Star-Spangled Desserts

I'm a dessert girl, there's no doubt about it! I would take a chocolate chip cookie or a brownie over dinner any day. Even though we won't be doing much for the Fourth of July this year, I still plan on making a fun dessert for my husband and son to enjoy while our other little guy is busy getting big and strong in the hospital. I'm overwhelmed with how many fun and festive options there are out there! It's going to be hard to choose just one! Then again...who says I can only make one? That's a dangerous thought.

 Red, White and Blue Cookie Bark @ Your Homebased Mom

 Red, White and Blue Striped Creamy Coconut Stars @ 

Hungry Happenings

 Fourth of July Cake @ The Secret Life of a Chef's Wife

 Cupcake Flag @ Good Housekeeping

I saw this idea for a patriotic cupcake on Pinterest but there wasn't a link to the photo. (If this is your idea, please let me know so I can give you credit!) I love the idea of layered colors in the cake, as well as the awesome contrast of star sprinkles and blue sugar crystals. The white cupcake liner is perfect for this cupcake so those awesome layers come popping through. A very cute idea!

 Fourth of July Cake Pops @ My Juice Cup

Red, White & Blue Funfetti Sandwich Cookies @ 

Two Peas & Their Pod

Red, White and Blue Jello Cups

I know, another Fourth of July jello recipe! I just can't get away from it! I found these Red, White and Blue Jello Cups over at Real Mom Kitchen and thought they were the cutest idea. This is a great way to serve a jello at a Fourth of July bbq. Everyone gets an individual portion and two of the layers have fruit inside. Kids and adults alike will love these! This recipe is a little different from the Red, White and Blue Jello Salad I posted on Friday. But both taste great!

Red, White and Blue Jello Cups
image and recipe via Real Mom Kitchen
makes 14-16 servings

Ingredients (listed by layer)

• 1 (3 oz) package berry blue gelatin
• 2 c. boiling water, divided
• 2 1/2 c. cold water, divided
• 1 c. fresh blueberries
• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
• 1 c. heavy whipping cream
• 6 Tbsp sugar
• 2 c. (16 oz) sour cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 (3 oz) package strawberry gelatin
• 1 c. fresh strawberries, diced
• plastic cups (The amount will depend on what size you use. For example, this recipe will fill 8 (9 oz) plastic cups. That makes about 2 servings per cup. Use the small plastic cups to make smaller portions.)

Directions

1. In a bowl, dissolve berry blue gelatin in 1 c. boiling water. Then stir in 1 c. cold water. Divide between clear plastic cups. Carefully add the blueberries and refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm.
2. In a saucepan, sprinkle unflavored gelatin over 1/2 c. cold water. Let it stand for 1 minute. Then mix in the cream and sugar. Cook and stir over low heat until the gelatin and sugar are completely dissolved. Allow to cool to room temperature. Whisk in the sour cream and vanilla. Spoon over the set blue layer and refrigerate until firm again (about another hour).
3. Once the white layer is firm, dissolve the raspberry gelatin in bowl with the remaining 1 c. boiling water. Then stir in the remaining 1 c. cold water. Spoon over the white layer. Add the diced strawberries to this layer. Chill until set for about 1 more hour. Garnish with whipped cream and more berries, if desired. 

* You can also make this jello in a glass dish and just do a layered jello. Follow the instructions the same but just put everything in the same glass dish. 
* This recipe would also be really good with raspberry jello and raspberries instead of the strawberry jello and strawberries! However, using raspberry jello will make the red layer a dark red color instead of the bright red of the strawberry. It just depends on your preference.

Fourth of July Fruit

Fruit is one of those things that I just love to eat at a summer bbq. The Fourth of July is no different! And since the Fourth of July is next week, here are a few ideas to make that fruity side dish into something festive. While there are also a lot of great dessert ideas that involve fruit, these ideas are simply a little something to set next to your burger and chips during your Fourth of July celebrating. Who knew that something so cute could be so easy to put together?

