The Weekly Sweet Experiment

Minnie Mouse Caramel Chocolate Apples

2012-03-21T17:14:00.000-06:00

I have never made caramel apples before. And if you can believe it - I had never even tried one before! And obviously I have never photographed one before. That bottom photo isn't even in focus!! But it was one of my favorites anyway (so - no, you don't need glasses!) I don't know why I never had one. I guess because they seem messy and I would always see them when I was out - not when I wanted to get messy. And they seemed hard to make so I never made them before.

But I saw these cuties on the Patty Cakes Bakery Blog and had to make them for Rachel's birthday. I am so glad I did. They were not that hard, much to my amazement. A lot of steps but definitely doable!

First - I inserted wooden sticks into the apples. I didn't find any "apple sticks". So I used a just a regular stick. The Popsicle sticks seemed so wide - I liked these skinny ones better. I was surprised how great they stuck in the apples.

Then I boiled water and then quickly dipped my apples, one at a time, into the boiling water. Then I wiped the apple dry with a paper towel to remove the wax on the apple. This step is to make it easier for the caramel to stick to the apple.

I used store bought caramel in an effort to reduce my steps. It is a lot of unwrapping! I used two bags and followed the package directions for melting in a double boiler. Once it was completely melted and smooth I dipped my apples. I let the excess caramel drip off and then set the apple on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

While the caramel was still wet and sticky I inserted 2 toothpicks into the apple and added marshmallows to create Minnie's ears.

I let the apples chill in the fridge for an hour and then dipped them in my chocolate. I melted over two pounds of chocolate and I still didn't have enough to dip the apples. So I held the apple over my double boiler and spooned the chocolate over the apples.

After the chocolate set I melted some white candy melts in my Wilton melter. I dipped the bottom half of the apple in the white chocolate and immediately put on my white candy for Minnie's polka dots. I had to do it immediately or the candy would start to set. I used the white York Peppermint Pattie Bites. As soon as I had the polka dots on I poured pink sanding sugar over the apple and let it stick to the white candy for Minnie's skirt. Then I put them back on the parchment paper lined baking sheet and into the fridge until we were ready to serve them.

They were actually easy to eat because we cut them into slices. They were absolutely delicious. Just wish I had taken better pictures!

This post may be shared with: Flour Me With Love - Mix It Up Monday, Alderberry Hill - Make The Scene Monday, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Uncommon - Uncommonly Yours, Mandy's Recipe Box - Totally Tasty Tuesdays, Reason To Skip The Housework - Tuesday Timeout, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Made Famous By - Famous Linkz Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, The Kings Court 4 - What's Cooking Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta , Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, These Peas Taste Funny - Link It Up Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Tidy Mom - I'm Lovin' It Friday, Susie QT Pies - Happy Friday Link Up, Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons - Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party, Dwell On Joy - Dwell On Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, Crumbs and Chaos - Seasonal Inspiration, The Country Cook - Weekend Potluck, Mama Mias Heart 2 Heart - Sharing Saturday, Sweet As Sugar Cookies - Sweets for a Saturday, Randee's Organized Chaos - Sleepy Sunday, Country Momma Cooks - Saturday Link & Greet, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo - Crafting Cooking From The Heart Contest, Southern Mom Cooks - Valentine Party, Cupcake Apothecary - A Themed Baker's Sunday, Addicted To Recipes - Scrumptious Sunday Link Party

Rachel's 2nd Birthday Cake

2012-03-06T19:26:00.001-07:00

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My baby girl turned 2!! Wow - the last two years have flown by and I still think of her as my baby. But now I know I have to admit she isn't a baby anymore. You would have thought I would have figured that out when she started climbing to the top of stools and stairs, but it takes me awhile.

We had a small family party for her and it was a Minnie Mouse theme. I made the cake! The bottom tier was eight inch chocolate. I used Bakerella's Chocolate Cake recipe. The top tier was a six inch Lemon Cake recipe I have used before. Both were delicious!

After I baked my cakes, I let them cool and then level them and stack them. Both were filled with buttercream. On the chocolate cake I mixed in mini chocolate chips with the buttercream. It was so good - reminded me of cookie dough!

After I stack them I make sure they are level. I have a special level I only use in the kitchen. Cheap at Lowe's - I think it was three dollars. And it has a magnet and I just keep it on my fridge!

Then I crumb coat them with buttercream frosting. I used a new recipe that I got from my neighbor, Brenda. It is not as sweet as the buttercream I usually use and I really liked it. I will put the recipe below.

I made marshmallow fondant which I dyed white and pink. I used Americolor hot pink for the pink. And I used a Chocolate Marshmallow Fondant recipe I found for the black. It was super easy to get really black and it tasted yummy! I used the black fondant for the ears. I cut the ears out using circle cutters. Then I "glued" Popsicle sticks to the back of them with Karo Syrup. Then inserted them into the top of the cake.

I used the same bow tutorial that I have used before and made my bow. Attached polka dots to bow and cake. Lastly I used tip #12 to pipe dots around the border of my cakes.

Done! It was a little stressful because we had bad storms here, so Friday night before her party when I should have been working on the cake I was in the basement hiding out. But we were lucky and no tornadoes. Better safe than sorry. Her party was a hit and she loved her cake. So I am happy!

Nanny Burke's Buttercream (not sure where it came from!)

-1 1/2 cups of salted butter

-1/2 cup Crisco
-1lb confectioner sugar
-1tsp vanilla

1. Cream the butter and Crisco together until smooth.

2. Add vanilla and confectioners sugar and mix until combined.

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

2012-02-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

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Ahh - I haven't posted anything in over a week! How did that happen? I have been baking, but we have been so busy. The time just flies by.

What do I always make time for? My favorite chocolate chip cookie of course! Do you have a favorite cookie? I do and it is chocolate chip. But not any chocolate chip cookie, it has to be this one. I have loved this cookie for as long as I can remember. It is the only chocolate chip cookie my Mom ever made. I have tried other recipes and they are good but for me not as good as this one! I always come back to this recipe.

It was in an old Better Homes and Garden cookbook of my Mom's and that cookbook fell apart so we bought a new one. You know what? In the new cookbook they changed the cookie recipe!! How could they? The new recipe is not as good as the old. Lucky for you and me I had written the old one down!

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie (By Better Home and Garden)

- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet)

1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. Cream shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla until light and fluffy.
3. Combine dry ingredients and add a little at a time to creamed mixture until well blended.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Drop by rounded tablespoons on to baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from baking sheet immediately to cool.

This recipe makes about 3 dozen.

I have more to post and hope to get them out this week! Have a great week. Can't believe March is around the corner!!

