rainbow jello [recipe]

Rainbow Jello (or 12-layer Jello) is a favorite around our house. My mom was famous for this jello. We only make it for special occasions like Thanksgiving, family parties, or when someone requests it. However, I think it would also be perfect for a summer party, color party, or rainbow party. I'm always in charge of making it when we have Thanksgiving dinner with my husband's family. So, I thought I would share the recipe since Thanksgiving is this week. I can't believe it's already here.

I'll tell you up front, this is not a quick recipe to make. It will be worth every minute you spend, but you'll want to plan on it taking a good chunk of the day to make. It takes a few hours because you have to wait for each layer to set up before adding the next one. The good news is that you can do other things while you are waiting for the layers to set up.

Rainbow Jello
3 oz box of jello in the following flavors: lemon, lime, orange, cherry or raspberry, blueberry, and grape.
1 cup boiling water for each flavor
2 cups sour cream
12 Tbsp cold water
whipped cream or cool whip topping

 Spray 9x13 pan and set aside. To make, just do one layer at a time. Start with lemon. Boil 1 cup water and add it to the lemon jello powder. Stir will.  Then, divide that in half. To one half, add 2 Tbsp. cold water. To the other half, add 1/3 cup sour cream and mix. Pour the lemon with cold water into the pan. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. Then pour the lemon jello with sour cream onto the first lemon layer.*Then, you will just repeat for all the layers. You can do them in any order, but I prefer lemon, lime, orange, red, blue, and grape.

To recap:       1st layer: lemon jello with water; refrigerate 20 minutes
                     2nd layer: lemon jello with sour cream; refrigerate 20 minutes
                     3rd layer: lime jello with water; refrigerate 20 minutes
                     4th layer: lime jello with sour cream; refrigerate 20 minutes
                     Repeat for all layers.

Right before serving, top with cool whip or whipped cream.
*Make sure the jello you are adding is cool so that it won't melt the previous layer. To speed up the process, you can make two flavors at a time and let the other one cool while the first one is setting up.

Serve this at your Thanksgiving dinner and I promise it will be a hit!
 

halloween surprise cupcakes [recipe]

At a recent family Halloween party, there was a giant platter of cupcakes*. 

They had festive toppers and looked delicious.

But it wasn't until I took a bite, that I realized actually how delicious they were.
They had a perfect cream cheese center that added just the right pop of flavor to a chocolate cupcake.
And, simply put, the orange just made them even more festive, which made them taste better, too!

And the great news is that they are rather simple to make. Here is the recipe: 

Halloween Surprise Cupcakes (aka Birthday Cake Surprise Cupcakes)
1 devil's food cake mix
8 oz. milk chocolate chips
8 oz. cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
food coloring, optional

Mix cream cheese, sugar, and egg together. (If you want to add a color, now is the time to add in food coloring.) Set aside. In a separate bowl, make cake according to box directions. Fold in chocolate chips.

Line muffin tins with liners. Put a few spoonfuls of cake mix batter in bottom of cupcake paper. Then put one spoonful of cream cheese mixture on top of cake mix. Finish the layering by putting enough batter in each tin to cover the cream cheese mixture.

Bake according to package directions. It may require a few extra minutes of bake time, but they are done when an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Top with frosting or whipped cream.

*Idea and recipe from my sister Kristin Martha

donut bites for a party

These are my new favorite thing. Simply put a donut hole* into a mini-muffin paper and add a toothpick. These would be perfect for a breakfast party, shower, or just a mini dessert. Yummy, simple, and cute!

*They look fancy enough to pass as homemade. Like you were slaving for hours over them. But you don't have to. Now that is my kind of party food.

happy back-to-school!

I love back-2-school time. That means fall is just around the corner! 

These are some simple first day of school treats I made for my YW. 

nautical baby shower

I put together a nautical themed baby shower for one of my best friends. She is having her third boy. Anyone who has three boys should have a celebration. We kept it fairly simple, with the food table being the focal point. 

INVITATION

I created these invitations using Powerpoint. (I am still hoping to learn Illustrator. Someday, right?)
(*I have cropped it to hide personal info )

FAVOR

Since it was a nautical themed shower, we used salt water taffy as the favor. 

*napkins from Target's party aisle. Have you checked it out? It is awesome!

The following poem was attached (all the guests were very close friends)

There are those who pass like ships in the night,

Who meet for a moment, then sail out of sight

With never a backward glance of regret,

Folks we know briefly then quickly forget.

Then there are friends who sail together,

Through quiet waters and stormy weather, 

Helping each other through joy and through strife.

They are the kind that give meaning to life. 

MENU & DECOR

Crab Sandwiches (chicken salad sandwiches on croissants, made to look like crabs)

Sea Salt Chips (Kettle brand individual bags)

Anchor Apple Salad 

Goldfish (crackers to snack on) 

Starfish Sugar Cookies 

Lighthouse Lemonade

bridal shower trifle

I made this trifle for a bridal shower. 

I used the trifle recipe I posted a little while ago.

For the sake of time, I made one trifle instead of mini ones.

To add a festive touch, I made this bunting to go on the top of it. 

It was a simple way to spruce up the dessert!