Sweet Treats Are Made of This

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Browsing the Internet for simple recipes has never been more fun. What’s even better is discovering recipes that could be altered to fit special occasions and holidays. Thanks to the magic of the Internet, here is a recipe that can be used for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Halloween, or any time of the year. The beauty of this recipe in particular is that it allows you to create many different flavored treats all the while using the same exact measurements.

Cream Cheese Candy (20 min prep)

• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese softened

• 3 cups confectioners’ sugar

• ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract (this could easily be substituted with other extracts like almond extract, strawberry extract, pumpkin spice extract, blueberry extract, the list goes on)

1. Beat the cream cheese and extract in a small bowl, then toss in half the confectioners’ sugar until it’s smooth.
   
   
2. Proceed to knead in the remaining confectioners’ sugar until it’s fully incorporated.
   
   
3. Shape the dough into 1/2 balls (or hearts or stars or any shape you can think of; yes even the Adipose) and place them on baking sheets. You can roll them around or sprinkle them with colored sugar; it’s not required, but it’s optional. Besides, it’ll give these little treats a bit of flare.
   
   
4. Flatten them with a fork.
   
   
5. Allow them to stand for an hour so they can harden.
   
   
6. Eat.
   
   
7. When you’re done, store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
   

Thanks for reading today’s entry and if you enjoyed it, feel free to comment and reblog. As always, feedback is welcomed.

So tell me, what shapes would you make with this simple recipe?

Tis the Season to be Baking

Welcome everyone to a delicious entry at The Magical Mystery Blog.

Around this time of the year I do my holiday baking. While I usually make sugar cookies, this year I’ve decided to do something a little different. As mentioned before, I’ll be creating strawberry angel cookies for the Doctor Who special, The Time of the Doctor set to air on BBC on Christmas Day. But for the holidays, I like to bake some other tasty treats. However, as the days to Christmas begin to wind down I find that I don’t have enough time to bake. So I figured I would share my recipes I was going to attempt this year, with you my fellow readers.

Midnight Christmas Cookies

• Follow this simple sugar cookie recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-sugar-cookies/

• When the cookies are finished baking, allow them to cool. While the cookies are cooling down, take baker’s chocolate (any brand will do like Hershey’s, Ghiradelli, or even Nestle), and put it in a microwave safe bowl. Keep the microwave at medium power and stir at thirty second intervals. It takes  about ninety seconds for one ounce of chocolate to melt. It takes approximately three and a half minutes for six ounces of chocolate to melt.

• Once the chocolate is fully melted, dunk half the sugar cookie in chocolate.

• For the final touch, sprinkle ground up candy cane on the chocolate half of the cookie. In the summer time you can use this recipe again but instead of covering the chocolate half in candy cane, you can use orange or lemon zest.

• Allow the chocolate to cool and serve whenever your stomach is hungry for something sweet.

Strawberry Fields Forever Cake

• This recipe works best with a white cake because the color will show better. You can pick up any box of white cake mix at the store and it will have the recipe on it.

• However, instead of using water use strawberry puree.  To make a strawberry puree simply purchase fresh or frozen strawberries and remove the stems. Afterwards, place them in a blender or a food processor and grind them until they are pureed. As a puree, it will act as a liquid which is why you do not need water for this recipe.

• When you’ve mixed all the ingredients together, proceed to bake the cake for thirty to forty minutes. To see if the cake is fully baked, use a toothpick to poke through the surface. If there’s cake on the pick, it’s not done. If there’s no cake on the pick, it’s ready to be taken out.

• When you remove your cake from the oven you will see that it is indeed, not white. Instead, it’s a strawberry red, giving it that iconic Christmas color we've all come to know.

• If you want to put icing on your cake, give it about five to ten minutes to cool down. Icing the cake is always the fun part and since it’s Christmas, you can decorate it with all sorts of holiday cheer. You can put a marshmallow snowman on the top or pipe snowflakes and stars. Have fun with your baking!

What are your favorite holiday recipes? Feel free to post them in the comments below and as always, feedback and followers are welcomed. 

Sweets to Sweet

Greetings everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with it comes the one aspect that everyone looks forward to: the food. The sight of turkey filled to the brim with stuffing has become an iconic staple of the holiday and the ultimate cause of mouth watering. However, when the last drumstick is finished, and the wishbone has been broken, the table becomes filled with desserts.

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OM NOM NOM NOM NOM.

