17May / 2013

Edible Flowers + Recipe Ideas

Mrs. Fields Secrets Edible Flowers
Flowers dress up everything, so why not have them dress up your next dessert, salad, baked goods, ice cream, or punch? But wait, these edible flowers are not only beautiful as garnishes, they offer a unique flavors to enhance your food.

Need some inspiration? Here are some recipes to get you started:

Rose Petal Jam
Honey Lavender Ice Cream
Bee Balm Syrup
Strawberries with Chamomile Cream
Chive Blossom Vinegar
Lilac Sorbet

HINT: Soak flowers in cool water to rinse them of any pesticides, then dry on paper towels before using.

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13May / 2013

Clever Ideas for a Graduation Party

Whether you’ve got a graduate from preschool or a PhD, I’ve collected some party ideas to help give your grad a memorable tribute.

1. Hang a series of photos from the graduate’s life using simple string and tiny clothespins. It’s any easy way to decorate and everybody will love fawning over old photos on the timeline.

2. Copy yearbook pages and affix them to votive candle holders with Modge Podge. This is a simple craft that makes a great centerpiece or decoration.

3. Tie in school colors as well as all the graduate’s bright ideas with candy-filled light-bulbs.

4. What to do with all those boxes of school projects and art work? Create hanging folders to contain the highlights. Use them first as a decoration, then combine them into a scrapbook. Consider reading some creative writing from years ago to the party guests.

5. Transform soda bottles with tiny graduation caps. So easy and such a fun detail!

6. Have guests sign a cutout of the graduate’s initial or school initials, to create a keepsake from the party that can also be used as a decoration.

7. Gather photos to make a slideshow that can be sent to guests as part of an invitation, or as a follow-up from the party.

8. Personalized cookies make perfect party favors. Add your graduate’s photo or school logo to sweet Mrs. Fields cookies with edible icing to create a sweet memento for all the guests!

Have any other great ideas for a graduation party? Share them in the comments!

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10May / 2013

How To: Create a Perfect Mother’s Day Tray

Mother’s Day breakfast in bed is a tradition for a lot of families, but putting it together in a beautiful presentation can be a challenge. Here are some pointers for a perfect breakfast tray, a gift in itself. (Feel free to print this out and leave it conspicuously for your family.)

1. A personalized mug with her favorite morning beverage.
2. A colorful new tea towel lines the tray and also keeps items from slipping around.
3. A tiny gift box fits perfectly on the tray.
4. A small dish with a few pieces of chocolate is a must.
5. A petite vase or shallow jar with a handful of fresh flowers brightens everything.
6. A cloth napkin wraps around the silverware and makes everything feel formal.
7. Two plates with contrasting colors looks posh (and comes in handy if she decides to share her meal).
8. Mom’s favorite magazine fits under the plate for a delightful morning read.

Not sure what to make for your Mother’s Day breakfast? My Breakfast in Bed Menu is easy for Dad and kids to make. Plus, it’s delicious!

Mother’s Day Breakfast in Bed Recipes

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05Apr / 2013

Spring Salad Series: Appetizers

Mrs. Fields Secrets Salad on a Stick Appetizers
Every spring I find myself craving salad—fresh produce and greens, bright colors and flavors. I’ve got salads on my mind, which got me thinking that there’s so much more to be done with salads than we realize. Salads make a perfect appetizer, entree, or even a dessert. And if you don’t believe me, I’ll to prove it to you over the next few weeks in our Spring Salad Series.

Today I’ve collected some salad ideas that make delicious appetizers when skewered on a stick (or even a sturdy green onion, in the case of the potato salad). No utensils or plates required, which is perfect for parties. The stick idea is also a brilliant way to get kids to try salads they might otherwise avoid. Check out these ideas and share your own in the comments section.

1. Strawberry-Spinach Salad on a Stick
2. Greek Salad on a Stick
3. Potato Salad on a Stick
4. Chef Salad on a Stick
5. Caesar Salad on a Stick
6. Caprese Salad on a Stick
7. Antipasto on a Stick
8. Watermelon Mozzarella Salad on a Stick
9. Garden Salad on a Stick

HINT: Drizzle dressings over salad sticks, or serve it on the side. Check out my favorite sweet salad dressings for more inspiration.

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29Mar / 2013

Harmless Food Pranks for April Fool’s Day

Toothpaste in Oreos

April Fool’s Day is Monday, and in case you haven’t plotted out the perfect practical joke to play on your friends and family, I’ve gathered some harmless food pranks you can put to use. Perhaps this is the one occasion where it’s okay to play with your food. But be careful and remember—revenge is sweet!

