custom skater design

thanks to cafepress, i have been able to design special t-shirts for each of my little nieces - kitties, turtles, princesses, ladybugs...  but little did i know that my 8 year old nephew was a little jealous he didn't get a special shirt made just for him.  he asked me for one of a skateboarder and he wanted it on a black shirt too so this was going to be a bit of a challenge.  after a few days of working on it, i came up with this design of a skater breaking through glass:

the skater in this design is based on one of my friends.  i'm waiting for him to ask for royalties...  and btw, my nephew LOVES it.  as soon as he opened the package he put it on.  that's the best compliment i could have gotten. =)

♠ ♠ ♠

this shirt is available for purchase in my cafepress.com store: http://www.cafepress.com/OnCupcakeMoon.340434168

peachy pizza

peaches on a pizza you ask?  yes.  i was very skeptical too when i first saw richard blais make a similar recipe on one of my favorite tv shows, "top chef".  but it got rave reviews on the show and i love peaches, so i decided to try it.  his recipe is a bit pricier and a bit of a stretch for my taste buds so i reworked the recipe to this.   it's something i really look forward to when peaches are in season.

one more thing: if you don't like hot italian sausage, don't worry - i don't either.  this recipe truly misses it when i used mild.  the spiciness of the hot sausage doesn't come through anything like when you eat the sausage by itself.

peach topped pizza

premade thick crust pizza dough (pillsbury's works just fine - click here to see what i use when i don't have time to make a homemade crust)
3 hot italian sausage links, casing removed & cut into 1/4" discs
1 medium sweet onion, ringed
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups baby spinach
sherry vinegar
6 slices provalone cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 cups asiago cheese, shredded
1-2 fresh peaches cut into slices
peach iced tea for dipping

1. in a large skillet, begin cooking the sausage.  after a few minutes add the onion and garlic.  let sausage brown and be careful not to burn the garlic.
2. begin preparing pizza crust into a 9"x13" pan.  precook the crust if directed to do so.
3. wilt the spinach in the microwave (about 30 seconds).
4. begin forming the pizza insides with the sausage & onion mixture, then the spinach.  add some droplets of sherry vinegar across this layer.  cover with provalone slices, mozzarella and asiago.  top with fresh peach slices.  bake pizza as directed on crust package.
5. serve with a small bowl of iced tea for dipping.

makes about 8 servings. enjoy! =)

♠ ♠ ♠

download a printable copy of this recipe at...
http://www.oncupcakemoon.com/recipes/peachtoppedpizza.pdf

friday fuzzies

[fri'dā fuz'ēz] n. handmade finds of pure cuteness to make fridays even better

every friday i will share with you something or things that i found which meet the following criteria:
1. it's cute
2. it's handmade
and most of all,
3. i covet it

this week's theme - vampires!  these vampires are so cute, you'll have to rethink a bloodsucker in your house is a bad thing.

strawberry vampire plush keychain by pamming...  she has several plush vampire keychains in her shop - a cupcake, a popsicle, a tomato, a chicken drumstick...  and all so very adorable!

little miss vampire shoes by HelloShoes...  she's on the front, but there are little felt bows with bats on them on the back of these shoes! love it!

spooky and creepy felted wooly egg toys set by asherjasper...  this vampire comes with a set of some of the cutest little spooky friends you'll find!

a cold dish for hot days

in the summer i crave fresh vegetables but i also love the taste of pizza and pasta, both meals a little warm for 90+ degree days.  i had a recipe for tortellini salad that i liked and made, and one day i accidentally bought a sausage and a cheese package instead of 2 cheeses.  that sparked the idea of making a "pizza" pasta salad.  i adjusted the vegetables, added some cheeses and pepperoni, and changed the dressing a bit to compliment everything in the bowl.  i enjoy this for dinner, but it also makes a perfect side to take to a summer gathering.

