Top 5 posts of 2012

Well the best way to wrap up the first month of a New Year is to recap the highlights of 2012. So here they are the top 5 posts of 2012. 

Birthday Cake Pops

I made these cake pops for a friend's birthday. I love cake pops because: 

1. They are small &  super cute 

2. It's just like a cake but smaller so you can enjoy 1 or 2... 

3. Not as time consuming to make as a cake :)

Happy Birthday!

Sugar Cookies Recipe

I'm so glad that this recipe made it the Top 5 posts because this is the best sugar cookie recipe ever!! It never fails, it's easy to make and  it's so yummy! I've made this recipe so many times I actually remember the recipe to heart. If there is only one recipe you'd choose to try, make it this one. There is no better time than now to try them, I'm sure someone you love would like some Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies!!

Alton Brown's Sugar Cookie Recipe is the Best!!

A cute little explorer named Ainsley!

I made these sugar cookies, using the sugar cookie recipe above, for my friend's sweet little girl's 2nd birthday party. I made my own cookie template for Dora's face.  I got the idea to make a plastic cookie templates. Now I hand cut cookies using templates for those cookies that you just need to make but can't find the right cookie cutter. She has an awesome tutorial for making SweetSugarBelle Lego Heads, if you click on the link it will take you there. Actually I made the Lego heads and the cookie template worked so well that it has become my new go to. I've used this technique so often and I love it! It saves me money and space. I have so much cookie cutter clutter and still find myself not having one that I'm looking for so I just make one.

 Dora the Explorer

Roses are red....How to make rolled fondant roses!!

With Valentine's day right around the corner, these mini roses would be a pretty addition to any cookie and cupcake. Made them from scratch or just spruce up some store bought ones either way your loved ones will be so impressed. What a great way to show someone how much they mean to you. 

I use these mini roses all the time. It's a great way to use up any leftover fondant, place them in mini ziploc baggies to keep fresh, they last a very long time but rarely do :) 

And the top post of 2012 is....

You're never to old to play with Legos

I mention earlier that I had made these using SweetSugar Belle Lego Head's template, it was the first time I tried this technique. I've been hooked since. I love the fact that I can make my own free cookie templates anytime. 

I made these Lego Head for a sweet boy named Matteo. He was turning 6 years old and had a Lego theme party. All the kiddos got these cookies as party favors. This year Matteo had a Sponge Bob Square Pants theme Birthday party. 

  I made Sponge Bob heads and Patrick cookies for party favors. I used the cookie template to make Patrick. I always look forward to making Matteo's cookie favours, it keeps me young & hip, even though I usually have to Google the subject to find out what it is. Okay I'm not young and hip but I get to live vicariously through the cookies, cupcakes, cake pops and cakes I make for all the kids. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! 

~ Sponge Bob Square Pants & Patrick~

Sponge Bob

Patrick

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to visit my blog. Hopefully you found a recipe or two that you made and enjoyed. I've been busy in kitchen, this year, and I hope you stop by to check out my new creations. 

Thanks for stopping by,

With Love,

Katya

Lemon, ginger and garlic cold remedy and immunity booster drink!

Okay so it's that time of the year again , no not Christmas, although that is coming up faster than I can prepare for. Happens ever year somehow I always run out of time getting ready for Christmas but that's a whole other story. I talking about cold and flu season. This immune booster drink is the perfect helper  It tastes good, is easy to make, it's all natural and most importantly it works. If you don't want to spend this winter indoors being sick then this wonderful delicious immunity booster drink is for you. Ever since I've started taking this drink (3years) I haven't had a cold or flu, that only makes this drink worth while.

You need fresh lemons, lots of fresh raw garlic, I used Russian garlic it's the best, fresh ginger and unpasteurized honey. You can leave out any of these ingredients if you like but you really get the best results when you use all of them and fresh ingredients is best :)

Lemons - Lemons are high in vitamin C which help support the immune system. The juice's  anti-inflammatory qualities help soothe sore throats. 

Honey - Honey is a great immunity system builder. Thanks to it's antimicrobial properties honey not only soothes the throat but it can also kill certain bacteria that causes the infection. Honey cures most coughs, colds and helps clear congested chest. It's best to use unpasteurized honey because the pasteurizing process removes many of the help benefits.

Garlic - Garlic is a natural antibiotic  Numerous studies have proven  it to be a bacterial, fungal and virus killing machine. Garlic promotes healthy immune system function, and strengthens the body's defenses. Do worry about garlic breath with all these health benefits it's worth while and worse case scenario pop a breath mint :) 

Ginger - Ginger helps stimulate perspiration  which cleanses the system and brings down the body temperature. Ginger is helpful for settling upsets stomachs, as well as nausea  vomiting and cold sweats. It also helps soothe a sore throat.

As you can see all these wonderful, natural and healthy ingredients pack a powerful one, two, three, four punch in combating any cold or flu. Try this recipe today and prevent any cold or flu bug from attacking you or your loved one. This immunity booster drink can be taken all year round just as a general immune booster.     

You'll need : A big jar, I use a 1 gallon glass jar

Food Processor

Spatula

1 1/2 cup honey

8 cups boiled water - cool to room temperature

5  fresh lemon

1 medium sized ginger

fresh garlic as any as you desire

Wash lemons and remove any blemishes, and stem. I leave part of the skin on, the skin contain many vitamins and oils. Peel the ginger and garlic cloves. I use a lot of garlic, I love garlic so the more the better.  
   

