Red Velvet COOKIES!

If you are a red velvet cake lover, then you are sure to love these cookies.  I get a cookie of the day recipe through out December from Taste of Home, and when I saw this recipe I really wanted to try it.  So, I made some for our Sunday School Christmas Party.  They were exceptional.  Perfect for the Christmas season.

You can find the recipe here:
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Red-Velvet-Cookies?pmcode=IKLDP01T&_mid=809232&_rid=809232.618800.60099
*I added sprinkles instead of cookie crumbles.
These were a very unique and tasty treat! Perfect for a cookie swap or to give to a friend!


And I have been attempting for like three months now to get a good picture for a Christmas card.  I can never get everyone to look at the camera at the same time with their eyes open much less with all smiles. We attempted are Christmas photo again at the party trying again to get the "perfect picture."  But to no avail, still no perfect picture.. I guess we will just keep trying ;)

Only 15 days or 367 hours or 21985 minutes or 1219091 seconds till Christmas!

Have a blessed Christmas season

Two Ingredient Cake

Yup, thats right folks, you only need 2 ingredients for this yummy cake.  So for all you busy bees out there, this cake is for you.  And..I can not take credit for this one.  A neighbor friend shared this one with me.

Ingredients:

• One box of Betty Crocker's devils food cake mix
• One can of pumpkin

Spray and flour a bundt pan.Thoroughly mix ingredients(batter will be thick), then dump batter evenly into bundt pan.  Bake on 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

*And no, it does not taste like pumpkin, just like pure chocolate cake!  If you like devils food cake, then you are sure to like this!

I also decided to add a glaze to the cake, and it is pretty simple as well.
Just mix about 2-3 cups confectioners sugar, 2-3 tablespoons of milk and 1 tsp. vanilla extract.  Mix well and then spoon onto cake while it is still warm. 

Enjoy!

Tis the Season to enjoy Pumpkin!

Fall is such a great time of year.  I love the cool crisp air, love football season(even though I am not a die hard football watcher,) love how it reminds me of falling in love, love the changing colors of leaves and there is so much more to love about fall, but one of the things I love the most is COOKING WITH PUMPKIN! 

I tried two new recipes recently that I would like to share with you.  The first is Pumpkin Cream Cheese dip. And then some delecious pumpkin cookies with a caramel icing that taste more like cake!  Yum!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dip

Pumpkin Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup whipped cream cheese
• 1 can pumpkin
• 1 box instant vanilla pudding
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.  Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve. 
This was really good served with cinnamon pita chips or graham crackers.

Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (I may use more next time to make them taste more pumpkiny!)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

Directions:

1. Cream shortening, white sugar and pumpkin. Add eggs and mix well. Sift together the baking soda, ground cinnamon, salt and flour. Add to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
2. Drop from spoon to cookie sheet.  (I used an ice cream scoop) Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
3. To Make Frosting: Cook butter, milk, and brown sugar until dissolved. Cool and add confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Spread over warm cookies.

These are OH so yummy served warm out of the oven!

I also thought I would add a few pictures of my cuties dressed up for Halloween(a bit late, I know.)  We went to a fall festival at our Church, but the girls did not last long seeing how they were tired from an already long and fun-filled day.  So, I did not get a lot of pictures.  But here they are..Campbell is an indian and Adeline is a monkey!

Hmm..now all I need a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte..too bad the closest one is forty-five minutes away!!  And get this..my grocery stores do not carry the Pumpkin Spice Creamer!  How unfortunate!  But lucky for me, my mommy is coming to visit this week and promised to bring me some!!  Thanks Mommy!
Have a great week!

Happy BIRTHDAY Adeline!

My sweet Adeline turned ONE yesterday.  It's hard to believe. Its true what they say, it goes by in the blink of an eye.

 Most of the family came to visit.  We missed Uncle Jack, Uncle Eric, Aunt Michelle and Uncle Alan and cousin Houston!

And what's a party without a cake?

Adeline had her own personal cake.

