101 Ways to Use Cookie Cutters

What can you do with cookie cutters?

(Of course these cupcake cookie cutters are my favorite!)

Studio 5 Party Ideas contributer Alisa Bangerter came up with 101 Ways to Use Cookie Cutters. ( I totally want to meet her and learn as much as I can from her. She is a wealth of knowledge.) I am going to make Star princess wands for my daughters' birthday party like the one she shows on this Studio 5 segment. These are some fantastic and easy ideas and cheap too! I wish I could say that these ideas were my own, but I'm so glad Alisa came up with them- and was willing to share with us... here are some of my favorite examples:

13. Tie cookie cutters together to make a garland for a holiday or spell a word.

29. Make crayon shapes. Simply wrap with foil and place on a cookie sheet. Place broken crayons inside and melt.

55. Use as a weight to hold bouquets of balloons. Coordinate the cutter for the holiday or event.

The possibilities are endless. Most of us have a collection of cookie cutters. Are they collecting dust? Take a look at this segment on Studio 5 and you will be surprised with what you can do with a simple cookie cutter. You might even come up with a new idea just by being inspired. Thanks Alisa- Happy Baking!

Yummy Wedding cupcakes...

In January, I had the privlege to make some wedding cupcakes for a great couple! Scott and Rachelle are so fun, so young, and starting their life together! Their reception was magical, the atmosphere was incredible, the food, well delicious- I'm not just saying that because I am partial. There was some other things besides my cupcakes.

Scott insisted on having the Root Beer Float cupcakes, and with some convincing of his bride and nephew, we came to the decision of the R.B F cupcakes along with Key Lime Pie & Black Forrest- yummy. Here are some photos taken by Jill Oaks Photography- thanks Jill!

There were labels and so many tiers with fabric wrapped in between. The buffet table was beautiful. :)

It was a great experience for me. Glad I could have been part of it! Happy Baking!

The Office Box Giveaway and Wrong Number Book Launch!

The Original Scrapbox has a brand new piece of organizing furniture and YOU have a chance to win it! Inroducing The Office Box (as seen in this picture)

And we are celebrating the launch of Rachelle J. Christensen's suspense novel, Wrong Number, with the chance to win an autographed copy!

I'm hosting a preliminary giveaway with a prize all my own:

A signed copy of Bree Despain's "The Dark Divine!"
You can enter to win my prize between March 5th and March 15th! My winner of The Dark Divine will be announced on March 16th and will then go on to the grand prize drawing with 24 other winners for The Office Box and a copy of Wrong Number.

The Grand Prize winner will be announced on March 19, 2010 at RachelleWrites. One person will receive the Office Box ($895 value) in their choice of color and a signed copy of Wrong Number by Rachelle J. Christensen.

Contest Rules:

-You can only enter under one name.

-Your address must be in the contiguous United States only.

-It is possible to enter to win more than one preliminary prize, which means it's possible to be entered into the grand prize drawing more than once. (other participating sites listed below)

-You must complete the required entry to be eligable to win.

Here's how to enter!(required)

- Please leave a comment below this posting

- Become a follower of http://www.wendypaulcreations.com/ (if you are not already)

- Visit The Original Scrapbox website, leave a comment of your favorite item.

Extra entries! (optional- be sure to mention them in your comment with the links!)

- Become Facebook fan of The Original Scrapbox.

-Tweet about the contest with a link back to your comment on this site.

-Facebook the contest with a link back to your comment.

-Add the contest button to your sidebar on your blog (picture above) with a link back to your comment.

-Follow Rachellewrites.

Here is the list of other (24)blogs where you can enter:

The Mommy Flies, Cricut Christmas, Little Birdie Secrets, Priscilla Styles, Mommy Mandy, RockinMama, RachelleWrites, Alvor-Dare to Dream, Diony George, Heather Justesen, Queen of the Clan, Scribbled Scraps, Anne Bradshaw, Rachel Rager, Tristi Pinkston, Cami Checketts, Nichole Giles, Marilyn Bunderson, Ronda Hinrichson, C.L.Beck: Write Up My Alley, Christine Bryant, Ali Cross, Jenni James, Annette Lyon.

*Results of contests are final. participants will be eliminated if entry rules are not followed correctly.

Good luck & Happy Baking!

Youtube book trailer for Wrong Number

GET YOUR COOKIE RECIPE IN MY NEW BOOK- Only one more day!

Only one more day to enter the best cookie contest ever!

Send me your original cookie recipe to 101gourmetcupcakes(at)gmail(dot)com.
Include a photo of your cookie, yourself and a brief bio.

Winner will receive their recipe in my new cookbook, 101Gourmet Cookies for Everyone- out this fall! For complete contest details, go here.

All entries have been great so far, don't miss this opportunity! Happy baking!