This post may be shared with: Flour Me With Love - Mix It Up Monday, Alderberry Hill - Make The Scene Monday, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Uncommon - Uncommonly Yours, Mandy's Recipe Box - Totally Tasty Tuesdays, Reason To Skip The Housework - Tuesday Timeout, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Made Famous By - Famous Linkz Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, The Kings Court 4 - What's Cooking Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta , Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, These Peas Taste Funny - Link It Up Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Tidy Mom - I'm Lovin' It Friday, Susie QT Pies - Happy Friday Link Up, Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons - Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party, Dwell On Joy - Dwell On Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, Crumbs and Chaos - Seasonal Inspiration, The Country Cook - Weekend Potluck, Mama Mias Heart 2 Heart - Sharing Saturday, Sweet As Sugar Cookies - Sweets for a Saturday, Randee's Organized Chaos - Sleepy Sunday, Country Momma Cooks - Saturday Link & Greet, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo - Crafting Cooking From The Heart Contest, Southern Mom Cooks - Valentine Party, Cupcake Apothecary - A Themed Baker's Sunday

Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip Cookies

2012-02-18T20:21:00.000-07:00

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So, have I told you that my son doesn't like chocolate? What you say? A child of two chocoholics that doesn't like chocolate? How can that be? I know. It drives me crazy too. Actually, he won't eat anything brown. No cookies, no cakes or cupcakes. Nothing, nada, zilch.

So in an effort to entice him to eat a cookie, I made these. I know - all the parents out there think I am lucky. Don't worry, he gets his fill of sugar through hard candy. That he loves!! And I thought he would love these cookies. You see, red is his favorite color. Of course red - that is the color of Lightning McQueen. Duh!! And the chips are white so no icky brown factor for him. I thought it would be a shoe in. How could he refuse right? I mean the cookies were screaming at me "eat me, eat me, EAT ME". He refused. Another cookie failure in his book.

But no failure to me or my husband. We like them. A lot! And they are easy to make. So make them, enjoy. And ponder life without anything brown. I think it would really suck!! If I didn't have chocolate I would go crazy. FOR REAL!!

Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip Cookies

- 1 box of red velvet cake mix
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1 cup white chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Mix the cake mix, eggs and oil until well combined.
3. Stir in white chocolate chips
4. Drop by large tablespoons onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
5. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until done.

Cake Balls and Awards

2012-02-09T19:43:00.000-07:00

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I love trying new things when it comes to sweets, surprised? Ha - well I don't always love trying new things. I just know what I like. If I know how to do something and I like the result why change it? I've been told change is good - but I am not so sure.

Anyway - if you read my blog you know that I don't love dipping desserts. It seems tedious and messy and it takes me FOREVER! But I got a new Christmas present and have been using it a lot.

The Wilton Chocolate Melter. It is awesome! (No - they aren't paying me - wish they were :)) It melts my chocolate without burning it and it stays warm. Staying warm is a huge plus for me because I am really, really slow and usually my chocolate gets cold. So I enjoyed making these cake balls much more than I thought I would. One of my favorite blogs, Mrs. Fox's Sweets, just made very similar cake balls. Of course hers look fantastic!! You should check out her post. Her cake balls look gorgeous and next time I am going to do better. I think mine were a little lopsided and I love the candy liner idea.

Next order of business!

I was awarded two awards this week!

First I was given the Liebster award for the second time (wow!) from Crunchy Creamy Sweet. If you haven't seen Anna's blog yet you need to fly over there! She has so many great recipes and a baking chart page that is so cool. It gives you all of the conversions you need. I can never remember that 3 teaspoons equal one tablespoon. Should be easy right? Not for me!

A Liebster Blog Award is given to talented and loved bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

Just a few rules:
-Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.
-Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you.
-Copy and paste the blog award on your blog.
-Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed.
-Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment at their blog.

I have given the Liebster Blog award to these five blogs that I love:

Adele's - The Dutch Door Kitchen

Angie's - Angie's Sweet Natured Treats
Heather's - Made Famous By....
Hayley's - The Domestic Rebel
Sarah's - Dwell On Joy

Then I found out that Randee over at Randee's Organized Chaos awarded me The Versatile Blogger award! I am speechless! I love Randee's blog. She is a Mom like me and knows life can get a little chaotic. I always relate to her posts and she makes me laugh. Now I get to give this award to seven of my fellow bloggers and I have to tell you seven facts about myself (you guys are learning a lot about me this week!)

1. I stay up way too late every night. My husband and I always say we are going to go to bed early, but we don't.
2. I love to bake but I hate to clean up! - Surprises you I know :)
3. I have a cat named Caly, she is 15 1/2 years old. She has been with me for a long time. I have known her longer than my husband!
4. I love to swim. When we go to the pool I could spend hours (literally) in the water. I don't mind laying in the sun - but I prefer to be in the water.
5. I absolutely HATE to run. No offense to the runners out there. It just kills my shins.
6. I was a certified step aerobics instructor and used to teach (that was a lifetime ago!)
7. I grew up with horses and used to ride competitively. I miss it horribly!

Whew - OK. Now that we are best friends let me tell you who I passed on this beauty too:

Elizabeth at Act Fast Chef
Joan at Chocolate, Chocolate and More
Bridget at Flour N' Friends
Hilary at My Blog Review
Chrissy at The Taylor House
Terry at These Peas Taste Funny
Robin at Bird on a Cake

I hope all the bloggers I awarded tonight enjoy their awards! Go check out their blogs and show them some love! You won't be disappointed. I love reading what everyone writes and I enjoy the blogging communtiy so much. I am so honored to receive these awards and it make me happy to be able to share the love!

This post may be shared with: Flour Me With Love - Mix It Up Monday, Alderberry Hill - Make The Scene Monday, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Uncommon - Uncommonly Yours, Mandy's Recipe Box - Totally Tasty Tuesdays, Reason To Skip The Housework - Tuesday Timeout, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Made Famous By - Famous Linkz Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, The Kings Court 4 - What's Cooking Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta , Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, These Peas Taste Funny - Link It Up Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Tidy Mom - I'm Lovin' It Friday, Susie QT Pies - Happy Friday Link Up, Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons - Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party, Dwell On Joy - Dwell On Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, Crumbs and Chaos - Seasonal Inspiration, The Country Cook - Weekend Potluck, Mama Mias Heart 2 Heart - Sharing Saturday, Sweet As Sugar Cookies - Sweets for a Saturday, Randee's Organized Chaos - Sleepy Sunday, Country Momma Cooks - Saturday Link & Greet, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo - Crafting Cooking From The Heart Contest, Southern Mom Cooks - Valentine Party, Cupcake Apothecary - A Themed Baker's Sunday

Chocolate Sweet Heart Cupcakes

2012-02-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

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Before I tell you about these super cute, super EASY cupcakes we need to go over some other things!

