Valentine's Day Collection | Pink Bakery Boxes, Heart Tags, Sprinkles & Heart Scalloped Cookie Cutters

Valentine's Day Collection

Holidays are really something special.  Just think, as winter is setting in comes the sparkle and magic of Christmas to distract us.  Then, cold and quiet January is a welcome change to the crazy bustle.  The simple and quiet routine of winter months can start to become a bit of a bore... then along comes pink boxes filled with cupcakes adorned with hearts, iced sugar cookies, bouquets of pink flowers and romantic candlelit dinners. Valentine's Day is exactly what we need to lift our "hearts" through to the spring thaw.  Amazing isn't it - how this world works? 

Shop the entire Valentine's Collection, here.

I hope you enjoy this collection of fun, light-hearted goodies that will make celebrating the loves in your life a complete pleasure! 

Jenny

Floral Tags, Set of 20, $6

This year's collection has a bit of a feminine touch to it - and why shouldn't it?  Valentine's Day is the best excuse to go all out girly.  Not only do I make treats for Mike and Emma, but I also make treats for my girl friends.  It is, after all, a "girls holiday" as they say.  So, this year I went for it - in a combination of papaya, coral and pale pink.  I just loved how these tags turned out!

Pink Bakery Boxes (are back!), 10 for $8

I've been getting emails for these - everyone wants to make sure they would be back again this year.  Of course - they might be my favorite product for Valentine's Day.  I just love the color!  They fit 4 cupcakes perfectly, but could also hold cookies, a mini cake or any other treats you can dream up.  They are kraft inside and a very pretty matte pink on the outside.  Love!

Red Heart Tags, 20 for $6

This is simplicity at its best, the red heart tags are back, too.  A simple red heart on a natural cardstock with hole punched ready to hang on treats and gifts.  Classic and beautiful.  These tags can be fun with the pink bakery boxes, but also can transform into an elegant and classic accent.  Add them to treats for school, or a hostess gift - one of my favorite's yet. 

Cupcake Kits, $5.50 - 12.50

I think these sets are so stinking cute.  So cute, in fact, that we used them for Emma's very pink 4th Birthday party.  It is the perfect amount of whimsy and sparkle to dress up the simplest cupcake - I just love them!  There are two sets of various patterns and toppers.

Shop Cupcake Kits >

Set of Two Hearts, Cookie Cutters

This idea originally stemmed from the classic Linzer Cookie that is a sandwich cookie filled with raspberry jam.  I'll share a step-by-step of creating these cookies in the next couple of weeks.

The Set of Two Hearts can be used in many ways.  I've always loved making a variety of shapes, sizes and colors of hearts for Valentine's Day.  I especially love how the two sizes (and colors) look with the Blue Bird Cook (cutter found here).   This set will definitely be a classic.

 Heart Pillow

I love how just a little heart pillow can bring Valentine's Day into your home.  This pillow comes from the same Vermont company that made our Holiday Hooked Pillows and Stockings.  So classic and graphic, this pillow is just the little touch of love to add to your home for Valentine's this winter.  
14" Square
Insert included.

The Rose Wood Block Collection

This collection is from a new company I'm working with in Denmark.  I was so glad to find their clean, graphic styles that read traditional, yet fresh.  This rosey color is just the thing to brighten up these winter months well into (and through!) warm summer months.  The sophisticated rose color will compliment with almost any decor.  I can't wait to set a table (hopefully this weekend...) filled with my peony blooms. 

***Because these are coming from Denmark, there was a slight delay in their arrival.  They will be ready to ship early next week.  I will be working on a table setting to share when I get my hands on them!

The Rose Block Print Collection :

Rose Block Print Pillow, 20" Square

Rose Block Print Tablecloth

Rose Block Print Tea Towel

Rose Block Print Napkins, Set of 4

Coral Velvet Accent Pillow, $28 

I love a velvet accent pillow.  They are great almost anywhere - the middle of a sofa, the middle of a bed, or on a cozy chair.  This neutral coral color is a great way to soften your home during these bleak winter months.  It would love fabulous with the Red Heart pillow, too.

20 x 13"

*Cover only, does not include insert.

This pillow is made by a company in Denmark.  They will be available to ship early next week.  

Jasna Rose Pillow

A delightful bouquet gives this pillow a sweet touch, but the design is classic and clean.  I can't wait to add this to either our bed or our sofa to soften it a bit for a brighter season.

Size : 23" x 16"

Cover Only, Insert not included.

This pillow is made by a company in Denmark.  They will be available to ship early next week.  