Top 10 Things I've learned from Costco Book Signings

Costco is one of those places that you can never seem to get enough of. I seem to be there close to once a week, and throughout this "tour" of Costco with my book signings, sometimes 3x's a week. One week there were 4 trips to Costco up and down the wasatch front.

There are many things I have learned from Costco over this time. One night at Costco can be a learning experience, not just a great time meeting people. I complied this top ten list during a recent trip for a book signing. (I was laughing so much, I actually got more people to come and talk with me. ) Without further discussion, here is my Top 10 Things I've learned from Costco book signings!

10. Taking your wife to Costco on a Friday evening qualifies as a "cheap" date.

9. You will ALWAYS run into someone from your past. Hopefully it will be someone who is excited to see you.

8. Free lunch daily, from 11-1 pm, buffet menu differs day to day.

7. If you intend to be there longer than 1 hour, bring a scarf, gloves, hat, and wear 2 pairs of socks.

6. Bigger isn't always better ..... i.e., 5 lb. bag of chocolate chips, nacho cheese sauce, vegetable shortening, and ice cream. Come on! Go for the vegetables and lean meats! Don't forget your copy of the best cupcake cookbook EVER!

5. If you want to go into labor, walking around Costco for 2 hours while chasing your 2 year old and husband in tow can do it! (seriously?) No cart, just walking and grabbing onto anything available every 4 minutes.

4. It is NOT appropriate to wear short shorts, no matter how slim and trim you may be. It's just not. Enough said.

3. When a dirty old man tell you that he has written a book too, don't ask the subject matter. Resist the temptation and look for security.

2. Thinking you are the first one to ask for "cupcake samples" isn't so funny after the 100th time, but go ahead and laugh yourself silly anyway.

1. If you are sitting there long enough, a single man will come up to you and ask for your hand in marriage! (Happened 2x's actually.)

I had a great run with Costco signings. I learned a lot about the store, but mostly about myself. Thank you Costco for inviting me to come and participate in author signings. I hope we meet again soon, possibly with my new cookbook, 101 Gourmet Cookies due out in the fall! Happy Baking!

WinCo, how do I love thee?

Let me count the ways...

1. Each and every week I go and find more things my family loves, and lower prices than my usual place, Walmart. Our favorite cereal of the moment is Special K Fruit and Yogurt- only $2.39 a box! That is almost a savings of $1.00 a box- which saves me $10 a month!

2. The bulk section has me giddy like a school girl- I simply can believe the selection and the prices, have I said how much I love the prices? From rice flour to spelt flour to dried beans, to nuts of every kind. You'll find what you are looking for. And since I am creating my new cookbook, 101 Gourmet Cookies for Everyone, I have needed such items as blanched almonds, rice flour, potato starch, etc.

3. My favorite brand of cheese, yogurt and ice cream are sold there, but shhhhhh.... it's a secret (Tillimook) Don't tell anyone!

4. I can buy a week's worth of groceries, splurging a little and getting everything that I need in one place without trying to shop at different stores and come away with a huge cart full for around $75.00 or slightly more. And my cart is full of meats and fish, fruits and veggies, not prepackaged meals. This is the REAL stuff I am getting.

There is a great little contest going on a Farenheit350 about her love of Winco Foods. Check it out and play to win some Tillamook ice cream for yourself.... also head on over to Winco Foods. I have found that if I am there before 1 pm, the crouds are not that bad. The checkout lines always move quickly too! Happy grocery shopping and happy baking!

Store locations: (open 24 hours)

Midvale

7020 South 700 West

Midvale, Utah 84047

801-748-0086

West Valley City

2572 South 5600 West

West Valley City, Utah 84120

801-417-5570

Happy National Strawberry Day!

Happy National Strawberry Day!

Yes, I know it's February, but you can find some great strawberries at the grocery store. I picked some up yesterday, and unfortunatly they are mostly gone. When I returned home from my Costco signing last night, the kitchen was full of the strawberry stems. I had 3 little theives, one big thief, and I have to say I wasn't so too mad. It's better than snacking on ice cream the whole night, right? So pick up some strawberries today and make this great cupcake recipe! Strawberry Daiquiri cupcakes are moist, delicious, and full of strawberry flavor.

Strawberry Daiquiri cupcakes

1 box strawberry cake mix

3 eggs

1 cup strawberry daqueri mix

1/2 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons grated lime zest

Whipped cream

Whole fresh strawberries for garnish

Mix together cake mix, eggs, daiquiri mix, sour cream, vanilla, and beat until just combined. Scoop batter into paper liners filling 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes, remove from the oven/pan and cool completly on a wire rack.

Frost cooled cupcakes with whipped cream and top with a fresh strawberry and grated lime zest for garnish. Keep cupcakes in fridge in an airtight container.