{Reflect} Resolutions

The New Year celebrations have come & gone.  It’s 2012, so now what?  Have you made your New Year’s resolutions?

I’ve given this idea a bit more thought.  If you are like me, N.Y. resolutions are difficult to keep.  And if you haven’t written them down, they are hard to remember. I have decided on only one wish for my 2012.

Photo via Hey Look Oy

What is my one wish you might ask?  G.R.O.W.  I want to look back on 2012 and confidently say that I’ve grown as a person.  This idea is encompassing of all things that make up me.

I want to look back & know that I’ve grown in relationships, creatively, professionally, physically & spiritually.  Part of growing is stretching.  Do you stretch?   Do you try out-of your-comfort-zone type-things?  Life hasn’t been given to us to just waste away.

I came across a quote by Lotta of Hey Look Oy.  She said someone once told her…”You don’t need an invitation to your own life.”  With that being said, I’m excited to see what 2012 brings & how I grow.

So it’s day 2 of 2012.  How will I GROW today?

XOXO,

Jill

{Celebrate} 2012

Happy New Year!!!  Have a safe & joyous holiday!

Photo via

XOXO,

Jill

{Christmas} Day 25: Wish

Merry Christmas friends & family!  I wish for you bountiful blessings from above.  Enjoy time with your loved ones & we’ll see you in 2012!

Photo via

I will be taking a little vacation but will be back on the blog to wish you a Happy New Year!  Until then, have a safe & happy holiday!

God Bless,

Jill

{Christmas} Day 24: Nativity

The Nativity scene has special meaning to me during the Christmas season.  This year I displayed our silver one under our Christmas tree. In the evening, it gleamed brightly under the lit tree.  A quiet reminder.

Photo by Modern Cupcake

Merry Christmas!

God Bless,

Jill

{Christmas} Day 23: Cranberry Croissants

My mother’s Cranberry Croissants top my A-list for Christmas menu offerings.  This effortless pastry can be served for breakfast or dessert.  Do you remember our family recipe for the Cranberry Relish?  Well, here is another mouthwatering adaptation!

Photography by Modern Cupcake

Cranberry Relish 

1 Granny Smith Apple

1 Navel Orange

1 – 12 oz. Bag of Fresh Cranberries

Sugar

Wash & dry the fruit.  Core the apple & leave peeling on orange.  Place all cranberries, orange slices with peel & apple slices into a food processor.  Chop into small pieces.  Add approximately 3/4 Cup of sugar.  Pulse in food processor until desired minced consistency.  Add additional sugar to taste.

I typically don’t add more sugar because I prefer some tartness.

I purchase the refrigerated croissant dough packaged in the tube.  Open package & carefully separate each croissant triangle.  Spoon approx. 1 Tbsp of Cranberry Relish onto the largest part of the triangle.  Gently roll croissant so that the Cranberry Relish is in the center.  Bake croissants according to package.

While croissants are baking, combine milk & powdered sugar to form an icing drizzle.  Continue to add powdered sugar to milk until you achieve your preferred consistency.  When croissants are pulled from the oven, drizzle icing over warm croissants & serve.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.  Thank you mother for spoiling us all these years with these heavenly croissants!

XOXO,

Jill

{Christmas} Day 22: Gift & Wrap

I love gift wrap just as much as I love stationary.  In fact, I think I have a gift wrap fetish because my collection keeps growing!

Photography by Modern Cupcake

This Christmas, many gifts are to be wrapped.  Here is a quick idea using wrapping paper scraps.  If you are like me, you always have strips of wrapping paper left by the wayside.  I used brown craft wrap & then banded the gifts with left over pieces of the decorative wrap.  I also found some scrap satin ribbon & incorporated it onto one of the the packages.

Photography by Modern Cupcake

The blending of brown craft paper & the decorative paper bands will brilliantly coordinate with your existing gifts.  I love the modern vibe of the gift wrap, don’t you?

{Christmas} Day 21: Winter Luxe Part II

Do you want to Winter-Luxe your Confections?  Here are some simple ways to play dress up with your store-bought desserts.  Transform these everyday desserts into glistening edible art.

Photography by Jessica Downey Photo

These white chocolate trees were a breeze to make.  Melt white chocolate in a double boiler.  Transfer white chocolate into a small pastry bag & cut a small tip off end.  On wax paper, drizzle outline of individual white chocolate trees.  Use a swift motion to create the whimsical outline.  Dust with clear & silver sprinkles. Use edible iridescent glitter to finish.  Once cooled, lift carefully with spatula. Place trees on top of a store-bought cake.

These trees are stunning in person!

Photography by Jessica Downey Photo

Want to beautify store-bought sugar cookies?  These cookies are absolutely gorgeous!  My photographer, Jessica, couldn’t believe I whipped these up in just minutes.

