Watermelon Themed Cake and Cupcakes

Today is #CupcakeLoversDay!  To celebrate, I have teamed up with a great group of bloggers to bring you new recipes and posts all about cupcakes.  Special thanks to Valentina at The Baking Fairy for organizing this event.

I'm sharing my Watermelon Themed Cake and Cupcakes.  They are the perfect treat for your summer parties!  Follow my instructions below to make your own!

Since today is all about cupcakes....let's start with those instructions.  Here is what you will need:

Ingredients:
1 batch of chocolate cupcakes - recipe or box mix that you prefer
1 recipe of vanilla buttercream frosting
green food coloring
pink food coloring
mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Color half of the frosting recipe with green food coloring.  
2. Color the other half with pink food coloring.
3. Pipe a ring of the green frosting around the top of the cupcake.
4. Fill in the rest of the top of the cupcake with pink frosting.
5. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.

Now for the cake.....


Ingredients:
4-layer cake (I made mine with 2 boxed cake mixes), leveled
the rest of the green and pink frosting from cupcakes
mini chocolate chips


Directions:

1. Layer the cakes with green frosting spread between each layer.
2. Pipe green frosting around the outer edge of each layer, bottom, and top.
3. Fill in top of cake with pink frosting.
4. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.

Please take a moment to visit all of the other amazing cupcake posts from my blogger friends!!

Cupcakes for Cupcake Lovers Day!

Hosted by Valentina | The Baking Fairy

Vegan Birthday Cake Oreo Cupcakes by The Baking Fairy  
Avocado Cupcakes with Lime Frosting by A Day in the Life on the Farm  
Brown Cow Cupcakes by Palatable Pastime  
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cupcakes by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks  
Busy Bee Honey Vanilla Cupcakes by For The Love of Food  
Butter Pecan Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting by A Little Fish in the Kitchen  
Cheesecake Cupcakes by Walking on Sunshine Recipes  
Cherry Limeade Cupcakes by That Recipe  
Cherry Vanilla Cupcakes by The Freshman Cook  
Chocolate Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Frosting by Cooking for my Soul  
Chocolate Irish Cream Cupcakes with Irish Cream Frosting by Daily Dish Recipes
Cookies & Cream Cupcakes by Karen’s Kitchen Stories  
Creamsicle Cupcakes by Red Cottage Chronicles 
  Gluten Free Rocky Road Cupcakes by Frugal & Fit  
Honey Lemon's HoneyBee Cupcakes by Simply Inspired Meals  
Lemon Cupcakes with Coconut Frosting by The Olive Blogger
Lemon Lavender Blackberry Cupcakes by Culinary Adventures with Camilla  
Lost Princess Cupcakes by Seduction in the Kitchen  
Orange You Glad Cupcakes by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings  
Peanut Butter & Jelly Cupcakes by The Beard and The Baker  
Pineapple Coconut Cupcakes by Crumb Top Baking  
Pink Lemonade Cupcakes by Bowl Me Over  
Pudding Pop Cupcakes by Nik Snacks  
Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes with Cookie Dough Frosting by Join Us, Pull Up a Chair Strawberry Basil Cupcakes with Chocolate Balsamic Frosting by The Spiffy Cookie
Strawberry Cupcakes by Confessions of a Baking Queen
Strawberry Jello Cupcakes by Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats  
Sweet Summertime Cupcakes by Cooking with Carlee  
Vanilla Bourbon Bacon Cupcakes by Our Good Life  
Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes by Simple Family Crazy Life 
White Chocolate Truffle Cupcakes by Triple Chocolate Kitchen

Thanks ~ Nichi

 

 I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

Fantastic Fruit Series - Week #2 - Wonderful Watermelon

For any of you that follow my blog you know that on Sundays I like to do a celebration post.  This post usually celebrates a themed party, holiday, etc..  So, I'm happy to announce that for the next few months I'm doing a 10-week Fantastic Fruit Series.

Week #1 was Lemon Love - 50 Amazing Recipes

For Week #2 I'm celebrating wonderful WATERMELON!!

These fellow bloggers are so talented and previously shared these recipes on my  
Tasty Thursdays linky parties and blogger groups.
I've also added a few of my own favorites.

Visit them, share them, pin them, and tell them I sent you. 

Next week's celebration is all about strawberries...stay tuned!!

Watermelon Margaritas from Cooking With Curls

Watermelon Krispie Treats from The Mandatory Mooch

Summery Watermelon Salad from Ashley's Dandelion Wishes

Watermelon Lime Frappe from It Bakes Me Happy

Watermelon Salad from Call Me PMc

Watermelon Slice Cookies from Six Sisters' Stuff

Fruit Bassinet from The Mandatory Mooch

Watermelon Star Cake from My Turn for Us

Watermelon Salad from Life After Empty Nest

Watermelon Salad from Sarah Howe

This post is linked up to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!! 

