Food Designs

Important Announcement: Change of URL and Consolidation

2016-11-14T23:24:00.001-08:00

Thank you so much for following this blog. We’ve been in a long hiatus rethinking our strategy and focusing on better ways to deliver our content. After what seemed to be a never-ending cycle of research - we have decided to relaunch and pursue our efforts in creating fun and useful content for our readers at our new site “Couch Baby”.

We've authored several blogs including this one and have opted to consolidate and manage them via categories and tags in Couch Baby. Food Designs at http://fooddesigns.blogspot.com is now officially retired and will no longer be updated. All new content will be posted at http://www.couchbaby.com. If you've enjoyed the content here, we invite you to visit us at our new site.

Sweet Heaven's Cupcakelicious Creations

2013-10-15T08:16:00.001-07:00

Here's one work of art from Sweet Heaven, cupcakes sure are lovely to work on. It's fun how you can decorate and design it, be crazy with it :)

Charge!!!

2013-05-18T22:58:00.000-07:00

Charge!!!!

Another brave man on his horse who won't lose his fight.

Rub My Tummy Kitty

2013-05-14T22:56:00.000-07:00

Cats are so cute most especially when they enjoy such a good petting and a rub on the tummy. Can you tell the difference with this and a real one? Lovely eh?

Krispied Goosy!

2013-05-10T22:54:00.000-07:00

Honk, honk! That's what we usually hear from such creature but this one won't say a word. Surely this goose looks crispy!

Bacon Bouquet Anyone?

2013-05-06T22:51:00.000-07:00

I am not so fond of roses but if I were to be given this yummy bunch of roses, I certainly won't say no to it! It's so simple yet so clever! Love it!

Butter Bars of Fun

2013-05-02T22:48:00.000-07:00

Seriously? All butter? The artist must've frozen himself / herself while creating this "insane" artistry. The monkey bars really impress me a lot!

Post Break: Cannoli Cake Recipe

2013-05-01T08:53:00.002-07:00

Try the Cannoli Cake Recipe for Your Next Dinner Party

SUMMARY

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Yield: Serves: 16

INGREDIENTS

4 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted and cooled
1/4 cup chopped semisweet chocolate
1 recipe Ricotta Filling
1 recipe Whipped Cream Frosting
Fresh berries or candied cherries, for garnish

Ricotta Filling:

2 cups (15 oz.) Sargento Part-Skim Ricotta Cheese
3 Tbsp. sugar
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup whipping cream, whipped
1 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips

Whipped Cream Frosting:

2 cups whipping cream
2 Tbsp. confectioners sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

DIRECTIONS

Beat eggs and sugar on medium speed in bowl with an electric mixer 5 minutes or until thick. Gently fold in flour and butter; pour into greased and floured 8-inch round cake pan. Bake in preheated 350°F oven 40 minutes or until cake feels firm when touched in center. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.

To make Ricotta Filling: Beat Ricotta cheese, sugar and vanilla on medium speed in bowl with electric mixer 3 minutes. Fold in whipped cream and chocolate chips.

To make Whipped Cream Frosting: Beat cream on high speed in bowl with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Beat in sugar and vanilla.

Cut cake in half horizontally using sharp serrated knife. Cut each layer in half again horizontally. Place 1 layer on serving platter; spread with one-third Ricotta filling. Repeat procedure, ending with cake layer. No sooner than 6 hours before serving, frost sides and top of cake with all but 1 cup frosting. Decorate with remaining frosting, chopped chocolate and fruit. Refrigerate until serving time.

The Brave One

2013-04-28T22:37:00.000-07:00

A perfect depiction of the great warrior who fought during the early years. I still can't imagine how this rice field was done.

Sushi At Its Best

2013-04-24T22:34:00.003-07:00

Sushi galore! Any sushi lover will be drooling over this crafty creation. Too beautiful to even touch a piece and ruin its elegance.