First - Have you heard Google Friend Connect is going away? Not really sure why. That is how I keep up with all of the blogs I am following. I have installed the new Linky Followers tool and Networked Blogs tool you can use to follow me if you like. They are on the sidebar.

Second - just wanted to say how much I appreciate every feature I have gotten on other blogs. It really makes my day. I absolutely love knowing that someone else enjoyed what I baked and wants to share it with their readers. I have a page that shows all of the blogs I have been featured on. Thanks again!

Third - Bridger from Flour n' Friends has tagged me in this fun questionnaire! Bridget's blog is great and I love having her as one of my blog friends. She very supportive of me and I love supporting her back! So here I go:

12 Facts About Me:

1. I have two great kids. Alex who is 3 1/2 and Rachel who is almost 2. They are the best part of me!

2. I am totally a type A personality. Very competitive, which comes out all the time. Especially if you are playing cards with me - or any other game!

3. I have 1 sister who lives in Chicago. Hi Kimmy!! I want her to move to Georgia - but so far no luck.

4. I graduated from Syracuse University with a B.S. in accounting. And I am a CPA. I still hold my license and keep it up just in case I need it again someday!

5. I'm trying to work out ~~more~~. I can't say more because I haven't been at all! I still have baby weight from Rachel and really would love to get back into my old clothes. You know - great move baking all the time :)!

6. I live in a great neighborhood with a bunch of stay at home mom's and I love when my kids play outside because it is like happy hour for me - minus the alcohol!

7. I said I would NEVER drive a minivan because I hate the way they look and I am now secretly totally CRAVING one! I think sliding doors would make my life so much easier!!

8. I met my husband at work. He is British and yes, he does speak with an accent. But I really don't hear it anymore.

9. I don't think I am a very good writer. After all I am a math geek, CPA. But I think this blog is helping me become better and I hope you will put up with me.

10. Every time one of my sweets is featured on another blog I am amazed. I can't believe that someone else likes what I have baked.

11. I don't think I am that creative! I am good at getting inspiration from other people and trying to make it my own.

12. I think I am pretty laid back, calm and nice. But don't mess with my kids. Remember that movie - The Hand That Rocks The Cradle - ? The one with Rebecca De Mornay? I am her - breaking kids arms on the playground if they mess with my babies!

Bridget's Questions for Me:

1. Whose your role model? Hmmm - that is a hard one. I have to say my Mom. She is the kind of Mom I want to be and she is a strong woman.

2. Savory or Sweet? SWEET!!! Although - I do like savory too!

3. Besides blogging..what's your next go to hobby? I love to scrapbook also.

4. Goals for 2012? Finish Rachel's baby book (she's almost 2) and lose those baby pounds :0!

5. Favorite thing to eat? Chocolate

6. What's your guilty pleasure? Time alone, a.k.a. peace and quiet!

7. Favorite T.V show? NCIS, The Mentalist, Person of Interest, Modern Family and Parenthood. I couldn't pick just one!

8. Favorite thing to bake/cook? Cupcakes.

9. How did you get into blogging? I took a Wilton cake class and decided to bake something every week to practice my skills and get better. Blogging was a way for me to keep track of what I had done and for my friends to see. It has become a much bigger part of my life that I thought it would and I had no idea such a great community was out there.

10. What's your favorite thing to do on a weekend? Relax and actually spend time with my husband.

11. If you could go on vacation anywhere, where would you go? There are so many places I haven't been. But I have been to Australia for 3 weeks and it was so great. I would love to go back - 3 weeks was not enough!

12. What's your favorite website? PINTEREST! I could ~~waste~~ spend months there!

OH MY!!! Back to the cupcakes:

I first saw these cupcakes on Glorious Treats and I fell in love with them. They are so cute and sooooo easy to make. Bake your favorite cupcakes and make your favorite buttercream. Once the cupcakes are cooled use serrated knife to cut the top off.

Then use a cookie cutter of your choice, I chose a heart. The cookie cutter should be about 1" in size. If you aren't sure just make sure that it would fit on top of a cupcake leaving a cupcake rim around the edge of the cutout.

Then frost the cupcake. Carefully put the top of the cupcake back on over the frosting and sprinkle with powdered sugar. That's it!! Easy peasy. I love these cupcakes and will be making them for every holiday :)

This post may be shared with: Flour Me With Love - Mix It Up Monday, Alderberry Hill - Make The Scene Monday, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Uncommon - Uncommonly Yours, Mandy's Recipe Box - Totally Tasty Tuesdays, Reason To Skip The Housework - Tuesday Timeout, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Made Famous By - Famous Linkz Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, The Kings Court 4 - What's Cooking Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta , Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, These Peas Taste Funny - Link It Up Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Tidy Mom - I'm Lovin' It Friday, Susie QT Pies - Happy Friday Link Up, Dwell On Joy - Dwell On Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, Crumbs and Chaos - Seasonal Inspiration, The Country Cook - Weekend Potluck, Mama Mias Heart 2 Heart - Sharing Saturday, Sweet As Sugar Cookies - Sweets for a Saturday, Randee's Organized Chaos - Sleepy Sunday, Country Momma Cooks - Saturday Link & Greet, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo - Crafting Cooking From The Heart Contest, Southern Mom Cooks - Valentine Party

Box of Chocolates

2012-01-30T20:02:00.002-07:00

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"Life was like a box of chocolates...you never know what you' re gonna get" a famous line by Forrest Gump. Did you know he said that in 1994? Not trying to make you feel old - or make myself feel old. I just can't believe how long it has been. I think that quote is so true! No matter what you get you have got to make the best of it and decide to be happy!

I'll tell you what I got. One of my Christmas presents was the Hello Cupcake cookbook.

I love it! So many cool ideas of how to decorate cupcakes. I want to make them all. I am amazed at how creative the authors are and am hoping some of it will rub off on me! So you will see many designs from their book - I plan on eventually working my way through the whole thing - can't believe I put that in print :).

The Box of Chocolates was my first recipe from the book. It uses sixteen mini cupcakes, although the chocolate box I was using only fit fourteen.

I frosted ten of the mini cupcakes with chocolate buttercream. I put chocolate jimmies (my favorite sprinkle in the WHOLE world) and Valentine nonpareils in two separate plates. Then I rolled the edges of the frosted cupcakes in the sprinkles and set them aside.

I used store bought frosting for the remaining four cupcakes. I put one cup of the frosting in the microwave for about 15 seconds until it has the texture of light whipped cream. Then I dipped the cupcakes into the frosting. I gave them a super smooth, darker look. To finish them off I decorated them with different Valentine candy. I found the Valentine candy corn at Walmart. Surprisingly my candy store didn't have it - but good old Walmart did!

