Monday, June 30, 2014

Red, White and Blue Fruit Tart


I love making fruit tarts! I make them all summer - each fruit tart looks and tastes different depending on the type of fruit that  you use.

This is a simple recipe and you probably have everything that you need in your cupboard and fridge.

Ingredients:

Crust:

3/4 cup confectioner's sugar

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cups butter, room temperature

Filling:

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping:

fresh fruit

blueberries

raspberries

watermelon

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the confectioner's sugar, flour and butter until it starts to make a dough. Then press the dough into a round tart pan. Bake the crust for 10 to 12 minutes.

While the dough is baking wash and dry your fruit and cut the watermelon stars.


In order to cut the watermelon stars - cut thin slices of watermelon and use a small star shaped cookie cutter to cut out the stars.

Once the crust is baked - make the filling by combining the cream cheese, granulated star and vanilla. I use an immersion blender. Once the filling is creamy spread it all over the tart.

Starting from the outside start adding the fruit.



Keep adding fruit until the entire tart is covered.


I left a lot of the white filling showing because - the theme for this fruit tart was red, white and blue. Place tart in the refrigerator and take it out about 20 minutes before serving.


This tart can be cut into pizza like wedges. Keep this tart in the fridge for up to three days - although I doubt it will last that long.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

My Summer To Do List

These are the simple things that I hope to accomplish before Labor Day.

1.  Finish decorating my outdoor patio for entertaining (done)

2. Make Strawberry Shortcake - completely from scratch

3. Go to an Angel game (done)

4. Make soft pretzels - completely from scratch

5. Plan my Meals on Wheels party favors from now until December (Done)

6. Make Watermelon Mojitos

7. Visit outdoor Farmers Market

8. Make a fresh fruit cobbler (done - Peach Cobbler Bars)

9. Practice making perfect pancakes

10. Take some cooking classes

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Tennis Themed Sachets



I made some tennis themed sachets in honor of Wimbledon. My favorite Grand Slam is Wimbledon! I love the white tennis clothing and the grass courts. It just seems so lovely and refined.


I found some tennis themed buttons in my button box!


Isn't this the cutest tennis button?


Or do you like this button better? When I go to craft/fabric stores with large button displays - I always come home with a bunch of buttons to use on craft projects or gift wrap.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Flowers for Noelle's Graduation Party




I almost always buy my flowers at Trader Joe's.


Noelle and I both like a mixed wildflower look in our tin can vases.



Noelle was an Environmental Studies major - so for her party we made vases out of tin cans.


The hot pink Gerber Daisy's look fantastic in the tin can vases.


We simply covered a variety of tin cans with green scrapbook paper, ribbon scraps and little paper flowers. Recycle, Repurpose and Reuse.




We are so proud of our girl!


We feel blessed that we could host a graduation party for our daughter. We so are sad that Katie Cooper didn't get to graduate . Rest in Peace Katie - we think of you everyday. The Steele family will always miss your beautiful smile and bubbly personality.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Little Graduation Hats





A few days ago I made some Graduation Caps for Noelle's Graduation Party. Her party has a floral theme. So we used flower stickers. But you could simply use small round stickers in school colors or a sports sticker.


For this project you will need:

Black construction/scrapbook paper

Sticker 

black embroidery thread

scissors

tape

Rolo'e, mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups


These were so simple to make. Simply cut the black paper into one inch square pieces. Also cut the black thread into two inch long pieces.

Flod the thread inhale and using a small piece of tape adhere it to the middle of the black square. Place the sticker onto of the thread and where the hat to the candy with another piece of tape. So cute and easy!


Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Packaging the Necklaces for Meals on Wheels


I finally finished all 50 of the red, white and blue necklaces for Meals on Wheels. I packaged them in pretzel bags that I purchased at Michael's.


I tied each bag with a red or blue ribbon and each plastic bags has a sticker on the back that said "Happy 4th of July."

I post all of my Meals on Wheels projects on this blog - hoping to inspire others to reach out to Meals on Wheels and Senior Centers in other areas. Many Senior Centers and Nursing Homes get activity near the Christmas holiday but very little in the way  treats the rest of the year. There are so many holidays that Girl Scout Troops, National Charity Leagues, Junior Leagues and other service groups could make crafts for the elderly. And many hands make light work.







Monday, June 9, 2014

Baseball Sachets


This would be a fun treat to make for all of the baseball moms! I started making them because I bought some baseball buttons on sale at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago! And I can't stop making sachets!


I gave a few of these to the team mom for Christian's baseball team.


If you want detailed instructions and a supply list - just click on sachets. Under the Labels section - just scroll down to sachets.Click on sachets and you will see all the different aches that I have made!


This one is an all American - Baseball sachet. These sachets make perfect party favors and little gifts.


Let me know if you decide to make them and I hope your team wins!

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Baseball Vase and Flowers


I made a baseball vase out of a tin can. I save my tin cans, remove the labels and throughly clean them. Whenever I want to make a little gift or decoration I grab my tin can and make a vase.

I covered this particular tin can with white wrapping paper and glue guned some red ribbon at the top and bottom of the can and added a few baseball stickers.


I brought these flowers to a baseball party. You can buy roses at Trader Joe's for a really good price.This vase would also look really pretty with white roses.



Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Patterned Felt - Made into Sachets



I can't stop making sachets. I have been making them while I watch the French Open! 


I bought this cool patterned felt at Michael's. I think it was 8.99 for the package - but I had a 50% off coupon so it was only like $4.50!


I sewed  a little pink heart button in the middle of the small felt heart. Tonight I went through my button box and I found some really great buttons. I even found two different types of tennis buttons. I am hoping that Mademoiselle Mademoiselle Sharapova wins the French Open!


 During Wimbledon I like to make scones! I have been researching scone recipes both sweet and savory.