You have heard of VALENTINE'S DAY, but how about GALENTINE'S DAY?
Galentine’s Day is relatively new. (If you are interested to learn more about this ‘holiday’ and how it all started, I have a video at the bottom of this post which will help fill in the blanks.) To summarize, Galentine’s Day is February 13th, the day before VALentine’s Day. It is a day to celebrate with your GALentines. It also just happens to be one of my favorite peeps birthday, so I couldn’t let this day slip by without a celebration.
Since we are still living in the middle of a Pandemic, special care would obviously need to be taken. That was no problem since we have already mastered the art of virtual gatherings with Thanksgiving and the Holiday Cookie Exchange!
I.C.E. Makes The Magic Happen
IMAGINE an idea
I sent out an email to my GALentines to share my idea and invite any who would like to participate. EVERYONE, (all 13 in town ladies), volunteered to prepare a wide array of goodies for the day, plus we had 3 out-of-town ladies RSVP to join our virtual gathering on ZOOM! (HINT–when planning, it is especially great if you know some good cooks. In this case, every single one of these brilliant and talented gals know how to work magic in their kitchens so you can imagine the treats we had to look forward to!)
CREATE an idea
I went to work on the invitations and included an extra ‘card’ for everyone to write birthday messages. These were returned and added to the birthday girl’s bag when we rendezvoused the morning of the 13th with all of our goodies.
ENJOY an idea
We all met in a parking area at 9, the morning of the 13th. Once all of the delicacies were collected and distributed into each of the bags, we all posed for some pictures, holding our bags of treats. It was bitter cold out, but that didn’t stop some of us from taking a nice walk. The other, (more sensible), folks went back to the warmth of their homes to wait for our ZOOM tea party at 2PM.
Party Favors!
I am just getting my feet wet when it comes to patchwork piecing, but I got a little extra practice making these patchwork heart coasters for everyone. Of course I didn’t follow the directions completely, but you can click on the button below for the pattern I started with.
Handmade Invitations, Bags & Cupcake Boxes
I ordered plain white gift bags and cupcake boxes and hand-stamped them with a tea and heart motif.
These cute little cupcake toppers were created with red and pink card stock, and small red cocktail straws.
Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Equipment
- Cupcake pans and cupcake papers
- Food processor (optional)
Ingredients
Carrot Cake
- 1½ cup canola oil
- 1½ cup granulated sugar
- 4 ex-large eggs well beaten
- 3 cups grated carrots
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp soda
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp ground allspice
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 8-oz package cream cheese softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Carrot Cake
- Preheat oven to 325° FIn bowl of food processor, (if using), cream oil and sugar together. This may also be done in a mixer or by hand, but a food processor makes quick work out of it.Add eggs and carrots and mix well. Sift dry ingredients together and then add to carrot mixture, add half and pulse rapidly 3-4 times, add remaining and pulse rapidly another 3-4 times until combined.Add pecans, raisins, and vanilla and pulse 3 or 4 times until combined, being careful not to over process. Fill cupcake cups 3/4 full and bake in preheated oven for 26-30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.Cool completely before frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Combine butter and cream cheese with powdered sugar and beat really well. Add vanilla extract and mix until well incorporated. Spread on cooled cakes.
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