Cupcake Recipe

Boxed cake mixes are usually the easier route to go, but homemade cakes are always better. I know time is usually a major factor when making a cake. And I know a lot of you probably don't have a lot of extra time. So today I have a yummy cake recipe that won't take much of your time! I have been using this recipe for awhile and LOVE it. It's simple, has few ingredients, and is a hit with everyone. 

White Cupcake Mix

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of white sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 4 eggs
• 1 tbs vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbs baking powder
• 1 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add muffin pan with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, cream your sugar and butter together. 
3. Beat in the eggs into the sugar and butter, one at a time. 
4. Then add in your vanilla.
5. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour and baking powder. Add this dry mix to the other bowl and mix. 
6. Add in the milk and mix until smooth. 
7. Spoon batter into muffin pan, fill about 2/3 of the way up.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes. 
9. Allow cupcakes to cool at least 10 minutes before adding the icing.

Cream Cheese Icing

ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temp.
• 12 oz cream cheese, at room temp. 
• 1 lb sifted confectioners sugar
• 3/4 tsp vanilla extract

1. Beat butter and cream cheese together until fluffy.
2. Add sugar in, 1/2 cup at a time.
3. Add in the vanilla and mix until smooth. 

These cupcakes are super yummy and as you can see they take no time at all. So next time you need to hurry and make a cake, don't buy a boxed mix. Try this out! xo Britt

Valentines Breakfast

If you are wanting to do something nice for your husband, wife, or even kids this Valentine's day make them breakfast! Or better yet, breakfast in bed. :) We have a simple, quick breakfast idea we like to make on Valentine's day morning.

All you need to make the egg sanwhich is an egg, piece of toast, butter, and a heart shape cookie cutter. First butter your bread and then cut out the heart. Place the bread in a pan and crack your egg into the middle of the heart. Let it cook on that side for a few minutes and then carefully flip it and finish the other side. We take the center piece (the heart cut out) and cook it also. 

Then all you have to do is add a loving note or card (click here for our card inspiration), a flower, and their favorite breakfast drink. It's pretty simple but a fun, cute way to show someone you appreciate them. Not to mention its also very yummy! xoxo, Britt + Sky

Homemade Marshmallows

Hot cocoa without marshmallows? Now that's just not right!
In these cold weather months, hot cocoa is a staple for us. As we started filling our cups with store bought marshmallows, we thought, why not make our own. Its always fun and interesting to see what actually goes into something that you are eating and we really liked the idea of making them different shapes. I mean you might as well have cute marshmallows in that cute mug, right?

Candy thermometer
3 packets unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
2 Tablespoons vanilla extract (or other flavoring syrup)
powdered sugar for coating

Grease the pan of your choice. (We used a cookie sheet with edges because we wanted thinner marshmallows, but 9x13 is perfect for thicker ones)

In a large bowl, mix half of your water (3/4 cup) and all three packets of unflavored gelatin. Cover and sit it to the side. 

Combine the remainder of your water (3/4 cup), 3/4 cup of your corn syrup, and the sugar into a pan and turn your burner to medium heat. Whisk together. The sugar needs to dissolve and the mixture needs to come to a rolling boil. Let this mixture get to 240 degrees (F). 

Once it has reached 240 degrees (F), mix in the remaining 1/4 cup of corn syrup.

While mixing on medium speed, begin adding your boiling mixture to your gelatin at a slow and steady pace. Once all of it is combined, mix on medium for about 10 minutes. Or until the ingredients have stiffened and tripled in volume.

Pour the mixture into your greased pan and try to smooth out as much as possible. Let these sit for 8 to 10 hours. We just made them before we went to bed and they were ready to go when we needed them in the morning. 

Cover an area of your counter with powdered sugar. Flip over your pan to release your marshmallow. Then cut your marshmallow into your desired shapes, coat with powdered sugar to keep them from being sticky, and you are good to go. Random side-note: We used star and bell shaped cookie cutters to make our mallow shapes. That left us with quite a bit of leftovers that we ended up just cutting into small pieces that are about the size of the small store bought ones.

Place your marshmallows in a air-tight container and they can keep for about three weeks. 

We love how the marshmallows turned out and how they looked in our hot cocoa! This is a super fun project to do for the holidays and is a huge hit with little ones. Have fun making mallows! xoxo, Britt + Sky

Thanksgiving Recipes

Apparently since we are adults now we are expected to bring something to Thanksgiving dinner. We weren't sure what we wanted to make, all we knew was we wanted it to be something easy yet yummy. If you seem to be in the same situation or just need a quick recipe to make try one of ours!

Ham + Cheese Dip

• 2 8oz tubs of cream cheese
• 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 oz of ham 
• 1 box of Ritz crackers 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Set out cream cheese until it reaches room temperature.
3. Chop ham into small bits.
4. Once cream cheese has reached room temperature, or is soft, mix in the chopped ham and shredded cheese (don't use all the cheese so you have some to sprinkle on the top) with a mixer.
5. Spread ham and cheese mixture into a 8 x 8 pan.
6. Sprinkle more shredded cheese on top.
7. Bake for 30 minutes.
8. Let cool for 5-10 minutes and then serve with Ritz crackers.

We have used this recipe in our family for a long time now. It always turns out great and gets eaten really quickly. You can always change the recipe to your liking. If you like cheese, add more. Or if you like ham, you can also add more. This recipe is simple and usually a hit with everyone!

Cranberry Salad

• 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (thawed)

• 1 can (20 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained

• 2 cups miniature marshmallows

• 2/3 cup sugar

•  2 cups heavy whipping cream

• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

1. Using a food processor, chop your cranberries.
2. Mix your cranberries, sugar, and pineapple in a large mixing bowl. 
3. Let sit in the fridge for at least three hours. Its even better if you can leave it overnight.
4. Mix in your marshmallows, whipping cream, and walnuts.
5. And you're done! :)

This is a super simple and delicious recipe that is perfect for the holiday season.

If your family has told you it's time to grow up and bring something to Thanksgiving dinner, these are perfect. They're simple, quick, and very yummy! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

xoxo,  

britt + sky

S'more Popcorn Balls

I love s'mores! I love popcorn! So why not combine the two? Today I have a quick and easy s'more popcorn ball recipe that is delicious. With all this cold weather coming in, sweet treats really help make the day better! They are also great for holiday parties!

Here's what you'll need to get started:

• 7 cups of popped popcorn
• 1/2 cup of chocolate chips
• Bag of marshmallows marshmallows
• 1/4 cup of butter
• 4 graham crackers

1. Place your popcorn into a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
2. Crush your graham crackers into small pieces and set aside. 
3. In a medium size pan, melt your butter.
4. When butter is melted, add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
5. Then pour over your popcorn. Mix until popcorn is evenly coated with marshmallows.
6. Add in your chocolate chips and your graham crackers. Stir until everything is mixed in well.
7. The next step is messy. To keep your hand less messy its best to spray them with non-stick spray.
8. Now, with your hands, form the popcorn mixture into balls. Place the popcorn balls onto a tray or plate. You should get between 6-8 popcorn balls depending on how big you make them. 
9. Let sit for about 30 minutes to cool.
10. Enjoy! 

These popcorn balls are sooo yummy. They are great to make if you are going to a party or just to give to someone as a gift. 

I hope you all try this. It doesn't take much time and they are delicious. 

Have a wonderful weekend! xo Britt