This is probably my favorite challenge from Kim’s Dare to DIY Blog Party. I have been waiting to do this since I read “Eat Cookies”!

So, ladies and gentlemen, (do men really read this blog? If not, they probably should, right?! Especially THIS post.) Anywho…I give you Alton Brown’s Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Wait…You’ve never heard of Alton Brown? Seriously? The Mastermind behind Good Eats? You must be kidding me. Surely the Meckleys aren’t the only household that has Good Eats on 24/7 and DVRs every single episode?

Oh. Okay. Perhaps we are. You might have found humor in my exageration but I’m only slightly ashamed to tell you that is the God honest truth; Andy has Good Eats on every single day. I nearly broke his heart when I accidentally erased everything on our DVR, which included the Good Eats 10th Anniversary show. Oops. Luckily he has forgiven me. For the most part.

Regardless, let me tell you, as usual, Alton is on to something with this recipe! While watching this episode I realized the reason my chocolate chip cookies were often flat is probably because I used too much baking soda. Baking is not like cooking, you must be very precise in your measuring.

Andy & I made these babies a few weeks ago and he insistedwe go out and buy not onlly the proper ingredients, but a large scoop so we could make giant cookies. As it turns out,  we should’ve bought a Pampered Chef scoop because the $11 scoop from the Kitchens store was junk so I made Andy return it. The PC scoop is on my Christmas List if any of you wants to send us a gift.

But I digress…we made the giant cookies and they were everything I had hoped for and more!

Here’s what you need:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter
• 2 1/4 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons real vanilla extract
• 2 cups chocolate chips
• #20 ice cream scooper (or Large Pampered Chef Scoop!)

I agree that buying the proper ingredients makes all the difference; these cookies are amazing! I’ve decided these are the difference-makers:

• REAL vanilla extract
• DARK brown sugar
• BREAD flour

Believe me, you will taste a difference! This is what you need to do:

• Melt butter. Set aside.
• Sift together flour, salt, and baking soda. I think this is the first time I’ve ever sifted ingredients since my 7th grade home ec class, but I do it because Alton said to do it!
• Cream butter and sugars on medium speed.
• Add the eggs, milk and vanilla until well mixed.
• Slowly incorporate the flour mix until thoroughly combined.
• Stir in chocolate chips.
• Chill the dough (Another difference maker!!)
• Scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets.
• Bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe from the Food Network.

Mmmm….these are my absolute favorite! Andy’s too!

MATERIALS:
Styrofoam Circles in various sizes
Spacers - more Styrofoam or I used sturdy cardboard tubes that I cut down to about 3″ tall (and by I mean Andy)
Suckers – I used a bag of each Dum Dums, Blow Pops & Tootsie Pops
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
Ribbon
Scissors

First, hot glue ribbon around the edge of your circles:

Do that for all circles; as you can see I had an odd ball green piece that I decided not to fully cover. You can do it however you like. I was sort of lazy b/c I was short on time and used whatever materials I had on hand.

Once you’ve got your ribbon on the circles, do the same for the spacers and hot glue one spacer to the bottom tier in the middle.

Next, glue the next tier on top of the spacer:

Continue this until you’ve got all tiers glued together. Then, stick your suckers in. I decided it worked best to poke them all in, then go back and take them out, put a drop of hot glue on the bottom and put them back in their place. For the top layer I made a little sign and attached it with wooden skewers.

And if you have a twisted sense of humor, you find the ugliest photo of the person for whom you’re making the cake, and you put that on the back of the sign.

Background info: Since most of you are probably like, wth is that photo?! Let me explain…My friend Tara used some graphics program to distort a photo of her sticking out her tongue and then she e-mailed it to a bunch of her friends. I think it makes her look like a demonic fraggle so of course I save all these funny things people send to me and then I use them whenever it comes in handy. She loved the cake and loved that I used this nasty photo of her because she’s weird like that. Happy 30th Birthday TG!

I recently did some touch up painting to our cupcake stand because we’re loaning it to our friends for their upcoming wedding and we then are selling it to another bride afterwards. Wanted to let you all know I’ve added more info and photos on my old post if you want to make your own  giant cupcake stand!