She wasn't to sure what to think of it at first...

But it did not take her long to figure it out...

And Campbell helped herself as well.

Laney REALLY wanted a bite...it won't be long!

The rest of us enjoyed this yummy homemade strawberry cupcakes. 

 Besides birthday cake, I decided I would be festive as well and made this yummy pumpkin dip.  This was great served with cinnamon pita chips or graham crackers! (Recipes to be posted later)

Adeline got some great gifts too!  Thanks everyone!

And Campbell got a present too!  She has not stopped wearing them since!

We attempted a few family shots.

And I finally got the chance to hold sweet Laney bug!  She was such a happy camper all day long!

It was a wonderful day of celebration.  Thanks everyone for coming!

Date Night- Spicy Ranch Wings and Soft Pretzels

Friday night is usually the time that Brian and I try to spend special time together.  And while we never go out, I usually try to make something special, or sometimes he treats me to bringing supper home!

First, I made these soft pretzels which the recipe I found on Allrecipes.  I made some home-made cheese dip to go with it as well.  It was good, but I am not 100% thrilled with it yet, so once I tweak it a bit, I will share it as well.

I also made these Spicy Ranch wings which were very easy to make. And they are baked not fried! (Recipe at bottom)

We also enjoyed this appropriate little flick. Although a little silly(for my husband's taste), it made us laugh and we still enjoyed it.



And while this was a post about our date night, I could not resist posting a few pictures of my cuties.

She can't help it.  She wants to be just like her daddy.

I know the coloring in this one is weird, but what do u think?  Does she look like me? I'll have to scan an old picture of me soon...

Spicy Ranch Wings

Ingredients:

• 1 pound chicken wingettes
• 1/4 cup hot pepper sauce
• 2 TB butter, melted
• 1 1/2 TB cider vinegar
• 1 envelope spicy ranch salad dressing mix (I only used half of it)
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

1. In a gallon size resealable plastic bag, combine pepper sauce, butter and vinegar.  Add Chicken wings; seal bag and toss to coat evenly.  Refrigerate 4-8 hours.
2. Place chicken on racks in two greased baking pans.  Sprinkle with dressing mix and paprika  Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until juices run clear.

(Note: this recipe can easily doubled/tripled etc.)

Serve with ranch dressing!
 
Happy Hump Day!! 
 
Sunday is Adeline's Birthday, but all the family is coming on Saturday to celebrate.  We are looking forward to it.  I can not believe she will be one!!

Smoky Mountain Vacay

We took our first family vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains.  We could not have gone at a better time.  The weather could not have been more pleasant and autumn had just painted all the trees red, orange and yellow.  It was beautiful.  We also enjoyed our time of rest and relaxation with our two little ones.

This was our view from the awesome cabin my Uncle let us use.

Fortunately for us, Uncle Walker and Aunt Emily kept the girls one night so that Brian and I could enjoy a night together. We were very thankful and much enjoyed our night out, even more so when we came home and both of the girls were sound asleep in their beds!  GREAT job Auntie Em and Uncle Walk.

This was just one of the many beautiful views as we went up and down the mountain.

Our vacation was sadly short-lived... Before we knew it, it was time to pack up and head home!

But we made a few stops on the way home.  First we stopped to let our animal lover, Campbell ride the mini horses..

But, riding the horse deemed less attractive as it was to just look at it and pet it... So off we went.

We saw this little dude in front of one of the gas stations where we stopped.  She got one step ahead from last time by actually getting on the mechanical horse, but as soon as it started moving..she wanted OFF!

But I could not let a good ride go to waste.  SO, me and Adeline jumped on!

And quite frankly, I do not blame Campbell for getting off..That thing really moved!

We also came across this farm stand not too far off the mountain.

There were so many pumpkins of all shapes and sizes!

And soo many apples to choose from as well.

But the girls were tired..so it was time to head home.

I stole these two pictures from my SIL, Emily, her pictures turned out much better than mine. :)

We had a great time, and I hope it won't be too long before we have another chance to get away!