Replace the creamy white filling in Oreos with toothpaste.
Fill a brownie pan with an even layer of sponges, then top with a thick layer of chocolate frosting.
Place a chicken bullion cube in the shower head.
Switch gravy with caramel sauce for mashed potatoes.
Leave the plastic wrapping on a slice of American cheese in a sandwich.
Prepare red Jell-O in your drinking glasses and pretend to serve punch for dinner.
Make Chicken Pot Pies for dinner with this incredible lookalike.
Replace deviled egg filling with yellow frosting and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Place plastic wrap over the tops of already-opened squeeze bottles.
Spread a thin layer of vaseline around jar rims.
Use several different drops of food coloring to change milk or coffee creamer a disturbing color.
Wrap everything in the refrigerator individually in aluminum foil.
Mix wasabi into guacamole.
Place a life-like looking snake or mouse in a cereal box.
Serve mashed potatoes and gravy in sundae glasses with a cherry tomato on top.
Fill the cookie jar with dog treats.
Create a caramel apple lookalike with an onion.
Switch the cereal bags in your cereal boxes.
Serve your friends or family this hideous-looking kitty litter cake.
Blow out eggs and replace them in the carton, or fake a spill.
These chocolate chip cookie look alikes are pretty clever and I hear they’re delicious with salsa.

Do you have a favorite food prank? Share it in the comments section!

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15Mar / 2013

Fun St. Patrick’s Day Pranks

Potato Candy by Munchkin Munchies

In the mood to mix up a little mischief this weekend? Play the part of a tricky leprechaun and arrange some fun and harmless pranks on friends and family for St. Patrick’s Day.

Drop some green food coloring into milk, juice, and other liquids in the fridge.
Use a green dry erase marker to write silly limericks on mirrors and windows in the house.

Make little leprechaun feet on the toilet seat and dye the toilet water green.
Deep sleepers in your house? Use a special Kool-Aid-based mix to put green streaks in their hair while they sleep. (Warning: could stain fabrics, and dye will last a few washes!)
Overturn chairs in the house, open cupboard doors, and make a trail of tiny, glittering footprints around the house made from cornstarch.
Dye sealed containers of Cool Whip, yogurt, or cottage cheese with this sneaky trick.

A couple of well-placed Fizzy Water Tablets (one yellow, one blue) makes the water in your faucets come out green.
Leave sticky notes on your friends’ car windows that say, “Sorry for the dent. Had to run.”

A pea-sized amount of tempera paints in a rainbow of colors, resting on a windshield wiper creates an unexpected rainbow!
Serve little sacks of potatoes for dessert—delicious potato candies. (Photo above.)

Do you have a great St. Patty’s Day prank? Share your ideas in the comments section!

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11Mar / 2013

March Munching Madness: Call for Recipes!

Basketball Finger Sandwiches from Hungry Happenings

The madness of March is getting underway, but the most important part of this month is definitely the munching. We’re bringing back our March Munching Madness again this year, with a new twist: we want YOUR favorite game-watching snack food recipes! Here’s how to play:

Submit your favorite recipe or a link to your favorite recipe in the comments section of this post, or by email before midnight, Monday, March 18. (Please note: it does not need to be an original recipe!) Feel free to include why this recipe is special; we love to hear your stories!

Give us salty or sweet, savory or sticky, dip-able, spread-able, hot or cold—whatever is your must-have snack while cheering on your favorite team. We’ll review all the recipes, then award prizes to our final four picks. At that point, we’ll share the recipes here on the blog and with our friends on Facebook to battle it out for a winner who will receive Mrs. Fields cookies for a year! (That’s a $350 value!)

This is a competition to sink your teeth into, so send in your submissions now!

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04Mar / 2013

How To: Organize a Successful Bake Sale

Bake sales are making a huge comeback as a great way to bring communities together, have fun, and raise money for good causes. Here are some tips to ensure success:

