Recipe Box: Quickie Quarterback Rowdy Reuben Beer Dip

What does the SuperBowl mean to me? Cooking. Lots of cooking – which, let’s be honest, usually means I get to my Super Bowl parties around halftime.

‘Cuz with a friend in town, a brunch date and 2 parties to attend yesterday, that doesn’t leave a girl a lot of time. Hence, I whipped up two of my #QuickieQuarterback dishes, beginning with this one. And, y’all, it was a hit with guys and girls alike!

Reuben Beer Dip with rye crackers. You heard me. Yep. Reuben sandwich in a bowl. And it was delicious. It was SO good, my friends didn’t even mind a bit that I was late to the festivities, and it even brought a little post-Halftime glee.

Dawn Do? Try putting dippers, that accompany dips, in muffin tins. Perfect for separating and showcasing dippers for impromptu entertaining!

Recipe Box: Quickie Quarterback Rowdy Reuben Beer Dip

 Quickie Quarterback Rowdy Reuben Beer Dip

1/2 lb. Shredded Corned Beef

1 8-ounce Philadelphia cream cheese, softened

1/2 c sour cream

1 1/2 c shredded Swiss cheese

1 1/4 c Sauerkraut, drained

1/2 c Kraft Thousand Island dressing

Dippers: rye crackers, toasts, tortilla chips and fresh vegetables

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place mixture in a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Serve with dipper and enjoy!

p.s. How much do we love that southern dishtowel? My sweet neighbor, Hope, gave it to me for my birthday!

 

xoxo,

BF

BF Asks: What’s your favorite SuperBowl or tailgating dip recipe?

A BF Homespun Recipe: Salted Caramel Brown Sugar Dessert Dip

Hosting a party and need a quick, no-cook dessert? Have a salted caramel lover in your house? Then, look no further than my homespun recipe, Salted Caramel Brown Sugar Dessert Dip.

For those of you BF readers who don’t know, a “homespun” recipe is when you make something that’s not from scratch taste like scratch, just by spinning a few homemade-tasting ingredients in there.

For this easy dessert, it’s creamy, dreamy, and perfect when served with ginger snaps, Granny Smith Apples, strawberries and jumbo marshmallows as dippers.

BF Homespun Recipes: BeautyFrosting's Salted Caramel Brown Sugar Dip

 

 

BeautyFrosting’s Salted Caramel Brown Sugar Dessert Dip

8 oz Softened cream cheese

1 c Light Brown Sugar

1/3 c + 1 Tbsp Smucker’s Simple Delight Salted Caramel Topping

1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract

Set aside 1 Tbsp of salted caramel dip. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl, using a hand mixer. Transfer into serving dish, making sure to use a spatula to make the top look extra smooth and “frostingy”. Drizzle the remaining 1 Tbsp of salted caramel dip on top.

Put in center of platter and surround with dippers, including ginger snaps, Granny Smith Apples, strawberries, bananas, mini chocolate bars and jumbo marshmallows.

xoxo,

BF

 

BF Asks: What dippers do you think would go best with my salted caramel dip?

Holiday Up Your Bakery-Bought Cakes

Few things are as sweet as old friends…but this Society Bakery-bought vanilla Christmas cake came close. I didn’t have time to bake for a holiday tea party with girlfriends, as I had planned, so I just hopped by Society, bought a cake and a gingerbread man and put that little guy right on top for a little additional holiday whimsy. Really easy way to dress up your holiday cake? Christmas cookies as toppings! #ItLooksLikeHesStuckInSnow

Fast, easy way to decorate a bakery-bought cake? Christmas cookies.

 

xoxo,

BF

BF Asks: How do you “holiday up” your desserts?

Holiday Hosting: Festive, Floral Holiday Pies

Dress up your dessert.

You heard me.

What’s a super simple and cheap way to dress up your festive holiday pies? FLOWERS!!

