Snapshots
{my favorite kind of watercolor}
This week was a little bittersweet I watched the last of the fall colors hit the ground after Sandy came through, leaving Pittsburgh with six days straight of brisk temperatures and rain. My weekend will be spent with friends watching football, crafting and perfecting confections. What are your weekend plans?
{current manicure: OPI \’Suzi Says Feng Shui\’ & \’Blue My Mind\’ accent nail}
{current favorite candle: goose creek \’orange berry slush\’}
{new fall statement necklace}
{shorty\’s hotdogs and fries with gravy a Pittsburgh tradition}
J. Crew Inspired Pavé bracelet
Ever since early summer I have been in swooning over the J. Crew Classic Pavé Link Bracelet. However the $125 price tag was less than thrilling. I decided to make a bracelet inspired by J.Crew’s Pavé, and to my surprise when I wore it into J.Crew the other day one of the sales girls said, “don’t you just love your Pavé, it’s a new wardrobe staple”. While J.Crew’s only inspired my version, it’s simple to make (under $10) and can be created no matter what your skill level is.
{You will need: chain, large lobster claw, large jump rings and pliers}
{measure and cut your chain to desired size}
{pull one side of the jump ring toward you and the other away to open}
{attach your lobster claw}
{close your jump ring just how you opened it}
{the lobster claw will attach right to the chain}
Fall Inspiration
The leaves have changed colors and most have fallen to the ground. Temps are cooler and a sweater or jacket has become a must. Here are a few fall items that have me inspired for the season. What has you inspired for the fall?
No Bake Caramel Crunch Bars
October brings the influx of sugary treats, and while I have had my fair share of candy this month, nothing beats homemade goodies – especially when no baking is required. Caramel crunch bars offer the perfect combination of salty from the Club crackers combined with the sweetness of chocolate and butterscotch for an out of this world taste.
No Bake Caramel Crunch Bars
Makes one 9×13-inch pan of bars
Ingredients
80 club crackers
1 cup butter
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup semisweet chocolate morsels
½ cup butterscotch morsels
Makes one 9×13-inch pan of bars
Ingredients
80 club crackers
1 cup butter
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup semisweet chocolate morsels
½ cup butterscotch morsels
Directions
1. Line an ungreased 9×13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an extension of foil on either end. Line the foil with 1 layer of club crackers.
2. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium head. Add graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, milk and sugar. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. (Begin timing 5 minutes from when you see the first bubbles.) Remove from heat and spread half of butter mixture evenly over crackers. Place another single layer of crackers evenly over butter mixture. Spread remaining butter mixture evenly over crackers. Top evenly with remaining crackers.
3. In a small saucepan, combine peanut butter, chocolate morsels and butterscotch morsels. Melt over medium-low heat. Stirring constantly. Spread evenly over top of crackers. Cover, and chill for at least 2 hours (I let it chill overnight). Cut into bars and enjoy.
1. Line an ungreased 9×13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an extension of foil on either end. Line the foil with 1 layer of club crackers.
2. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium head. Add graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, milk and sugar. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. (Begin timing 5 minutes from when you see the first bubbles.) Remove from heat and spread half of butter mixture evenly over crackers. Place another single layer of crackers evenly over butter mixture. Spread remaining butter mixture evenly over crackers. Top evenly with remaining crackers.
3. In a small saucepan, combine peanut butter, chocolate morsels and butterscotch morsels. Melt over medium-low heat. Stirring constantly. Spread evenly over top of crackers. Cover, and chill for at least 2 hours (I let it chill overnight). Cut into bars and enjoy.
Bat Bite Cupcakes
Halloween is quickly approaching, and for a day that I really don’t get into I have made monogrammed pumpkins, spider web cupcakes and even shared my Halloween signature cocktail. The fun doesn’t stop there; tonight a few girlfriends and I are getting together for a craft night. While we’ll be creating things more Thanksgiving and Christmas oriented the invite said to bring a spooky treat. I decided to make bat bite cupcakes. They’re chocolate cupcakes with homemade vanilla buttercream that has been colored purple, featuring a “bloody” raspberry infused center. Finished with purple sanding sugar, fudge stripe cookie bat wings, chocolate covered sunflower seed ears, sprinkle eyebrows, sprinkles in the shape of hearts for fangs and candy eyes.
{use a paring knife to scallop the edges}
{place the wings on the cupcake and frost over the end of the wings}
{add purple sanding sugar}
{create your bats face}
Fashion meets Food 