Welcome Etsy Dallas-ites!

This is the (soon-to-be) official Dallas Street Team for Etsy. What is Etsy? Etsy is an online marketplace for all things handmade. From jewelry to scarves to artwork, Etsy is a place to find anything you're looking for with the guarantee that it was handmade with love.

Etsy Dallas, is a group of local artists and artisans who sell their wares on Etsy and wish to promote themselves, Etsy, and each other. We will meet when necessary to plan trunk shows, share ideas, discuss ad space and marketing, etc. The idea is that we are all stronger when we band together!

Membership is open to anyone with the following guidelines:

1) You must have an Etsy shop that is current and stocked. It's okay if you haven't made any sales or are new to etsy.
2) You must guarantee that all of your products are handmade by you or are supplies for crafters/artists (beads, commercial yarn, paint, etc.)
3) You must live in the Dallas area (the metroplex).

That said, here are the current members of Etsy Dallas - all selling handmade goods! (Click on each name to be directed to each member's Etsy shop.)

One Up Designs - modern wall graphics
Sea Dream Studio - collage jewelry
Shayo - graphic art/prints
B-licious - bags, baby goods, fabric crafts
Tefi Designs (facilitator) - handcrafted jewelry

If you can answer yes to the 3 guidelines above, please consider joining us!

- Stephanie, Tefi Designs

Complete Recipe: Tiramisu Cupcakes

I came across this amazing recipe for Tiramisu Cupcakes from the book Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World. In this book you can find 75 dairy free recipes for cupcakes that simply rule! I know, I know, when you hear the words "dairy free" it's usually followed by a groan. But I swear by this recipe and trust me! No one will ever know they are vegan or even remotley close to it. I made these for my family at a birthday party and someone actually thought they were bakery bought. I couldn't believe it!

First! Make the vegan cream cheese frosting. You will need:

1/4 cup nonhydrogogenated margarine (softened)
1/4 cup vegan cream cheese (softened)
2 cups of confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Cream together the margarine and cream cheese until just combined.

2. Use a handheld mixer to whip while adding the confectioners sugar in 1/2 cup batches. Mix until smooth and creamy, then mix in the vanilla.

3. Keep tightly covered and refrigerate until ready to use.

Second! Prepare the cupcake batter. You will need:

1 cup soy milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup canola oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pan with cupcake liners.

2. Whisk the soy milk and vinegar in a measuring cup and set aside a few minuted to get good and curdled.

3. Beat together the soymilk mixture, oil, sugar, vanilla, and other extracts in a large bowl. Sift in the cornstarch, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until no large lumps remain.

4. Fill cupcake liners to two thirds of the way and bake for 20 to 22 minutes till done. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completley before frosting.

Last! Finish the cupcakes. You will need:

1/3 cup espresso or strong coffee
1/3 cup Kahlua or other coffee flavored liqueur
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
12 chocolate covered coffee beans or chocolate chips

1. Mix together the espresso and Kahlua.

2. Use a measuring spoon, a regular teaspoon, or a paring knife to carve out a small cone in the center of the cupcake. Place spoon about 1 inch from the center of the cupcake, then dig the spoon in about 1 inch deep and cut a circle around the center. Carefully, scoop out a cone, trying your best to keep the chunk as intact as possible.

3. Pout the Kahlua mixture in the cavity of the cut cupcake, making sure that all sides of the cavity are drenched, using up to 2 tablespoons of liquid per cupcake.

4. Scoop about 2 tablespoons of the vegan cream cheese frosting you prepared earlier into the cavity and smooth over with the back of the spoon. (Make sure to reserve a few tablespoons of frosting to dallop on top of the cupcake). Dip the bottom of the cut out chunk into the Kahlua mixture, but keep the top part of it dry. Place the cut out chunk on top of the frosting and gently pat it into place. Continue this process with the remaining cupcakes.

5. Place chocolate and cinnamoninto a small strainer and dust over the cupcakes. Dallop a small amount of frosting on top and place the chocolate covered coffee bean on the dollop. Let sit for about 10 minutes and serve. Makes 12 cupcakes.

