Spring Blog Hop and Giveaway (now closed)

So this is the last day for our Spring Blog Hop.

I am finishing out an inspired week and a half of Spring themed sugar overload.

If you haven't gotten the Spring bug by now...well, I can't help you ;)

At the end of the post I have a list of each day of the event and the links, so if you have missed any of the fun, it's not too late to catch up :)

But first...let me get into my contribution for the week.

Peeps.

You either love them or you hate them...they are the candy corn of Easter...that and Cadbury Eggs, but more on those another day.

So do you love them?

I do!

Actually I love them after they are a few days old...a little stale.

I know that's weird, but that's me.

I have been wanting to try the Homemade Peep for a few years now, but never gathered up enough gumption. This year I was gumption-a-plenty.

Here's what I did.

First make the marshmallow mix:

recipe from Martha Stewart

 

1 pkg unflavored gelatin

1/3 cup cold water, for gelatin, plus 1/4 cup for syrup
1 cup sugar

 In the bowl of an electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/3 cup cold water. Allow gelatin to soften, about 5 minutes.

In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup water and sugar, and stir over med-high heat until sugar is dissolved. Stop stirring, and place a candy thermometer into sugar water.

Boil sugar until temp reaches the soft-ball stage (238 degrees). 

Remove syrup from heat; add to softened gelatin. Using the whisk attachment of an electric mixer, hand-stir the mixture a few minutes to cool; place bowl on the mixer stand. Beat on medium high with the whisk attachment until soft peaks form and the marshmallow mixture holds shape, 8 to 10 minutes.

While the marshmallow is mixing, get your pans ready, because you will need to work fast once the marshmallow is done.  It sets very quickly.

Sprinkle a flat dish with the color sanding sugar you would like to use.  

Be generous.

Reserve the rest to coat your Peeps.

Transfer marshmallow mixture to a large (14-inch) pastry bag fitted with a  1A Wilton tip, and use immediately. If you don't have a 1M tip, just cut the end off of the pastry or large ziplock bag so you have a decent size hole.

**I didn't have a large pastry bag, so would recommend using 2 small bags if you don't have the large.  If you try to refill the bag, as I did, the marshmallow mix sets up way too fast and makes it extremely tough to pipe.

Now pipe in the shape that you would like.  It took me a few times to get the right shape.

I tried to make a chick, like the typical Peep you buy in the store, but it ended up looking like a blob.

Then I tried to make a stand-up bunny like Martha did...again, blobby.

  So, I settled on the bunny face.  By far the easiest, and in my opinion, the cutest...don'tcha think??

 to make the eyes and nose I piped on some royal icing...

Dust them with the colored sugar last after they have set a bit, because then you can easily roll them in the sprinkles and get the sugar in every nook and cranny.  If you try and do this while they are still wet, you could mess with the shape.

And then if you want to be extra cute...put him on a stick

All in all it wasn't difficult...especially after doing them once.  If I  decide to do them again it would be a breeze. 

And much tastier than a store bought Peep...doesn't it look fluffy and delicious?

Click here for the printable recipe

 So, now to the giveaway!

This one I am excited about...it is from a company called 

Green Party Goods

They have the cutest cupcake liners and baking molds that I have seen, plus a lot of other cool stuff that is all earth friendly!

*All of GreenPartyGoods’ products meet at least one of these criteria: recycled, re-useable, biodegradable, sustainable, or organic.

Isn't that a cool concept?!

They are offering my readers a $50 gift certificate! 

Think of all the cute cupcake supplies you can get for $50!!!

Here's how to enter...

Become a "follower" of mine, if you aren't already, and then leave me a comment on what you would like to get from Green Party Goods.

That's all.

The contest will stay open until Saturday, April 3rd at 6:00 pm.

A winner will be chosen using random.org

*Please make sure you leave me your email address so I can contact you.
If no email address is provided I will pick another winner.
Also ~ become a fan on facebook of Green party goods to stay up to date on all their new stuff!

Contest now closed.
Congrats to "A" who was chosen using random.org
she said ~
"I'm a follower (and very impressed with your homemade peeps! It never would have crossed my mind to make those)
I love Green Party Goods zebra print cupcake liners (!) and the filigree cupcake wraps, they'd make even the most boring cupcakes look amazing."
Thanks for everyone who entered!


Now ~

If you have missed any of the posts for the Spring Blog event check them each out.  You will surely get some last minute ideas for treats as well as there being a giveaway on each site:

 ~ Made by Diane did a super cute cupcake bouquet

~ Hoosier Homemade made yummy Easter egg sugar cookies on cupcakes

~ How Does She? made the most awesome Oreo pops

~ From Captain's Daughter to Army Mom made adorable decorated sugar cookies

 ~ Skip to My Lou did an awesome version of the Easter basket cupcake

~ Amanda at i am baker made an Easter Egg cake with a chick inside...it's friggin' adorable!

~ Hoosier Homemade hosted again and made even cuter Easter cupcakes than the first time!

Now...get involved people...I want to see what you have done this season ~