 Love Bug Cupcakes

Emma went wild for these when we saw them on the cover of a magazine in the grocery store aisle.  It was a perfect coincidence that they featured the Giant Heart Sprinkles that I carried last year, and have restocked for this year.   They were so simple to make - Emma decided the big ones were Momma and Daddies and the littles were babies. 

I have an entire post dedicated to these, but I wanted to make sure you knew the supplies you would need.  

- Gold Striped Cupcake Papers
- Brown Jumbo Cupcake Papers
- Petite Tart Pans
- Giant Heart Sprinkles
- Disposable Pastry Bags
- Pink Bakery Boxes
- Cotton Twine
- Red Heart Tags

Giant Heart Sprinkles, $10

For the past two years, these these over-sized heart sprinkles have been my most popular item... or was it the Milk Chocolate Glazed Cupcakes that motivated you all?  Won't they look great in a Pink Bakery Box, too?!  They come packaged in a large glass jar.

Blue Bird Copper Cookie Cutters, $15

These birds might be my absolute favorite sugar cookie... and always a staple in my store.  I've used them for every occasion - baby showers, weddings, Easter, birthdays and, of course, Valentine's Day.

As always, these cookie cutters are extra special, as they are made from copper - the most traditional metal for cutters.  They are a truly heirloom quality cutter that can be passed down for generations.  I've packaged them with a printed card of my cookie recipe and tied with an Everyday Occasions logo ribbon - a great gift. 
*Please note, these are handmade and have to be ordered far in advance, so only limited quantities are available. 

And then, of course...

The Dripping Milk Chocolate Heart Cake I made with the new 8" Heart-Shaped Pan.  Of course, you can make any sort of heart cake with this pan... but I really recommend starting with this one!

Heart Pan, $12

I hope you have "loved" pursuing and I hope these treats and projects have lifted your heart and inspired you for Valentine's Day! 

Jenny

Shrimp fra Diavolo with Penne | Slightly Spicy Tomato Cream Sauce with Shrimp

You know those recipes that started out one way, then slowly transform to another?  Before you know it, you barely follow the original at all.  That is how this recipe turned out for me.  One of the staples in our home for the last couple of years has been the Barefoot Contessa's Penne alla Vodka.   After getting out the actual recipe from the book the other day (for a quantity reference), I realized how far I had strayed (simplified) without noticing a difference in the taste/outcome.  

We enjoy this recipe during the week, but it is also great for entertaining - especially with the Shrimp to make it a bit more fancy : )

Changes : 

- Vodka : I started the simplifying from the get-go be leaving out the vodka - I just didn't notice a difference. 

- Tomatoes : I only use one large can of tomatoes with 1 pound of pasta.  The original recipe calls for two.  It is a fine way to end up with leftovers, but I found that 1 can of tomatoes was perfect for 1 box of pasta.

- Cooking Time : Another thing we started to do is only cooking it for 45 minutes, instead of the recommended 1 1/2 hours.  

- Blender : The original recipe instructs to blend the sauce so it is smooth.  I've never done this step because I enjoy the texture of the sauce without blending.

+ Shrimp : I often add a protein to the sauce, and our recent favorite for this recipe has been shrimp.

+ Spice : I up the red pepper flakes to make the sauce a little spicy.  This is also in the original recipe, but sometimes I do leave it out, too, for Emma.

What we ended up with is more of a creamy Diavolo sauce (spicy tomato sauce).  Here is my recipe below, but feel free to change the shrimp to chicken, or leave out the red pepper - this recipe is a starting place for lots of ideas... clearly!

Penne Fra Diavolo with Shrimp

3 tablespoons of olive oil

1/2 large yellow onion, small dice

3 cloves of garlic

1/2 tsp. of crushed red pepper flakes

1 1/2 tsp. of dried italian herbs

1 - 28 oz. can of Whole Peeled Tomatoes
3/4 cup of heavy cream

2 teaspoons of sea salt

....

1 pound/box of penne pasta

sea salt

....

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 pound of shrimp, peeled

2 cloves of garlic

....

1/4 cup of grated parmesan, for serving

fresh thyme

In a large pot or dutch oven, cook onion in olive oil until soft.  Add garlic, red pepper and herbs and cook for 1 more minute.  Add canned tomatoes and bring to a simmer.  Cover with lid or foil and place in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes.  Return sauce to the stovetop after the oven.

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.  Cook pasta 8 minutes, or until al dente.  

Meanwhile, add cream to the tomato sauce and bring to a low simmer.  Drain pasta from boiling water and add to the sauce (without rinsing with water).