cold tortellini pasta salad

2 pkgs. (9 oz. each) fresh tortellini (i use 1 each of Buitoni 9 oz. four cheese & sweet italian sausage)
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1 small can sliced black olives
1 medium red onion, chopped
1 large green pepper, diced
1/3 lb. deli pepperoni, chopped (optional)
1/3 lb. slab mozzarella cheese, cubed into 1/2" pieces
1/3 lb. slab provalone cheese, cubed into 1/2" pieces

dressing:
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tbs. rice vinegar
1-1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. pepper


1. cook tortellini as directed.  rinse in cold water and drain.  set aside.
2. put all other ingredients together in a large bowl.  add tortellini and mix well.  chill for about 2 hours.
3. combine ingredients for dressing.  pour over salad.  mix well.

makes about 8 dinner sized servings.  enjoy!  =)

♠ ♠ ♠

download a printable copy of this recipe at...
http://www.oncupcakemoon.com/recipes/tortellinipastasalad.pdf

friday fuzzies

[fri'dā fuz'ēz] n. handmade finds of pure cuteness to make fridays even better

every friday i will share with you something or things that i found which meet the following criteria:
1. it's cute
2. it's handmade
and most of all,
3. i covet it

this week's theme is something i've loved since a kid - hello kitty!  my bestie cathy (who loves HK so much she even got a tat on her wrist!) sent me a link to a sanrio characters t-shirt the other day and HK has been on my mind ever since...

i already own a few sets of classic kitty hairbows from AlishasCreations.  these particular ones are mini red and black, but she makes them in both a mini and a large size, and in many colours and patterns... 

zombie hello kitty pendant from KalliopeKreations...  hello kitty is just too cute, even as a zombie!

hello kitty corset top from rockcandycorsets...  purple + hello kitty + corset = love!






















hello kitty vendor craft apron from PoppysGardenGate... you'd best be quick if you want to own this.  it is the last one available in this print!

and i recently found this shop -  theoldcrow.  she's got some great bags for sale, including this fab hello kitty print ladies bag.  this one may be at the top of the want list today! =)

little whimsical treasures

i met brittney gobble in january of 2009, and her name is the name of her shop - bgobbleart.  this talented polymer clay artist creates the most adorable little dragons, along with some other creatures from both land (piggies!) and sea (turtles and seahorses!) that you would gladly welcome into your home.  she also makes some fabulous miniature wedding cakes!

i own several of her precious dragons but this one is my favourite - her mommy dragon with babies sculpture.  part of why is the baby just starting to break out of its egg.  it's very small, only about 2" wide and 1-3/4" tall, and it is proudly on display on my dresser.  i love the colours, the shimmer, and especially the detailed work she puts into each one of her pieces.  there are also embedded glass beads used in both the base and for their eyes which really help bring her creations to life.

another piece i love is this barrette she custom made for me.  i'm so happy my hair is more than long enough again to wear it often!

i am thinking my next purchase from her shop will be one of her turtles, perhaps a turtle ring?  but i have adored this miniature cake since i first saw it too!  hmmmmm...
when you purchase one of her items, you will receive a certificate of authenticity which has a picture of the item, materials used and her signature.  isn't that a great idea?  speaking of ideas... any of her pieces would make a great gift and keepsake!

a last note, brittney is truly one of my favourite sellers.  she exceeds in all areas of a great handmade shop - communication, customer service, craftsmanship and fast, well-packed shipping of her delicate items.  so please, make sure to go show bgobbleart and her sculptures some love. =)

we're all giveaway winners!

what a coincidence, the lilac and white teeny tweet that i won in a giveaway from felt me up designs arrived today.  but look who hitched a ride - a teeny tweet in "on cupcake moon" colours!  i've got some big plans for this little guy! =)

and now back to my cupcake wrapper giveaway.  here are all the pick of the hat entries...

















the random winner is...

and per my judges, the new design will be cats and dogs!  honorable mentions to robots and bluebirds, so those might show up in my line sometime soon too!

so congrats to poppy and heaven is a cupcake!  i will be contacting both of you shortly about your prizes. =)

and all those who entered this giveaway get a their own special deal on my cupcake wrappers!  all sets of regular size wrappers are $7 for the rest of this month.  if you want to get some, just let me know which ones you would like and i'll set up a custom listing for you!

