POM Sunday

And just like that it’s been several weeks since I’ve posted anything! I’m now back to work and busier than ever (but still making sure I carve out PLENTY of time for my little one!). I’m also making time for extracurriculars…like baking for this Sunday’s pom pom + mobile making workshop led by Dana Haim over at Wynwood Letterpress. Here’s a peek at the poms and one of the sweet treats I’ll be making {I’ll also be making an iteration of this}. Want to attend? Register HERE. {And hurry! Space is limited.} 

{Easter} Desserts

Easter is just a few weeks away and because I’ll probably be having our baby around that time {I’m due April 6!} I thought I’d share some fun dessert ideas a bit early.

 

Here are a few I’ve made.

  

Fore more cute ideas, check out my Easter Dessert Pinterest Board.

Chili Cornbread Bowls

  If you read this post, you know I’m a huge have of the Bake-a-Bowl pan. The Mr. and I are having fun coming up with creative ideas for desserts and dinners a like. Last night we made chili cornbread bowls. They’re so good and really just so cute. They’re definitely going to be an appetizer the next time we host friends for a BBQ.

For the ultimate easy dinner (remember, I like baking, not cooking), I made the chili in the slow cooker throughout the day and popped my little bowls into the oven wen we were ready to eat. 20 minutes later…voila! We topped them with sharp cheddar cheese and sour cream but you can pile on pretty much anything.

We’re already tossing around a few more ideas of things we can make – both sweet and savory – and let’s just say things got creative and we mentioned everything from corndog bowls to pancake bowls and lots of stuff in between!

I’ll be sure to post any new creations. In the meantime, I leave you with these…

P.S. I threw in this photo of the slow cooker liners because they’re a real life saver in the kitchen! While the slow cooker makes cooking easy, it can be difficult to clean…unless you use these, in which case a quick rinse leaves it good as new…You’re welcome.

Bake-a-Bowl

Last weekend while the Mr., Penelope and I were out, we came across the Bake-a-Bowl pan at Crate & Barrel, and I immediately fell in love…and because he knows how much I like baking, and it was Valentine’s Day, and all the versatile things {both savory and sweet} that you can make with it, the Mr. got it for me.

We didn’t waste any time and had brownie bowl ice cream sundaes that very night! There are several ideas on the packaging and on their website, and it’s so easy to use. Just pour whatever batter you’re using to the “fill up to here” line, place the other pan on top and bake…totally goof proof! I’m actually hoping to get another one, so I can make at least a dozen bowls at a time, especially to have friends over.

The Mr. & I have been brainstorming ideas, so I’ll be sure to update the blog with any fun, new creations we come up with! {And I’ll actually take more pictures next time. We were hungry and didn’t have time the first go-around.}

Next on the bowl menu? Corn bread chili bowls.

In the meantime…do you have any ideas we can try?

My Weekend {In a Nutshell}

My weekend consisted of lots of balloons (they were actually for my baby bump photo shoot but worked well with Valentine’s Day too), lots of dessert, and lots of time with my loves. It was pretty great! Here’s a peek…

A nail polish color I created by layering Revlon’s Nail Enamel in ‘Coy‘ over a coat of their Colorstay Gel Envy in ‘All or Nothing.’ It provided just the shade of pink I’d been looking for.

Dried flowers from the baby shower + a fresh pink bouquet of hydrangeas (also from the photo shoot).

The supplies for the white chocolate covered pretzels I made for the Mr + my sister.

The scene at the store on Friday when I went to pick up some balloons for the shoot.

 Our balloons.

 Being married to a Cuban, I figured there was no better way to start Saturday than with guava + cheese heart-shaped croissants.

My view heading in to my first prenatal yoga class.

An adorable bunny we picked up for the baby’s room while out on Saturday.

Brownie bowl ice cream sundaes I made for dessert.

The al fresco dinner the Mr. set up for our Valentine’s Day dinner. On the menu? P.F. Chang’s leftovers.

I hope your weekend was great too! Be sure to come back during the week for fresh posts (hint: dessert will be involved).

 

 

{Valentine’s Day} Desserts

Valentine’s Day is less than two weeks away, and while we’re not particularly big on it at our house, I do jump at the opportunity to bake + decorate for it. Here are a few fun ideas + a quick last-minute snack I made last year.

For these and other fun ideas, check out my Valetine’s Day Dessert Pinterest board.

Do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day-inspired dessert?

{4th of July} Dessert

Sorry about the radio silence. Between our trip to Boston, work, getting a cold, etc., the blog has definitely taken a back seat. BUT, I’m back…just in time to share some fun 4th of July desserts!

 

For these + more, check out my 4th of July Dessert board on  Pinterest.

Happy National Donut Day

FYI: Dunkin’ Donuts is giving a free donut with the purchase of any beverage. What better way to start your Friday than with one of these puppies?

Summer Desserts

Because summer is just around the corner (and let’s face it, in Miami it always feels like summer) here are some fun summer desserts to try. Though s’mores are always my go-to, I’m looking to try something new this year!

For these fun ideas + more, check out my Summer Desserts board on Pinterest.

What’s your favorite summer dessert?

Dessert Review: Sweet Times Cupcakes

I spend a lot of time on Instagram (What can I say? I work in social media for a living…) and came across @SweetTimesCupcakes late yesterday afternoon. Truth be told, I’d seen them before but didn’t know where they were located and hadn’t bothered to look. It turns out they’re not too far from home, and I decided they seemed like just the thing to satisfy my craving for something sweet. The Mr. was kind enough to swing me by so I could pick up a couple on our way to run some errands later that evening.

They have a daily menu, which you can see here. Based on the available options, I immediately went for Lights Out – because I love chocolate – and was then torn between Birthday Party (basically vanilla) + Chocolate Chips Gone Bananas. Upon expressing my debacle, the guy behind the counter said “Definitely go with the Chocolate Chip Gone Bananas.”  He went on to say the two I’d picked were his favorite (but I’m sure every customer hears that). See below for more on my selections.

Though I love a good chocolate chip + banana combo, I hate anything that tastes too much like overly-ripened banana (i.e. way too overpowering). These, however, had a very muted banana flavor…noticeable but definitely not too much. It was just right.Between the two this was my favorite. I will definitely get this one again next time I go!

 

The best way to describe the initial flavor of this cupcake is perhaps by likening it to the frosting on a chocolate frosted (not to be mistaken for a chocolate glazed) donut from Dunkin Donuts. I like chocolate, so by default I thought it was good, but I’ll opt to try a new flavor next time  (like 4 Leches or Snowball or Campfire) over getting this one again. But if you like chocolate, it’s safe to say you will like it.

Overall I liked the cupcakes. They were sweet and moist and the frosting…fluffy. To make a comparison…both their frosting + cake feel lighter than Mischa’s…which means you can eat more before your stomach starts to hurt. 😉 Like Mischa’s they’re not cheap at $1.75 a pop. My biggest complaint: the size. I wish they were bigger. I prefer a 4-bite cupcake over a 2-biter. But that’s probably all part of their scheme as it does, after all, leave you wanting more.

I’ll definitely be back to try other flavors + their coffee!

So tell me, have you tried Sweet Times Cupcakes? Which was your favorite?