Festive, floral holiday pies!

Here is my sour cream apple pie – not so beautiful on its own – that I topped with some holiday red gerber a daisies for Thanksgiving dinner. Instant americana beauty!

I’ve found that just buying a few extra bunches of flowers can come in handy when dressing up desserts or sad looking pies. Try it yourself this holiday season!

xoxo,
BF

 

BF Asks: What pies will you and your family bake up this holiday season? 

The Sweet Life with Dawn McCoy: A Magical Day at Magnolia Bakery

My heart belongs to Magnolia Bakery. So when I got the opportunity to visit one of my favorite places for a little frosting lesson and fun, I jumped at the chance. Find out how the frosting experts at Magnolia get that “signature swirl”, see if I can replicate it and see what other emotions their delicious treats stir up for me. A magical day at Magnolia, indeed. Join me for a taste…

 

Now, isn’t THAT the sweetest?
xoxo,
BF

Recipe Box: BeautyFrosting’s Cucumber Dill Cream Cheese Finger Sandwiches

Oh, how I love a tea party! And for me, no tea party is complete without tea sandwiches  – or finger sandwiches – as they used to be called in Dallas from which I hail.

So when I hosted a “sprinkle” tea party for a good friend a few weeks ago, I simply had to include a few dozen of my Cucumber Dill Cream Cheese Finger Sandwiches.

Recipe Box: BeautyFrosting's Cucumber Dill Cream Cheese Finger Sandwiches

Now, here’s the recipe so you can whip some up for your next tea party! And remember a tea party doesn’t have to be a formal affair! It can be as simple as inviting over a friend you haven’t caught up with in a while and sipping a cup of cream tea and enjoying a sandwich. You know me…life’s all about those daily delights

 

BeautyFrosting’s Cucumber Dill Cream Cheese Finger Sandwiches

Ingredients
8 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature

4 tablespoons freshly chopped dill

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp garlic salt

Dash of salt

Dash of pepper

Approx. 1 cucumber, thinly sliced (with skin or without)

12 slices white sandwich bread (or preferred white bread)

In a bowl, combine cream cheese, lemon juice, dill, garlic salt, salt and pepper.

Prepare a sandwich work station by laying out two long strips of wax paper. I usually cover my stainless steel bar to do this. Lay out 12 slices of bread. Coat each slice of bread with the cream cheese mixture. Cover 6 slices of bread with your thinly sliced cucumbers. Top with the remaining bread. Cut off crusts and cut into quarters. I prefer triangles or rectangles depending on the shape of the other sandwiches I’m making. Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve. *BF Tip: If you have to wait to serve, layer damp, wrung-out paper towels between each layer of cut sandwiches. These will keep the sandwiches moist.

Prep work...

Enjoy with your favorite cup of tea! Personally, I prefer a cream tea with sugar cubes!

xoxo,
BF

 

BF Asks: What’s your favorite finger sandwich or tea sandwich to have at a tea party?

Thirsty Thursday: BeautyFrosting’s Pineapple Upside Down Cake Champagne Cocktail

Last Thursday, I had a photo shoot here at The Cupcake Palace and, well, I wanted to socially lubricate myself a bit with a mid-day cocktail for the shoot. Don’t judge. I only had one and I must say it did make me feel a bit more photogenic.

I looked in the fridge for inspiration and inspiration found me: Dole Pineapple Juice, One Hope California Brut Sparkling Wine ($19.99) and Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherries. Add a little splash of vanilla extract (which chronic bakers like me always have on hand) and thus, this week’s Thirsty Thursday concoction was born.

So here is my little Pineapple Upside Down Cake Champagne Cocktail for you to enjoy – before a photo shoot, a fun-filled day or maybe even just while soaking in a foam-filled tub.

 

BeautyFrosting’s Pineapple Upside Down Cake Champagne Cocktail

Thirsty Thursday: Pineapple Upside Down Cake Champagne Cocktail (and I love these "Simply stunning…" napkins my Mom got me for Christmas from Homegoods - soooo fun!!)

