Thursday, February 14, 2013

Chocolate Strawberry Chews

O so sweet then tangy!!! These are scrumptious and easy homemade filled chocolates! I used two items! Semi sweet melting chocolate and strawberries! Don't forget to check out the cute and easy construction paper boxes I made to give these yummy sweets away in!

Preheat oven to 210 (doesn't take long) remove the green tops on strawberries and place on cookie sheet in a single layer.

Baked in the over for 4 hours (I actually had to bake mine about 4 and half, it might vary for you also)

I then placed the strawberries in the refrigerator overnight.

This morning I melted semisweet chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave and dipped the entire strawberry.

There you are, chocolate strawberry chews!
Why o Why do Holidays have to be so sugary addicting!!!!

Valentine's Day Celebration Table!!!

IT'S HERE! LOVE DAY!!! I stayed up late putting together our family Valentine's Day table and making some last minute sweets!!!

 
 
****If you see something you like that didn't make it to the blog , let me know! I didn't make a tutorial on everything I made but if you want one I'll do it!
 
My daughter was so excited she started singing Happy Birthday, she just melts my heart! She clapped jumped up and down yelling "happy!" Aw she makes it all worth it :) Thank you for taking a peek at our set up. We have invited friends and family to stop by for amazing sweets and Valentine's gifts! Share the love!

 
 
 
DIY Dessert Plates (bottom middle right)
Scrap paper wrapped candy bars (bottom middle left)
DIY Paper Boxes (above the Chocolate Strawberry Chews)
DIY Metallic Heart Candle Holder (above DIY paper boxes)
Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries (middle middle :)
Chalkboard painted platter (top left)
Greek Yogurt Chocolate Mocha Mousse in Chocolate Tuxedo Cups (top middle)
DIY Paper Rose Bouquet (very top middle)
Burlap Push Pin Board (in the back)
LOVE Push Pin Holders (on the board in the back)
Pebble Strand Garland (middle wall)
Heart Felt Garland (top of wall)
 
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

DIY Paper Boxes for Valentine Goodies!

I needed something to put my chocolate strawberry chews in for Valentine's Day, as I was rummaging through my stash I found cupcake wrappers. Perfect, unless you are taking them to go. I then thought paper boxes! I would make them to fit around the cupcake wrapper for sweets to go!

 
Grab some colored construction paper, scissors, glue and ribbon!
 

My cupcake wrapper was about 3" wide and 1 1/4" tall.
I started with a 6"x6" square for the bottom of the box.
 
 
The middle of the box  needed to be 3" so I made 1 1/2" cuts down into the sides 1 1/2" leaving my 3" in the middle.
 
 
After making my straight cuts, cut diagonally on the sides into your straight cuts these will be the tabs that you glue to the inside of your box.
 
 
Use a ruler or something similar to make the folds in your paper.
 
 
After folding all four sides your paper should take on the shape of a box.
 
 
Now glue the triangle tabs onto the inside of the box lining up the paper on the sides and top.
 
 
Perfect!
 
Now I wanted my lid to be able to fit over the box with a little room to add ribbon, I also didn't want the lid to fold over the box too much. I cut a 4 1/4" square for the lid of the box. 
 
Same instructions as above only different dimensions for the lid.
I cut down into the sides 1/2" leaving 3 1/4" in the middle.
Continue above instructions for folding and gluing.
 
 
 Size difference between lid and bottom of box. Below
 
 
 
LOVELY!!!!
 
Not decorate however you would like!
 
I had some left over ribbon that worked out :)
 
Now off to make Chocolate Strawberries Chews to fill my boxes!
 
Please always let me know if you have any questions!!!!!!

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

10 Ways To LOVE!!!

10 Ways to LOVE
1. Listen without interrupting.
Proverbs 18:13 – To answer before listening, that is folly and shame.
2. Speak without accusing.
James 1:19 – My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry
3. Give without sparing.
Proverbs 21:26 – All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.
4. Pray without ceasing.
Colossians 1:9 – For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.
5. Answer without arguing.
Proverbs 17:1 – Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
6. Share without pretending.
Ephesians 4:15 – Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
7. Enjoy without complaint.
Philippians 2:14 – Do everything without grumbling or arguing
8. Trust without wavering.
Corinthians 13:7 – Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
9. Forgive without punishing.
Colossians 3:13 – Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
10. Promise without forgetting.
Proverbs 13:12 – Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
 

Source

Healthier Heart Sandwich for Valentines Day!

