Saturday, February 26, 2011

in time for St. Patricks Day

I've been going thru my ribbons and organizing it, when i found this beautiful, vibrant color green ribbon. Even though St. Patricks Days is couple of weeks away, I went ahead and made some clips, pin and headband.

Check out these beautiful items currently available in my Etsy Shop.


St. Patricks Day Special- Peony Flowers Headband- $21.99




2 ea. Peony Flower Bobby Pin- in time for St. Patricks Day- $3.50

Raspberry Chocolate French Macaroons


For macaroons
6 oz sliced blanched almonds (not slivered; 2 cups)
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
3 large egg whites
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Food coloring

For chocolate raspberry ganache
3 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (60 to 64% cacao), finely chopped
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
1/16 teaspoon raspberry extract (preferably McCormick brand)

Special equipment: parchment paper; a gallon-size sealable plastic bag (not pleated)


Make macaroons:
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Pulse almonds with 1/2 cup confectioners sugar in a food processor until very finely ground, 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to a bowl. Sift in remaining cup confectioners sugar, stirring to combine.

Beat egg whites with salt in another bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they just hold soft peaks. Add granulated sugar, a little at a time, beating, then increase speed to high and continue to beat until whites just hold stiff, glossy peaks. Add drops of food coloring to reach desired shade and mix at low speed until evenly combined. Stir almond mixture into meringue with a rubber spatula until completely incorporated. (Meringue will deflate.)

Spoon batter into bag, pressing out excess air, and snip off 1 corner of plastic bag to create a 1/4-inch opening. Twist bag firmly just above batter, then pipe peaked mounds of batter (the size of a chocolate kiss) onto lined sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart. Let cookies stand, uncovered, at room temperature until tops are no longer sticky and a light crust forms, 20 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 300°F.

Bake cookies, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until crisp and edges are just slightly darker, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely on sheets on racks, about 30 minutes.

Make ganache while macaroons bake:

Melt chocolate with cream in a metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water or in top of a double boiler, stirring until smooth. (Bowl should not touch water.) Remove bowl from heat, then add butter and raspberry extract, stirring until butter is melted. Let stand at room temperature until cooled completely and slightly thickened.

Assemble cookies:

Carefully peel cookies from parchment (they will be fragile). Sandwich a thin layer of ganache (about 1/2 teaspoon) between flat sides of cookies.


Enjoy, meanwhile hop on to my Etsy Shop and check out the new -French Rossettes Pins- $3/ea.


Gossip Girl


"No matter how long you try to be good , you can't keep the bad girl down"

Gossip Girl- Blue/Black Swirly Headband Womens Hair Accessory- $20.99

Made of 2 different color ribbons rolled into circular swirls. Attached to a black plastic headband>
One of a kind.
One size fits most, pre-teen to adult size


Have a lovely weekend.

Monday, February 7, 2011

$100 APART Style Giveaway

Check out this great $100 APART Style Giveaway featured by A Taste of T.


APART is giving TWO lucky winners a $100 gift certificate to shop til their hearts content.
The winners will be chosen via random drawing on Friday, February 18th. Good luck!


Thursday, February 3, 2011

and the winner is....

I am happy to announce a winner of a Surprize Price Giveaway- Beautiful Peony Hot Pink Flower with Feathers Headband is: Danalee McConkey. Please contact me by email with in a week to claim your headband.



Thank you to all who participated, check back for a more exciting projects that I am working on and free giveaways coming soon. If you aren't the winner, and would like to purchase this kind of headband, you are more then welcome to check out the listing in my Etsy Store.