Summer DIY Projects

Here are a couple of DIY projects I did this summer.

After

This old buffet table was updated by sanding and staining it with brown and blue wood stain and changing the hardware with ceramic drawer pulls I found at Pier One Imports. I also did some distressing of the wood prior to staining.

Before

          Updated our outdoor patio furniture by stripping, sanding and repainting it with bright red!

 Before

After

An old wooden crate that used to just sit in storage +  some sanding, staining and TLC = a decorative holder of our indoor plants!

 Before

After

Maple Cinnamon Glazed Banana-Filled Cronuts

                              When you merge a croissant with a donut, you get a cronut! 

I heard about the cronut craze,  but somehow live in an area where it has not quite caught on yet. BUT I am curious about the cronut so I decided to jump into the bandwagon and do my own spin on the cronut. 

For the Cronut:

2 tubes crescent dough (such as Pillsbury) 

oil for deep frying

• Unroll the each crescent dough tube and separate into 4 rectangles. Press the perforations to seal. Stack the two unrolled tubes on top of each other. Then fold in half to make a stack of 4 layers.
• Cut the dough using a doughnut cutter. I got mine from Williams-Sonoma 
• Put together by kneading, rolling, and layering the extra dough to make more.
• Deep fry and drain. 

                                                         

For the Filling

¼ + 1/8 Cups Evaporated milk

¼ + 1/8 cups sugar

1 egg yolk

1.5 tablespoons butter

half a banana, mashed

½ tsp vanilla

• Whisk together the evaporated milk, sugar, egg and butter in a saucepan over medium low heat, until the mixture is thick. When the mixture is thick, add the banana and vanilla, and remove from heat. Let it cool and place in a piping back with a filler attachment.
• Inject the filling onto the different sides and into the layers of the cronuts.

For the Glaze

½ cup powdered sugar

1/8 tsp cinnamon

½ tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons evaporated milk

¼ teaspoons vanilla

1/8 cup maple syrup.

• Whisk all the ingredients together and drizzle over your filled Cronuts.

All it took was one bite, and everyone in our home went Cronut-Crazy! I barely turned my back and this was what was left on the plate!!!

Found this FoodNetwork youtube video that might help you in making your own cronuts.

Brownie Rum Balls

If by some unfathomable cosmic reason, you happen to have some leftover brownies, spike them up by making rum balls!

What You Need:

2 cups brownie crumbs

4 tablespoons Rum (I used Bacardi) 

chopped almonds, or hazelnuts, or dusting sugar (optional)

What To do:

• Using the paddle attachment, crumb the brownies—You can always just use your hands of course!
• Add the rum. You will then end with a pasty mixture.

• Using a tablespoon measure, shape the mixture into balls.
• Roll onto the chopped nuts.

                                     

• Store in a covered jar or container and chill in the fridge.
• Serve chilled and eat responsibly.

If you only need a small bottle of rum, I suggest you go to BevMo and get just a tiny bottle, like the ones you find at hotel minibars. I, on the other hand, had fun and ended up with a small hoard of little bottles of happiness! 

Swirly Speculoos Brownies

I am in-LOVE with Speculoos and my love relationship with this spread has propelled me to take things at the next level!

What you will need:

18 oz brownie mix (I used Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate)

4 oz cream cheese – softened

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1 jar Speculoos (regular, swirl, or crunchy – any will work)

½ tsp salt

2 tablespoons milk

What to do:

Preheat the oven to 325F

Prepare the brownie batter according to package directions and pour mixture over a greased 9x9 baking tray.

Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, eggs, salt and sugar. Add the Speculoos and incorporate the milk a tablespoon at a time.  The texture should be smooth, much like the brownie batter.

Pour the Speculoos mixture over the brownie batter and swirl with a knife.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until it passes the toothpick test (if you poke the center with a toothpick it comes out clean).

Make life sweeter…  Bite into its swirly goodness.