Pretty in Pink

Gifts of new dress, new shoes and matching flowers. 

(Not Christmas related.)

Last Year's Dining Room Project

We inherited this dining room set.






We were told by someone who is not so credible, that this is 50's decor. We wanted to keep with the retro theme and tried to pick out retro fabric. However, I originally purchased some pink tulip fabric to recover chairs. The chairs were covered using furniture tacks instead of a staple gun, which made this project is taking longer than I thought it would. 

After uncovering the chairs, this is the fabric we found underneath:


I left this fabric on the chairs and recovered them with the new fabric. 


I found it interesting that it is the same brand of fabric that I took off: Waverly.

Coffee Table Makeover

First off, I forgot to take "before" pictures. We had a a dark brown coffee table that I decided to revamp. The wood was primed and then given three coats of a cranberry red to match the fabric. The fabric was decoupaged onto the top of the table. I would still like to get a glass table top to protect the table. Although, it was best that I did this at our old house, the paint did get a little scratched when we moved to apartment.

This is the best photograph of the fabric that I could manage. I promise the fabric is far more vibrant in real life. There are hints of gold thread around the ginkgo leaves.

The coffee table now lives happily in our apartment. I have extra fabric that I want to make into matching throw pillows. I do not see that happening any time soon. 

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies: The Recipe

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

1. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour with 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (set aside). Drain 48 maraschino cherries, reserving the juice. Place cherries on paper towels to absorb liquid (set aside).

2. Beat 1/2 cup butter until softened. Add 1 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Beat until combined. Add 1 egg and 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until combined. Gradually beat in the flour mixture.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls, place on ungreased cookie sheet. I spray the sheet with cooking spray and every year I make the 1-inch balls too big. I make what I think is 1-inch and then cut each ball in half to yield the 48 cookies! 

4. Press down the center of each ball with your thumb. Place one cherry in the center of each cookie. 

5. For frosting, in a small saucepan combine 6-ounces of chocolate chips and 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk. Heat over low, stir like crazy, until the chocolate is melted. Stir in 4 teaspoons of the reserved cherry juice.

6. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of frosting over each cherry; spreading to cover the cherry. 

7. Bake cookies at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until their edges are firm. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Makes 48 cookies, Each cookie 81 calories, 3 grams fat, 0 grams fiber

I have used this recipe for a base and have often exchanged ingredients (I always make one batch like this). The most popular version was replacing the cherries with an almond and using kaluhua instead of cherry juice in the frosting. 

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

Lightbulb Ornament

I made this star ornament with thrifted glass light bulbs and floral wire.

Yo Ho Ho: Rum Cake

When googling "rum cake" this recipe appears over and over again. It is no wonder, the cake is very moist and has the perfect rum flavor. If I visit this recipe again, I may try a coconut instant pudding mix instead of the vanilla. I love coconut!

Rum Cake:
1 package yelllow cake mix
3 eggs
1 small package instant vanilla pudding
2/3 cup rum
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil

1. Grease & flour bundt pan.
2. Mix all ingredients on medium speed for 4 minutes.
3. Bake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes.

Glaze:
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup rum
1/2 cup – 1 cup sugar

1. Heat glaze ingredients in saucepan until all sugar is melted.
2. Prick cake to absorb the glaze.
3. Drizzle glaze onto the cooled cake.

***I used Barcardi Gold Rum and Eggbeaters.

My Strawberry

March 31, 2007

I thought that my strawberry plants were not doing well. The plants looked fine, but the flowers have all dissappeared. At the end of my gardening today, I noticed that one of the plants has a small green strawberry on it! I am excited for this first fruit . The other plants look like they will soon follow.

April 7, 2007
My strawberry is continuing to grow and now I have more baby berries. If you look closely, you can see the second strawberry in the photo. This plant has two other teensy tiny berries.


April 15, 2007
The strawberry is red! And tasty too!













April 22, 2007
We have picked another 2 berries. This my only strawberry plant that is producing berries. I have two more plants that have flowers on them. And another plant that hasn't even flowered yet.