Melt white chocolate in a double boiler.  Place 1/2 of the store-bought sugar cookie into the chocolate & carefully tap excess off.  Place on wax paper to cool. Let stand for a minute or two before applying sprinkles. Use a mixture of clear sugar sprinkles & metallic silver sprinkles to coat white chocolate side.  Allow to cool on wax paper before transferring.

Serve these custom cookies at your next dinner party or package individual ones as a small gifting.  Your friends & family will ooh & ahh!  For more ideas & inspiration, view the holiday issue of The Party Dress magazine!

Enjoy!

XOXO,

Jill

{Christmas} Day 20: Ornament Exchange

I’ve been receiving an ornament each year since my 1st Christmas.  My mother made a point to give each one of us kids a new ornament to call our very own.  It was one of my favorite ways to reminisce about Christamas’ past.  Every year I looked forward to rediscovering each one as we decorated our tree.  And when the time came to leave home & marry off, I received my box of ornaments as a gift.  It was one of the most memorable wedding gifts I could possibly receive.

So now we’ve carried on the tradition in our own little family.  My husband & I have been exchanging ornaments since our first Christmas dating.  And now that we have our little one, we have one more person to buy for.

Last year my husband surprised me with a very sentimental ornament.  He purchased a silver marker & carefully wrote “Modern Cupcake” on the base of the mixer.  He was so proud!

So as I took the ornament out of the box this year & hung it on the tree, I realized this ornament has new meaning since first receiving it.  My first year with Modern Cupcake has provided an unexpectedly fun ride! I’ve had a year full of making cupcakes that people really truly enjoy.  I’ve made new friends that I wouldn’t have met otherwise and I was able to experience Martha Stewart’s headquarters & have my work published.  And now I’ve started my little blog.  I wonder what new meaning this ornament will provide next year, when I carefully unwrap it?

XOXO,

Jill

{Christmas} Day 19: Simple Appetizer

I’m taking cheese & crackers to a whole new level.  I created this quick, easy & delish combination for your next dinner party.  Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering at your home or you’ve been asked to bring an appetizer, give these a try!

I use the French St. Dalfour brand of fruit spread.  For this appetizer, I selected the Red Raspberry & Pomegranate.  See the ingredients & instructions below.

Modern Cupcake’s Cheese & Crackers

Seasoned flatbread crackers

Jalapeno

St. Dalfour – Red Raspberry & Pomegranate Fruit Spread

Brie Cheese

Instructions: Break crackers into approximately 2″ lengths.  Spread tops of crackers with fruit spread.  Place a brie slice on top of fruit spread.  Mince jalapeno (include seeds & membrane).  Top with a small amount of jalapeno.

Not only are these delicious, they are pretty too!  Bon appétit!

XOXO,

Jill

{Christmas} Day 18: Acts of Kindness

Did you know that everyone young & old, makes a difference in their lifetime?  Yesterday, we were touched by two lives, a mother & a son’s.

My little one’s favorite thing to do this Christmas season is to visit the local Hallmark store & admire each & every ornament.  So as expected, while out & about shopping we paid our visit to Hallmark.  Wide-eyed, E ran straight for the ornaments & began pushing buttons, pulling strings & even finding joy in the more simplistic ones.

A woman stood next to us, peering around in search of ornaments.  We exchanged light hearted words & both smiled as E carefully inspected each one.  E was particularly drawn towards a tiny little Rudolph ornament.  He kept showing us how if you pulled the string, the legs would magically move back & forth.  As we stood there looking at the display, the woman selected two of the Rudolph ornaments & headed straight for the cash wrap.  I remember at that very moment standing there smiling & thinking about how much joy the little ones receiving those ornaments would experience.

Photograph by Modern Cupcake

Soon after, we left the store & stopped for a restroom break.  While E & I were gone, the woman walked up to my husband & quickly handed a Rudolph ornament box to him.  She dashed off before he could even say thank you. Tucked in the box was a card.  It read…

This Random Act of Kindess… Done in Loving Memory of our Beautiful Child Braden Friewald.

10/4/04 – 3/23/08

www.Bradenforever.com

When E & I returned, my husband handed me the box. Tears filled my eyes as I read the card.  I picked up E & squeezed him extra tight & covered him in kisses. I was completely overwhelmed by her gesture.  As a mother, my heart wept for the woman & the loss of her child.   And at the same time, my heart was warmed by the idea that Braden’s little life continues to touch others.  And that his mother shines Braden’s light by random acts of kindness.

So this Christmas season, let us be mindful of the following.  Express your love to those you hold near & dear.  Be kind to those around you, because you never know what their life involves.  Carry out random acts of kindness.  Make a difference!  Thank you Braden & Billie for these powerful reminders!

With love,

Jill