July 4, 2009

happy mint-dependence day!

Sometimes you just need to step back and stop thinking. Turn off the ol' idea-machine. Let the engine cool down.


Leave your brain alone for a minute and it might surprise ya.

I spent way too long looking for and thinking about something festive to make for my coworkers in celebration of Independence Day. Ideas were few and far between, and none of them were good. I got frustrated and finally gave up, deciding not to make anything. Shortly thereafter, I had a miniature epiphany, and the Mint-dependence Day flag was born.


(I left the red part a bit swirly intentionally. Swirls are pretty.)

These are your typical cream cheese mints, which I've done before. A little food coloring, a little artistic positioning, and the result is a patriotic display of sweetness. It's not an outstanding production, but it satisfied me (and my co-workers, who I'm convinced will devour just about anything).

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

61 comments:

  1. lisa is cookingJuly 4, 2009 at 8:49 AM

    Love it! These are so cute. And, they're delicious with the cream cheese. Happy 4th of July!

    ReplyDelete
  2. katJuly 4, 2009 at 9:23 AM

    Super cute, have a great 4th

    ReplyDelete
  3. ShariJuly 4, 2009 at 9:50 AM

    Happy 4th! What a cute treat for your co-workers! Cool idea.

    ReplyDelete
  4. kimberleyblueJuly 4, 2009 at 10:17 AM

    What a creative idea! They look so delicious too...your coworkers are very lucky.

    Happy 4th!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJuly 4, 2009 at 10:29 AM

    Love it! Happy 4th!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Creative Classroom CoreJuly 4, 2009 at 10:36 AM

    What a fun and yummy treat! Thanks for sharing! I will be bookmarking these! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. oneordinarydayJuly 4, 2009 at 10:43 AM

    That's perfect. Not only pretty, but patriotic and delicious too. Sounds like a winner to me.
    And very clever.... Happy Mint-dependence Day. : )
    Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sweetflutterbys3July 4, 2009 at 11:23 AM

    I've made a chocolate covered version of these before, and I had to make another batch because the first disappeared! I will be trying your recipe too. They sound so good and I love the creative colors.

    Happy 4th to you too!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ingrid_3BsJuly 4, 2009 at 11:43 AM

    Happy 4th!
    ~ingrid

    ReplyDelete
  10. ZoeJuly 4, 2009 at 12:45 PM

    These are so sweet! Little pockets of minty heaven!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gloria BakerJuly 4, 2009 at 1:12 PM

    I love these Grace!! Look absolutely yummy !!! amazing colours!! Happy 4th!! kisses!! Gloria

    ReplyDelete
  12. kellypeaJuly 4, 2009 at 1:17 PM

    You are so good to your co-workers. And I completely agree with you. Sometimes I spend a ridiculous amount of time entertaining myself with all the possibilities and then I don't make what I set out to make. DOH. Your flag is quite cute and definitely more patriotic looking than the dessert I made recently which was mauve and pink. Um...not quite 4th of Julyish? Hahahaha!

    ReplyDelete
  13. CucinistaJuly 4, 2009 at 1:57 PM

    What a great idea to make mints -- I had never seen a recipe for those before. They open up a whole world of possibility for treats and decorations. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lyndas recipe boxJuly 4, 2009 at 2:27 PM

    A great idea, Grace-I love these mints,although I've not made them before. I love the swirls too!
    Happy 4th!

    ReplyDelete
  15. RebecaJuly 4, 2009 at 3:21 PM

    So Cute! Happy Independence Day!

    ReplyDelete
  16. OhioMomJuly 4, 2009 at 4:16 PM

    What a clever minty flag .. Happy 4th!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Kathy WalkerJuly 4, 2009 at 4:28 PM

    Cute idea! I am going to explore how to make mints. I have never made them before.

    ReplyDelete
  18. UnknownJuly 4, 2009 at 8:02 PM

    Great idea, Grace! Sometimes simple is best, right? You have pretty lucky co-workers. I hope they appreciate you!

    ReplyDelete
  19. BethJuly 4, 2009 at 9:25 PM

    Happy 4th! Yummy looking mints too!

    ReplyDelete
  20. JacqueJuly 4, 2009 at 9:38 PM

    Those are seriously cute! your little flag made me smile :)

    Happy 4th!

    ReplyDelete
  21. KJJuly 5, 2009 at 3:18 AM

    Fantastic!! This reminds me of the time I made a massive Olympic flag out of lollies (jelly beans, snakes, smarties etc) for a work function to celebrate the opening of the Syndey Olympics.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Donna-FFWJuly 5, 2009 at 7:28 AM

    Absolutely the most perfect idea fo the 4th. Have to remember this for next year. Nicely done !

    ReplyDelete
  23. LindseyJuly 5, 2009 at 8:19 AM

    So cute! I have never made cream cheese mints before, but they sound delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  24. BunnyJuly 5, 2009 at 8:31 AM

    I'm bookmarking this Grace this would be fantastic Christmas gidfts! I've never made them before but cream chesse paired with anything has to be good! Happy 4th of July ( belated)

    ReplyDelete
  25. gizJuly 5, 2009 at 10:16 AM

    The beauty in this is the energy to dedicated to it and the novelty of what you created. So cute and memorable.

    ReplyDelete
  26. BarbaraJuly 5, 2009 at 11:27 AM

    I say: your page is so very festive, patriotic and so yummy looking I could reach right into the page and grab one. Aren't the old recipes the best? Never have tried cream cheese mints- but I will now.

