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Thursday, April 7, 2011

Delectable Dishes: A Peachy Keen Cool Down

When I came across this ice cream recipe on Dessert First, I immediately saved it to make on a future warm spring or summer day and I wanted to share it with you all.  What better combination could their be than Peach Brown Sugar ice cream with Hazelnut Sugar Cookies?  My mouth is watering RIGHT now!
Icecreamflowerpots

Peachicecreamingredienrts


Hazelnutsugarcookies

Hazelnut Sugar Cookies
Makes 36  2 ½  inch diameter cookies  
1 2/3 cups all purpose flour 
½ tsp baking powder 
¼ tsp salt 
½ cup (4 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature 
¾ cup + 2 Tablespoons sugar 
1 large egg, room temperature 
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup ground toasted hazelnuts  
extra all purpose flour for rolling out the dough

In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt and set aside. 
In stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar on medium speed until light in color and fluffy. 
Scrape the bowl sides and bottom well. While mixer is on low speed, gradually add the egg and vanilla extract. Mix to combine and scrape bowl sides as needed. 
Add the dry ingredients gradually while mixer is on low speed until incorporated. Add ground hazelnuts and mix until a uniform dough is formed. 
Divide dough into 2 pieces and flatten into ½ inch thick discs. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up dough. At this point the dough can be double wrapped and frozen for up to 2 weeks. To defrost dough, place in refrigerator overnight. 
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and grease several cookie sheet pans or line with parchment paper. 
On a floured board, place on piece of the dough and dust with flour. Gently roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Using a cookie cutter, cut out cookies and place on sheet pan, leaving 1 inch apart between cookies. 
Bake for 14-16 minutes or until edges are golden brown. 
Transfer to wire racks with a spatula to cool completely. 




Icecreamfromabove

Peach Brown Sugar Ice Cream
makes about 2 quarts (this may be too much for a smaller ice cream maker; you might have to do it in two batches)
4 ripe peaches (about 2 lbs)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Peel and slice the peaches into small pieces.
Place in a medium saucepan and combine with the sugar and lemon juice. Cook for about 15 minutes on medium heat. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
Combine the milk and 1/2 cup light brown sugar in a medium saucepan and heat on medium over stove until bubbles form around the edges.
Meanwhile, whisk the eggs and remaining sugar together in a medium bowl. Place the cream in a separate large bowl.
Pour the hot milk into the eggs in a steady stream, whisking constantly to temper the eggs.
Pour the mixture back in the saucepan and place back on stove. Cook on medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens slightly and coats back of a spoon. Do not overcook (it will look curdled and you will have to start over).
Strain mixture into the cream and stir to combine. Add vanilla and stir to combine.
Chill in an ice bath until it reaches room temperature. Stir in the peaches and chill mixture in refrigerator overnight.
Freeze in ice cream maker per manufacturer's instructions.
Check out Dessert First's lovely blog for an abundance of more great recipes such as the one I just shared!
Have a great day whimzies!  See you tomorrow:)

Cassidy  

Magical Makes:A Glampsformation

GOOD MORNING WHIMZIES! :)
So glad I can say that again!  I found this great idea on Matsutake to glam up an ordinary lamp such as the one shown in the picture.  I thought I would repost it for today's Magical Make...such a creative masterpiece!                                        
 
A floor lamp. Purchased in a box of 5 lamps from Target. It's basically a black stick with a tapered shade. And now...14 bottles of Coke and some duct tape later...
Can you believe how glamorous it is now? Sparkly!

I fixed the shade first. I've been obsessing for a long time about how to turn a tapered shade into a drum shade, and I finally figured it out. For $3 plus the cost of fabric! The full tutorial for that little project is going to be posted at Apartment Therapy today. Basically you flip the old tapered shade upside down.

And now for the sparkly part.
First I spray painted the lamp silver with Valspar Brilliant Metallic silver. That stuff is awesome! I want to spray paint everything in the house with it. Wouldn't that look futuristic?

