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favorite ways to decorate easter eggs

March 5, 2013

easter egg decorating

Decorating Easter eggs has always been a passion for me.  I have never stopped enjoying decorating eggs.  When I was small everyone in my family had their own favorite way to decorate the eggs…my mom had a steady hand and could do a great job creating stripes with the dye…those with less patience just threw the egg in the dye and left it while moving on to another activity.

Me, I always liked to try something different.  And, over the years I have discovered that there are an infinite number of ways to decorate eggs.  I usually plan one whole day before Easter to work on Ukranian egg dyeing and another to replicate the natural egg dyes my grandmother created (I will post these next week) from fruits and vegetables…that is in addition to a general egg dyeing session.

Today, I would like to share some of my favorite ways to decorate Easter eggs that I have used over the years.  I hope they will create some inspiration for you as you create your own.  Here are seven of my favorite ways to decorate Easter eggs:

easter egg decorating

Numbers or letters are always a motif I like on any home product so, of course, I also like to use them on eggs.  These numbers were simply written on using a marker.  Pick your favorite style of number and draw it right onto the egg.

easter eggs

 

 

 

 

 

decorated easter eggs

Letters can be written on in the same way….or, you can use some self-adhering rhinestones from a craft store to add some bling.

blinged easter egg

I love to create eggs that look like eggs in nature and I have tried many different techniques.  For example,  splattering paint onto the egg with a toothbrush is great for creating speckled eggs.  For a simple technique that creates a great result, simply apply gel stain to the surface of the egg by using an old rag.  For these eggs, the color I used was called mahogany.

easter eggs

Okay, technically this is not an egg ‘decoration’, but more like an egg ‘creation’, but I had to include it as one of my favorites.  This is a very easy technique and I love the way these eggs coordinate with my coastal style.  Use whatever twine, ribbon, etc. you may like and apply it to a small balloon after coating the twine with ModPodge.  Yes, it is messy, but very easy.  Once the twine is wrapped around the balloon in a desired pattern and has dried, pop and remove the balloon, and you have a beautiful twine egg!

easter eggs with twine

twine easter eggs

Using chalkboard paint is a favorite of mine because it makes a great Easter placecard.  The chalkboard paint is applied directly to the egg.  These days, chalkboard paint can be purchased or made in a variety of colors, so you don’t have to limit your choice to black.  Here I wanted a black and white egg, but you are only limited by your imagination.  You can dye the egg first if you prefer or want to dye the egg to match the color of your decor.

easter egg placecard

Seldom is anything decorated done in my house without some type of coastal influence.  Here, I have dyed a batch of eggs and then used small rubber stamps to add some of my favorite coastal words…sand, sea, surf, sun.  Inspirational words work really well also.  Of course, names of guests or family members is another option.

coastal decorated easter eggs

Here are some more coastal inspired eggs.  In this case, I used stickers to mask off a white area.  I created the shape I wanted by cutting it out from Contact paper and stuck it onto the egg where I wanted the pattern to remain white.  Then the egg was dyed.  After it dried, I used a very thin permanent marker to outline the shape and add a few details.

coastal easter eggs

I hope you enjoyed sharing some of my favorite ways to decorate Easter eggs.  Use these easy techniques as inspiration to create some of your own decorated Easter eggs.  Please pin your favorite!  If you want to keep the eggs indefinitely, be sure to remove the contents of the egg before dyeing.

decorated easter egg

Thanks for sharing.  Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. Sharing this post at Coastal Charm, Craftionary, Timewashed, The Shabby Nest , A Pinch of Joy, 6 Days of Spring at French Country Cottage,  The Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush, and At The Picket Fence.

26 comments

monthly book giveaway for march

March 2, 2013

hoda kotbphotos of Hoda Kotb

Congratulations to Mona from Connecticut for being the winner of February’s giveaway!  I used random.org to pick a winner from the author of every comment that was made to pleasure in simple things during the month of February.   Mona will receive a signed copy of Ayad Akhtar’s debut novel American Dervish.  It is a wonderful read and I know you will enjoy it!

