Tasty Party Anyone??? COUNT ME IN!!

Little by little I'm solving the delimma of this cooking and eating thing I've got goin' on right now.... I want to cook...well..really ...the whole fascination with all the cooking is the end result...it's all about the PRESENTATION!!!  Just because we can't afford to go to fancy restaurants constantly doesn't mean we can't "LOOK" like we're at a fancy restaurant when we're at home...right??? Are you with me on this??  And it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg to make a cute little presentation....

As for the baking delimma.....well..I decided that I'll bake for the dog..but then, Dana doesn't want me to feed sugar cookies constantly to Maggie our dog...so ...hmmmm...back at square numero uno!

But...Alex  came over and saw my sunflower sugar cookies.  He ate one.... and took the rest of them home (that will be in an upcoming post) to take to the girls at the bank...DILEMMA solved!!! WHEW...  So now...bake for the dog....and bake for Alex and the girls at the bank! 

But then yesterday, I walked into Pier 1...and OMG...light up a girls eyes....I swear, I was drooling..because...they have this whole new ensemble of neat little servingware...in neat little serving sizes...in tiny little packages....and I just couldnt resist.....(remember it's about presentation...)...and Im a sucker for all this Tasting Party stuff......

Pathetic isn't it?  I suppose it could be worse.

I'm sure you've all heard about wine tasting parties...and I've been to a couple but if you don't drink adult beverages, well...your next best option is FOOD.

I suppose if I "googled" tasting parties or tasting party ideas I would get the proper "ettiquette" on how you are supposed to throw a party...well...who knows...Im not gonna google it... I'm gonna clue you into how I'd do it...

Depends on how much time you have....how much control you want to have...and if you want to do the whole thing by yourself....

If that's the case...set a theme....could be "fingerfoods" ...could be "dessert delicacies"....or cheese??  Once the theme is set....think about the color of the food that you'll be preparing and set the colors of the party that will best bring out the declicious colors of the food and enhance the visual appeal.

Of course you can go all out with fancy swankie cloth/linen napkins..(but then you have to wash and IRON them...)..but you can also go to the dollar store and buy a package of nice white texture napkins and draw or stamp a design on them that will suit your theme and pair them with another colored napkin.  I do this all the time....Ask Dana...he laughs at me because when I 'm in a creative mood - I'll slap a design on those white napkins and go all out.....so..trust me...keep inexpensive - otherwise known as CHEAP paper napkins around at all times....and while you're at it...pick up a couple of the disposable table cloths too...they're awesome...
So you get the idea...set a theme...set a color....and run with it.... (servingware, dishes, napkins...etc)...

I recently did a show on my Creative Life TV  featuring a watermelon table top theme that could easily be incorporated into a tasting party...how fun would that be for a summer splash of a party!!! Just follow the links below to watch the videos:

• Learn how to create a watermelon design on a goblet
• Learn how to make a decorative watermelon themed placemat
• Learn how to make a unique place setting holder with a garden glove

Now onto the food....I love the white servingware in the above collection (PS...by the way...the dollar store has some really great square plates for $1 a piece...and we use them like fine china)...White is awesome...you can pair any color with it...it matches...and so versatile...and look how it sets the food as the main focus. 

The other thing I love about tasting parties is that they're small bite size servings.  Try to offer 6-10 selections per guest for a large party...or keep it simple with just 4-5...

And of course...enjoy the night with friends.....that's the best part...spending time with people who really enrich your life....

That's what I'll be doing Monday night...getting together with a bunch of girlfriends and having a TV Watch Party and you can bet...Im gonna make some yummy treats to share....and yes...I'll get photo's and share them too...

Hmmm...what do to today...cook ...bake...make art??  You tell me....

Have a great weekend everyone!

Coming up on the next Creative Life TV - Fabulous Fall show - Sneak peek!

Coming up on the next Creative Life TV! Yes! It's that time of year where we long for the cooler temperatures and vibrant colors of fall. Here's a preview of what you'll see - Mark your calendars for August 8th! I'll see you then!

The Adventures of Baking - BAD COOKIE DAY - CRAFT FAIL!

Bad hair days - yep...we've all had them....but Bad COOKIE DAYS?? come on! This was the first bad cookie day ever.......and it didnt get better!!! 

Now I would love to tell you that everything I attempt to do turns into a masterpiece....of delightful proportions...but then...I would be lying wouldn't I?  Truth is....lots and lots of stuff I do...never makes it to here...because...well...it's craft failure at it's finest. 

My watermelon cookies turned out soooo awesome, that I thought, hmmm..how bout some "Have a Nice Day" smiley faces....yeah! That would be cute...and adorable...and ...well...I've done it in clay like a million times...why not cookie dough....OH BOY....let me tell you -I set myself up for FAILURE!!!

For one thing it wasn't my "patient" day...I just wanted to get them done and see what they look like...and so the first thing I did was make the colors - yellow and black...cept I didnt make enough yellow and then the dough that I had left over I rolled out and put them into the oven.....and here's where the failure begins...

