Me and My Pink Mixer

Toast to the Red Carpet - LIVE!

2012-02-23T16:00:00.002-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Toast to the Red Carpet – LIVE, presented by I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! is inviting you to an online red carpet viewing party. They will be streaming the event live to their Facebook page on February 26, 2012 from 3 pm - 4:30 pm PST.

Join in for an exclusive roundtable of Hollywood stars and special guests giving us the low down on what is happening on the red carpet LIVE.

Don't you just love watching all the stars walk down the red carpet!

I love to see their stunning dresses, beautiful hairstyles and checking out their dates for the event.

The awards ceremony is also a great excuse to have a party at your house!

You can find some awesome recipes on their Facebook page too.

I'm thinking the Brie and Spicy Apple Chutney on Baguette sounds delish!

I can't wait to try the recipe!

I'll be snacking on some Chili Parmesan Popcorn and Peanuts during the show.

Here's the recipe so we can snack together :)

Chili Parmesan Popcorn and Peanuts

18 cups popped popcorn

1/4 cup I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spread

2 T chili powder

1 tsp. kosher salt

3/4 cup dry roasted peanuts

2 T grated Parmesan Cheese

Put popcorn in large bowl. In small bowl, combine melted I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spread, chili powder and salt; drizzle over popcorn and toss until evenly coated. Add peanuts and cheese; toss.

Enjoy!

Now for a giveaway!

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! is offering one of my sweet readers a free tub of their product!

All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me why you are going to watch the Toast to the Red Carpet - LIVE and interact online during the Toast to the Red Carpet - LIVE online show on the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Facebook page. A winner will be chosen on February 26th. All comments must be submitted before 11:50 pm EST on the 26th. The giveaway item is provided by I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! per FTC guidelines.

Hope you enjoy the show!

Chobani Review and Homemade Fro Yo

2012-02-19T19:23:00.003-05:00

Look what arrived at my front door this week!

I love good mail days!
And I love Chobani yogurt!

Have you tried it yet?
If not, you should.
It is the BEST greek yogurt EVER!!

Not only does Chobani taste great, but it is made with only natural ingredients, has no preservatives, no artificial flavors AND it has twice the protein of regular yogurt.

I love it because it is a great source of calcium, it is VERY filling and tastes so, so good.
For those of you counting Weight Watcher points with me - a 6 oz. container is 4 points +.

I decided to make an extra special treat this weekend.
Fro Yo :)

Here is what you need.

Frozen Vanilla Yogurt

3 cups Chobani Greek Yogurt (plain or vanilla)
1/2 C Agave or 3/4 C sugar
1 T vanilla extract (less or none if you are using vanilla yogurt)

Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl and place in the fridge for 1 hour.
Freeze according to your ice cream makers instructions.
I have a Cuisinart, so I just turned on the mixer, poured in the ingredients and let it do it's thing.
In about 25 minutes I had frozen yogurt!

I'm storing mine in a Ziploc freezer container.
But it probably won't last too long :)

Happy Sunday!

Note - Chobani sent me the box of assorted yogurts to review. All opinions are my own.

Linking To:
Made By You Mondays

Skinny Hot Chocolate

2012-02-13T20:11:00.000-05:00

Hi there!
Sorry I haven't been posting as much lately, but I've been trying to be good and not make too many sweets.
I've been tracking weight watcher points and my friend Bekka and I started the Couch to 5K plan.
We are on week two - yay us!

Swim suit season is just around the corner, so we have to stay focused!

I would love to hear any tips or advice you might have about either plan, so please comment or send me an email. We need all the help we can get :)

I've been pretty good about staying within my WW points plus, but I need something sweet after dinner.
And it has to be chocolate.

It has been really cold aroud here the past few days, so this Skinny Hot Chocolate hit the spot tonight!

I've been trying to give up as many artificial sweeteners as I can, besides my beloved Diet Coke, so I been using stevia. It's a little pricey, but healthier for sure. I tried it in this recipe and really like it.

I can't wait to hear your WW and/or running tips!
Happy Monday!

Skinny Hot Chocolate
recipe from Prevention RD

1 1/4 cup almond milk
1 1/2 T unsweetened cocoa
pinch of sea salt
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. stevia or other sweetener of your choice

Whisk together the milk, cocoa powder, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Cook until milk starts to steam. Turn off heat and whisk in the vanilla extract and stevia.
Serve hot.

