From Elegant to Quirky, There’s a Wedding Cake Topper for Every Couple on Etsy

Wedding cakes are so personal, and many brides and grooms use them not only as a dessert, but as a chance to show off their personalities. There are so many fun, unique ways to do that, whether you’re looking for something quirky and funny or really elegant, we’ve rounded up some options that can be personalized to perfectly reflect your relationship with your partner.

Hearts and Arrows, $13.04 on Etsy

Wedding Pros/Etsy

Not only is this cake topper gorgeous, it’s completely customizable (as far as color, size, and initials, of course). This is a sweet centerpiece that you’ll want to hold onto forever. A bonus: it’s wooden, meaning it’s light and can be easily inserted into the top of the cake.Buy Now

Purple Love Birds Wedding Cake Topper, $82 on Etsy

Dances with Clay/Etsy

This one might be my favorite for a very good reason: it was mine! I honestly don’t remember it costing $82, so I think the shop may have gone up on their prices. I will say that it’s very high-quality and we have it displayed on our mantle to this day—so it’s definitely a keepsake that will last. It’s also customized with our initials.Buy Now

Rustic Chic Wire Cake Topper, $29.99 on Etsy

Le Rustic Chic/Etsy

This wire cake topper is particularly great if you want more than just your initials. You can include a full last name. It’s also light and could be easily displayed after your wedding to accompany some gorgeous flowers in a vase.Buy Now

Game of Thrones Wedding Cake Topper, $18.85 on Etsy

Happy Topper Store/Etsy

If you and your partner are huge “Game of Thrones” fans this is absolutely the way to go. You can even choose from a variety of sizes and colors, including dark wood and glittery gold or silver.Buy Now

Porg Star Wars Wedding Cake Topper, $149 on Etsy

Two Birds Cake Toppers/Etsy

This may be one of the more expensive toppers, but can you really put a price on “Star Wars?” We think not. You can even specify what you want the characters to look like. These are definitely pieces that you’ll hold near and dear to your heart forever.Buy Now

Customized Bobble Heads, $159 on Etsy

Hello Mini Me/Etsy

This cake topper is one of my favorites on the list—and a choice that will definitely keep all of your guests chuckling. You send in pictures to this Etsy seller and make choices about the models in order to fully capture the essence of you and your partner (and your pet, if you want). It only takes three to four weeks to order, and rush shipping is available, which is a big plus if this is the one detail that you forgot to cover for your big day. Note that while the heads are oversized, they don’t actually wobble—but they’re still pretty fantastic.Buy Now

Custom Figurines, $39.99 on Etsy

Love and Luxe Handmade

If you’re hoping for a more sentimental figurine, this just may be the way to go. In addition to customizing hair color, you can even choose a message for the sign that they’re holding, making it one of the more personal items on the list.Buy Now

Anime Wedding Cake Topper, $231 on Etsy

Naboko Studio/Etsy

Because the couple that nerds out together stays together, right? These figurines are handmade and completely customizable. The seller will even set up a phone call to discuss the aspects that are most important to you. Shipping takes only one to three weeks.Buy Now

Silhouette Wedding Cake Topper, $14.92 on Etsy

Tilly Bean Bespoke/Etsy

This is one of the best classy options on the list: the customizable figures of your choice in silhouette, made from black acrylic. You can also choose an inscription, which will appear tastefully on the bottom of the piece.Buy Now

Halloween Wedding Cake Topper, $69.95 on Etsy

JW Caketops/Etsy

If you want your wedding to be a real monster mash, these Frankenstein figurines may be the way to go. This company also offers toppers that feature branches of the military, as well as different occupations and hobbies, so even if you’re not into sweetly spooky, you might find just what you’re looking for. It ships out within three days of ordering, too!Buy Now

Custom Peg Dolls, $5.99 on Etsy

Pine and Petal Weddings/Etsy

If you think of your fiance as a real doll, this topper may be the perfect choice for you. Not only are they cost-effective, they’re adorable and offer customizable options for the paint colors on the dolls. You could also leave them in their natural wooden state for a more earthy celebration.Buy Now

