Source: amyatlas.blogspot.com

My last post included the recipe for cinnamon pistachio meringues from our Faux Bois post. Here is the acorn template from that autumn-inspired story for a fun, diy project for the fall. Simply print the template out, cut out the acorn garland, and hang! Enjoy!

Source: http://www.thebridescafe.com/?postID=500&diy-english-trifle-table

As someone with English heritage I thought it would be fun to have a table at a wedding, shower or party that was a nod to that heritage. I personally grew up with trifle made by my wonderful Mom, my Aunts, Grandma and Nana, but I’ve have never seen them outside my family functions in America. Trifles are so visually pleasing that they can be the main focus of a dessert table or served as the main dessert in lieu of cake. They also taste really, really good!

The glass containers with the glass pedestal on the bottom are called Trifle Bowls, Bed Bath and Beyond, K-Mart, Crate and Barrel carry these unique bowls. I also recommend scouring flea markets, and garage sales for Trifle Bowls as well.

You can ask your caterer if they can make trifle for your wedding (if you’re in the Bay Area, I’d be happy to make them for you!), if you are adventurous, here are a few recipe options:

Each trifle serves 12-15.

Chocolate Kahlúa Trifle

Prepare Chocolate Cake from a mix or from scratch, Bake in a 13×9 pan
1 cup Kahlúa (you may want to leave this out if serving to kids) it’ll still taste great  – sans Kahlúa which is how my Mom made it growing up.
Prepare 2 boxes of Instant Chocolate pudding mix or 2 servings of this recipe
1 larger container of Cool Whip/Whipped Cream (similar quantity)
5-6 Heath Chocolate Bars/Skor Bars

Assembly:

Once cake is cooled, poke holes in the cake with a fork Drizzle cake while still in pan with Kahlúa as much as you would like, approx 1 cup.

Cut chocolate cake into 2 inch squares. Line the bottom of the Trifle Bowl with chocolate cake snugly leaving minimal gaps, fill with small pieces as needed to fill big gaps.

Scoop 1/3- 1/2 of the pudding onto the top the cake smoothing to the edges. (you make have leftover pudding when you are done with this recipe)

Whether using Cool Whip or Whipped Cream smooth across, on top the layer of the pudding

Chop up 3 Heath or Skor Bars and sprinkle generously over Whipped Cream/Cool Whip.

Place another layer of cake squares on top of the Heath Bars/Skor Bars

Repeat the same steps with Chocolate Pudding and another layer of Whipped Cream/Cool Whip.

Finish with generously sprinkling the remaining 2-3 Heath/Skor Bars

Lemon Trifle

Prepare a Pound Cake(in two 8×4 pound cake pans) from a mix or recipe
Prepare two boxes Instant Lemon Pudding mixes or recipe made twice
Lemon Curd (only if using Lemon Pudding Mix) (Trader Joes, Whole Foods and likely many grocery stores carry lemon curd)
Large container Cool Whip/ Whip Cream

When preparing the pudding mix, add 3/4 jar of Lemon Curd. This gives it a really authentic lemon taste. Use an electric mixer to blend the pudding mix, milk and lemon curd together.

Assembly:

Cut the pound cake into roughly 2×2 squares and line the bottom of the trifle bowl, It doesn’t have to be exact. Pack cake in snugly so no gaps between pieces of cake.
Scoop 1/3 of the pudding on top of the cake layer, smoothing to the edges.
Scoop 1/3 of Cool Whip or Whipped Cream on top of the pudding layer and smooth across.

Repeat two more times so three layers of each (cake, pudding, whipped cream)

Garnish with lemon rinds in any way you wish!

Strawberry Vanilla Trifle

Prepare one yellow cake from a mix or any yellow cake recipe , bake in 13×9 pan
Prepare two batches of either Instant Vanilla Pudding mix or recipe
Large container of Cool Whip or Whipped cream
1 pint of Strawberries
Large jar of Strawberry Jam

Assembly:

Cut yellow cake into 2 inch squares Line the bottom of the Trifle Bowl with cake leaving minimal gaps, fill with small pieces as needed to fill big gaps.

Scoop 1/3- 1/2 of the pudding onto the top the cake smoothing to the edges. (you make have leftover pudding when you are done with this recipe)

Slice Strawberries lenghtwise and place on top of the pudding all around the edge of the bowl so you have a circle of strawberries.

Fill the center of the circle of strawberries with a approx 1/4 inch of strawberry jam, spreading carefully.

Top the jam and strawberries layer with Cool Whip/Whipped Cream.

Repeat the layering again with cake, pudding, strawberries and jam, Cool Whip/Whipped Cream.

Garnish with Strawberries.

Note: You will save yourself alot of time using cake mixes, pudding mixes and Cool Whip.. I am sure Martha Stewart is frowning on me for saying this!  So please do whatever you prefer.

Signage – Each sign showing each flavor of trifle was attached to a wooden spear and then placed in a corresponding ingredient of the trifle. 1/2 a lemon face down, strawberry and vanilla beans and Cadbury Chocolate squares broken up and stacked….Enjoy!!

Make sure you stop by Hillary’s new site, Off White Wedding….more gorgeous inspiration for you to see!