Yield - 1 serving, 4 ww points plus

Reese's Pieces Cupcakes

2012-02-05T16:41:00.008-05:00

It's Super Bowl Sunday and my nephew's have requested something sweet for the party my brother and sister-in-law are hosting, so I made Reese's Pieces Cupcakes.

You can't go wrong with the combination of chocolate and peanut butter!

I went the easy route today and doctored up a box mix. Don't hate :)

Reese's Pieces Cupcakes

Cupcakes:
Duncan Hines Devil's Food cake mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
1 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line two cupcake pans with baking cups.
I use brown baking cups from Simply Caked.
Blend cake mix, eggs, oil and buttermilk at low speed for about 30 seconds.
Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.
Fill baking cups 2/3 full. Bake 18-20 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Cool on wire rack.
Makes 24 cupcakes.

Peanut Butter Frosting:

1 cup creamy peanut butter
8 T unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar
3 T milk or cream

Cream together peanut butter and butter in a stand mixer.
Beat on medium-low speed to combine. Add the remaining ingredients and combine again.
Beat on high for 2-3 minutes until frosting is light and fluffy.
Add more milk if desired to get your desired spreading or piping consistency.
Frost cooled cupcakes. I use a Wilton 1 M tip.

Garnish:
Place Hershey's Hot Fudge Sauce in a small glass bowl for about 20 seconds.
Pour into a Wilton Squeze bottle and let it cool for about 5 minutes.
Drizzle chocolate sauce over cupcakes and garnish with Reese's Pieces candy.

Enjoy!

Linking to:
Tuesday Talent Show
Tasty Tuesday
Sugar and Spice
The 36th Avenue
What I Love Wednesday
Serenity Now
30 Handmade Days

Cheesecake Shooters

2012-01-29T18:13:00.010-05:00

Looking for a cute little dessert for Valentine's Day?

Cheesecake Shooters are small, but oh so yummy!!

Make some for your special Valentine :)

Cheesecake Shooters
Recipe from Souffle Bombay

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
16 oz. sour cream
1 small box vanilla instant pudding
1/2 cup sugar, plus 1 TBS
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 can of cherry or strawberry pie filling
1 pack (not box) of plain graham crackers
3 T melted butter

In your mixing bowl combine the cream cheese and sour cream until blended. Pour in the pudding mix, sugar and vanilla and mix on medium for 3 minutes more. Place in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.

Crush the graham crackers in your food processor until just crumbs. Add in the butter and 1 T sugar and pulse until combined. Place in a small bowl and set aside.

In your blender or food processor blend/pulse the cherry pie filling until it become syrup (no chunks left). You can make your own syrup from strawberries, blueberries, etc. instead of the pie filling if you have the time. Set aside.

In the shooter cups, wine glasses or whatever you may be using, first spoon enough graham cracker mixture to cover the bottom. Spoon or pipe in some cheesecake, then spoon enough syrup in to cover the cheesecake. Repeat with a second layer of cheesecake. Place a few drops of syrup on top and swirl around for a spiral design by using a wooden toothpick or skewer. I garnished mine with mini Nilla wafers.

Keep cold until ready to serve.

*Congrats to Jenny for winning my Progesso Soup and The Biggest Loser Workout DVD!! Thanks to all that entered!

Linking To:
Made By You Monday
Sunday Showcase Party
New Nostalgia
Tuesday Talent Show
Fireflies and Jellybeans
Seven Thirty Three

My Favorite Side Dish

2012-01-23T21:09:00.002-05:00

When I get home from work I want a healthy meal that is easy to prepare and doesn't take long because I am usually starving! Grilled chicken and oven baked Salmon are my go-to entrees, but my favorite side dish is a yummy sweet potato!

Sometimes I bake them whole, sometimes I make oven roasted sweet potato fries, but most of the time I just slice them, toss them in olive oil, sprinkle on a little sea salt and fresh ground pepper and bake them in the oven for about 20 minutes. So, so good and good for you too!!

How do you like your sweet potato???

Don't forget to enter my Progresso Soup giveaway for the opportunity to win some soup and The Biggest Loser Workout DVD!

Roasted Sweet Potato Medalions

2 large Sweet Potatoes
1 T olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
Slice sweet potatoes about 1/4 inch thick and toss with olive oil. Place them on the cookie sheet.
Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh ground pepper and place them in the oven for about 20-25 minutes.
**I usually turn them over after 10-12 minutes so they cook evenly.

