Pot of Gold

I got this idea from Love, Actually, and then I just went off from that. I found small clay pots at the dollar store in a pack of three; then painted them all black. Then I just got some pipe cleaner at Target ($2), and a bag of rolos. I twisted red, orange. yellow, green, and blue pipe-cleaners together at the ends, put them deep into the clay pots, and then filled with rolos.

I also thought these cupcakes were so cute, and I think I will attempt to make them tomorrow. Find the recipe at Family Fun:

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Today, (March 2) is Dr. Seuss's birthday; and who doesn't have like 10 favorite Dr. Seuss books. In honor, we had some Cat in the Hat hats. Really easy, out of red and white construction paper.

The directions.

• First measure your child's head...as you can see from the pictures, the hat perfectly fits my baby, but just barely rests on top of my daughter's head. Once you have a red construction paper (two or so taped together) that fits around your child's head, make 3-4 one inch wide strips and glue them on.
• Then tape the hat together into a tube shape that will fit around your child's head.
• Grab a piece of white construction paper draw a large circle, I used a plate to trace a circle, and cut it out for the brim of your hat.
• Trace a circle using the paper tube onto the center of your white paper circle and cut it out.
• Trace another circle using the paper tube onto red paper for the top of your hat.
• Now slide the white paper hat brim about an inch down the paper tube and cut little slits. (as you can see from the picture with my son wearing the hat, you cut the little slits and fold them down and tape them onto the hat brim).
• Then tape the top of the hat on and you are good to go.

And you have to make some Dr. Suess snacks. Here are some ideas:

Green Eggs and Ham: Scramble and Cook your eggs but add a couple drops of blue food coloring.

Cat in the Hat: Take a vanilla wafer, put on a dab of vanilla frosting and use red and white gummy lifesavers to make the hat

Or if you are really into it, make these awesome cupcakes from Kitchen DoughDough, how cute are these. Red velvet cupcakes with blue cotton candy.

For some more awesome ideas, or just to see some cool Dr. Suess stuff, check out Croq Zine.

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I have really been craving pumpkin this fall season. I got the cupcake recipe from My Baking Addiction, and the frosting recipe was just one I had. These are so good!

Recipe:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and eggs. Add dry ingredients, and whisk until smooth. Whisk in pumpkin puree.
3. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about halfway. Bake until tops spring back when touched, and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

For the frosting:

12 oz. (1 1/2 (8 oz.) cream cheese) SOFTENED

2-3 cups of powdered sugar

2 tablespoons of softened butter

1 teaspoon of vanilla

Beat the cream cheese till smooth. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time. Then add butter and vanilla. Can add more or less powdered sugar depended on your taste.