These dipped strawberries are a crowd pleaser! Dip the strawberries halfway into melted white chocolate or almond bark, then immediately dip the end into blue sugar crystals. 

Very festive and delicious! 

(image via All Recipes)

 American Flag Fruit and Cheese Tray @ The Better Mom

Simply cut fresh strawberries and your favorite white cheese. Then arrange with fresh blueberries and raspberries to look like an American flag (as shown above). Very cute and easy!

American Flag Fruit Kabobs @ Party City

I love fruit kabobs! They make eating a fruit salad very simple. Strawberries, bananas, and blueberries work perfectly together to make these patriotic fruit kabobs.

Watermelon Stars @ Hip Hip Hooray!

Kids seem to really love watermelon. Why not cut some into stars for the Fourth? All you need is a star-shaped cookie cutter in the size of your choice (and a seedless watermelon, of course) and you're good to go! They'll love having one of these guys sitting on their plates.

Cookie Cutter Fruit Salad @ Wit & Whistle

Combine those cute star shapes with some blueberries and strawberries for a fun and patriotic fruit salad. Wow, I want some watermelon right now!

Red, White and Blue Jello Salad

It's a miracle! I'm actually posting a recipe! I apologize for being so absent the last couple of weeks. I've been back and forth to the NICU all day every day and it's been super busy. My toddler is back in town after a week long vacation in Idaho with all of his grandparents so my life is semi getting back to normal. Now all I need is my three-week-old baby home with us and we'll be set! But for now, having my oldest home is good enough for me.

The Fourth of July is coming up and I am SO excited. It is one of my favorite holidays for all kinds of reasons. The parades, fireworks, food, family, friends...you can't get much better than that! I've always loved spending the Fourth in my hometown of Idaho Falls, Idaho. If you live nearby I recommend that you go there for the big firework show: the Meleleuca Freedom Celebration. It's one of the top shows in the nation and it is just awesome. Picture this: a beautiful river setting in the middle of the city, lined with vendors and people anxiously waiting for the fireworks to start right on the docks. So awesome! I look forward to it every year. Unfortunately, this year I will not be spending the Fourth of July in Idaho Falls. It bums me out big time, but I'm hoping instead that I will be taking care of my tiny baby boy at home. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Last year our sister-in-law, Erika, and her husband, Dustin, hosted a family Fourth of July bbq at their house. This girl LOVES the Fourth of July and her party made that very clear! There were all kinds of fun and festive foods, homemade root beer, a cute craft for the kids, patriotic stories, and games at the party and it was a blast. Days before  she called me to give me a food assignment. She wanted me to bring a jello that was red, white, and blue. She explained how much she loves having a patriotic jello present at Fourth of July bbq's and wanted me to be in charge of making one. And I was up for the challenge! I found this Red, White and Blue Jello over at Jamie Cooks It Up! and I was so excited to give it a try. It turned out so cute and fun and everyone really liked it. Many were going back for second and thirds. I was so flattered!  The layers set up really well and the colors were just so bright. It's a perfect dish for a Fourth of July bbq!

I'll be sharing more Fourth of July recipes up until the big day so stay tuned!


Red, White and Blue Jello Salad
Jamie Cooks it Up!

• 2 (3 oz) boxes berry blue jello {This stuff tends to fly off the grocery store shelves around this time of year so buy some soon!}
• 2 (3 oz) boxes raspberry jello
• 2 packages unflavored gelatin
• 4 c. boiling water
• 2 c. crushed ice
• 1/2 c. cold water
• 2 c. milk
• 1 c. sugar
• 2 c. sour cream {The sour cream part might be a bit of a turnoff for some of you. I understand completely! But don't worry, you can't taste it at all. It is used as a thickening agent and also makes that splendid white color for that layer. The added sugar and milk help give it great flavor.}
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• one 10-inch bundt pan {If you use any smaller you'll end up having to pour some of each color out or it will be too much for the pan. I recommend using at least a 10-inch pan!}

