Ice Cream Party

I love the idea of an old fashioned Ice Cream Party for a end of the school year celebration.  It's a great way to kick off the Summer while staying cool with your friends in the heat.  Try adding a  make your own sundae bar for an extra special treat.  Stock your bar full of a variety of candy, sauces, crushed cookies, nuts, sprinkles and whipped cream.   I scoured the blogosphere for clever ideas to throw a cool party and includes DIY printable invitations and food labels, an ice cream cone headband tutorial (yes, I really mean you wear the cone on your head), photo inspiration for setting up your toppings bar and more.  Let's get this party started!

 

Download and print sweet Invitations for your gig.  It's as easy as 1 2 3!

Eat Drink Chic uses office organization as a clever way to display toppings with silver scoops. 

Can't find a paper cup that suits your cool party theme?  Try this download for an Argyle print in pastels that will bring your party decor together.  Just wrap around a standard paper cup and secure with glue or tape. Download print here

Download these cute Sauce and Jar Labels to clearly identify all of your goodies.

The Queen of dessert tables, Amy Atlas put together this hot pink ice cream party that is super cute.  Get inspiration from her display choices.

Simply Genius!  Bakers Royale

Get a silly and make this ice cream headband.  Yikes!  Would your daughter wear that?  Let me know and send a picture.  I would love to see.  Click HERE for DIY tutorial.

photo source unknown

You can even make cute ice cream cone cupcakes. Tutorial HERE

One Charming party tells you how to make this cute ice cream cake with chocolate ganache.  I'm in love!

Having a smaller party?  Get a load of this ceramic toppings bar from Sur La Table.  Even if you are not having a party, your kids will love ending the day with this pretty toppings display.

Stay cool,

Key Lime Bars

Meet the Key Lime Bar.  It's a tropical twist on the classic lemon bar recipe that swaps out lemons for Itty Bitty Key Limes making it a tart treat that's hard to resist.  You better stand next to your significant other while devouring these because they'll have you puckering up in no time.  Key Lime Bars will be perfect for Summer potlucks or a treat for your family to enjoy after a yummy BBQ dinner.  They are sour, they are sweet, they are delish!

First, make your dough for the buttery crust.  Just three ingredients and BAM!  You're done.  

Who said making crust was hard??

Next, whisk together eggs, remaining flour, sugar and next 3 ingredients. 

The next step I took was actually ridiculous.  It took me a half hour to juice about 15 Itty Bitty key limes.  Not cool!

 For the love of Pete,  please don't make that mistake.  Save yourself some time and purchase a bottle of Key Lime juice ( I wasn't using my thinking cap on that one).  It's always out in the grocery stores this time of year.  Check the aisle where the lime juice or lemon juice is stashed.  

Sometimes it's on the end of the aisle where the mixed drinks are.  Ahem! Okay, so a gal likes to knock one back while baking.  Can you blame me? I just juiced a bunch of slippery little green things!

Poor the liquid mixture onto your cooled crust. Bake as directed and let cool completely.  It helps to actually refrigerate it for at least an hour to get really clean slices.  

Pucker up!  These are VERY tart.  Like sour patch kids or skittles tart.  Adding powdered sugar helps cut some of the tartness.  

Happy Baking!

Key Lime Bars
(originally recipe from Jan Moon, Coastal Living 
DECEMBER 2010)

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup Key lime juice
• Powdered sugar
• Garnish: lime zest

Preparation

1. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Beat just until a smooth dough is formed. Press into a lightly greased, foil-lined 13- x 9-inch baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

2. Meanwhile, whisk together eggs, remaining 1/3 cup flour, 1 3/4 cups sugar, and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl; pour over baked crust. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until set. Let cool completely in pan; chill, if desired. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, and cut into bars. Garnish, if desired.

Memorial Day Party

While honoring our fallen heroes this Memorial day, why not do it in style and show your guests your creative side?  Decorate your home in red white and blue, make some DIY crafts and get creative in the kitchen with Patriotic desserts that will make your guests proud to be an American.  I searched high and low on the best websites and blogs to find just the right centerpieces, table-scapes, desserts and decorations for you to consider for your gathering.   The creative possibilities I found  has me giddy...and I hope you will find inspiration here that will have YOU giddy too.  


source: Catch my party

Display coke for your parched guests in a vintage coco cola crate.  I found mine in a local antique store but you can order one HERE too.


source:Nap Time Crafts

Make this easy fabric wreath to hang on your front door.  It will be the first thing that your guests see and will be a conversation piece when you tell them how easy and inexpensive it was to make.


source:The Style Sisters

This is a fun way to dress up your party table. I just love the American flag inside the empty coke bottles and the paper cones for keeping the popcorn tidy.




source:Martha Stewart

Make a delicious parfait with two kinds of jello, currents, blueberries and cream. YUM!


source:TomKat Studio


Red white and blue cupcakes in a mason jar... American all the way baby!


source:Country Living

Make mini cherry pies with star cutouts for a fabulously festive dessert.


source:stone Gable

I just love the color coordination here and the elegance of using heavy wine glasses with country dishes. And what an easy centerpiece.  Flowers and flags in a basket.  This is easy peasy folks!