Now we have all seen the sandwiches around Valentines day with the bread cut out. The bread heart cutout is then replaced with sprinkles, frosting, marshmallows the cream too! So how about a beautiful red apple???!!! Yep that's right a pb and apple sandwich, maybe even with a drizzle of honey! Also for those with peanut allergies what about a sandwich for you? See below for a few yummy sandwiches for the family! *****Don't worry I will give examples of those sugary ones too, I know some moms like you love the sweet stuff :) but first the apple heart ;)
 
I put these sandwiches together quickly and a little sloppy but hopefully you get the idea and yours come out beautiful! I had already made these this weekend and with no kiddos today I wasn't going to be eating them so I just took quick pics. lol 
 
We have all seen the frosting heart in the middle the heart filled with strawberries, cream cheese mixed with food coloring and the sprinkles ones :) How about an apple one! For the healthier snack!

 Spread peanut butter on your bread, cut a heart shaped apple piece and place inside your heart cut out! You could also use any red jelly, strawberry, raspberry to peek through the heart shaped cut out!



Or for those with peanut allergies or for another healthy option what about meat and cheese! I used white cheese and colored it red with food coloring spray! Ta-da! Amazing and so many options! Enjoy!
 
 I bought pink and red!!! I gave the white cheese a squirt in the middle so you can see the color differences! Love this stuff!
 
*****The sugary sweet combos!
Peanut butter with red or pink icing!
How about peanut butter with miniature marshmallows??? Spray your marshmallows with color mist!
Cream cheese mixed with marshmallow cream then top with sprinkles!!!
 
I used white bread for the "color pop" lol  the first time I have ever bought it and gave it to my daughter. She liked it but now I hope she forgets about it!!! :)

Monday, February 11, 2013

Chocolate spoons with PB in the middle for Valentine's Day!

O MY O MY!!! I'm eating one right now! And NO I'm not going to tell you how many I have had so far! DELICIOUS, as my daughter would say!
 
I will tell you I have made over 100!!!! They are for my daughter to give on Valentine's Day and her cousins to hand out at theirs schools. I will also have them on my Valentine's Day display table. I will be making plenty more, especially as fast as we are eating them :)
 
These are so amazing!!!!!!! YUM YUM YUM!
 
Let's get started!
 
 
NEEDED
Melting chocolate (I used white and dark)
Peanut Butter
Sprinkles
Spoons
Plastic Baggies
Ribbon
Tags (optional)
 
 
Fill your spoon with PB and scrap excess off with spoon (if you have a mound the peanut butter will melt when you dip into the hot chocolate melts)
 
I then place the pb spoons in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes
 
Melt your chocolates
 
Dip your cooled Pb spoons in the chocolate and sprinkle
 
Let cool
 
 
I cut my plastic bags to just fit over the top of the spoon where the pb & chocolate
 
 
Tie with ribbon and hand out!
 
 
I put tags on the ones the girls are taking to school.
 
Don't forget to eat a bunch and then also save some to eat in the days to follow!!!!!
 
I've got to get back in the kitchen to make some more O and throw away all these empty piles of spoons next to me......KIDS???!!!
 

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Red Heart Shaped French Toast!

I have the pleasure this weekend of having three beautiful little girls! My daughter has had a blast with her cousins and I like that they have been wearing out our wild puppy!! Yesterday I made heart shaped colored food for all their meals, I couldn't help it. Girls are so fun and they love this stuff :) Last night I was thinking I should have been taking pictures so this morning when I made their french toast I snapped a quick pic!
I used my heart shaped cookie cutter for the bread.
I used red food dye to color my french toast dipping mixture.
I placed round white sprinkle in the best I could do heart shape.
Severed with cinnamon syrup.
 
The plate I put together real quick to match the theme! To see how to make fast decorative Valentine dishes click here :)
 
They LOVED it!