Bridal Shower Gift

This is a very fun, cute and useful bridal shower gift!

From bottom to top:
Round Pizza Pan
Metal fruit basket
large Tupperware type bowl with lid
Medium Tupperware type bowl with lid
A utensil cup with utensils
hand towels and wash cloths
Paper towel holder

We filled each Tupperware bowl with measuring spoons and cups, hot pads, can opener, timer...
We then stacked each piece, placing a doily on each bowl and towels (folding in half, making a large triangle and then rolling) around each section, and then ran a long piece of ribbon through the fruit basket and through the utensils; tying a bow in front.  Then placed everything on the pizza pan.  We then took wash cloths (fold in half, making a rectangle, and roll at a slight angle.  Then fold in half making a rose with a leaf) and made roses and weaved them in the wire fruit basket as well. We made a large card with the couples first initial on it and placed it in the paper towel holder. 

Lady Bug Cake

Made this for my little girls 2nd birthday.  She loved it!

• 1 cake box
• 1 medium metal or glass bowl
• 1 small glass bowl
• mini Oreos
• white chocolate melting chips
• Buttercream Frosting
• Red food coloring
• Black food coloring

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Make cake according to directions on box.  Pour batter between, well greased and floured, bowls.  The smaller bowl baked for about 20 minutes.  The larger bowl baked for about 35-45 minutes.  Let them cool for 15-20 minutes. Turn over on foil covered cardboard. 

Frost the larger section first. Add a line of black down the middle, I used the writing frosting you buy in a tube, and add half an Oreo while frosting is still wet.  Frost the back side and sides of the head, then place it on the body.  Frost the face.  Place two white melting chips on for the eyes while the frosting is still wet, so the stay on.  I dipped my finger in black frosting and placed a dot in each eye.  I then melted white chocolate in a small Ziploc bag.  Cut a small hole in the corner and piped a mouth and eyelashes on.  I then placed two candles in the top of the head.

Jell-O Cups

So funny to watch my family try to drink out of these.  Made for a good prank on April Fools Day!

Make any flavor of Jell-O according to directions.  Pour into glasses and place a straw in them.  Place in fridge for a few hours. 
Make sure to make the same color of Kool-aid in a large pitcher to throw them off!

Meat Loaf Cupcakes with Mashed Potato Icing

 I made this the past two years and it tricked my family both times.  My kids get so excited to have cupcakes for dinner!  Their faces, after the first bite, are priceless!  We all have a good laugh!!

• 2 lbs. ground beef
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
• 1 pkg onion soup & dip mix
• 2/3 cup ketchup
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• salt and pepper

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. 
In a large bowl mix everything very well.. Divide the mixture evenly into foil muffin cups, pressing mixture down firmly.
Bake 35-40 minutes or until meat is fully cooked (160 degrees F).

Mashed Potatoes

• 6 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• salt and pepper

In a large saucepan, place potatoes in generously salted cold water.  Heat to boiling.  Reduce heat and cook until potatoes are tender.  Drain.  Add butter and milk; mash until creamy and smooth, adding more milk if necessary.  Season with salt and pepper. 
Place potatoes in a decorating bag with large tip.  Starting at outside of loaf and in circular motion, pipe potatoes onto each loaf. 
(The firs year I added a little food coloring, but my husband had a really hard time eating them.  The second year I just left them white and added a cherry tomato on top. He said that was better!)