4 ozs ONEHOPE California Brut Sparkling Wine 

4 ozs Dole Pineapple Juice

2 Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherries 

1 splash Vanilla Extract

Grab your favorite champagne flute (or, I suppose, a regular cocktail glass will do). Drop in a moonshine cherry at the bottom. Fill with 4 ozs pineapple juice and top with 4 ozs champagne. Add a splashStab a cherry with a party pic and place on top or rest on side of glass. Pineapple Upside Down Cake Champagne Cocktail in a glass.

Party for one, please.

xoxo,
BF

 

BF Asks: What was your favorite drink or punch this week? 

Cocktail Corner: The Golden Globes Moët Golden Night Cocktail by Aida Mollenkamp

Oh, how I love award season! It has filled me with glee, delight, suspense and excitement ever since I was a tiny girl! So you can bet I’ll be glued to the screen this Sunday night to see who will be taking home the coveted Golden Globes this year.

I had the pleasure of attending a Golden Globes luncheon at the Beverly Hilton this past Thursday to meet and chat with Miss Golden Globes 2014 herself, Sosie Bacon.

With Sosie Bacon, Miss Golden Globes 2014, at an intimate bloggers luncheon at the Beverly Hilton

 

The official cocktail of the 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards that they served sent me over the moon.

The official cocktail of the 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards: The Moët Golden Night Cocktail crafted by Aida Mollenkamp

 

Moët & Chandon were kind enough to share Aida Mollenkamp’s delicious recipe with me so I might enjoy it on Sunday while watching. And being me, I of course have to share it with you! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did on Thursday  – and be assured that I will be enjoying it again come Sunday!

To the Globes!

The Moët Golden Night Cocktail - photo courtesy of Aida Mollenkamp

MOËT GOLDEN NIGHT

Made to celebrate the glamour and glitz of the awards season, Moët Golden Night is a decidedly sophisticated cocktail of cardamom syrup, pear brandy, and Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne. Garnished with a “fan” of fresh pear slices, this cocktail is the perfect sipper to toast the festivities. 

 

Makes: 6 cocktails // Enough simple syrup mixture for 8 cocktails

Total Time: 25 minutes

Hands On Time: 5 minutes

 

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup unrefined granulated sugar

1/4 cup water

20 whole cardamom pods, crushed using the back of a knife or a mortar and pestle

1/4 cup pear brandy

1 (750 ml) chilled Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne

2 small ripe Forelle or Seckel pears, for garnish

 

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan, stir to dissolve the sugar, add the crushed cardamom pods and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer the simple syrup for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to steep and cool for 20 minutes.

 

Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the simple syrup, discard the seeds and pods, and place the simple syrup into a liquid measuring cup. Add the pear brandy and stir to combine. (The pear-cardamom simple syrup mixture can be made up to 2 days ahead and the Asian pears can be peeled up to 2 hours ahead.)

 

Just before serving, cut the pear off the core and slice pear lengthwise into 1/8-inch thick slices. (Separate slices into stacks of three and spread slightly to make a fan. If cutting slices ahead of serving time, coat them with a little lemon juice to prevent them from browning.)

 

To serve, add 1/2 ounce of the pear-cardamom simple syrup mixture to 6 white wine glasses or 6 Champagne coupes (this makes enough syrup for 8 cocktails). Add 4 ounces of chilled Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne to each glass, filling each glass about halfway. Garnish each glass with three pieces of fanned pear slices and serve.

 

Perfect pairing of pear, cardamom, brandy & bubbly

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What will you be snacking on & sipping come Sunday night? 

