White Chocolate Vanilla Bean Truffles

I've blogged 3 times today.  DID YOU JUST FALL DOWN??  I know, I'm surprised too.  But I couldn't let Valentine's Day go by without sharing these creamy, delightful little bites of white chocolate.  I followed this recipe and added 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla paste to the ganache.  The edible hearts can be purchased here.  I wrapped them up and sent them off to school with Jack as gifts for his teachers, otherwise I'd be here sitting on the floor with white chocolate all over my face.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Healthy V-Day Treats

I've already introduced you to my sister-in-law Jessica's blog, One Hungry Yogi, but now let me introduce you to my sister Georgia's new blog, Inspired Spoons (you've met her before, by the way). Georgia is a junior at Syracuse studying Nutrition and Dietetics.  I had no idea how to spell that word, by the way, but I SWEAR we're related.  She is my youngest sister, and probably a thousand times smarter (and healthier) than me.  Check out her blog, like her on Facebook and follow her on Instagram - her food is truly beautiful and inspiring!  In case you're not convinced, here are some Valentine's Day treats from both Jessica and Georgia... you're welcome. 

Raw Strawberry Tart ~ One Hungry Yogi

Strawberry Banana Cashew "Nice Cream" ~ Inspired Spoons

I Heart You.

What are you up to on this Valentine's Day?  I am busy wrapping up White Chocolate Vanilla Bean Truffles for Jack's teachers, and that is about as romantical (made up word) as I get, sorry Carson.  But I do enjoy making treats for holidays, so here are a few ideas from me to you... 

Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Chocolate Raspberry Pie Pops

Also, ideas from years past... here and here.

Stay tuned later on today for some figure-friendly ideas from my sister's blogs, as well as those non-figure-friendly vanilla truffles.  Happy Valentine's Day!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

What is wrong with me.  Why do I do this to myself.  Didn't I learn in elementary school to use question marks when asking questions.  I'm too lazy to use proper grammar, because I have too much cookie dough swimming around in my brain.  I blame sick kids, and rain, and stir craziness, and lack of eggs.  It was really that last part that reminded me of this Eggless Cookie Dough (also remember these lollipops?).  It's the PERFECT thing to make when you have a cookie craving and no eggs in your fridge.  Yesterday, I added 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter to the butter/sugar mixture.  I also melted half of them in a chocolaty peanut butter (1 cup chocolate chips, 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter).  And now I have about a thousand of each in my freezer.  Good thing it's Valentine's Day next week, so I can hand these out to anyone I even remotely like.  Guess what?!  I remotely like you.  What's your address? 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oat Bites

I don't know how to dress anymore.  I was just in New York, dealing with Polar Vortexes and bundling up my kids until you could only see their eyeballs.  Now I'm in California and it's summer.  It's slathered sunscreen, AC blasting in car, HOT summer.  In January.  These little no-bake treats are perfect for such weather, but that doesn't mean you won't enjoy them in the tundra.  They're delicious.  You most likely have all the ingredients in your pantry, and they take NO time to put together.  Your kids can help roll them into balls, and you can make them as big or as small as you want!  My vote is small, because then you won't feel guilty for eating 5 in a row.  They are so creamy, with a slight crunch from the cereal, and the mini chocolate chips make them just sweet enough.  You need to make these, whether you're wearing too many clothes or too little.

Recipe HERE.         

Holiday treats from long ago...

Some ideas for last minute holiday baking (6 more days people)...

Nutella Truffles

Peppermint Marshmallows

Chewy Ginger Cookies

Bittersweet Chocolate Fudge with Sea Salt

Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cranberry Pistachio Pudding Cookies

Peppermint Meringues

Homemade Almond Roca

Homemade Hot Chocolate

On another note, I don't have nearly enough photos from you guys for the contest.  Should I extend the deadline by a week, so you can get all toasted and goofy with your friends and family over Christmas?  Otherwise I'm just keeping this $120 basket for myself : )

UPDATE:  I have extended the deadline to submit photos to NEXT Friday, 12/27, so by all means, drink some spiked egg nog with your loved ones and eat some pasta.  

Mint Chocolate Truffles

I always look forward to Food Network's 12 Days of Cookies.  I've been getting the emails for years, and while I rarely make most of them, I still love reading the recipes (don't pretend that you're better than me because you read actual books).  When I saw this one for mint truffles, I decided to give them a try.  I am a sucker for mint + chocolate and these treats did not disappoint.  Slightly time consuming and messy, but the perfect gift for your loved ones.  Or yourself!    

