Funky Puzzle Lamp

I saw these lamps at a gift boutique for around $40. I loved it so much that I wanted to buy it, but when the salesperson brought out the box and I discover it was an assemble on your own type thing, well I thought "I could make that!" So I did.

Cheeky Brownies with Mocha Cheeseball 'icing'

Are you looking for a great bite size treat, not to sweet, super moist, and bursting with chocolate? These little brownies are delicious and the perfect size to bake and freeze, or take to a pot luck. My testers were my co-workers one snowy day in January- this recipe was given a thumbs up all around.
This is the recipe that comes with the Perfect Petites silicone mold from Epicure, I just filled the mold less than suggested and added a big dollop of prepared Mocha Cheeseball dip to each brownie prior to baking.

Supplies:
- ½ cup Butter
- 1 cup Brown sugar lightly packed
- ½ cup Cocoa powder
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 2 Eggs
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- ½ cup Flour
- ½ tsp Baking powder
- 1 package Cream Cheese room temperature
- 2 tbsp Epicure Mocha Cheeseball Seasoning



Method
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Combine cream cheese and Epicure mocha cheeseball seasoning in a food processor, set aside.
2. In a microwave proof bowl put butter, brown sugar and cocoa then nuke until butter is melted- maybe 45 seconds. When the butter melts, whisk the whole mix until smooth
3. Combine yogurt, eggs, and vanilla in a separate down, then whisk into butter mixture
4. Whisk in flour and baking powder until everything comes together reasonably smooth
5. Put oiled Perfect Petites mold on baking sheet and fill about 1/2 to 2/3 full of brownie mix
6. Add a dollop of the cheeseball mix to each brownie
7. Bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool, remove from mold, and nom, nom, nom

If you would like to purchase the Perfect Petites mold, Cocoa, Vanilla, Baking Sheet, Baking Powder check out victoriadelorme.myepicure.com
*The mocha cheeseball seasoning is currently "In the Vault" so I would suggest trying this recipe as a substitution 

Mommy & Me monogrammed robes

This past summer I had the blessing of witnessing two of my favourite people tie the knot. To mark the occasion I wanted to send a little something to the bride-to-be and their most precious daughter. After searching around it was settled that monogrammed robes for the two lovelies was the way to go.

At first it seemed like a bit of a challenge but a quick trip to Michaels cured that. These turned out really nice, and were pretty simple.

Supplies:

1 Adult sized robe

1 Child sized robe

Ironing board

Iron

Adhesive rhinestones

Black ink print out of whatever you'd like to monogram 

Method:

Step 1: Wash and dry both garments according to labels

Step 2: Print off whatever it is you would like to monogram. I chose a cursive "K" and "E" so after "googling" the letters, I just printed them out in bold black.

Step 3: Place the print off under the fabric and place the rhinestones on top of the fabric following the print out as your guide. Use a little bit of tape to keep the print off secure under the fabric, just be careful to use only a little. When you heat the rhinestones to secure them some of the adhesive from the tape could transfer onto the back of the garment if too much tape is there.

Step 4: Place the iron on top of the rhinestones, pressing down with equal pressure across all stones for about 10 seconds. Be careful to only put downward pressure on the gems or you could change the placement of the stones.

Then just allow to cool, wrap and gift away.

Personalized Coffee Mugs

When I was looking around Pinterest to find some fun diy's for Christmas gifts this year I came across a bunch of decorated mugs and thought "hey, I could make that" ... so I did.

At first I failed terribly- so please let me pass along my learnings to you. First of don't use normal sharpies- as soon as you wash them in the dishwasher all your lovely drawings will melt away. Instead splurge for the oil paint sharpies. Once you bake the oil paint on it doesn't come off in the dishwasher. Secondly, have a bottle of rubbing alcohol and some q-tips ready. This way if you make a mistake or change your mind you can just dip in the q-tip and rub away the marker.

I wrapped up these mugs for our best friends and family with a little chocolate and candy canes for Christmas!

Supplies:

- Ceramic coffee mugs (must be good to go in the oven)

- Oil based Sharpies

- Rubbing alcohol

- Q tips

Method:

Step 1: Wash and thoroughly dry you mug. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: Draw whatever you please with your oil based Sharpie. If you make a oops just rub it away with a q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Step 3: Once you're happy with the design place the mug on a baking sheet and pop it in the oven for about 20 minutes to set the paint. Allow to cool completely before use and storage. 

If you'd like to make your diy gift extra special why not include some delicious tea? Try After Ate Rooibos or Pink Lady from victoriadelorme.myepicure.com -  both are delicious (my two current favorites!) and come in a cute little tea tin that's perfect for gifting!