Daily Delights: My New Years Tradition

Happy New Year, my friends! I just got back from the best New Years Eve I’ve ever had – more on that later – but for now, I have to share my annual New Years tradition with you guys.
Even with a well-earned hangover, I had to make this happen today.
Hope your 2014 is off to a  beautiful start!
Me? I’m just eatin’ my blackeyed peas, chilling out, watching some movies and catching up on some tv. I’m long overdue for a little R & R.
As a southern girl, I fervently believe in the power of blackeyed peas…and I don’t mean the band.

My annual New Years tradition: Blackeyed Peas with jalapeños, bacon, a crescent roll and champagne!

Every year I cook a big pot of blackeyed peas with bacon, jalapeños, jalapeño juice, salt, pepper and a bit of butter and then top ’em with a dollop of Daisy sour cream and sharp cheddar. I serve em to my friends with crescent rolls or biscuits and champagne and, in honor of my Papaw, I always have a bit of buttermilk with em too. They are delicious and southern folklore says it grants you prosperity. Each year gets better and better so it must be workin’. Bring it on, my little blackeyed friends!! And may 2014 bring YOU prosperity!!!
xoxo,
BF
BF Asks: What is your New Years tradition?

Thirsty Thursday: BF & One Hope’s Spiced Apple Cider Mimosa

When I was trying to decide what my signature cocktail would be for my “Come As You Were…or WISH You Were In High School” birthday party, I was a bit overwhelmed. I wanted it to involve the bubbly (I mean what’s a birthday without champagne), have a wintry component (because my party this year was sandwiched between a slew of holiday parties) and be something that my guests would never forget.

That’s where One Hope Wine and Hope at Home stepped in to help.

One Hope Wine & Hope At Home saved that day…well, at least my party!

 

They have a slew of cocktail recipes and fab pics on OneHopeWeddings.com where you can find the PERFECT cocktail to accompany your perfect party.
For mine, I opted for the Apple Cider Mimosa.

One Hope's Apple Cider Mimosa

But to make it my own whimsical winter wonderland-fitting libation, I “tweaked” it a bit by substituting Captain Morgan Spiced Rum  in place of the scotch.

And you know what really made me feel good about it? For every bottle of One Hope California Brut Sparkling Wine ($18.99) sold, a hungry child is connected with 10 healthy meals. Drinking for a good cause? It’s like two of my favorite things on the planet just married one another.

It. Was. Perfect. Everyone was raaaaaving about it and asking for the recipe.

 

A few of my guests (Jennifer & Rahiel from Spoiled Little LA Girls) & I sippin' on our BF & One Hope Spiced Apple Cider Mimosas! Photography by Takahiro Watanabe Photography

More guests - Jen and Jennie - sippin' their One Hope cider cocktail… Photo by Guerrero Photography

 

Yep. It’s exactly what I wanted.

Enjoying my 2nd glass (!!!) of One Hope Spiced Apple Cider Mimosa. Don't judge, people. It was my BIRTHDAY!!! Photo by Guerrero Photography

So now you can enjoy it at your holiday or winter party!

If you need a little extra party guidance, Hope At Home has you covered. See, Hope At Home is magical when it comes to making a party pop. They offer private wine tasting parties where 15% of the sales go back to the non-profit or school of your choice. What could be a more fun – and philanthropic – way to celebrate this holiday season? And what a fun way to raise funds for your organization!!

 BF & One Hope’s Spiced Apple Cider Mimosa

 

BF & One Hope's Spiced Apple Cider Mimosa - photo courtesy of OneHopeWeddings.com

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total: 10
Serves: 1

Ingredients
1 tsp brown sugar
1 ounce spiced rum (I used Captain Morgan)
2 ounces fresh apple cider
4 ounces ONEHOPE Sparkling Wine
Apple slices for garnish

Directions
Combine brown sugar, spiced rum and apple cider in a flute.
Top with ONEHOPE Sparkling wine and garnish with fresh apple slices.

 

xoxo,

BF

BF Asks: What charity, school or organization would benefit from your Hope At Home wine tasting party?


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