Here’s a great project for all you crafty brides with crafty husbands-to-be!! Design your own cupcake stand – I promise it will be a big hit!

FINALLY! After many, many requests, at long last we have finished the Step-by Step Tutorial with detailed photos on how to make your own Small Cupcake Stand! You can find the PDF instructions here: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1579925

Not only are the instructions on sale, but you can get them for an additional 50% off until 8/2/10 when you use the coupon code: CUPCAKESTANDLIST

 Don’t have the time or resources to make your own? Now you can order your very own custom made stand! (We also have other sizes available.) This tutorial has become so popular we are currently working on multiple versions for other sizes with much more detail and LOTS more photos, tips & tricks. If you would like to be contacted when these instructions are available, please e-mail me and let me know.

Tracey, a reader who used our tutorial, was nice enough to provide me with a metric version! You can obtain those instructions here. Thanks Tracy! And have a look at her beautiful stand…didn’t they do a fabulous job?!

Materials List

49″ x 97″ x 3/4″ MDF Board (1 sheet)

Cut to size:

32″ x 32″ (2 pieces)

24″ x 24″ (2 pieces)

17″ x 17″ (2 pieces)

12″ x 12″ (2 pieces)

4″ x 2′ PVC (2 pices)

4″ PVC Coupling (4 each)

1/2″ 6′ All Thread Rod (1 piece)

1/2″ Hex Nuts (2 each)

Paint

1/2″ Flat Washer (2 pieces)

6-8 Knobs (to put on the bottom for feet)

2 yards of 44″ or wider fabric

32″ x 40″ Foam Board (1 piece)

Cut to size:

23 1/8″ x 4 1/8″ (2 pieces)

16 1/8″ x 4 1/8″ (2 pieces)

11 1/8″ x 4 1/8″ (2 pieces)

*NOTE: You will need to cut 2 pieces of foam core slightly smaller than the dimensions above so they all fit snug. I re-measure and update when I get a chance.

 Have Lowes cut the MDF board, then cut a small circle in the center of each piece. Put the threaded rod through layers of the MDF board and PVC. (Notice that you don’t have to paint the top and bottom of everything, only parts that will show.

Countersink a hole in the top so the threaded rod does not stick out. You can add a nice piece of acrylic, or another board or something on top if you wish but it’s not necessary.

We routered the undersides of the layers so we could slip the panels in and out. You can skip the routering if you don’t intend to change the fabric panels.

Lay out the foam board and cut the fabric a couple inches larger. Wrap the fabric around the panels and adhere with a strong glue. Let dry, then slide into the routered grooves.

Add the knobs at the bottom for feet and you’re ready to go! Keep in mind this thing is somewhat heavy, and large:

You will definitely need a truck to transport it fully assembled. But, it’s easy enough to tear apart and reassemble if necessary.

Please send me photos if you make one and we’ll feature it on our site!!

(If you are hand painting your banner you might want to trace/paint your lettering/monogram before you follow these directions…just in case you make an error you won’t have to start over completely!)

First, you will need fabric, ribbon, fabric glue (which is also great for when you need to hem pants without sewing!) and a wooden dowel rod. I used the same type of poly linen material I used for my aisle runner. I cut the material for my bridal banners about 26″ wide x 22″ tall.

Lay the material out flat, unroll and cut enough ribbon for each side making sure you leave a couple inches extra both at the top and bottom.

Use your fabric glue to adhere the ribbon to the material, lining up the side edges but don’t forget about those extra couple inches at the top and bottom.

Once you’ve got the ribbon secure, flip the piece over, fold the ribbon up over the edge and glue.

It should look like this:

And the front will look like this:

 Then you’ll need to do the same thing on the bottom.

I didn’t get a photo, but you will then fold the top down towards the back about 2″ and glue just enough of a line to leave a loophole to push a wooden dowel through.

Now you are ready to paint (if you haven’t done that ahead of time):

Don’t feel like painting? Add your adhesive lettering:

Or buy a pre-lettered banner here and you can embellish and finish with ribbon of your choice!

Here’s my bridal banner in action:

My little cousins (who also served as ushers) don’t look all that thrilled but it’s a fun way to personalize your ceremony even more and it gives you another way to include some of the younger special people in your life.