Place the honey into the glass jar. Put the lemon, ginger and cleaned garlic cloves into the food processor. Cut the lemons and ginger into smaller pieces in you need to. 

Grind all the ingredients on high.

Pulse until all the ingredients are finely chopped up. The aroma is so wonderful.

Scoop the lemon, garlic and ginger mixture into the glass container with honey already in it. 

Add the 8 cup of boiled water. Make sure you allow the boil water to cool down to room temperature.

Stir the ingredient for 2-3 mins. to combine all the ingredients.

Allow the lemon, ginger and garlic drink to stand and develop for 7 days in the fridge. Shake mixture once a day and continue to let stand for 7 days.  Strain the mixture through a mesh strainer and/or cheese cloth. The immunity booster drink is ready to enjoy.   Pour into smaller glass containers for easier pouring, just give the jar a shake before taking.

 I take 1 ounce shot every day in the morning and/or evening. It's so fresh, and lemony tasting. Anytime I feel like I need a boost of energy I make this drink. I hope you enjoy it!! 

It lasts up to 3 weeks in the fridge.

Wishing you all a healthy cold and flu season.

Thanks for stopping by,

Love Katya

Homemade Fruit and Berry Herbal Tea

So I've decided to continue my summer berry countdown with: Red and Black Currants. This homemade tea has a lot more than currants to it but I think that it's safe to say that the two prominent flavours I get from this tea are definitely red and black currants. 

Seriously though if like drinking tea then just this once try making your own homemade tea. it's so easy to make and totally worth it. The best time to make it is summertime when fruit and berries are at their peak. It's still warm enough outside to sundry all the fruit, berries and leaves you'll need to make tea. 

Both currants are known for their high content of vitamin C which has vital protective antioxidant properties. Just by drinking the tea with these berries/berry leaves you add to your vitamin C intake. Both red and black currants can ease the symptoms of rheumatism, arthritis and gout.

They are both very high in fiber, which helps in the proper functioning of the digestive system as well as the development of the appropriate gut micro-flora. With all these health benefit associated with these to berries it only makes sense to add them to this tea not mention the delicious tart flavour it adds too!!

Just think while sipping on this homemade fruit and berry tea not only will you enjoy the delicious flavour but you'll be boosting your immune system too!! And it gives you one more tasty reason to take a break during the day to sit down, relax and drink tea. If anyone asks just tell them you're in therapy, even Dr. OZ says so!  

All you need for this homemade tea is your favorite fruit, berries and edible leaves. Here's my recipe:

~ Katya Homemade Fruit and Berry Tea ~

Dried red currants

Dried black currants

Black currant leaves

Dried raspberries

Dried raspberry leaves

Apple leaves

Wild blueberry leaves

Saskatoon berries

Fire weed flowers and leaves

Rose hips



Smaller batch - approx. 2 cups per ingredient
Larger batch - approx. 4 cups per ingredient 

Gather the berries when they are ripe and ready. Wash, dry and de-stem any berries that you need to. Place the berries on a cookie sheet single layer and place in a warm, sunny place to dry. You can use a dehydrator if you have one.

***Tip: Best place to dry the cookie sheet with fruit, berries or leaves is in your car. Sounds silly but it works great. In the summer your car has a tendency to be really hot, so it's the perfect place. It hot, bug free and you can usually get the tea ingredients dried in a day!! Bonus is your car smell fruity and great*** 

Collect nice, green fresh undamaged leaves from a clean area. Wash and dry the leaves, then dry single layer on a sheet or with a dehydrator. If you cut off a whole branch, of leaves, you can hang then from the ceiling to dry at room temperature. 

Make sure your fruit, berries and leaves are completely dry before storing to avoid mold.They should be stored in a glass jars in the dark, but Ziploc bags work too. You can mix the tea ingredients together or store each ingredient separately.

These are the fruit, berry and leaves I chose but you can use your own favorite ingredients: mint, lemon balm, strawberries, dried apple chunks, thyme....be creative. Only ever use fruit, berry and leaves from plants you can identify for certain.

If your making a smaller batch of homemade tea then use 2 cups per ingredient. Once the berries and leaves dry they will shrink to have the amount. I make a large batch right away because this tea is so good and I need it to last through the fall and winter. 

Smiley Face

~ Steeping your herbal tea ~

Combine 1/4 cup scoop of each tea ingredient in a bowl. Add the fruit and berry tea ingredients into a 

clean coffee press.....or

brew the fruit and berry tea in a pot...

 Pour boiling water over the tea.

Let it steep for 5-7 minutes. Keep it warm on a warmer and enjoy your tea all day. Most herbal teas are not bitter, so sweetener is unnecessary although a little bit of honey is always a great addition.

Nothing warms you up better than a warm cup of tea on a cold winter day!! 

Making your own herbal infusions is fun and easy!! No matter what the recipe, you'll feel good, literally, after drinking what you've made.

Homemade herbal teas also make great gifts! Try making some, you'll be glad you did !

If you like tea as much as me check out my tea inspire Pinterest page, it's all about tea!! 

Thanks for stopping by, 
time for some tea therapy for me. Till next time:)

Great news to all you tea lovers out there, Ikea has glass tea brewer, and the best part is they're cheap. 

Works like a charm too. My sister bought one for my mom and she loves it :)

Source: tumblr.com via Katya on Pinterest

Love,
 Katya