Rook No. 17: recipes, crafts & creative nesting

Teacup Chamomile Tea Cakes

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Erickson) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:17:07 PST

What a lovely little treat for your tea party guests ~
A chamomile kissed tea cake
served inside a dainty tea cup!

For week two of the Joy the Baker Cookbook Spotlight & Cook-off, I had the opportunity to try Joy's recipe for Mini Chamomile Cakes with Honey Frosting, and decided to see how they'd bake up inside a set of oven-safe teacups. The results were perfectly charming (and delicious). The honey frosting was a delightful complement to the floral notes of the chamomile cake.

The little cakes are tender, light and sweet and would be a perfect match for a dollop of honey-sweetened whipped cream, for those with less of a sweet tooth (like myself). The batter comes together in the shake of a lamb's tail, and the chamomile tea gives a soft golden hue and subtle taste that evokes a meadow in springtime.

Chamomile Tea Cakes

(slightly adapted from the Joy the Baker Cookbook)

Makes 12 cupcakes or 12 teacup cakes

For the cakes

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted sweet-cream butter

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of salt

3 tablespoons dried chamomile (fine, not whole)

1/2 cup milk

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For a sweet frosting

2 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar, sifted

1 Tablespoon honey

6 Tablespoons heavy cream

pinch of salt

--or--

For a less sweet frosting

1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 Tablespoons honey

Step 1: Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with paper or foil liners, or arrange twelve small tea cups on a baking sheet. Lightly grease the inside of each teacup with canola oil.

Step 2: In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and chamomile together for a few minutes till mixture is coarse and sandy.

Step 3: Whisk milk, egg, and vanilla together in a large measuring cup. Pour half of the milk mixture into the flour mixture with the mixer on medium-low. Beat until just incorporated. Add remaining milk mixture and turn speed up to medium. Beat for about a minute, until smooth.

Step 4: Divide batter evenly into prepared cavities. This mixture makes exactly enough, so use a rubber scraper to scrape all of the mixture from the bowl and into the cups.

Step 5: Bake for 18-25 minutes or until a toothpick/skewer inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove and cool completely on a wire rack.

Sweet Frosting (a good option if you have a sweet-tooth, or want to ice the cupcakes and hold prior to serving)

Whisk together sifted powdered sugar, honey, cream, and salt until smooth. Spread on top of cooled cupcakes. Can be stored for 3 days, in an airtight container at room temperature.

Less Sweet Frosting (a good choice for a more delicate balance of flavors, but can not be prepared in advance)

Chill bowl and beater(s) for 15 minutes. Beat cream in chilled bowl to soft peaks. Add the honey and beat to medium peaks. Dollop on cupcakes or in teacups and garnish with a sprinkle of loose chamomile or fresh camomile flowers. Serve immediately.

Carte Postale Stamped Silk Flower Pin Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Erickson) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:00:05 PST

In December, my friend Holly (of 504 Main) and I hosted a small get-together of some of our closest friends for a "Favorite Things" party.

We held the event at a local venue overlooking the bay.

Each guest brought enough of a favorite thing (a lipgloss, split of champagne, gourmet chocolate, etc) to give to each of the other ladies.

These were the "favorite things" that I brought for everyone.

Holly and I provided a linen tote for each guest, and everyone went home with their bags full of incredible new finds. Holly and I each made our own version of fabric flowers as a little something extra for our friends. We attached my flowers, which were on pinbacks, to the tote bags. Holly's flowers, mounted on clips, were worn by each guest. Here are the flowers that I made:

The inspiration for my flowers came from a post that caught my eye on Pinterest, originating at The French Cupboard.

My color palette was inspired by a cream and black silk flower pin that I saw in a local boutique. The pins were fun and easy to make. They make a bold statement on a classic black sweater; can be worn in your hair; or used to dress-up a tote bag or clutch.

Stamped Silk Flower Pins

Assorted Silk Flowers in the palette of your choosing

Fabric Ink Pad

(Look for fast drying and pigment based)

Postcard or other Ephemeral type stamp

(mine was purchased at Michael's)

Hot Glue Gun

Buttons or bits of vintage jewelry

Felt (a single pin requires two 2" circles)

Pinbacks

Small hole punch

scissors

Step 1) Dismantle the flowers, sorting the petals by size, and reserving plastic stamens for later.

