Dodger Cupcake Pops!

Every year for Trav's birthday I make some sort of Dodger dessert. A few years ago it was an LA baseball funfetti cake that I am pretty sure he ate in one setting! This past year I decided to try cupcake pops that I had seen on Bakerella. I already had the miniture flower cookie cutter to make the chocolate cupcake liner look so I gave them a try.

They turned out ok. Not totally how I pictured but now I know what needs to be fixed and what will be easier for the next time! It was fun to try something new and my husband loves anything Dodger related! Again, I need another excuse to try these cute mini cupcake pops again! 

And, with Trav's birthday coming up in a little over a month I am in need of a new Dodger dessert idea. 

If you have any, let me know!

Yummy Garlic Bread Knots!

Last night I made mostacolli for dinner. When Trav and I were first married we ate it quite possibly weekly. Because it makes so much we would have it for dinner, than lunch, than dinner again, than lunch again! I hadn't made it for awhile and it's super easy so I figured it was time to bring it back. 

I would normally serve garlic bread with it but I get so tired of regular garlic bread. And I have this issue where if something is easy or familiar about a meal I need to do something new or creative to spice it up. I started browsing online for homemade bread sticks. I stumbled across a site called Hosier Homemade and a recipe for what she called Parmesan knots that she made while serving mostacolli. ( you can find pictures here )Sounded yummy so I gave them a try!

I felt liked I worked for Wetzel's Pretzels as I rolled out the biscuits into rope-like strands. They were easy to tie in a knot and than I threw them in the oven till they looked golden on top. While they were in the oven I prepared the dipping sauce. I melted a half a stick of butter, threw in some grated parmesan, a little oregano, some parsley, and some garlic powder. I'm really bad about measuring. I always eyeball everything and I don't remember the last time I used a teaspoon while baking. ( Hmmm, if you ever think something I made tastes odd, that is probably why. Don't be afraid to tell me to use measuring cups next time! ;) So, I just poured and stirred until it looked ( and tasted ) right. After they come out of the oven turn them over and dip them in the mix and set them on a plate. They are than ready to go!!

Dinner was delish. A simple meal with a fun twist. Heidi and her boys were here and it's always fun having an excuse to cook for more people.....and watching Huddy go face first for the cake! ;) Those garlic bread knots are dangerous though. Since they are small you can eat so many more. I can't even admit how many I had!

Quick Dessert : Rocky Road Brownies

Have I mentioned I love quick and easy desserts? Don't get me wrong, labor of love is definitely a part of my love language but sometimes it's nice to just grab items from the cupboard and throw them together last minute for a delicious treat.

I made Rocky Road Brownies in the fall and I had completely forgotten about them until this week. On Monday I was sitting here, bored, when I decided to bake. Little did I know this would be a delicious little treat.....and I would hands own devour half the pan myself! Yikes!

If you are ever in a jam or need a quick treat, give them a try!

Rocky Road Brownies

box brownie mix with syrup

peanuts

mini marshmellows

bag of semi sweet chocolate chips

1/4 c water

1/3 c oil

2 eggs (beaten)

handfuls of dry roasted peanuts

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 pan. Mix together the brownie mix, water, eggs, and oil. Add in some chocolate chips. Bake for 25-30 min, just keeping an eye on them. Take the brownies our an cover with as many marshmellows as desired, the rest of the chocolate chips, and a handful or two of peanuts. Throw it back in the oven with a cookie sheet covering for about 3-4 minutes. Remove the pan and let them cool. 

They are really good with cool whip on top.....but what isn't, right?!?

Thank You Daisy Mountain Station!

Last week I arrived in Arizona on Tuesday. I met up with my parents for lunch and than my mom headed back to work. While I was in the shower my dad got a call to pick my mom up at the hospital because she had gone with a student in an ambulance. Later we found out that a 2 ( or was he 3?) year old had had a seizure while in the classroom. Thankfully, my mom has assisted through many seizures so she knew just how to intervene. She did say after she had never seen one last so long and seen someone so blue from lack of oxygen.

The preschool wanted to say thanks to the firemen and paramedics who took care of the little guy. The 4 year old class made the cutest cards. Pictures hand drawn and messages saying," Thanks for saving Nicholis" were done all in 4 year old handwriting. Precious. My mom asked my sister and I to make oreo pops to take to the station with the cards. We figured when we dropped them off they would let Zoey see the truck ( ok, us too!) and maybe there would be a handsome one who my sister could meet. ;) Well, when we shower up they were pulling out on the truck. All of them. WE rang the door bell and stood there like dumb blondes for awhile before we noticed we were by the sign that said," Safe haven. Safe place for babies." Time to go. They ended up being out at training all day. Bummer! My dad ended up taking them on the day that the entire station was there. Zoey girl, we will find you another time to play on the truck!