For the chocolate candy looking pieces that adorn some of the cupcakes I used marshmallows. I cut the marshmallows in half and then dipped them in the microwaved frosting. I chilled them in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes so the frosting could harden. Once they were chilled I piped on a candy looking design using the buttercream in a piping bag with no tip. Then I used a toothpick (that I cut in half) to attach them to the cupcakes.

Arranged them all in my chocolate box and then filled the empty spaces in the box with more candy. Happy Valentine's Day - just a few weeks early!!

This post may be shared with: Flour Me With Love - Mix It Up Monday, Alderberry Hill - Make The Scene Monday, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Uncommon - Uncommonly Yours, Reason To Skip The Housework - Tuesday Timeout, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Made Famous By - Famous Linkz Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, The Kings Court 4 - What's Cooking Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta , Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, These Peas Taste Funny - Link It Up Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Tidy Mom - I'm Lovin' It Friday, Susie QT Pies - Happy Friday Link Up, Dwell On Joy - Dwell On Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, Crumbs and Chaos - Seasonal Inspiration, The Country Cook - Weekend Potluck, Mama Mias Heart 2 Heart - Sharing Saturday, Sweet As Sugar Cookies - Sweets for a Saturday, Randee's Organized Chaos - Sleepy Sunday, Country Momma Cooks - Saturday Link & Greet, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo - Crafting Cooking From The Heart Contest, Southern Mom Cooks - Valentine Party

Candy Cane Heart Lollipops

2012-01-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

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I'm all about not wasting any candy or junk food. We even try not to waste any healthy food either. We do try to use what we have and eat our leftovers. I buy a lot of sweets and sometimes I don't use them all in a recipe so I love to find another recipe to use up my leftovers, or eat them. We had just a few leftover candy canes from Christmas. All over the Internet I kept seeing cute candy cane lollipops.

The candy canes that I had were full size. I think most of the suckers are made with mini candy canes. I had to cut my candy canes so they would make a decent looking heart. I used a serrated knife and just did a rough measurement.

Then I positioned them in the shape of a heart on my cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and stuck them in the oven. I baked them for 5 minutes at 300 degrees or just until they begin to melt. Pull them out of the oven and right away put the lollipop stick in place. You have to squeeze the melted candy cane around the stick. Be careful they are hot!

Make sure, before you bake them, when you are lining them up on your cookie sheet, that you leave enough room for the sticks. I used 4.5" sticks and you can see in one spot I didn't leave myself enough room! It was really hard to get the stick into that one.

Then I melted a few white candy melts in a disposable bag in the microwave and piped the candy into the center of the heart. While the candy was still wet I added sprinkles. Because everything is better with sprinkles!!

This post may be shared with: Flour Me With Love - Mix It Up Monday, Alderberry Hill - Make The Scene Monday, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Uncommon - Uncommonly Yours, Reason To Skip The Housework - Tuesday Timeout, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Made Famous By - Famous Linkz Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, The Kings Court 4 - What's Cooking Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta , Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, These Peas Taste Funny - Link It Up Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Tidy Mom - I'm Lovin' It Friday, Susie QT Pies - Happy Friday Link Up, Dwell On Joy - Dwell On Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, Crumbs and Chaos - Seasonal Inspiration, The Country Cook - Weekend Potluck, Mama Mias Heart 2 Heart - Sharing Saturday, Sweet As Sugar Cookies - Sweets for a Saturday, Randee's Organized Chaos - Sleepy Sunday, Country Momma Cooks - Saturday Link & Greet, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo - Crafting Cooking From The Heart Contest

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

2012-01-24T20:24:00.000-07:00

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Need I say anything? I almost think I shouldn't write anything and just leave you with this picture. Let me assure you they were absolutely delicious. These did not get given away. Nope - they were eaten here. Until I had to throw out the remaining few because I thought I really might gain 50 pounds! I got the recipe from Brown Eyed Baker. I used my regular brownie pan which is 8x8. Next time I would use a larger pan - 9x13, that would make them shorter and a little easier to bite into. Although the size didn't stop me!

If you don't want to make the homemade brownies that Brown Eyed Baker used just use a box mix. I made the homemade brownies and they were ok. I like my box mix better! Line your brownie pan with tin foil and generously spray with baking spray. Cook and cool. Then make the cookie dough. Spread evenly over the cooled brownies and refrigerate for at least a half hour for dough to set. Then pull tin foil out of brownie pan, cut and enjoy. I used a pizza cutter to cut mine.

For the Cookie Dough (adapted from Brown Eyed Baker):

¾ cup unsalted butter
¾ cup light brown sugar
¾ cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons milk (I used skim)
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1½ cups mini chocolate chips

- Use an electric mixer on medium speed to combine the butter and both sugars.

- Add the milk and vanilla and mix until combined.

- Reduce the speed to low and mix in the flour just until combined.

- Stir in the chocolate chips.

This post may be shared with: Flour Me With Love - Mix It Up Monday, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Reason To Skip The Housework - Tuesday Timeout, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Made Famous By - Famous Linkz Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, The Kings Court 4 - What's Cooking Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta , Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, These Peas Taste Funny - Link It Up Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Tidy Mom - I'm Lovin' It Friday, Susie QT Pies - Happy Friday Link Up, Dwell On Joy - Dwell On Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, The Country Cook - Weekend Potluck, Mama Mias Heart 2 Heart - Sharing Saturday, Sweet As Sugar Cookies - Sweets for a Saturday, Country Momma Cooks - Saturday Link & Greet, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo - Crafting Cooking From The Heart Contest

Valentine Pretzels

2012-01-22T20:09:00.000-07:00

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Valentine defined by Dictionary.com as - a card or message, usually amatory or sentimental but sometimes satirical or comical, or a token or gift sent by one person to another on Valentine Day, sometimes anonymously.

Valentine defined by Me - a reason to make and eat as much chocolate as possible!!

So the holiday is coming up and I thought I would make some Valentine themed sweets. We'll see how many I get through - my list is huge, of course. But these pretzels are easy. Easy peasy to be exact.

Go to the store and buy a bag of pretzels, bag of Wilton Candy Melts and sprinkles. Melt candy melts. I use my double boiler but you can also use your microwave. Dip pretzels in candy, sprinkle with sprinkles and lay on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Wait a few minutes for candy to set and done. Now eat!

This post may be shared with: Flour Me With Love - Mix It Up Monday, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday,Reason To Skip The Houswork - Tuesday Timeout, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Made Famous By - Famous Linkz Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta , Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, These Peas Taste Funny - Link It Up Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Tidy Mom - I'm Lovin' It Friday, Dwell On Joy - Dwell On Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, The Country Cook - Weekend Potluck, Mama Mias Heart 2 Heart - Sharing Saturday, Sweet As Sugar Cookies - Sweets for a Saturday, Country Momma Cooks - Saturday Link & Greet, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo - Crafting Cooking From The Heart Contest, Itsy Bitsy Paper Blog - I Heart Linky Party

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

2012-01-19T20:05:00.001-07:00

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I have a problem. I am addicted to pinterest and all of the wonderful blogs out there.