Post Break: Cresswind At Lake Lanier

2013-04-24T22:19:00.002-07:00

Have you ever thought how are you going to spend your retirement days? Where to stay, what to do, who to be with? This may not ring the bell for most people but for others, this is something worth planning for. Who wouldn't want to think of better retirement if you're so tired all your life working. Day and night for the longest years you couldn't afford to stop because you had to do things.

May it be with your dear partner, kids (who would eventually have their own lives too), family, friends, all that really matters is where you want to go and what you want to do. Indeed it's sad when we have to part from our dear family but everybody will eventually have their own lives. If you were to choose for a place where you can live a more laid back life and yet live within reach of people, an active-adult community may be the right place to go.

Your own home, a lakeside community, mountains, crowd of the same age and life disposition can be found in Georgia Retirement Communities. Cresswind is the place that can be called your home with first-class community amenities, secured facility, gated community, accessible to an array of recreational activities. Imagine yourself sitting by the dock of Lake Lanier on a quiet afternoon, reflecting or simply admiring the nature that surrounds you. That's something you can't do just anywhere.

Post Break: The Perfect Getaway

2013-04-22T23:26:00.002-07:00

What is the perfect getaway for you and your family? Would you prefer a place where there's hundreds of crowd trying to do the same thing you want to do? A theme park perhaps or circus? I admit, those are fun places to visit most especially when you have little kids with you. I wouldn't mind going to those places but at most times I prefer to have some intimate family time, away from the hustle and bustle and less distraction.

From time to time our family would book in a hotel and just spend quiet and relaxed nights there. Sounds boring but we love it. We get to enjoy the pool, breakfast and each other most importantly. We don't get to do that all the time having to work and be busy with our everyday lives. It feels good because I don't need to worry about preparing our dinners or tidy up the room and all those things you usually do at home. It's a piece of heaven for me to be able to be away for some time.

There are so many wonderful places to go to and of course so many beautiful hotels to stay in as well, one of which is Vero Beach Golf Club. So many activities to do there, good for the whole family. Enjoy rounds of golf or play tennis, have a dip in their gorgeous pool, ride the yacht, enjoy the beach building sand castles, visit the Museum and best of all have a relaxing SPA treatment. That's a vacation galore, everything in one place and no need to be anywhere around. Who wouldn't want such getaway? I don't know, but I definitely would.

Post Break: Camp Fire S'MORES

2013-04-21T00:12:00.002-07:00

Can you think of one good treat to have while camping? Barbeque is always given but something else that will keep everyone gathered by the camp fire after a filling dinner. S'MORES! That yummy graham with melted chocolate bar and marsmallow, that's the perfect camp fire treat. Yes, you may do s'mores right in your home, backyard or over a friend's place but nothing beats the warmth of sitting together with everybody by the camp fire under the stars while camping out.

Spring season is the ideal start of camping season, warmer weather and lovely trails full of wild flowers. Camping season goes all the way the end of Summer, that's so much time to plan for a nice camping trip for everybody to enjoy. Some might prefer just a day trekking the woods or hiking a trail but for others who just love to stay outdoors and commune with nature, camping for a day or two or even more can be more enjoyable. Finding the best sleepaway camps is a must for every avid camper. Not all trails are created the same, therefore every camp has its own element right for everyone.

Tips on Trips and Camps is a great source for anyone eyeing to go camping. You can find great guides, camp information & registration,camp fairs, articles and even camp programs that you may join. All the information you need to get started with your camping planning or even booking can be easily accessed through Tips on Trips and Camps.

Post Break: Wanna Watch More Food Channels?

2013-04-09T22:51:00.001-07:00

I noticed lately that you can hardly get any specific TV program without having cable connection. Yes you still get to view quite a handful of networks but admit t, sometimes you want to see more than what your regular channels can provide.

Not everybody would opt for a cable subscription, for some people it just doesn't seem to fit their lifestyle. While others need not to have more, some thrive to see more channels and take more pleasure in TV viewing.

