Beach Themed Party ... Starfish S'More's

So this was not made for the party but it fits in with the theme of the party. I had a special request for a 2 y/o birthday and official adoption.  I got confused on the dates and made them too early for the party date, so the kids had a treat and so did my bestie! ONE thing I learned was the cookie cutter I had didn't make the cleanest star shape. I found this fun recipe for Starfish S'Mores on Hungry Happenings.

Ingredients:

1 cup water, divided

3 packages unflavored gelatin (2 1/2 tablespoons)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/3 cup powdered (confectioners) sugar

1/4 cup corn starch

1-2 teaspoons butter or non-stick cooking spray

50 squares of graham crackers crushed into crumbs

16 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped (or chips)

Special Equipment Needed:

stand mixer or super heavy duty hand held mixer

small saucepan with lid

candy thermometer

9″ x 13″ pan

rubber spatula and/or an offset spatula

star cookie cutter

dipping fork or kitchen fork
parchment paper or wax paper
baking sheet or cutting board
toothpick

First part is you make homemade marshmallows, which isn't hard but not simple. After you make the star cuts you have scraps and not wanting to waste them I cut what I couldn't into squares and rectangles for homemade marshmallows to add to hot cocoa or just to eat. NOW I hate store bought marshmallows, but these are so fluffy and yummy in your mouth!!

Instructions:

Pour 1/2 cup of water into the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle gelatin over top of water and allow to soften for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, pour remaining 1/2 cup water, granulated sugar, corn syrup and salt into a small saucepan.  Stir just to combine ingredients. Cover saucepan, place over medium heat, and cook for 4 minutes.  Remove lid, and clip the candy thermometer onto the side of the pan.  Continue to cook, without stirring, until the mixture reaches 240 degrees Fahrenheit (about 7-8 minutes.)

Place the whisk attachment on your stand mixer. Turn the stand mixer onto low speed. Very carefully and slowly pour the hot sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the softened gelatin. Once all of the sugar syrup is in the bowl, increase  the mixer speed to high. Whip until the marshmallow becomes very thick and cools to a lukewarm temperature, about 12-15 minutes. Add the vanilla and whip just to combine.

While the marshmallow is whipping, prepare your pan.  Butter (or spray with non-stick spray) the bottom and sides of a 9″ x 13″ pan.  Combine the powdered sugar and cornstarch in a bowl.  Sprinkle evenly over the bottom and sides of the pan. Tap pan to remove excess. Save remaining mixture for later.

Butter or spray a rubber spatula and use it to remove the marshmallow from the bowl. Spread the marshmallow evenly in the pan. Use a buttered offset spatula to smooth the surface.

Dust the top of the marshmallow with enough of the remaining sugar and cornstarch mixture to lightly cover. Cover bowl of powdered mixture for later use. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncoveredfor at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

Now for the S'mores:

Set a large cutting board on top of the pan of marshmallows.  Turn both the board and pan upside down.  The marshmallow should fall right out of the pan onto the board. If it doesn’t, help it along.  Dust a star shaped cookie cutter with some of the powdered sugar/cornstarch mixture.  Press the cookie cutter into the marshmallow, remove, and press marshmallow out.  Dust cutter again, and continue to cut stars until you can’t cut any more.  As you can see, you will have a lot of marshmallow scraps. Either dust them with more powdered sugar/cornstarch or dip them in any leftover chocolate (be sure to leave some chocolate to attach your candy eyes.)

Pour chopped chocolate into a microwave safe bowl.  Heat on high power for 30 seconds.  Stir. Heat on high power for 20 seconds. Stir vigorously.  Heat on high power for 15 seconds.  Stir vigorously.  If not melted, continue to heat for 10 second increments, stirring after each, until melted.

Pour graham cracker crumbs into a shallow dish.

Place one marshmallow star in the melted chocolate.  Use a fork to press the marshmallow into the chocolate, covering the top and all sides of the star.  Place the fork on the underside of the marshmallow and use it to lift the marshmallow out of the chocolate.  Shake the marshmallow to allow any excess chocolate to fall off.  Flop the marshmallow over into the bowl of graham cracker crumbs.  Remove fork.  Sprinkle and push the crumbs over and up against the marshmallow star.  Completely cover the star with crumbs and allow to dry for 1-2 minutes in the crumbs. Remove from crumbs and set on a parchment paper lined baking sheet or cutting board.

Use a toothpick to dig out small circles of the graham cracker crumbs where the eyes will be on each starfish. Add a dab of chocolate to the holes and place an eye on top.  

Store your marshmallow starfish in an airtight container for up to 1 week.  Package individual starfish in cellophane bags to give as party favors or gifts.

