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In a Jar

Polka Dot Jars

15 · · 19 Comments

Polka Dot Jars // If you have followed WhipperBerry for any time at all, you know I love my jars. I love to bake with jars, decorate with jars, organize with jars… you name it, I ADORE jars.  This week I found another fun, yet simple way to dress up my jars with DecoArt Glass Paint …

Polka Dot Jars copy

Isn’t this a fun way to dress up your jars for an event? It couldn’t be simpler with DecoArts Glass Paint 3D Frost Gloss Enamels…

Deco Art Glass Paint

DecoArt sent me a bunch of their glass paint to take for a spin. I was madly getting ready for my last minute trip to Hawaii, so I didn’t have a ton of time to create a painted masterpiece.  I did however have just enough time to dress up a jar and then I had a thought… This would be so fun for a birthday party or shower, basically any type of event where you would like to add a little playful fun element to the party. The nice part it hardly takes any time at all to create these fun polka dot jars.

Supply List

Instructions

  1. Make sure your jars are clean inside and out. Wipe down the outside of the jar with alcohol to prepare it for the paint.
  2. Select your 3D Frosted Gloss Enamel color and using the handy tip just start placing dots at the tip of every diamond on the quilted glass jar.
  3. Let dry completely, this takes a few hours or best over night.
  4. Fill with your party beverage, screw on the lid and top it off with the fancy straw. 
  5. Line up your jars on a table or tray and your guests will be amazed!!

How easy is that!! Seriously, you could get a whole parties worth of jars painted in no time at all.  Give it a go and let me know what you think!

If you are looking for more glass painting projects, DecoArt has created a fabulous site for their Glass Painting Program that you should check out.  It has all kinds of project ideas, product information and videos!!

Heather copy 

Red White and Blue Popcorn with new Author Christene Houston

3 · · 21 Comments

I’m so exicted to have one of my favorite people over to share with you today, she’s no stranger to WhipperBerry, She’s my sweet friend Christene! She is about ready to publish her first novel and I’m so excited to have her here today to share a snippet from the book and then to share a fun last minute treat that you can share with your friends this 4th of July week!

“Wow, this is a great picture,” I said, a sudden wash of loneliness coming over me.

“Took it the day before,” the man said. I could see he was tapping his arm, the one that took the place of flesh and blood. A sudden rushing filled my ears at his words.

“The day before what?”

“The day before the blast.”

My mouth fell open and I felt the candy bars slip from my fingers to the floor. My heart thumped madly in my chest. “You….you were there?”

He looked up at me with tears in his eyes, “I was the only one who came home.”

-A Heart So Broken by Christene Houston

That’s an excerpt from my debut novel A Heart So Broken coming out in September! My name is Christene Houston and I’ve had the pleasure of visiting WhipperBerry before with some yummy recipes and fun crafts. I always love rubbing shoulders with my ultra talented friend Heather!

Today I wanted to share a take home treat from the Book Release Party I’m planning for September. The theme is patriotic, paying homage to Jenna Tucker’s Marine roots and fitting right in with this festive time of year. These darling little jars of popcorn come all dressed up for the party in classic red, white and blue. And because they’re quick and easy, I thought you might like to make some for your 4th of July parties this week.

All you need is some pint-sized mason jars, a little spray paint, some raffia, a white paint pen and Jello popcorn (see recipe below). First punch holes in your bottle caps with a cropodile tool, then spray paint the jar lids red and the bottle caps blue. When they’re dry, write your favorite patriotic words with the white paint pen on the bottle caps. I used words like FREEDOM, BRAVE & LIBERTY. Tie your tags on with raffia ribbon and your set to go. I am seriously in love with bottle caps lately and they turn out SO cute in this project!

Of course a beautiful bottle is nothing without something yummy to fill it. My friend Jamie told me about Jello Popcorn with the bright colors and tasty glaze. I went searching and found this great recipe for it on KraftRecipes.com  and modified it to my needs.

Jello Popcorn

12 c. popped popcorn

¼ cup (1/2 stick) butter

3 Tbsp. light corn syrup

½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar or granulated sugar

1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Gelatin

PLACE popcorn in a large bowl; set aside.

PLACE butter and syrup in small saucepan; cook on low heat until butter is melted. Add sugar and gelatin; stir until gelatin is completely dissolved. Bring to boil on medium heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes. Pour immediately over popcorn mixture; toss to coat well. Spread into prepared pan, using 2 forks to spread evenly.