Cable TV Advisor is now having a limited offer for those interested in wanting to view more Premium Channels. Offer starts at $29.99 a month which also comes with lots of perks. With Cable TV Advisor's DIRECTV Deal of the Day promotion, you get to have "THE GENIE", the new HD DVR from DIRECTV (free with qualifying packages).

Regardless if you are at work, out and about, running errands, or simply busy at the moment to watch your favorite food channels or any other channels then you might want to take advantage of Cable TV Advisor's promotion. With the all new GENIE, you can be anywhere else and still have your shows recorded for a later viewing schedule. No need to be there right infront of the tube to catch it, you can have it anytime!

Sweet Sunflowers

2012-11-20T15:15:00.000-08:00

Sunflower isn't sweet flower, no scent and just plain stickly and tall. Its sunny yellow flowers will greet you brightly once in full bloom. Sunflowers are known to be very useful, stalks can be made to paper, leaves for dyes, sunflower oils and seeds. This one though is just plain sweet, don't be mistaken as it is all made of sugar, that's what it is!

Curry Bath

2012-11-15T15:10:00.000-08:00

Curry rice is yummy but more interesting to eat if served this way! This can definitely brighten my day!

The Flower Wheel

2012-11-10T15:09:00.000-08:00

Guessing by the color it is a pumpkin. Such gifted hands to create an incredible art. The patterns and details are simply stunning.

Snowmen All-Year Round

2012-11-05T15:02:00.000-08:00

While some kids fret about snowmen melting once winter's over, this kind never will. If you want a longer lasting snowman that you can show off every year, salt dough is all you need.

Panda, Pa-panda, Pa-panda!

2012-10-31T14:59:00.000-07:00

Panda, pa-panda, pa-panda! Tetententen!

Cute, nothing much to say!

Kiki's Hot Cup

2012-10-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure this is Kiki from the Ghibli film Kiki's Delivery Service. Having the cold weather coming in, a nice hot cup of drink will keep you warm. But do you have the heart to stir such work of art?

The Perfect Bread Basket

2012-10-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

Halloween is the best time to carry around baskets, not this kind though. A bread-full basket sure will be an ideal centerpiece for any family gathering.

Mona Lisa on The Field

2012-10-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

We've seen Mona Lisa almost everywhere but not in regularly on a rice field.

The Scary Watermelon Man

2012-10-11T14:50:00.001-07:00

For such a great work of art, this one is quite scary.

Wines Are Going Green

2012-08-08T22:52:00.005-07:00

Just when you thought you couldn't get any greener, it just got greener! New bulbs? Appliances? Or maybe new Eco-friendly clothes? Not this time. This time you can go greener with your wine! And it's not actually a bad idea. Earth-friendly wines are going to hit the market like no other wine has before, by enabling wines to be sustainable. It may even be healthier than ordinary traditionally processed wines. And if its healthier, then maybe this is something all wine producers should start thinking about. Maybe this is something that starts with consumers, because when there is demand there is without a doubt, a market.

Wine.com recently wrote a very comprehensive article about wines going green. As I mentioned before, sustainability is a key factor in determining if something is green or not. Through environmental stewardship, economic profitability and social and economic equity can one produce a wine that is green. No synthetic materials, fungicides or pesticides are things that green wines have in common. Although this idea of green wines is a new movement, I believe that one day, green wines will have an important place in future markets. Have a look at the provided info-graphic from wine.com below to see how green wines come to life.

Presented By Wine.com, Purveyors of fine green Wine

mid-day croissant

2012-04-18T23:06:00.000-07:00

I love breakfast and I usually eat big on this specific meal. It's very rare that I take sandwiches or breads. This on the other hand is not even a breakfast meal. Just when you thought it's so real...you're wrong!

Cupcakes are nice and tasty snack treats, don't you think so?