Partridge In A Pear Tree

When I have a party, I always try to do one thing that's a standout. It's the obnoxious Martha Stewart coming out in me! It's fun for me and I get a kick out of doing this stuff. The special thing is always food and most of the time is a dessert because I have a love affair with pastry.
Somewhere in my travels; magazine, craft store, blog trolling, I saw a picture of this partidge in a pear tree and it stuck in my mind. All I did was make carrot cupcakes, then frosted them with a leaf tip and green, cream cheese frosting. I bought a package of fondant and formed the little pears and the partridge out of that. The feathers on the partridge are sliced almonds stuck in to the fondant while it was still very soft. The pear stems are pieces of toothpicks. I covered a cake circle as well as a small box, in green foil as my base. Stacked the cupcakes and added the fondant pears and partridge.
Anyone can do this, there was nothing hard about it. It did take a little time to make the partridge and the little pears but I just did it in the evening while watching tv. I think it was worth it, it turned out pretty cute and it made a great centerpiece for the dessert table in my dining room.

I'm Not Going To Talk About That Anymore

I'm sick of it I say! Sick and tired of reading and hearing and talking about Tiger Woods. Not going to do it anymore! Nope, I don't care really, how many women he's slept with. Maybe we should make a list of who he hasn't. He's a good golfer, lousy husband and, yes, a lousy father. Look what he's exposed his wife and children to, the attention, the loss of any privacy. Tiger, you and I are done!
Climategate? I'm probably not quite done with that. Not surprised, I never bought into global warming. I have long believed that Al Gore is a self serving sham. Over the past several years my beliefs have been satisfactorily verified, to me anyway. I have had many discussions with a farmer friend of mine. A man who lives by the weather. He doesn't set any store in global warming, as I suspected. I do think someone (many someones) need to pay a steep price for using these scare tactics and lies on the people of the world. Shameful! But for now, I've had enough.
I think I'll put a movie on, something festive, White Christmas maybe. I'm going to wrap gifts, beautiful packages with glittering paper and fluffy gold bows. I'm a gift wrapping FREAK! The package must be breathtaking! If they aren't hesitant to rip it open then I did something wrong. It's almost time to start making cookies, some pumpkin rolls. I saw a couple of things I might try this year. I saw a picture in a magazine of a "partridge in a pear tree" which is made with cupcakes. Cupcakes decorated with green, leafy looking, frosting, then stacked. There was a partridge and several pears formed and resting on the cupcakes. I think fondant would work well for the pears and partridge. Really cute! I heard a good idea for serving fresh vegetables. On a platter, arrange fresh broccoli florets in a wreath shape, decorate with red bell peppers cut into whatever shape you like. I'm sure you can toss a few other things in as well. Cucumber slices would be pretty, also a small bowl of dip in the center of the wreath. Yep, I'm going to try both of these.
What are you planning for this year? Any special dishes planned for a gathering?