ALLOW to cool and break into small pieces.

Make a batch of red Jello popcorn and one of blue. When your popcorn has cooled, fill each jar with a bit of blue popcorn, a handful of plain, and top it off with red. I know you’re feeling patriotic already!

NOW you’ve got a jar worth passing out to all your friends to wish them a happy and safe 4th of July.

Thanks again, Heather, for letting me come share! Come on over to Christenehouston.com to check out my blog Everything She Writes. You can read more excerpts from my upcoming novel, keep tabs on my Release Party plans (you’re all invited!) and take advantage of some yummy recipes. See you there!

I’m so excited!!  I’m participating in Fun in the Sun with Kiki from Kiki & Company today.  You have to follow along with her fun event through the whole month on July!

Extra Creamy Yogurt Cups | Recipe

2 · · 30 Comments

Two times of the day that can be a little hairy at our house are breakfast and after school.  The kiddos are hungry and they are looking for whatever isn’t nailed down to eat.  If not careful, they will eat their body weight in junk and empty calories.  One trick I have is to make sure to have healthy, tasty alternatives ready at hand.  One of my secret weapons is a super rich and extra creamy yogurt cups with granola, berries and drizzled with a bit of agave. I keep these tasty little cups on hand in the fridge for the kiddos to easily grab for a healthy, satisfying breakfast or after-school snack.

I know this isn’t a new concept at all but what makes it a little different and super economical is the way I make the yogurt extra special.  Instead of buying the more expensive individual cups or even the creamy and a little more decadent Greek yogurt, I buy the cheaper low-fat or fat-free vanilla yogurt that you can purchase in large containers.  This is then where the magic a happens…

Here is what you will need…

  • Large container of your favorite yogurt
  • Fresh or frozen berries
  • Granola
  • Agave nectar or honey
  • Small containers in which to store individual portions of the tasty treat {optional}

I pour all of the yogurt in to a mesh strainer lined with a paper towel and let that sit in the fridge for a few hours. 

 

This drains some of the excess liquid from the yogurt and makes it extra decadent and creamy.  My kids LOVE it!  I top it with berries, granola and then drizzle a little Agave nectar over it and they couldn’t be happier. I store the creamy yogurt in small jars in the fridge so that the kiddos can run and grab one anytime they like!

 

What are some of your healthy treat options for your kiddos? What tricks do you employ to get them to crave healthy foods?

Homemade Chocolate Pudding with Chantilly Cream | Recipe in a Jar

4 · · 20 Comments

I have no idea when it happened, I know it was pretty early on in my life… my love affair with chocolate pudding began. The day my Mom made… HOMEMADE chocolate pudding it was earth shattering.  I had no idea you could make your own pudding from scratch without the box of the infamous big J and little-O.

It's so easy to make and tastes so much better than the box stuff.  Pair it with some real Chantilly cream and dress it up in a jar and it's the perfect little dessert to serve at your next get together.

Chocolate Pudding

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup baking cocoa

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 cups milk

2 tablespoons butter

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt.  Place over medium heat and slowly whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil stirring frequently.  Once it reaches a low boil, let it boil for 2 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla. Bring to room temperature and then place in a container to chill in the refrigerator.  Place some plastic wrap on the top of the pudding to avoid developing a skin on the top. Chill for 2-4 hours before serving.

Serves 6-8

Chantilly Cream

1 pint whipping cream

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Ten minutes before you start your Chantilly cream, place your mixing bowl in the freezer.  Remove bowl from freezer and add whipping cream.  Mix on high speed for 2 minutes until it starts to stiffen. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and continue to mix on high until cream becomes stiff and hold is shape. 

Fill your jars with the chilled pudding and then pipe the Chantilly cream on top with a large closed star tip in a pastry bag {I ordered my from Sweet Baking Supply} and pipe the Chantilly cream on top of the pudding.

I dressed up the single serving pudding jars with some fun rope. Then I topped the jars with a simple piece of scrapbook paper cut in a circle to fit on top of the jar. Then I decorated some bamboo skewers with crocheted lace, ribbon and fabric to make little flags on top of the pudding.  I found that punching small holes in the paper worked better than trying to stab the skewers into the paper.

This will be the talk of the room at your next book club, baby shower or party.  Give it a try and let me know what you think!

What's your favorite party treat to share with friends and family?