Serves 3

Progresso Souper You Contest, Coupon and a Giveaway

2012-01-18T19:37:00.001-05:00

Did you know Target has swim suits in now!?!?
I don't know about you, but I could definitely lose 10 lbs. before I even step foot in that section of the store!

Progresso soup can help you stay on track with your diet plan. They offer 40 different delicious soups with 100 calories or less per serving. Progresso soups are packed with hearty ingredients like beans, rice, meat and pasta so you don't get bored eating the same old thing.

Give them a try. You can download a printable coupon for $1.25 off the purchase of four cans of Progresso Soup - just click HERE for the link.

This year Progresso is having another Souper You contest and they are giving away fabulous makeovers in Hollywood, CA. They will provide three lucky winners with a complete makeover, $1000 fashion retail card, $1000 cash, and tickets to see the biggest Loser finale this spring. To enter, simply visit http://www.souperyou.com/ no later than February 22nd to submit a photo and brief essay about why you deserve to win. Good luck!

One of my readers will win 2 Coupons for Progresso Soup and a copy of “The Biggest Loser” Workout DVD.

Lucky you!!

Here's how to enter:

(You must leave a comment below for each entry)

Follow me on Google Friend Connect (on my sidebar) and leave a comment telling me which Progresso Soup you want try first. (Mandatory entry)

Extra Entries(leave a separate comment for each):

Like Progresso on Facebook and leave me a comment below that you did.

Like Me and My Pink Mixer on Facebook and leave a comment below that you did.

Follow Me and My Pink Mixer on Twitter and tweet the following:

"I just entered a giveaway for Progresso Soup and The Biggest Loser Workout DVD @mypinkmixerblog #myblogspark"

Contest ends at midnight on January 26th. Open to US addresses only please.

Contest is now closed.

The Progresso^® Souper You^® prize pack, information, coupon, and giveaway have been provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.

Guilt Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

2012-01-17T06:26:00.001-05:00

I baked a guilt free chocolate chip cookie pie last night...and ate half of it.
I am NOT kidding.
I feel kind of guilty.
But not really...because this pie has no eggs, no flour and no butter!!
The secret ingredient...chickpeas (Garbanzo beans).
And it tastes delish!

I served it to my PICKY teenager and she ate the entire slice and never noticed a thing!
HA!

I topped it with fat-free whipped cream, but next time I'm going with vanilla frozen yogurt.
So good!!

Guilt Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
Recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie

1 can Chickpeas (Garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
1/2 cup quick oats
2 T unsweetened applesauce
1 1/2 T canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend the chickpeas in a food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients into the food processor, except for the chocolate chips and blend until all ingredients are combined. Mix in the chocolate chips with a spoon. Pour into a greased Pyrex glass pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until set. Cool for at least 10 minutes. Serve with fat free whipped cream or vanilla yogurt.

Try not to eat the entire plate of pie :)

P.S. Come join Me and My Pink Mixer on Facebook.
We would love to see you there :)

Hello Monday

2012-01-16T06:15:00.002-05:00

Hello Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate.

You taste like a liquid Reese Cup - so yummy on these cold January nights.

(Just add 1 T Peanut Butter to any hot chocolate mix, top with whipped cream - YUM)

Hello cute little snack container.

Still trying to plan ahead and have healthy snacks with me.

Hello new book and magazine.

Oh how I love you!!

(Anyone else reading the Hunger Games?)

Hello to drinking more water.

The lemon and cute cup sure do help.

Hello to making banana muffins healthier with flax seed and whole wheat flour.

Hello to my pretty aqua pan too :)

Hello Ziploc freezer containers that keep my muffins nice and fresh.

Hello to third week of January.

Hope it's a great one for you!

Banana Muffins

1 3/4 cup King Arthur white whole wheat flour

1/4 cup ground flax seed

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1 cup mashed ripe banana (I used 2 bananas)

1/3 cup milk (I used Almond Breeze)

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 large egg

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray bottoms only of muffin pan or use liners.

Combine flour, flax seed, baking powder, salt and brown sugar.

In a large bowl beat milk, bananas, applesauce and egg with a whisk until well mixed.

Add dry ingredients to wet just until flour is incorporated. Do not over mix.

Scoop batter into muffin tins. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.

Linking Up to Hello Monday with Lisa Leonard.