    ReplyDelete
  27. noble pigJuly 5, 2009 at 11:45 AM

    Seriously that is stinkin' adorable...unreal.

    ReplyDelete
  28. AnonymousJuly 5, 2009 at 6:10 PM

    very cute and patriotic!
    hope you have a great mint-dependence day!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Lorraine @ Not Quite NigellaJuly 5, 2009 at 8:19 PM

    Happy 4th of July Grace! Whata cool way to celebrate it and I like food related epiphanies! :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. LoriJuly 5, 2009 at 8:30 PM

    So you are telling me to cool my jets, huh. Sure, no problem, pass me one of those and I can cool my jets with some mint!

    You know, I must have lead a sheltered life cause I never heard of these. I am so grateful for this post. I need to make these now.

    ReplyDelete
  31. KarineJuly 5, 2009 at 9:46 PM

    Such an original way to create the flag!

    ReplyDelete
  32. La Bella CooksJuly 5, 2009 at 9:52 PM

    What a fun idea! Sounds delicious with the cream cheese. Hope you had a great 4th.

    ReplyDelete
  33. MaryBethJuly 5, 2009 at 10:10 PM

    Do we work in the same office and just don't know it? I think your flag is adorable and very creative.

    ReplyDelete
  34. LauraJuly 5, 2009 at 10:14 PM

    Awesome! You know how much I love mint--why I have I never tried something like this? Oh and we have 2 eps to go in Fringe and we are LOVING it. Did you finish (or ever watch) Pushing Daisies? We have 1 to go there...

    ReplyDelete
  35. AnonymousJuly 6, 2009 at 12:06 AM

    wow!! These look sooo petite and whimsical and absolutely drool-worthy! Too pretty and cute for words!

    ReplyDelete
  36. AnitaJuly 6, 2009 at 8:09 AM

    Great photo! I've never seen these mints before... must look into it further

    ReplyDelete
  37. NicJuly 6, 2009 at 8:14 AM

    Cool! Hope you had a good 4th!
    PS. Sent you an email.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Chef FrescoJuly 6, 2009 at 8:41 AM

    Aww how cute! Hope you had a great 4th!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Albany JaneJuly 6, 2009 at 9:17 AM

    Oh Grace, I love it when you play with your food! So freakin' cute!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Cookie baker LynnJuly 6, 2009 at 2:40 PM

    So cute! I'm a fan of Mint-dependance day!

    ReplyDelete
  41. The Blonde DuckJuly 6, 2009 at 2:48 PM

    I want to be your co-worker. And your buddy. And pal.

    Lucky bastards.

    ReplyDelete
  42. MarjieJuly 6, 2009 at 4:14 PM

    Red, white and blue! It's nothing but Independence Day goodness.

    ReplyDelete
  43. LilSisJuly 6, 2009 at 5:56 PM

    What a cute idea! Very clever. Amazing what you can come up with when you actually stop trying so hard.

    ReplyDelete
  44. AbbyJuly 6, 2009 at 8:26 PM

    I think we have the same co-workers.

    I've made those mints before, and I colored them for Valentine's Day.

    Great minds are we.

    ReplyDelete
  45. RobinJuly 7, 2009 at 12:50 AM

    Another fun recipe for my little ones! I think this is great any time of year too!

    ReplyDelete
  46. AnonymousJuly 7, 2009 at 1:58 AM

    Awww, these are so cute! What a creative idea :D

    ReplyDelete
  47. AnnaJuly 7, 2009 at 3:59 AM

    So cute! I might try that recipe with orange flavouring... I'm not a big mint girl but love the texture. Hmm!

    ReplyDelete
  48. MariaJuly 7, 2009 at 10:56 AM

    How fun!

    ReplyDelete
  49. JulianaJuly 7, 2009 at 1:36 PM

    Great idea...really fun!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Delicious DishingsJuly 7, 2009 at 3:43 PM

    So creative! I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  51. unconfidentialcookJuly 7, 2009 at 5:53 PM

    What a great idea...so much more interesting that the blueberry-strawberry flag on a sheet cake. LOVE it! Can't wait for next year.

    ReplyDelete
  52. JaimeJuly 7, 2009 at 9:47 PM

    how creative! i didn't know you could make those mints at home!

    ReplyDelete
  53. DeborahJuly 7, 2009 at 9:59 PM

    Beautiful! Hope your holiday was wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  54. EmilyJuly 8, 2009 at 3:54 AM

    I love it! That is one delicious, beautiful flag. What a great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  55. pigpigscornerJuly 8, 2009 at 11:54 AM

    Very creative!

    ReplyDelete
  56. foodhoeJuly 8, 2009 at 11:58 AM

    beautiful! I'd like have to have that with chocolate fondue... Hope your holiday was very festive.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Jessica@foodmayhemJuly 8, 2009 at 1:43 PM

    I don't like mints but dig your design.

    ReplyDelete
  58. LisaJuly 8, 2009 at 5:37 PM

    And those are lovely mints too! Sounds fun to me. I hope your holiday was spectacular.

    ReplyDelete
  59. PamJuly 9, 2009 at 1:54 AM

    You clever, clever girl. Hope you had a great fourth.

    ReplyDelete
  60. ♥Rosie♥July 9, 2009 at 1:22 PM

    Those are so cute and Happy belated 4th July Grace!

    ReplyDelete
  61. eatme_deliciousJuly 10, 2009 at 10:26 AM

    Great idea!! I've never had a cream cheese mint.

    ReplyDelete

Tell me things!