Yummy Dip.

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 So, AnnaBella has been sick for over a week now. Normally she is a total food hog and eats everything and anything, but she seriously hasn't eaten a meal since last week. :( I decided to bribe her into eating by making an irresistible dip that she couldn't refuse. Now it may or may not cancel out the healthiness of the fruit and pretzels, but whatever, I wanted her to eat!
 I served it with pretzel rods, apples, strawberries and blackberries, but really anything is delicious dipped in this...and I think I ate most of it, not her, oh well!

Ingredients:
3 oz cream cheese,softened
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup chocolate syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 TBL milk

Mix cream cheese and PB, then gradually add other ingredients, done! And I added jimmies...you totally don't have to, I am just a 5 year old when it comes to yummy treats.

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothies.

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 It seems I am getting a head start on my smoothie season. Usually from Spring to Fall I drink my first 2 meals of the day in smoothie form, because #1 they are DELICIOUS and #2 they are healthy too.  Duh.  I have a staple smoothie that I make most of the time, just because I know it is delicious and I know I won't be let down if it tastes gross! (it's a strawberry banana, I'll post that recipe later). But I am going to branch out and try lots of different smoothies this year! This morning I made these, and yeah, amazing.

Recipe makes 2 bigger smoothies:

1 cup yogurt (I use vanilla)
2 to 3 Bananas
4 TBL Peanut Butter
1 cup ice
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp honey (optional)
1 TBL sugar (optional..I just love sugar)

Enjoy.

Food trailers!

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Although the thought of trailer food may be sort of sketch to some people, I think they are adorable! While in Austin, we got to see a lot of them.. I almost DIED when I saw Hey Cupcakes trailer! To my dismay, they are closed on Mondays, and of course, I went on Monday..And although I have read reviews of them before and it seems their cupcake is not so delicious, I don't even care. The trailer is so aesthetically pleasing to me that I would still buy their cupcakes, eat them and be happy.

I would totally live here, ha.

I found my new favorite website.

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Amazing.

Cookie Sandwiches

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I CAN make more than just cupcakes! Ha. These were actually one of my favorite treats I have ever made, and they are super easy and cute too!!

A few pointers for this recipe, is to make sure the cookies are completely cooled off...and make sure you don't ice to close to the edges of the cookie, bc when you put the top on then its a gooey mess, and that's no fun.

Yield: 10 sandwich cookies (using a medium-sized dough scoop)

Ingredients:
For the cookies:
1 package chocolate cake mix (I used a chocolate fudge-y mix)
1 egg, at room temperature
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature

For the frosting:
3/4 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2-3 tbsp. milk

For decorating:
multi-colored non-pareils, or other sprinkles or candy of your choice

Directions:To make the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.  In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the cake mix, egg and butter.  Beat on low speed until just combined and all dry ingredients have been incorporated.  Roll the dough into 1- to 1 1/2-inch balls, place on the prepared baking sheets and press down to slightly flatten.  Bake for 8-10 minutes.  Allow the cookies to cool completely on the cookie sheets.

To make the frosting, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until smooth.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the powdered sugar, and beat until incorporated.  Add vanilla extract and beat on medium speed until fully incorporated.  Add 2 tablespoons of milk and beat on medium-high speed until smooth.  If the frosting too thick, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of milk and beat until incorporated.

To assemble, pair the cookies based on size on a work surface.  Frost the flat side of one cookie from each pair.  Place the other cookie of each pair on top of the frosting, flat side down.  Lightly press down so that the frosting reaches the edges of the cookies.  To decorate, place sprinkles in a small bowl.  Dip the sides of each cookie in the sprinkles, pressing down gently and rotating to cover the sides completely.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Icing

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WOW. These were pretty delicious...the icing was phenomenal, I am definitely going to use it in many more recipes! I was in a rush so I didn't get many good pics!

I had some star wars baking cups and pics laying around that I got from Williams Sonoma, so I used them...they have some really cute stuff there,
Williams Sonoma

Recipe:
(I also broke up Reese's PB cups and threw it in the batter...and decorated with those and Reese's pieces..which happen to be one of my favorite things in life!)

Ingredients

• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk, shaken, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons brewed coffee
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup good cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• Kathleen's Peanut Butter Icing, recipe follows
• Chopped salted peanuts, to decorate, optional

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and 2 sugars on high speed until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes. Lower the speed to medium, add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, and coffee. In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. On low speed, add the buttermilk mixture and the flour mixture alternately in thirds to the mixer bowl, beginning with the buttermilk mixture and ending with the flour mixture. Mix only until blended. Fold the batter with a rubber spatula to be sure it's completely blended.

Divide the batter among the cupcake pans (1 rounded standard ice cream scoop per cup is the right amount). Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes, remove from the pans, and allow to cool completely before frosting.

Frost each cupcake with Peanut Butter Icing and sprinkle with chopped peanuts, if desired.

Peanut Butter Icing(for fancy swirls, def double OR triple amounts):

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/3 cup heavy cream

Place the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth

We went on an adventure.

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Love this baby.

Life.

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 So last week I went home to see family...my little sister, her babies, etc. It was really nice to go home, and I actually enjoy the drive. I also got some foxy new hair bonded in, I loveeee it!!  ( I get it done by Nina, at Bella Salon in chester Springs, PA...she is AWESOME)
 It was a nice relaxing trip, well, except for the headaches I have been getting. I have been getting the most obnoxiously painful headaches for like two weeks now. They were on and off, so I wasn't sure what they were from..but by the time I got back to Erie, they had taken over my life. My first thought was a sinus infection, bc they are right in the middle of my head and eyes...but everything I read said that comes from previously being sick, which I was not. So I decided to go to the eye doctor....turns out I have good vision, but have an astigmastism..so I got glasses. BUT, that day, I developed ear pain and decided to go to the doctor...turns out I ALSO have a sinus infection and an ear infection??! So it's been quite a week. Just started my antibiotics yesterday so hoping to be pain free soon... (although now i have to get used to glasses which is another set of annoying headaches) FML. heh.

Other than that just getting pretty excited to go to Austin for a week! We leave super early Tuesday morning!! Can't wait!

xo
Kelly

What are the makeup essentials? Like top ten products?

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1. MAC lingering eyebrow pencil
2. MASCARA (currently into mac haute n naughty)
3. Foundation/conceler. ( i change it up a lot....for light coverage mac face and body...for more mac pro longwear or studio fix fluid)
4. mac mineralize skinfinish powder
5. