Baby Prep: Gifts for Parents That Say, "Life Isn't Over" + Apple Cider Caramel Sauce

You know what's funny about being pregnant? People can't wait to congratulate you and swoon over the bump, but then -- in the next breath -- they will remind you that your life will soon cease to exist as you know it. They'll usually smile when they tell you this {like it's suppose to soften the blow} but they'll also make sure to follow up with further admonition just to be clear.

"No, really, though. You'll never sleep again. Get used to it."

Card from 9SpotMonk

Oh ok... um, thanks?

Whether or not you are "ready" to become a parent, there are still so many things to learn that no method of preparation will truly ever suffice. You realize this when you start opening baby gifts and -- though you proudly display your achievements and degrees in expensive frames on the wall -- you find that you have no stinkin' idea how some of those things work. A scary moment, for sure. {And for goodness sake, how many tubes and pieces are part of a breast pump??}

I was so very lucky to have not one, but TWO baby showers hosted in Cole's honor. And I can say pretty confidently that we have been stocked with most of the essentials we'll need for the first few months of his life, which is a wonderful blessing!

While many of the gifts we received were items we carefully chose and placed on our registry {car seat, stroller, baby swing, etc.}, there were also a few surprises here and there that seemed to say, "Hey, I know you're about to be a mama... but I also know you're still YOU!"

So, if you're looking for fun things to gift to parents-to-be that will help remind them that life is changing but it isn't over, here's a list of some of my favorites:

This necklace is from MangoJewels on Etsy.

Baubles. When one of my friends recently had her baby shower, I decided to get a little something just for her. At a local shop, they had an artisan creating custom jewelry right in the store, so I bought her a hand-stamped pendant sporting her new little one's initials on one of the charms {hers had a silver starfish & an aqua crystal}. There are also very pretty "teething necklaces" for moms that serve both as a statement piece AND a soothing teether for baby.

From Total Wine & More

Wine. I thought it was so cute and fitting that several of my friends gave me wine as a part of my gift! The sentiments attached ranged from "For when you need to stay zen." to "Let's plan a wine date together soon!" A creative twist on this was a friend who also attached a Starbucks gift card to the bottle with a note saying, "For the mornings... and for the evenings!"

From Toys'R'Us

Breast Milk Testing Strips. Wait... what? Well, if mom's going to indulge in a glass of wine or two, she's also going to want to make sure that her breast milk isn't giving baby a taste of Pinot too early in life. These handy little strips tell you whether or not the milk expressed is safe for baby, giving mama some peace of mind if she decides to pour herself a glass.

Gift cards for date nights.  Remember that guy that you liked a whole lot before your days were consumed by diapers and feedings? It would be nice to see him again, and not just when you're passing the baby back and forth! Gift cards for date nights to the movies, restaurants or events provide a reminder and a reason to hang up the "Mom & Dad" name tags for a few hours and try on that "Mr. & Mrs." title on for size again.

Original website not available, image found on Oh So Beautiful Paper.

"Me time." Many mamas forget to take some time to decompress, mostly because it can be hard to find that time. Gift certificates for manicures, massages, salon time or even just an "I'll watch the baby and you go grocery shopping... alone" pass could mean the difference between a calm, relaxed mom and a mother on the edge! She'll be grateful and you'll be a hero.

From Project Nursery

Comfy nursing wear. Let's be real: A new mom's wardrobe is most likely going to consist of spit up-covered tops and yoga pants that fit over her {hopefully} shrinking belly. Finding comfy, convenient pieces for her to wear post-baby will make her feel like she's slipping into Balanciaga. These modal camis and nighties from Gap Body are heavenly. {I can't yet speak for the "nursing" part, but I have a few comfy sleepwear pieces that I love.}

From ClosetCat on Etsy

Friendship, Support & Humor. I know that my "girls nights" will soon be very limited, but it makes me sad when friends act like they won't see me for the next 18 years. It's nice to know that, though you may be trading in gym time for Gymboree and fancy handbags for a well-stocked diaper bag, your girls will still be there when you need something more than baby talk. So, make sure to let your friends who are parents-to-be know that you're still on for coffee dates and wine nights whenever time allows.

Food. Never underestimate the power of food. Food can also be a great gift to give to new parents who will have little time to prepare meals for themselves once they're preoccupied with another mouth to feed. A few days ago I saw this cool idea from Once a Month Meals for a "Stock the Freezer" baby shower! How cool and useful is that?

