The Gingerbread Blog: September 2012

September 30, 2012

Lovely Lemon & Berry Topped Cake

Sometimes a light and fresh dessert can be the perfect treat. I'm loving this mix of berries, angel food cake and thick lemon pudding. YUM! It also looks pretty, which isn't a prerequisite of all my desserts, but it's a bonus.

You will need:

> 2 tablespoons orange juice

> 1 loaf of angel food cake or pound cake

> 2 boxes of Jello lemon pudding mix

> 2 1\2 cups cold milk

> 1 tub of Cool Whip

> 3-5 cups of berries, I used blueberries and raspberries
> 2 tablespoons sugar

1. First cut your pound cake into 8-10 pieces.

2. Lightly drizzle orange juice on the pound cake.

3. Sprinkle berries onto pound cake and top with sugar.
4. Whisk milk and both Jello packets for one minute, then gently mix in one cup of Cool Whip and save the rest for your topping.

5. Spoon your lemon pudding on top of the berries and finish with a layer of your remaining cool whip. Ya, I added some extra Cool Whip, maybe a lot, but it was really good!

This dessert was had by all and enjoyed. I've been on a roll lately with desserts, maybe it's because our summer weather is on it's last leg. I'm bound and determined to use ever berry and ice cream recipe I can think up, then I'll be dreaming up gooey chocolate and cake recipes to enjoy with coffee. Swoon.
april
xoxo

September 28, 2012

Sweet Saturday Link Party V.58

HELLO! It's that time again to show yourself off and link up the crafty, recipe or DIY goodness you have been up to this week. Look out for features on Monday, that's the new day to see if your project was highlighted!

Here are the details:

Please link up your crafty, yummy or DIY post, not your blog address.

If you could include the button from the sidebar or link back to gingerbread, that would be great.

Comment on other friends' post, comments are sweet!

Every week I will highlight a few projects from the previous week, so you can check back next week to see if you were featured!

Thank you so much for sharing your artsy goodness, I love seeing your creative projects!

This week I am offering a giveaway for the most viewed link! The most viewed link will receive chalkboard labels and pantry labels! Swoon I know! Get excited...
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

I will announce the winner when I post the features on Monday so get to linkin' up friends!

Thank you so much!

Ok, let's see what you have to share!

april

xoxo

September 26, 2012

BBQ Fig & Goat Cheese Pizza

Every other week we get a box of organic fruit and veggies delivered to our doorstep from Farm Fresh To You . I'm not able to choose what arrives in the box, I just get what I get. Not knowing what I'm getting can be annoying, but it also forces me to step out my normal food choices. This past Friday I opened my box to find a small container filled with little purple oval fruit. I had NO idea what they were, for reals. After I realized they were figs my next thought was "What in the world am I going to do with them". I tried eating one, but I didn't like the taste of a big ol' mouthful of fig, just not my thing, they would have to be incorporated into a recipe, not eaten alone. I researched a few recipes and created a sweet and savory pizza that is both healthy and delish. I hope you will try it out, you won't be disappointed! I baked my pizza on my BBQ, but you can surely use your oven as well.

You will need:
> 6-8 ripe figs, thinly sliced
> 3\4 cup crumbled goat cheese
> 3\4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
> 6 basil leaves torn in half
> Ready made pizza dough (I used Betty Crocker)
>Foil

1. Preheat your BBQ on high.
2. Mix your pizza according to the directions, or you can make your own from scratch.
3. Roll your dough onto you foil and layer with fig slices.
4. Sprinkle your mozzerella cheese, goat cheese and basil leaves.
5. Lay your foil directly onto your BBQ grill. I have a gas BBQ, so if you are using a charcoal grill your cooking time and temperature setting may vary.
6. Bake your pizza on a medium heat with the lid closed for about 15 minutes, checking regularly. I used a spatula to lift the side of the pizza up to make sure it wasn't burning.
7. Take your pizza off the grill when the cheese is melted and the crust is to your liking.

I also made the boys a pepperoni pizza because, well, I was pretty sure my fig pizza was a little too fancy for them, and that also meant more for me!

This recipe was definitely out of my comfort zone, which made it even more rewarding. So when life gives you figs, make a fig pizza.
april
xoxo

September 24, 2012

Sweet Saturday Link Party V.57 >> Features & Giveaway Winner

Happy Monday, I hope you all enjoyed your weekend! Thank you to everyone who linked up their crafty goodness, recipes and projects.

I have been so happy with my new giveaway and link party match up! It's basically combined my two favorite things. I big heart love sharing crafty projects and really love giving things away. Sweet Saturday has reached a whole new level of awesomeness!

Here are the features from last week:

A DIY painted rug is a perfect pop of color.

By: The Morris Mojo

I love this sweet wooden sign, I can't think of a better quote!

By: Paisly Sprouts

I need this caramel apple pizza with a big ol' glass of milk! DELISH!

By: The Alchemist

A big scoop of this maple almond butter sounds yummy on a warm biscuit! I'm loving all of these fall like recipes this week!

By: Baking with Blondie

AND...

The most viewed link and winner of the bundle giveaway is:

This super cool DIY vintage book project...swoon!

By: Live Laugh Rowe

Congrats to those featured, feel free to grab the button below to post on your blog!

If you haven't linked up yet you can here.

All features and most viewed links can be found on my Pinterest board "Sweet Saturday Features" HERE.

I'm going to continue offering a GIVEAWAY PRIZE to the most viewed link! YES!

