Carrot Patch Cupcakes

While everyone is out planting their real gardens around here, I must confess that I’ve been working on a few “seedlings” of my own. Heh, heh, heh. Aren’t these the cutest little garden cupcakes you’ve ever seen? And such a painless way to get a few more–ahem–vegetables into your system. Baaaa!

Start with fruity Mike and Ikes. I picked several kinds to make sure I had plenty of orange ones.

Plus all the leftovers didn’t hurt my feelings any either.  :}

I’d never seen Rips Whips before, and I tore them out of the bag before getting a picture. Essentially, they are skinny, little multicolored licorice strings. You’ll be using the green ones–so go ahead and eat the rest.

First just take a paring knife and make a tiny cut clear through the top of each little orange candy.

Now, cut the green licorice into one inch pieces. Then with scissors or a knife cut through the top of the licorice about half way down the piece so it looks like greenery.

Next, gently pinch the sides of the orange candy to open the cut up just a bit. Don’t get too rambunctious with this step or you’ll crack the outsides and make them ugly. Then, well, you’ll have to eat them.

Now poke the green stems into the top of your carrot. I used the tip of a knife to set it in–that worked the best for me.

Carefully squeeze your carrot closed a bit around the green top.

Oh, just look at your little harvest! Aren’t they adorable?!

All that’s left to do now is to “plant” your little candy carrots into your favorite patch…I mean batch of chocolate cupcakes. These sweet things–along with a tall glass of ice water–will make a fine reward for all those little backyard farmers coming in from a long day with the rototiller. Wouldn’t you say?

Oh, I do so love Spring!

{ I Will Rise- African Style }

” He lives, the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind, whose Atonement came as an act of grace for the entire world. He has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. He has brought meaning to our mortal existence. He has given us the gift of eternal life. God be thanked for the gift of His Son, the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, the Prince of Life and Peace, the Holy One.”

~Gordon B. Hinckley

Happy Easter my friends.

Cheese Ball Carrots

Around here there are a ton of people that we love to give things too–especially if there’s a reason to do it…you know, like a holiday or something. Friends, neighbors, daughters, sons, sweet little grand-babies–they’re all in desperate need of some cute little Cheeto Carrot love–don’t-cha think? I so agree.

I could have used the carrot shaped cello bags that are kicking around now, but I worried that they’d be too small to hold a decent amount of Cheetos. One should NOT be stingy with Cheetos, after all. So, I used 12″ disposable icing bags instead. We’ll have a million left, but I’m sure they’ll be used for another noble cause. Heh…

They were the perfect size.

Had a small struggle finding actual Cheeto Balls. Heaven knows there are every other shape in the world right now, just not round. We found these at Wal-mart–finally, finally.

Again I say they were…perfect!

Last of all we used two strands of green curly ribbon for the carrot tops. As you can see, they are fabulous. Just waiting for a sweet little Easter tag and off they’ll go to their new homes to spread joy and happiness…

as only a Cheeto can.

Baaa-hahaha!

Easter Bird Nest~ Spoon Suckers

Bird Nest Spoon Suckers 2

I’ve been on the lookout for a clever, simple Easter treat that’s both kid AND mama friendly ever since Valentine’s day, and by dang, I believe we’ve found it. Scrumptious little birdy nests made from some of your favorite things–one being chocolate…of course. And did I already say simple? Well, I made about 9 of these in less than 10 minutes. No lie.

You could wrap a pretty little sucker bag around these before dropping them in the Easter baskets…or not. They are actually more sturdy than I expected ( isn’t it lovely when candy behaves itself properly?). I think the kids will most likely pluck the eggs off first thing, and then nibble on the spoon second, so a bag might just throw off their gobble-groove anyway.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate or butterscotch chips

1 package Cadbury Mini Eggs

Chocolate sprinkles or Jimmies–as they are called by folks in-the-know.

1 box clear plastic spoons–if you can find round soups spoons, they look the best. But as you can see, regular ones work fine too.

Directions:

Melt the chips in a small saucepan. Dip the spoons, one at a time in the melted candy making sure to cover both sides evenly.

Arrange three eggs on the spoon.

Before your chips harden, dip the spoon into the sprinkles.

This one’s a bit lopsided, but it’s still so cute!

Place on pan or board and allow to set.

Keep right on going till you run out of one of your ingredients. I could have made about 25 of these but something mysterious happened to my bag of Mini Eggs and so halfway through, I ran out. Something verrry fishy is going on around here.

You’ll need to guard yours, no doubt.

5.0 from 1 reviews
Easter Nest Spoon Suckers
 
Ingredients
  • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate or butterscotch chips
  • 1 package Cadbury Mini Eggs
  • Chocolate sprinkles or Jimmies
  • 1 box clear plastic spoons
Instructions
  1. Melt the chips in a small saucepan.
  2. Dip the spoons, one at a time in the melted candy making sure to cover both sides evenly.
  3. Arrange three eggs on the spoon.
  4. Before your chips harden, dip the spoon into the sprinkles.
  5. Place on pan and allow to set
  6. Keep right on going till you run out of something.

I originally saw this adorable idea on Cute Food For Kids

Mini Cookie Fest

Our girl, April brought the kids over and just happened to bring a few Easter cookies to decorate. A few, being enough for everybody to have…one. It was perfect.

A lovely adventure, with just enough frosting to go around nicely.  No, I did not tell Mr. Beck to lick the knife like that–he came up with the idea on his own. Spooky.

Next, of course, it was time to add the sprinkles. Luckily, the shaker tops have teeny, tiny holes so that little hands can’t get too carried away.

But I guess it is possible to get quite a pile if you just shake long enough, which he apparently…did.

Sweet Miss Lily had a different idea.

All she wanted was the crystal sugar–in pink and purple.  And everyone knows that you can never have enough pink and purple–even on a cookie. Or anywhere else for that matter.

It’s a color preference that this wise girl shares with her Grammy. Good form my dear. You’ll go far.

At last, Miss Chompy had her turn with the sparkles–and she didn’t want any help. Some things are best done alone you know. Just a girl, her thoughts and a cookie.

After all, it’s a special moment when you can help a lowly cookie reinvent itself into a work of art…a masterpiece, even.

Just before…

you wolf it down.

We gotta make more of these. One each just doesn’t cut it.

And I hear it’s not polite to wrestle goodies from the grasp of a 4 year old. 

Well, how would I know that?

Sheesh.

:}