For the March giveaway, I will be sending a lucky winner a signed copy of Hoda Kotb’s New York Times bestselling novel  Hoda:  How I survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee New York TimesHoda Kotb's book bestselling author Adriana Triginai had this to say about Hoda’s book:  “Hoda Kotb is a wonderful storyteller.  Hilarious, honest, and inspiring, you will marvel as she describes her family’s roots in Egypt and their American sojourn, which leads her to the career of her dreams.  This book is a manual for overcoming obstacles and living life with passion and purpose.  I loved it.  Hoda is the working girl’s Cleopatra.  She rules!”

Like many women that work outside of the home, I have never seen the the “Today” show hosted by Kathie Lee and Hoda.  The only thing I actually know about the show is the controversy over the hosts drinking wine during the show.  And, I do know Hoda is a cancer survivor.  I also know that she started out as a newscaster.

When I saw that the Wilton, Connecticut library was hosting Hoda, I decided to check it out and learn a little more about this newscaster turned controversial talk show host.

Hoda Kotb

It ended up being a very enjoyable evening…Hoda was everything you would imagine a talk show host to be…very enthusiastic and engaging.  In a light-hearted way, she told a detailed account of the almost thirty rejections she received before she landed her first job as a newscaster…saying,  “it only takes one.”  Even when she brought up the fact that she survived both cancer and divorce in the same year; her positive attitude was infectious.

I know you will enjoy this charming memoir by Hoda Kotb in this month’s giveaway.  Good luck!

Thanks for visiting and enjoy the rest of your weekend, Jackie

3 comments

easter nostalgia

March 1, 2013

plate

Can you believe Easter is in March and it is already March?  This week, Friday field trip is a little trip back in memory to Easter’s past.  I will also be sharing some Easter basket ‘goody’ ideas for Easter bunnies ;)

Easter was so fun when the children were young… leaving the carrot with the front teeth marks on the kitchen table so the kids could find it in awe;  sure that the Easter bunny had visited and quickly thinking about the treats in store as they scrambled to rifle through their baskets!

My kids are college students now and Easter is celebrated a little differently.  It still retains its awe, but in a much different way.  It is the one holiday in our family where everyone is together, so it makes for a very special day.

In the morning, my kids still discover filled Easter baskets on Easter morning.  They are the Easter baskets I made for them…yes, wove them….when they were babies.  My daughter had a thing for yellow when she was small so hers was accented in yellow and filled with yellow ‘grass’.  For my son, I made an apple basket and dyed it blue.

handwoven Easter basket

The basket contents these days are little different than when they were small, but I think the baskets are just as well received.  Not as much candy in recent years, although their favorite candies are still included.  My son loves Lindt truffles (red) and my daughter loves pear jelly beans.  Jelly Belly brand jelly beans have always been a tradition in the Easter baskets.  Each basket receives an assortment box, but my daughter always gets an additional extra bag filled exclusively with the pear flavored variety…that Easter bunny is just so darn thoughtful!

handwoven easter basket

In recent years, egg hunts in the living room are replaced with a GPS egg hunt throughout the town and beyond with teams of twenty-somethings scrambling to locate the hidden eggs and be the first back to grandma’s house.

My young niece and nephews still search the yard for filled plastic eggs that my sister has strategically placed around my mother’s yard.  When that is completed and trading of the contents ensues,  everyone makes a guess as to how many jelly beans are in the huge glass jar my mom has filled and whose contents were accurately counted the day before.  The person with the closest guess wins the entire jar (…and, may or may not share with the group lol).  We always think my sister, the math teacher, is sure to win; but that is never the case.

candy carrot

An “oldie but goodie.” I started making these as a Kindergarten room mother…cellophane is shaped into a cone and is filled with anything orange…candy, goldfish, etc…fun!

