using whatever tools you have for this in your kitchen.

Ingredients:
1 package of Jello Fudge Pudding mix(3.4oz.)
1 Keebler Graham Cracker Crust
2 cups heavy cream
1-1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1-3/4 c. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
sprinkles or shaved chocolate for garnish

-In the bowl of your mixer, pour the 1-3/4 c. of milk and add the pudding mix. Whip until the pudding is thick.If you don't mix it well enough, it will not set up and will end up like soup.
-Pour the pudding mixture into the crust,then cover with plastic wrap. Push down lightly on the plastic to ensure that it covers all of the pudding. This will prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

-Place the 2 cups of heavy cream, sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Whip until the cream is slightly thick and holds its shape. Do not overbeat or you will have butter!

-Spread a thin layer of the cream on top of the pudding.

-Using a pastry tip( I am using 6B made by Wilton) and a pastry bag(ziplocs work in a pinch), pipe the whipped cream onto the pie. I usually start along the outside and work my way in.

 These are called tipless pastry bags and can be found on Etsy. Very easy to use. They do not require using a tip at all(hence the name),however,in this instance,I am using a large tip to get the effect I want on the top of the pie. The WIlton tip can be found in craft stores or on Amazon.

-Garnish with sprinkles,chocolate chips, candy or anything else you like. Refrigerate for about 1 hour to set. Keep in mind,this is the way I chose to decorate it. You can decorate however you like,you can even stop after spreading some whipped cream on the top and just garnish it with your favorite topping.

Enjoy!!