My son Cameron has been participating in Early-Bird Basketball at our local YMCA. It has been fun to see him learn to shoot a basketball and he LOVES practice time with daddy. This week was our turn to provide the post-game snack. SO, we bagged up some 100% Juice Capri Sun and a granola bar for each player. Cameron even helped me fill the bags and put the labels on each one. It's always fun to dress things up a little.
Here' they are all bagged up and ready to go:
I used a red chevron pattern for the background because Cameron is on the "red" team. You can download this red version below (just print as a borderless 4" x 6" photo, fold, and staple on to top of bag). If you are looking for a different color or sport for your kids team, just send me a massage and I can alter either (or both) for a custom game day bag topper for just $2!
So I actually have MANY things to blog about, thus the silence over the last month or so. I have been incredibly busy with some projects, however Thanksgiving get the first report.
Last year we had a huge group of friends come for a Thanksgiving potluck, but many of them had plans this year, so we ended up with just an intimate group. Our friends Gavyn and Eliana came with their friend Jason.
It was so fun to create a ton of fabulous dishes and then sit down and enjoy them with friends. Though it took me just about two whole days of cooking, it was worth the time. I have taken many recipes I have collected over the years and twisted some of them a little to make them more interesting. A true gem I came across this year was William-Sonoma Apple-Orange Cranberry Sauce! Seriously, you will NEVER do canned again if you try this. To tell you the truth, I never went back to canned even after just doing the cranberry recipe in the bag of cranberries . . . just throw a bag of cranberries, 2 cups of sugar, and two cups of water in a pot and boil . . defiantly worth the pot to have fresh sauce over canned. If you haven't liked cranberry sauce before, trust me, try it fresh . . SO much tastier than the can (especially the jelly kind, eek).
I made place cards from a Thanksgiving Clip-Art Place Cards template at marthastewart.com. To make food labels, I then altered a cropped image in Photoshop to make the space large enough to accommodate the longer food names. And finally I lengthened that image to make a menu. If only they would do all this work for me, lol. Oh well, glad I can manipulate things in Photoshop. (I will make these changes downloadable at the bottom of this post)
Anyway, I just wanted to share the deliciousness I CRAFTED this Thanksgiving . . here's a look (in the order of the menu):
I would have to say my favorite dish was the Bacon & Herb Ciabatta Dressing . . . . I have actually been altering a recipe from Jeremiah's Grandma I received a few years ago. (Also, the pilgrim figures on the table were CRAFTED by her as well). I never had the chance to meet her, she passed away before I joined the family, however her cooking legend lives on and inspires me in many ways. I have substituted the bakery bread crumbs for Ciabatta bread I dice and dehydrate myself. Then, I use fresh herbs rather then the dried ones her version calls for. This year, I added crumbled bacon, mostly because there was extra from the BLT Deviled Eggs. Also, I have substituted part of the amount of milk her recipe calls for with cream . . can't go wrong with that I think. Anyway, it has become a delicious dish I know we will keep making for years to come.
So here's the download for the altered Martha Steward Place Cards . . . . a blank menu and a tag with an enlarged text field.
THANK YOU for reading!
What a BOO-tiful October is has been so far . . . fall is finally here. I have to say that fall is my FAVORITE season! I just love jacket weather and the crispness that is starting to snip in the air.
With the season changing, Halloween is quickly approaching. So, I am excited to share a Halloween Party Printable Kit now available in my Etsy shop. With over 74 different printable options, I have designed each piece to maximize customization with both a black version and a green version. You can even customize your own text by downloading Troutkings BTN.
This kit includes:
- Poster : "Happy Halloween," "This Way," and Blank
- Cupcake Stand
- Cupcake Wrapper: "Happy Halloween" and Blank
- Party Hat
- Straw Flags
- Invitation
- Invitation envelope
- Tent Cards (to label food and top favor bags)
- Pinwheel
- Milk Carton Box
- Water Bottle Labels
- Pennant Banner
- Top Fold Card: "Thank You" and Blank
- 3" and 2" Circles: Spider Graphic, "Happy Halloween", "Thank You", "BOO", and Blank
- Popcorn Box
- Pillow Box
To get you started with your Halloween celebration here's a FREEBIE cupcake wrapper printable:
Happy Halloween!
For the block party, I made these darling little Hamburger Sandwich Cookies to package and send home a a party favor. They went along PERFECTLY with the BBQ theme. These little sliders are super easy and come together quickly.
You'll Need:
1 Package Keebler Grasshopper Cookies
1 Package Keebler Vanilla Wafers
1 Tub Duncan Heinz Cream Cheese Frosting ( half dyed red and half dyed yellow)
1 Package Flaked Coconut, dyed green*
*place the amount of coconut you think you will use in a plastic bag along with a few drops of green food color. Hold closed and shake.
The Process:
VIOLA!!
To package just use the Wilton Clear Treat Bags, the printable tags below, and a stapler. Simply slide the cookie in the bag, place the label, folded in half, over the top of the bag, and staple. And Here's a download for the nifty tags I created! For the original blank version (without the red text) head over to Hostess with the Mostess.
Happy Burger Making!
Okay, so I am getting SUPER excited for the block party I am hosting this Saturday. I have my fabulous straws all ready to go and just had to share them in all their glory! I will for sure be doing a post about the whole shebang, so consider this a teaser. I just LOVE these Kikkerland Biodegradable Paper Straws . . . they make any party look GREAT!
Oh and YES you can make these lovely party straws for yourself. Just grab the Kikkerland Biodegradable Paper Straws on amazon.com for only $4.99!!! Then grab and print these flags (below) I re-designed from party printables I found over at Hostess with The Mostess. She made BBQ Party themed printables, but did not have straw flags, so I made these to coordinate.
ENJOY!
So, for many years now, I have used a customized shopping list, sorted into categories that correspond to the isles at the store where I do my grocery shopping. I decided to share it with all of you because it really saves me a lot of time and prevents me having to back track because I missed something. I try to only go to the store once a week, so I leave one of these on my refrigerator and write things down in the proper category as I realize I need them. Then, before heading out, I do a menu for the week and write down the additional ingredients I need. Hmm . . . maybe I will have to share a menu printable too. ;)
This is 8.5 x 11, just print on borderless 8.5 x 11 and cut in half.
The one with filled in headings corresponds to the Walmart I shop at, so I have also posted a blank one you can fill in for yourself!
Happy Shopping!!