Don't act surprised. I know it isn't a secret and that you probably already figured it out. You are a smart bunch!

I spend a lot of time browsing all of the absolutely gorgeous sweets I see and my mouth waters. Sometimes I see something and I know I want it. I have to bake it. It can't go on my "To Bake" list - I have to bake it NOW!

That's how I felt when I saw the Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting on the Brown Eyed Baker. I have to have it NOW!

Yum - dark chocolate and peanut butter. One of my favorite flavor combinations. The cupcake recipe is from Cook's Illustrated and the frosting is from Barefoot Contessa. I was a little apprehensive though. I looked at the recipes, the cupcakes seemed yummy, but the frosting, I was worried that the peanut butter would be overpowering. I have never made peanut butter frosting before.

Would it be overpowering???

Nope - it was perfect. So creamy. I almost ate all of the frosting and said forget the cupcakes. But that doesn't make for a good blog entry :). I frosted the cupcakes with tip 1M. This is definitely my favorite tip for cupcakes. It gives you that wonderful swirl.

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Frosting (Recipe from Barefoot Contessa at Home)

1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter (I used Jiff)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup heavy cream

- Cream confectioners’ sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla and salt with an electric mixer.
- Mix on medium-low speed until creamy.
- Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.

This post may be shared with: Flour Me With Love - Mix It Up Monday, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Reason To Skip The Housework - Tuesday Timeout, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Made Famous By - Famous Linkz Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, The Kings Court 4 - What's Cooking Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta , Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, These Peas Taste Funny - Link It Up Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Tidy Mom - I'm Lovin' It Friday, Dwell On Joy - Dwell On Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, The Country Cook - Weekend Potluck, Mama Mias Heart 2 Heart - Sharing Saturday, Sweet As Sugar Cookies - Sweets for a Saturday, Country Momma Cooks - Saturday Link & Greet, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo - Crafting Cooking From The Heart Contest

Pink Ruffle Cake

2012-01-17T19:02:00.003-07:00

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First let me say that my picture taking skills leave a lot to be desired...... Someday when I have the time (aka - never) I will learn more and maybe buy a better camera. But for now this is all I got!!

I have seen ruffle cakes all over the Internet and on facebook and I really wanted to try one. This is an experiment after all and if I only bake and decorate what I know, then what's the point. So a pink ruffle cake it is!!

I baked a six inch chocolate cake and made vanilla buttercream. I colored my frosting pink with Wilton Gel. I wasn't sure how much frosting I would need. This technique uses a lot of frosting so I doubled my recipe and it was just enough. I had only a small amount leftover.

After my cake was baked and cooled I crumb coated it. I filled a disposable piping bag with my icing fitted with tip 104. Now I started my ruffles. You need to frost the ruffle columns with the wide part of the tip closest to the cake. I tried to make my columns all the same width. Start piping frosting and then go back and forth to get the ruffle effect. Keep completing columns until you have gone around the entire cake.

I had to be careful to make sure I kept my columns the same width, that they went straight up and down (some are a little curvy) and that I kept them close together. I didn't want to see any cake in between my columns. The crumb coating helped with this too. When I got to the top I started at the outside and did ruffles around and around until it was covered.

I think this decorating technique looks great and actually wasn't that hard. It would be perfect for a shower or birthday cake. Another one on my list of "can do's!"

This post may be shared with: Flour Me With Love - Mix It Up Monday, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Reason To Skip The Housework - Tuesday Timeout, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Made Famous By - Famous Linkz Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, The Kings Court 4 - What's Cooking Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta , Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, These Peas Taste Funny - Link It Up Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Tidy Mom - I'm Lovin' It Friday, Dwell On Joy - Dwell On Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, The Country Cook - Weekend Potluck, Mama Mias Heart 2 Heart - Sharing Saturday, Sweet As Sugar Cookies - Sweets for a Saturday, Country Momma Cooks - Saturday Link & Greet, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo - Crafting Cooking From The Heart Contest

Cookie Monster Cupcakes

2012-01-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

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Cookie Monster is famous in our house. My kids love him. I like him - but often feel like a cookie monster myself. I saw similar Cookie Monster cupcakes on line that used blue colored coconut for his fur. I knew I wanted to make him, but my kids will not eat coconut. So I decided to make my own version.

I made chocolate cupcakes in pretty blue liners. I chose vanilla buttercream to frost them with because everyone in my house loves that. And when we all can agree there is peace - and I love that!

I colored my frosting with Wilton Sky Blue and Royal Blue Gel Food Coloring. I just mixed until I got a color I thought matched Cookie. We have a lot of examples for me to use. I put the icing into a disposable decorating bag fitted with tip 233. I love this tip and have used it before on my Dad's 75th Birthday Cake. I just put frosting all over the cupcake to look like his fur.

I used Wilton white candy melts for his eyes and drew on his pupils with an edible food marker (I like Americolor.) Then I put a mini Chips Ahoy in his mouth. This cupcake was easy and the kids loved it, well Rachel did.

This post may be shared with: Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta , Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, Mama Mias Heart 2 Heart - Sharing Saturday, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Living Life Intentionally - T.G.I.F. Linky Party

Liebster Blog Award For Me!

2012-01-09T14:13:00.000-07:00

I got an email the other day from Bridget at Flour & Friends, Bridget informed me that she was awarding me with the Liebster Blog Award. What a great email to get! First I love talking to other bloggers. I am new to blogging and I am always amazed by the blogging community. There are so many great, friendly people out there and I love connecting with them. I don't know if they know it - but I consider us all friends. Second, I got an award!!! It is so nice to know that Bridget enjoys my blog. Makes me feel good!

The Liebster Blog Award is for up and coming bloggers who have a following list of less than 200. Liebster is a German word that means favorite or dearest. I feel honored that Bridget chose me to receive this award! Now I get to share this award with five other bloggers I think deserve it.

Check out Bridget and her blog post about this award over at Flour & Friends and show her some love! She has a great blog with so many delicious recipes. Not all sweets - which is inspiring me to try some new recipes and get out of our dinner rut! All of her recipes look amazing!

Also check out these great blogs!

1. The Garden of Yum - Raina has a great blog. She does bake amazing desserts, but also so many yummy savory dishes. I do sometimes want a break from sweet and Raina delivers. Her Italian Beef Stew is so delicious you have to try it!