Step 2) Use the stamp and fabric ink pad to stamp the vintage-looking images on some of the lighter colored petals.

Step 3) Dry fit (no glue) layers of petals until you've achieved the desired look. I used at least two layers of stamped petals.

Ignore the black pipe cleaner in the center. I originally intended it to hold the petals together during the dry-fit, but later found this step to be unnecessary.

Step 4) Starting with the bottommost petals, begin hot-glueing the layers together. Glue between every layer.

Step 5) Create a decorative center by layering a plastic stamen and vintage button. Hot glue in place.

Step 6) Optional -- softer petals sometimes have a tendency to droop. To give the flowers a fuller, more lush look, you may want to glue some of the bottommost petals to the petals just above them. See the picture below for an example:

Step 7) Cut two felt circles (1.5"-2" in diameter). In one, use a small hole punch to punch two holes, the same distance as the pin bar on the pinback.

Step 8) Open the pin and insert through one of the holes. Bring the pin clasp up through the other hole and close the pin.

This is what the felt and pin piece looks like from the back and the front.

Step 9) Glue the plain felt circle to the back of the flower.

Step 10) Glue the pin and felt piece to the plain felt piece on the flower (so that the pin is sandwiched in-between the felt). The felt "sandwich" gives the pin durability and strength.

You're finished!

Vintage Brownie Bookplate & RecipesA Little Birdie Told Me...No. 60

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Erickson) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:45:47 PST

From my copy of The Brownies Around the World by Palmer Cox, 1893

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Welcome to

"A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 60!

If you're here to share a craft, recipe or project post,

you'll find the linky and the specifics on how to

join the party after the features below.

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Whether it's the playful sprites of folklore, the rich chocolatey confection, or the little girls dressed in brown peddling Thin Mints each spring, it's hard not to be smitten with BROWNIES!

Why, just last Thursday I had the pleasure of making the
Double Chocolate Chunk Brownies
(with Malted Chocolate Frosting)

from the new Joy the Baker cookbook!

And here's a charming little bookplate

featuring Palmer Cox's Brownies

for you to print and enjoy.
(click on the image for download)

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It's no wonder why
these incredible brownie recipes
(of all shapes and sizes)
caught my eye this week...

(Itty Bitty)

Brownie Chex Mix

from Somewhere in the Middle

(Bite Size)

Marshmallow Brownie Bites

from Inside Bru Crew Life

(XL)

Brownie Mousse Torte

from The Kitchen Cookie

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If you've been featured

(here or on Facebook)
feel free to grab a "featured on" button
from the sidebar.

---------------------------------

If you're a fan of the fun finds, foodie tomfoolery

and crafty shenanigans here at Rook No. 17, would

you take a few seconds to show your support with a

over at Babble?

THANK YOU!

----------------------------------------------

Now it's time to link-up and share your creativity!

GUIDELINES FOR GOOD PARTY MOJO:

1) FOLLOW Rook No. 17. Aw shucks, it just makes your host feel appreciated.

2) LINK-UP -- Link-up the URL of a specific post -- craft, recipe, DIY project, or anything else you'd like to show-off. If you have something for sale, please refer to the "Advertising" section.

3) POST THE BUTTON OR A LINK-- Grab the code for the button (below) and paste it into your sidebar or the body of your post.

4) VISIT ONE other link -- Isn't it great, when you're "discovered" by a new fan as a result of linking up to a party? Pay it forward and make someone's day!

5) OPTIONAL - Leave a comment -- I'll comment back -- simple as that.

HOW TO:

1) click your cursor in the code box,

2) right-mouse click and "Select All",

3) right-mouse click and select Copy.

4) Paste the code into your sidebar or post.

REMEMBER TO
Visit ONE other link and leave them a comment.

The links are featured from newest to oldest,

so everyone gets a chance to go "first".

*Rook No. 17: recipes, crafts & creative nesting*

Teacup Chamomile Tea Cakes

Carte Postale Stamped Silk Flower Pin Tutorial

Vintage Brownie Bookplate & RecipesA Little Birdie Told Me...No. 60

Rook No. 17: recipes, crafts & creative nesting