Bestie Birthday Brunch

Blake and I have been friends for ages....she is my oldest and greatest friend.

Some of our best times together involve food, okay we always have food when we are together. SO- it was a no brainer that to celebrate her birthday I was going to have her over for brunch.

The Menu:

Roasted Strawberry Parfaits

Banana Cream Cheese stuffed French Toast

Breakfast Potatoes

Champagne with Peach Nectar

I had never roasted strawberries before...it might be my new favorite thing to do.

So simple and makes a big difference. 

Quarter strawberries and toss with a little brown sugar on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes on 425. I used it to layer in the parfaits but would be so good as an ice cream topping, on angel food cake, and more!

Let the roasted strawberries cool and then layer with greek yogurt that has been mixed with honey.

I added a little granola between layers.

Serve in mason jars! Can keep in fridge till ready to serve.

I had a leftover one for breakfast the next day, easy, mostly healthy, and delicious.

Roasting the strawberries brings out the juices and a sweet flavor.

 Next up I prepared the banana cream cheese stuffed french toast.

Melt some butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar in a pan and add in cut up bananas. Cook till the sauce is thick and the bananas are soft.

Once the bananas are cooked I let them cool and then mixed them with cream cheese.

The best part of this recipe was that you soak it in the usual egg wash (+ rum extract) and then you bake it for 25 minutes, so easy!

While the french toast was baking I could chop and boil the white and sweet potatoes.

Cooked some bacon for the potatoes and of course used the bacon grease to cook the potatoes in....

Add in some garlic, onion, salt, and pepper and you have the perfect breakfast potatoes.

The table had to be festive for the birthday girl.

The birthday girl got the special seat.

I ordered Blake this journal from May Designs, they make the cutest stuff. 

You also can't have a celebration without Doritos, right?!?

It was a lovely morning with my best friend.

Looking forward to many more celebrations with her in the future!

Cupcakes galore!

This weekend I hosted a cupcake swap.  Last year I had a cookie swap and this year I thought I wanted a new theme to plan a party around.  I may or may not have gone a little crazy with the theme.

This year I got a mini flocked tree and decorated it for the party.

I had found the adorable "sprinkle" fabric at JoAnn months ago and knew it had to be used at the party.

My mom whipped up this ruffled tree skirt for me.

Each girl got a "goody bag" with a little cupcake ornament on the outside, a handmade ornament on the inside and an appliqued cupcake towel.

My old room mom did these towels for me, I was so excited!

There was a little prize for the winner of the cupcake tasting!

The dinner table was all about Christmas!

I was really excited to use my new Christmas china.

Each plate had a Santa or Mrs. Claus place card.

The flowers were different sized green and white mums with fresh cranberries floating in the vase.

For dinner I made risotto with fontina cheese and a roasted pear salad.

Our drink of the night was amazing.  

It was cranberry juice, champagne, triple sec, and lime juice with a sugar rim.

I was so excited about the cupcake charms for my new champagne glasses.

I loved the floating raspberries and the two different colors in the drink.

Mmm....honey rosemary brie.

I could eat you for every meal of the day.

For the swap I made vanilla raspberry cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

I made a compote by heating fresh raspberries and sugar.

Once the cupcakes cooled I scooped out some of the cake and added the compote.

Blake was my helper!

We frosted them and added a raspberry and some white chocolate shavings.

I also made samoa cupcakes for Blake because she doesn't bake.  

She just tastes....

These cupcakes had coconut extract in the cupcake and they were SO good!

 After dinner we swapped cupcakes and had to taste them!

Of course the vase filler in the cupcake room was sprinkles!

I couldn't resist ordering this.

I think I might need to start renting out my theme decorations for all the parties I throw so that I can justify buying more party items!

Gingersnap cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.

Champagne cupcakes

Oreo cupcakes

Peppermint hot chocolate cupcakes

I decorated a box for each girl to carry their cupcakes home in.

Poncho even had a special scarf for the cupcake swap!

It was a wonderful night with sweet girls.