Baby Boy Cookie Pops

These treats were for one of my very best friend's new baby boy. Baby's father and uncle played football for BYU so of course I had to appropriately add another member to the family team. Yes, I could have made regular cookies, but there's something child-like about eating it off a stick. Wouldn't you love to bring these "babies" to a new mommy?

Tina's Tuesday Tip: Think Outside the Box

...the cake mix box that is. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Betty Crocker (who actually isn't a real person, but a marketing "idea") just not in the way it says on the back of the box. I love using cake mixes to make cookies, as a base for coconut cakes, or even as a chEAT crust for cobbler. All I mean, is don't be afraid to make a cake from scratch. It's not as hard as you might think! I know there are rules out there about temperature, quality of products and adding rotating liquid and dry mixtures and blah blah blah, but just try it, you'll be glad you did. Even if it doesn't turn out perfect, at least you can say you've made a cake from scratch! Here's a great recipe for crumb cake from scratch. I like to make it the night or day before, it ages well on the countertop.

Crumb Cake

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

-preheat oven to 350°

-grease a 9x9 pan, set aside

-cream together butter and sugar

-add egg 1 at a time

-mix in sour cream and vanilla

-in separate bowl combine flour, baking soda & salt

-add dry ingredients (flour/baking soda/salt) to mixture

-pour 1/2 of the batter into the pan, set aside other 1/2

topping

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter

1/2 tsp cinnamon

-mix together to the consistency of wet sand

-sprinkle 1/2 the mixture in pan with 1/2 the batter

-pour remaining batter into pan

-sprinkle remaining topping over batter

-bake for 35-40 min (or until a toothpick comes out clean)

*try adding crushed nuts to the crust if you're feeling nutty!

Boy's Toys

What boy doesn't love a sports ball? The first time I made these were for my son's first birthday, and I love reminiscing about his hesitation regarding his "smash cake". However, once he tasted the frosting there was no going back (he's not the only one!).

For Jordan's cake his mom gave me several ideas: cars, characters, sports, balls. With a name like Jordan how could I resist doing a basketball!

This boy's family are big BYU fans :) and knew their son would get a kick over a football cake. I was lucky enough to see his face when he opened the box, he was ecstatic! Too bad he had to wait until that evening to dig in.

This was to help my {other} brother answer his date for their high school dance. She had asked him with sports ball Easter Eggs so he called in a favor and this is what I threw together. The outside of the box said "it would be a..."

Tina's Tuesday Tip: Cool Coconut Cake

It's Tuesday, which means it's tip day. This is such an EASY yet YUMMY recipe that always gets great reviews. I usually keep the ingredients on hand for "emergencies". ;) In fact my 13 year old nephew made it a few weeks ago for a scout cake-off and he won! I usually tell people it's like a coconut Tres Leches Cake. Try it out, make a twist, tell me what you think.

Cool Coconut Cake

1 box yellow cake mix (and it's called-for ingredients)

1 can coconut milk

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tub whipped topping

1 cup of coconut flakes (optional)

-bake the cake according to box directions

-combine coconut milk and sweetened condensed milk

-when cake is done, poke several (let's say 30 or so) holes in the hot cake with butter knife

-pour combined milks as evenly as possible over hot cake

-let cool

-cover with whipped topping and coconut flakes

-serve chilled

*this is also VERY yummy served warm, just add the whipped topping to individual portions, and either way it pairs amazingly with vanilla ice cream.

Spiderman Cupcakes

These "spidey cakes" were so much fun to make! I love the fun colors and hope Lennie enjoyed them. My son was sure sad to see them go. I don't know what it is with boys and Spiderman, I dunno, those little spiders are kinda cute!

These beauties were for his beautiful sister Lexi. I just love hot pink and brown together.

Happy birthday kiddos!

Tina's Tuesday Tip: Use a coupon!

Have you got one of these? I sure don't, but I'll take yours for a lifetime supply of cupcakes! Today's tip will not only help bakers but scrapbookers, painters, craft-iers, pretty much everyone could find something great at a craft store. Many of the local (Utah) craft stores send out coupons, but Roberts has a printable coupon (go to in-store ad, then in-store coupon) you can use at Michaels & JoAnn's too! It's usually 40% off one regular priced item. Here are a few pointers I've picked up:

-you DON'T actually need to have this coupon in hand if you are using it at Roberts, but you do need to tell them you'd like to use the 40% off coupon (they have it taped to their registers and are completely used to it) it will automatically take it off the most expensive item

-you DO need to have this coupon in hand to use it at Michaels or JoAnn's, and don't worry they won't look at you funny. They might ask you which item you'd like to use it on... the most expensive one of course!

-when using it @ JoAnn's it will not work for fabric since that is not sold @ Michaels

-it's ok to just buy 1 item and use this, even if the item is around $1 (I'm a cheap-o)

-I like to print a couple out (they expire each week) and keep them in the car. That way if I have an opportunity to run into a craft store I have the coupon... and I ALWAYS find something I can use it with

-Right now Robert's also has a spring coupon book that has a couple 50% off coupons and some 20% off your entire purchase coupons that I can't wait to use!

*if you aren't in Utah find out which craft stores accept competitor coupons and make this work for you!

Anyone else got some great cheap-o ideas?

Roses

Just made cupcakes for the cutest little baby girl for her blessing today. Wouldn't you like a dozen of THESE?

Now these are my kind of roses! Although, I don't know that they'll last as long on your dining table.

Strawberries 2 dozen for $20 EXTENDED

So, I'm pretty sure these are my favorite things to make... right now anyway. I make them within hours of delivery/pick up so they are nice and fresh and make sure they are room temp when they get to you. Why room temp? Because then the chocolate doesn't crumble and fall off when you bite into it, as they do when they are straight out of the fridge. No chocolate is to be wasted! They are usually half gone within minutes, LITERALLY!!! Order yours soon, or don't... and wish you did ;)

Tina's Tuesday Tip: Frosting Tips

Today I thought I'd give a basic lesson on preparing an icing bag. Most of you probably already know this, but if you have any specific baking questions leave me a comment! Hold on to your apron strings... here we go :)

Happy Birthday Maxine

Max's sweet husband asked me to make a Strawberry Blonde birthday cake for his wife, my friend. I just had a few hours to throw this together, but I think it turned out well. Happy Birthday Maxine!!!

April Fools "Cupcakes"

I wanted chEAT day join in on the tricks for April Fool's Day this year so decided to make these:

what? regular cupcakes you say? you (like my son) are sadly mistaken! Here's a closer look:

Yup, Shepherd's Pie "Cupcakes" a meaty "cupcake" with mashed potato "frosting."

I didn't have any big plans for these guys, but destiny (in the form on my younger brother) called. He had been asked to Sadie Hawkins with a cake and wanted to answer in a similar way with an April Fool's twist. I told him I had the perfect idea right in my oven and I'd bring them over. We put them in a box and he made a sign saying

"Nothing would be sweeter than going to Sadie's with you"

We did have a couple real cupcakes in there too though (I can only joke so far about sweet treats!), I haven't heard how it went, but I thought it was pretty clever :) Was the joke on me?