Then I polished off more coke than I did during my Studio 54 days. Kidding! I was a girl scout back then. Literally. So you need 2 liter coke bottles. Lots of them.
See how you cut one of them lower? They'll look like this:
And then the two pieces will slip together like this.
And the date stamp lifts right off with nail polish remover. You also need to make rings out of 8 inch strips of duct tape folded in half lengthwise.
 Now you can start stacking. I added a smaller piece of a water bottle at the bottom that I spray painted silver so that the spacing would work out right at the top of the lamp as I stacked.
You can use tiny blobs of clear glue or tape where you need to as you work your way up.
The top holes of the bottles can be pretty small because you can bend and stretch them over the widest parts of the lamp.
Keep stacking. I added a little piece of cardstock covered with duct tape at the top to finish it off.
And that's it! I had plans to color the pieces with a hot pink sharpie, but I love it clear, so it's staying that way. For now.
Isn't that a cute idea?  Go on over to Matsutake to view more great ideas!  
Have a great Thursday:)
Cassidy

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

My Fair Fido: Let's Go For a Walk!


How do you guys feel about midnight posts? LOL...Apparantly that is what my blog is turning into:)  So anyways...Who loves to take your pooch (well...poochIES in my case) for a walk?  I know I do!  What cuter way to begin a walk with your pup than by grabbing the leash off of this cutie patootie leash holder from Aplomb Designs?  I am in love with not only all the idea but the different design options and customization!
Chalkboard Style - Dog Tail Leash Holder - Personalize It

Flower Power - Dog Tail Leash Holder - Personalize ItPLAY - Dog Tail  Leash HolderAll in a Days Work - Dog Tail Leash Hook - Personalize ItChalkboard Style - Dog Tail Leash Holder - Personalize It
I will be adding a Magical Makes segment on tomorrow's post-after subbing and teaching elementary boys at church this gal is going to bed!  Be prepared for a later post although I hope to post in the morning:)  Good night Whimzies!
xoxo Cass:)

Another one of those days!

Ok, the Lord has really been blessing my little family.  I have been working pretty solid as a sub here lately.  Once again, here I sit subbing in the middle school unable to post my morning topic!  I will be posting My Fair Fido and Magical Makes later this evening!  Hope to see you then!
Thanks!
Cassidy :)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Fabulous Finds: To the Flower Beds!




This time of year I am sooooo very excited to begin adding to my flower beds while admiring the collection of flowers I began last year!  I am all about adding interesting decor into the mix to add character to our landscaping.  I fell in love with anthropologie's garden pots, accessories, and outdoor decor!  The price doesn't agree with my wallet so I am thinking that I may just try to be creative and come up with my own versions of some of these pieces!  Day dream about these pieces in your garden... enjoy!
My favorite: Giraffes!
<3 these whimsy chairs!



Give the birdies in your neighborhood a 
beautiful home!
You can water your flowers or use 
this little fellow to perch on the porch rail
Store your favorite flowers in this cute little guy!

Have a blessed day!

xoxo Cassidy


Monday, April 4, 2011

Dazzling Abodes: Wall Stencil & Decal Magic

I have been noticing a trend surfacing in etsy's home decor world.  The great thing about stenciling walls?  It lets you tap into your artistic abilities and it isn't as complicated as wallpaper to remove!  I don't know about you, but I have been there done that several times when I lived at my mom and dad's.  They had beautiful wallpaper but it was a pain to remove when it came time to revamp a room.  I love this alternative!  Bright and Beautiful!

damask-stencil


lotus stencil

scroll stencil

Photos courtesy of Cutting Edge Stencils
Resuable Wall Stencil Fun Ornamental Flower for DIY Wall Decor. More Artistic Than Wall Decals and Cheaper Than Wallpaper :)

Damask Wall Stencil Elegancia Allover Stencil for Easy Wall Decor

And you just CAN'T GO WRONG 
with decals as seen from Modern Decals used to create another world in perhaps a child's room!
The possibilities are endless!


monkey jungle decal - nursery - kids room - vinyl wall art - decal sticker

Baby Owl -- Kids Room -- Nursery -- Vinyl Wall Art Decal Sticker -- This Decal Applies in One Piece

Or hey...why not your living room if you fancy!
Birds on Branches - Modern Vinyl Wall Art Decal Stickers

I apologize for posting so late, it is hard to post in the mornings when I have to both sub and coach!  But I thank the Lord for the opportunity to work :)  I hope you have had a lovely day!  See you in the a.m.!
Cass xoxo

Delay in Mondays Post

Hi Whimzies!
Once again I will be posting later this evening due to an early morning call summoning me to sub in the middle school!  Have a great Monday:)