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|Cara Delevingne – Dior Fashion Show in Paris Feb-26-2019|

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Cara Delevigne - Dior Fashion Show in Paris Feb-26-2019

|Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills 2019|

Stunning Expressions 
Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills 2019

Mardi Gras King Cake

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Mardi Gras King Cake

“A giant sweet roll stuffed with brown sugar, raisins and pecans and decorated with icing and purple, green and gold sparkling sugar. Perfect for breakfast or dessert during carnival or on Fat Tuesday”. Savory Experiments

CAKE

  • 1/2 cup scalded milk
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 1/3 cup warm water no hotter than 110 degrees
  • 1 cup plus 1 tbsp of sugar, divided
  • 1 egg room temperature
  • 3/4 tsp table salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 2 3/4 cups flour

FILLING

  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 2/3 cup pecans finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1 cup butter melted

GLAZE

  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 3/4 tbsp milk
  • Purple, Gold and Green Sparkling Sugar
  • 1 Plastic Baby
  1. In a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a which attachment, combine 1 package of dry active yeast, 1 tablespoon of sugar and warm water. Take care that water is not too hot or it will kill the yeast and prevent it from blooming. Allow to set until frothy and fragrant, approximately 10-15 minutes.
  2. Whisk in scalded milk and egg. When combined add remaining sugar, nutmeg and salt, whisk again.
  3. Change attachment to the bread hook (or beaters). Combine flour into wet mixture 1/2 cup at a time. Dough should start to pull away from the sides, if not, add small (1-2 teaspoons) of flour until it does.
  4. Knead dough on low-medium speed (or with your hands on a floured surface) for 10 minutes.
  5. Lightly grease a large mixing bowl, turning dough over once to evenly oil and prevent from drying. Dampen a tea towel, cover and set in a draft free place. Allow to rise until doubled in size, approximately 2 hours.
  6. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine all filling ingredients and toss until uniformly damp from melted butter.
  7. Turn dough on a lightly floured surface and using a rolling pin, create a rectangle about 18×8 inches. Cut in half length wise with a knife.
  8. Spread filling mixture evenly over both sections of dough, leaving a 1/2 inch at each edge.
  9. Roll, lengthwise and jelly roll style, into a rope. Carefully, twist together the two ropes and form into a circle, pinch the two ends together to make a wreath.
  10. Carefully transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Cover with damp tea towel and allow to rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  11. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes. King Cake should be lightly browned.

  12. Remove and allow to cool fully. Whisk together glaze ingredients and drizzle over King Cake. Sprinkle alternating gold, purple and green sparkling sugar while glaze is still tacky. Ready to Serve!

|The 91st Academy Awards Red Carpet – Oscar’s 2019|

Stunning Expressions 
91st Academy Awards Red Carpet - Oscar's 2019

Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2019

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Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2019 Ready to Wear.

Tropical Strawberry Hibiscus Rum Spitz

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Tropical Strawberry Hibiscus Rum Spitz

Tropical Spring Cocktail. The bottom layer is a mix of mint, lime, mango juice (pineapple or passion fruit juice would be great here too!)  Half Baked Harvest

  • 2 tbsp dried hibiscus flowers
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 8 fresh mint leaves
  • 1/2 a lime, quartered
  • 1/4 cup mango, pineapple, or passion fruit juice
  • 1/4 cup coconut water
  • 2 ounces rum
  • sparkling water, for topping
  • 2 strawberries, sliced
  1. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a medium size pot. Remove from the heat, add the hibiscus flowers and 1-2 teaspoons honey. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain into a pitcher and discard the hibiscus flowers. 
  2. In a tall glass, muddle the lime and mint leaves. Add a handful of crushed ice, the mango juice, coconut water and the rum, gently mix to combine. Pour sparkling water over top to about 3/4 the way up the glass. Add the sliced strawberries and top with hibiscus tea.

Mixing up this cocktail includes making a hibiscus tea (which means finding dried hibiscus flowers). But once you’ve gathered all the ingredients, it comes together easily.

