Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Baking Classes and More!

Good afternoon friends,

October is almost half-way through!!
 How can this be??  
It won't be too much longer before we
 are celebrating all the great holidays
in November and December.  
If you're local...or plan to be in the 
greater Cincinnati area in the next 6 weeks...  
there are some fun classes to take...  Join the fun!!

I have some exciting events coming up that
 I wanted to share with you. I have a series of baking 
classes on deck.  
The first one is tomorrow... yes!!  
I can hardly believe it's already here...


The first class is 10/11/18 6-8PM and there are just a few seats left.  
The class: Pies...Apple and Pecan...yes, the award winning pies 
and all my best baking tips and tricks. 

 Everything you have every wanted to know...
and everything helpful I can think to tell you!!

This wonderful class is a hands-on class. Students will make
will take home miniature apple pies, 
baked in class, a pie shell made from the award winning
 dough and the ingredients to make your very 
own pecan pie at home.  
Samples of both the apple and pecan
 pies will be shared.




Next month... Pumpkin Cake and More.  We will learn about this two-time best-of-show cake...why its' a perfect dessert for Thanksgiving...fun decorating ideas.... including additional autumn treats.  Students will make pumpkin cake cupcakes, frosting and lean easy but high-impact piping techniques.  Additionally, students will create other festive garnishes, including molded candy pumpkins, chocolate turkey designs and creative ways to add a flourish to their holiday tables.  This event is 11/1, 6-8 PM.



For December  12/11, A Yule Log Workshop... Make and Take your very own Yule Log and all of the many amazing add-ons that make this magical dessert come to life: meringue toad stools, chocolate cherry mice, almond pine cones, snowflakes and sugared "berries and "pine". 5:30-8:30 PM.

All of the above classes can be booked via: 
Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio.Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio

What is Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio??  It's genius!!  Chef Jaime Carmody offers a full-service, commercial kitchen and event space located on Montgomery Rd. in Symmes Twp. The studio offers freshly made take-home meals, call-ahead ordering, baked goods, personal chef services, monthly cooking classes and private culinary events.  Special thanks to Chef Jaime and her team for offering my classes this holiday season.



Last...but not least... Eat Drink and Be Merry!!
A Holiday Crafting Party:   12/4/2018 6:30-8:30 PM


Please join us for some HOLIDAY CHEER!  A festive evening is planned for you and your friends.  I will share some of my favorite holiday entertaining ideas, a craft and edible creations.  Enjoy an easy-to-follow chocolate dipping demo, followed by a ‘Make and Take Pretzel Dipping Bar’ complete with cheerful wrappings and ribbons to create delicious ‘homemade’ edible treats.  Create a sweetly-sentimental holiday ornament, “Home for the Holidays” as featured on Hometalk.  Sip a festive adult holiday beverage: the “Santa-Claus-Mopolitan and sample one of my favorite crowd-pleasing appetizers!!  Finally, enjoy an award-winning sample of one of the most requested dessert recipes…Don’t miss this fun night out!  Guests will receive: Make and Take Dipped Pretzels, Crafted Ornament, Recipes, Samples and Bonus Holiday Ideas.  This event is sponsored by the Village of Fairfax Craft Connection.  Ticket Information can be found by visiting: 

Happy Wednesday!!    xo

Thursday, October 4, 2018

The Harvest Party...for grown-ups...


I've graduated...

I'm no longer a room-parent...
I've turned in my visitor sticker...
but somehow...this time of the year,
I'm drawn to super-cute treats and snacks!

I'm ready for another school-party... but...

My kids have moved on...

they've passed through
 the grade-school hallways
and have happily
entered into jr. high and high school...

The timing was just right...the kids were ready to move on,
... even if I wasn't.

Luckily...
I still have an outlet for all this super-cute fun!! 
 I have you!! 

--Today on Fox19... it's like a harvest party for grown-ups!!


Mummy:
Pretzel Rods
White Candy Melts
Candy Eyes
Disposable Piping Bag


Turkey:
Pretzel Rods
1/2 of an Oreo or round cookie
6 candy corn pieces
1-pumpkin spiced chocolate chip or yellow candy for beak
Dark Chocolate, and Red Candy Melts
Candy Eyes
Disposable Piping Bag



Pumpkins:
Round Cookie Mold-Wilton- available-JoAnn's, Michael's
Orange, green and brown candy melts
Oreo Thins

Witch Fingers
Pretzel; Rods
Wilton Finger Mold-JoAnn's
Light and Dark Green Candy Melts
Wilton Pretzel Bags
Spider Ring- Target



Recipe For Harvest Snack Mix:
Harvest Snack Mix:
2 Cups Chex Corn Cereal
2 Cups Rice Chex
2 Cups Chex Honey Nut Cheerios
2 Cups Chex Cinnamon Cereal
2 Cups Bite-Size Pretzel Sticks or Waffle Shapes
2 Cups Bugles
1 Cup Cheeze-It Crackers
1-2 Cups Nuts (I used peanuts, but pecans or mixed nuts would be great too)
***add the next ingredients after snack mix has cooled.
1-2 Cups Dried Cranberries
2 Cups Prepared Caramel Corn
1 Cup Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Candy Corn, Candy Pumpkins

Mix the cereals and snacks together in a very large baking dish.  set aside. (Reserve the dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, candy corn/pumpkins, and caramel corn until after mix has cooled)

On the stove top, heat:
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
Once melted add 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice,  1/4 teaspoon allspice stir.
Let come to a boil.  Stir frequently.

Pour the hot, brown sugar/butter mixture over the cereal/nut/snack mix that is waiting in the baking dish.  Gently coat all the cereal, nuts, pretzels, bugles, and cheese crackers with the sauce.

Bake in a 250 degree oven.  Stirring every 15 minutes for 30-45 minutes.  Let cool.  

Once cool, add the candy corn, candy pumpkins, dried cranberries, caramel corn and pumpkin seeds. Serve.

This is a fun way to display your snack mix at a party...
print the graphic and attach to a clear container.

I'm thirsty from all this party planning!!

Bourbon-Cinnamon Apple Cider Cocktails: 
RECIPE FOR A CROWD:
1/2 gallon of apple cider (8 cups)
2 cups bourbon
2 cups apple schnapps
2 cinnamon sticks
***
Add together and let chill for 2 hours to overnight.
***
Just before guests arrive, add 1 two-liter of Ginger Ale (8 cups)
***
Add apple slices and garnishes
Rim glasses with cinnamon/sugar 
Add ice to a glass and pour.  
Enjoy!

RECIPE FOR A SINGLE GLASS:
1 part apple cider (3 oz)
1 part ginger ale (3 oz)
1 shot bourbon
1 shot apple schnapps
If you care for a stronger cocktail, add additional bourbon to taste.
Pour over ice, garnish and enjoy.

For garnish, slice apples across the middle to get beautiful full circles.  Use a small star cookie cutter to remove apple center/seeds. Place apple slice in glass or on rim.



Enjoy!!