Directions
{To see pictures to these directions, click here!}

1. In a glass measuring bowl, pour out both of the berry blue jello powder packages and add 2 cups of boiling water. Stir together till all the granules are dissolved. Then add 1 cup of ice and stir till it's all melted.
2. Spray the bundt pan generously with cooking spray. Pour that pretty blue jello into the bundt pan and place it in the freezer for 20 minutes or until the jello is set.
3. Rinse out your glass measuring bowl (Or grab another one, up to you!) and combine the 2 packages of unflavored gelatin with 1/2 c. cold water. Stir it well to combine. Let it sit for about 5 minutes to thicken. 
4. Pour the milk in a medium sauce pan. Heat it up till it starts to have a nice simmer. Then add your sugar and the set gelatin. Stir that well to combine. 
5. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the sour cream and the vanilla. Stir well to combine. Let the mixture come to room temperature. If you need to hurry it along, go ahead and place it in the fridge. But be careful not to leave it in too long or it will start to set up. You don't want that right now! 
6. Take the bundt pan out of the freezer and test it to make sure it is set. Using a large spoon, carefully pour the cooled white mixture onto the blue layer of jello. Put the pan back in the freezer so the white layer can set. This should only take another 20 minutes.
7. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over the raspberry jello packages. Stir well till all of the jello has dissolved. Pour 1 cup of ice into the mixture. Stir until the ice has melted.
8. When the white layer has set up, carefully pour the red mixture over top. Cover the pan and chill for at least 3 hours. I recommend making this the night before you need it to ensure it is nice and set up. 
9. Time to take it out of the pan! Place a large plate or serving tray over top of the opening of the pan. Then invert the pan and the jello will slide right out. Enjoy!

Tiny Prints and Treat: Birth Announcements, Birthday Cards, and More!

It's still hard for me to believe that my baby is here! He's still in the NICU and will be for some time, but we sure are happy to have him here and safe. And he's doing well! Now that he's here, it's time for me to start getting ready to send out birth announcements. When my first son was born I was so excited to make his birth announcements. I immediately went to Tiny Prints and quickly found my favorite style of card. I ordered the announcements and I was so pleased with how they turned out. The color was great and so was the quality of the paper. I was so excited to send them out! I loved my cards and the price was right. I always want to shout from the rooftops when my babies are born. But sending a birth announcement is the next best thing! I can't wait to order my new baby's announcements from Tiny Prints. I'm a huge fan!

I love this example of a birth announcement for a little girl. If my little guy was a little gal I'd be ordering this one. Darling!

Such fun fonts and the layout is great.

{Click here for more birth announcement examples! It's going to be so hard for me to pick one!}

Now I want to introduce you to a recently launched brand new site called Treat.

Treat allows you to order all kinds of greeting cards for your family and friends. There are so many different options for all kinds of holidays and events. Treat also allows you to sign in with Facebook and will alert you to birthdays coming up so you can send a personalized card right from your computer. You can even add a gift card and have it sent right to the recipient’s address! It makes remembering to send greeting cards so easy!

This is just one of the many super cute examples of a birthday card on the site. Love it!

Are you as excited as I am about Treat? And it's your lucky day because Treat has a promotion going on right now! Head over to Treat and get your first card for free! Just enter FREETREAT at checkout.

Tiny Prints and Treat are great sources for birth announcements and greeting cards.

Join in on the fun today!

Grape Salad

First off, thank you SO MUCH for all of the wonderful blog comments and e-mails I've received about the arrival of our baby! I appreciate the warmth and love that has come our way during this exciting by trying time. I have the best readers ever! For those who aren't in the know, I delivered my son at 32 weeks on June 2nd via emergency c-section. He's now in the NICU and has a long way to go. But he's doing better and better every day. We feel so blessed that he survived the ordeal on Saturday and we just love our little baby so much. Thank you again for your love and support!

