Gingerbread Cookie Tress...

Makes 120 cookies and 10 trees

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1/2 cup dark unsulfured molasses
• 2 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
• Cream Cheese Frosting
• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions

1. Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Mix in egg, then molasses, spices, baking soda, and salt. Reduce speed to low. Gradually mix in flour. Divide dough into quarters; shape into disks. Wrap in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours (up to 2 days).
2. Preheat oven to 375. Transfer one disk of dough at a time to a lightly floured work surface. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes using a set of 11 fluted round cookie cutters in graduated sizes ( 3/4 inch to 3 1/2 inches). You will use each cutter once for every tree. Using a 1 1/4-inch star cutter, cut out 10 stars. Arrange cookies by size on parchment-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate 20 minutes.
3. Bake until firm, about 6 minutes for small cookies and 10 minutes for large. Let cool 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks, and let cool completely.
4. Assemble trees: Put frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a small plain tip (such as Ateco #12). Pipe a dime-size dot of frosting in center of second-largest cookie; sandwich with largest cookie. Repeat in descending pairs with larger cookies on top to make 5 sandwiches. Pipe a scalloped 1/4-inch-thick border of frosting on top of larger cookie of largest sandwich. Top with the second-largest sandwich, larger cookie up, and repeat to make a tree of 5 sandwiches. Top with frosting, then smallest cookie, then more frosting and a star (standing upright). Cookie trees can be refrigerated up to 6 hours (they will soften). Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Gingerbread-Cookie Trees - Martha Stewart Recipes

Icy Holiday Punch

Ingredients

• 1 package (6 ounces) cherry gelatin

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 2 cups boiling water

• 1 can (46 ounces) pineapple juice

• 6 cups cold water

• 2 liters ginger ale, chilled

• Slice pineapple and cherries. ( I use cocktail fruits and raspberries)
  

Directions

• In a 4-qt. freezer-proof container, dissolve gelatin and sugar in boiling water. Stir in pineapple juice and cold water. Cover and freeze overnight.

• Remove from the freezer 2 hours before serving. Place in a punch bowl; stir in ginger ale just before serving. Yield: 32-36 servings (5-3/4 quarts).

It was a hit...............So easy to do and you can do any flavor you want. Like orange for Halloween or green for a baby shower.endless possibilities..

Enjoy!

Berry Punch

Makes

4 liters

Ingredients

• 125g blueberries
• 125g raspberries
• 250g strawberries, hulled, sliced
• 1.5 liters raspberry and cranberry juice, chilled
• 1 cup vodka ( I use grapefruit juice for non-alcoholic)
  
• 1 lime
• 1.25 liters lemonade, chilled
• ice cubes, to serve

Method

1. Place blueberries, raspberries and strawberries in a large bowl. Add juice and vodka. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to allow flavors to develop.

2. Thinly slice lime. Cut slices into small wedges. Stir through punch. Add lemonade and ice. Serve.

Candy-Cane Marshmallow

Ingredients

Makes sixteen 2-inch squares

• Vegetable-oil cooking spray
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 4 packages (1/4 ounce each) unflavored gelatin
• 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 2 large egg whites
• 2 teaspoons red food coloring

Directions

1. Coat an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray; line bottom with parchment paper. Coat the parchment with cooking spray, and set pan aside. Put sugar, corn syrup, and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Stop stirring; let mixture come to a boil. Raise heat to medium-high; cook until mixture registers 260 degrees on a candy thermometer.
2. Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatin over 3/4 cup water in a heatproof bowl; let stand 5 minutes to soften. Set the bowl with the gelatin mixture over a pan of simmering water; whisk constantly until gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat, and stir in extract; set aside.
3. Beat egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Whisk gelatin mixture into sugar mixture; with mixer running, gradually add to egg whites. Mix on high speed until very thick, 12 to 15 minutes.
4. Pour mixture into lined pan. Working quickly, drop dots of red food coloring across surface of marshmallow. Using a toothpick, swirl food coloring into marshmallow to create a marbleized effect. Let marshmallow stand, uncovered, at room temperature until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight. Cut into squares

* Perfect for hostess gift, to give out to those extra guests or simply give them out to everyone. They'll love these sweet treats. this homemade treat will give a special touch to your holiday. Your guests will love it.

Happy Candy making.......


Read more at Marthastewart.com: Candy-Cane Marshmallows - Martha Stewart Holidays

Modern Thanksgving Table

Love this table. I was looking for a modern twist to this year's thanksgiving party and I found this.. gorgeous right? It's just what I wanted simple but beautiful. Love the vivid colors selection and the simplicity of it all. A nice way to celebrate thanksgiving and give thanks.

If you are wondering were did I found such a beautiful table setting. well, non other than one of my favorite site hostess with the mostess.

Hopefully this inspire you as it inspired me. I'm sure your guest will love it.

Happy thanksgiving!

Party Food for Under $50

We all love to save money and parties are not the exception. Here are some party ideas to help you save on your next get together and most of all, everyone will love,..............

1. The classics: Swedish meatballs, deviled egg, crab cakes and shrimp cocktail, wings: these are some the foods that come to mind when we think of finger foods or trying to save money Can't never gone wrong with these.

2. Finger foods: Deli wraps; easy and fun to handle. they come in different colors to taste and eye-catching. You can get those at your local grocery store, warehouse club and/or nearby deli.

3. Platters: Whether you are getting cheese, meats, sandwiches, fruits, veggies, cookies, cupcakes, and/or brownies these platters are great for parties as well as they are easy to prepare and of course everyone are familiar with it. Your guest will be surprised how delicious these platters taste. you can put your on spin on it or your own dip. most of these platters you can buy them at your local grocery store, warehouse club like Costco or Sam's club and some restaurants have catering service were you can get plenty of these platters.

4. Bagged crunch: Every party needs something crunchy like Potato Chips, pretzels, tortillas chips, and pita chips. there are easy to prepare and great to mix with savory toppings.

5. Sliders: Sliders have become very popular at parties. there are easy to prepare and fun to do and everyone love them. such as Meatloaf sliders, mini burgers, and mini paninis.

6. Empanadas: These are so easy to prepare and taste great. I love to make them and filled them with meat, chicken or even tuna. these little turnovers; you can make them sweet, salty, tangy, vegetarian whatever you can stuff the dough with it. It can be bake or fried; made of corn or flour. absolutely perfect for parties.