NYC is a fairly spectacular place to live all year round…but there’s nothing like it at Christmastime. Yesterday morning, I swung by Bryant Park (the ice skating rink also has a pretty fun bar adjacent to it – we went last year around this time with some friends) for the Grand Opening of Real Simple’s Pop-Up Shop – a must if you’re in NYC.
The Pop-Up Shop is full of the kinds of gift ideas that are the reason you (or at least I) love Real Simple: inventive and practical. Like Mario Batali’s new cookbook, tons and tons of foodie items…and Christmas tree decoration organizers (want).
I ran into Alejandra from Always Order Dessert at the event, and she recommended this Sir Kensington ketchup as the perfect stocking stuffer.
Why hello there, Carson!
(He liked my Alexandra Moosally carrot necklace.)
Candace Nelson (the owner of Sprinkles) was there too, which got me all fluttery because I am weirdly obsessed with Cupcake Wars at the moment.
CANDACE NELSON’S CHRISTMAS TREE CUPCAKES:
1. Prepare the cupcake batter of your choice (Candace used Sprinkles’ Red Velvet).
2. Stretch some foil over the top of a loaf pan, and cut little slits in it. Insert the bottom of a sugar cone into each slit so that they’re propped up.
3. Fill the sugar cones 2/3 full with cupcake batter, and bake according to package instructions (the texture of the cone won’t be affected by the baking).
4. Melt some white chocolate (this can be a pain, so make sure you buy white chocolate intended specifically for melting) and dip each cupcake-filled cone. Set on wax paper to harden.
5. Use frosting to affix decorations (like the candy buttons pictured above).
The Real Simple Pop-Up Shop is located at Citi Pond in Bryant Park, and is open December 8-13 from 11AM-8PM. Click here for more info on holiday markets in NYC.
