February 2009

Recently we’ve been recipients of a few random acts of kindness, and we are enjoying them so much that it seems only right to pass along the good vibes. I thought it would be fun to share some ideas about simple yet meaningful ways to make someone’s day, whether it be anonymous or not. A little thoughtfulness goes a long way…especially during a time when many are feeling down about life. Here are a few ideas to spark your imagination:

1. Make a batch of cookies and package a few of them up for others to enjoy. Save a few for your own kids too…you’ll want them to have warm memories of Mom making cookies :)

2. Prepare a nice lunch (something you’d be thrilled to eat yourself) and then give it to a homeless person. Perhaps include a napkin with an uplifting note written across the top. Based on experience, having a surprise lunch delivered is about the best thing ever.

3. Gather up all the fixin’s for a “tea-party-in-a-box” and pass it along to a friend who needs some extra TLC. Include a mug, a few tea bags, a homemade or store-bought scone, lemon curd, and whipped cream (if you can find Devonshire cream, use that instead).

4. Buy a large bouquet of flowers at Costco and then divvy them up to a few friends. Wrap a few stems in kraft brown paper and add ribbon. I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t love flowers as a gift.

* If it’s a food-related item, you may want to let the recipient know it’s from you…some people may not eat food that’s given to them anonymously. Just a thought…

A simple, yet well-packaged treat is both fun to present and to receive. If you are taking the time to participate in a random act of kindness, why not package it up nicely? :) Here are some of my favorites:

Pie Shaped Packages…What a fantastic way to present a piece of homemade apple pie. Yum. I’ll admit it’s more time consuming than the other ideas but a project that must be done at least once. The cuteness factor is way too high to pass up! You can view the template here.

White Chinese Takeout Boxes…They cost less than a quarter each making them very cost effective and adorable. You’ll find yourself using this idea over and over because you can change the look of the boxes so easily with different colors, ribbons & tags.

Gable Boxes…I absolutely love these boxes and find myself creating excuses to use them. Add an adhesive label and you’re good to go. My favorite labels are those from Stuck, Paper Source, and Thomas Paul.

And speaking of sharing the love…thank you so much for all your lovely comments this week. You’ve all made my week and I’m feeling lots of warm fuzzies right now, thanks to you! Keep in touch…

Find more of Stephanie at Stephmodo

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A few readers recently requested a “top 10″ list featuring my favorite desserts. It sounded like a yummy post to write so here it goes…for all to enjoy! Please note that most of these desserts can be made in one hour or less, some under 30 minutes, which I consider absolutely necessary :)

These recipes are my favorite “crowd-pleasers”, in no particular order, with a few notes included. Bon appetit!

1. Lemon Cake…serve with Lemon Curd, whipped cream & fresh berries; the very similar but more low-fat Lemon Yogurt Cake is lovely too; make sure you sieve the lemon curd before chilling.

2. Banana Pillows…double the amount of sauce; also, you can stretch the puff pastry to 6 pillows instead of 4.

3. Frozen Key Lime Pie…for recipe notes on this one click here. There are more than a few :)

4. Tapioca Passion-Fruit Parfaits…great with an Asian-inspired meal.

5. Bittersweet Molten Chocolate Cakes…use a high-quality chocolate for this one and serve with Haagen Dazs Vanilla Swiss Almond.

6. Glazed Chocolate Cake…garnish with whipped cream, toasted hazelnuts or fresh raspberries; use a high-quality chocolate with this one too.

7. Chocolate Pots de Cremes/Custards…before serving, cover the tops of the custards with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

8. Lemon Curd Marbled Cheesecake…a great way to use that delicious lemon curd that keeps for up to a week in your fridge! A few thoughts on other ways to use lemon curd here.

9. Croissant Bread Pudding…use half good quality croissants and half pain au chocolats; raisins can be omitted; serve with a warmed caramel, Bourbon or Rum sauce.

10. Peanut Butter Sandwiches…best a few hours after assembling; double the cookie recipe to put to use the extra filling you’ll inevitably have on hand.

Find more of Stephanie at Stephmodo

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