So Cute DIY Marshmallows

Have you ever tasted a homemade marshmallow?  They taste amazing.  Smooshy, fluffy and melt in your mouth. 

It wasn’t until a month or two ago that I even knew you could make marshmallows from scratch.  When I was growing up, marshmallows came out of a bag and you used them to make rice krispie squares or smores. 

My first taste pf a homemade marshmallow came when I was sourcing candy for a green and white themed candy table that I was putting together.  Now, after my bite of heaven, I don’t know if I can go back to the mass manufactured type. 

While reading the beautiful event blog, Inspired Goodnessthis week, one post in particular caught my attention that I just had to share- homemade marshmallows for Easter via another blog, Twig and Thistle. 

How cute are these marshmallows?  Once you get the knack of making these little things, why stop at Easter?- you could get creative for every holiday until your family and friends protest in rebellion that they do not want to see one more homemade marshmallow creature on the table! 

Marshmallow Peeps (via Twig and Thistle)

To view the step by step recipe on Twig and Thistle, click here.

Interactive Dessert Idea: Croque-em bouche

I attended a classic wedding on Sunday night that was the catalyst behind this post.  Let me give you some background.  All the necessary components were at this wedding, the order of events, the food, the band and the centerpieces.  All there, all lovely but nothing special.  That is not to say that I did not enjoy myself, it  was a lovely wedding and the couple looked great but really what I mean to say is that from the perspective of a guest, nothing stood out.  aka the wheels in my head started turning to develop a blog post out of why nothing stood out. 

So today, I wanted to talk about how something so simple can become memorable in the mind of a guest.  At the wedding I was part of two weeks ago, the bride and her family held the tradition of serving croque-em bouche during the holidays and she wanted nothing more to serve the dessert at her wedding.  As a side commentary- I have absolutely no experience with the dessert and zero basis for comparison except sampling cream puffs in Hong Kong from Beard Papa (hardly a just comparison to Croque-em bouche), so it was an educational experience for me too.

The bride got more than her request of serving croque-em bouche at the wedding.  Thanks to her fantastic caterer, Andrew Underwood from Rustico Fine Foods, he had someone on-site assembling and spinning the sugar for guests to experience live.  The building of this sugary creation actually became part of the entertainment.  As the anticiaption rose amongst the crowd, watching the skilled team of chefs, assemble, stick and spin sugar, guests eagerly awaited the time for the bride and groom to break off the first ball and let everyone else dig in!

It was great fun and I overheard guests making comments like “I have never seen a dessert like this before” or “It’s so cool that they are assembling the thing live instead of in the back”  I am still hearing comments about the interactive dessert.  Something so simple, to have a chef prepare dessert live rather than behind the scenes, left an impact on guests thereby adding a memorable component to the event. 

And now for some pics:

Croque Pic 1

Brownie Pops

I’ll keep this one short and sweet like the subject of this post-  Brownie Pops.

Has anyone ever tried these things?  I just discovered them and I am giddy with excitement.  Now I have to search Toronto high and low until I find someone who can make these chocolate covered brownies on a stick so I can incorporate into my candy tables and future events. 

Check out Marsha Pener Johnston’s www.browniepops.com for a full selection.  Sadly only in the US 🙁

monogram brownie pops (via tracy porter)

Easter Brownie Pops (via life is a banquet- gather round)

Brownie Pops via (the Nibble.com)

Signature Cocktails

I organized a cocktail party/wedding reception last weekend for a friend that I will share photos from as soon as I get them uploaded.  At the event, the bride chose a great signature cocktail, the BrazilianCaipirinha made with cachaca.   

A conversation I had this morning  with the bride about the drink sparked an idea for a post about signature cocktails.  For most people attending the event last week, the Caipirinha was something new, something unfamiliar and something exotic.  Not only did the drink become a point of conversation at the party it also became a point of conversation after the party. 

Choosing a colourful beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) that guests can order at their leisure throughout the evening is a great way to inject symbolism and meaning to an event, add an element of entertainment or introduce people to something out of the ordinary. 

If you choose a signature drink, be sure to add a little sign for guests to read before they order telling them why you chose it, how it is made and give it a creative name if it is your homemade blend. 

Margarita from Yifat Oren (via InStyle Weddings)

Signature cocktails from Peyton Events (via Peyton Events)

Signature Cocktail Mojito (via Yum Sugar.com)

Lychee Martini with Starfruit Garnish (via Yifat Oren)

Designer maple sugar- how Canadian!?

Maple sugar is hot right now in Toronto so implies Keith Gordon‘s article in today’s Toronto Star .  Why is maple sugar the “in” thing you ask?  Because the artists and artisans who are using maple sugar as a medium are turning out some pretty spectacular edible works of art.  The article in today’s paper lists several cool applications of maple sugar but my favourite is what design company, Ninutik has done with the sap. 

Dianne Croteau and Richard Brault started Ninutik in Toronto back in 2006 with the goal of presenting Canada’s rich heritage of producing maple sugar in a modern, artful way. 

These designer cubes of maple sugar are a force to contend with.  Imagine serving guests one morsel as a palate cleanser before dessert or gifting a dozen in the company’s attractive packaging?  The website describes the products as “elegant, modern and distinctive” I couldn’t agree more. 

Dianne and Richard have succeeded.  Next time you are looking for something new and different for your table, the little shop in Richmond Street West may be the key to entertaining success.

Richmond Street Store Front:

Ninutik Richmond Street Store Front (photo from Ninutik.com)

The Goods:

(photo from Flikr via Blancbagno's photostream)

Ninutik's Valentines day box (photo via Ninutik)

Cake Accessories

If you tend to make a lot of cakes and cupcakes and find yourself with a mental roadblock of how to up the creativity ante, I just found a company that sells incredibly intricate cupcake wrappers and cake stand wrappers.  Move over basic polka dots and stripes, we’re talking serious design here.  The company that sells these things is a wedding site called Estilo Weddings created in 2007 by Philippines born and raised Maria Ryan.

cupcake wrapper