For the love of chocolate..

Heart Shaped Treats by Keimu via Etsy

These bite size treats look so yummy... maybe we'll forgo the whole candy buffet idea and have a hot chocolate station. Just to have these beauties to give. Say we have a table set up with garnishes and toppings for the beverages and little tuxedo strawberries... oh myyyyy...

Nothing like homemade goodness to make a party!!

Cigarettes Russes à la Martha...

via Jumbo Empanadas

Browsing through my old Martha-zine archives, I pulled out the '06 holiday issue and landed on these beauties.. looks like an interesting favor idea maybe? 4 per package with patterned backing paper (colors of your theme perhaps?) wrapped in cello with a pretty ribbon. Maybe include a note at the back of the patterned paper... now I'm thinking!!

Recipe available here!

Red velvety goodness...

Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe via Pinch My Salt

A couple weeks ago, we were in New York City taking in the sights and decided to take a dessert break at Magnolia's. He had one bite, looked at me and said "This is what I want at our wedding". He has made a decision and I will not overturn it.

Red Velvet it is!!

A gelato wedding..

Photo by fdiazh on Flickr

mmm how good does this look?

Gelato shops gained popularity in Ottawa a little under 7 years ago. Currently, There are 2 well known awesome gelato shops in Ottawa with at least 2 locations each. Piccolo Grande (in business over 20 years!) and Pure Gelato. If you've never heard or tried Gelato, you are in for a real treat. (this has got to be my fave type of ice cream) Alot of the common flavors include chocolate, lemon, lime, orange, passion fruit (A MUST TRY) and the list goes on.. and on..

If you wanted to spend an afternoon testing the flavors, I suggest you go to the Elgin street Pure Gelato location. They will let you try every single item on the board without a purchase. (don't quote me on this... I don't want to be responsible if you get grumpy serving you the day you go! that would be too bad..)

Instead of the dessert buffet, you could probably have sometype of gelato bar! Piccolo Grande offers a gelato cart rental (with an attendant). The only downside to this idea, is the price... but when you look at it, they give you an all you can eat display of 6 Gelato flavors of your choice ( 30 Litres) for about $650 ( attendant will hang around for 2 hours to serve your eager guests).. It's probably less costly to have an all you can eat ice cart than it is to have a "happy hour" open bar for an hour.

Which brings me to my posting point.. Would you like to have a gelato cart at your wedding? I think it would be a major hit!! P.s. you might want to keep bibs on hand.. boys tend to make messes when they eat ice cream.. I know mine does..

Looky what we have here!

These Past few months have been slow at work. I guess with elections coming up, everyone hunkered down for several weeks. I've been reading blog after blog, switching back and forth to see what was new and exciting.. this stuck out.

I can't stop myself from salivating....

wouldn't this be fun for a cute welcome to the party appy/dessert? How about served with coffee?

Either way, see for yourself... mmm yummy goodness..

http://cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com/2008/09/triple-chocolate-mousse-three-ways.html

How delish!!

http://www.breakfastblogger.com/category/breakfasts/ottawahull/

Weddings aside, I LOVE breakfasting.. Hell I just love to eat. If it weren't for my uberly tight budget, and lack of motivation to get up VERY early in the mornings, I would eat out EVERY morning..

When we lived in Westboro, we always went to this great little pub called Whispers. It was literally steps from the house. We miss this place lots because they made the best home fries. Can't forget the NTN trivia games either..

Anyways to my point.. I have found my breakfast blogger soul mate. They take photos of different plates, running eggs, eggs beny drenched with Florentine sauce… make my mouth water every time… never fails… http://www.breakfastblogger.com/category/breakfasts/ottawahull/

Check it out! If you live in the area, I'm sure you'll find a cozy new favorite… I know I did!

For your Candy Buffet

Keep this one in your back pocket ladies...

http://www.candydirect.com/

You can thank me later ; )

Watermelon goodness

mmmm... how great would this be for a pre-reception snack?

I found this little appi on Foodnetwork.com this morning. Great for cooling off during a warm summer day.. My mouth is watering already!

Photos from http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/everyday-italian/tomato-watermelon-and-basil-skewers-recipe/

Grocerie store list:
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar or Balsamic syrup
1/4 cup sugar
1 (4 to 5 pound) watermelon, cut into 32 (1 1/2-inch cubes
32 small basil leaves (or torn larger leaves)
16 cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt

Additional items:
16 (6-inch) skewers

Combine the balsamic vinegar and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Turn off the heat and set aside to cool.
Starting with the watermelon squares, push the watermelon to the very tip of the skewer. Then skewer a basil leaf, then a tomato half. Continue with another watermelon, basil leaf, and tomato half. Place the skewer on a serving platter so it stands upright, using the lowest watermelon square as a base. Continue with the remaining skewers.

Drizzle the skewers with the reserved balsamic syrup and the olive oil. Sprinkle with coarse salt.

Serve chilled.

Center of attention

Photo by SMN http://www.flickr.com/

Doubling up wedding cake as a table centerpiece is a brilliant idea (one you've probably heard before) some say tacky. However, If your centerpiece looked like this... would you change your mind?