Choose a busy location and get permission to be there. A local grocery store on a Saturday or Sunday is ideal. Be sure to check with property owners/managers to work out the details.
Involve the community. List your bake sale in community calendars, invite local musicians to provide atmosphere, and ask local business if they’re interested in matching raised funds.
Use Facebook, Twitter, and email to spread the word and invite willing bakers to participate. Make updates on the day of the sale to remind people to stop by.
Create a themed look with a simple color scheme and stick with it. Coordinate everything from posters to balloons to make things cohesive and identifiable from a distance.
Offer a range of items. Individually wrapped cookies and brownies are hard to pass up, but whole cakes, pies, and loaves of bread can bring in bigger bucks.
Pay attention to packaging and presentation. Use cellophane, ribbons, stickers, and bakers boxes to dress up items.
Have a suggested price list, but allow people to donate whatever they’d like. (You’re likely to make more money this way.)
Have lots of change on hand, especially quarters and dollar bills. Decide if you are willing to accept checks and, if so, to whom they will be made out. If a cash box is too vulnerable, have cashiers keep the funds in a money belt.
Donate leftovers to a local shelter or to those who have volunteered.
Send a follow-up status update on social media thanking those who participated and announce your total earnings.
If a formal bake sale isn’t right for you, Mrs. Fields offers an incredible fundraising program. Delicious cookie dough turns into dough for your organization. Check out all the details on our website.

Do you have any other tips for a great bake sale? Share your ideas in the comments section!

{Image via Pinterest. Source unknown.}

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13Feb / 2013

Recipe: Last Minute Valentine’s Menu

Uh oh, you forgot to make dinner reservations for Valentine’s Day. This is actually a blessing in disguise because I’ve got a delicious menu for you to whip up for your special valentine tomorrow. It’s savory, delicious, and not too heavy: lemon basil pasta, caprese skewers, and heart-shaped parmesan crisps. The parmesan cheese is the star of this menu, so splurge on a block and grate it fresh for the pasta and heart-shaped crisps. Make this menu for your valentine as a surprise; or, (my favorite) put on some music, pour a couple beverages, and make the meal together—very sexy! And for dessert? I recommend my Foolproof Chocolate Fondue. Delicious and romantic!

Lemon Basil Pasta

1 pound farfalle pasta
4 tablespoons butter
1 lemon, juiced and zested
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups freshly grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1 large handful fresh basil, washed, dried, and chopped
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken, grilled

Directions
Cook pasta according to directions on the package. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water to add to sauce. In the same pan, melt butter over medium heat and stir in lemon juice. Whisk in cream, followed by grated cheese and reserved pasta water. Stir until cheese has melted and combined. Salt and pepper liberally, then stir in cooked pasta and lemon zest. Top with fresh basil and grilled chicken.

HINT: I used grilled chicken, but this would be amazing with shrimp, salmon, or even a lean steak.

Caprese Skewers

12 cherry tomatoes
8 small mozzarella balls
8 fresh basil leaves
1 thick slice of bread
olive oil
4 bamboo skewers

Directions
Set oven to broil. Cut bread into 1-inch cubes and coat with olive oil. Toast for 1-2 minutes under broiler, or until lightly browned. Remove and cool. Wash and dry tomatoes and basil. Skewer a pattern of tomato, basil, bread, cheese, tomato, basil, cheese, bread, then tomato. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

Heart-Shaped Parmesan Crisps

4 tablespoons finely grated parmesan cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Spoon one tablespoon full of cheese onto the prepared pan and, using your finger, shape into a heart shape, even in thickness. Repeat with the remaining cheese, placing each heart a few inches apart. Bake for 5-6 minutes, until bubbly and golden brown. Allow to cool completely before gently peeling the delicate crisp from the mat/paper. Serve as an appetizer or garnish.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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11Feb / 2013

Creative Ideas to Surprise Your Valentine

Creative Valentine Ideas
It doesn’t take a lot of money to create a memorable Valentine’s Day. All you need is a little creativity and the element of surprise to let your sweetie know how much you care. Here are 10 ideas to get your creativity jump started:

Create a Yarn Trail from that leads your valentine to a romantic picnic.
Giant Valentine Posters make a big statement, hand delivered or mailed.
Fill your valentine’s car full of balloons for a fun morning surprise.
Name a star for your valentine, then use a telescope to find it.
Tuck love notes in your valentine’s shoes, pockets, wallets, desk drawers, sun visors, etc. to be found throughout the day.
Send your valentine on a treasure hunt with you as the final prize.
Make a personalized e-card on JibJab.
Document your love story with photos and words to create your own book.
Record yourself singing your valentine’s favorite song, even if you can’t carry a tune.
Order a Big Cookie Cake, personalized with a special message written in frosting (up to 20 characters) that only the two of you will understand. Maybe the first place you met or kissed or maybe the date. Be creative. You can order Big Cookie Cakes online, or from your local store for pickup. Mention this blog post for $2.00 off in store.

Big Cookie Cake

By the way, there’s still time to order great gifts at MrsFields.com. Use code 13CEC at checkout for a free upgrade to 2-Day delivery!

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