Impatient me...puts cookies into the oven.....then "side-tracked" me...decides..."hey, while they're bakin', I'll go get on the internet and do my mail.......................and looks some stuff up......................" and side tracked me found..."hey that's some really cool stuff....so lets look at it ..."  for like a half hour...then......a big cookie fairy voice inside my head said...HEY!  COOKIES!!!!!!

and..................................................well.................cookies and crafts just don't mix.... I burned them to and turned them into PUCKS!

But Maggie our dog loved them........................

so...like I said..CRAFT FAIL!!!!!!!  So....I finished putting the pattern in the dough.......layed it all out...put it in the freezer...for a couple hundred hours....- yep, it was supposed to be TWO...but I left them there for like TEN! The log was frozen solid...It's now 8pm and I WANT COOKIES!~~~

So...I cut them out....or should I say...I TRIED to cut them out...they were hard as rock frozen! and not to mention -LOP SIDED....  They're kinda happy.......sorta..Im not!...and .one's missing an eye...

then I thought... these cookies really look disturbed.....and so they took on a personality ...all....their...own.....SCARY!



This one is downright mad!!!! Ticked off mad!!!  I told him he should be happier he has two eyes...he could have turned out like ole' one eye....

This one is just plain ole onry.......reminds me of my Dad when he sticks his tongue out at me.....

Mom always yells at him.... (sorry Dad)

And then...there's always one in every bunch...the one who is constantly monkey'n around...and can't keep a serious face...

can't even look straight at the camera -

and then.....

I give up.....have a happy day anyways....

I'm goin to eat cookies.....

How to Marbleize Friendly Plastic - with a twist!! Friendly Plastic TV Video is live!

In this episode of Friendly Plastic TV, Linda Peterson shows you how to create a pinwheel spiral pattern in Friendly Plastic.  It's a "twist" on the standard marble technique.

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How to make Milliefiore Watermelon Sugar Cookies from Creative Life TV

I'm sharing this directly from my Creative Life TV website.  I thought you might enjoy this summertime treat!



MILLIEFIORE WATERMELON SHAPED SUGAR COOKIES!

By Linda Peterson

OOOOh Oh so juicy Watermelon. I love everything about watermelon, the fact that they remind me of summer, their whimsey, and above all - their color combination!!! Having been a polymer clay artist for 20 years now, I've made lots and lots of watermelon using polymer clay and the millifiore technique. So...with my recent facination of food crafts, I wondered if I could do the same with dough? And guess WHAT??!?!? YOU CAN!

On today's episode of Linda Peterson TV - Livin' the Creative life, I featured ideas for you to celebrate summer with a cool watemelon themed tabletop display. Now...let's take that into the kitchen and make some juicy watermelon shaped sugar cookies! It's easy!!

Here's what you'll need:

Two tubes of purchased sugar dough from the grocery store (or look up and follow a recipe for refridgerator sugar cookies)

• Red, black and kelly green soft gel food coloring
• 1 Egg
• Brush
• Small amount of flour
• Plastic wrap
• A long sharp knife
• Rolling Pin
• Baking Sheet
• Parchment paper
• Cooling rack

For presentation:

• a clay pot or bucket in color of choice
• Green paper shreds

MAKE

Create an egg wash by scrambling one egg with 1 tablespoon of water.

Create the watermelon color by mixing red soft gel coloring into one tube of sugar dough. Knead this completely until the color is well blended. The color intensity will depend on how much red gel you add and your color preference.

Flatten this out into a disk and wrap securely with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours

Divide the remaning log into two equal sections.

Combine 2 sections and add green gel, mix completely, flatten into a disk, wrap with plastic wrap and chill 2 hours.

Divide the remaining uncolored Flatten the remaining uncolored (white) roll into a disk into 4 equal sections, combine three sections, flatten into a disk wrap and chill.

Mix a drop or two of black gel into the remaining section, flatten, wrap and chill as above.

CREATE

Tip: Dust your work area lightly with flour to prevent sticking

After chilling, create a log approximately 6" long and around 3" in diameter. Wrap and place into freezer.

Place a piece of clear wrap onto worksurface. Flatten white dough to approximately 1/8 to 1/4" " thick. Create a rectangle approximately 6" wide x 10".

TIP: To make it easier to roll the dough without sticking to the pin, sandwich the dough between two pieces of clear wrap.

Brush egg wash onto top of dough. Remove the plastic from pink dough and wrap this around the pink log. Trimming excess if necessary. Wrap with plastic, place back into freezer.

Repeat this step with the green, add egg wash and wrap around log. Freeze for 2 hours.

TIP: Stand on end in the freezer so that you do not get a flat spot on your round dough.

SLICE AND BAKE

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cut sections of dough 1/4" thick. Cut dough in half to create watermelon slices.

Roll small black balls and shape into teardrops. Press these to each cookie to add seeds.

Bake for 10 minutes.

While still warm, you can trim off the upper edge of the watermelon to give it a nice straight edge. Remove cookies and place on cooling rack.

ENJOY!

Presentation: I painted a clay pot to look like a watermelon. You can use anything from plate to a cute bucket. Simply add enough paper shreds to fill the bottom and arrange your cookies inside.

Another variation is to place a small amount of paper shreds into a treat bag along with a cookie and tie with a piece of string. Attach a little tag for embellishment.

Enjoy!!!