My favorite part of Easter?  Taking the annual ‘goofy cousins’ photo at some point during the day.   And, I still love coloring eggs with my daughter which we schedule best we can sometime before Easter.  What makes your Easter special?

Do you have trouble thinking of items to include in your child’s Easter baskets as they become college age?  Necessities are always appreciated…you can’t miss with socks and underwear!  Commercial washers and dryers are brutal on these items!  Here is a list of possible goodies to choose from in a variety of price ranges.  Remember to consider the recipient’s special interest or college major to make the items more personal.  Have fun with it!  Send me an email if you need some suggestions.

Easter Basket Gift Ideas

Easter basket gift ideas

I found these for my nursing student’s Easter basket :)

  • Candy – favorites or novelty
  • Band-Aids
  • Alix & Ani bracelet
  • James Patrick Keil bracelet
  • Vitamins, aspirins, etc.
  • Any toiletry item
  • Toothbrush economy pack
  • Lottery tickets
  • ITunes certificate
  • Train/bus ticket to come home for a family function
  • Laundry card, token, or coins
  • Dunkin Donut or Starbucks certificates
  • Printer cartridge
  • Drug store, gas station or Amazon certificate
  • Chegg money for renting textbooks
  • Paper cups/plates/utensils
  • A gift certificate to something local to their school
  • Key covers – they have fun ones in Home Depot
  • Cell phone covers – can be personalized/decorated
  • Family photo – a recent one or one from childhood
  • Concert or sporting event tickets local to their school
  • Easter motif socks or boxers

    hair brush

    I found these hair brushes in a pattern my daughter is sure to love!

  • Laundry bag or laundry bag for delicates
  • Hair elastics
  • Nail polish pen
  • Emery boards in funky pattern
  • Flash drives (these come in silly patterns – surfboards, Legos, sushi, etc.)

I hope you enjoyed today’s Easter nostalgia and some tips for Easter basket gifts.  I hope my Easter nostalgia caused you to reminisce about some special moments of your own Easter’s past.

Stop back tomorrow when I will announce February’s book giveaway winner and the giveaway selection for March.

Have a wonderful weekend.  Thank you so much for visiting, Jackie

1 comment

sweet & handpainted for baby

February 26, 2013

diy handpainted onesie

Today I am making a baby gift for a friend and thought I would share the DIY instructions so you can create one for your favorite little one.  I love to paint baby clothes with original designs…this particular one is not difficult to create and can be accomplished quite easily no matter what your skill level.  This particular design creates a garment that is also very appropriate as an Easter gift.  I am breaking it down into simple steps that can be fit into your day between other activities.

Start out by purchasing your desired baby garment in an appropriate size for your recipient.  If the gift is for a baby that has not yet arrived, I recommend not getting the 0-3 month size.  Newborns vary in size and you don’t want to risk it being too small.  Always better to go bigger rather than smaller!   I prefer 100% cotton items for babies and I check the label to be sure I am purchasing an all-cotton item.  Wash and dry the garment to be sure any shrinking is done before you paint your design.  Paint also adheres better to a washed garment.

bannerdiy handpainted onesie

While your garment is in the dryer, you can make your stencil and assemble your materials. For the first part of the project, you will need the paint color you decide to use for the lollipop…pick a pastel pink, blue, or yellow.  I mixed my color, but you can purchase or use craft paint in the exact color you desire.  You will also need a stencil brush and a stencil.  No need for a fancy stencil.  I used a piece of cardstock…you can use a piece of a gift box, cereal box, or any miscellaneous cardboard that is ready for the recycling bin.  After you locate a piece, simply cut out a 2 1/2” circle.

Insert a piece of cardboard between the front and back of the garment to protect the back side of the garment in case the paint bleeds through.

Hold the stencil firmly in place and paint the color you have chosen using an up and down motion with the stencil brush…using an up and down motion will prevent paint from seeping under the edges of the stencil.

