Party in a Box and Flower shaped Brownie Cookies

When we plan and prepare for a party it is much easier if we can find all the things we need to decorate and serve from one place.  I am glad that we can find many themed party kits online at BirthdayinaBox.com such as Brave, Tangled that are sure to please any little girl.
I am planning on having a fairy party for my daughter in spring and wanted to get started.  This deluxe kit from BirthdayinaBox has 8 knives, spoons, forks, cake plates, cups, 16 napkins, 12 birthday candles and table cover, which is good for a small gathering of children.  This kit also comes with pink and hot pink streamers that would look beautiful when we decorate among balloons.  Having this kit with everything in it makes me feel like I am already set with the little details, and am looking forward to plan on what to serve for her friends.

I am thinking of including these flower shaped brownie cookies adapted from the smitten kitchen cookbook that would fit this theme.

Here is what you will need to make these brownie roll out cookies we will need... (I halved the recipe)
3 cups flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
16 tbsp unsalted butter softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Whisk flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder in a bowl.  Beat the sugar and butter until fluffy in another bowl then add eggs one at a time.  Mix in the vanilla and dry ingredients.  Wrap the dough with a plastic and chill for 1 hour.  Roll out the cookie dough on a floured counter to 1/8" or 1/4" then cut desired shapes, I used the flower shape cookie cutter from the Wilton cake decorating kit.  Place the shapes on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake in a 350F for 8 (for 1/8") to 11 (for 1/4") minutes.  The edges will become firm and the centre will be slightly soft and puffed, transfer to a wire rack and cool.

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Your chance to Win: Movie offers and Peanut Butter Cheerios kit ($50)

Look for specially-marked boxes of General Mills cereals like Lucky Charms, Cheerios and Oatmeal Crisp, Golden Grahams and others to get a ‘free movie offer’ from Cineplex®.

Starting February 3rd.  

From March 3rd to May 30th you will find a ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ General Admission to the movies at Cineplex® on these same cereal brands.

From February 3rd until May 30th you’ll find:

• ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ Child Admission when purchasing any two specially-marked treats like Betty Crocker® Dunkaroos®, Fruit Gushers® or Fruit by the Foot®
• ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ General Admission when purchasing any two specially-marked snacks such as Nature Valley® Sweet & Salty & Crunchy products.
• Free movie snacks on specially-marked boxes of Old El Paso® products including the Extra Mild, Super Tasty Dinner Kit, the Hot & Spicy Fajita Dinner kit and the Hard & Soft Taco Dinner Kits. Way to spice it up!

Once you find the unique voucher code inside the package, go to www.Cineplex.com/freemovieoffer and redeem your free movie ticket*  These offers are valid February 3rd to May 30th 2013 for show times Sunday through Thursday (inclusive) only.

*Old El Paso® free movie snacks are redeemed in theatre, not online.

Peanut Butter Cheerios

My children are big fans of peanut butter, and when I told them about the upcoming peanut butter flavoured Cheerios they became super excited :) 
After tasting it their verdict was that it tastes just like peanut butter and would have it for breakfast and snack everyday.  Peanut Butter Cheerios will be available for a limited time in stores starting March 4^th. 

We enjoy making these peanut butter cookies that does not last too long in our home.  It is easy to make these cookies within a few minutes.  

Here is what you will need to make these cookies...

2 oz butter
3 oz peanut butter

4 oz brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
4 oz flour

Mix the butter, peanut butter and sugar with a hand beater until it is mixed.  Then add the egg to the mix.  Mix the baking powder and salt with the flour and add mix it into the butter mixture. 

 

Take a teaspoonful of mixture and make a ball shape and place it in a lined baking tray 2" apart.

Lightly press the balls with a fork to make a tic-tac-toe pattern and bake in a lined baking sheet for 10 minutes in a 350F preheated oven.  Don't over bake as the cookies will burn on the bottom.  Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes then move it to a wire rack to cool down.

Offer:

Starting February 4^th Get your Peanut Butter Cheerios FREE coupon when you buy another Cheerios flavour (BananaCheerios, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, or Chocolate Cheerios). 

During the March 16^th – 17^th weekend you can redeem the free coupon at your nearest store.

Peanut Butter Cheerios kit

Giveaway:

You may enter this Peanut Butter Cheerios kit ($50) giveaway on multiple blogs, but may only win one prize.  This giveaway is open to people in Canada until Feb 28th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  I am participating in the Life Made Delicious Ambassador program and receive special perks as part of my affiliation.  All rights reserved on photographs and written content Createwithmom © 2011 - 2013. Please Ask First

Gingerbread cookies and Celebrating the Joy of December

In the month of December more than any other month through the year, I feel that my family and I tend to be in a celebrating mood :)  The lights, snow, family gatherings, the relaxing feel, cozying up, baking, giving, getting gifts, making new plans, our son's birthday are some of the things in December that we look forward to.  

To keep our children occupied and to make the holiday season memorable we make holiday crafts, bake cookies and go for a drive just to see winter lights covered in blankets of snow.  We made these holiday Gingerbread cookies adapted from Joy of Baking site.  My children helped me bake and decorate, if you would like to make a batch with your little ones you will need...

3 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg at room temperature
2/3 cups molasses

We can use a paddle attachment in the stand mixer or hand mixer to make the dough.
Beat butter till it is creamy, add sugar and beat till the mixture is light and fluffy.  
Add the egg and beat.  
Spray the container with oil spray before measuring molasses so it doesn't stick to the measuring cup.  Then add the molasses to the mixture and combine.

Add the sifted dry ingredient 1/3rd at a time to the wet mixture.  After adding and mixing all the flour, gather the dough into a ball and cut it into two parts before covering it with a plastic wrap.  Leave the dough in the fridge to chill overnight or until it is firm so it can be easily rolled.

Flour the surface, rolling pin, cookie cutters and hands well with flour and roll the dough about 1/2" thick.  Keep turning and lifting the dough so it doesn't stick.
Prepare a tray with parchment paper and butter before placing the cut shapes.  Space about 1"between the cookies and leave the tray in the fridge for about 10 minutes before baking.  Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 8 to 10 minutes.  The cookies should barely brown around edges if baked too much it will become too crispy.  Cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
The cookies will stay well covered for up to two weeks if it lasts that long :)

For more holiday cookie and baking ideas check LMD Facebook page as Pillsbury will be sharing their ideas from December 3rd to the 15th and Betty Crocker will be sharing their ideas from December 17th to the 31st.

Disclosure:  I am participating in the Life Made Delicious Ambassador program and receive special perks as part of my affiliation.  All rights reserved on photographs and opinion of the written content Createwithmom © 2012.  Please Ask First