Otter Couple Wedding Cake Topper, $95.50 on Etsy

Pura Vida Clay/Etsy

You might call this wedding cake topper otterly adorable. The otters are hand-sculpted out of clay and allow for a customizable stand that can include your wedding date or an inscription of your choice. If otters aren’t your spirit animal, the seller offers lots of other options, from sloths to arctic foxes, all in the same cute style.Buy Now

Dinosaur Cake Topper, $42 on Etsy

Sugar Plum Cottage/Etsy

Maybe you and your partner are archaeologists, or maybe you both just loved “Jurassic Park.” Whatever the case, these dinos are the perfect way to add a little action to your wedding night. You can choose have them painted silver or gold—or just leave them in their natural, dino-tastic state.Buy Now

Hedgehog Cake Topper, $42 on Etsy

Fox Tail Furnishings/Etsy

These little hedgehogs are the perfect way to celebrate a wedding with a more rustic, outdoor feel. They are super light, and come complete with a celebratory top hat and pearl. You can also choose a customizable inscription.Buy Now

Llama Wedding Cake Topper, $38 on Etsy

Sugar Plum Cottage/Etsy

This wedding cake topper is destined to bring smiles to the faces of your wedding guests. My favorite part is the tiny Swarovski crystal located on the bride’s left hoof (obviously)! You can also customize the bow tie in order to match your wedding colors.Buy Now

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Thai Sticky Rice (Khao Niao)

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Chef Sohui Kim on Motherhood & Restaurant Ownership

11 Simple Shrimp Recipes for Spring and Summer

Shrimp might be one of our favorite proteins to cook with—it’s relatively inexpensive, hard to screw up (as long as you pay attention), and can be prepared about a million different ways. Just ask Bubba (from “Forrest Gump”); you can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it…

Since we don’t have all day, we’re cutting to the chase and giving you 11 simple shrimp recipes to kick off your spring and summer dining—outside, whenever possible. Wherever you eat them, these shrimp recipes are sure to please.

OXO Good Grips Shrimp Cleaner, $7.99 on Amazon

This non-slip tool makes peeling and deveining easy.

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1. Shrimp and Greens Salad with Yogurt-Avocado Dressing

Chowhound

We’re starting you off with the simplest on the list. For this recipe, we’re pairing pan fried shrimp with our freshly made Yogurt Avocado dressing. The most time consuming part of this recipe? Carrying it from the kitchen to your dining room table. It’s that simple. Get our Shrimp and Greens Salad with Yogurt-Avocado Dressing recipe.

2. Greek Style Shrimp and Feta Tacos

Chowhound

Along with May flowers, April showers also bring another important harbinger of summer: the start of grill season. This recipe can be easily adapted to the grates; just see our Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Avocado-Corn Salsa recipe for guidance—and stay tuned for a grilled shrimp recipe round-up coming soon. This fusion take on tacos uses Greek flavors like feta, oregano, and roasted red peppers, but also brings in old taco standbys cumin and lime. Get our Greek Style Shrimp and Feta Tacos recipe.

3. Har Gow Shrimp Dumplings

Chowhound

If you’re looking to become the next Iron Chef, or just tired of the heating up frozen dumplings from Trader Joe’s, you’ll need to check out our recipe for Har Gow (traditional Chinese dumplings). The technique is a breeze once you get a hang of it. Just in case you need some extra practice, our recipe includes enough ingredients to make 30. Get our Har Gow Shrimp Dumplings recipe. (And then try your hand at our Vietnamese Style Shrimp Summer Rolls with Peanut Sauce.)

4. Vietnamese Grilled Shrimp Salad

Chowhound

Anyone that thinks salads are boring has never had our Vietnamese Grilled Shrimp Salad. Combining Thai flavors like lemongrass, fish sauce, and Sriracha with fresh vermicelli noodles, bean sprouts, and peanuts, this will easily become your favorite spring and summer (and fall and winter) recipe. Get our Vietnamese Grilled Shrimp Salad recipe.

5. Sesame Shrimp with Cilantro Lime Sauce

Chowhound

Looking for a quick recipe for entertaining? These easy shrimp skewers are a crowd pleaser. Toss them in a fresh salad, serve as tacos or over rice or an Asian noodle salad, or just eat straight from the skewer with the zesty dipping sauce. Get our Sesame Shrimp with Cilantro Lime Sauce recipe.