Let the paint dry thoroughly.

diy handpainted onesie

Iron the painted area, keeping the cardboard inserted and putting a clean rag over the design first to protect your iron.  This step will set the paint.

Now you will need a cotton swab, clear glitter paint, dimensional paint in a color close to the one you used for your circle, a dimensional paint in an off-white or beige for the stick of the lollipop, and a scrap of 3/8” ribbon – I like a polka dot ribbon, but any ribbon in a coordinating color will do (just make sure it is colorfast).

Next, use a cotton swab (one of my favorite ‘go-to’ utensils) to put glitter onto your painted circle.

Then, use a dimensional paint to add a spiral to your painted circle, starting from the middle of the spiral and painting free hand to the outside of the circle.  Then, paint the stick of the lollipop.  You may also decide to personalize the gift with the baby’s name.  If you decide to do this, wait until all the other paint is dry to reduce the risk of smudging it.

Let this dry overnight before sewing on a ribbon embellishment.  Be aware that small items can be potential choking items for small children.  I brush a little clear nail polish on the edges of the ribbon to prevent fraying.

I have used this same design idea to embellish a canvas tote bag, using three lollipops (pink, blue, and yellow) side by side and personalizing with the baby’s name.

handpainted onesie tutorial

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on creating an adorable painted garment for your next baby gift.  Have fun with it!

I will be sharing this week at Craftberry Bush, The Shabby Nest, Craftionary, A Pinch of Joy, and Crafts a la Mode.

Thanks so much for visiting!  Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

9 comments

a vintage egg cup collection

February 22, 2013

vintage egg cup

For Friday field trip this week, I am taking you with me for a cup of tea to the home of a friend.  She collects vintage egg cups and I thought with the Easter holiday approaching, it would be a fun thing to share with you.  The vintage egg cups are scattered throughout my friend’s beautiful old home located in a historic district.  I have always been fascinated with her collection and had fun examining it once again while we chatted over tea.

vintage egg cup

My favorite piece is definitely the sweet little chick egg cup in the opening photo.  The egg cup below holds some incense, but most of the egg cups throughout the house are empty.  How fun would it be to fill them with colored Easter eggs?

vintage egg cup

 

vintage egg cup with rooster

vintage egg cup

This piece was really unique to the collection because it was the only one of clear glass…

vintage egg cup

Some of the pieces looked extremely old, like the striped one in the photo below…

vintage egg cups

This piece proudly displays the owner’s heritage…

vintage egg cups

The collection displayed on the stove held wishbones from Thanksgivings gone by…

vintage egg cups

vintage egg cup

vintage egg cup

Roosters seem to be a popular egg cup motif…I love these with the pink interiors…

vintage egg cups with roosters

orange vintage egg cup

vintage egg cups

vintage egg cup

I hope you enjoyed sharing this vintage egg cup collection with me.  I don’t have photos of every egg cup I saw, but I do have additional photos I will post to my facebook in case you are interested in seeing more from the collection.  I am also sharing at the Inspiration Gallery, Crafts a la Mode, Common Ground, The Charm of Home, and Craftionary.

Thanks for sharing.  Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie 

7 comments

a gift of saffron

February 19, 2013

saffron

I enjoy some Middle Eastern foods, but as far as preparing authentic dishes myself, I can’t say I have a big Middle Eastern selection in my personal repertoire.  Like many people I know, I have made hummus and I have toasted pita bread to make my own chips…not much else.

Many years ago, when I landed my first ‘real’ job I made a good friend that was of Middle Eastern heritage…not yet a U.S. citizen when we first met.  He taught me how to make baklava…if you can perfect only one Middle Eastern recipe, believe me, this is the one to perfect!

I was thrilled to learn how to make an authentic baklava and for many years this became my ‘go to’ dessert to make and bring to parties and holiday gatherings.

