Design: Dudley's Desserts

When Dudley's Desserts asked me to design their dessert table at the Etsy Show, I thought it should give off an almost vintage candy store-vibe and an adorable boutique feel. Most of all, I wanted it to be the first table you noticed amongst the Fall colors of everyone else’s table. (I had a hunch people would be fading into the surroundings during pumpkin and falling leaves season, I was right).
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Pulling up and/or walking in, you saw her displays first no matter where you entered! I always stress the importance of branding, so I wanted something memorable for her amazing desserts and something that guests would know was her easily at other shows! Tons of glass stands, pinks, chalk and a few elements from the fab Rusty Love, and it was sweet heaven.
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            It was a cold, windy day and we set up very early in the morning! I am not sure how tiny, little Abby made it through the cold shivers, but with pretty much everything sold out (so not surprised), it was a successful day! They tasted, they bought, they licked their lips, and they made yummy noises.

 

  

Desserts: Dudley's Desserts

Photos, Backdrop & Design: elleDesigns

Table & Chalkboard: Rusty Love Vintage Rentals

Dudley's Desserts

Everyone has that friend that we expect something from at every gathering or get-together.  There is one person who is going to be crazy as Ms. Hostess with décor and adorably labeled food & drinks (a.k.a. Elle Ellinghaus). You have the adorable couple that always announces they are expecting another bundle of joy sitting next to the debonair Bachelor with his flavor of the month. Then there is that person who you can always count on to bring those drool-worthy desserts. You know, the desserts that you can smell the moment they walk in the door and make the girls think “Ehh, diet will start again Monday”.  However, the person that brings those desserts to your party is very different from the person who brings those desserts to my parties. The girl at my party owns Dudley’s Desserts.

You can’t help but shake your head as you see everyone sneak one to 15 treats in their mouth before appetizers are even out.  One of those things you can always count on and wait to happen. However, can you really blame anyone when there is a peanut butter, pretzel, white chocolate cookie staring at them in the face?

Dudley’s Desserts was started by owner, Abby Cobb, because of a love of sweets…pure, sweet and simple. I dare you not to lick your lips and have your eyes grow wide with a plate of her treats in front of you. Not only does she bake some devilishly good cookies, truffles and sweet treats, but she can also creates beautiful cakes....fondant, buttercream, gumpaste flowers...whole kit n kaboodle!

Now for me, I am never the one picking at the desserts before dinner time, or after dinner time for that matter, in fact I usually huddle around the veggie platters {big smile}. As most of you know and I have no problem shouting from the roof-tops, I am vegan. Cake, cookies, muffins….no matter how yummy they look, doesn’t matter to me, I won't be eating them. However, when Abby walks in, I can be first in line, hand out…big smile....gimme, gimme!!

Abby and I agree about not telling anyone that something is vegan until after their yummy noises. So, I will be honest, part of me hated to say this here because some people hear “dairy free” or “vegan” and think “oh never mind”.  However, for the ladies and gents out there with dairy allergies, who want sweet & healthier treats, have vegan lifestyles, or any dietary restrictions…it needed to be announced for them! This, actually, is why they are so unbelievably good, in fact! She spent years and years perfecting recipes that would satisfy her taste buds because of her own allergies. She didn't want to sacrifice taste for her own sweet tooth and she especially did not want to have anyone be able to tell her baked goods were different. Success! Success x's about a thousand...

Dudley’s Desserts is a dairy-free bakery that kicks any regular bakeries bottom. So dairy-free or dairy-full lifestyle, Dudley's Desserts is amazing for any occasion, any wedding, any gathering!

You know me, when I find something I love love love, I share...

be sure to ask her who the Dudley in Dudley's Desserts is, too :-)

 

Visit their website

 

 

candy canes

what does one do with left over candy canes

SheKnow.com, Wellsphere,  Sweat Pea's Kitchen, JennySteffens.blogspot.com,

Hostess with the Mostess Blog, RGBDream, Make and Takes, Coastal Living , Bliss Bloom Blog

hey, hot cocoa, lookin' snazzy!

Dress up your Hot Cocoa

photo from Martha Stewart

… great for Holiday Parties! 

You can make your marshmallows from scratch by clicking here, but if you do not have time, go the easy way and melt your store bought marshmallows, I have 2 favorite brands. One is Sweet & Sara found here and the other is Dandies I find at Wegmans. Yes, they are cruelty-free/vegan, so I am biased, but I swear these kick regular marshmallow's tushy!

Directions:

1. Put marshmallows in a large bowl, add 2 tablespoons of water per bag and melt for 45 seconds, stir, then melt again until it becomes lump free.

2. Dust glass/metal pan with confectioner's sugar, and pour melted marshmallows into pan.

3. Sprinkles top with confectioner's sugar.

4. Let set over night to until dry.

5. Using fun cookie cutters, get creative an cut out some shapes!

Display these next to the hot cocoa ( my fav recipe is found here) for some extra holiday cuteness!

A very merry Wine a bit Wednesday

How I love this season! Christmas lights, Santas ringing bells on every corner, my Elvis Christmas record, baking vegan Christmas cookies, people in the malls fighting over the last oddly realistic doll that pees its pants...

Happy Wine a bit Wednesday

a Very Merry Wine Cocktail

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I call it the...

Raspberry Sugar Plum Fairy

This will wet your whistle and with enough down the pipe, make you put lamp shades on your head! Remember in the National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Home for the Holidays, or any one of those classic Holiday movies, there is that Aunt, Cousin or Friend who everyone thinks is a bit loopy?

This is your chance to be that person! Enjoy!

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Ingredients

 *Raspberry Sorbet- 2 pints...Make your own by clicking here (its easy and delicious!)