So make sure to look out for the link party next week.

Happy Crafting!
april
xoxo

September 23, 2012

10 Eye Catching Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

My favorite part of Halloween is driving to the local pumpkin patch to watch my boys run around an carefully inspect each pumpkin looking for their favorite one to take home and carve. To them the blank canvas of a pumpkin is magical.
I love pumpkins of all sizes, colors and shapes. If I could I would buy 20 pumpkins for Halloween, but as it is now, each family member walks around the pumpkin patch and chooses their favorite. Last year I was fancy and spray painted my pumpkin pink and carved a Hello Kitty face. Stepping outside the box was really fun, and I really want to do something different and creative with my pumpkin this year.
Here are 10 eye catching pumpkin ideas to inspire your Halloween pumpkin!

Silhouette Pumpkin

By: The Lettered Cottage

Glitter Pumpkins

By: HGTV

Decoupage Pumpkin

By: Little Birdie Secrets

Mummy Pumpkin

By: BHG

Pumpkin Bling

By: BHG

Swarm of Bats

By: Kaboose

Painted Pumpkins

By: Alisa Burke

Washi Tape Pumpkin

By: Real Simple

Flower Pumpkins

By: Southern Living

Monogrammed Pumpkins

By: Brown Paper Packages

These projects are amazing and make any porch look Halloween adorable! Swoon.

Are you so ready to get your pumpkin yet...

Perhaps I will buy 20 this year...

EEk!

april

xoxo

September 21, 2012

Sweet Saturday Link Party V.57

Here are the details:

Please link up your crafty, yummy or DIY post, not your blog address.

If you could include the button from the sidebar or link back to gingerbread, that would be great.

Comment on other friends' post, comments are sweet!

Every week I will highlight a few projects from the previous week, so you can check back next week to see if you were featured!

Thank you so much for sharing your artsy goodness, I love seeing your creative projects!

This week I am offering a giveaway for the most viewed link! The most viewed link will receive these crafty goodies! Swoon I know! Get excited...I'm kind of dying over the burlap flags, just think of what you could use them for!
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

I will announce the winner when I post the features on Monday so get to linkin' up friends!

Thank you so much!

Ok, let's see what you have to share!

april

xoxo

The Happenings...

I'm pretty sure it's been a few weeks since I've posted any instagram photos, AKA, my own person addiction. I'm still as in love with instagram as when I first made my account. Its crazy.
It's FRIDAY, and I'm tired. Like where's my bed tired. I just wanna rest and hit the local garage sales in the morning. Thank heaven for little treasures!
Here are the happenings of our little ~~crazy~~ crew:

The past few weeks were full of:
> painting my bedroom
> garage sale finds
> Donuts before school
> Twilight
> Beautiful sunsets
> Crafts
> Board games
> Target dollar bins
> Doing the robot

Every time I look at my photos I'm reminded of what a blessed life I have! My little snippets of time saved. Swoon.
april
xoxo

September 20, 2012

Thrifted Sweater Turned Pumpkin Pillow

A few weeks ago I had the idea to make a sweet pumpkin pillow for the living room. I've become quite obsessed with filling the couch and every chair we have with comfy pillows. We barely have any room to sit! I wanted to make a pumpkin pillow from a sweater, so I went to a few thrift stores and found a perfect bright orange sweater that was in great condition, and it was only a few bucks.

Here is how YOU can make one just like it!

You will need:
> Sweater
> Green Felt
> Pillow Stuffing

I bought a bright orange sweater, but pumpkins come in all shades of orange, yellow and even white! You can be as creative as YOU choose.

1. Cut the sleeves off your sweater.
2. Pin a rough version of the shape you want your pumpkin to be. This will ensure that your sweater material stays put after you cut all the seams off.
3. Cut AROUND your pins, giving yourself a little wiggle room. You can always make your shape smaller later, but cut fabric can't sewn back on, I've learned about wiggle room the hard way!
4. Cut and sew you green felt stem and fill with stuffing.
5. Sew your pumpkin sweater leaving an opening at the top and bottom.
6. Sew your stem to the top, closing up the top opening.
7. Stuff your pumpkin with filling and sew shut.
8. Enjoy!

When I first started this project I thought about adding a template for the pumpkin, but the truth is, they come in every shape and size, so feel free to make YOUR pillow unique!
My Dylan has already deemed this pillow his and given it a home on out rocking chair. Swoon!
Happy cuddling.
april
xoxo

September 18, 2012

5 Things Tuesday >> Beginning Embroidery Tutorials

"The number 5 is my favorite, hence my need to pick 5 things that tickle my fancy every Tuesday"

Do you have a genre of crafts that you have always wanted to try but never attempted...

My far away craft that I have always admired is embroidery. I can remember my mom making the sweetest tiny hoop art Christmas ornaments when I was girl, and I thought they were mini treasures. She would cross stitch little Santa's, Christmas trees and wreaths. I have that memory permanently burned into my brain, I can still imagine them hanging on my childhood tree. It seriously makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

Perhaps that's why I have such a strong passion for crafting, it was an ever present part of my childhood. Although I don't have any of the ornaments my mom made, I still think about making them every year when the holiday season begins. I think this is the year I will attempt my own tiny treasures!

To be honest though I'm really nervous.

What if I make a mistake...

How do you make all of the different stitches...

It's overwhelming!

So I thought it smart to collect a few tutorials that may help me along the way.

Here are my favorite 5: