Awe Scrap!

cream cheese filled chocolate cupcakes

Make these for your sweetie!

You'll need:

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese softened

1/2 c. white sugar

1 egg

1 c.semisweet chocolate chips

1 box chocolate cake mix

Directions:

Pre-heat over to 350 degress (or follow cake mix package)

Prepare cake mix according to box directions, but do not bake.  Beat in egg until well blended, then stir in chocolate chips.  In a seperate bowl cream together cream cheese and sugar until smooth.  

Line cupcake tin with cupcake papers and fill 2/3 full with cake batter.  Spoon in 1 tsp cream cheese mixture and top with more cake batter.

Bake according to box directions.  Cool and frost with chocolate or cream cheese frosting.

   

gift idea - candy booklets

Here is a fun, quick, and easy handmade gift project.  These make great stocking stuffers!  They also work easily with other holidays ike Easter, Halloween, and Valentines.  Make a fun twist to use for birthday favors, wedding favors, or table place settings.  You would also make a good teacher gift.

I made a bunch of these and just kept them handy for holiday giving like hostess gifts or to give away at appoinments like the doctors office and nail salon.  You'll be amazed at how pleased people are when they receive this unexpected gift.  It REALLY IS better to give than to recieve.

I also sent these out to all the gals on my Close To My Heart team.

The stamp set is I Believe from Close To My Heart I used the 2 inch scallop punch and the 1 1/4 circle punch.  Wam Bam Thank you Ma'am.  So fast and easy.  The stocking in this stamp set is one of the cutest I've seen.  

I cut the booklet at 3 inches by 6 1/2.  Score 3 inches from each side to get the 1/2 inch "binder".  Decorate the front as you wish.

I used Ghiradelli chocolates for these and wrapped and folded them in have in patterned paper cut 6 x 6. I used the Believe paper collection by Close To My Heart.  This paper has been great for all kinds of Christmas craft projects.  

Time to add the ribbon tie.  I cut mine about 16 inches.  It's longer than you need but makes it easier when it's long like this to tie the ribbon.  Then you can cut it down once tied.

 Now you're ready to put it all together.  It's a wrap!!

I hope this is helpful to make your own little candy booklets.  Be sure to send me any pictures of your own craftiness!!

Thanks for visting www.awescrap.com 

 

broadmoor banana bread

This recipe comes from a 5 star resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Yummy scrummy!

3 cups flower

2 cups sugar

3 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

dash salt

3 eggs

1 cup oil

2 cups banana, ripened, mashed

1 cup walnuts (optional)

In large bowl combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Make a well in the flour mixture and add well beaten eggs, oil, nuts and banana.  Mix throughly and divide evenly into two greased loaf pans.  Bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven for approximatimately 45-60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  

try this brisket

Brisket

beef brisket (trimmed)

1/2 c. sherry

1/2 c soy cauce

1 lb. sliced fresh mushrooms

lemon pepper

Place brisket in pyrex dish.  Mix sherry and soy sauce. Sprinkle brisket with lemo pepper.  pour on sherry mixture.  Scatter mushrooms on top.  Marinate overnite.  Bake at 275 degrees for 4 to 5 hours.

Yum! 

trail mix

Sweet, Salty & Sour Trail Mix

4-5 cups dried sour cherries

3 cups salted, dry-roasted almonds

3 cups honey roasted cashews

let's get cookin'

Linguini & Clam Sauce

1 lb. Linguini

1/3 c. olove oil

2 (6 1/2 oz) can chopped clams

2 (6 1/2 oz) cans minced clams

1 tsp oregano

2 T. chopped parsley

grated parmesan cheese

3 cloves garlic, pressed

1/4 c. butter

1/4 tsp. pepper

In saucepan heat butter and oil until melted.  Add garlic, cook until golden.  Stir in clams with liguid, oregano, pepper and parsley.  Heat through.  Cook and draiin liguini.  Add sauce and toss.  Serve with grated cheese.

Enjoy!

 

party punch

At your next summer party serve this party punch instead of individual drinks.  You can do-ahead and have it ready to go; just stash it in the fridge in a closed container to preserve the bubbles.  You can even skip the vodka to make it "family friendly".

Basil-Strawberry Lemonade (with or w/o vodka)

Combine these ingredients ina bowl, stir and serve.  EZ!

1 (750 ml) bottle vodka

2 litres sparkling water

2 10-oz packages frozen strawberries

1 12-oz can frozen lemonade

1 fresh basil for garnish

umami burger

I am a burger girl.  Anyone had one of these?  They are mostly in LA.  I might have to pick up a trip to go check it out.  I'd love to know if any of you have tried one.  Check it out here.  

hey good lookin' what cha got cookin'?

Recipes make great gifts especially if accompanied by the tasty treat.  Decorate a lable with stamps or fancy lettering and use ribbon or fine-gauge wire to attach the lable to a jar of home cooked yummy scrummy!

You can also compile favorite recipes to create a family cookbook.  This is a fun gift for a bridal shower.  Get all the groom's beloved dishes to give to the bride all done up in a album.  If you're a mom you can also do one for your child when they move out and into their own apartment. 

kids eat free

Why cook when the kids can eat for free at these local spots.

Mondays- Beau Jo's Pizza, Ajuua,

Tuesdays- Ajuua, Pascuini's Pizza, Atlanta Bread Company (4-8PM), Brothers BBQ

Wednesdays- Brothers BBQ