Please stop on over to say hi on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter.  
Thanks ~ Nichi

Favorite No Bake Treats of 2012

It has been a great year full of fun recipes, projects, and making new blogging friends.  I thought I would share my favorite no bake treats from 2012.  They are all easy to make and will be the hit at your parties, gatherings, or just for fun.  Thanks to all of you for a great year.  I'm really looking forward to 2013!!

Indoor Smore Bars

Nilla Wafer Treats

Mallow Pops

Cake Batter Krispie Treats

Watermelon Krispie Treats

No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

Turkey Cookies

Oreo Lollipops

Mini Cannolis

Linked up to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

Watermelon Krispie Slices

Here in the Midwest it has been a super hot past few weeks.  I've been seeking out recipes that won't need my oven to be heated.  In my search, I discovered these cute treats just in time for my family's 4th of July gathering.  They would be great for any summer event.  And are sure to be a hit!!

(printable recipe) 

Makes: 16-20 slices

 

Ingredients:

For the green outer ring:
4 cups Rice Krispies cereal
4 cups mini mashmallows
3 Tablespoons butter
green food coloring

For the red center:
5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
5 cups mini marshmallows
3 Tablespoons butter
red food coloring
chocolate chips

 

Directions:

Prepare two 8" or 9" cake pans by greasing with butter or non-stick spray.

To make the green outer rings:

1. Melt marshmallows and butter in a large bowl in the microwave about 1 minute, or until very puffy.  Stir until combined.
2. And add in green coloring, stir until reach desired color.
3. Add rice krispies.  Stir mixture together until combined.  
4. Divide the mixture between the two prepared cake pans, and press along the sides of the pans, creating a ring about 1-1.5 inches tall and 1-1.5 inches wide/thick. Rub a bit of butter on your hands as necessary, to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands.

 

To make the red centers:

1. Repeat as above, using the ingredients listed.
2. Press red mixture into the center of the two cake pans, using buttered hands to keep from sticking.
3. Add chocolate chips for "seeds".
4. Put in refrigerator until firm.  
5. Flip out of pans and cut into pieces.

  

**  For the coloring- I used Americolor gel in Mint Green and Americolor gel in Super Red

Source:  "mooched" from www.glorioustreats.com 

This recipe was published on Foodwhirl

This recipe was featured on:
 Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons
A Pinch of Joy  
First Home...Love Life
The NY Melrose Family 

Baby Shower Fruit Bassinet

This was the biggest hit of the owl themed baby shower that was thrown for my sister.   
To see the entire shower post click HERE.  
I had seen similar pictures on Pinterest but no instructions.  
So, I just went for it.  I think it turned out super cute!!

(printable instructions)

Supplies needed:

watermelon

cantaloupe

grapes

strawberries

toothpicks

pacifier

*ribbon, if needed 

serving tray or covered cookie sheet

Cut watermelon in half but only 2/3 of the way down lengthwise as shown in the picture.  Scoop out all of the melon and set aside to serve separately.

Cut a cantaloupe in half.  Only used one half for the face.  Clean off seeds and cut off peel.  I used a 1/4 tsp. measuring spoon to core out eyes and hole for pacifier.  Place toothpicks in eye sockets to secure grapes for eyes.  Place pacifier in mouth hole and secure with toothpicks if needed to hold it up.

Place fruit head in watermelon bassinet and surround with fruit.  I added a bow out of ribbon for a little extra decor.  Put watermelon on serving tray or covered cookie sheet and surround with remaining fruit.  I served the watermelon in a separate bowl to the side.  Enjoy!!!!

This post was featured on  
Brambleberry Cottage
My Turn For Us 

These instructions have been posted on Good Recipes Online, The Tablescaper, Country Momma Cooks, Funky Junk Interiors, Gingerbread, Simply Sweet Home, Alli 'N Sons, Fireflies and Jellybeans, The NY Melrose Family, Gingersnap Crafts, A Little Nosh, Polkadots on Parade, Tea Rose Home, The Kings Court IV, Lady Behind the Curtain, Sugar Bee Crafts, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Watch Out, Martha, Pinkapotamus, Making the World Cuter, Craft-O-Maniac, You're Talking Too Much, A Pinch of Joy, Addicted to Recipes, Six Sisters' Stuff, My Turn For Us, The Shabby Nest, Twinkle in the Eye, Doodles and Stitches, Brambleberry Cottage, Delightful Order, Michelle's Tasty Creations, It's a Keeper, REAL Housewives of Riverton