Dessert during the Fall season consists of sweet treats like pumpkin spice cake, pumpkin pie, and other delicious delicacies. For Thanksgiving, I usually make a chocolate pudding pie or pumpkin spice cookies. I tend to lean to making cookies because everyone gets one and possibly more. This year, I want to do a different cookie, and break away from the pumpkin spice everything Fall has to offer.  I don’t want to do the traditional sugar cookie because I consider them a Christmas sweet. But a few days ago, I found the answer to my cookie conundrum.

While browsing out of boredom, I stumbled upon a site called hostacookieparty.com.  The site’s purpose is to give details for you to host a cookie party. They even have templates that allow you to create invitations to your party and cookie tags for your treats. However, the site doesn't restrict viewers to randomly creating a cookie party. People, like myself and other fellow bakers, are allowed to roam the site to get the idea for that perfect holiday treat.

On this particular site, I found tons of cookie recipes that solved my dessert dilemma. Amidst the cookie recipes, the site also showcases recipes for fudge, praline bars, fruit tarts, and even streusel squares. The web site even offers classic ethnic treats like polvorones (Mexican wedding cookies), Swedish almond spritz cookies, and Italian lemon drop cookies.

Even better, the recipes consist of try and true items that most people are familiar with.  Some ingredients include Pilsbury cake (or cookie) mix, JIFF peanut butter, Smuckers jam, and other trusted items. I definitely recommend looking this site over for the upcoming holidays and recipe ideas.

Thanks to hostacookieparty.com I’ll be baking jammie dodgers (also known as shortbread jamwiches) for the upcoming Doctor Who special, salted caramel cookies for Thanksgiving, and strawberry angel cookies for Christmas.

No Love for November

Welcome to another Monday here at The Magical Mystery Blog.

Throughout the year we have months that represent iconic events. October represents Halloween, December represents Christmas, June represents when school is done, and September represents the end of summer and the start of school. However, there are months that are just fillers to make up the calendar, like November. November is the month that blocks us from the merrily bustling month of December, which is mostly known for Christmas and New Year’s.  However, there are some things about November that we should adore; after all it is a month with certain days and traditions we appreciate.

Here’s why we should embrace November:

5) Christmas Decoration Sales

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Wait a minute, that’s a month away! Oh well, that doesn’t stop department stores from having Christmas sales no sooner Halloween is finished. Places like Kohls, Target, and other locations begin their Christmas décor sales at the start of November.  These areas usually cut villages’ prices in half, offer buy one get one free ornament deals, and tons of other bargains.  Why with all these decoration sales, you could have your home decked out for Christmas just before Thanksgiving.  Some stores even have these sales before Halloween. Walmart, for example, always presents their Christmas décor alongside their Halloween costumes at the start of September. The Halloween items are marked at moderate to high prices, while Christmas decorations are featured at low prices.

4) PUMPKIN AND GINGERBREAD/PEPPERMINT EVERYTHING.

The invasion of pumpkin spice everything began in the early days of September. It started with the lattes and coffees and slowly dwindled its way into other treats such as doughnuts, ice cream, and other delicious edibles. There’s still pumpkin spice food available but as November progresses, ginger and peppermint flavored foods will come to light. It will also begin with the lattes and weave its way into other delicacies.

3) Foliage

During this time of the year, the trees turn to gold and create some of the most beautiful landscapes the season has to offer. Photographers, artists, and even writers have been inspired by the lush leaves. It’s a wonderful and inspirational time to go walking through a corridor of gorgeous foliage, to hear the crunch of the leaves beneath your feet, and to go diving into a pile of oranges, yellows, and reds. Even their smell is intoxicating and sparks romance for those who happen to fall in love this season.

2) Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Staying up to 3 am is all right and is something one would do at an excellent party, college, and possibly, on a daily basis.  Staying up to 3 am just to wait for department stores’ doors to open to start Christmas shopping and save some money, is what people tend to do on Black Friday. Black Friday is the day where people tear each other apart for items right after breaking bread with their fellow man.

 

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Listen Grandpa I love you and whatnot but so help me God, if you want the same toaster I do at Sears tomorrow, I will obliterate you with my fists.

Some people have been trampled, murdered, or even severely injured by this all out brawl for savings. Yet it has been ingrained into our society (and possibly other societies) for many, many years. Even some movies and television shows like Jingle All the Way and The Nanny, have treated this day as the 10^th level of Hell. 

