Thanksgiving Review …

Posted on November 22, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

This gallery contains 7 photos.

What are you making for Thanksgiving? Here is a quick “round-up” of my Thanksgiving ideas for this year … Sweet Acorns … I’m bringing a bowl to the in-laws … does it count as a side dish? … or … Continue reading →

Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats

Posted on November 16, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

The weeks are flying by … can you believe it’s mid November? These little goodies are quick, easy and can be made now and kept until Thanksgiving. The kids could help … they’ll love making the Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats … eating the pops too!

This is what you will need …

Large marshmallows (I used the caramel/vanilla swirl, just because)
Famous Chocolate Wafers (or something similar)
Lollipop sticks
Melted dark chocolate (about 1 pound for 24 marshmallows)
Melted chocolate of a contrasting color (I just used up some leftovers)
Marker with edible ink (oops, forgot it in the photo)

Dip the tip of the lollipop stick in melted dark chocolate … then poke it in the marshmallow … set it aside to firm up. This will help prevent the marshmallow from slipping around on the stick and create a clean line of chocolate on the stick …

Dip the marshmallow in the chocolate … tap off excess chocolate and place in styrofoam or similar holder. Then pop them in the fridge or freeze for a few minutes to firm up …

Lay out some chocolate cookie wafers on a cookie sheet (break off any uneven pieces) … dip 1/4 to 1/3 of the chocolate marshmallow in a contrasting color … then place it on top of a cookie …

Use the marker (edible of course) to draw a buckle …

I told you that this project was fast and easy!

Are you wondering who the winner of the giveaway is?

The winner is #12, Janice! I will be sending an email.

Thank you to everyone for participating … I hope it was helpful to you … it was to me.

I had forgotten about Cost Plus World Market … thanks Carolyn.
I never would have thought of Avon … thanks Sandy.
Have you ever checked Cracker Barrel’s candy section? They carry all sorts of stuff.

I ♥ comments …

Marshmallows

Posted on November 14, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

This gallery contains 3 photos.

Remember the Pumpkin Spice Mallows that I bought at Wal-mart some time ago? Here are few thoughts on how to use them … Quick and edible cupcake toppers! How about putting them on a stick and using them to … Continue reading →

Pumpkin Marshmallows

Posted on October 29, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

A few weeks ago I showed you my newest marshmallow finds. Last night I played with the orange pumpkin ones. They can be used for so many different themes … fall, harvest, Halloween or Thanksgiving. I tied a simple name card on the stick as a place card for the Thanksgiving table … useful and edible! Here are a few ideas done my favorite way … fast and simple …

This is what I used …

The black lines are made with an Americolor Gourmet Writer
The green leaves are made with melted green chocolate (candy melts) & a toothpick
The orange lines are made with melted orange chocolate (candy melts) in a squeeze bottle
The green stem is a Sour Punch Candy
The brown stem is made with melted peanut butter chips & a toothpick
Pumpkin # 3 and #5 have regular white sugar sprinkled on the melted chocolate

Last week while camping, we used these for s’mores … let me just say, they make one mega s’more! These are the marshmallows that I used …

Just a reminder … some candy can be difficult to find after Halloween. Yesterday I bought the last bag of “Autumn mix” at my grocery store. It contained candy corn, indian corn and only 2 pumpkins!!! I am going to use the candy and indian corn for turkey tail feathers. I need more than 2 pumpkins for another project! As soon as I finish typing this, I am off to go candy hunting.

The moral of this story is … stock up on the candy or sprinkles that you can’t find regularly.

I ♥ comments, suggestions, or whatever is on your mind …

Only 3 days left until Halloween!

Posted on October 27, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

I can’t believe that October has come … and is almost gone! All the other holidays will be here before we know it. Time sure does fly when you are having fun! I certainly have had fun sharing my ideas with you … and there are more to come 🙂

Here is a quick summary of Halloween …

Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops

Eyeball Marshmallow Pops

Textured Halloween Bark

Witch Hat Cupcakes

The Witch is Dead … Cupcakes

The Bride of Frankenstein Pops

Tangerine Jack-o-lanterns

Black bottom cupcakes with spider webs

And for fall … this is what I have made so far …

Peanut butter & chocolate acorns

Candy corn popcorn

Now I am off to the kitchen …

Eyeball Marshmallow Pops

Posted on September 30, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

Halloween just wouldn’t be complete without bloodshot eyeballs!

Today’s project is about improvising or substituting. Sometimes we can’t find what we need … or we run out of supplies. Why not just make do? As the old saying goes … necessity is the mother of invention. When I started making these eyeballs, I was going to use the large round flat sprinkles … but they are not always easy to find. So … why not M&Ms or Skittles. I like to dip my marshmallows in chocolate or candy melts because it seals them and keeps them fresh. But there is no reason that you couldn’t make the eyeballs without dipping them.

This is what I used …

large marshmallows
white candy melts
lollipop sticks
black and red edible markers
M&Ms
large round flat sprinkles (candy confetti)

Dip the marshmallows in the melted chocolate and tap off the excess chocolate …

Place the marshmallows in styrofoam or a handy-dandy pop holder (that I made from a dollar store find) … and pop them in the fridge to harden up. Did you notice that made a few with two eyeballs?