If you haven't seen Meal Train before, it's another popular way to get friends and family to sign up for bringing over prepared meals to new parents over the first few weeks of adjusting to their new family unit. Food Tidings and Take Them A Meal are two other sites that have a similar setup for organizing food gifts.

One of the sweetest things someone can do is reassure you that you're going to be just fine and remind you that this little one on the way is opening a new, exciting chapter of your life... that is indeed a gift!

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It's so important for parents to remember to eat properly and fuel themselves during those long days and nights. But you know what else is important? A treat every now and then.

And this Apple Cider Caramel Sauce is just the sweet treat you'll want to give to new parents, friends, family and yourself during this fall season. It is so, so good.

With just 4 ingredients {and a watchful eye}, you can make this sweet, decadent sauce that tastes like a perfect autumn day. FOUR INGREDIENTS. There are just no excuses.

What can you use it for? To drizzle over pie or cake. Dip apple slices in. Stir into beverages. Package up & give as a gift. Eat off a spoon. It's pretty ridiculous. I have a really, really good way to use it coming to you later this week, too...

But for now, let's just focus on not eating it all so we have options. It's easier said than done.

It's not terrible with a sprinkle of sea salt, either. ;)

Apple Cider Caramel Sauce

From Epicurious

4 cups apple cider* {I think what really made this taste amazing was the kind I used -- Trader Joe's Spiced Cider.}

1 vanilla bean, split & scraped

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring apple cider to a boil. Add vanilla bean seeds scraped from pod and drop in the pod itself. {You'll pull this out later.} Continue to boil until reduced by about half, about 12-15 minutes.

2. Add brown sugar and butter and stir until melted in and well incorporated. Reduce heat to medium.

3. Allow the mixture to continue to boil until the bubbling starts to slow down as the liquid becomes more thick and syrupy, about 7-10 more minutes. {You'll have to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't burn.} I didn't use a candy thermometer for this, but you'll want the mixture to be pourable but thickened -- it will thicken some more after it cools.

4. Carefully pour hot sauce into a heatproof container or jar and allow to cool before sealing and decorating.

Pour over everything. :)

Boozy Chocolate Truffles

**First and foremost, I won't keep you in suspense any longer about the Sugarfina Giveaway winner... I know not to mess with you guys when it comes to sugar.

Congratulations to Dianne H., the winner of the giveaway! If you didn't win this time, not to worry... I have a few more goodies I'll be giving away very soon that will cheer you right up, so keep an eye out for a chance to enter. Thanks for participating! **

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You know what's awesome for the soul? Girls Night. Especially if you have a really great group of girls to get together with.

Because when you spend week after week bearing the daily grind, find yourself crying during a Budweiser commercial {who, me?}, add "Anti-Blemish/Anti-Wrinkle" face wash to your arsenal of toiletries {true story}, realize that you spent 30 minutes in front of the mirror yanking newly grayed hairs out of your head, or discover that you've singlehandedly eaten half of a 26.5 oz container of Nutella in a few short weeks {at least it wasn't this one}... you find that you just need to talk to someone who has all the same body parts as you do.

It helps. A lot.

You know what makes a Girls Night even more fun {aside from wine, of course}?

Dessert.

 

Something rich. Chocolatey. Sweet. Something boozy and decadent. Something you can share with people that will join you in eating a few instead of stare at you with judgemental sideways glances. {I'm sorry, boys, but until you have a uterus and estrogen surging through your body, you will never quite understand.}

So, when one of my dear friends invited me to a mid-week girls night at her new place this week{she's gotta know I love her to death because it practically takes wild horses to drag me from my pj's couch on a week night... ugh, the horses! :'( }, I knew just the thing to {quickly} whip up: Boozy Chocolate Truffles.



The ladies in attendance gobbled them up happily and soon, after a glass of wine or two, some tasty nibbles, and some friendly chatter, all was well in my world again.

You know what else these would make a great addition to? A Valentine's Day gift! Whether it's for your best guy {sadly, mine is not a fan of chocolate}, or for that group of girls that keeps you from drowning your sorrows in a pint of ice cream when times are tough, nothing says "Love" like homemade truffles. And let's be real, they'll taste much better than that last minute heart shaped box of chocolates from the drug store!