2. Cakeballs, Cookies and More - Sue's blog's name says it all. Cakeballs, cookies and more. More sweets to tempt you. Everything she bakes looks so delicious. I don't know how she does it! Her Christmas Sugar Cookies were so beautiful, and then there was the Chocolate Covered Bacon. So many things to try!

3. Lizy B - Lizy makes some of the most beautiful sugar cookies I have ever seen! She is so talented and creative. I love her Chanel Bag Post. Beautiful cookies and she is funny too! When I first tried royal icing I used Lizy's Thanksgiving Leaf cookies as a visual guide. They were beautiful!

4. The Sweet Swiper - Kirsten loves to bake and she has baked some pretty amazing desserts. It is hard to choose just one. But my current favorite has to be the Chocolate Whoopie Pies with dulce de leche buttercream frosting - wow! I also love her Oreo Cheesecake Brownies. I love to see what she is baking.

5. Dreaming of White Chocolate - At Michelle's blog you will find yummy white chocolate recipes. But also - all kinds of sweets. I could read all day. Especially FUDGE!! She has a post titled My Fudge Recipe Collection. So many different fudge recipes, so little time. How will I bake them all??

What is so amazing about all of these bloggers is that they share their secrets! I love seeing what they have baked or cooked up. And I know they will leave me a road map so I can also be successful at it too - gotta love it. Show them some love and go check them out - you won't be disappointed.

Congratulations, ladies! You all deserve it. Now here’s what you gotta do:

- Choose 5 up and coming blogs of fewer than 200 followers to award the Liebster to.

- Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them
- Post the award on your blog.

Have a great day everyone!

Gingerbread Cookie Dough Truffles

2012-01-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

This weekend went by so fast! I can't believe it is 2012 and now the second week of January. Where does the time go? I had a huge to do list and I still have a lot left that I didn't get done. But the Christmas decorations are down and that feels great. I am always really excited to put them up, but by January 1st I am ready to take them down. My husband is British and their tradition is to leave up Christmas decorations until the 12th night of Christmas. I let him win this one (so I can win some other bigger arguments...shhhh!)

I do now realize Christmas is over and gingerbread is most associated with Christmas, but when I saw these on Crazy for Crust I was intrigued! They were on my Christmas "To Bake" list but somehow I didn't get everything on it baked. I know you are stunned! I like gingerbread and have been really wanting to make truffles lately. And I love Dorothy at Crazy for Crust, her blog is great - so many yummy recipes and if she says these are good they gotta be!

I used the Betty Crocker Gingerbread mix. It does not call for any eggs to make the cookie dough so I made the dough according to the package. If you use a mix that does call for eggs you should OMIT the eggs, substitute a tablespoon of water. Roll the dough into balls using a scoop and then refrigerate for an hour to make sure they are firm.

I covered them with Wilton White Candy Melts. I melted my candy and started dipping. Dipping isn't my favorite activity but I am getting better. As soon as I was done dipping them I added some sprinkles. I have quite a sprinkle addiction and a large collection of sprinkles. I chose these pastel sprinkles that I love. I do need to improve on my photography and photo set up!! I am looking at the pictures now thinking - hmmm, pastel sprinkles with a red background. Not my favorite. But there are no more Gingerbread Cookie Dough Truffles left to re-shoot so here ya go!

Gingerbread Cookie Dough Truffles (Adapted from Crazy for Crust)

1 box Betty Crocker gingerbread cookie mix
Ingredients called for to make the mix
1 package Wilton White Candy Melts

Sprinkles for decorating

- Prepare cookie dough according to box directions
- Use a scoop to roll dough into uniform sized balls. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
- Chill in refrigerator for an hour or until firm
- Melt your candy melts in a double boiler or microwave according to package directions.
- Dip each ball into the white candy melts. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- While truffles are still wet sprinkle with sprinkles!! Chill again until firm and ENJOY!

This post may be shared with: Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta , Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

2012-01-04T16:51:00.000-07:00

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OK - can you say Forbidden Love?

For my entire life I have loved cookie dough, cake batter, and brownie batter. Loved, loved, loved. And for my entire life my Mom has been saying "Do not eat that, it isn't safe." Now my husband says it too. When I was pregnant my OB told me I really shouldn't be eating it at all - especially pregnant. Everyone is against this love of mine. Until now!!!!

While browsing the world wide web I found a recipe for edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. My eyes almost popped out of my head, I think my heart stopped for a minute too!! What - safe? edible? I needed to learn more. So I read about 30 recipes for this stuff and was in awe. The recipes include NO EGG, so it is safe to eat. Not calorie free unfortunately, but safe!!

There is chocolate chip cookie dough dip, chocolate chip cookie dough (just plain - eat it!!), chocolate chip cookie dough brownies, chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes and chocolate chip cookie dough truffles. Needless to say, this is my first of many cookie dough recipes so get ready.

I made this for a New Year's Eve party we were going to and it was a big hit. I didn't bring any home - much to my disappointment. If you love cookie dough you have got to try this. Guiltless Pleasure!!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip (Adapted from Marg (CaymanDesigns) at Food.com)
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
3/4 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips

1. In a saucepan melt the butter with the brown sugar over medium to low heat. Stir constantly until the brown sugar is dissolved.
2. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract. Set aside to cool.
3. Beat the cream cheese and confectioner's sugar for one minute - or until creamy and combined.
4. Slowly beat in the cooled butter mixture and beat for another minute.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Pour into your serving bowl and refrigerate.
7. Remove dip from the refrigerator 20 minutes or so before serving so it can soften up. I served it with vanilla wafers. But some of us ate it with just spoons! Enjoy!

This post may be shared with: Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta , Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday

Oreo Truffles

2012-01-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year!! I hope everyone had a great holiday season and is settling into the new year. I can't believe 2011 is over, but I am looking forward to 2012. I started blogging late in 2011 and I am really enjoying myself. I enjoy the community of bloggers, all of the amazing recipes I have found, sharing my creations and failures, and all of my readers and your comments. Thank you!

Did you make any resolutions? I am not really going to make any resolutions. I won't write them down anyway. But I would like to improve on my photography this year and I would like for my husband to finish our basement :). The basement has been an ongoing project for several years. I know if I would let him go down there for a month straight he would finish it but when he is home I usually want him around!

Question for you - Do you like Oreos? Stupid question right? Who doesn't love Oreos? Well, my son, Alex, doesn't but that is a story for another day. I found these Oreo truffles on the Kraft Recipes website and they looked yummy and easy- perfect combination! I was a little apprehensive. I have never made truffles before but this is one experiment that I loved. Loved making them and loved eating them. I think they came out great. Might be the easiest recipe you come across.

