I am in love with these La Chamba handmade, Columbian clay baking dishes from Williams Sonoma. Not only are the burnished clay baking dishes versatile — use them for slow-cooking slow-cooking casseroles and stews in the oven or on the stovetop for soup and rice dishes — they would also make a wonderful visual addition to the table or buffet for a variety of occasions. The organically shaped, matte black finish clayware would lend itself just as well to a Halloween dinner party table as it would to an outdoor, baked bean filled barbecue.
Okay, I am completely fascinated by the Zoku Quick Pop Maker. Frosty popsicles are a great summertime snack or dessert, and this little contraption turns popsicle making into an event that the whole family can enjoy. So, how does it work?
First, you freeze the Quick Pop Maker, as you would the bowl of an ice cream maker. When it’s completely frozen, you can fill it with juice, soda, or whatever you’d like to use to make the popsicles, and they freeze right in the machine in as little as seven minutes.
This little gadget is great for making more artsy looking pops, too. Fill part way and freeze on the diagonal, adding additional liquid to finish the pop for a fun a creative treat, or make ice cream filled pops for an extra special occasion. The set comes with reusable plastic sticks that have a ridged design to allow the pops to adhere securely and drip guards that protect you and your clothes from melty popsicle messes. Note: the toolkit shown above, top left, can be purchased separately.
What better way to spend a leisurely summer’s afternoon than by having a picnic? Check out these super cool picnic craft ideas from Twig & Thistle over at Amy Atlas’ blog. Projects include personalized paper napkins and paper utensil/chopstick wraps, and templates are included!
Happy National Cheesecake Day! Although it hasn’t yet been declared a national holiday by the government, July 30 is a celebration of one of the tastiest, most decadent desserts around. If you’re lucky enough to live in the vicinity of a Cheesecake Factory then, today only, you can get a slice (one slice per customer) of any of their luscious cheesecake for half-price.
25 cents from each slice of cheesecake sold for one year at the Cheesecake Factory will be donated to Feeding America, a charity that “provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive”.
If you don’t happen to have a Cheesecake Factory in your neighborhood, then you can still celebrate this delicious day with a homemade cheesecake, like one of these:
Maybe it’s because most of the US is having such a hot summer, or just because it’s plain yummy, but ice cream is THE thing right now. Tasty ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cones, and goodies like ice cream cone cookies make it easy to understand why everyone is drawn to all things ice cream. What better way to finish up with what has turned into ice cream week here at Holidaysville than to give you a little ice cream party inspiration.
This DIY Ice Cream Parlor / Make Your Own Sundae Buffet by Amy Moss of Eat Drink Chic is pretty in pink and styled to perfection, and you can download everything from free printable labels to signs and paper cup covers to create your own buffet. Amy also gives pointers, tips, and resources for creating your own ice cream parlor party.
Another Amy, dessert table queen Amy Atlas, recently put together and Ice Cream and Toppings Bar for a banana split event (don’t you just love those banana split cookies?!) with Kelly Ripa and Electrolux for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, and not only was it for a good cause, it was also filled with pretty and tasty ice cream themed sweets like ice cream cupcake cones, ice cream brownies, and the aforementioned banana split cookies. Amy shares plenty of tips for toppings and for putting together your own tasty table on her site.
image source: Amy Moss (top) and Amy Atlas (bottom)
These ice cream cone sugar cookies at Haniela’s look as good, or better, than the real thing, don’t you think? I know I’d have a hard time of it if I had to choose between an ice cream cone and one of these intricately frosted, delicious looking goodies. Get tips on how to make your own over at Haniela’s.
Vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, the classic Neapolitan trio, are all great ice cream flavors, but in honor of National Ice Cream Month (July) I want to take a little ice cream adventure outside the box and share some more unusual flavors that you can whip up in your handy dandy ice cream maker. Making ice cream yourself is both fun and addictive, and once you realize what you can do with this machine, there’s no going back! An endless array of ice cream flavors beckon to be made.
Ribbon and fabric medallions are a wonderful way to decorate for the 4th of July. They’ll lend a touch of vintage Americana to any Independence Day shindig or BBQ. Learn how to make the medallions, and download 4th of July themed rounds for the center of the medallions, at Paper and Cake. You can also use the printables as cupcake toppers or as an element of handmade napkin rings. String them together to make an Independence Day garland, too!
Pottery Barn has a beautiful selection of decorative accessories for Thanksgiving, and many can also be used in general autumn decorating. The vase fillers, in particular, are a nice idea for sprucing up everyday glassware, vases, and candleholders, and the price is very reasonable, too. Here are a few favorites:
These heavy duty nylon Fall Forest Pie Cutters from Williams Sonoma will help you make pretty, professional looking leaves and acorns to decorate Thanksgiving apple and pumpkin pies. They have detailing down to the veins in the leaves! $18.00 for a set of four.