Buckeyes

I hope you guys are having fun with the photo contest.  I have about a thousand ideas I want to offer you, but that's just me being bossy like I was as a kid in charge of my sibling's "Pinter Playhouse" (our production of Little Red Riding Hood was really spectacular).  Anyway, the deadline to submit pictures is this Friday so GET SNAPPING!  I'm so annoyed that I just said that.  

On to the Buckeyes.  I found this recipe as I was perusing through holiday treats online, and it brought back all sorts of memories.  My mom and I made a variation of these almost every year (ours was fully immersed in chocolate, duh).  This recipe took NO time to make and they are SO good.  If you're into peanut butter and chocolate, that is, and if you're not, go away.  Holiday Spirit!           

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Pretzels

I am not a very crafty mom.  Thank god for preschool and art and messy paint and clay because that does not happen at home.  The craftiest I get is with, surprise surprise, making treats!  Luckily, Jack loves to help.  However, I am a baker by nature because it's a slow process and allows you to clean as you go, so there's a certain amount of "control" I have to let go of when I let a little one in the kitchen.  Sprinkles?  Just, breathe, and, clean, later, Siri.  These Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Pretzels were a really fun, delicious and MESSY project to do with Jack : )   

I got the idea from my friend's Instagram, who happens to be the co-host of the Minneapolis based Twin Cities Live (check out the show and website for more holiday treat ideas).  Jack had a blast doing everything himself, with the exception of melting the chocolate (which I did in the microwave for 30 second intervals until smooth).  Tip: buy a few bags of pretzels if you're going to make a lot, because many in the bag were broken (I used this brand).  Simply spread a small amount of peanut butter on the flat side of each pretzel, add another on top to make a sandwich (flat side to flat side).  Dip in melted chocolate, use a spoon to add sprinkles, and place finished product on parchment paper to harden... 

(actual recipe here)   

Triple Chocolate Pudding

As you know, I don't really like pie.  So on Thanksgiving, I decided to make some chocolate pudding for the kids and, well, myself.  I love chocolate so when I found a recipe for a TRIPLE chocolate pudding, duh, I made it.  While I think I missed up the whisking process (recipes that call for consistent attention are not my forte) the flavor was still delicious.  Also, I sat at the kid's table too.  (Recipe here.)

Later in the week stay tuned for... a brown butter based pizza and a CONTEST.  You heard me.  

Halloween Marshmallow Pops

I still rip things out of magazines at doctor's offices.  And I still nervously look around me as I'm doing it, half expecting a police officer to jump out from behind a plant and arrest me.  This habit is very old school, because I could easily take a photo of whatever it is with my iPhone or go home and Google the same magazine and find the article in its entirety online.  Alas, ripping it out makes me feel dangerous and 82 years old at the same time.  So, I recently found this article stuffed in my purse about Marshmallow Pops, which looked so fun and easy to recreate at home.  And they were!  Perfect after-school activity with Jack...  

I used lollipop sticks I had on hand, melted white chocolate for the ghosts and candy melts for the Frankensteins and pumpkins.  (I didn't have orange candy melts so I combined yellow and red, which sort of came out coral but go with it.)  Simply dunk your skewered marshmallows and then let cool on parchment paper.  Melt some chocolate chips and dunk the tips of your green marshmallows for Frankenstein hair.  Place the rest of the melted chocolate in a piping bag (or plastic baggie with the end snipped) and use to make spooky faces!  You could make mummies or Dracula's too, and use other candies for decorating.  The possibilities are endless when you rip articles out of magazines!       

Halloween 'Temptation Candy' Giveaway!

I don't know about you guys, but we have been planning our Halloween costume since last November. And by "we" I mean, Jack.  I don't think a month has gone by without a costume discussion.  Of course, each month a new character is in the lead... Iron Man, Captain Iron Man (he exists), Luke Skywalker and now we're back to the Red Power Ranger.  Which is what he was last year.  "No, Mom, last year I was Jayden and this year I'm going to be Troy!"  Whatever that means.  Also, according to Jack, Etta is supposed to be R2-D2 and myself?  Yup, C-3PO.  Anyone have any gold spandex I can borrow?

