Mod Thanksgiving

I love this Thanksgiving Party Set up.  You can get the printouts here.  There is also a tutorial for the tree here.

Monsters

I think that these monsters are super cute.  Wouldn't they be great for favors at a monster party?  You can find a tutorial here.

Lens Pet

I love these Lens Pets.  It is one of those "why didn't I ever think of that" type of idea. There are so many cute ones out there.  Like the fish, elephant, hippo, robot, raccoon, airplane, and many more!

Gathered Clutch Tutorial

After having my wallet stolen, I find my self in need of getting another wallet of some sort.  I love this gathered clutch.  I think it would be perfect to keep some of my things in rather than having everything in one place.

Double Chocolate Mousse Torte

Double Chocolate Mousse Torte

 

Cake:
8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped (like Melanie, I used some of both.)
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 10″ springform pan; dust with sugar. Melt chocolate and butter in heavy large saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm. Whisk in sugar. Whisk in eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. Mix in vanilla and salt, then flour. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 325° until cake just rises in center, 30-35 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack. (My cake fell in the middle, that’s alright.) Cover and chill while making the mousse.

Chocolate Mousse:

1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
4 large eggs, room temperature, separated
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped very finely or grated
( make sure it is chopped finely or it won’t melt completely)
1/2 cup sugar
pinch of cornstarch

Melt butter in medium metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water. Don’t let the bowl touch the water. (Use a double boiler if you have one.) In a small bowl, whisk yolks, 1/4 cup cream and vanilla. Gradually whisk yolk mixture into bowl with the melted butter. Whisk constantly over simmering water until thermometer reaches 150°, about 6 minutes. Remove from stove; add chocolate and stir till melted. Set aside. Beat egg whites with sugar and cornstarch in large bowl to medium-stiff peaks. Whisk 1/4 of beaten egg white mixture into warm chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining egg white mixture. Spread over cake. Chill torte until mousse is set, at least 6 hours and up to 1 day.

Topping:

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Chocolate curls or fresh raspberries for garnish

Run sharp knife around edge of pan to loosen torte. Release pan sides. Transfer torte to platter. Beat cream and powdered sugar in medium bowl until peaks form. Spread over torte. Garnish as desired.

Hot Fudge Pudding Dessert

Hot Fudge Pudding Dessert


Dough:

1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp oil (I used canola)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Topping:

1 cup brown sugar
2-4 Tbsp cocoa
1 3/4 cups hot water

Stir together dry ingredients. Add milk, vanilla, oil, and nuts. Stir till well blended and spread in a greased 9″ square pan. Mix brown sugar and cocoa and sprinkle over the top. Pour hot water on top- do not mix in! Bake for about 45 minutes at 350. Serve warm with ice cream.

Crock pot instructions: Spread batter in a well greased crock pot. Bring to a boil the hot water, brown sugar, and cocoa. Pour over batter in crock pot. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours. That’s it!

Notes:
-This recipe really doesn’t contain eggs, it’s not a typo.
-If you are a true chocoholic, you can add chocolate chips to the batter.

Recipe found here.

Hostess Apron

I think that this apron is super cute.  You can find a tutorial here.

Fabrics are:
Amy Butler's Full Moon in Sage
Michael Miller's Pretty Petal in Spring
Sandi Henderson's Farmer's Market Apple Dot in Green

Magnetic Letters

You can find a tutorial for these magnetic letters here.

Homemade Playhouses

I have been wanting to make a playhouse for a while, but I didn't know if Emerson would like it enough for the effort I would want to put into it.  This past week, we were visiting my MIL and she had a really simple one.  Emerson LOVED it.  Now I know that it is totally worth it.  So I have been hunting around for ideas on what to do in mine.  Here are a couple that I think are super cute.

More instuctions for the tent is found here.

This one is found here.  I love the fireplace inside.

Hanging my first post.

I want a place that I can "hang" all of the great ideas I find that I would love to make, buy, do, or just have as inspiration.