thanks again for all the entries! =)

comforting summer soup

thank you for all your cupcake wrapper giveaway entries!  i will announce the winners later this week to give my judges time to choose the winning idea. =)

in the meantime, here's a great soup to try out.  it's light enough for summer with its tastes and textures, and definitely works as comfort food even with high temperatures outside.  i actually prefer to eat it warm - not hot - with a slice of homemade italian bread.  and lastly, i cannot forget to mention what my designated taste tester will tell you about this recipe: do NOT leave off the cheese on top.  it truly makes the soup.

minestra soup with sweet italian sausage

2 tbs. olive oil
1 lb. bulk sweet italian sausage
2 medium to large yellow onions, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (15.5 oz.) cannellini beans
1 bunch escarole, coarsely chopped
1 32 oz. container (4 cups) chicken stock
2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup ditalini pasta
grated pecorino-romano cheese

1. in a soup pot, heat the olive oil on medium heat.  add the sausage in pieces and cook until browned, about 8 minutes.
2. add the onion and cook until softened (about 4 minutes), then stir in the garlic and cook for another minute.
3. add beans, escarole, chicken stock and water.  season with salt and pepper.  cover and bring to a boil.
4. uncover the pot and stir in the pasta. lower the heat to medium and cook pasta about 7 minutes.
5. top with pecorino-romano cheese before serving.  serving suggestion: serve with italian bread.

makes about 6 servings.  enjoy! =)

♠ ♠ ♠

download a printable copy of this recipe at...
http://www.oncupcakemoon.com/recipes/minestrasoup.pdf

friday fuzzies

[fri'dā fuz'ēz] n. handmade finds of pure cuteness to make fridays even better

every friday i will share with you something or things that i found which meet the following criteria:
1. it's cute
2. it's handmade
and most of all,
3. i covet it

one of my favorite animals to go see at the zoo is the giraffe.  i had a stuffed animal giraffe as a kid.  one of my most-read books was "my friendly giraffe", and i even got to feed one a few years ago (which was really cool!).  so today's picks are all inspired from our spotted long-necked friends.

it's a jungle out there glitter resin giraffe pendant by radrocket...   even the clouds love giraffes! ;)

jack the giraffe by fluffyfuzzies...  he can be your keychain or hold up important notes on your fridge.

giraffe messenger bag by HappyCosmos...  the perfect bag to bring to the zoo!

giraffe necklace by StickManJewelry...  although this piece is probably my favourite in this shop, you must check out the rest of their creations! =)

four banana, three banana, two banana, one...

oh, the banana splits!  i watched them a lot as a kid, and i love the dessert too.  so back in january when i was emailed a banana split dessert recipe i was so excited to try it - til i made it.  it was very runny, the cream cheese layer was waaaaaaaay too sweet even for me, and overall it didn't remotely remind me of one of my favorite desserts.  it was from one of those email recipe-a-day sites too, so i was pretty disappointed.  of course, my sweet tooth and i set out to make our very own version of this summer goodie...  i guarantee you won't be disappointed with this!

banana split layered dessert

8 tbs. (1 stick) butter
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 packages (8 oz.) cream cheese (lite or regular only), softened
3/4 cup sugar
3 tbs. milk
2 cups whipped topping, thawed
2 cups crushed pineapple, drained
4-6 large strawberries, sliced
2-3 medium bananas, halved & sliced
1 package (5.9 oz.) chocolate pudding
2 cups cold milk
optional garnishes:
whipped cream
chopped nuts
maraschino cherries

1. preheat oven to 200 degrees F.  melt butter.  in a 9"x13" pan stir together butter and graham cracked crumbs.  press with a fork or bottom of glass to make a crust.  bake for 5 minutes.  let cool.
2. beat cream cheese, sugar, and 3 tbs. milk with electric mixer. add in whipped topping.  beat til smooth and creamy.  spread over crust and refrigerate for about 2 hours.
3. spread a thin layer of crushed pineapple over the cream cheese layer.  add strawberry slices and banana slices (see picture below).
4. make chocolate pudding with 2 cups cold milk.  when well blended, spread as a layer on top of the fruit layer.  refrigerate.
5. before serving, garnish with whipped cream, nuts and a cherry on top.