You can throw away the scraps but I like the waste not method and use for other treats!

Enjoy!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Easter Peep S'Mores ... Easy Classroom Treat

Easter is just around the corner and I had big plans to get the treats for the class done in advance. I also had an idea to do one for Caden's class and one for Cole's class. WELL time has gotten the best of me and I'm done to the wire and having only one project to do!

I kept seeing Peep S'More's all over pinterest, so forgive me if I don't link the right person but I'll post the one that came up the most. Peep S'mores found on Confetti by Lexi. Since I needed to make like 45+ of these I needed a print out that had a lot on one page. I searched and searched but couldn't find the exact one. WELL I found some on Etsy but I didn't want to pay for a class gift on top of what I've bough already. My husband is already all over me for making treats for every holiday. So I found a great free printable on Craftibilities for Peep S'More's I copied her one square pasted into a word doc and made it the right size to have 6 per page. I added a text box and typed the boys name and put on top of the printable next to the From:. 

What You Need:

Peep's (12 Per Pack $1 Dollar Tree)

Graham Crackers

Hersey Bars (I used Crunch Bar's)

Plastic Bags (25 pk $1 Dollar Tree)

Ribbon ($1 Michael's)

White Card Stock Paper

Whole Punch

Scissors

Ink Jet Printer

Add one Peep to your plastic bag, add 2 graham cracker squares to the middle of the botto of your bag and then add a chocolate bar.  (I couldn't find Hersey bars, after 2 stores I resorted to Crunch Bars). Cut your tag out and add a whole with your whole punch. Tie up bag with a ribbon and add your tag to the bag. BAM your done!

Any Easter Treat Plans?

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Roar! Safari Baby Shower ... S'mores Monkey Bread

On the safari / Monkey Theme, I made this last dish that I have been dying to make forever but didn't have a party that I could bring to.  I wanted to make Monkey Bread then I saw this S'mores Monkey Bread version that I knew would be perfect!!  Mine didn't come out pretty stacked up but it sure was tasty.  

Ingredients

1/2

cup sugar

1/2

cup crushed graham crackers or graham cracker crumbs

4

cans Pillsbury® Grands!® Flaky Layers refrigerated biscuits

1

cup milk chocolate chips (6 oz)

1/2

cup miniature marshmallows

1 1/4

cups marshmallow creme

3/4

cup butter

1

teaspoon vanilla

Steps

• 1 Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 6-cup (9-inch) fluted tube cake pan or angel food (tube) cake pan with cooking spray.
• 2 In large food-storage plastic bag, mix sugar and cracker crumbs. Separate each can of dough into 8 biscuits; cut each into quarters. Place 6 to 8 biscuit pieces in sugar-crumb mixture; shake well. Continue to add more biscuit pieces to sugar-crumb until all are completely coated.
• 3 Layer biscuit pieces, chocolate chips and marshmallows in pan.
• 4 In 1-quart saucepan, melt marshmallow creme, butter and vanilla over medium heat. When mixture begins to boil, cook and stir 1 minute. Pour over biscuits, chips and marshmallows in pan.
• 5 Bake 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Place plate upside down over pan; turn plate and pan over. Remove pan. Serve warm.

Ooey Goeey is the best!!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

We All Need Something Sweet .... S'More Cookies

On our last day this week of cookies on parade we feature a fun cookie I made to put in a summer camp care package I put together for Cole (you'll see that next week).  Since he is at camp I wanted to do something camp like.  I went on the search and found these S'More Cookies on Foodbeast.

These were pretty easy to make and they looked so pretty coming out of the oven.  They smelled so great, I didn't take a bite but Caden my little taste tester had to make sure what I put in Cole's box was good.  OR I should say he said it's NOT FAIR Cole get's all this what do I get? LOL so of course some had to stay home to share with Caden and enough to take to my women's group too since we have a birthday girl in the group.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 dash of cinnamon
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups miniature chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
• 2 Hershey bars, chopped (I used 4 bars)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking soda, salt, and dash of cinnamon. In a second larger bowl beat together the butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Slowly beat in the flour mixture until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto un-greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 8 minutes (My oven runs hot so I was 6-7 minutes), and remove from the oven. Push 3 to 4 marshmallows and a few pieces of Hershey bar into each cookies. Return to the oven and bake an additional 3-4 minutes (again mine was 2-3 minutes) until fully cooked. Cool cookies on a wire rack.

I just love how the marshmallow was toasted!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

I went in with Treats and Left with a New Title ...

I went to a PTF meeting last night for school and I made treats for the parents.  I wanted to make something very yummy but I couldn't decide between two cupcakes so I made them both!  Heck why not right?  I had a few left over when I left but thankfully there were kids outside that ate them.  I still haven't found that perfect recipe that everyone likes, we'll see what I find next month!

