Tag Archives: Sweet

Easy to Mold Naturally Colored Pink Sugar Shapes Sweethearts Recipe = a Spoonful of Sugar for Your Mother’s Day Tea

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Celebrate Mother’s Day the Mary Poppins way with a spoonful of sugar in your tea! This no-cook recipe for pink sweethearts utilizes natural beet juice instead of artificial food coloring, but you can substitute any color of juice you like. Plus, they’re really easy to make and mold into any shape you desire. They’re a “supercallifragilisticexpialidocious” alternative for decorating your baked goods as well, because they contain no corn syrup. It only takes a matter of minutes to mix and mold, then let them dry overnight. They are “practically perfect in every way”.

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Ingredients:

  • 2 cups granulated sugar (I used evaporated cane juice)
  • 3 teaspoons water
  • 1 teaspoon bottled beet juice (or other juice… or gel food color + 1 teaspoon water)

+ flexible silicone molds in your choice of shape


Instructions:

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Gather the ingredients, and measure them precisely.

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Mix them together very well, until the pink color is evenly distributed.

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Use spoons to dispense the sweet mixture into each well of the mold. Pack it down tightly, flattening the top with the back of a spoon.  (This recipe filled two of my heart molds.)

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Let them sit out to dry overnight, and unmold them gently in the morning. Keep them stored in an airtight container until you’re ready to use them.

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Here they are at the Spring Garden Mother’s Day Tea.

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One must be allowed to indulge in girliness every once in a while.

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These are so much cuter than plain little squares of white sugar.

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So how about you… one lump, or two?

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“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and – snap – the job’s a game!” –Mary Poppins

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

Quick & Easy Candyland Confection Ideas: Pink Almond Milk Juice “Recipe”, Cotton Candy “Cream” Sodas, & Gingerbread Peep Pops

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These Candyland party confections are so simple that I thought I’d just combine them into one article… if only to pass along a few easy ideas that can be prepped at the last minute. The versatile juice milk is a great way to colorize and disguise calcium while adding a flavorful kick, which is great for anyone with a picky eater. While sugary cotton candy isn’t known for its health benefits, it is a yummy once in while party-treat that looks adorable when served as ice cream sodas. And Peep pops are the fastest pop you can prop into a candy buffet! Just look for the sugar-free varieties if diabetic or avoiding corn syrup. They’re still just as yummy and cute!

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Pink Almond Milk Juice Ingredients:

  • ½ gallon Silk almond milk (or any variety of milk like cashew, hemp, rice, oat, soy, or even cow’s)
  • 17 ounce bottle lingonberry juice concentrate (or any pink juice like pomegranate, black cherry, raspberry, cranberry, etc… or try blueberry, grape, or even orange for a liquid creamscicle!)
  • Optional: agave to taste… if needed to sweeten the more acidic juices, because it mixes well into cold liquids & is low glycemic

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Pink Almond Milk Juice Instructions:

Gather any variety of pink juices and your choice of milk to test which combination you like best in a small glass. I quickly realized that I preferred the lingonberry and pomegranate juices with the original 60 calorie per cup Silk almond milk. Though I typically love the black cherry concentrate, I did not care for it when combined with milk. I also didn’t care for the combo with the 30 calorie Silk, but it’s a fantastic option if you’re looking to cut the numbers. Use your own taste buds to discern your favorite, and let me know what you came up with!

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Mix a crowd sized amount in a jug, and test the flavor before pouring into individual servings. The easiest one to one ratio was the Silk’s half gallon and Ikea’s 17 ounce lingonberry concentrate, but I realize this taste profile isn’t for everyone. The most liked version does seem to be the orange creamscicle.

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For the Candyland theme, I served the juiced milk in these super cute jugs with washable reusable straws. Another adorable option would be to use trendy jars as drinking vessels. (Find some at Le fidèLe Design’s affiliate Ball Fresh Preserving Store at the link in the side bar.)


Cotton Candy “Cream” Sodas Ingredients:

  • 1 package of readymade cotton candy (with sugar & not corn syrup that color coordinates with your theme)
  • small vessels that resemble soda glasses or ice cream dishes
  • 1 package of theme coordinating paper straws (or thick half straws as pictured)

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Cotton Candy “Cream” Sodas Instructions:

This is the cutest and easiest way to serve cotton candy to a crowd… which is the perfect last minute fill-in for a Candyland theme. Find the yummy stuff packaged anywhere from convenience stores to grocery marts. (You can even find some at Le fidèLe Design’s affiliate Cost Plus World Market at the link in the side bar, they even have solid colors like a green in watermelon flavor.)

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Starting with clean and well dried hands, pinch sections of cotton candy large enough to fit into the base of each dish. Keep layering until you reach the top, and stick a straw (or one cut in half) into the side of it. Take a section of cotton candy and gently ball it into a rounded mound to set on top. Gently tap it into place. (Your hands will be coated in spun sugar… but I’m thinking that’s where the phrase “finger lickin’ good” came from!)

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These are especially adorable when perched atop a treat tower, like this one I crafted for the Candyland theme.


Gingerbread Peep Pops Ingredients:

  • 1 package of gingerbread peeps (or any theme coordinating variety, note that the sugar-free varieties don’t have corn syrup)
  • 1 package of color coordinated paper straws

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Gingerbread Peep Pops Instructions:

It literally takes 2 seconds to make a Peep Pop, so it’s a last minute treat that looks absolutely precious. You can find so many varieties of the darling confections just about anywhere (and online year round), so it’s easy to add them to any candy buffet.

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Simply poke a hole in each peep base with a skewer or toothpick, and wiggle it side to side to widen that hole. Slowly push in a straw until it feels securely held, yet doesn’t disfigure the peep.

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Prop it into a cake pop holder or vessel filled with non-sticky candy like gumballs or jellybeans.

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See more Peep Pops in action from another themes by clicking the following link: Chalkboard & Glitter Hearts Themed Valentine’s Day Party Buffet Décor Ideas (+ DIY & Printable Links)

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For a tasty yet healthy snack to add to your Candyland theme, try my Spicy Guacamole Shooters / Avocado Appetizers Recipe (Allergy-Friendly & Nightshade Free = No Red Pepper or Tomatoes).

Faithfully Yours,

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