Double Chocolate Pudding

2012-01-10T06:30:00.001-05:00

Even though I'm trying to watch what I eat - a girl still has to have some chocolate.
I do anyway.
This little chocolate pudding is made with low-fat milk and dark chocolate chips and guess what?
It is only 3 Weight Watcher points!!!
I can't wait to have another one after dinner tonight :)

Double Chocolate Pudding

1 oz. bittersweet chocolate (I used 1/4 cup Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Chips)

2 cups low-fat chocolate milk, at room temperature, divided

3 T cornstarch

Fat Free aerosol whipped cream

In a small pot, over low heat, melt chocolate, stirring constantly, about 1 minute.

Add 1 1/2 cups chocolate milk and cook, stirring occasionally, to combine, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix remaining 1/2 cup milk with cornstarch until well-blended with no lumps; add to pan with chocolate milk mixture. Increase heat to medium and bring to a boil; stirring constantly; boil for one minute. Reduce heat to low and cook until thickened; about 30 seconds; pour about 1/3 cup pudding into each of 6 small ramekins. Cover ramekins with plastic wrap, pressing plastic down onto the surface of pudding (so skin does not form) and refrigerate until chilled. When ready to serve, top with whipped cream.

Recipe from Weight Watchers

3 PointsPlus Value

Hello Monday

2012-01-09T06:21:00.003-05:00

Hello latest Pinterest Project.

I love, love, love Pinterest.

(Come follow me - it would be more fun if you were there too)

Hello Saturday morning pancakes.

Hello running shoes.

Nice to get you outside since the weather was so nice.

Hello Chocolate Covered Sunflower Seeds.

I love your pretty colors and you're tasty too.

Hello lemons.

Drinking lots of lemon water to detox from all the Diet Coke :)

Hello vintage ornaments.

I'm loving these beautiful ornaments that my mom gave me this weekend!

They hung on our family tree when I was a child.

Hello to a brand new week!

Hope it's a great one for you :)

Linking Up to Hello Monday with the awesome Lisa Leonard.

Homemade Dog Treats

2012-01-04T07:00:00.010-05:00

Since it's January and I'm on a lose 10 lbs, exercise, eat only whole foods, take my vitamins daily kind of kick, I have been ignoring my pink mixer.

Can you imagine?!?!?

Well it's only been a few days, but I couldn't take it any more, so I decided to show my mixer some love and make some treats.

Dog treats!

I got to use my pink mixer and didn't gain a pound! Love it!

Our dog Biscuit loved it too!

I used a 3 1/4 inch dog bone cookie cutter, but a round cookie cutter would be fine too.

Bake for 14-16 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Cool on a wire rack.

Watch your dog enjoy his treat :)

Homemade Dog Treats

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup honey

1 tablespoon of virgin coconut oil (or olive oil)

1 cup chicken broth

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix peanut butter, honey, oil and chicken broth. In a separate bowl, combine flours and oatmeal. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Place dough on flour dusted surface. Roll or press dough out to about 1/4” inch thick. Use a small bone cookie cutter to cut out cookies. My cookie cutter was a 3 ¼ inch bone-shaped , but for small dogs you may want to use a small cookie cutter (around 2″). Roll out leftover scraps and cut out as many as possible. Put cut out cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 14-16 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack.

Watch you dog enjoy his homemade treats :)

Recipe from A Cozy Kitchen

Linking to:
Sugar and Dots
Fireflies and Jellybeans
Serenity Now
Thirty Handmade Days
Tatertots and Jello
Comfy In The Kitchen
Whipperberry
Six Sisters Stuff
Made By You Monday

Hello Monday

2012-01-02T18:44:00.002-05:00

Hello January.

Hello woodstove with your nice clean window.

(Did you know that the easiest way to clean the glass door on a woodstove is to put a little ash from the stove onto a wet paper towel or cloth and then wipe the window. Rinse your cloth or paper towel and wipe again until the window is clean.) That's my tip for the day :)

Hello healthy snacks all ready to go for the rest of the week.

(1/4 cup whole almonds, 2T dried cranberries, 1T Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips)

Hello treadmill.

I know you've missed me.

I'll be visiting you a lot in the coming weeks!

Hello S'mores candle - you make my kitchen smell heavenly.

Hello craft room from hell.

My goal is to get you cleaned and organized this month!!

Hello swim girl.

Only one more month left of your high school swimming career :(

Hello work desk.

