lots and lots of baking…

Here are some of the recent cupcakes and cakes I have baked and wanted to share.

Puppy dog Birthday Cake

Pink cupcakes Happy Birthday E!

Dora cupcakes x 2!

More to come!!

{My} Wish List

It is a mere 5 weeks to Christmas I am going to post my WISH LIST 2010!

My obsession

to die for

must have item

to make this Christmas complete is

(drum roll, please…)

CRICUT CAKE

I need it, I want it, I MUST have it!!

Look for my  Christmas Gift Giving Guides!! Great homemade treats, gifts for the friends, teachers, kids and even hard to buy for family members!!

Ta Ta for now, Mama Bird

Birdie’s Fav Cranberry Salad

This is a must at ALL Holiday meals! Requested by the entire family EVERY year!! So easy and is even better if you make it a day or 2 ahead! It does contain jello but it is by no means a gelatin (as Hubs hates jello or any congealed salad!)

1 small package of cherry jello

1 cup of boiling water

1 small can of mandarin oranges with juice

1 small can of pineapple tidbits, drained

1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce

1 small bag of walnuts

Dissolve jello with boiling water, stir in cranberry sauce, fruit, using 1 cup of fruit juice from oranges & pineapple. Stir in walnuts. Place in fridge and chill overnight. Stir well and ENJOY!!!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Holiday Toddies

I LOVE, love, love a cocktail! I love to have a "signature" beverage for all my parties and I am having a Christmas Open House and have decided on these 3! I think I am hitting all the tastebuds! sweet & chocolately, citrus & spice.


I found this in an old Southern Living, one of my favorite mags. I dump everything in the crockpot, set it on low and enjoy it throughout the entire party. Makes your house smell great and is a nice warm drink. Perfect for Open Houses or whatever!

SUGARPLUM WINE

3 c red wine

2 c cranberry juice

1 c pineapple juice

1/4 c lemon juice

1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp cloves

1/4 tsp ginger

The Peppermint Patty is a great twist on traditional hot chocolate. We serve this at the salon throughout the Holiday Season. It is warm and looks pretty! We serve it with whipped cream on top and a peppermint stick.

PEPPERMINT PATTIE

1 mug of Hot Chocolate

1 Tb Peppermint Schnapps

Russian Tea is a drink that my grandmother, mother & aunts used to always drink when it was cool outside. When I was little I always loved the smell and the orange Tang is yum. I make up a batch every fall and and enjoy it on cool evenings!

INSTANT RUSSIAN TEA

2 c Tang

1/2 c instant tea

1 pkg Lemonade

2 Tb cinnamon

1 1/2 c sugar

1 tsp cloves

Sweet Potato Souffle

Let me start by saying that I know that you have seen boo-koos of sweet potato casseroles over this years but, if you are like me and don't like a bunch of "stuff" added to it you will love this! It is so freaking yummy! It makes ahead beautifully.

4 sweet potatoes, baked & skinned

1 c sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 c milk

1 stick butter, melted

Bake & skin potatoes; Place in large bowl, add remaining ingredients and mix with hand or stand mixer until smooth & creamy.
Topping:
1 c brown sugar
1/3 c flour
1/3 c butter, melted
pecans halves
Mix sugar, flour & butter sprinkle 1/2 of mix lightly on top of potato mix. Place pecan halves on top of that and sprinkle remaining mixture on top. Bake at 350 for 25-35mins until hot & bubbly! Enjoy!!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Garden Fairy Princess Party!

Happy 4th Birthday Sweet Logan!!

Logan is the daughter of some of our closest friends. She is spunky, loves bugs as much as she loves being a Princess or Fairy.

I think this is my favorite party to date!!!

coming up:

Volleyball Birthday Cake & Iron Man Marathon Cake

xoxo, Mama Bird

Birdie's Best Ever Thanksgiving Dressing

I have been working on the "perfect" Thanksgiving dressing for about 5 years and I am so pleased as I think I have finally got the perfect combo of savory, sweet & tart! I tell you this is a winning side dish and everyone will love it! It isn't hard to make doesn't take too much time and is so forgiving you can make it the day before, in fact I think it is better that way!

I use Peppridge Farm bread crumbs, I mix the Herb & Cornbread and its great now that they have 2 different textures. Feel free to use whatever bread crumbs you like.
Oh, did I mention it makes a TON!! Feel free to cut recipe in half.

