Chocolate Mint Cookies

Chocolate Mint Cookies
1 box of chocolate cake mix
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup water
1/3 canola oil
1 cup Andes mint baking chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, flour, water and oil. Mix until combined.
3. On a greased baking sheet, place balls of dough. Bake for 8-9 minutes.
4. In a microwaveable bowl place the mint baking chips. Put in the microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir, put in for 15 more seconds and stir. Take a small spoonful and pour over each individual cookie. Let them cool to have the chocolate harden.

Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Casserole

The holidays are coming, so it's time to get festive. I am a sweet potato lover, and this casserole does just the trick. And it has less than 200 calories per serving. Can easily be doubled for big family dinners! Servings: 4

Sweet Potato Casserole

2 large sweet potatoes

2 egg whites

2 Tbsp. maple syrup

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Topping

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 Tbsp. melted butter

1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/3 cup dried cranberries (you could use dried apricots or dried cherries, or both!)

1. Wash and peel 2 sweet potatoes and quarter them. 

 

2. Place the sweet potatoes in dutch oven or sauce pan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and let them simmer for about 20 minutes. Drain and then mash. 

 

3. Place in a large bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites, syrup and vanilla. Let the potatoes cool slightly and stir in the egg white mixture. 

 

4. Grease a loaf baking dish and transfer the potatoes. Combine the pecans, brown sugar, butter and cinnamon. Sprinkle on top of potatoes. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. 

 

5. Add the dried cranberries and bake for another 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Red Velvet 4th of July Cookies

I took the recipe I made here, added a few sprinkles and dubbed these my Independence Day treat. Easy enough, and even more delicious. I wrapped them all up before I thought to take a picture! So just past the little bags.

I also, was featured by Yummly.com for this recipe. You can see the blog post with 9 other soft, sugary sandwich cookies here. Yahoo! Happy 4th everyone!!!

The Ultimate Sugar Cookie

These are the softest and yummiest sugar cookies ever. Valentine's Day will never be the same.

Sugar Cookies
2 sticks of softened butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
5 cups flour (add until not sticky - may be a whole cup)
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Roll out 1/4" thick. Use a cute heart-shaped cookie cutter. Bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes depending on size of cookie. If they get golden brown they'll get crunchy.

Cream Cheese Frosting
 8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup margarine
2 tsp. vanilla
16 oz. powdered sugar
Red Food Coloring

Use a hand mixer until well combined. Don't mix too long or it'll get too thick.

Heart Garland

I have been feeling like my home needed a bit of love in lieu of the holiday this week. So I took some old red felt, and made a fun little heart garland. Felt, string, scissors and a glue gun.

Double up the felt so that you have 2 hearts exactly the same size. Cut out the hearts, any size that you wish. They could all be the same size, or alternate sizes, or make it random. 

Take one heart and place it under the string. Tack on some glue, and put the other heart on top with the string in between. 

Spread them out as you wish, far apart or touching. Hang it up and enjoy! Quick, easy, cut and festive.