In a small sauté pan, cook shrimp for 2 minutes on each side until shrimp are almost cooked through, then add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.  Add shrimp to the tomato sauce.

Serve with grated parmesan and fresh thyme (optional).

Winter dinner pictures are not great - when it gets dark at 5pm, it is hard to get a nice photo.

It tastes great, I promise : )

Weekly Menu | Easy Roasted Salmon & Vegetables, Chicken Fricassee, Leftover Bolognese with Cream & Peas

Monday morning is always a bit bittersweet.  The house goes from warm and bustling to a little too quiet.  I am always the first to admit, I really look forward to my "work" time I get to spend during the week - a quiet house with just me, Mr. Darcy, my computer and my camera.  I get to think uninterruptedly (for the most part) and unleash any creativity that inspires me.  It is great.  But Monday morning with its schedules and agendas, does always feel a bit bleak in contrast to a cozy Sunday evening we were enjoying just 12 hours ago.

I love weekends and I love weekend projects.  I set out on Saturday morning to go hunting for spring flowers to brighten my office.  The result is this tiny indoor "garden" I created in about 20 minutes.  It has really made this corner of the house on of my favorites.  I'll go into more details tomorrow about what flowers and materials I used.  

Now, to the other part of the office/mudroom...

As I mentioned last week over Instagram (you can find me here), I am working on giving my office space a little love.  It is a great space in which to work, and really set up in a beautiful way - just off our kitchen, a big window to my right, french doors that open to the backyard behind me, plenty of storage and pretty built-in shelves, etc.  When we moved in last Summer, I really just set my computer up and let everything else settle (fall... or pile up?!) where it may (and did!).  In the new year, I'm giving it a little attention and sprucing it up a bit with some design and pretty things.  

I'll be sharing all of the organizing and workspace details later this week (on the schedule for Friday after the Valentine's Day collection launch on Thursday).  

I hope your Monday is as quiet as mine.  Sometimes we need those really quiet and still moments to appreciate (and recover from) the bustle.

Here's what's on our menu for the week :

Monday : Lemon Roasted Salmon & Vegetables | Easy Sheetpan Cooking

Who doesn't need an easy dinner on Monday night?  This entire dinner all cooks together on a sheet pan in the oven for 25 minutes.  You throw it on a pan and put it in the oven.  The lemon and butter makes its own sauce - and it is healthy.

Tuesday : Chicken Fricassee

This chicken stew is everything you want on a ca-ca-cold January evening.  Everything cooks together in one pot and will warm you to the bones.

Wednesday : Out!

Since the Valentine's Collection is coming out on Thursday, we'll probably be heading out for an easy dinner - or picking up pizza : )

Thursday : Leftover Bolognese with Peas, Cream & Parmesan

We have a batch of bolognese in the freezer from a couple of weeks ago.  After a very busy Thursday, I'll be able to put this together in 15 minutes... without a trip to the store.

Lobster Bisque | Easy Creamy Seafood Bisque Recipe

I'm re-sharing this from January 2012.  I haven't made it in a couple of years and it is going to make an appearance on our table soon... maybe this weekend?  I forgot about the homemade seafood stock component... I'm going to try going another route.  I'll let you know!  If you don't have any lobster lying around,  I've also made this with some potatoes and shrimp - very tasty!  While indulgent tasting, it really isn't all that bad for you... just a little cream.  And butter.

...



In New England almost every restaurant has a Lobster Bisque on the menu.  Some are great - luscious, creamy soups filled with large chunks of claw meat.  Others are thin, flavorless and without any actual lobster meat.  After a few disappointing restaurant experiences with Lobster Bisque I started asking servers to describe their bisque - is there actually lobster meat in it?  creamy?  but not thick and goopy... right?


I made this for lunch after a seafood feast from the night before, making use of our shells to make the stock.  Seafood stock is really very easy to make.  You are basically just boiling the shells!

Lobster Bisque
smooth, creamy seafood soup



New! Printable Recipes, here.

6 tablespoons of butter
1/2 cup of flour
2 teaspoons of old bay seasoning
2 cups of Seafood Stock (homemade, see below)
6 cups of milk
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
sea salt and pepper
1 pound of lobster, crab or shrimp (or combination), torn or cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 cup of heavy cream
chives

In a saucepan, melt butter on medium heat.  Whisk in flour and old bay, continue stirring for 1 minute.  Add seafood stock and continue to whisk over medium heat until smooth.  Add milk and tomato paste.  Cook on medium for 10 minutes, until the soup begins to thicken, stirring periodically to make sure the soup doesn't burn!  Lower the heat.  Continue to cook until the desired thickness is achieved.  Season with salt and pepper as needed.  Add lobster, crab or shrimp and heavy cream.  Garnish with a dash of old bay, chives, and a drizzle of heavy cream.



