Marinated Mozzarella Recipe

 

cheese

SERVINGS: 8-10
TIME: Prep: 15 min. + marinating

 Ingredients:

* 1/3 cup olive oil
* 1 tablespoon chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
* 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
* 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
* 1 teaspoon dried basil
* 1 teaspoon minced chives
* 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1 pound cubed part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions:
In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first seven ingredients; add cheese cubes. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish; serve with toothpicks. Yield: 8-10 servings.
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Rasmopolitan

ras cosmo

If one of your wedding colors is red or you just love raspberries then this is one drink you have to have! This fruity cocktail combines raspberry with the traditional flavors of a cosmopolitan to create a wonderful array of flavors.

Ingredients

Makes 1 cocktail

* 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) citrus-flavored vodka
* 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) raspberry-flavored vodka
* 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) Chambord
* 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
* 1 tablespoon Simple Syrup
* 2 tablespoons cranberry juice
* Raspberries, for garnish

Directions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add vodkas, Chambord, lime juice, simple syrup, and cranberry juice. Shake or stir until well chilled. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with raspberries; serve.

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Autumn

Bold colors and fall leaves are the inspiration for this beautiful wedding inspiration board. Imagine… beautiful luminaries lining the edge of the dock, while the the glow reflects beautifully on your ceremony. You can toss beautiful autumn leaves in lieu of the traditional bird seed. Escort cards attached to barrels of hay add a rustic touch with a great seasonal feel.

 

halloween

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Spooky Spirits

spirits

Here are a few spirits that are sure to light up your goolish wedding festivities! These are only for grown up golbins and are sure to insure a spooky time!

Ghost in the Graveyard
Serves 1
2 ounces black vodka
2 ounces creme de cacao or coffee-flavored liqueur
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
Pinch of finely grated nutmeg, for garnish

 

In a glass, combine vodka and creme de cacao, and set aside. Place a scoop of ice cream in a highball glass, and slowly pour vodka mixture over ice cream. Garnish with nutmeg; serve immediately.

 

Screwed-Up Screwdriver
Serves 1
1/4 cup ice
1/2 cup freshly squeezed tangerine juice
1 1/2 ounces black vodka
1 black licorice twist, for serving

 

Place ice in a tall glass. Pour juice into glass. Pour vodka over the back of a cocktail spoon into glass so it sits on top of juice and creates a layer of black. Slice 1/4 inch off each end of licorice, and use as a straw. Serve immediately.

 

Berry Scary Martini
Serves 1
1 cup ice
1 ounce black vodka
2 ounces cherry juice
Fresh raspberries and blueberries, for garnish

 

Combine ice, vodka, and cherry juice in a cocktail shaker; shake vigorously. Pour into a martini glass. Thread raspberries and blueberries onto a cocktail skewer, and place in drink. Serve immediately.

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Boo-Tatoes and Pumpkins!

 

bootatoes

If you are having a Halloween themed wedding then these are the perfect side dishes for you! These are Boo-Tatoes and are simply mashed potatoes molded in the shape of ghosts. You can achieve this same look by piping the mashed potatoes through a pastry bag. You make the ghost’s eyes with black sesame seeds. The cute little pumpkins are sweet potatoes–also piped through a pastry bag– garnished with pecan halves to make the steams and bits of cilantro become leaves. These make for a BOO-tiful presentation!

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DIY Chocolate-Covered Cheesecake Squares

 

cheesecake

SERVINGS: 49
METHOD: Freezer
TIME: Prep: 1 hour Bake: 35 min. + freezing

Ingredients:

* 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
* 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
* 1/4 cup butter, melted
* FILLING:
* 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/4 cup sour cream
* 2 eggs, lightly beaten
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* COATING:
* 24 squares (1 ounce each) semisweet chocolate
* 3 tablespoons shortening

Directions:

 

Line a 9-in. square baking pan with foil and grease the foil. In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, pecans and butter. Press into prepared pan; set aside.

 

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and sour cream until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in vanilla. Pour over crust.

 

Bake at 325° for 35-40 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate until chilled. Freeze overnight.

 

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Cool slightly. Using foil, lift cheesecake out of pan. Gently peel off foil; cut into 49 squares. Remove a few pieces at a time for dipping; keep remaining squares refrigerated until ready to dip.

 

Using a toothpick, completely dip squares, one at a time, in melted chocolate. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets; spoon about 1 teaspoon chocolate over each. (Reheat chocolate if needed to finish dipping.) Let stand for 20 minutes or until set. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. Yield: 49 servings.

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Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

 

ball game

Take me out to the ball game. Take me out to the Crowd….Well, everyone knows the rest of this little ditty. Just leave it to Rebecca Thuss to make such an American tradition into an  classy and unique wedding idea! If you or your finace are baseball fanatics, then how could resist making this apart of your wedding? I love how the peanuts and Cracker Jacks are packaged with a quotation to the song. I also love the idea of a waiter going round and passing out these cute little baseball candies and cookies. It reminds you of someone going down the isles at the game selling sweets. I just LOVE it! It is a super cute idea!

DIY Strawberry Cream Tarts

 

tarts

SERVINGS: 12
TIME: Prep: 20 min. + chilling

 

Ingredients:

 

* 2 packages (6 count each) individual graham cracker tart shells
* 2 egg whites, beaten
* 1 cup sugar
* 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 3 cups milk
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, cubed
* 2 tablespoons lemon juice
* 12 medium strawberries, sliced
* 12 blueberries
* 6 tablespoons strawberry jelly, melted

 

Directions:

Brush insides of tart shells with egg whites. Place on two baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 5 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks.

In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar and flour; gradually stir in milk until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly; cook and stir for 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot milk mixture into eggs; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir for 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Stir in butter and lemon juice. Refrigerate until chilled.

Just before serving, spoon custard into shells; top with strawberries and blueberries. Spoon jelly over fruit. Yield: 12 servings.

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Yummy Secret Messages

 

boxes

A secret message hidden beneath coconut-and-cashew truffles is revealed as the chocolates are devoured. The packaging seems fancy, but this is just a standard box trimmed with scalloping scissors; the tabs are usually tucked in, but we left them out, punched holes, and threaded ribbon through for a unique form.

 

Tools and Materials
Small lidded folding box (ours was 2 3/4 inches square by 1 3/4 inches high)
Colored card stock
3/8-inch-wide ribbon, cut 23 inches long
Scalloping shears, small hole punch, bone folder, and utility knife

 

Scalloped Favor Box How-To

 

box 2

Choose a small, square lidded box, just big enough to hold four chocolates.
1. Fold the box into shape. Use scalloping shears to cut decorative edges on the side and front flaps of the box. Punch a hole in the center of each side flap.

 

2. Cut colored paper for the liner; it should be as wide as the box’s interior and long enough to cover the bottom, one side, and the lid. Use a bone folder to score the paper where it will bend; then fold, and crease with the bone folder. Write one word in each of the four corners of the bottom.

 

3. For the dividers, cut two more pieces of colored paper to be as wide as the box and twice as high.

 

4. Score the dividers lengthwise down the center, and fold. Use a utility knife to cut a slit in the center of each divider so they’ll interlock; one should go from the bottom up to the middle, and the other should go from the top down to the middle. Slide the dividers together at the slits.

 

5. Place paper liner and the interlocked dividers in the box. Wrap the ribbon around the box, and slip the ends through the holes in the flaps.

 

6. Fill the box with chocolates. Fold the paper liner down and then the lid down to close. Fold the side flaps in over the top. Tie the ribbon snugly over the box.
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