These do get a little messy! So serve on a little plate with a fork. They are simply to die for! Your guests will be impressed.

- Margaret of Three Yellow Starfish

About Bash Bucks

So, what are Bash Bucks? They are gift certificates that equal cash and are redeemable only at the current Bash event. They cannot be kept and spent at a future Bash event.

How do I win Bash Bucks? Anyone can enter to win them in the blog and Twitter contests. To enter, participants will comment on the blog or retweet a specific phrase. Winners will be picked at random. Winners will claim their Bash Bucks in person the day of the current Bash. Bash Bucks cannot be mailed to the winners.

Okay I won! Now how do I spend them? Bash Bucks come in increments of $10 and spend like cash. The winner cannot receive change from Bash Bucks, and they cannot be split up to spend at two different booths. For example, if you want an $8 item, you must pay with your $10 Bash Bucks and forfeit the remaining $2 since change cannot be made. Additionally, you cannot spend that remaining $2 at a different vendor's booth.

Who's paying for these anyway? The Bash is footing the bill so we can spread the love to our wonderful shoppers and our artists.

What do they look like? The appearance of the Bash Bucks changes with each Bash event and is not publicized whatsoever. These are currency and therefore will have several unique distinguishable marks making them impossible to counterfeit.

The Very Fine Print

+ Previous winners, members and participating artists ARE eligible to win.

+ If your comment or tweet is chosen, you will be required to give your full name and date of birth via email. You will be given instructions on how and where to pick up your Bash Bucks (any time during the event). You must reply to the congratulatory/instruction notifications by Midnight April 28th and must be present the day of the 2011 Spring Bash to collect your the certificates and redeem them.

+ Bash bucks are not transferable. If you win them, you have to spend them. If you win, please be prepared to bring a proper ID (driver's license) to claim your Bash Bucks.

+ Bash Bucks cannot be redeemed for cash. They must be spent at one of the Spring Bash 2011 vendor booths the day of the event. You are responsible for paying any total over the value of your certificate. Any balance after purchase is surrendered to the vendor (change will not be given).

+ 2011 Spring Bash Bucks are void after April 30th at 5pm, and may not be used at any other event or online.

+ Play Nice. Don't lie, cheat, or steal.

+ We love you! See you at the Bash!

Recipe: Whiskey Sauce Bread Pudding


BREAD PUDDING

Ingredients
* 12 to 14 cups 1-inch cubes day-old white bread, such as French or Italian
* 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
* 2 cups heavy cream
* 4 cups whole milk
* 6 large eggs
* 1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
* 4 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup raisins
* Confectioners' sugar, for garnish
* 1 recipe Whiskey Sauce (recipe follows)

Directions

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2) Place the bread in a large bowl. Grease a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish with the remaining tablespoon of butter and set aside.

3) Combine the heavy cream, milk, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and raisins in a large bowl. Whisk to mix. Pour the cream mixture over the bread, and stir to combine. Allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes.

4) Transfer the bread mixture to the casserole dish and bake until the center of the bread pudding is set, 50 to 60 minutes.

5) Garnish the bread pudding with confectioners' sugar and serve warm with warm Whiskey Sauce (recipe follows).

WHISKEY SAUCE

Ingredients
* 2 cups heavy cream
* 1/2 cup whole milk
* 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
* 2 tablespoons cornstarch
* 3/4 cup bourbon or other whiskey
* Pinch salt
* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1) In a 1-quart saucepan set over medium heat, combine the cream, milk, and sugar.

2) Place the cornstarch and 1/4 cup of the bourbon in a small mixing bowl and whisk to blend and make a slurry.

3) Pour the slurry into the cream mixture and bring to a boil. Once the sauce begins to boil,
reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

4) Remove the sauce from the heat, add the salt, and stir in the butter and the remaining 1/2 cup of bourbon. Serve warm.

submitted by Silla of silla soup