{Autumn Drink} Signature Cocktail

Creating your own signature cocktail it’s a great way to add a personal touch to any event. The perfect signature drink can coordinate with the event’s mood, colors, season and theme. You can even have fun with it and name your cocktail!

I think a Pomegranate Martini will align well with an autumn event. Check out the delish recipe below!

Ingredients:
– 1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
– 2 ounces Absolute Citron vodka or white tequila
– 1 ounce Cointreau liquor
– Cup of ice
– Splash of sparkling water (optional)
– Squeeze of lemon (optional)

Directions:
Shake ingredients in a shaker and put in chilled martini glasses. Put pomegranate fruit into glass as garnish.

Did you include a signature drink in your special event? If so, please share!

Recipe from Oprah.com
Martini Picture

Watermelon Sours Recipe

If you’re looking for a statement piece to use at your next party that is sure to get you bombarded with compliments, I think you just found it. This watermelon sours recipe is featured on Food Network.com and I think it’s just so perfect for any Memorial Day celebration this weekend! You can almost taste the yummy and refreshing watermelon by just looking at this picture.

It only takes 10 minutes to create this party treat! All you need is watermelon, your favorite fruit flavored liqueur, gin, sour mix and a lime for garnish and ta-da! When you finish making the drink, pour it into a hallowed out watermelon and attach a tap to create a unique way to serve this great drink.

Psst, this watermelon sours recipe can even be used for a summer BBQ, your 4th of July celebration or for any day that you want to treat yourself to something delicious!

To see the full recipe and instructions click HERE and enjoy!

Hassle-Free Dessert

Cake pops have exploded onto the food scene! These tasty bites have grown increasingly popular since their introduction and I can see why.

Seriously, have you seen a cuter dessert? These Dulce de Leche cake pops are from Bakers Royal! Finally, there’s no more hassle when it comes to serving dessert. These pops add a fun, pretty and easy to-do twist to any occasion. They’re even perfect for that graduation party you’ve been planning.

Because cake pops can be pre-made up to 2 days before your party, you can breathe a sigh of relief the day of your party and focus on being the great hostess you are!

If you love these cake pops and want to know how to make them then click HERE to get the recipe.

Image Credit:

Cake Pops: Bakers Royale

Valentine’s Day Breakfast

I don’t know you but I would loooove to be treated to a delicious breakfast on Valentine’s Day. Okay, let’s be real now… Valentine’s Day is on Monday so let’s not be too picky and settle for a Sunday pre-Valentine’s breakfast!

Either way, print these yummy recipes I found at Kaboose and strategically place them where your significant other can see them, tell the kids about it, or (sigh!) treat yourself to it.

Valentine Strawberry Shortcakes

Flaky buttermilk biscuits, rich strawberry topping, and cool whipped cream combine beautifully in this classic Valentine’s Day treat. Cutting the biscuits into heart shapes makes a memorable presentation.

Ingredients

* 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

* 2 teaspoons baking powder

* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

* 1 tablespoon sugar

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 1/2 cup shortening, chilled

* 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut in small pieces

* 1 cup buttermilk

* 1 quart strawberries cut small

* 1/4 cup sugar

* 1 cup heavy cream

* 2 tablespoons sugar

* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets.

2. In a large bowl whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt to combine. Cut in the shortening and butter using two knives or a pastry blender until the pieces are about the size of peas. Add buttermilk and stir to blend.

3. Turn out on lightly floured board. Knead about 4 times and pat into a 3/4-inch thick rectangle. Using a 3-inch heart-shaped cutter, cut out biscuits. Cut as many biscuits as possible by reforming scraps into a 3/4-inch thick rectangle.

4. Bake about 20 minutes or until golden and baked through.

5. In a medium bowl, mix strawberries and sugar to combine. Let sit until juice forms.

6. In a large bowl with a beater on medium-high, beat cream with sugar and vanilla until whipped.

7. To serve, slice through biscuit horizontally and place cut sides up on a plate. Top with 1/4 cup berries and juice and 1/3 cup of whipped cream.

Make it Faster

Instead of using a cookie cutter, pat the dough into a rectangle and cut into serving-sized squares with a sharp knife.

Tips & Tricks

For a richer taste, brush the tops of the biscuits with beaten whole egg or heavy cream.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Ready In: 25 minutes

Servings: 6

Berry Mimosa Mocktail

Put a fresh spin on the traditional mimosa — minus the alcohol — with cranberry juice and a fizzy mixer.

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup cranberry juice

* 1 cup raspberry flavored ginger ale

* 1 strawberry, top removed, sliced in half

* Sprig of mint

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine juice and ginger ale in a small pitcher; pour into champagne glasses.

2. Garnish with strawberry slice and mint sprig.

Substitution(s)

Trade the ginger ale for a raspberry-flavored sparkling water or berry-flavored sparkling lemonade.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ready In: 5 minutes

Servings: 2

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Enjoy!!

Valentine’s Treat

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and seems like the right time to post a bit of inspiration for this special day! We thought it would be cute to turn a regular ham and cheese or PB&J sandwich into a Valentine surprise.

Simply use a heart shape cookie cutter to cut the slices of bread.

You can add a special note using these Valentine’s Day printables.

We hope you have truly lovely Valentine’s Day!

Stamped Sugar Cookies

To stay on the Santa’s cookie theme, we decided to decorate some sugar cookies. We used a holiday stamp and food coloring. It was simple and very inexpensive! These would be perfect for a cookie exchange party or even to give out as favors at your holiday party.

Materials

For this project I used the sugar cookie dough that you buy at the grocery store. But for a cookie exchange, I would probably make them from scratch. I think THIS RECIPE looks pretty yummy! Then, I found a holiday stamp at our local craft store ($1.00–woohoo!) and food coloring gel.

Directions

1. Make sure to clean the stamp with soap and water and then dry it really good.

2. Bake sugar cookies (follow package directions or recipe).

3. Once the cookies are baked, cool for 10-15 minutes.

4. Apply food coloring gel directly to stamp. If you want to use liquid food coloring, simply add the food coloring onto a piece of felt and ink stamp on felt.

5. Stamp cookie. Make sure to press evenly.

6. Let cookies dry for an hour or so. Enjoy!

PS. Put it in a little clear bag with a ribbon, a small tag and you got yourself a cute and yummy favor.

Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Today I was trying to figure out what to serve for dessert on Thursday for our Thanksgiving picnic. I went through my files and found this recipe of Baked Pumpkin Donuts I had saved a while back but that never got to do. So, I decided to give it a try.

It was fun and pretty easy to do. The end result… yummy! Although I would’ve liked it to be a bit sweeter. Check out some pictures I took of the process. You can get the recipe from Food.com or you can download our recipe card HERE.

Now I’m one step closer to being ready…

Enjoy!