Oreo Truffles

1 16 ounce package Oreo Cookies, finely crushed
1 8 ounce package Cream Cheese, softened
16 ounces of semi sweet chocolate, melted

1. Place Oreos in a ziploc bag and crush until fine. I used a rolling pin and then a mallet. I need a food processor!
2. Combine 3 cups of the Oreos and softened cream cheese. Blend using spatula or spoon until creamy.
3. Shape into balls. I used a small scoop to get uniform sized balls.
4. Chill in refrigerator for 20 minutes.
5. Melt chocolate. I melted mine in a double boiler and then transferred to a bowl that made dipping easier. Dip balls in melted chocolate and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with remaining Oreo crumbs.
6. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Enjoy!!

Peppermint Bark

2011-12-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

My obsession with Bark continues! My husband loves Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark. Every year I buy him some for Christmas. It is expensive and this year we decided to make our own. We melted 9 ounces of milk chocolate. Poured it onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper and chilled it until it set - at least twenty minutes. Then I melted 12 ounces of white chocolate and poured it on top of the milk chocolate. While it was still wet I added crushed candy canes. I used my fingers to push the candy canes into the bark to help it stick. Then I chilled it again until it was set. The hardest part is waiting for it to be finished!! It is good, my husband says as good as Williams Sonoma!!

Other Christmas projects we worked on were....

Alex and his friend, Jack, decorated Gingerbread houses!

For a quick treat I bought fudge covered Oreos and decorated them with green candy melts. It was so easy to decorate. I threw a handful of candy melts into a disposable decorating bag. Melted in the microwave - about 10 seconds. Snipped the end off the bag and decorated.

We made Nicole's from Life's a Batch's Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies which we left for Santa. I did speak to him and he loved them. I love Nicole's site and these cookies are really yummy! (not sure why the picture is sideways :0)

And last but not least, Brownie Bites! Remember the Candy Cane Kiss Brownie Bites? I changed it up a bit. We made them with mint truffle Hershey kisses in the center and Andes Candy chopped on top. Yum!

And a confession - I didn't make any Christmas sugar cookies!! Bad, bad, baker!!! I just ran out of time. It was so crazy this year!! I hope you all had a great holiday season. And that you got everything you wanted from Santa! I got two new cookbooks that I am really excited to start baking from. This next year should be full of lots of new experiments!! Happy New Year!

This post may be shared with:
Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday
Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party
Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday
Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday
Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday
Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations
Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday
Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays
Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday
Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday
JDaniel4's Mom- Christmas Traditions Link Up

Christmas Tree Cupcakes

2011-12-19T13:19:00.001-07:00

Are you ready for Christmas? Is your list done? You better hurry!!! Here is another Christmas cupcake. Easy peasy and great for a party. I made chocolate cupcakes, and vanilla buttercream. I tinted the buttercream with Americolor Forest Green gel. I piped the frosting on the cupcakes with tip 1M. I just piped the frosting up higher to look like a tree. I used CakeMate Celebration sprinkles for the decorations and Wilton Gingerbread House candy for the stars. Easy and delicious!!

This post may be shared with:
Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday
Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party
Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday
Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday
Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday
Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday
Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays
Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday
JDaniel4's Mom- Christmas Traditions Link Up

Holly Cupcakes

2011-12-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

Are you going crazy like me?? Only 6 more days until Christmas and I still have a lot to do! Of course I am baking a lot more now because of the holiday and will be trying to post everything this week. I am going to keep the posts short and sweet for us :).

I saw these cupcakes on The Seven Year Cottage blog. They are so cute and festive! You use green gum sticks for the holly leaves and a red gumball for the holly berry. I made chocolate cupcakes and topped them with chocolate buttercream. I used my new large french tip to frost them. This is the first time I used this tip and I liked it a lot. Can't wait to use it again. Only problem I had with these cupcakes was finding green gum! I couldn't remember the color of the different types of gum so I tried 3 different kinds and none were that green!! I ended up using Wrigley's Extra Spearmint which was the gum I liked the best out of the three I tried. It wasn't the greenest, but it was the best width and color. These were great cupcakes to bring to my Christmas party. So festive. Enjoy!!

This post may be shared with:
Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday
Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party
Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday
Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday
Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday
Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays
Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday
Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday

Chocolate Mint Chip Oat Cookies - Frosting For The Cause

2011-12-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

Today I am excited to guest post on the Frosting for the Cause blog, so head on over there to see the entire site and all of the women who are making a difference.!

When I stumbled upon the Frosting For The Cause blog I was inspired! I love that by baking and sharing we are actually helping raise money and awareness. I want to thank Paula for this amazing opportunity. Like most people, I know several people who have been affected by cancer. However, one holds a special place in my heart, a woman that I never met, my Dad's mom. Even though I never got to meet her I love and feel deeply connected to her. It is amazing how love can transcend anything, even not knowing someone. I feel I do know her because I know my Dad. She raised my Dad to be one of the best men that I know. Cancer took her when my Dad was only 21 years old.

Today I am baking Chocolate Mint Chip Oat Cookies. I love these cookies because they look a little underrated. Maybe just some old chocolate cookies, but then you bite into them and taste the chocolate, mint and oat all at the same time. Yum - I love it and I hope you do too!

Chocolate Mint Chip Oat Cookies (adapted from The Cookie Bible )

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup mint chips (I used Andes Creme De Menthe baking chips)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup uncooked oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

Start by preheating your oven to 375°F. Line your cookies sheets with parchment paper. Melt the chocolate chips in your microwave and set aside. The chocolate can be thick and gooey.

In an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Then add melted chocolate, egg and vanilla and beat until combined.

Combine remaining dry ingrendients: flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. A little at a time add dry ingredients to the mixture and combine.

Now - stir in the mint chips by hand. I usually don't beat them in the mixer, sometimes it breaks them down and we want them to be whole.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto your cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Cool for only 1 minute on cookie sheets and them move to wire cooling racks. Enjoy!

Brownie Bites

2011-12-12T18:28:00.000-07:00

I saw these cute little Brownie Bites in Parents Magazine. I have kind of been in a brownie mood and what would be better than brownies dipped in candy coating with sprinkles on top? So off I go.

I lined my brownie pan with tin foil so that the tin foil hung over the edges of the pan (so I will be able to pull out the brownies later) and generously sprayed it with cooking spray. Generously, aka, I soaked it. I made my favorite boxed brownies and poured the batter into the brownie pan and baked per the package instructions. Once they were cooled I removed the brownies from the pan by lifting the foil out. I carefully wrapped the cooled brownies in another layer of tin foil, placed in a ziploc bag and put them in the freezer. If the brownies are frozen they will be easier to cut.

I was planning on completing these the same day that I baked the brownies. But something came up - I think this was the day that the school called me and told me to come get Alex because he had fallen and hurt his head. Never a dull moment!! No worries though he is ok and didn't need stitches.