With Halloween (finally) around the corner, the good people from Temptation Candy - a boutique online candy store based in LA - want to give YOU a treat!  But the trick is (do you see what I did there?), only one of you can win (US residents only, excluding Alaska and Hawaii).  Included in the cute baskets are Jelly Belly Beans, Starburst Candy and Caramel Hershey Kisses.  So please comment below to win, and share what you're going dressed up as this Halloween!  Also, check out the rest of the Halloween treats over at Temptation Candy.  I'll wear gold face paint if I can eat all of that. 

*Winner will be picked at random on Tuesday, October 1st.       

Salted Caramel "Cronut"

I never cheated in school.  I didn't steal.  I always make sure the cashier at the market scans the items some people forget at the bottom of the cart (almost always - one time I accidentally walked out with a 6 pack of Guinness and I didn't go back I'M SORRY UNIVERSE!).  But, sometimes I cheat when it comes to baking.  Because I have two kids under five, and because my days spent entirely devoted to baking are behind me, and because when you find ridiculously easy recipes you should try them.  Like Pillsbury's version of a Cronut - the half croissant half donut craze that originated in NYC and has taken over the country.  I'm not a huge donut fan, but I LOVE croissants.  Has anyone tried them?  I didn't get a chance when I was back East, but Carson has tried them so I asked him to be the judge of this Pillsbury recipe.  He said they were close.  Still lacking a little of that cakey donut flavor, but close, and delicious.  You should try them, I don't think you'll be sorry that you cheated.  Recipe here.  

Speedy Strawberry Ice Cream

It's hot.  It's hot everywhere.  The country is on fire.  The mosquitos are having a field day.  I moved away from the Midwest 10 years ago and haven't had a mosquito bite until this summer.  What, is, going, ON Southern California?!?  I wake up every morning with bites in the most god forsaken places.  Like, the tip of my toe????  Or this morning... in between two fingers.  Thanks for that mosquito.  It's hot.  And no one wants to cook.  So when a friend sent me this recipe for a quick and easy strawberry ice cream, I knew it was something I had to share with you people.  My method doesn't even require an ice cream maker!  Just a quick stir every hour or so in front of the freezer, which is where you want to be anywhere, isn't it?  FREEZE TO DEATH MOSQUITOS!

p.s. This ice cream is creamy, refreshing and delicious.    

Speedy Strawberry Ice Cream

Makes 1 1/2 quarts

Source: Star Tribune

(Printable Recipe)

1 lb. strawberry - washed, trimmed and halved (or quartered if strawberries are big)

1 cup powdered sugar

1 1/3 cup heavy cream

1 T lime zest  

Place strawberries, sugar, cream and lime zest in a blender.  Blend until well combined.  Transfer mixture to a freezer-safe bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and place in freezer.  Stir with spatula, scraping down sides, every hour until ice cream reaches desired consistency - usually about 4 hours later.

Rice Crispy Treat Cookies

Sometimes I am smart.  I do smart things, like a smart person.  For example, there has been a bag of mini marshmallows I've been trying to get rid of because I can't stop eating them.  How can I get rid of these, I asked myself yesterday.  Ooo, I know!  I'll put them in cookies.  And now, I have a batch of cookies that I can't stop eating.  Problem solved?  No, problem not solved.  I am a smart person.

Oh well, my son and I bonded and I kept him from watching Mike the Knight.  These were his idea, I kid you not.  A chocolate chip cookie with Rice Krispies and marshmallows - a Rice Crispy Treat Cookie if you will!  They are reminiscent of the familiar snack with their gooey crunch.  A bit messy, because I put marshmallows in the dough as well as on top.  You could plop yours on after they've been baked to avoid the mess.  I just love that gooey, melted marshmallow in the cookie as well.    

Also, sorry for the lack of posts this week.  Every day has been "Go.Go.Go" and every night my brain wakes me up around midnight and keeps me up for a few hours with "To-Do List" thoughts.  

Thanks brain!  You're the bestest.  

Rice Crispy Treat Cookies

(Makes approx. 24)

Printable Recipe

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 cups Rice Krispies

1 pkg. chocolate chips

Mini marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350.  In a bowl with a mixer, cream together butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, and then vanilla.  Combine.  In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.  Slowly add to wet ingredients and mix until just combined.  Stir in cereal and chocolate chips.  Add roughly 1 cup of mini marshmallows, if adding to dough.  If not, save until after cookies are baked.  Scoop out cookies onto ungreased baking sheet (or lined with parchment paper).  Bake for 8-10 minutes.  Immediately out of oven, top each cookie with 2 or 3 mini marshmallows.  Let cool.