Like the cool discovery of baklava with my friend long ago, a recent discovery with a new friend has gotten me excited once again about Middle Eastern flavors. This time, the motivation was a gift of a Middle Eastern spice called saffron from this friend’s native country…the largest producer of the spice.  Most people have heard of saffron, but I don’t think many know exactly what it is.  Saffron is the dried stigmas of the saffron crocus.  And because these stigmas need to be collected by hand, and only a few are contained in each individual flower, saffron is the most expensive spice in the world!

iranian saffron

I discovered rosewater as an ingredient for the first time when I learned to make baklava. Now in much the same way, I am exploring saffron and cardamom ….and using these flavors in combinations with additional Middle Eastern flavors of the rosewater and pistachios.  Using these flavors in various combinations and recipes really illustrates to me that there is so much more to Middle Eastern cuisine than just hummus and baklava.

cardamom

 

pistachios

One of my favorite recipes is the one I found for Persian Love Cake  from a 2005 issue of Bon Appetit (aah, the beauty of the internet!).   This cake really embraces a subtle saffron flavor as well as cardamom, rosewater, and pistachio.  It is so wonderfully delicious, it was gone – devoured by my family – before I could even finish making the candied rose petal garnish!

persian love cake

If you are a frequent visitor to my blog, you know how I get on my ‘secret ingredient’ kicks… In true Iron Chef style, in my house we have been experimenting with our gift of saffron as our secret ingredient…recipes for appetizers, main dishes, and desserts are being explored…the Persian Love Cake is a wonderful example.

Persian Love Cake

Photo of Persian Love Cake...a recipe that embraces the Middle Eastern flavors of saffron, rosewater, pistachio, and cardamom.

Photo of Persian Love Cake…a recipe that embraces the Middle Eastern flavors of saffron, rosewater, pistachio, and cardamom.

Thanks for sharing my gift of saffron.  I would love to hear about your favorite Middle Eastern recipes.  My next project will be using the wonderful golden-yellow hue of saffron as an Easter egg dye…

I am also sharing at A Pinch of Joy.

Thanks for visiting,  Jackie

6 comments

winter whiteness

February 15, 2013

friday field trip…a walk through a white weekendFEB STORM 038

“You wake up on a winter morning and pull up the shade, and what lay there the evening before is no longer there–the sodden gray yard, the dog droppings, the tire tracks in the frozen mud, the broken lawn chair you forgot to take in last fall. All this has disappeared overnight, and what you look out on is not the snow of Narnia but the snow of home, which is no less shimmering and white as it falls. The earth is covered with it, and it is falling still in silence so deep that you can hear its silence. It is snow to be shoveled, to make driving even worse than usual, snow to be joked about and cursed at, but unless the child in you is entirely dead, it is snow, too, that can make the heart beat faster when it catches you by surprise that way, before your defenses are up. It is snow that can awaken memories of things more wonderful than anything you ever knew or dreamed.”

~ Frederick Buechner, “Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale”

 

snow 2 055

 

FEB STORM 043

“Whenever she turned her steep focus to me, I felt the warmth that flowers must feel when they bloom through the snow, under the first concentrated rays of the sun.”

~ Janet Fitch, “White Oleander”

FEB STORM 047

 

primrosew 2 068

“I love snow for the same reason I love Christmas: It brings people together while time stands still. Cozy couples lazily meandered the streets and children trudged sleds and chased snowballs. No one seemed to be in a rush to experience anything other than the glory of the day, with each other, whenever and however it happened”

~ Rachel Cohn, “Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares”

snow 2 078

FEB STORM 049

“Snow falling soundlessly in the middle of the night will always fill my heart with sweet clarity”

~ Novala Takemoto, “Missin’ “

snow 2 063

“A snowball in the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship.”

~ Markus Zusak, “The Book Thief”

snow3 and love cake 044

Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful weekend, Jackie

2 comments

a valentine’s day playlist

February 12, 2013

felt fortune cookies 014

No one can deny that many great events in life are marked by music.  Whether it be a song that marks a wedding, a sporting event, or a formal dance.  Songs can transport us back to our first school dance or remind us of a favorite movie.