Heart to Heart Bunco

Last week it was my turn to host Bunco and what do you know, it was the Valentine's Bunco!  While it took me a bit to get into the feel for all the hearts, there were some fun treats to do for the night.  Diet Coke cupcakes were soundly delicious and I couldn't pass up a chance to make oreo pops =) The best part of the night was playing with all my sister in laws! We had never done that before but since subs were needed it worked out. What a fun night! And full of winnings!

Quick Dessert

 

Ever need a quick dessert and don't have time to run to the market or make something fancy?! I have a few "go to" desserts where I somehow always have the ingredients in the house in case I need to bake something on short notice and don't want to risk trying a new recipe. One of my favorites is this Triple Chocolate Cake. It looks like it took time but it is by far the easiest thing to throw together! :-) 

If you have any quick and easy dessert recipes, let me know! I am always looking for new things to add to my recipe book! 

I can't believe it's already Christmas season! Which means......lots of yummy treats! My family has the best Christmas recipes that we all look forward to each year! I can't wait to eat my mom's chocolate fudge....and I know my sister, Lyndsay, will have butterscotch at Christmas. I'm already salivating! Our grandma's Christmas cookies are by far the best you will ever have. Bold statement, I know. But it's the truth. I'm sad to miss the Christmas cookie baking day this year....well, I'm really disappointed to miss sneaking chunks of dough to eat with my sisters when our mom is not watching!!! I can't wait for Lyns' twisties on Christmas morning or for Christmas bread! And, I'm going to be daring this year and try a German cookie recipe that my Grandma used to make. My dad loves them and I think a little reminder of her and his childhood  will be special! =)

Let the holiday cooking begin!

Triple Chocolate Cake

1 box Devils' food cake mix

1 small box instant choc. pudding

1 12 oz package of semi-sweet choc. chips

1 and 3/4 cup milk

2 eggs

Add all ingredients together. Pour into a well-greased bundt pan. 

Bake at 350 for 50-55 min. Let cool in pan for 15 min. 

Remove and top with powdered sugar!

Top with some cool whip!

Mmmmm, Mmmmmmm, Mmmmmm

I don't know about you but I am a pumpkin fanatic! I look forward to fall so I can literally eat pumpkin anything for 2 months straight. I recently stumbled across a new recipe for pumpkin cookies that I will say, are to die for. I literally could eat a whole batch myself....as well as my in laws! In fact, I made them once the night before an event and within two hours the entire batch was gone! Oops...I just had to make more :-) 

Pumpkin season is almost over so I thought I would share the recipe so you as well could enjoy the deliciousness of these cookies! Really, they are heaven in a bite of pumpkin! :-) Enjoy!

** PUMPKIN COOKIES**

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups light br sugar
1/2 cup butter.marg. softened
2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
3 tsp vanilla
2 3/4 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1 1/3 c chopped pecans
1/2 c vanilla chips

Preheat to 350. Grease cookie sheet.

In a large bowl beat brown sugar, butter, eggs, pumpkin, and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder, and spices. Stir in pecans and vanilla chips. Drop onto sheet.

Bake 10-14 min or until lightly browned. Cool for 30 min or so.

I than put vanilla chips in a bown with a tiny bit of cooking oil....just a few drops and microwave to melt. I spoon it into a plastic bag and cut off the corner to than drizzle over the cookies.

Zoey's Pops

This past weekend our niece, Zoey, was baptized. For her baptismal brunch I made chocolate cream cheese cake pops! Always a hit! I ordered these super cute tags from Etsy and had them personalized just for her day. My sister, Kristel, and I stayed up late the night before baking the breakfast casserole & working on the pops. 

I have fallen in love with these tags! They are just too cute!

Jesus loves you Zoey girl!!!! May you always keep Him in your heart and His light shining through you!

Cake Pops!

I love love love to bake. It completely relaxes me. Sometimes after a long day of class or when I'm stressed over something I find myself in the kitchen ready to try something new or an old fave. When my parents moved, baking/cooking became my coping mechanism. Poor Trav would come home to muffins, desserts, appetizers, and you name it.

I love the site Bakerella and visit it daily. She has the cutest ideas and even her ordinary cream cheese brownies or sweet rolls are delish. My favorite item to make though are cake balls.You can leave them as plain old cake balls, turn them into cake pops, or cupcake pops. Flavors can range from red velvet, to chocolate, to lemon...you name it. Let me tell you though....they are sure to be a hit. There is just something about them that is so scrumptious and savory you can't just eat one.

This past weekend I had the joy of making another batch. I often find reasons to make them and this time I had a pretty good one. Katie was throwing a baby shower and wanted to serve them as dessert. I was thrilled to have an excuse to whip up a batch. She asked me to use a lemon flavor which would be a new creation for me. But they ended up tasting great. Cream cheese + lemon = fabulous! I'm looking forward to Zoey girl's baptism coming up so I can have an excuse to make more!

Lemon Cream Cheese Cake Pops