6. Open-Faced Shrimp Salad Sandwich

Chowhound

If you’re getting bored of the standard tuna fish salad, switch up your seafood and try our recipe for shrimp salad. Loaded with veggies and herbs, it’s a nice change of pace for a quick lunch. Get our Open-Faced Shrimp Salad Sandwich recipe.

7. Pickled Prawns

Chowhound

Think that vegetables (or eggs) are the only things that can be pickled? Well think again and try our recipe for pickled shrimp. Tangy and crisp, these prawns are the perfect snack for a nice spring afternoon. But they’re also fabulous in our Artichoke and Pickled Shrimp Sandwich with Lemon Aioli recipe, or as a garnish for a freshly made Bloody Mary. Get our Pickled Prawns recipe.

8. Shrimp Ceviche

Chowhound

Another super-easy way to prepare shrimp? Ceviche. Simply toss it in a mixture of lime and lemon juice, plus onion, cucumber, and avocado. For this version, we do briefly poach the shrimp first, but it’s still a breeze. Feel free to mix things up with tomatillos for extra tartness. Get our Shrimp Ceviche recipe.

9. Shrimp Scampi Sandwich

Chowhound

Buttery, garlicky shrimp scampi is always great, whether you serve it with rice or over pasta—but have you tried making it into a sandwich? If not, now is the time. It takes fewer than 30 minutes to put together, and the fluffy brioche bun soaks up all that lovely sauce. (It may go without saying, but we left the tails on in the above photo just for show; you’ll want to completely remove the shells before piling up your buns for uninterrupted eating.) Get our Shrimp Scampi Sandwich recipe.

10. Shrimp and Fresh Corn Grits

Chowhound

Shrimp and grits is a classic southern combo, but this take is a lot lighter, more texturally interesting, and perfect for summer when sweet corn is at its peak. It’s also dairy free. Get our Shrimp and Fresh Corn Grits recipe.

11. Shrimp and Asadero Quesadillas

Chowhound

You know that rule about not pairing cheese with seafood? Break it. These cheesy quesadillas are studded with tender tequila-spiked shrimp that’s not drowned out by the relatively mild asadero. But if you prefer, our Tequila Shrimp recipe is also great turned into tacos or simply served over rice. Get our Shrimp and Asadero Quesadillas recipe.

Related Video: How to Make a Quick Shrimp Stock

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What’s Your Favorite Olive Oil Dispenser?

What’s the best way for home cooks to dispense olive oil in an easy and tidy way? Find out time-tested solutions, from sturdy sprayers to cheap squeeze bottles. Learn what works best for ‘hounds with kitchen habits like yours.

Chef's Planet Glass Oil Decanter, $24.99 on Amazon

One of the top picks from the community.

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Rachael Ray Stoneware EVOO Dispensing Bottle, $13.36 on Amazon

This one doubles as kitchen sculpture, and comes in several other colors to match your decor.

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Aozita Dark Glass Olive Oil Cruet with Funnel and Pour Spouts, $9.99 on Amazon

The brown glass protects your oil from light, and the funnels and spouts make it easy to refill and dispense.

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Now, See What to Put In It

The Ultimate Guide to Olive Oil

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How to Clean Cast Iron

People rave about the benefits of their cast iron skillet: Oh, the heat retention! The stovetop and oven flexibility! The dietary iron! The nonstick surface (after seasoning)! But then there’s the cleaning, a task which stirs up conflict faster than a Hillary-Trump presidential debate. Cleaning your cast iron doesn’t have to be so tricky, though. Here’s how to do it right.

Lodge 10.25-Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, $14.88 on Amazon

This classic cast iron skillet is probably a best-seller in part because it comes pre-seasoned—and it's 44 percent off!

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How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet:

1. Start with a seasoned cast iron pan. If your skillet hasn’t been seasoned yet, rub it with oil and heat it. Each successive time you cook with it, the oil, butter, or animal fat will form another non-stick layer that also prevents rusting. So get cooking as soon as possible.

2. Rinse your cast iron skillet with hot water. Then wipe out the dirty bits with a sponge or brush. Don’t use soap—unless your pan has years of layered, polymerized seasoning on it—or steel wool, because that can strip off the precious seasoning, especially with newer pans. Don’t put it in the dishwasher either.

