Saturday, February 13, 2010

Valentine Candy Heart Massacre

Pink Vanilla Candy Melts
+

Ghirardelli White Chocolate
is supposed to
=
cute pink/white swirl candy hearts
with candy sprinkles or toffee chips

but...
I forgot to use PAM cooking spray
so
I
got

this
which
really
=

broken pink/white hearts

Valentine Peppermint Creme Cookies

This recipe comes courtesy of Tongue and Cheeky's blog.

I made these on a snow day!

They were so fun to make
and
O
M
Gah
goodness

Click here for the recipe

First, you make the chocolate wafer cookie.
Then, you make the creme filling.
Then, you dip it in the chocolate!

Friday, February 12, 2010

The Perfect Snow Day Snack

queso
I believe this is the very first dip I ever learned how to make.
It is also the easiest dip to make.

Imagine my surprise when I found out that not everyone has heard of queso.

Growing up in Dallas, queso was "the" appetizer to order anytime I went out with my friends.

As I've gotten older, it's just a guilty pleasure because, of course, of the calories.
I hardly ever buy velveeta, but just happened to have some in the house on this historic snow day..
YAY!
There are a lot of variations of queso.
This is the simpliest!

Combine 1 can of Ro-Tel diced tomatoes to 1- 16 ounce block of Velveeta.

 Now, you can try different cheeses, you can add chili, sausage, or hamburger meat -
it's all good - but sometimes it's good to just stick to the basics.

It is just that delicious!

Snowmageddon - Dallas

Wow... after 24 hours of constant snow fall.
It's very pretty outside.
I don't remember ever seeing anything like this!

Pampered Chef Heart Bread Tube

As I promised in a previous post about all things heart, I  decided to start with the heart tube pan because it's the easiest.
All Pampered Chef products come with this handy product care pamphlet and recipes.
(Although, sadly enough they do not make these tube pans any longer)

I chose to make Cinnamon Swirl Bread.

Ingredients
1 package (11 ounces) refrigerated French bread dough
1 tablespoon butter (melted)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon 

 Finding Pillsbury French Bread loaf isn't easy. Not all stores are carrying it these days. So, when I found it, I bought 2 of them.

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray inside of the tube and lids with nonstick cooking spray. Place lid on bottom of tube.  Unroll bread dough; brush with butter using a pastry brush.
2. Combine sugar and cinnamon.  Sprinkle over dough. Starting at the long edge, roll up dough. Fill the tube with the dough, place lid on top.
3. Adjust oven racks so that the tube fits upright in the oven. Bake 50-60 minutes or until the ends are golden brown. Remove bread from the tube onto a cooling rack. cool completely. 


You can make your own icing/glaze using powdered sugar and milk.
About 2 tablespoons of milk to 1 cup of powdered sugar using a drop of vanilla.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Still Snowing in Dallas


This is my backyard.
It's been snowing all day!
I have all the windows open in my house, and I feel like I'm in a big snow globe.
The news is saying that this is the snowiest day since 1978.
It's supposed to continue to snow until at least midnight.
So glad I have the option to work from home.


This is the front of my house.
The flickers in the picture are SNOW.

Snow Day

Wow... woke up to a blanket of snow!
We do NOT get this in Dallas Texas!
Fluffy white snow
It's snowing right now
It looks like big flakes of cotton
We get raining sleet normally
So this is cool...

First Monday, Canton TX

This place ROCKS!
Click here for previous mentions.
I really can't explain it
It's like a flea market
but really
so much more!
The very first time I went was back in 2000 with my stepmom and stepsisters.
I got these brunch plates and cups.
6 of each.
The plate has a place for the cup to rest.
I totally love these.
I think I got them for like $15.00 -
but wait, there's a story -
isn't there always a story?

 Rule # 1
Be careful when you go with large groups of people.

I paid for them, and I totally FORGOT them.
There were so many people to keep up with and so much to see that I didn't realize until we got home and were putting all of our stuff out to display for each other - that I didn't have my most prized purchase of the day.
Thank goodness we only live 20 miles from Canton - I went back the next morning, and can you believe they still had them - all wrapped up and waiting for me.
That could have easily tainted Canton in my mind forever.

Rule #2
Dress comfortably - where layers &  tennis shoes.
(But do not wear matching t-shirts as seen here.. that is just too silly, ladies! )

Rule #3
Do not forget the cart!

 We typically go to Canton at least 2 to 3 times a year.
A couple of us decided to invest in this cart.
I get to keep it because I live the closest.
I let another friend borrow it recently, and she brought it back with the liner and the cup holder.
Wow!
Can't wait for Spring!
Who's in?

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Wine Snob Confession #2


Riesling/Pinot Blanc

This was not only inexpensive, but it's also a screw top.
Even my son was a little snobby about that!
It was ok, but I probably won't buy it again.

How's it hangin?

...yet another
 ♥
I told you I didn't capture them all.
I keep finding them throughout my house !

I bought 2 of these hangers at First Monday in Canton a couple years ago.
They are to hang robes in my guest room.
Aren't they precious?
Click here if you missed the post about my love of all things ♥.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Heart Cookies

As I stated in an earlier post, I love ♥'s.
I was at Walmart the other day, and just had to have these ♥ cookies (and also the pink plastic ♥ plate - it was only $1.00)



(This cute plate is not at Walmart. Aunt Janae recently gave them to me when she "de-cluttered" her space)

Ok.. so the cookies aren't that great.. but they sure are cute!
Work will ♥ me when I take these up to the office
They'll eat anything!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Valentine Dinner with Your Sweetie

Nothing says romance more
than a "Buy One Get One Free Patty Melt"
on Valentine's Day @ Whataburger!

Something about this just tickles me so!
I'm like "seriously"?

I didn't even know that Whataburger sold Patty Melts.

I bet this is really great if you and your sweetie are both on the Atkins diet!

Becoming More Than Just a Good Bible Study Girl

We kicked off our bible study on Saturday. This is our 7th book over the last 5 years. I am really excited about this book. It was just r...