Following Black Friday’s chaos is Cyber Monday which is just like Black Friday if you don’t want to fight anyone for savings. It’s also for those who feel like dealing with the mad rush of Black Friday from their homes. However, instead of receiving a blow to the face you may receive a jammed server. When tons of people tend to be on one site at once, the site may freeze up, and break down temporarily; just like tumblr.

1)Thanksgiving

Fall is Fattening Season. October is the start of the fattening, featuring Halloween sweets. November is second in line with Thanksgiving and Christmas is the last month for gaining weight, showcasing holiday treats. But Thanksgiving takes the cake when it comes to gaining weight in the season of Fall and fat. Thanksgiving is a day where we honor two important concepts: a smorgasbord of food ranging from alcohol to stuffings and the day where we tricked Native Americans to being best friends and feasting with them only to take their land. However, it is still a holiday most of us love because it brings everyone closer together. It unites families and friends over a fantastic meal and festive activities. It allows us to break bread with those we haven’t seen in a while and to catch up with everyone. So raise your glass this Thanksgiving and dive into that turkey while associating with those you love.

What’s your favorite thing about November? Feel free to leave your thoughts below and as always, feedback and followers are welcomed. 

The Sweet Aftermath of Halloween

Welcome to another Friday here at The Magical Mystery Blog.

Halloween is over and most of you probably have leftover candy from handing it out or trick or treating. People have favorite candies they receive from trick or treating or happen to pick up at the store any time throughout the year. I’m a stickler for the surf ‘n turf Nerds, Milky Ways, and Three Musketeers.

People usually feast on their sweets after Halloween, no sooner they come home, or all the trick or treaters have finished their candy collecting for the night. Below are some candies you might have obtained for Halloween and what they say about you.

Licorice

What is It: Long strands of cherry flavored sticks.

What it Says About You: You’re not afraid to play with your food. Although it’s a rule your parents instilled into you as a child, you’re not scared to break it, and have a little fun. With licorice you can bend it, stretch it, peel it, and a ton of other things. As a bonus, it has a delicious flavor.


Nerds

What is It: Tiny morsels of sugar in different colors (usually pink and purple but sometimes you may receive the blue and red ones).

What it Says About You: You’re a wild and untamed thing. You’re a hyperactive person with a vibrant personality and these little bites of unadulterated sugar fuel it. You can fit tons of these into your mouth and break them all apart in one big crunch. Don't be afraid to walk on the wild side, especially with this candy.


Hershey Kisses/Bars, M&Ms, Kit Kats

What Are They: Simple forms  of chocolate that make everything right again. 

What They Say About You: You like a quick energy boost. You’re a rocket in need of fuel, a car in need of gas, and chocolate is your go to for reloading. Biting into these treats not only gives you the energy you need but the moment of pleasure you enjoy so much.

Jolly Ranchers, Skittles, Starbursts, Airheads

What Are They: Jolly Ranchers are hard candies with various flavors. Skittles are assorted treats with colors contrasting their fruit flavors. Starbursts are sweet squares with colors that also reflect their fruity flavors. Airheads are thick strands of candy with different colors to match their distinct flavors.

What They Say About You: You believe in the ideals of divide and conquer. Separate your favorites from the ones you’d never eat or give to your friends. Let them experience the pain of the lemon Starburst, the kick of the watermelon Jolly Rancher, the punch of the green Skittles, and the kick of the mysterious white Airhead. Only you can enjoy the strawberry sweetness square of Starbursts, the delicious blue raspberry Jolly Rancher, the crimson Skittle, and the wonder of the blue raspberry Airhead.

Milky Way, Three Musketeers, Reese's

What Are They:  The Milky Way is a concoction of caramel, chocolate, and nougat. Sweet, sweet nougat. Three Musketeers is nothing but nougat wrapped up in chocolate. Reese's are peanut butter cups covered in smooth chocolate.

What They Say About You: You take your time with life. The slow path is the easiest way to go and eventually you’ll get to where you need to. Until then, enjoy it. Bite into something that will slow down time and make you feel fabulous about it.

Snickers

What is It: Peanuts, chocolate, and ooey gooey caramel.

What it Says About You: You’re complex and have many layers – just like this little candy. But with many layers comes many flavors. There are more sides to you than people know and this candy isn't afraid to exploit them all.

Candy Corn

What is It: A seasonal treat of triangle shaped candy with different colors. The most common is white, orange, and yellow but there have been other colors involved.