I'll be seeing you tomorrow - I enjoyed the break :)

Have a great week sweet readers!

Linking up to Hello Monday with Lisa Leonard.

Hello 2012 & My Favorites of 2011

2012-01-01T20:00:00.000-05:00

Happy 2012!

I would like to say thank you to all of my sweet readers.
I appreciate you stopping by my little blog to see what me and my pink mixer have been up to each week.
Your comments make me happy :)

Here are a few of my favorite recipes and posts from 2011:

Strawberry Cookie Tarts

Chocolate Eclairs in a Jar

Jell-O Poke Cupcakes

Mini Chocolate Chip Maple Pancake Cupcakes

Twix Bar Cookies

Kristy's Baby Shower

Wishing you all a safe, happy and sweet New Year!

Lynda

Italian Pinwheels

2011-12-29T20:21:00.001-05:00

Here is another recipe for one of our favorite party foods - Italian Pinwheels.
My daughter loves these pizza like appetizers and often requests them on spaghetti night instead of garlic bread. I prefer mine with a side of marinara sauce - yum!

Refrigerated cresent rolls make them easy to prepare.
Serve them at your next party and everyone will love you!

Italian Pinwheels

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup sliced pepperoni, finely chopped
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1 egg yolk
1 can (8 oz.) Pillsbury cresent rolls
1 egg white, beaten

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, mix cheese, pepperoni, oregano and egg yolk.
Unroll dough; separate dough into 4 rectangles. Firmly press perforations to seal.

Spread each rectangle with about 3 T pepperoni mixture. Starting at the shortest side, roll up each rectangle; pinch edges to seal. Cut each roll into 6 slices. Place, cut side down, 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with beaten egg white
Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Source - Pillsbury.com

Spinach Balls

2011-12-28T20:33:00.000-05:00

This recipe is a holiday tradition in our house. I have been making these spinach balls for at least 20 years and they always make an appearance around the holidays. I usually serve them at our annual Christmas party, but they make a tasty hors d'oeuvre for a New Years Eve party too.

I often cut this recipe in half if I am serving several other appetizers. I use two eggs when I do this and half of each of the other ingredients. Give them a try and let me know what you think.

Spinach Balls

2 - 10 oz. packages frozen chopped spinach
3 C Pepperidge Farm Herb Stuffing Mix
3/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. thyme
1 med. finely chopped onion
3 eggs, well beaten
1 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 tsp. garlic salt

Cook spinach according to package; drain and squeeze out all of the water.
Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
Shape into balls. Bake at 325 degrees for 15-20 minutes on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Makes 44 spinach balls.

Hello Monday - a little late :)

2011-12-27T19:54:00.002-05:00

The holiday break has me all confused, so I'm a little late with hello Monday.

Hello holiday banner.

Hello Santa riding through our neighborhood. Nice to see you!

Hello Grandma's famous banana cake made into cupcakes.

Hello Larabars that arrived in my mailbox. You were a nice surprise :)

Hello Starbucks holiday mug.
You make me happy.

Hello daughter on Christmas morning with her new Mac and new boots.

Hello cousins.

Hello holiday cupcakes in a jar.
I'm glad you made it all the way to Houston :)

Hello to another holiday weekend coming up :)

Happy New Year friends!!!

Linking up to Hello Monday with Lisa Leonard.

Cookie for Santa

2011-12-21T21:03:00.000-05:00

Can you believe Christmas Eve is only a few nights away!
Actually I'm pretty relaxed at this point. All of my shopping and wrapping is complete - yay!

I thought tonight was the perfect night to try out Picky Palate's cookie for Santa recipe. This cookie was so quick to prepare that I'll be able to whip out another one for Santa in no time!

This huge cookie is delish and you can make it using only one bowl!
I did use my hand mixer, just because I was being a little lazy, but the recipe says a spoon will work out just fine.

Make one for Santa, a friend or yourself :)

XXL Chocolate Chip Cookie for Santa or a Friend
Recipe from Picky Palate

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons beaten egg
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
6 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place butter and sugars into a medium mixing bowl, beat with spoon until well combined. Add beaten egg and vanilla, mixing to combine. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Stir a couple times, then add chocolate chips, stirring to combine. Scoop dough into the middle of your prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, until baked through.
Let cool for on baking sheet for 10 minutes before removing.
Place on a cute plate for Santa. Don't forget the glass of milk!