 

 

These come together so quickly, and can easily be customized with your favorite spirit or liqueur.{Frangelico truffles? Grand Marnier truffles? Chambord?? Creme de Menthe??? I feel tipsy just thinking about all the options!}.

Sure, it can get a little messy to roll these little yummies into bite sized treats... but, much like love they're totally worth all the work and you end up with something sweet!

Now that we've got dessert covered, head over to La Petite Fashionista to get Lauren's stylish take on putting together the perfect Valentine's Day outfit!

Boozy Chocolate Truffles
Adapted from Cooking Light

3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons evaporated whole milk

1 tablespoon golden cane syrup {I used Liquid Sugar in the Raw, but you could probably use dark corn syrup as a substitute if you can't find this product.}

Dash of salt

2-3 tablespoons tablespoon Bailey's Irish Cream or your favorite liqueur or spirit 

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3.5 ounces Baker's semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped {you could also use bittersweet}

1.75 ounces milk chocolate chips

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

 

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring brown sugar, evaporated milk, cane syrup, and salt to a simmer until sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally. {Don't boil or the milk may curdle. If it does, it's still ok to eat, it just won't look as pretty.}

 

2. Remove from heat and add liqueur, vanilla extract, and both types of chocolate. Let sit for about 5 minutes, then stir until smooth and all chocolate has melted.

 

3. Pour into a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until set, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

 

4. Meanwhile, sift together cocoa and confectioners' sugar in a small bowl or pan. Set aside.

 

5. When chocolate mixture has hardened a bit and is ready to scoop, use a melon baller or tablespoon to scoop* out a small amount and roll into balls. {About 1 inch.}

 

6. Place truffles into reserved cocoa mixture and roll around to fully coat, then place into small candy liners or on a parchment lined tray.

 

*I used my trusty mini-cookie scoop and made about 2 truffles from each scoop. It helps to have a cup of warm water next to you to warm the scoop between truffles.

Bark-a-Palooza

Ugh, I've missed sitting at the computer and telling you all about my crazy antics lately. I just can't seem to get caught up on everything I need to do AND get in the kitchen AND share it with you AND still have a life. And though I've considered it, I can't call into work and say, "Hey, sorry, but I'm up to my elbows in melted chocolate and I have people counting on me for this recipe."

Is that too much to ask?

This morning I took a little personal time out to go to a yoga class with a friend, and let me just tell you... I loved it. Which is shocking, because I dislike most things that involve any sweating that isn't caused by standing in front of an oven.

But seriously, this was some exercise I can see myself getting into... which is a pretty big deal because you might remember that the last time I mentioned exercise this happened.

I felt strong. I felt zen. I felt brave enough to do a handstand with my feet up on the wall, inverted like an upside down "L".

What I didn't feel was the blood vessel that decided to burst in my eyeball.

Nope, Steve had to inform me about that. He made this strange face while I was talking to him a few hours after the class, and I knew something was up. Then I looked in them mirror and saw it. Like something out of a horror movie.

Oh, well. I'll spare you the picture, but I promise it isn't pretty.

Anyway, enough about fitness, let's talk sugar. {Because I know that's what you come here for.}

You will never guess what I have created for you.

Gifts.

Well, not FOR you but for you to make for other people. Because let's face it, if you weren't the recent winner of that recent ridiculous Powerball drawing, and you're lucky enough to have lots of sweet people in your life that you care about, you probably don't have unlimited funds for holiday shopping.

{But if you do, would you mind sending me some of that? Wire transfer would be great. Thanks.}

Anyway, I know that you probably don't have anymore free time than I do. So I decided to come up with a spin on a popular holiday treat that even busy, broke people can make: Bark.

You know, the stuff that fancy specialty stores like to sell for nearly $30 a tin.

With a handful of ingredients, the help of your microwave and refrigerator, and some inexpensive little gift bags, you can pretty much cross everyone off your list for $30. 

Now comes the exciting part... the flavors that I'm sharing with you today.

Have you ever heard of Banana Pudding Bark? {A white chocolate-vanilla pudding base studded with banana chips and vanilla wafers!}

Or Milk Chocolate-Potato Chip Bark? {Milk chocolate base encrusted with salty potato chips and drizzled with white chocolate!}

Or Pina Colada Bark? {White chocolate base with sweet dried pineapple bits and flaked coconut!}

Yeah, I've never seen those come in a tin, either. But if those stores know what's good for them, they'll start selling these... SOON.

