Peeps love the Pope

Today 3/13/13, as the white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, the new Pope was elected. Congrats to the new Pope, Pope Francis! He was elected at the perfect time, right before Easter.  I saw this adorable picture on Peeps' Facebook page and just had to blog about it!  So cute. Time to throw a welcome party for Pope Francis with me and all of my PEEPS! ;)

God Bless Pope Francis!

St. Patrick's Day Candy Bark

St. Patrick's Day is just a few weeks away and it's time to start thinking about rainbows, green, and pots of gold.  To help you get in the green mood, I'm sharing this delicious recipe I came across from Diana Rambles, St. Patty's Day Candy Bark! I have to admit, I haven't tried this yet, but it definitely made my mouth water and I can't wait to try it!  

Ingredients

Saltines

2 sticks of butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

12 oz bag chocolate chips

Green M&Ms

Green Jelly Beans

Lucky Charms Marshmallows

Rainbow sour punch straws

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Cover cookie sheet with cooking spray

Place saltines over the cookie sheet

Melt butter and brown sugar and boil for 3 minutes

Pour over the saltines and bake for 5 minutes

Pour chocolate chips on top

Let melt for a few minutes, then spread thin over the saltines

Sprinkle the rest of your toppings all over

Drizzle green icing on top

Let cool and harden in refrigerator

Once cooled, break into small pieces and enjoy!

This recipe looks so amazing so you and I both should try it and I know by the looks of it that this will be a crowd pleaser! Thanks again Diana for the delicious recipe!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Candy Shamrocks

March is here! To me, March means green, and green means St. Patrick's Day! Green was always my favorite color growing up and a day based around the color green was always exciting for me.  If only I knew how to make Candy Shamrocks back then, like I do now, St. Patrick's Day celebrations would have been that much better!  On that note, let's make them together so your kids will not be missing out on this yummy treat!

Ingredients

Gumdrops

Sugar

Instructions

Sprinkle some sugar onto the countertop 

Use your hand or spoon to flatten out the gum drops

Once flattened, use a heart shaped cookie cutter to create hearts

Then use a knife to make a stem

Use three heart shapes to create a shamrock and place the stem at the bottom

And voila! You've got yourself another easy and tasty treat!  These can be used as decoration on top of cupcakes, cakes, or cookies, or eaten by itself!  It only takes a few minutes to make and right away, you'll feel the Irish coming out of you while you enjoy these sugary shamrocks.

Happy month of Green!

Valentine Lollipop Flowers

Happy Valentine's Day sweeties!  Today is a day of love, and candy.  This is also a special day for The Sweetest Temptations because today marks the 2 year anniversary of the blog! Check out my very first candy blog post here.

Hope you all get to spend this day with those you love and most importantly have been enjoying all of the red and pink sweet treats that your tummy can handle!  If you are looking for a fun craft to do with your little ones or to give to your lover, then join me in making Valentine Lollipop flowers!  

You can hand these out individually or create a bouquet to give to that special someone.  It's cheap, sweet, and easy!

Here's what you need:

Red and green construction paper

Lollipops

Glue

Here's what you do:

Cut out little red hearts

Glue lollipop in the center of the heart

Cut out two green leaves per flower

Glue leaves onto lollipop stick

And voila!  You've got a cute candy gram to give!  Lollipop, lollipop, oh lolli lolli lolli lollipop, on a flower! Have a Happy Valentine's Day 2013!

Conversation Heart Ring

Valentine's Day is only a few days away!  Who's excited!  If you are scrambling to find something festive to do or wear before the big day, look no longer, because Conversation Heart Rings are the solution!  

This craft is fast and fun.  Get the kids and lovers involved and make an afternoon out of it.  Here's what you need:

1. Adjustable rings 

2. Hot glue

3. Conversation hearts!

Then, here's what you do with the supplies:

Gather one ring and conversation heart

Put a dab of glue on the conversation heart

Stick the glued heart onto the ring

Hold for 20 seconds

Let dry

Once it's dry, get ready to flash your bling!  

These are perfect to tie around a Valentine, include in a goodie bag, or put in a ring box and surprise that special someone!

Happy V-day swee-tays!

Frosty's Melting Cookies

Ho ho ho! Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season and are watching tons of Christmas movies, drinking hot chocolate, and baking!  If you have a cookie exchange coming up but don't know which kind to bake, how about making Frosty's melting cookies?  They're absolutely adorable and easy, thanks to Rachel Ray's creation!

Ingredients:

• 12 large marshmallows

• Colored gel for decorating cakes

• 12 soft homemade sugar cookies

• White frosting

• Chocolate nonpareil candies, such as Sno-Caps

• Pretzel Sticks
• Fruit leather, cut into 1/2-inch strips (sold at Trader Joe's)

Instructions:

Bake sugar cookies.  After cooled, frost the sugar cookies with any type of white frosting.  Take a marshmallow and push the top of it in with your thumb and place on the top edge of the cookie.  Use the gel frosting to make eyes and a nose on the marshmallow for the face of the snowman.  Add 3 non pareils onto the cookie's frosting to create buttons.  Get 1-2 pretzel sticks for arms, stick underneath the marshmallow and into the cookie.  Cut up fruit leather into 1/2 inch strips, with whatever design you would like, either zig zag, curves, or straight edges, then place around marshmallow for the scarf.  Repeat for as many cookies as you'd like to make.

Eat and enjoy!  Don't be sad that Frosty melted because he still tastes delicious! 'Tis the season!

Snowman Donuts

December has arrived and Christmas is right around the corner!  That means there are visions of sugar plums....and powdered donuts...dancing in everyone's heads.  In that case, let's bring that vision to life and make some Snowman Donuts!  These treats are easy to make and will bring you much joy.  Warning: they may melt in your mouth because they are so sweet.  And just like in the movie, remember that Frosty will be back (you can easily re-make these with very little ingredients and prep time)  Read on for some important information.

Ingredients:

One box of mini white powdered donuts

Candy corn

Black frosting

Instructions:

Place candy corn inside the donut hole

Draw eyes and mouth dots with black frosting

And Voila! You're done! Easiest and cutest idea ever.  Enjoy the holiday season!