Using the red marker, make bloodshot lines (is that what they are called?) Sometimes the markers get a coating from the chocolate … I just wipe it on a paper towel to clean it …

Use some melted chocolate to “glue” the sprinkle or M&M on the eyeball …

Use the black marker to make the pupil … (the green ones are M&M’s)

I hope you have fun making these eyeballs! I’ll be keeping my marshmallow eye on you … no, not really.

I ♥ comments … please leave one … or two …

Copy code below

Halloween Info …

Posted on September 29, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

I have seen so many wonderful ideas for fall and Halloween. Here are a few of the magazines that I have been looking at …

I just came home from Wal-Mart … look what I found …

They were calling my name … so I had to bring them home with me. The wheels in my head were turning … I had ideas!!! I was feeling quite good … and somewhat organized … because I was sure that those pumpkin shaped marshmallows won’t last on Wal-Mart’s shelf very long. I kept walking down the aisles … sooo many cute Halloween things … but I did resist buying too much.

Then I turned the corner and saw this …

My bubble was burst … I am behind schedule … as usual. I know this happens every year … but is it earlier than usual … or maybe I am just having another senior moment! Of course that would be a very premature senior moment … LOL.

Tomorrow … another Halloween idea … here is a hint …

Frankenstein or Hulk? … Marshmallow Pops

Posted on September 20, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

The lazy days of summer are over … today I decided that I had better get on the ball and start thinking about Halloween. So … I made these Frankenstein and sons marshmallow pops. I showed them to my hubby. He said … oh you made The Hulk! I’ll let you decide.

This is what you will need …

Jumbo marshmallows
Large marshmallows
Lollipop sticks
Candy melts
Candy eyeballs
Edible markers (black & red)
Chocolate jimmies

I did mix white chocolate with green chocolate (candy melts) to get a lighter color green. Dip the marshmallow in the melted candy … tap off all the excess candy …

Then dip the top of the marshmallow into the chocolate jimmies to create hair …

Place the pop in styrofoam (or a fancy homemade pop holder) … put them in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes to harden the candy …

Next give him some eyeballs, using melted candy as glue …

Use some melted candy to make eyelids …

I used some melted dark chocolate to make the mouth on the large pops … but used the black marker on the small pops …

Use the red marker to make some scars …

So … what do think … Frankenstein or The Hulk?

I ♥ comments!

a href=”http://hankerie.blogspot.com/2011/10/event-october-halloween-party.html” imageanchor=”1″ style=”margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;”>

Chocolate Dipped Nutter Butter Marshmallow Pops

Posted on July 14, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

Nutter Butter cookies, marshmallows, chocolate, sprinkles and chopped peanuts … some of my hubby’s (The Peanut Butter Addict) favorite foods. I think his eyes were twinkling when he saw these treats.

What should they be called? I couldn’t come up with a name … just a description. Oh, I did decide they are pops because the Nutter Butter cookie is the stick … an edible stick … or should it be called a handle?

The whole creation came about because I have come across so many recipes for cookies and brownies stuffed with Nutter Butters or Oreos. I decided to stuff Nutter Butters in marshmallows … easier said than done. I broke several Nutter Butters trying to stuff marshmallows … and finally decided a different approach was necessary. I know that this is not a great culinary creation … just a fun little no-bake treat!

This is what you will need … about 1 pound of chocolate or candy melts, one 10 oz. bag of large marshmallows, 1 package of Nutter Butter cookies, chopped peanuts and sprinkles …

Set up an assembly line … cover a baking sheet with waxed paper or parchment, cut the marshmallows in half (scissors work well), melt the chocolate … put some melted chocolate on the cut side of the marshmallow … the chocolate will act like glue …

Attach one half of the marshmallow to the Nutter Butter and then attach the other half to the other side of the cookie …

Let the chocolate harden up …

Dip the marshmallow in melted chocolate … covering the entire marshmallow … tap off the excess chocolate …

Dip in sprinkles, chopped nuts or ? … and set on waxed paper … pop them in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes to harden the chocolate …

Marshmallows for the 4th of July

Posted on June 30, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

Today’s 4th of July marshmallows are so simple …

I did use a different brand of marshmallows this time. The brand name is “de la Rosa” and they are flavored vanilla and strawberry! They are available in two sizes, large and extra giant. Here is a photo …

You will need marshmallows, candy melts or chocolate, sprinkles and lollipop sticks. To make the glittery star you will need Starburst (or any other candy that will work for you), “Disco Dust” (non-toxic glitter available at cake supply stores) and a star cookie cutter …

First melt your chocolate … put a stick almost all the way in a marshmallow (or 2 or 3 marshmallows) … dip it in the chocolate to coat …

Tap off the excess chocolate …

Add sprinkles …

Put it in a stand or styrofoam … pop it in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes to set the chocolate …

To make the glittery stars … flatten the Starburst candy … I used my fingers … cut out the star using the cookie cutter …

Now sprinkle the Disco Dust on the star … do this on a piece of parchment or wax paper so that you can reuse any excess dust … try to keep you fingers out of the dust … it flies everywhere! The Disco Dust will stick to the candy automatically …

I dipped some marshmallows and did not add sprinkles before putting them in the fridge … use some melted chocolate to attach the star to the marshmallow …