More of My Daughter's Creations!

Alexis is back by popular demand!!!  Warm greetings to her fans, Kathy, Darryl, Finbar, Margie, Veggie Girl, Carol, Claudine, Catherine, Jan, JC, Trish, Hardboiledegg, Steve & Brenda, Kelly, Andrew, Grandmajo, Jamie, Miriam, Carla and Susy!!!  I, too, love seeing these photos of Alexis’s creations.  She really understands how to put something together from start to finish.  She makes me very proud. Remember to visit Whateverradio.com for more!

The Following is from Alexis Stewart's Blog:
Today is Kevin Sharkey's bday!!  he always gets mildly screwed cause of the date's proximity to xmas...
I got him a giant, xtra fancy decorating book and some of every candy and cookie i made for the holidays (no measly sample box for him!):

and even the delivery packaging has to be nice:

dropped off the doorman gifts at the same time (one day kevin might allow me to live in his building, although I might get to be on a higher floor!)

inside is caramel almond popcorn (using salted peanuts instead) -- here it is cooling and just out of the oven:

you can find the recipe here.

addressed the whole thing to the super to make sure no one "accidentally" takes the wrong bag (or two):

cookies:
thumbprint made with a batch of white peach pate de fruits that didn't gel

beginning of the chestnut cream filled cookies:




and all the candy! ugh! up all night packing it:
coconut marshmallows in the making (the recipes can be found on my nov 28th blog):








making the peanut butter cups (I altered the recipe by tempering the chocolate...)


looks like a mess here with the peppermint patties, but they turned out really well


packing up:

there is also some almond toffee by the marshmallows





jpacking up the pate de fruits (still only halfway done):


almost done (although half of the stuff is in the other room)

btw -- a great and really cheap "ribbon" to use is seam binding -- it comes in great colors -- i used it on all the small rectangular boxes  you can get it here.

Comments

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, As Alexis would say: OMG! Not only is this a beautiful and delicious blog, but once again it brings back memories. My Mother (who was exactly 11 days older than Big Martha) used to make kitchens full of thumbprint, Noel balls, etc. for her friends and eventually for her friend's tea parties. She finally had to stop when she developed bursitis in left arm. I would hope Alexis would either be a guest baker on your show or open a bakery of her own. Thanks again for sharing. Jan P.S. Happy Birthday, Kevin

[Amy]

OK, so, when is Alexis doing her house calls here in Houston? MMMmmm. . .yummy! Nice job, they better appreciate all that work!

Seam binding--smart move. I do things like that now and again, cheap and easy and works perfectly.

Happy Holidays!

Amy

[Hooligan]

Very impressive! I feel like a couch potato next to Martha and Alexis! My holiday gift baking, which hasn't started yet, usually consists of 7 layer bars, and Irish whiskey pecan fudge...I'd better get to a market to get the baking ingredients before the 25th!

[dutch206]

Wow! I am dumbfounded by the amount of work this must have taken. I think Alexis is keeping an army full of Santa's Elves prisoner in her kitchen. :)

[Kelly]

These boxes are so amazing!! I think there is nothing better than homemade treats at the holidays! It really shows people that you are thinking about them when you take the time to make them something! Also, I've started checking out Alexis' blog since the previous post, so funny! I'm going to have to get Serius (sp?) so I can start listening!!

[Paula M.]

Alexis,
You are a chip off the ole' block! LOL Can see where you got that from!
Your Christmas goodies are beautiful! Thanks for the recipes.
I love the way you package your cookies. I do the same when I bake!
Keep the blogs coming!! BTW, did Mom name her Frenchie, Sharkey after Kevin? ;-0

[jo fanning]

I can't locate the recipe for Alexis' coconut marshmallows. They look delicious, and I would love to make them. Where can I find the recipe?

[GirlInTheWorld-JeannieP]

Alexis:

Compared to the 2 Pillsbury Frozen cookies that I literally threw into the oven (without even breaking them apart to be cookies)your selection was stunning to say the least. But now, I'm semi-inspired. My 19-year-old son, Frankie Jr. surprised me by making from scratch a Gingerbread House that was just adorable last year. He even made stained-glass windows with lollipop stuff and the tiniest of gingerbread men! I have your mom's Cake Baking Kit from years ago from the catalogue and I guess it's time to pull out the recipes. The candy looks delicious, everything is scrumptious looking and you have lucky friends. Happy Holidays! P.S. If you still have your mid-century modern furniture I am totally jealous, it rocks!

[miriam]

WOW!! All I made yesterday was 2 batches of biscotti and one Tres Leches cake to give as gifts. I was stunned to see this lovely display of goodies and beautifully wrapped. I have a lot to learn. Thanks Alexis (and both Marthas) for teaching us so many great things. Love it all!!!

[Paola Norman]

Alexis always does a beautiful job, her backing and packaging are very inspiring!

