Aaaaaaaand we're off!

It's hard to believe it's "that" time of year already!!! We LOVE this time of year at Bellisimo & are excited about the new designs. Visit our website often, as Holiday designs are added daily!

http://thegivingbasket.com/christmas.html

The Best Gift Basket Ever

Did you know that Gift Baskets can make you a rock star? Or that they are packed with the power of healing? Perhaps you weren't aware that the perfect gift basket has the ability to congratulate, apologize & even amaze? Who couldn't forgive after receiving a decadent basket of chocolate & confections, or feel better after surgery while filling their tummy with a basket of apple streusel muffins & a steaming cup of vanilla chai tea? The new parent's will be even more over-joyed while alternately munching on dk chocolate tea cookies, fresh Vermont cheddar & crisp peppercorn water crackers.



So if you didn't already know this, or even if you did we're glad you reminded you & can't wait to help you Say it Spectacular with a Gift Basket!

Re-Feather Your Nest

Today Bellisimo is in Mendham at Re-Feather Your Nest Decorating for the Grand Opening of R Nest a specialty accessory boutique. Our dear friend Susan Hayes ahs created a wildly successful decorating company called Re-Feather Your Nest & has been wowing her clientle with spectacular ways to make their house feel like a home. Susan's newest venture is "R Nest" located within the Re-Feather design studio as a way to showcase the newest in decorating trends. This space is SPECTACULAR!!!!

It's been a blast here today seeing the looks on everyone's faces as the enter the showhouse. Tranquil shades of turquoises and taupes, with natural accessories envelope you the second you walk in. Stop in today at 2A Hilltop Ave in Mendham to enter to win a $200 gift basket compliments of Susan & Moi!

Wasn't it just Mother's Day??

Time just passes too quickly! Father's Day is now just around the corner & we have some great gift ideas for your special man!

Happy MOther's Day!

How sweet is this!



A fab choice for M-O-M this pretty box arrives with a sampler of Mrs. Fields 18 Nibblers® bite-sized cookies, 12 Brownie Bites and 2 frosted daisy cookies.
CALL NOW! 1-800-3-GIVING to place your order. Mention our blog and you will receive our preferred customer price of $35.

Tastefully Yours

How cute is this favor? So cute that customers are sucking them up by the dozens and not just for party favors! They're perfect for those times when they need a little something!



"Smile, and say cheese!" The photographer at your special event will say that, but your guests will actually do that when you thank them with our bamboo-tiful "Tastefully Yours" Cheese Board favor. Heart-shaped and handsomely gift-boxed, the cheese board and bamboo spreader are truly a take-home treasure. Features and facts:

Stunning heart-shaped, bamboo cheese board with carved bamboo spreader accented with a tiny heart on the handle
Cheese board measures approximately 4 1/2" hi x 5" w x 5/16" d
Gift presentation includes subtly striped, sage green box with clear display cover, a brown belly band accented with an ivory ribbon and, at the center, a coordinated applique that describes the product
Gift box measures 5" h x 5 1/4" w x 1" d

http://bellisimo.theaspenshops.com/Heart-Cutting-Board.html

Irish Soda Bread - Italian Style

While our Irish friends are already looking forward to St Patrick's Day, those of us who's name's end in a vowel will celebrate the Feast of St Joseph on March 19th.
Our friends honor St Patrick & we honor St Joseph.
Our friends will wear green and we will don red.
Our friends will drink green beer while we will enjoy wine.
Our friends love their Irish Soda Bread which is the equivilent to our St Joseph Zeppole! Try this recipe & celebrate St Joseph with us!





Sfinge di San Giuseppe (St. Joseph's Cream Puffs)

Sfinge:
1 cup water
1/3 cup unsalted butter
1 TBSP sugar
Grated rind of 1 lemon
Pinch of salt
1 cup sifted flour
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 TBSP Cognac or vanilla

Zeppole Recipe for St. Joseph's Day
Ingredients:

Pastry cream

2 cups milk, divided
1 tbsp lemon zest
1-2 cinnamon sticks
3 tbsp cornstarch
5 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla

Powdered Sugar for dusting
24 cherries (optional)
Preheat oven at 400 F.

Place the water, salt and butter in a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a boil.
Remove the pan from the heat and dump the flour in all at once, whisking it all in &
Cook, stirring constantly, until the dough starts to pull easily from the sides of the pan and forms a ball, about 3 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir until lukewarm, 6 to 8 minutes.
Add the eggs, one at a time, stirring in each one completely before adding the next egg.Stir in the vanilla. Cool completely.
Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Place the dough into a pastry bag with a 1-inch star tip and pipe 2-inch rings onto the trays.
Bake at 400 F for 15 minutes, then at 375 F for 15-20 minutes until evenly browned. Cool.
Pastry Cream
In a small sauce pan bring 1 3/4 cup milk with the sticks and lemon zest to a boil.
Meanwhile, mix 1/4 cup milk with the 3 tbsp cornstarch.
Mix well and set aside.
Whisk together the egg yolks and sugar.
Return mixture to sauce pan and whisk in the milk cornstarch mixture. Continue whisking over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens.
Remove from heat, pour in a bowl and cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent from forming a skin.
Chill before using.
Assemble the zeppole:
Slice the choux pastry in half and fill the bottom half with the pastry cream. Replace top half and sprinkle with icing sugar.
Top with cherry if desired.
Refrigerate.