Because the brownies were frozen I could wait until I was ready and a few days later I was so I melted my green candy melts. The package says you can melt them in the microwave but I never have success with this method. I always end up overheating them and then they get all thick and horrible so I use a double boiler and it works perfectly everytime.

I took the brownies out of the freezer and cut them into bite size pieces. I got a lot of pieces, probably about forty. So I dutifully started dipping them in the candy coating. I used forks to turn them and make sure they were coated.

While the candy coating was still wet I added some Christmas sprinkles. I have to say that I did not enjoy making these :0 ! Yep I said it!! You know this is an experiment and I can't guarantee I will like baking everything. Although I can guarantee I will like tasting everything I bake! They tasted awesome but so much work dipping them in the candy coating - it got tedious for me. So I am checking them off of my to bake list and moving on. If you don't mind taking time to coat them and using forks to turn them around you would have no problem and should try them. They did taste really good......maybe someday I will try again. Maybe I was just tired from worrying about Alex's head!

This post may be shared with:
Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday
Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party
Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday
Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday
Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday
Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays
JDaniel4's Mom- Christmas Traditions Link Up

Candy Cane Kiss Brownie Bites

2011-12-04T20:04:00.000-07:00

When I saw the Picky Palate Blog I was in love! Jenny has a lot of amazing recipes. I didn't find her blog on my own my friend, Amy, led me to it. She wanted me to try Jenny's Festive Candy Cane Kiss Centered Brownie Bites. They looked so good - they had to be difficult to make right?

Nope - not too hard! I mixed up my favorite brownie mix according to the box instructions. I greased my mini-muffin pan thoroughly. Then I used a scoop to fill the pan about 3/4 full with brownie batter. The brownies I used are really yummy - but lots of chocolate chunks. Not ideal for this recipe. I think it would be even easier if I used a smooth brownie mix which I will do next time. And there will be a next time soon!

Then I inserted a Candy Cane Hershey Kiss into the brownie batter of each muffin tin. This is where the chunks made it a little difficult. See how I couldn't always get the kisses in straight and even? But I forged on!

I baked them in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes and let them cool completely. I was worried because the kisses didn't go in as evenly as I hoped. When they were done baking you could see some of the kisses poking out of the tops.

No worries though! They are topped with a simple frosting. And the frosting took care of my little eye sore!! The frosting is just melted chocolate chips and heavy cream. I used 1 Cup chocolate chips, melted them, added 4 Tablespoons of heavy cream, mixed together and then back in the microwave for 10 seconds - mix again. I doubled the frosting recipe because we love frosting here but also because originally I only made one batch of frosting and it was not enough. I got 40 brownie bites and that requires a lot of frosting!! I just dipped the top of the brownie bites in the frosting. Then as the Picky Palate suggested I crushed 3 candy canes and sprinkled them on top. You want the candy cane to be in small pieces, not dust but small bite size pieces. I put mine in a ziploc bag and used our potato masher to smash them up (only the best baking tools are used in this kitchen!) They taste so good. You have to try it!

Shared With:

Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday

Talking Dollars and Cents - Muffin Monday

Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday
Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party
Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday
Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday
Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays

Lemon Tool Birthday Cake

2011-12-03T21:17:00.000-07:00

My husband, Rob's, birthday was November 27th. I wanted to make him a really special cake. Unlike me his favorite thing is not chocolate (hard to believe we ended up together!) He does like chocolate but not his favorite. When I asked him what flavor he wanted for his birthday cake he said lemon cake and lemon frosting. Now I like lemon, but I wanted a cake that everyone could enjoy (like me and my chocoholic father!). So we settled on lemon cake with vanilla buttercream frosting. I didn't want to cover the cake in fondant because that really isn't his favorite. So I frosted it in buttercream (recipe is below), smoothed the buttercream and did the border and decorations in fondant. I honestly think that using fondant to cover a cake is easier than smoothing buttercream. It is so hard to get it to look smooth and perfect. Something I definately need a lot more practice at!

I searched on Cake Central for a lemon cake recipe. I found one by TasteandSeeCakesAZ (modified recipe below). I baked the cake and leveled it. We tasted the cake that we had to trim off and it was excellent. So I frosted it with buttercream. I rolled out a yellow piece of fondant and cut it into a 1"thick strip. I then used my black edible marker from Americolor to draw on the tape measure.

I also have a tool candy mold so I colored fondant and pushed it into the mold to make tools for the top of the cake. Only problem I had is that I had to make and eat the cake in one day. The fondant tools could have really used more time to dry out and harden.

I have also heard that gumpaste would be good for this type of decoration. But I don't know anything about that yet. I need to add it to my list of future experiments. Other problem with doing the cake in one day is that I had to take the pictures at night when it was finished and with no natural light. So bear with me :)

The cake came out ok and Rob loved the lemon flavor. Very suprisingly so did my Dad!!! I really wanted this cake to be spectacular since it was for Rob's birthday. At first it was going to be a tool box cake, then a cake in the shape of a drill. I really just ran out of time. It was so hectic here. I did learn a very important lesson though and that was to leave myself enough time and to plan out your cake. Believe me, having a plan is essential and will save you a lot of stress!

Buttercream

2 sticks (1 Cup) plus 4 tablespoons butter, softened. I use unsalted butter.

4 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 teaspoons hot water

-Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth.

-Add vanilla and hot water and beat again until smooth.

Makes enough to cover 24 cupcakes or one cake.

Lemon Cake

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter

1 box (3.4 oz) instant lemon pudding

1 teaspoon lemon extract

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup sour cream (8 oz)

zest of 1 lemon

4 eggs

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

3/4 cup whole milk

-Cream butter and sugar in electric mixer on medium high until smooth.

-Add pudding, lemon and vanilla extracts, lemon zest and sour cream and combine.

-Beat in eggs one at a time.

-In a separate bowl combine remaining dry ingredients.

-Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk a little at a time until all is combined.

-Bake in greased cake pan at 350 degrees until done, about 30 minutes.

-Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Finish cooling on drying rack. Frost when completely cool.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

2011-11-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

Every year I make pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I do love pumpkin pie! But this year I also wanted to make something else festive. Especially because I am supposed to be experimenting! So for Thanksgiving I made the traditional pumpkin pie but I also made a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie pie. I had seen the recipe on the How Sweet It Is blog and said - Oh Yeah!! How can anything with chocolate chips be bad! It did not disappoint. It is made with 1/3 cup pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. I used homemade pumpkin pie spice with spices I already had in my pantry. Next time I think I will use a little less pumpkin pie spice because it was a little sharp but still yummy!! What a nice alternative to the usual pumpkin pie (still a favorite though!)

Of course with all the hustle and bustle of the holiday I forgot to take a picture of the finished product!! So here is a picture as it went in the oven. Yum!

Shared With:

Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday
Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Junk in Their Trunk - Link it Up Wednesday