What it Says About You: You embrace the Halloween spirit with every fiber of your soul. This candy is a delicacy for you because it only appears for two months before returning to the stock room of every store. You eat it while you can because it shows appreciation for the greatest holiday ever.

What candy describes you and why? Which one is your favorite? Leave your thoughts in the comments below and as always feedback and followers are welcomed. 

It's Time to Face Off

Greetings everyone and welcome to another entry of The Magical Mystery Blog.

This year, Face Off started its new season on the Syfy Channel. Face Off is a prosthetic competition show which started back in 2011 and is currently on its fifth season. In this season, contestants who have been on the show before (veterans) compete against newcomers.

Throughout the years, the audience has been treated to concepts based on various themes from Alice in Wonderland to zombie apocalypse. As an avid watcher of the show, I've fallen in love and been disgusted with what competitors have created. Below are my top twelve favorite Face Off creations, three from each season so far of Face Off. I will have the season, episode number, theme, and artist (or artists) for each concept.

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12) Season 4, Ep. 9 – Mummy Mayhem – Kris -  this mummy is enough to lead an army of the undead.  With multiple horns protruding from its head, the detail work on this is horrifying but beautiful.  Crawling through Egypt’s mysterious pyramids, this creature rose to the challenge to fit the mummy theme.

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11) Season 1, Ep. 3 – Out of this World – Conor & Jo – as opposed to going with the stereotypical green alien with big black eyes look, these two artists created something unique. The result was a creature with a sense of royalty and beauty. She is definitely a part of the cosmos in her own way with her head held high and an all knowing smile.

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10) Season 1, Ep. 6 – The Dancing Dead – Tate – this creation has received quite the mouthful with a gaping, gory jaw and a tongue spewing out of it. With a stretched face dotted with blood and exposed intestines, this was one creature you would not want to meet down a dark road.

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9) Season 2, Ep. 4 – Night Terror - Teisha –  Imagine walking down a street late at night and you stumble upon this thing scoping you out from the alley way. A few things pop into your head, mainly ‘good Lord what is that’ and ‘RUN’. This creation definitely lives up to being a ‘night terror’; it’s horrific, it’s beautifully detailed, and it will keep you up for hours to come.

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8) Season 4, Ep 4 – Eye Candy - Anthony– this piece definitely catches the eye. Decked out to be the sergeant of sweets, this morph is neat, colorful, and beautiful.  It captures the sugary sweetness of candy and the overall clean look of a professional make up work.

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7)  Season 2, Ep. 7 – Alien Interpreters – Rayce – while the other aliens kept their eyes, Rayce decided to be a little different. Showing off excellent detail and work, the result was a crimson creature from beyond the stars. 

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6) Season 1, Ep. 2  - Naked Ambition – Tom – there is a ton of detail to be admired and examined on this particular piece. Tom even sculpted hair for this creation and added traces of moss in between the rocky curves. The final design blended in with the theme.

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5) Season 3, Ep. 9 – Junkyard Cyborg – Nicole – The concept is beautiful and not only does it meet the idea of a junkyard cyborg, but it can also be seen as a futuristic super heroine. This character is daunting but sexy, different but daring, and gorgeous. The eye piece especially is beautifully done.

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4) Season 4, Ep. 5 – Two Heads Are Better than One – Kris and Eric F – this giant loomed over the other contestants with its two bulky heads and massive fingers, holding the model hostage. These two artists did something different than the other contestants who molded a head onto their models' bodies. Instead of doing just that, they went over the heads to do something unique.

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3) Season 3, Ep. 2 – Pirate Treasure – Laura – this creation appeared as though it walked off the ship of Davey Jones and straight into the room. Its intricate detail combined the traditional scallywag of a pirate with the beauty of ocean life.  This concept fulfilled the challenge of the Pirates of the Caribbean theme given to the contestants.

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2) Season 2, Ep. 8 – Burtonesque – RJ –The concept is beautiful but what makes it for me is that the actor got into character. Not only did he make the finished product come to life but he made it believable. This character feels and acts like he stepped right out of a Tim Burton movie; maybe a Burtonized version of The Tower of Terror?

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1)  Season 3, Ep. 1 Star Wars Cantina – Roy – This was a gargantuan makeup job to do, especially on the first task. For it to be successfully executed was not only a victory for the artist but a treat for the audience and judges.  This creation was unlike the others in which the main focus was the person surrounded by immense details.

So what do you think? What creations from Face Off are your favorites? Leave your comments below and as always feedback and followers are welcome.