Versace Fall 2019 RTW

Stunning Expressions 
VERSACE Fall 2019 RTW

St. Patrick’s Day Green Velvet Layer Cake

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St. Patrick's Day Green Velvet Layer Cake

This old-fashioned boiled frosting is creamy and fluffy and reminded us of childhood. Food Network

Cake:

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt
  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, well shaken
  • 1 tbsp green liquid food coloring
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten

Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 Pinch fine salt
  • Green liquid or gel food coloring, optional
  • Green candies and sanding sugar for decorating, optional

For the cake:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans, line with parchment and butter the parchment; set aside. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Whisk the buttermilk, food coloring and vanilla in a spouted measuring cup; set aside.
  2. Beat the granulated sugar and butter in a stand mixer (or a large bowl if using a hand mixer) on medium speed until very light in color and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. With the mixer still running, slowly add the eggs and beat until fully incorporated. Reduce the mixer speed to the lowest speed; with it running, add 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/2 of the buttermilk mixture, then 1/2 of the remaining flour mixture, then the remaining buttermilk mixture, then the remaining flour mixture. Scrape down the sides and beat until well mixed. Divide the batter evenly among the three prepared pans. Bake until slightly puffed and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes in the pan, then turn out to cool completely.

For the frosting:

  1. Put the flour in a small saucepan. Vigorously whisk in about 1/2 cup of the milk, making sure to get the whisk into the edges of the pan, until you have a smooth, thick paste. (This step keeps the flour from clumping.) Slowly whisk in the remaining milk until fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Cook over medium heat, whisking continuously, until the mixture is very thick, about 5 minutes. (Toward the end of the process, the mixture will become a thick paste; it may seem to be forming lumps, but whisk vigorously and the lumps will disappear.) Scrape the frosting into a bowl, press plastic wrap onto the surface and refrigerate until cool, about 45 minutes.
  2. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a hand mixer), beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the cooled flour mixture a tablespoon at a time and beat until smooth. Switch to the whisk attachment (or continue with the hand mixer), add the vanilla, salt and 3 to 5 drops food coloring if using and whip until very light and fluffy, like thick whipped cream, up to 10 minutes with a stand mixer or 12 minutes with a hand mixer.

To assemble:

  1. Place one layer on a cake plate, spread frosting on top and repeat with the 2 remaining layers. Frost the sides and decorate with candies and sanding sugar if using.

This recipe can instead be baked in two 9-inch layers or as 24 cupcakes.

Pistachio Cream Cheese Cookies

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Pistachio Cream Cheese Cookies

Perfect St. Patrick”s Day Recipe.  Taste of Home

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 3 tsp grated lemon zest
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1-2 drops green food coloring
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 salt
  • 1 cup finely chopped pistachios
  • 60 shelled pistachios (about 1/3 cup)
  1. In a large bowl, beat butter, cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar until blended. Beat in egg, lemon zest, vanilla and food coloring. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture.
  2. Divide dough in half; shape each into a 7-1/2-in.-long roll. Roll in chopped pistachios. Wrap and refrigerate 2 hours or until firm.
  3. Preheat oven to 375°. Unwrap and cut crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press a whole pistachio into the center of each cookie.
  4. Bake 7-9 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Frozen Irish Banana Cocktail Recipe

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Frozen Irish Banana Cocktail Recipe

A refreshing and delicious concoction that can be enjoyed at the Frangipani Beach Resort in Anguilla.  HGTV

  • 2 oz Baileys Irish Cream
  • 1 1/2 oz Bacardi light rum
  • 2 oz Coco Lopez
  • 1/2 cup half-and-half
  • 1 banana (diced and frozen if possible)
  • 1/2 cup ice
  • Nutmeg for garnish
  • 1 strawberry halved for garnish
  • Shaved coconut to rim glass
  1. In advance, rim the end of a chilled goblet with shaved coconut. Blend all the ingredients, except the garnishes, until the mixture is smooth. Pour into a goblet. Sprinkle the top with nutmeg, and garnish with half a strawberry.

|Max Mara Fall 2019 RTW|

Stunning Expressions 
Max Mara Fall 2019 RTW

Versace Spring 2019 Ad Campaign

Stunning Expressions 
Versace Spring 2019 Ad Campaign