*Lemon Juice-10 cups

*O.J.-2 cups
*Cranberry Juice- 10 cups

*Sugar-5 cups (I use stevia! only use 3 cups)

*Brown Sugar-2 cups (I use splenda brown sugar! use 2 cups)

*Grand Marnier-2 1/2 cups (optional, but it's a nice little kick!...ha, I said "little" kick...)
*Champagne or Sparkling Wine-2 bottles (I used Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Bruit because it is my FAV)

 

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  Directions

*Soften 1 pint sorbet.

*In a punch bowl, combine softened sherbet, lemon juice, orange juice and sugar.

*Stir to dissolve sugar.

*Add Cranberry Juice,Grand Marnier & Champagne/Sparkling wine.

*When serving, a martini glass works great! Scoop in some sorbet from pint #2, and pour over the cocktail.

*Put lampshade on head.

 Let's toast to a very merry holiday season, no matter what religion you follow, belief you have, or holiday you are celebrating! I hope you have someone to snuggle up close to, family to love, and presents to open. Cheers to Family, Friends and.... a good buzz! 

                               Happy Holidays

                                                                         -elle

Fondant Character Class-Elf

I hope you guys had a fun class learning how to make these adorable chracters! Not as hard as they look, ey? Here are the last 2 character's I demoed for you with step by step instructions and pictures. Any questions or if you need help, feel free to contact me elleDesigns@live.com

Tools:, roller, fondant cutter,  toothpicks, water, brush   Colors: Red, Green, black, Peach

*Feel free to use any colors you like for the outfit!

1.  Using Green Fondant, make a small cone shape for the body.

2. Roll out very thin "worms" in green for arms. Measure against the body and set aside.

3. Repeat step 2 with red fondant for the legs.
       -Make them a little longer and bend them at the knees.

        

4. Roll out colored fondant of your choice and add decoration with a tiny bit of water (tiny bit! you do not want it to run!)

-  with polka dots (icing tips)

- stripes (fondant cutter)

5. Roll out oval peach head to a size of your liking. Using a circle cutter or icing tip, add a smile!

-attach with water and toothpick down the center of body.

6. Hat

-Roll Red (or color of your choice) into ball

-Adjust pressure to make a very high cone shape

-Using thumbs and elf's peach head, mold it and add room for head.

-pinch and flatten the bottoms to make cute detail to hat

-Add toothpick down center of head and add hat

7. Ears & Nose

-Roll 2 equal sized small balls, and one very small ball

-Flatten the 2 bigger balls and pinch one end to make points

-attach with water to sides of head

-attach small ball to nose

 8. Add arms with water and/or toothpicks

9. No eyes are cute, but you can add them if you like!   

10. Add body on top of legs with water.

                             -Join the top of the legs, add a little bit of water, and push together

Fondant Character Class-Tree

Tools: roller, small oval cutter, water, brush   Colors: Green, Red, Yellow(star optional)

1. Mold Green into a cone shape

2. Roll out green medium thickness

3. Cut out many, many oval shapes using the oval cutter.

4. Attach to tree with water, starting at the bottom, going around, and working your way to the top

5. Add Christmas balls… a star…or decorate as you wish!

Teaching a class on Fondant Characters!

To all my Maryland blog followers, if anyone is interested in learning how to make these little guys for your Christmas and Holiday Parties, here is your chance! I have that little hobby of sugar that you know I oh-so-much love and was asked to teach a class on fondant characters.

Limited space of 15 people, so reserve quickly!

December 5th, 2011

6:00 pm-8:30 pm

Cake & Wedding Cottage

8716 Belair Road
Baltimore, MD 21236

410-529-0200
www.cakeandweddingcottage.com

Hope to see ya there! Get ready to get your hands dirty!

Saturday Morning Breakfast

Yummy Vegan French Toast

from 'the Kind Life' by the too fantastic Alicia Silverstone

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Total time: 15 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

-1 1/2 cup(s) of firm tofu

-2 Yeast-free bread slices (French Meadow Summer Bread or whole spelt bread are good options)


-1 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon

-2 tbsp. of rice syrup


-1/2 cup(s) of soy milk


-1/2 tsp. of sea salt


-1 tbsp. of corn oil


-1 tsp. of vanilla


-1 tsp. of or 2 splashes of Oil of your choice (olive, safflower, sunflower, etc.) for frying



Steps:

1.Blend all ingredients together until smooth and creamy.

If too thick, add more soy milk. 

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2.Dip bread in batter and fry in hot oiled skillet until browned on both sides. 


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3.Topping: Serve with organic maple syrup.

Or you can make a great cinnamon butter by mixing cinnamon together with Earth Balance to taste.

You can also make a maple/flax syrup by mixing 1/2 cup maple syrup and 2 teaspoons flax seed oil (that kind of ratio, because you don't want to make more syrup/flax than you will use)

Mix them together well. The oil adds a nice layer to the syrup.

Happy Saturday!

Happy Halloween! DIY come together

happy halloween

diy. chic. elegant. spook-tacular.

elleeventdesigns.com

bright colored turn ahead...

I love coming up with new designs for the sugar aspect of elleDESIGNS. Lisa wanted BRIGHT and Lisa got it! Pleasure working with you!

sugar by elleDESIGNS

Cake Pops: Butterfinger, Vanilla, Vegan Coconut

Cake: Strawberry Butter Cream

Cupcakes: Cream Cheese, Vegan White Chocolate

Lions, Giraffes, Elephants...Oh my!

Baby Shower Cake

Name: Emily

Nursery Theme: Animals

Nursery Colors: Green, Yellow, Purple

Cake Pop flavors: Vegan Apple Spice & Vanilla

Cake: Strawberry Buttercream

Boy did I have a ball making this one!