Makes 1 serving for Santa

Hello Monday

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hello cute Pinterest Christmas craft.
I had fun making my 18 year old daughter paint her thumb and participate in craft time :)

Hello cake batter rice krispie treats with holiday sprinkles.

Hello sweet Kaitlyn.

Hello swim girl.
We love watching you compete at your high school swim meets.

Hello ornament wreath that I've been working on since last Christmas :)
(and no I did not drink all of that wine by myself!)

Hello cousins.

Hello fabulous girlfriends.

I had fun with you all at our Christmas party!

Hope you all have a great week!

Linking Up to Hello Monday with Lisa Leonard.

Reese's Popcorn Munch

2011-12-17T21:18:00.003-05:00

Reese's cups are our all time favorite candy around this house, so I thought it was only fitting that I made Reese's Popcorn Munch to give as party favors for our annual Christmas party we host each year. The party was last night and we had so much fun hanging out with friends and family :)

The recipe is super easy. I used our air popper to make the popcorn with 1/3 cup of unpopped popcorn.
You can microwave the chips, but I prefer to melt them in a glass bowl over a pan of hot water. I don't have to worry as much about them burning that way.

This popcorn munch is so, so good!!
I put mine in clear cellphane bags so you can see all that chocolate, peanut butter goodness, but you could also put it in a cute tin or popcorn box to give to neighbors or other special friends.

Reese's Popcorn Munch
Recipe from Inside Brew Crew Life

6 cups popped popcorn
1 bag of mini Reese Cups, cut in half (not the ones in wrappers)
1 cup Reese's pieces candy
1 cup Reese's Puff cereal
1/2 cup white chocolate chips, melted with 1 tsp. shortening
1/4 cup peanut butter chips, melted with 1 tsp. shortening
1/4 cup chocolate chips, melted with 1 tsp. shortening

Mix popcorn, reese's cups, and cereal in a large pan lined with waxed paper. Drizzle with melted white chocolate and toss until everything is coated. Sprinkle with the reeses pieces. Place pan in refrigerator and let set for about 5 minutes. Remove from the refrigerator and break into chunks. Drizzle with the melted peanut butter and melted chocolate chips. Let set again. Spoon munch into a clear cellophane bag and tie with ribbon for an instant homemade treat gift.

White Chocolate Cranberry Snickerdoodles

2011-12-14T19:28:00.003-05:00

I've been cranking up the christmas music, turning on every holiday light in the house, wearing pretty aprons and baking cookies this week.

Baking cookies is one of my favorite things to do around the holidays. The house smells fabulous and the christmas lights make my kitchen look all cozy. Last year I started a small kitchen ornament tree and I love, love, love it! I have a little whisk, rolling pin, spatula, toaster, blender and a mixer of course! The ornaments have come from Target the past two years, so I was kind of bummed when they didn't have them this year. I need to find some cupcake ornaments :)

I would love to begin baking cookies earlier in the month and freeze them, but I have a
freezer the size of a shoe box, so that doesn't work out too well for me. So I'll just bake a bunch this week and serve them at our holiday party this weekend.

I have my traditional favorites I bake each year, but when I found this recipe last week I thought I would give it a try. They are so, so good! There may not be any left by the weekend!

White Chocolate Cranberry Snickerdoodles
Source - Joy's Hope

1 bag Betty Crocker Snickerdoodle Cookie Mix
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 T water
1 egg
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips

Beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Open cookie mix.
Set aside cinnamon sugar packet.

Add water, egg and cookie mix to cream cheese mixture.
Stir until soft dough forms.
Add in cranberries and white chocolate chips.

Cover & refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

Drop rounded spoonfuls of dough into cinnamon sugar. (I use my Pampered Chef cookie scoop)
Roll to coat.

Place two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake a 375º for 8-9 minutes until edges are set.
Cool one minute then transfer to cooling rack.

Bake-A-Box Cupcake Box Review

2011-12-13T20:39:00.000-05:00

I'm a freak about my cupcakes. Seriously...ask any of my girlfriends.
Each cupcake I make has to be uniform in size and frosted to my perfection or they don't make the party.
And they have to arrive just as pretty as they were when they left my kitchen. If they don't - I am not a happy cupcake camper :(

I have several plastic cupcake carriers I use, which are nice, but sometimes I just need to deliver cupcakes and not worry about getting my carriers back. Cardboard cupcake boxes are perfect for those situations, but where do you get them??? Bake-A-Box!