3. Use salt and oil to remove leftover gunk. If you need something more abrasive to remove stubborn bits of leftover food debris, place a spoonful of coarse sea salt—or cornmeal—into your dirty cast iron skillet. Pour an equal amount of cooking oil, such as canola, vegetable, or corn, over the salt or cornmeal.

4. Use a paper towel to rub the salt-oil paste in a circular motion. This should remove the unwanted bits, but you can use a metal spatula to scrape off any hard-to-remove debris that won’t come loose.

5. Wipe out the salt and oil. When you’re satisfied the pan is clean, wipe out the salt and excess oil with a clean paper towel.

6. Rinse again and dry thoroughly. If your pan is really bad and burnt, you can rinse it with water again and dry thoroughly. Very thoroughly. (If water stays on the pan too long, it will rust.) If you use a cloth instead of paper towels, have a couple cast-iron-dedicated cloths, because the pan can blacken them (so don’t use your heirloom dish cloths inherited from grandma). Another way to dry it is to place the skillet over a high flame for a few minutes. Let it cool before completing the final step!

7. Rub in a bit more oil. Once the pan is totally dry and cool enough to touch, rub in some more oil just to give it a nice sheen, then heat it again for a couple minutes to help the oil absorb—and prevent the pan from getting sticky or rancid-smelling.

Need more reassurance? Harry Rosenblum, co-owner of Brooklyn Kitchen, shows us how he cleans his cast iron pans in our video:

If you like your gadgets, you can also try this nifty scrubber:

The Ringer Stainless Steel Cast Iron Cleaner, $23.99 on Amazon

Designed specifically for cast iron, this promises to banish grit and preserve flavor.

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Now that you know how to clean it, try some of our cast iron skillet recipes! (And next, tackle your dirty sheet pans.)

Eggplant and Mushroom Polenta Bake

Chowhound

Because this recipe contains acidic tomatoes, if your cast iron pan isn’t well seasoned, use use a heavy-bottomed ovenproof skillet or enameled cast iron pan instead. All the savory, earthy filling is topped with creamy polenta, made even more awesome by Parmesan and tons of fontina cheese. Get our Eggplant and Mushroom Polenta Bake recipe.

Skillet Pizza

Chowhound

Making the dough takes awhile, but once you have that part done, the rest is easy. Cast iron pans are the best when you need put the pan on the range first and then in the oven. The toppings are up to you, but tomatoes, burrata cheese, basil leaves are suggested. Get our Skillet Pizza recipe.

Skillet Cornbread

Chowhound

This is a dryer version of some cornbread recipes, meant to be a vehicle to wipe up that chili or barbecue sauce. The other bonus to it is you don’t need to buy buttermilk to make this cornbread. If you want more moist version that requires buttermilk, try our Basic Skillet Cornbread recipe. For the regular-milk, drier variety, get our Skillet Cornbread recipe.

Easy Salmon with Lemon and Capers

Chowhound

This is another recipe for well-seasoned cast iron skillets only. The lemon’s acidity can strip the lightly seasoned newer frying pans. Otherwise, it’s a great idea for dinner using your lovely cast iron. Get our Easy Salmon with Lemon and Capers recipe.

Cheesy Skillet Potato Cake

Chowhound

If your cast iron is used long enough to be considered a nonstick frying pan, then use it to make this perfect hangover food. Reminiscent of those scattered, covered, smothered, and chunked hash browns the inebriated love to get at Waffle House at 2 a.m., this is a good idea to satisfy a craving. Get our Cheesy Skillet Potato Cake recipe.

Skillet Pear Cake

Chowhound

Mmm, cake—in a skillet. Utilize the fall and winter fruit available and make this cake that you invert. It’s got brown sugar, cinnamon, and pears that you sweeten further and soften until succulent. Get our Skillet Pear Cake recipe.

Related Video: See our Lodge Logic 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet Review

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The Friday Buzz: Purple Pens, a Breakfast Station, and the Royal Baby

Here's our weekly round-up of all good things, good advice, good feelings. It’s the happy hour of blog posts! This week: purple pens, an adorable breakfast station, the royal baby, our reader's favorite chocolate chip cookie, and more.

Continue reading "The Friday Buzz: Purple Pens, a Breakfast Station, and the Royal Baby" »

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