After the baby was born, a friend of ours was able to get meals brought in for us. We were so grateful for that! Thank you, friend, you know who you are! :) We really appreciated the meals and loved every single thing we got. One of the side dishes we received was this Grape Salad. The gal who brought it over asked if we had ever eaten it before. I thought maybe I had, but after I tried it I realized I hadn't. Before we ate it she told us not to be scared of it because it's awesome ha ha. She's had a few experiences with that salad where those about to eat it are nervous about what they were going to eat. When we tried it we couldn't get over how good it was! She warned me that would happen. It was so yummy! This salad would be perfect for a summer bbq or party. This would make a good baby shower or bridal shower salad as well. I have a feeling that more and more people are going to love this salad!

Big thanks to Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour for the recipe and use of the photo! We inhaled our salad too fast to get a picture of it!


Grape Salad
Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour

• 2 lbs red and/or green grapes
• 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
• 1 (8 oz) package sour cream
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
• brown sugar (optional)

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla, and sugar with a mixer. Wash the grapes and remove the stems. Fold into the cream cheese mixture until well coated.

And that's it! I know, right? Way simple for such a delicious salad. To mix things up a bit, you can add some color and put half green grapes half red grapes in the salad. Add some chopped walnuts or pecans for some crunch, and sprinkle on some brown sugar for added sweetness.

My Family Will Love NEW Quaker Soft Baked Bars!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Quaker Oats for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Quaker Soft Baked Bar

I have a husband and a two-year-old son who love to eat snack bars. My husband brings one to work with him every day and my son would eat one every day if I let him. I am especially excited for these two to try NEW Quaker Soft Baked Bars. NEW Quaker Soft Baked Bars help provide the energy you need with the awesome flavor you want. This new snack bar from Quaker is made with real fruits and nuts that you can eat on-the-go or warm up in the microwave for a real bakery experience. I'm excited for that real bakery experience! This great snack can get you through until your next meal.

These treats are packed with:
• 140 calories
• 5g of Fiber
• 6g of Protein
• Excellent source of 5 B-Vitamins

breakfast snack

I can see my husband loving to take these to work over the off brand bars he currently takes with him. And with the two flavor choices of Cinnamon Pecan Bread and Banana Nut Bread, my son is sure to have a new favorite! He already loves banana bread. I think the Cinnamon Pecan Bread would be my favorite flavor. I love cinnamon, and putting that together with pecans into one of these bars sounds like heaven! Doesn't that look heavenly?

 

I can see my mom, dad, and siblings all really loving these bars as well. They're all busy people who find themselves on the go very often. Especially my dad! He could leave a box of these at work and have access to them throughout his day.

wholesome food

I can't wait to try these!

My Little Piece of Heaven

Sometimes life changes at the snap of a finger. I had every intention of being back to blogging right after Memorial Day weekend! Before I knew it I was in the hospital with symptoms of pre-term labor and having a hard time trying to get things under control.

Saturday afternoon brought a bit of a surprise:

We greeted our little baby boy after an emergency c-section at 4:32 pm on Saturday and life hasn't been quite the same since! He was 8 weeks early and went straight to the nicu. He is doing well and seems to be doing better every time we go to the nicu to see him. He was 4 lb 7 oz at birth and 17 1/2 inches long. He's got a fabulous head of brownish blonde hair that looks like he had professionally highlighted. He looks so much like his older brother did when he was a newborn and he's just the sweetest thing in the world. We couldn't be happier to have him here!

Thanks for being patient with me and still visiting Cupcake Diaries, even though there hasn't been anything new for a while! I'll be up and running again soon. Thanks for all of your support! I appreciate all of you for being part of this blog and making it what it is. I hope you have a great day and are enjoying summer vacation so far!