8 c each Herb & Corn Bread Stuffing

2 c celery, chopped

1 c onion, chopped

2 c golden raisins

1 lb Italian Sausage (I like to use 2 sweet & 2 hot)

2 Granny Smith apples, diced

2 sticks Butter, melted & halved

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 tsp basil

2 c Parmesan Cheese

1 c white wine

1 c chicken broth

1 c milk

Cook Italian Sausage & add to stuffing,melt butter & saute onion & celery add to stuffing, add wine & chicken broth to saute pan bring to boil, add raisins to rehydrate, add apples cook for 2 min, add to mix; add milk, spices & cheese. Dump into a greased 9 x 13 pan depending on texture that you prefer you may need to add more broth or butter. I drizzle the remaining stick of butter on top as I like to be able to slice my stuffing and have it hold together. If you like a dryer consistency don't add more liquid. I make mine a day ahead and allow it to sit overnight in the fridge. Bake at 350 for a hour to hour and fifteen mins. ENJOY!

I ROCK!!

I wanted to share with you something personal, something I wanted to share. The journey that I have been on since March 8, 2010 to now! all the BIGGEST ACHIEVMENT of my Life!  To get healthy and HAPPY and find ME!!

I did!

I ROCKED!

I LOST 62lbs!!

Now. (We all look better!!)

I year ago. (and an extra person)

Do you have some good news to share?

I would love to hear!!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Thanksgiving Prep

I am a huge fan of Thanksgiving! I love the process of getting ready for the meal, decorating the table visiting with family and most of all EATING! YUM!!

I thought it would be most appropriate to share with my all my friends my favorite holiday dishes!! I am thinking I will 2 or 3 posts a week to get you inspired to try some new dishes or to put a twist on an old favorite.

We, or should I say Hubs deep frys a turkey and I have a great rub that I drench Tom in a few days prior to cooking. I also make my "famous" dressing,(a dressing I have been working on for the past 6 yrs!) sweet potato souffle, a jamming cranberry tart, that is a bit of work, but oh, SO worth the effort and a cranberry orange salad, that is requested at all holiday meals.

See all the yummies you have to look forward to??? It is going to be a great Holiday season here at Mama Bird's Nest! I hope you will all join me!! xoxo

Carnival Party

I got an email today from the wonderful girls of Anders Ruff. They are my go-to girls for all things party!! I love their whimsical party planning packs. I picked out the Carnival theme long before I had the party as I am a crazy planner and had to start gathering all my key elements long before the party! I can not wait to work with them again! They made the planning FUN!! Here are a few shots that really highlight their craft. The PRINTABLES!!
 
Water Bottle labels; a red wagon cooler!

Just had to share a pick of the backyard!

Cotton Candy Favors

Candy/Cupcake Table

with a handmade lollipop tree!

The Invitation!!

If you need any party invitations,go visit Anders Ruff  etsy store! Tell and tell them Mama Bird sent ya!!
xoxo, Mama Bird

{crockpot} Blushing Chicken

This is a super quick take on my creation Blushing Chicken. I just threw the main components in the crock pot and headed out the door!

Boneless/skinless chicken breast

1/2 c white wine

1/2 c chicken broth

1/4 c raspberry jam

Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute (spice blend)

Sprinkle chicken breast with spice. Mix all other ingredients in bowl and pour over top of chicken.  Great with steamed broccoli.

xoxo, Mama Bird

Give Thanks… challenge

Red Couch Recipes is posing a Thanksgiving Challenge. She suggest that you put a little blurb in every post from now until Thanksgiving telling something that you are thankful for.

WHAT A FANTAB IDEA!!!

TODAY, I am THANKFUL for:

{MY} Home

is a place not only of strong affections, but of entire unreserve; it is life's undress rehearsal, its backroom, its dressing room.  ~Harriet Beecher Stowe

Christmas 2009

xoxo, Mama Bird

Monday Meal Planning

Happy Fall Y’all!

Can you believe it is November? I can’t! Apparently, the weather is getting ready to go from Summer one day, Fall the next to FULL BLOWN WINTER by the end of the week. UCK!!! I love fall, love wearing jeans and long sleeve shirts, don’t love wearing coats or being cold. Oh well. On to more interesting topics FOOD.  What are we eating around these parts….

Monday~ leftover Pumpkin Chili (sounds odd, but oh it is SO good!!- check it out!)

Tuesday~ Rigatoni D

(my version of Maggiano’s Classic)

Wednesday~ Mediterranean Stew {CROCKPOT!!} Thursday~ Leftovers

Friday~ Pizza Night

What’s baking this week?

High Heel Shoe Birthday Cake

5 dozen cupcakes & cake

Baby Shower Cookies

Fun leopard cake

xoxo, Mama Bird