Because they'll have some competition coming from you and me. And if I can make it with a busted eye, I guarantee you'll have no problem making it either.

**These recipes are an approximation. You can use as much or as little of the ingredients as you choose, and mix and match add ons to make your own delicious flavors**

Banana Pudding Bark

1 {11 oz.}bag white chocolate chips {I use Ghiradelli's}
4 tablespoons Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding
1/2 cup vanilla wafers, coarsely crumbled
1/3 to 1/2 cup banana chips

1. Prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside

2. Place white chocolate chips in a medium, microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high for 30 second intervals, stirring occasionally until melted and smooth. {Note: White chocolate is VERY easy to scorch, keep an eye on it and try to zap it as little as possible. Residual heat will do most of the melting.}

3. Add 4 tablespoons of pudding mix to melted white chocolate, mixing until incorporated. {It will become quite thick.}

4. Spread white chocolate-pudding mixture onto prepared baking sheet and smooth out with a silicone or offset spatula to desired thickness. {I like it about 1/4 inch thick.}

5. While still wet, sprinkle with crumbled vanilla wafers and banana chips, pressing down gently to adhere to base.

6. Let set either at room temperature for about an hour or in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

7. When hardened, break into irregular pieces and serve or package.

Milk Chocolate-Potato Chip Bark

1 {12 oz.} bag milk chocolate chocolate chips
About 1 to 1/2 cups potato chips, coarsely crumbled
About 1/4 cup white chocolate chips, melted

1. Prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside

2. Place chocolate chips in a medium, microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high for 30 second intervals, stirring occasionally until melted and smooth. {Note: Careful not to scorch.}

3. Pour melted chocolate onto prepared baking sheet and smooth out with a silicone or offset spatula to desired thickness. {I like it about 1/4 inch thick.}

4. While still wet, sprinkle with crumbled potato chips.

5. Chill in refrigerator about 10 minutes or until hardened.

6. Remove from freezer and drizzle with melted white chocolate. Return to freezer for another 10 minutes or until set.

7. When hardened, break into irregular pieces and serve or package.

Pina Colada Bark




1 {11 oz.} bag white chocolate chips {I use Ghiradelli's}
1/2 cup dried pineapple pieces, roughly chopped
3/4 cup flaked, sweetened coconut

1. Prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside

2. Place white chocolate chips in a medium, microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high for 30 second intervals, stirring occasionally until melted and smooth. {Note: Careful not to scorch.}

3. Pour melted white chocolate onto prepared baking sheet and smooth out with a silicone or offset spatula to desired thickness. {I like it about 1/4 inch thick.}

4. While still wet, sprinkle with chopped dried pineapple pieces. Sprinkle flaked coconut over top, pressing down gently to adhere to base.

5. Chill in refrigerator about 10 minutes or until set.

6. When hardened, break into irregular pieces and serve or package.

Hop To It! {A Speedy Easter Treat}

I am up to my {bunny} ears in projects, orders, and baking today, but I wanted to leave you with a super quick "recipe" for something that you must make for the special little ones that will be gathering around your Easter table this weekend.

As I mentioned yesterday, my original plans for Easter treats kinda fell apart through, so I went on my very own Easter hunt of sorts for an alternative plan. Ever the treasure trove of creative ideas, Pinterest came through for me once again when I found this idea for "Bunny Bait" {I would credit the original, but I've seen so many versions I have no idea where it started!}.

It was the perfect solution for whipping up a speedy treat to take to the kiddies at work. {Thank goodness, because I literally had half an hour to make something!}

The combo of popcorn, pretzels, M&M's, mini marshmallows, Easter sprinkles, and white chocolate coating makes a sweet and salty snack that will please kids, adults, and cotton-tailed visitors alike.

Package the mix in a cute little bag, print out an adorable tag, tie on some pretty ribbon, and just like that you've got a fun little gift to add to any Easter basket!

You can add or omit any ingredient you want to this customizable mix {I was thinking next time I'd try out a healthier version}, and make it your own.