There is definitely a special bond between music and romance, so in honor of Valentine’s Day, I compiled a list of 20 (in no particular order) of the most memorable of all-time (in my estimation anyway).

You should be able to find one or two to set the mood for the day ;)   Just click on the song title to bring you to the YouTube link.  Turn your volume down first…I don’t want to cause a commotion in your office!  To start you off, the first is sung by my favorite musical artist… It Had to be You ~ Harry Connick, Jr….enjoy!

20 Best ‘Set the Mood” Songs of All Time

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What a Wonderful World ~ Louis Armstrong

I Will Always Love You ~ Whitney Houston

At Last ~ Etta James

Unforgettable ~ Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole

I’ve Got You Under My Skin ~ Frank Sinatra

Sway ~ Dean Martin

Reasons ~ Earth, Wind & Fire

Over the Rainbow ~ Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole

Lover Man ~ Billie Holiday

Chances Are ~ Johnny Mathis

Moonlight Serenade ~ Glenn Miller & His Orchestra

Can’t Help Falling In Love ~ Elvis Presley

Always and Forever ~ Heatwave

Got to Give it Up ~ Marvin Gaye

Your Song ~ Elton John

Crazy for You ~ Madonna

My Everything ~ Barry White

Just in Time ~ Tony Bennett & Michael Buble

Fever ~ Peggy Lee

I hope you enjoyed my list of the 20 best ‘set the mood’ songs of all time – compiled for you in honor of Valentine’s Day.

xxheart022

Enjoy your Valentine’s Day…I hope you find some music to bring back some great memories and also to create some new ones!

Thanks for visiting, Jackie xoxo

 P.S.  I made the felt fortune cookie to slip into my daughter’s Valentine’s Day care package :)

4 comments

in search of bubble tea

February 8, 2013

bubble tea 080

This week, our Friday field trip is to an Asian market to get the scoop on making bubble tea.

Bubble tea is a sweetened cold tea drink mixed with chewy tapioca pearls (boba).  If you have had it, you probably have thought, like me, ‘how the heck do they make this?’

bubbe tea 090

Since it originated in Taiwan, I thought an Asian market would be the best place to do some research on how to authentically create this beverage.

I made a trip to the most authentic Asian market I could find and discovered the manager was from Taiwan…perfect!

If you are a bubble tea lover, you know that the two most important requirements are 1. the tapioca pearls or boba, and 2. the straws… Yes, the straws are major.  An extra wide straw is needed to accommodate the boba.  Without the availability of the special straws, continuing the research seemed a waste…so, I first needed to confirm these two items were available in the market.  They were!!  I was so worried the straws would be hard to find.  But, the market carried them and a package was only 99 cents!

bublle tea 078

Now to figure out how to actually make the beverage…It quickly became evident that the manager did indeed know how to make bubble tea, but my accurate translation of her explanation was another story completely!  She barely spoke English and most every product in the store had few markings in English.  This would be a challenge!

I did find that the store sold a commercial mix for bubble tea in a variety of flavors, but I decided against using a mix since I thought this would be cheating!  I wanted to have an authentic bubble tea experience.  Plus, I wanted to forgo adding any unnecessary artifical ingredients to my beverage.

So, after quite a bit of discussion (and some creative sign language) I learned how to prepare bubble tea.  The store manager suggested coconut as my flavor of choice…I ran with it!

coconutmilkThe items I purchased at the market were:  boba, a can of coconut milk, STRAWS, and palm sugar.

Although it is not a difficult drink to make, the tapioca or boba used in the drink require some advance preparation.

tapiocapearls 002

The preparation of a sugar syrup also requires advance preparation.  I discovered, after some experimentation, I preferred the sugar syrup over the palm sugar as a sweetener for the drink.  Palm sugar was a sweetener option that was suggested to me.