Salmon Pie

Better than it sounds! Another dinner in 37 minutes-ish idea. I served this with green salad and it was hit!
Just remember to buy the best salmon, the man in our house has a bit of a thing about bony meats, or bones in soups... which of course means if there is one he gets it!

I like this recipe because it uses ingredients I always have on hand, and it looks really pretty in the baking dish.

If you want to shop for the baker (mine is the aubergine colour one), silicone steamer, lemon dilly mix, or 3 onion dip mix check out: victoriadelorme.myepicure.com

Supplies:
- Oven proof baking dish
- 2 cans of water packed salmon
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 tbsp Epicures Lemon Dilly Dip Mix
- 2 tbsp Epicures 3 Onion Dip Mix
- 1/2 lemon to squeeze juice
- Parmesan cheese to taste (the first time I made it I used the Kraft shaker parmesan because that's what I had, the second time I used grated asiago (because that's what I had) both were delicious- just make sure you use a strong hard cheese to top)
- 4-5 potatoes peeled and cut into cubes
- Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
Step 1:  Preheat your oven to 400 degrees, with rack in the middle. Lightly oil your baking dish. I use this really cool Misto that I use to spray my cooking pans. Usually I fill it with extra virgin olive oil from Evoolution for misting.
Step 2: In your silicone steamer place chunked potatoes (I've also used left over slices from making Chips and Dip) and sprinkle on 3 Onion Dip Mix. Add a little water, put the lid on and microwave for 6 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Stir half way through
Step 3: In a mixing bowl combine salmon, Lemon Dilly Mix, juice of half a lemon and salt and pepper to taste. Spread this mixture out into your baking dish.
Step 4: Mash the potatoes with 1/3 cup milk, then spoon potato mixture on top of salmon mixture in baking dish. Sprinkle with strong, hard cheese.
Step 5: Bake for 20 minutes or until edges and cheese are golden and all is heated through

Chips and Dip

Movie night means munchies.
Now usually I am all for good ol' Lays but since discovering my chipster I have been experimenting away and really loving the results.
These are so easy to make and you can really please every taste-bud.
My favorite seasonings (so far!) are many: Louisiana Hot & Spicy Dip Mix, Backyard BBQ, Herb and Garlic, and Franks Red Hot Sauce. If you are interested in any of these products check out my consultant site: victoriadelorme.myepicure.com

Supplies
- sliced potatoes
- seasoning

Method
Step 1: Using a mandolin slicer make thin slices of potatoes
Step 2: Soak slices of potatoes in cold water (My mom always did this, and so I do it. Basically it helps with the starch, and if you slice to many you can just store the extras in cold water in the fridge for next day use)
Step 3: Arrange sliced potatoes on chipster and season (if you make the Franks Red Hot ones, load it on)
Step 4: Microwave for about 5 minutes, allow to cool and serve it some creamy ranch for dipping

Chocolate Cake with Fudge Frosting in 10 minutes

You know when you have that "gotta have chocolate" feeling? Yeah. Me too.

I was a bit hesitant about making this chocolate cake, but I tell you "gotta have chocolate" won out.

Using my silicone steamer this Chocolate cake with Fudge Frosting took about 10 minutes to make!

When we were enjoying this chocolaty treat, brainstorming away decided that next time adding chocolate chips would make it super decadent.

To make the Chocolate Cake:

Supplies:
-1/2 cup flour
-1/2 cup sugar
-1/4 cup cocoa
-1/2 tsp baking powder
-couple shakes of salt
-2 eggs
-1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
-1/3 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- cinnamon to taste (I used about 1 tsp)

Method:
Step 1: Oil your steamer including the lid (learned that the hard way)
Step 2: Mix dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl
Step 3: Mix wet ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl
Step 4: Stir wet ingredient mixture into dry and pour into oiled steamer
Step 5: Microwave for 4-6 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean

To remove run a knife around the edges and tip on to a plate, allow it to cool mostly before icing.
Next time I also plan on reducing the sugar in the cake, to allow for more delicious frosting. If you'd like to do the same thing check out this advice on how to replace sugar in baking recipes.

To make the Fudge Frosting:

Supplies:
- 1/2 cup room temperature butter
- 2/3 cup cocoa
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- about 1/4 cup - 1/3 cup milk

Method:
Step 1: I used my food processor, but you could use an electric mixer and bowl. Add butter, cocoa, icing sugar, vanilla, and a drizzle of milk.
Step 2: As you are processing/ mixing continue to drizzle in milk until all ingredients are smoothly mixed together and the icing is a thin or think as you like.
Step 3: Using a spatula, rub this chocolaty goodness all over the Chocolate Cake

Steamer, cocoa, vanilla, baking power, salt and spatula available for order from victoriadelorme.myepicure.com

DOUBLE YUM!!