fruit layer and side note: it would be prettier to put the fruit on top of the chocolate pudding.  however, the bananas brown quickly if you do that.  so putting them under the chocolate is the best solution.

makes about 15 servings.  enjoy! =)

♠ ♠ ♠

download a printable copy of this recipe at...
http://www.oncupcakemoon.com/recipes/bananasplitlayereddessert.pdf

giveaway time!

last night i found out i won the cutest little teeny tweet from felt me up designs so today it's my turn to give something away! =)

here's a couple of my new cupcake wrapper designs, and examples of what you can win!  there are several designs to choose from.  click here to see them all!

the winners will receive a set of cupcake wrappers!  yes, i said winnerS!

there will be 2 winners for this giveaway...
- one will be chosen at random in the old fashioned pick from the hat, and they will win a set of 12 cupcake wrappers of their choice of design
- one will be chosen for their idea as voted on by a panel of 3 people i have selected, and the person with the winning idea will receive a set of 12 wrappers in their design

how to enter:
- get 1 entry for leaving a comment on this blog post (please make sure to leave your email if you're not a follower or facebook fan so i can contact you if you win)
- get 1 entry for leaving a comment on my facebook fan page about this giveaway
- get 1 entry for tweeting this - then leave a comment here or on the facebook fan page to say you did:

cute cupcake wrapper #giveaway from @oncupcakemoon - enter at http://oncupcakemoon.blogspot.com/2010/06/giveaway-time.html

- get 3 entries for leaving a comment here or on the facebook fan page with a new cupcake wrapper idea.  to see the wrapper designs i already have, please visit my website and my etsy shop

this giveaway will run through this sunday, june 13th, 2010.  to be eligible please enter by then.

oh, and this week's banana split layered dessert recipe will be posted tomorrow for those who are looking for it.

good luck!! =)

friday fuzzies

[fri'dā fuz'ēz] n. handmade finds of pure cuteness to make fridays even better

every friday i will share with you something or things that i found which meet the following criteria:
1. it's cute
2. it's handmade
and most of all,
3. i covet it

it's national donut day!  i think my worst sweets downfall is donuts so i do not even attempt to make them.  but all these donuts are "good for you" in the sense that there are no calories attached!  so enjoy!

the lovely donut necklace by glamasaurus...  how can you resist the pink and purple heart sprinkles?!

big pink donut goat's milk soap bar by soapopotamus...  now this is the right way to relax with a bubblebath!  it looks and smells like the real thing!

sweet donut madness retro style apron by SugarvilleCandles...  wearing your donuts has never been this cute! =)

whooooooops!

well, i was supposed to give you the banana split layered dessert recipe this week but apparently it wasn't in the cards.  the bottom shelf in my refrigerator is not stable and it tipped the pan, making it a big mess!  it's a good thing i've been taking pictures and noting other recipes i've made so i have back ups if/when needed!

so today's recipe has turned into a manly meal.  it's very easy and although it looks kind of autumn with its colors and ingredients, it's actually a lighter yet satisfying dinner.  makes great leftovers too!

steak and potato stir fry

1 lb. sirloin steak cut into thin strips (we use strip steak)
1 tbs. olive oil
2 cups potatoes, cubed (we leave the skin on)
2 cups baby carrots, chopped
1/2 cup water
2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
2 cups sliced onions
1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing
salt and pepper to taste

1. heat oil in large skillet on medium-high.  add in meat and stir to cook for about 5 minutes or until browned.  remove from skillet and set aside.
2. add potatoes, baby carrots and water to skillet.  bring to a boil and cover.  reduce heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes.
3. stir in mushrooms, onions and dressing.  return meat to skillet.  turn heat back to high and cook while stirring about 5 minutes or until heated through.  add salt and pepper to taste.

makes about 5 servings.  enjoy! =)

♠ ♠ ♠

download a printable copy of this recipe at...
http://www.oncupcakemoon.com/recipes/steakandpotatostirfry.pdf