Source:All you

This little country inspired patriotic table-scape is just killing me with cuteness.   I just love the pop of color the lemons add to the vase and all the American faves like chocolate chip cookies, chocolate dipped ice cream cones and lemonade are so easy and inexpensive to add to any dessert table.


source:Lori's Place

If you don't like baking and decorating cookies but want them for your guests to enjoy, consider ordering these little works of art from a Pro.  Click the source link above for purchasing information.


source:That's a wrap

Add these pretty little cupcake wraps to your homemade cupcakes for a creative touch.



source:Martha Stewart

Adorn your napkins with these cute little American buntings.  Martha shows you how if you click the source link above.Too cute for words.

Pina Colada Cupcakes

Cinco De Mayo is coming up so what better way to celebrate then to make Pina Colada Cupcakes. This festive recipe is a moist pineapple rum cupcake frosted with coconut rum buttercream and topped with a kiss of sweetened, shredded coconut.  It's a recipe even the home-baker can master in no time because it starts with a box mix.  So get out your sombrero's, pour yourself a cocktail and end your Mexican meal on this festive day with a dessert that's sure to be a hit.

This recipe is kid friendly...just a hint of Rum extract is baked into the cupcake and used in the buttercream.

Party Tip:

A fun twist to displaying cupcakes on your dessert table are to use candlesticks.  It adds height to your table setting and displays the prettiest ones on top.  You can even turn wine glasses upside down for the same effect.

The crushed pineapple adds moistness and flavor that will knock your socks off.  Yeah, baby.  Have this with a glass of the real stuff and you may fall in love.  (If you aren't already)

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Pina Colada Cupcakes

Ingredients

1

box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist yellow cake mix

1/3

cup vegetable oil

1/4

cup water

1

teaspoon rum extract

1

can (8 oz) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained

3

eggs

1. Heat oven to 375°F (350°F for dark or nonstick pan). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. In large bowl, beat cake mix, oil, water, 1 teaspoon rum extract, the pineapple and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
2. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.  Frost with Coconut Rum Buttercream

Makes 24 cupcakes

Coconut Rum Buttercream

Ingredients

4 sticks unsalted butter, softened4-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar2 teaspoons Vanilla extract

1.5 teaspoons Rum extract

2 teaspoons Coconut extract

5 to 6 tablespoons 2% milk (if too thick add more)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, extracts and enough milk to achieve desired consistency.  If too soft, add more powdered sugar.  Yield: About 4 cups. 

Spring Party Ideas

Spring is in the air and its time to gear up for graduations, spring tea parties, baby showers and weddings.   If you are in charge of throwing a bash in the next few months, get ready to be inspired to throw one your guests will never forget.  

Dress up your table setting with a rose napkin by Martha Stewart

Throwing a Spring baby shower?  Purchase these pretty little bird themed paper decorations on this clever Etsy store called FrogPrincePaperie

Or, this baby sprinkle table-scape. Read on for more pics and ideas for this great baby shower idea on Hostess with the Mostess

Here's a clever twist to a Graduation party idea.  Instead of the usual cap and tassel themed party, how about throwing a "keys to success" party.  Find more photos and inspiration on The Celebration Shop blog.

Country Living  has sweet Spring centerpiece ideas.  

This one is painted tin cans used as a vase for freshly cut spring bouquets.  Genius!

Make gorgeous Tulip cookies by visiting Glorious treats blog.

Have a birthday party fit for your little bee...go to Andersruff  Etsy shop for all the printables to make this banner, labels, cupcake toppers and more.

Check out my own designs for a cute ladybug treats on Buttercream Bakehouse.  Want to make the sunflower cupcakes?  Directions are on their too.

check out Kara's party ideas for more inspiration on throwing a fabulous princess tea party.

Tons of Spring party tips can be found at Delish including recipes, favors, invitations and...

...how to serve Tea.