As a little bonus, I'm sharing the labels I made on Publisher for you to download & print onto some cardstock! {You're welcome, cheaters!} ;)
Bunny Bait Labels

{*Labels made using background downloaded from 4shared.com, Office clipart, and font from dafont.com}

Bunny Bait

1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels

1 cup Easter M&M's or pastel candies

1 cup broken mini pretzels or whole pretzel sticks

1/2 cup mini marshmallows

1/2 cup white chocolate candy coating, melted to pourable consistency {I used Ghiradelli. If your coating isn't liquid enough, you can add 1 tablespoon of vegetable or canola oil and stir until desired thickness is reached.}

Pastel sprinkles

Pop popcorn. {I make my own by adding unpopped kernels to a brown paper bag & microwaving, but you can use the regular stuff if you prefer.}

Place onto a large sheet tray or in a very large bowl.

Toss M&M's, pretzels, marshmallows, and sprinkles together on sheet tray or in bowl.

Drizzle melted candy coating over popcorn mixture. Toss together carefully, making sure to coat all pieces. {I have a Calphalon sheet tray with a lid that I closed & shook to coat evenly.}

Allow candy coating to set. {If you're in a rush, place in the rerigerator for 10-15 minutes.}

Break apart any large clumps and scoop into desired packaging.

It's a Marshmallow World...

I haven't completely lost my marbles. The title of this post is really a song. One my Mom used to sing all the time {and completely change the words to, in true Mom fashion}. 

Here's a little clip for your listening & viewing pleasure {plus, who really needs an excuse to watch Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin?}:

Anyway, I'm actually going somewhere with all this nostalgia. {Which, as we know, is not always the case.}

Marshmallows.

I've never been much of a marshmallow lover. You won't find me eating plain ol' marshallows right out of the bag the way you might find me licking plain ol' Nutella right off a spoon. No, ma'am. Not my style.

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy marshmallows as a component of a sweet treat. Swirled into deliciously fudgy brownies; oozing from a graham cracker sandwich in a S'more; serving as the cement for a crunchy Rice Krispie treat {you KNOW I love those.} On their own? Not so much. Perhaps it's because I'm not much of a fan of gelatinous substances. {Jell-o and I are not friends.}

Regardless, when I was browsing Martha Stewart's site for edible Christmas gift ideas, I couldn't help but swoon a bit over these Peppermint Marshmallows I came across. They were just too cute.

But really... homemade marshmallows? I could just picture the sticky mess in the kitchen. An OCD nightmare.

Since I'm{almost} never deterred by a kitchen challenge, I decided to roll up my sleeves and give them a try. And since I didn't have any peppermint extract, I figured I'd try them out in plain vanilla first to see if it was worth a trip to the store eventually for the extra ingredient.

I am happy to report that not only were they shockingly easy to make* {and contain only 7 ingredients! That's if you count water and salt!}, but they have completely changed my outlook on marshmallows.

They're delicious alone.

They're amazing in hot cocoa.

And they're FABULOUS dipped in chocolate candy coating.

You will never buy marshmallows in a bag again.

I plan on making these again, and experimenting with different flavors... well... because I can. And you should, too!

*I made these with my Kitchenaid stand mixer and since I am STILL not able to remove the paddle, I did not use the whisk attachment. They still turned out, though they may have taken a few minutes longer to come together. Now, I must warn you that you can severely hurt yourself if you decide to be a little lax on safety when you are adding boiling hot sugar syrup to a machine with a spinning paddle. As always, use caution & common sense, friends!

Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows

Slightly adapted from Martha Stewart.com

3 (1/4-ounce) packages unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup cold water

2 cups granulated sugar

2/3 cup light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract & 1 vanilla bean, scraped (optional)

Confectioners' sugar, sifted, for coating

1. Lightly spray a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line pan with aluminum foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides; set aside.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water; let stand for 10 minutes. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water. Place saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil; boil rapidly for 1 minute. Remove from heat, and, with the mixer on low at first, carefully pour the boiling syrup down the side of the mixer bowl into gelatin mixture. Gradually turn mixer speed up to high. Add salt and continue mixing for 12 minutes until the mixture is thick, white, and cooled. {Will look like loose marshmallow fluff. Mostly because that's exactly what it is. Duh!}

3. Add vanilla extract and vanilla bean seeds {optional}; mix until well combined. Spray a rubber spatula with cooking spray. {I found a silicon spatula works best.} Spread gelatin mixture evenly into pan using prepared spatula. Let stand for 2 hours.

4. Carefully lift marshmallow from pan by using the foil overhang. Remove foil and discard. Cut marshmallows into 2-inch squares using a sprayed sharp knife. Place confectioners' sugar in a large bowl. Working in batches, add marshmallows to bowl and toss to coat on all sides of squares.