First off I found this S'More Cupcakes on this awesome blog Toni Spilsbury. I tweaked mine a bit and added 4 to 5 mini marshmallow's in the middle before I cooked them!

Ingredients:

1. flour- 1 1/4 cup
2. cocoa powder- 1/2 cup, like Hershey’s Cocoa
3. baking powder- 1 tspn
4. sugar- 1 cup
5. butter- 1 stick
6. milk or dark chocolate- 4 oz., melted in microwave
7. egg whites- 3
8. milk- 1 cup
9. vanilla- 1 tspn
10. honey graham crackers- quartered, like Honey Maid Honey Grahams
11. jumbo marshmallows- like Jet-Puffed Marshmallows

Directions:

1. mix together flour, cocoa powder and baking powder
2. In standing mixer, cream together butter and sugar
3. add melted chocolate, egg whites, milk and vanilla; mix together until creamy
4. slowly add flour mixture until batter forms
5. bake until toothpick pulls out clean
6. set timer about five minutes before baking is complete, at 15 minutes
7. add one graham slice on top of each cupcake then top with a marshmallow
8. continue baking another 5 minutes until marshmallow is toasted and toothpick comes out clean

Next on my list was to use up some banana's and why not do a Cocoa Banana Cupcakes on Taste of Home's Website.  I had to whip up the frosting towards an end so I didn't have time to pip it all pretty but hey it still was yummy :).

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon each baking soda and salt
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/4 cups fat-free milk
• 1 cup mashed ripe banana (2 to 3 medium)
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• FROSTING:
• 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
• 3 tablespoons fat-free milk
• 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup baking cocoa

Directions

• In a bowl, combine dry ingredients. In another bowl, combine eggs, milk, banana, oil and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
• Coat muffin cups with cooking spray or line with paper liners. Fill three-fourths full. Bake at 375° for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
• Beat cream cheese, milk, chocolate and vanilla until smooth. Combine confectioners' sugar and cocoa; gradually beat into cream cheese mixture. Frost cupcakes. Yield: 1-1/2 dozen.

Cupcake Stage

 Frosting Stage

And since I can't seem to stop wanting to do and helping I some how volunteered to be PTF Secretary!  OH yes I stepped right into that one, our current president is planning on being president for 2 more years and guess who she wants to step in after ... lol.  Yup I don't just half do anything!  

Have a S’Moretstastic Day

Yet again it has been crazy around here I can barely breath or sit down just for myself.  I do have my gift jars up but haven’t had a chance to download the photos and put them together.  So we go to something fun I did.  My friend Debby posted about making this little s’more bags and told me it was on her pinterest site.  So I hoped over there and found them and thought what a fun project to do with the kids.  I even found one to make for Cole’s teacher!

I found this easy S’more Teacher Appreciation gift to make for Cole’s teacher.  A free printable label is there also!

Then I made this S’more gift for our friends, it has the link for a free printable also.

Crazy times here we don’t have anything go on tonight so I hope to clean up hurricane Alexis in the kitchen. And maybe lay down I now have a stupid headcold again! UGH

So what are your plans tonight?  And more special treats to make?

Something Sweet … Only One Please

I’m a little blah on something to write about so why not share a recipe … lol.  I made these for our Tuesday dinner friends, the kids of course ate the outside only … hehe.  Thankfully it’s a rare treat around here.

Hope you are having a great week and maybe have something sweet today!

Party Snacks (Pizza, Poppers & S'Mores)

The Oscar's were this weekend so I had to bust out some yummy treats to share with my friends!

I found this amazing pizza on How Sweat Eats and tweaked it a bit. I did use my own flat bread recipe but for the life of me can't find what recipe I used so I added in the recipe she gave.

Next on the list was a Pizza Pinwheel. The recipe called for pizza dough so I made one from my favorite flour website King Arthur and next is the recipe I found on One Crazy Cookie (one of my favorite ladies).

Next on our list is Bacon Wrapped Lil Smokies Jalapeño Peppers the original recipe didn't have lil smokies and I added them in :). These were so yummy and not burn your mouth hot.

And we end with the recipe that was given 5 stars (she said if there was 6 stars she would have given it that). Talk about yummy, so good I left it at her house :) so I wouldn't eat them all. I found this recipe on Lick the Bowl Good (yup you got to love that name).

Happy Tuesday, hope you find one you love.

Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesday,Tuesday at the Table,Delectable Tuesday, Delicious Dishes , Totally Tasty Tuesday, Hearth and Soul and Thursday Recipe Swap Meet.