Homemade Seafood Stock
making use of shells

water
seafood shells (lobster, crab or shrimp)
black peppercorns
sea salt
onion, quartered
garlic head, cut in half

In a large pot of water, boil seafood shells, peppercorns, sea salt, onion and garlic for 30 minutes until it has reduced.  Reserve liquid from other debris (shells, garlic, peppercorns, etc.).

This Week's Menu | Stocking the Freezer

Along with the rest of world, this morning I am back to reality.  We had the best break with all three of us home last week.  We had snow, we sledded, built a snowman, made homemade pasta, made a fancy NYE dinner, lounged, watched movies, and took down our tree and Holiday decor.  

Surprisingly, I was very reluctant to take down our tree and decorations.  Since this was our first Christmas in the new house it seemed as if everything was leading up to it, the first Christmas.  When it was all over, there was a since of - what now?  I had grown accustomed to and comforted by all of the warm, rich colors that I don't normally embrace that I was afraid it would feel too barren when we took it all away.  

But after the first of the year there was a shift, that familiar itch to de-clutter, freshen and simplify.  In the last couple of days we took on major projects like organizing the basement, rearranging the garage, and decluttering every toy closet and the playroom.  It feels so good to have everything fresh and to create some empty spaces once again.  

One of the things I also did over the break was watch some cooking TV shows.  I hardly ever take time to watch them anymore (maybe just because there aren't any new Barefoot Contessa's to watch - except the holiday special, which was fantastic, right?).  I got completely inspired by a Pioneer Woman show about stocking the freezer.

Our typical routine is to go to the store every afternoon and make dinner.  Now that winter has officially set in, daily errands aren't as fun.  When Emma was a baby and we lived in Concord, I was so good about keeping a stocked pantry and freezer so I could always make dinner without taking her out into the cold.  I have more work responsibilities now, so our time is increasingly valuable... speaking of, I'm beginning to interview for an assistant today!  Here is the craigslist post, if you know anyone that would be great!

This week I'm going to take a page from my old book (and the Pioneer Woman's) and get our freezer cleaned out and restocked.  My game plan is to make a double batch - one for that night's dinner and one for the freezer.

Meatballs : I always have homemade meatballs in my freezer.  I make them with more general seasoning (only parsley vs. Italian herbs) so that they can be used in multiple ways.  They are still great with marinara (for pasta or sandwiches), but can also be cooked in a cream sauce with mushrooms for over mashed potatoes, or crumbled in a veg soup. 

Chicken Chili (this photo and recipe, here)  : I feel like I have made this before, but somehow can't find it on my blog... so, looks like I'll be sharing a new recipe based on this inspiration photo!

Calzones/Hand Pies : My mom (and Granny and Aunt Nancy) always make these in the winter to go with soups.  They are great to keep in the freezer to pull out for lunches or easy dinners.  We usually made ground beef and cheese when I was young, but now I make lots of versions, including and a chicken parm one with fresh mozz.

Minestrone Soup : Emma and I are big vegetable soup/minestrone fans.  Mike is too (as long as he has a meaty calzone to pull out of the freezer to go with it...).  I will make big and little freezer containers of this - the large to pull out for dinner and individuals for me to have for lunch during the week.  This is a new recipe for the blog based on my favorite from a local bistro - it is a little spicy with sweet peas, potatoes and lots of parm.

Lasagna : Right now I have a big batch of bolognese leftover in my fridge.  I'll use it to put together a couple small lasagna pans for easy dinners.  Here is the recipe for the version in the photo, but I'll be making a simpler classic version with my leftover bolognese. 

Scones :  A weekend staple around here!  I'm thinking of some new versions, too.

Cookies :  We always like to have a variety of cookie dough balls in the freezer... who doesn't need fresh baked cookies always just 8-10 minutes away?  I'm thinking Chocolate Chip, PB and Snicker-doodle.

Store Update:  Valentine's products are on there way!  I am planning to post the new collection on Thursday, Jan 14th : )   It has been nice to have a couple weeks off from the store buzz after a fun and crazy holiday season, but I am really excited about some new ideas for this year's valentine's day products.

Hope your new year is off to a great start!  I really do love to start fresh in the new year.  I have lots of home organizing to share with you including our kitchen drawers, my office/mudroom and our linen closets.  Am I the only one that looks forward to these cold months?  I am so glad for some much needed time to slow down and do some projects at home.  What are you all planning?