Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Teacups By The Dozen


Beautiful, one-of-a-kind teacups can be found by the dozens at both our Salt Lake and Pleasant Grove locations. These lovely tea cup inspired ideas are not only easy but overflowed with charm.


Teacup Candles

*Antique teacups that have lost their saucers still make sweet gifts when fitted with candles.

Tools and Materials
Nested pans
Partially burned candles
Candy or candle thermometer
Tongs
New wicking
Teacups
Wick sustainers
Wooden skewers

Teacup Lights How-To
1. In a small pan set over a larger pan of simmering water, melt down old candles; clip the thermometer to the upper pot, and keep temperature at about 185 degrees. Remove old wicks with tongs.

2. Cut a piece of wicking to the cup's height plus 2 inches. Clamp one end to a wick sustainer; tie the other end around a skewer. Dip wicking and sustainer into melted wax to coat them. Remove and stick sustainer to cup's bottom.

3. Pour in the wax, stopping 1/2 inch below the cup's rim. Allow wax to set, about 1 hour. The candle will harden with a well in the center. To even it out, use another skewer to prick a circle of holes about 1/16 inch deep around the wick. Pour in melted wax until surface is 1/4 inch below rim. Cut wick.

Teacup Cupcakes

Makes 24 cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients
1 package chocolate cake mix
Milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons cocoa powder for dusting teacups

Frosting and Decorating Ingredients
1 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 16 ounce jar marshmallow cream
Pink paste food coloring
Assorted candies or small fruits for topping

Let’s Bake Cupcakes!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously spray *teacups with cooking spray and dust inside with cocoa powder.

  1. Make cake mix according to package directions substituting the same amount of milk for water and adding vanilla extract. Divide batter evenly between 24 prepared heat proof teacups filling ¾ full. Place teacups on cookie sheets and bake for 20-25 minutes or according to package directions for cupcakes.
  2. Remove from oven and cool on racks for 10 minutes. Remove teacups from cookie sheets and cool on racks for 15 minutes before frosting and decorating.

* All pottery and porcelain teacups/coffee mugs are oven-proof and safe to use in oven temperatures up to 450 degrees F.

Let’s Make Frosting!

  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Beat in half of the sugar until fluffy, add the remaining sugar and mix until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and pink food mixing well to blend color evenly.
  2. Stir in marshmallow cream until well blended.
  3. Frost and decorate cupcakes.

Kids Cooking Shop Kid-friendly Cooking Tips

  1. Have children choose the flavor of cake mix and different colors of frosting for cupcakes.
  2. For birthday parties, write the name of each party attendee with paint pens on the teacups after baking and decorating. Let the kids choose colorful ribbons to tie around the handles of their cupcake teacups.
Teacups used as jewelry organizer

This beautiful teacup display is the perfect touch in this charming, country kitchen.

Not only are the tea cups functional in this application, but
they add a great splash of color and dimension to this kitchen.

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