Chocolate Cake with Salted Carmel Icing Inspired by Starbucks***ACCOMPLISHED***

I did make a version of this and posted it here.

I wish I had seen this recipe before I went shopping yesterday as I would have made this for the carry-in at work tomorrow instead of the "play it safe" with dill pickles, preztels and the yet to be baked Ready to Bake Easter Chocolate Chip cookies.

It from Salsa Pie and she posted directions for both using cake mix and ready made frosting/topping along with directions to make it from scratch.

For the directions and recipes click  here. 

Photo:  Salsa Pie

PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE MERINGUES

 

If I ever get in the mood for sweets again Food Wine and Modpodge a yummy recipe for Chocolate Peppermint Meringues that I want to try.

For the recipe click here

Picture:   Food Wine and Modpodge

Apricot and White Chocolate Cookies

I found the following receipe at Closet Cooking and it sounded like something different and interesting I would like to try to make.

http://closetcooking.blogspot.com/2009/04/apricot-and-white-chocolate-oatmeal.html

Apricot and White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies by Closet Cooking(makes 16+ cookies)Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter (softened)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1/2 cup white sugar1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup dried apricots (chopped)
• 1/2 cup white chocolate (coarsely chopped)

1. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl.

2. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.

3. Mix the flour, baking soda and salt in another bowl.

4. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet.

5. Mix in the rolled oats, apricots and white chocolate.

6. Place the dough onto a cookie sheet one table spoon at a time.

7. Bake in a 350F preheated oven for 8-10 minutes.

GRADUATION IDEAS

Although it is still a few years before Kyle graduates, it is never too early to start looking around for good ideas for a party and decorations as I want it to be a special occassion.

I love these little hats at No Fuss Fabulous that are made out of little Reece's cups and a square or chocolate.

http://www.nofussfabulous.com/?attachment_id=5231

I also have an idea for a serving dish by using black bowl for the cap and a black plate glued to the top and some sort of tassel or maybe just a fruit rollup rolled up for the tassel. The challenge is going to be finding a black plate that will work - while spray painting the bottom bowl is ok, I don't like the idea of serving food on something that has been spray painted.



http://familycrafts.about.com/od/eggcartoncrafts/a/ecgradcap.htm
This is made out the cup off an egg carton for the cap, a piece of cardboard painted with acrylic paint and a piece of yarn for the tassle. This would made a cute decoration or even be used to decorate a graduation present for little to no cost (I usually have all the stuff to make this around the house).

Over at Little Birdie Secrets, they have a tutorial on how to make a felt graduation cap

http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2009/05/cue-pomp-and-circumstance.html