It's official...

(well, as much as it can be in the Pacific Northwest) SUMMER has landed primarily on the weekends, but we'll take any sunshine that's willing to make the trek from Florida,
cause face it Justine at....Stupid Is As Sister Does has it all.
She's has expressed how her (cute) face is melting in the Florida sun , so I think
she'd be more than happy to share.
While most were running their air conditioners this month,
we had been running our heaters!

The fountain is filled and

the water is flowing.

B-R-E-W-I-N-G




There are many on line recipes for making candied citrus slices or peels.
Butter Yum
has the most beautifully illustrated detailed instructions.



I pour granulated sugar over the candied peels it keeps them crisp and
it leaves a sparkly coating.
You'll find yourself frequently reaching for these candied gems.
For topping your ice cream, cupcakes, drinks or for a treat to nibble on.

Candied Slices of...Orange, lemon and lime.

The simple syrup that's left behind from making your candied citrus can be used to sweeten any summer drink.

You know I couldn't leave you without a

*Sweet Surprise.*

How about Citrus Lollipop Swizzles?
While the tea is steeping we're going to get cookin.'

I used a lollipop recipe to create the citrus swizzles.
After the syrup reached the hard cracked stage, the zest from a whole lemon, lime and orange were added.
The zest replaces the need for any extract, the oils in the rind will provide a wonderful citrus flavor .
Bamboo skewers made perfect lolli sticks.
You'll see why in the finale.

*Important note*
I learned quickly...this is a slow and steady process,
a" low " boil will produce a clear candy.

If you let the candy syrup set for a few seconds the air bubbles will calm down.
I prefer the fizzy effect of the air bubbles, so I didn't wait to form my lollis.

I left the food coloring out so you could see the fine details of the zest.
Pretty sweet, don't you think?




Top off your Lollipops with fresh fruit
or...
bump it up a notch for your guest , add a little frill to the end of your lolli for a little dazzle.







I spun a sugary cage for my fresh raspberry sorbet.

We've come to a close from our very busy bed & breakfast style of entertaining that began in May.
It was wonderful having family and friends take time from their busy lives to visit a spell with us.
I decided to re-post this, because there were so many of you who missed the first publishing who wanted the instructions.

Part Two

Let's get crackin' !
Part Two...Party Favor

We'll be using those toilet or paper towel rolls that you've been collecting.
Cut the paper towel rolls in half, matching the length of the toilet rolls.
You'll need three or four strips of (2 1/2-3 inch wide) patriotic themed (wired) ribbon or scrap booking paper.
Starting at the bottom, glue ribbon around roll leaving a smidge of over lap to cover raw edge.

Tuck edge in.

Wrap and hot glue second strip, tucking in raw edges.

Glue last strip leaving a large overlap.

Tie a bundle of tinsel trim together.
For a spiral effect I wrapped the wire tinsel around a pencil.

Slip tinsel bundle into the firecracker opening, tie securely with (patriotic themed) ribbon or bakers twine.

Here comes the fun part....turn the bottom over and fill with goodies,

candies, confetti, poppers, etc.

To close the bottom opening glue a strip of fabric then trim off the excess.
The weight of the contents will allow the firecrackers to stand on there own.

Time to embellish....well this would have been the part where I would have showed you the (various) vintage postcard (clipart) printed and glued to the front of my firecrackers....but my printer decided to conked out on me and when you're entertaining the masses there's isn't much time left for hunting down a new printer, so you'll have to imagine this part.
So... here's the fan that goes with the vintage postcard.

1. Cut the pleats from a cupcake liner.
2. Sew a gathering stitch along the top of the pleat.
3. Draw thread in until a round fan is formed, tie knot and glue closed.

I sprayed painted wood stars and used them as bases for my firecrackers.

I hope you have a star spangle 4th of July!!




Here are a few images that can be used as scrap booking paper for this project.

Vintage postcards

Star Spangle Fun!

Lets get crackin'!
Part one...Dessert

Insert a Pirouline (wafer cookie) into the center of a (mini) cake donette.




Melt Nestle white chocolate chips.
Immerse the donette into the white chocolate.
Sprinkle with (red, white, or blue) sanding sugar.
Set aside until the white chocolate becomes firm.

I purchased (mini) star shaped cookies, but homemade shortbread stars would work just as well. Dip toothpick into melted chocolate, adhere to the (back side) of the cookie.

Brush white chocolate (in sections) over Pirouline (wafer cookie) , sprinkle (liberally) with red, white, and blue sprinkles.

Step five
Wilton party picks can be used alone to form the shooting sparks,
or can be combined with the following...
Cut a (single) Twizzler or red licorice in half.

Cut each half three quarters of the length, leaving the end uncut Taper the bottom corners.

Insert the pick through the fringed Twizzler or licorice




Cookie pick gets placed in front and sparks pick sets behind .

Fruit leather or any flat strips of gummy candy can used in this step too. If you can't find the Wilton party picks. The star cookie with toothpick can be substituted in this step.



Carefully insert picks through the top of your firecracker.
Place on a star (or round) sugar cookie.

voila

Stay tuned Part Two...
Party Favors