Saturday, January 29, 2011

Not Quite Honeysuckle, But Truly Pink with Raspberry Cupcakes

Pink Cupcakes
So girly



On one of last week's snowy days we made some yummy cupcakes. Below is the recipe we used from More magazine, February 2011 issue.

Yummy Snow Day Snack
Someone could not wait to have a bite!

More Magazine's Pink Cupcake Recipe
Prep time: 32 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes
Makes 12

Cupcakes

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter (½ cup), softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup milk

Glaze
• 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk (and more if needed)
• Pink or red food coloring
• 12 small red raspberries for garnish

1. To make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350ยบ. Line 12 cupcake cups with liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter until soft and creamy. Add the sugar, and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time until incorporated. Add the vanilla. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk in three additions. Beat until just combined. Fill cupcake papers ¾ full, and bake 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pan halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool completely on rack.

2. To make the glaze: In a small bowl, stir together the confectioner’s sugar and 2 tablespoons milk. Slowly add food coloring with a toothpick until desired pink shade is achieved. Top each cupcake with 1 teaspoon glaze. Spread decoratively toward the edges to create a scalloped, just- dripping effect. Top each with one small raspberry.


WE USED BRIGHT PINK CUPCAKE BAKING FOILS

Friday, January 28, 2011

A Couple of Things

February, a month celebrating love. One of my favorite lines, Luscious Verde, is running a few loving promotions this month (see below). Let's create something memorable together - just for you.




Friday, January 21, 2011

Letters To Love

Valentine's Day is a perfect opportunity to be loving.

With love,

Hugs & Kisses,

:)

xoxxox

Fondly,

All my love,

Sincerely,

Warmly,

Thinking of you,

With affection,

Love,

New stationery for yourself or someone you love - or both!
Reds, pinks, black, golds, platinum, even some adornments if you like.

A luxurious and personal way to say thank you for your Valentine's Day chocolate - or any other delights you may give or receive throughout the year.

Yummy!


Call me,

Jackie

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Living Color: Amazing and Weird Plants That Eat Animals


Amazing and Weird Plants That Eat Animals (Click the link to see full story.)

I had to stop, look and read.
Vibrant hues and really fabulous shapes. And, notice the live honeysuckle color in the photo above (Pantone's color of the year as noted in last week's post.)
Query: Assuming these plants are safe to eat, and readily available for your next dinner party, would it be an oops if you unknowingly served them to a vegetarian guest?

photo courtesy of Vaartaaha

Friday, January 7, 2011

Honeysuckle Pink 18-2120 - The Color of the Year for 2011

Happy 2011!

It has been announced that the Pantone Color of the Year for 2011 is Honeysuckle - Pantone color 18-2120. It is a reddish pink - a child of the "mother color red... the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum" says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of Pantone Color Institute.

Photo Courtesy of Pantone 

I like it but not as much as I favored last year's color of the year, Turquoise. The qualities associated with this color are courageous, uplifting, energetic; all fabulous for the beginning of a new year. A color that gets "you going in times of stress." Who could argue with all that? (Well, I think red might get me going a little more quickly -  but remember I am on a red kick lately.)

And, as seen in the Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2011, honeysuckle plays a predominant role in the fun and flirty category. The colors I would add as pairings to this honeysuckle pink would be navy, black, charcoal grey and or gold. (Of course adding an apple green goes to your inner preppy.) Any of these combinations will make a great addition to your stationery wardrobe.


Pink on a winter day

Friday, December 24, 2010

Very Merry Everything & A Happy New Year

As promised, a few photos from the Deer Valley Celebrity Skifest. Again, a fun filled weekend of skiing, eating, socializing and raising environmental awareness and funds for Waterkeeper Alliance.

Also, while it has not yet been announced, I have just learned (via hubby Bob who created, owns and produces the event) that CBS will be re-airing Deer Valley Celebrity Skifest on Sunday January 23rd at 1pm EST. So, for those of you who may have missed it the first time (i.e., Joanne) - another chance.

Dylan Bruno & wife Emmeli Hultquist
Olympian Steve Mahre, Cheryl Hines, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Joey Pantoliano
US National Champion Heidi Voelker and Olympic Gold, Silver Medalist Tommy Moe
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Heidi Voelker, Trevor Donovan
Bob Woodruff, Rob Morrow, KT Tunstall, Cheryl Hines, Steve Mahre


 Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., JP Mitchell
Hill Harper and teammates
Party Room
JB Smoove & wife Shahidah Omar
Taylor Armstrong and husband Russell
Patrick Warburton, Rob Morrow
Dylan Bruno, Heidi Voelker, Phil Mahre
Cheryl Hines, Robert Horowitz, Jackie Orr (me), Mary Kennedy


I want to thank you all for reading Fresh Thoughts and for all your comments (via email and posting); please keep them coming as I love hearing from you.


I wish to everyone a very happy holiday season and a wonderful and meaningful 2011.

See you after the first of the new year.

Enjoy,
Jackie

Saturday, December 18, 2010

KNEES UP! and drive carefully please!

Okay, I am still in red and white mode from last week. I am ordering white stationery with a tiny red heart motif, my name and red/white Japanese paper liner, just purchased a red case for my new flip camera and now, my newest love:

KNEES UP - a fabulous metallic red from butter London's 2010 Holiday Collection. It is perfect this time of year; like wearing a Christmas ornament on your nails  - fun and fabulous! (You might recall from a prior post that I first met butter London, the 3 free lacquer, in Seattle this past summer.)


Knees Up, from the 2010 Holiday Collection

I ordered mine from Zappos.com - they might already be out so hurry and paint away! (Or bring to a nail salon near you.)

photo from butter London.