DIY :: Easy BBQ S'more Kits

Easy BBQ S'more Kits
by Melissa

      

It’s bbq season and I can’t wait to start planning all our parties! Memorial Day is coming up and that will be our first “real” bbq of the season!

I always try to have a little something for people to take home with them as a treat after a party.  

This idea came from our camping days and how much fun we all have eating gooey s’mores! 

I had a ton of these “cookie tins” left over from my Christmas cookie exchange and I did not want them to go to waste.  

I turned over the lids using the silver side.  On my Silhouette machine I created these cute “S’more” Camp Badges.  Don’t have a Silhouette, no sweat!  You can purchase some camping theme stickers at your local craft store and use those to embellish the lid. 

Inside – marshmallows, chocolate and some graham crackers – just enough for each guest to have a yummy treat.   Other ideas instead of s’mores – granola, trail mix, pretzels or even cereal.

They are easy to stack and put out on the tables.  If you don’t’ wait to give them out at the end of your party, have your guests use them during the party!  Set up a safe campfire and each person gets their own S’more package.  

I hope you are planning some great gatherings this Spring and Summer!

Until next time – Party On Friends and have S’more Fun!

 

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Guest Contributor: Melissa Newell

Melissa Newell has been planning and executing parties for over 20 years - parties have always been a passion of hers.

 

 Melissa’s motto is Go Big or Go Home! She celebrates with her children every chance they get - making each day a celebration of Life!

Creativity on a budget and the attention to the smallest of details is what she is known for.

You can follow Melissa

 website

RECIPE :: Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches

Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches
by Kimberley

Ice cream sandwiches are one of my favorite desserts to serve in the summer when we have friends and family for a barbeque. I love to set up an ice cream sandwich station with different cookies, ice cream flavors, and toppings for rolling the sandwiches. Whether you use homemade cookies and ice cream, or good quality store-bought, ice cream sandwiches will delight your guests. For the little ones, I love to offer Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches that are perfectly shaped and sized for small hands and tummies. 

Also, don't forget to check out my Bake Like a Pro tip to make your baking and cooking projects easier and more professional.

Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches

To pre-assemble the sandwiches, prepare in advance of serving. Soften ice cream at room temperature for about five minutes. Using a small scoop, dollop a scoop of ice cream on one small cookie. Place second cookie on sandwich and press. Fill all your cookies and place on a baking sheet in the freezer until ready to serve.

Using soft chocolate chip cookies allows you to freeze the cookies until serving and once pulled out of the freezer for about 5 minutes, they will be perfectly chewy. Experiment with all of your favorite cookies and ice cream flavors!

Bake Like a Pro Tip

The simple wooden spoon is possibly one of my favorite cooking tools. I have a set for baking and a set for cooking. They are versatile and friendly to any surface of pan, pot, or bowl. To care for your wooden spoons, hand wash in warm, soapy water. As they age, the wood improves so you can enjoy the spoons for many years.

In addition to wooden spoons, I love silicon spatulas. A relatively new invention for cooking, silicon is amazing for high heat cooking and baking. The spatulas also perfectly scrape inside a bowl, leaving nothing behind. Again, I hand wash my spatulas that have wooden handles to help preserve them.

Simple cooking and baking tools genuinely make a difference in the outcome of your food. Caring for your tools also ensures that they last a long time and save you money.

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Guest Contributor: Kimberley Mulla

My Mom gave me my first cookbook when I was six years old. I have been baking & cooking ever since.

I specialize in artisan marshmallows & confections. I want to sell a product that I would feed my children. The ingredients are simple, often local, organic & fair trade as well.

I love making marshmallows. Every single one. It brings me so much joy to create something unique, tasty, and delightful.

You can follow Kimberley

facebook | twitter  | blog/website | pinterest

EATS :: Dessert IDEAS for Memorial Day

Yup it's here! The week that officially leads up to the beginning of summer. 

The days of endless gatherings with friends & family, pool parties & LOTS of cookouts & BBQ's! Are you ready for this weekend's parties?

It's (almost) MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

Well if you need any QUICK & SIMPLE ideas on what to take or make for a party this weekend . . maybe these ideas will help you out! Enjoy!

Here's a recipe for Americana Fruit Trifle:

Ingredients:
~ 1 {big} tub of cool whip
~ 1 angel food cake
~ strawberries & blueberries

I broke up the pieces of angel food cake, dropped them in the trifle bowl then repeated layers of angel food cake, whip cream, strawberries, cake, whip cream, blueberries . . . until I got to the top. Spread another layer of cool whip (to create my 'blank' canvas) made a "star" shape out of the strawberries & then filled in with the blueberries. Simple + delish!

 Here's a recipe for Americana Cupcake Cones:

 Need a super fast FUN food for the kids? They always LOVE this one!

 Ingredients:

~ box of {jumbo} size cake cones

~ {premade} cupcakes

Take the cupcake wrapper off the cupcake & pushed them down into the cones. No worries if you mess up the icing - either fix it the best you can or re-ice them. Either way - they are so CUTE, no one will care if they aren't perfect! Oh - btw - I also added some patriotic sprinkles to them to "hide" my fingerprints! heehee

Need a last minute hostess gift?

Print out this FREE Memorial Day Subway Art & stick it in a frame, reduce the size a little when you print & wrap it around a bottle of wine or . . .

a GENIUS idea that my friend Donna from Glamorous Sweet Events 

shared with me that she did:

"I just printed them & wrapped the large candy bars with it! Perfect & inexpensive hostess gift or party favor!"

photo courtesy of Glamorous Sweet Events

Please let me know if you have a creative way to use these this weekend! I would love to hear from you!

If you still need your own print, here it is:

This print is sized for an 8 x 10 frame but could easily be enlarged to fit an 11 x 14 or whatever size you needed. Print it out at home or take it to a printer for a larger size.

Just download your FREE Memorial Subway Art here & ENJOY! 

Thanks so much & enjoy the recipes, the SUBWAY ART & have a FABULOUS weekend!

Take time to remember & honor those who have served & are serving our country!

 

Are you loving the "eye candy" here? 
 

Then join me over on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter & Instagram so you never miss out on an exclusive deal or any behind the scenes photos!
 

Check out my designs, artwork & decor in my Etsy shop! 

Looking forward to seeing you again! :)