A photo of Tapioca pearls (or boba) prepared for Bubble Tea.

A photo of tapioca pearls (or boba) prepared for Bubble Tea.

Tapioca preparation

bubble tea 064Add one cup of tapioca pearls to a couple of cups of boiling water.  The pearls should float – keep them stirred so they don’t stick to the bottom of the pan.  Boil the pearls for 25 minutes and then turn off the heat and let the pearls sit in the water for another 25 minutes.  Drain and rinse the pearls with lukewarm water.  The final consistency of the pearls will be like chewing gum.  I only prepared enough pearls for what I was going to use because I was told they harden over time.

bubble tea 100

Sweetener preparation

Combine 1 cup white sugar and 1 cup dark brown sugar with a cup of water.  Cook over medium heat until the sugars cook down and the mixture boils.  Cool and store in the fridge.  (If you don’t care about being authentic, you can sweeten your tea with honey or sugar while still hot and forgo this preparation.)

Coconut Bubble Tea Recipe

Prepare black tea. You will need 4 oz. for each serving.  Put in fridge to cool.

Combine 4 oz. of water, 4 oz. of coconut milk, 2 oz. of milk, and 4 oz. of prepared tea for each serving.  Add 1 or 2 Tablespoons of the prepared sugar syrup sweetener.  Blend until fully mixed.

Spoon 4 Tablespoons of cooked tapioca into the bottom of a large glass.  Pour coconut mixture into the glass.  Add ice.  Serve with an extra wide straw.  ENJOY! 

asianmarket

I hope you enjoyed sharing today’s field trip.  I was so excited to discover the authentic way to make bubble tea!  I don’t think it is something I will make on a regular basis, but it will be nice to be able to make it when the mood strikes… and, I may try making some other flavors in addition to the coconut!

Have a wonderful weekend…here in Connecticut we are expecting BIG snow…

Thanks for visiting and remember to enjoy pleasure in simple things, Jackie

8 comments

valentine coconut lime truffles

February 5, 2013

Valentine truffles

There is a certain amount of class in going ‘against the grain’…like wearing white in winter.

To me, this element of surprise adds a certain elegance…the same holds true in creating food…

This is the feeling that is captured in the coconut lime truffles made from white chocolate that I am creating for Valentine’s Day giving.  Although my Valentine’s Day confections may look like little snowballs, the flavor is more reminiscient of a tropical locale.  The white chocolate is a refreshing departure from the typical Valentine’s Day choice.

Valentine truffle

A photo of a Valentine coconut lime truffle… sure to steal a heart :)

If you haven’t made candy before, don’t despair…even a novice candy maker can have excellent results with truffles…no candy thermometer is needed, and there is plenty of room for creativity.  Try substituting your own favorite flavors and coatings.  If you don’t like coconut, you can try crushed gingersnaps as a coating – I have tried them  also and the flavor combination with the lime is great.

coconut lime truffles

Valentine Coconut Lime Truffles Recipe (makes 12,  1  1/4″ truffles)

  • 7 oz. of good white chocolate (Ghiradelli or Lindt)
  • 2 Tablespoons of heavy cream
  • 2 Tablespoons of fresh lime juice
  • 1 cup flaked,  sweetened coconut (spread onto a plate for easy clean up)

Melt the chocolate, very slowly, in a double boiler.  Remove from heat and whisk in cream and lime juice.  Put into fridge until firm enough to roll into balls (about 2 hours).  Roll into 12 balls – then rolling each into coconut to cover.  Store in the fridge, but be sure to let sit a little before serving so they will melt in your mouth :)

Funny that I buy 4 oz. bars of chocolate and my recipe calls for 7 oz. ;)

valentine truffles

What better way to a heart than a homemade truffle?  Enjoy.

valentine coconut lime truffles

 Thanks so much for visiting.  Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. I am sharing this recipe at Pinch of Joy, Blissful Whites WednesdayThe Well Crafted Home, and The Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush.

4 comments

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