[chris]

to the VEGAN: check the martha recipe bank for vegan cake. you come up with some chocolate cake that her assitant or someone made. MAKE IT. i have two vegans in my family and can never find a decent baked good to make. even the carnivores loved this one: it's that good. hey, ms. stewart, put more of alexis on your show. love love love her blog (can she do something with your magazine and organizing???)

[Molly]

Having spent tonight baking for my husband's office, I understand the process and my small kitchen looked like a tornado hit it, but the end results were good. I have made a couple of Martha's cookie recipes in the past, but will have to check out Alexis' recipes - I am looking for some new recipes this year. The packaging looks wonderful as well. The recipents are going to be very happy when they get these lovely pkgs.

[Betty Lalinski]

There are 2 articles on this subject in this months issue of Martha Stewart Living; the one with the smoky eyes & gingerbread house. It's nice to see somebody living out the magazine. Don't you just love it. The Most Magical Holidays Ever. I'm Schvitzing.

[John]

Everything looks so amazing! All the treats Alexis makes has inspired me to try some new recipes this season! I made a batch of the Pate De Fruits and they are so good! I can't wait to make more and try new flavors!

Happy Holidays
John in Michigan

[Ann]

Such a beautiful selection of goodies, and what a huge effort. Yesterday I made a batch of Martha's lovely sugar cookies, chocolate ginger cookies and the roast vegetable salad to take to our monthly family get together - That was a big enough effort for me, I was worn out, but everyone loved what I took!!!
I live in Australia and our horses don't need winter shoes (besides, it's mid summer right now). It's very interesting to see what's involved. I always used to worry and felt so sorry for animals in countries where it snowed.
Thanks Martha

[Charmingdesigns]

WoW. I just found your blog...what fun I had this morning checking this out!! Thanks for all the info. Laurie

[Aimee]

Dear Martha,

I think you are an extraordinary lady and I would be so delighted to meet you one day soon. I know nothing about cooking but maybe you can have me on your show to teach how! I've never been to New York, so that would be fabulous Martha. We can have some fun together! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! God Bless, Aimee

[Geraldina]

WOOW!!! THEY REALLY LOOK NICE!! AND I THINK THEY TASTE REALLY GOOD OO!!! I DID THE SAME EVERY XMAS TO SHARE IT WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND IM SHURE THERES A LOT OF WORK DOING THAT BUT IT WORTH IT!!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

GERALDINA
GUATEMALA, GUATEMALA

[kathy krug]

Alexis,..by the way I LOVE that name.
I thought you were just a little mean to your mom on one of the shows. I too have a daughter, and I thought surely by your age, a daughter would "get over it a little bit". Everyone says my daughter is just like me, it just happens, actually as you will find out ,it's a mother's hope that her daughter turns out 'better ' than she. By the looks of these pictures , you are so blessed to pick up your mother's gifts of creativity, and a love for all things beautiful. I think a child can pick up those gifts but in there own way , they create a new kind of beauty and Art , as you are doing. What a wonderful life!!

[Kim Wylie]

Wow....that looks a LOT like how my kitchen looked! I made six different kinds of cookies and four different candies. It was insanity!! What's worse, my poor husband was on a pre-holiday diet and had to deal with the aromas wafting through the house. (I saved him some nibbles of each.) I found some cute stackable tins to put my treats in, so I was not as creative packing them.

The heart that goes into gifts like that and seeing the looks of pleasure on the recipients' faces as they taste the treats makes it all worth the time, doesn't it?

[Dianne Wood]

Hi Martha, Oh how impressive. Such beautiful and PERFECT goodies. As I am always INSPIRED by you and your never-ending talent, I was so proud to try YOUR homemade marshmallows during the holidays.

HOWEVER....PLEASE visit MY BLOG and see for yourself my first attempt in making YOUR marshmallows. Step by Step..From purchasing the PROPER tools and armed with determination, yet my finished results look a LITTLE different than yours. PLEASE TELL ME....WHAT DID I DO WRONG....I WANT TO KNOW....:)
Hugs to you,
Dianne
www.desperatediva.typepad.com

[Susy]

Martha, Alexis should have her own segment on your TV show. She is so talented... she inspires me and a lot of other people with her blog about food... I can't get enough of it... During the last 3 months I have bought more than 10 cookbooks and they all have been as a result of her blogs. She is so inspirational.. love her show and her blog. Thanks for having her on Sirius.

[Tami]

I wish I would receive some home-baked goods from Alexis! She is obviously just like her mom!

[Leticia Tutunjian]

Did Alexis make all that chocolte? I want to open a chocolate specialty shop and would like Martha or Alexis to design something to sell at my shop to attract customers with your personal labels ofcourse and can Alexis give me some classes on how to make all the different chocolates she made?

Leticia

[Katharine]

Amazing!!
I am a culinary student and Alexis is incredible!! Inspiring and ultra Sweet:) My Grandmother is Czech and she makes sweets similar!!!!
I love these amazing pictures!! Thank you Martha!! For al of your hard work!!

Katharine Aloisie