DARK CHOCOLATE SALTED CARAMEL OREO PIE

This is by far the richest, and sweetest dessert I've ever made.  I mean....it's almost too sweet, if there is such a thing.  My daughter said her teeth and gums hurt eating it!  I would recommend when slicing it, make the portions at least half of what you would normally cut.  I'm serious.

I wanted to make a birthday dessert for my Son-in-law....not a cake, but something more decadent.  In searching, I landed on this one by: Kevin & Amanda's Recipes

INGREDIENTS:

WARNING!!! : this slice is way too big

1 package (about 36) whole Oreos

1 cup (16 Tbsp.) butter, divided

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 ¼ cup heavy whipping cream, divided

1 (12 oz.) bag dark chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Finely crush the Oreos with a food processor or blender.  (I used the rolling pin in a freezer bag trick) Stir crumbs together with 8 Tbsp. melted butter until well combined.  Press into the bottom and sides of a pie pan.  Freeze crust for 10 minutes until set. 

2.  Combine the remaining 8 Tbsp. butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture begins to bubble.  Continue cooking, whisking constantly for 1 minute.  Remove from heat.  Slowly whisk in ¼ cup heavy whipping cream until smooth.  Cool caramel about 15 minutes.  Pour the caramel over the crust, then return to freezer for about 30-45 minutes; until just chilled and set.  (You don't want the caramel to fully freeze)

3.  Place the chocolate chips in a glass bowl.  In a saucepan, bring 1 cup heavy whipping cream to a simmer over medium-high heat.  Pour the cream over the chocolate chips and let sit for 5 minutes, then whisk until completely smooth.  Pour the chocolate over the caramel and freeze for a final 30 minutes, until just chilled and set.  OR, refrigerate, covered until ready to serve.   Before serving sprinkle the top with a flaky sea salt like kosher salt or Fleur De Sel. 

YES!!  This is a much more palatable portion

(I used a springform pan versus a pie plate...the recipe also suggested a torte pan would make for a pretty fluted crust)

HIGH ALTITUDE PUMPKIN BREAD

Since it's starting to feel a bit like Fall around here, I thought it was time to do some baking.  Now, I've never been a fan of pumpkin pie, but give me a pumpkin muffin or piece of pumpkin bread, and I'm happy!

It's always nice to land on a proven High Altitude recipe, keeping the guess work out of the equation! This one turned out beautifully, making two loaves....one for now, and one for the freezer.

INGREDIENTS:

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

½ tsp. vanilla

1 ¼ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. nutmeg

3/4 cup vegetable oil

2 cups canned pumpkin puree

3 cups flour

1 ½ tsp. baking soda

1 ½ tsp. cinnamon

½ cup chopped nuts (optional)

½ cup raisins (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Beat oil, sugar, and eggs in a large bowl until light and fluffy.  Add vanilla, and pumpkin, mix until well blended.

Sift flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Add to pumpkin mixture and beat on low speed until blended.

Stir in nuts and raisins if desired (I used walnuts and golden raisins).  Pour batter into two 9x5 inch loaf pans that have been sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake for 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Remove bread from pans and let cool on rack.  

I chose to make a cinnamon glaze, using powder sugar, milk and cinnamon.  

So good.....enjoy!

Thanks to:  High Altitude Country Kitchen Volume 1

TULLE FLOWER GIRL DRESS

This project was such a treat for me.   Not only was I able to help a bride with her garter set, flower girl basket, and ring bearer sign, but I was also asked to create the flower girl dress.  Especially sweet since this little flower girl was the eighteen month old daughter of the bride and groom!

The bride knew she wanted a dress that would match her lace overlay gown well; she had a full tulle skirt in mind; she wanted it to have a touch of the bridesmaid color (pewter) somewhere in the design; and finally, she also knew she wanted to incorporate some pieces of her gown into her daughter's dress in some way.

 As we chatted over coffee, I sketched up the design, making notes of the "must haves" along the way.   I suggested a lace overlay bodice with the tulle skirt.  I would add a rhinestone neckline to match Mom's rhinestone belt, and I could make a fabric flower on the front of Ms. Madison's dress and use the remnants when the bridal shop hemmed her gown.  As for the pewter touches, some beading and ribbon roses would add just the right amount of color without overpowering Madison.

Oh....and I couldn't let the dress out the door without a matching lace headband!

Madison did such an awesome job on the wedding day, and her little cowgirl boots were adorable!

Special thanks to www.kbdigitaldesigns.com for the precious pictures of Madison.

RINGBEARER SIGN

I created this sign with a one year old ring bearer in mind.  I knew it would be helpful if I could make his role in the wedding as easy as possible; after all he needed to concentrate on the new art of walking that he had recently learned!

Knowing that the bride was looking for a rustic sign to blend with the theme of the wedding, I found a scrap piece of wood in the garage and cut it down to a manageable size for a one year old (well actually, I let my husband help with that part).   I also made the sign "hands free" by creating a twine hanger that would allow him to wear it around his neck while he walked.

The bride knew that she wanted "Here Comes the Bride" on the sign, I suggested we add another look to the reverse side.   I could create an "established" sign for them with their surname. 

 I suggested the sign could be flipped around on the ring bearer (for the recessional), then after the ceremony. it could be used at the reception (on the gift table, the head table or the guest book table) and finally after the wedding, they could use it for decoration in their new home.  So instead of using it only once, they could enjoy it for years to come!