Bake-A-Box is a family owned small business specializing in cake, cupcake and pie boxes. They use only premium materials to make their boxes, ensuring a sturdy, beautiful and convenient product.

They were nice enough to send me a few cupcake boxes to try out and I love them! The cupcake inserts keep my cupcakes in place, so I don't have to worry about them sliding around during delivery. Whether you have mini cupcakes, jumbo cupcakes, or any size in between, they have a cupcake insert to fit. I love the window boxes so you can see the yumminess inside :)

I love that you don't have to order boxes in huge quantities. I don't have the room or money to spend on a lot of boxes. Bake-A-Box has a solution for you whether you have 10 customers or 10,000!

Be sure to check them out. Their boxes are perfect for giving holiday goodies to your friends and neighbors!! You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook too!

Note - Bake-A-Box sent me boxes for this review, but I was not compensated in any way.

All opinions are my own.

Girls' Night In

2011-12-06T21:08:00.005-05:00

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There's no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.

The holiday season can get a little crazy with all of the the shopping, decorating and wrapping a girl has to do! Why not take some time out with your friends to relax and host a girls' night in? Nothing fancy, just tell them to wear their sweats or yoga pants so that every one is comfy.

I think this is the perfect time of year to have friends over because my house looks all festive and cozy with the tree, candles and holiday lights.

I love hosting girl's night in because it gives me an excuse to try a new recipe or two :)
Cupcakes are always on the menu at my house.

Here are some ideas for your girls' night in:

Host a craft night. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. Just a fun, easy craft that you can complete in an evening. I think my girlfriend's and I should make these cute ornaments with all of the wine corks we have saved. Not that we drink a lot of wine or anything :)

Source

Pop some popcorn, put out a bowl of holiday colored M & M's and watch a movie together. You don't even have to run to the Redbox since there are so many good holiday movies on television this time of year!

Give each other manicures so your nails look nice for any fancy holiday parties you may be invited to.
Maybe something like this!

Source

Bake cookies together and have a cookie decorating contest. Let everyone take some home in a cute little holiday tin or gift bag.

Whatever you decide to do, just relax, laugh a lot and have fun!!
You can stress about the holidays tomorrow :)

Remember to check out Duncan Hines' website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.

Mini Chocolate Chip Maple Pancake Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream

2011-11-29T06:00:00.007-05:00

Cupcakes for breakfast - now that's what I'm taking about!
These are mini size, which means you can have even more :)

I made these for a co-workers birthday and they were a hit.
They really taste like pancakes too.
Give them a try and let me know what you think.

Mini Chocolate Chip Maple Pancake Cupcakes

Recipe from Kevin and Amanda

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk
2 large eggs
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Maple Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 tbsp milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 3-5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Measure out 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips and stir with just enough of the flour mixture (about 1/2 tbsp) to coat the chips. To the butter and sugar, slowly add the maple syrup, vanilla, eggs, and milk, beating well after each addition until well combined. Add in the flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Line a mini muffin tin with cupcake liners and fill the liners 3/4 full of batter. Bake at 350 for 7-9 mins, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcake comes out clean.

To make the frosting: Cream the butter, sugar, maple syrup and vanilla on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the milk if needed to thin out the frosting enough to be of a good spreading consistency and beat well to combine. Frost the cupcakes and store at room temperature.

Makes 24 mini cupcakes.

Linking Up To:
Anti-Procrastination Tuesday
Fireflies and Jellybeans
Tasty Tuesday
Serenity Now
30 Handmade Days
Tatertots and Jello

Hello Monday

2011-11-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

Hello Monday.

Hello cute Knitty Bitties Mug Rug. I love how you keep water rings from my furniture :)

Hello mama's yummy stuffing balls. Oh how I love seeing you every Thanksgiving.

Hello Madison. My only child who will turn 18 on Saturday.
How did this happen so quickly?????

Hello Hokie Bird. We had fun watching your football game on Saturday.

Hello basket that arrived this weekend filled with Smucker goodness.
Thank you girls from Our Best Bites!!!

Hello Christmas decorations. Nice to see you again.

Hello clean fish tank. You were so disgusting I finally couldn't stand your green water any longer.

Hello Biscuit.

Hello new Cooking Light magazine and Cupcake book. I look forward to reading you.

Linking up to Hello Monday at Lisa Leonard.

Have a great week!!