I painted a white base coat on both sides of the sign, then added a top coat of a blue grey over that. To give it a distressed look, I sanded to remove some of the paint.  The lettering was done on my silhouette machine using black and grey vinyl.

Once the lettering was in place, I gave it a good coat of Mod Podge to seal and protect the surface.  For the edges, I used a narrow jute twine; wrapping it around three times.

I had hoped to be able to share pictures of the little ring bearer with his sign, but it didn't work out quite as planned.  Instead he was carried some of the way by his Momma, and when he decided to walk, he was holding the sign by the string and being so low to the ground it was tough to read the sign.  Oh well.....it was placed on the gift table after the ceremony and looked great among the gifts.

FLOWER GIRL DRESSES

My daughter-in-law has four adorable nieces, three of which would be flower girls for the wedding, the fourth was an honorary flower girl since she was just nine months old.    All of the girls live in states other than Colorado, so to begin, I asked for some basic measurements from their Moms.  With a chest, waist and length measurement I could get started in the spring,  then after a double check on the length about a month before the wedding (to allow them time to sprout over the summer), I could hem them.

The dusty pink color was so sweet and complimented the bridesmaid dresses so nicely, and with the kissing balls I made of burlap and lace, they looked absolutely adorable.   I made the 9 month old a matching lace headband to compliment her dress.   

To create added fullness, each of the flower girl dresses has a full crinoline petticoat underneath the dress.  

I also made personalized hangers for each of the girls.

Love it!  It's going to be fun for these girls to look back on the pictures from their Auntie's wedding as they get older and see how sweet they looked, and what an awesome job they did on that special day!

STRAPLESS LACE WEDDING GOWN WITH SHRUG

Wedding gowns are my passion, I love the design process and the opportunity of creating a couture gown for a bride.  It's also fun looking back afterwards on the creative process and all the steps in between-from bolt to the finished gown.  I've been so anxious to share this, but of course wanted to wait until after the big day.  Now, after months of secrecy, I can now give you a behind-the-scenes look at a Shea Marie Designs original.

This particular gown was special since it was for my daughter-in-law-to-be.  I first began the process back in December of 2014, shortly after she became engaged to our son. I can't believe I've been able to keep a secret all this time!  Let me take you through the process.......

Obviously, when the bride lives in another state as in this case, it can add some challenges, but nothing that can't be overcome. I've created two other "long distance" gowns; one for a sister-in-law and another for my niece and both worked out well.  I will say I'm particularly proud of this one since I only had the opportunity for the initial muslin fitting; that's really unheard of....but, as you can see, it fit like a glove!

I had Sarah take a plethora of measurements for me, so that when she came to Denver in January, I could have a muslin prepared for fitting purposes.  She had been looking at strapless gowns, so I made a simple strapless muslin to ensure my pattern was correct. I found a couple modifications that needed to be made during the initial fitting, but nothing too significant; raise the bodice and take it in a smidge at the waist and hip for a really good fit and flare silhouette.


During that initial visit, we also went fabric shopping. Sarah picked out some beautiful lace and the most luscious and unique latte' colored satin for the underlayer.

I constructed the satin underlayer first, and then began "piecing" the lace to create the final silhouette and train; I also had to applique' pieces of the lace motif pattern onto the bodice to create the pattern I was looking for throughout the bodice and waistline since I really wanted to accentuate Sarah's narrow waistline and hips.

lace shrug....view from the back

Sarah also chose to have a shrug that she could wear during the ceremony and then remove for the reception. This added design element really set her gown apart from so many others and was ultra flattering for her.  Sarah stands a good 5'9" tall in her bare feet, so she looked so statuesque in this design; it highlighted her square shoulders and narrow torso.   She looked absolutely stunning!

The gown has covered buttons all the way down the back of the bodice to the very end of the train; a total of 73 to be exact.  Another nine buttons are on the back of the shrug.   The lace train extended beyond the edge of the underlayer by about a foot; It is also shaped somewhat like a three leaf clover.

This particular gown was very labor intensive as a result of piecing the lace overlayer.  As corny as it sounds, it truly was a "labor of love".   In case you're wondering,  I spent a total of 65 hours from start to finish.

I am so honored that Sarah asked me to create her gown.  It touched my heart to see her wearing it on her wedding day.  She was absolutely glowing!  Congrats Sarah and Clint...Best Wishes on a long and happy marriage.

Thank you KB Digital Designs for the beautiful photos.

BANANA CRUMB COFFEE CAKE

This coffee cake is so yummy, it's good any time of day!  A robust banana flavor with a streusel filling it's a great alternative to your standard banana bread.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups flour

3 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

3 ripe bananas

½ cup butter, room temp

2 cups granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup milk

For the streusel:

3/4 cup cold butter, cubed

1 ½ cups light brown sugar

1 ½ cups flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

For the glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1-2 Tbsp. milk

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray, set aside.

In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.

In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mash bananas until they become liquified.  Mix in butter until combined and then mix in sugar, eggs, milk, and vanilla.  With mixer running on low, carefully add flour and mix until just combined. 

Prepare streusel by combining all the ingredients in a medium bowl, cut the butter in with a pastry blender until a coarse crumb forms.

Pour ½ the batter into the prepared pan.  Top with 1/3 of the streusel.  Cover the filling with the remaining batter and top with remaining crumb mixture.  Bake for 50-55 minutes until the center is set and a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool at least one hour before drizzling the glaze over the top.  

Enjoy!

recipe c/o: tideandthyme.com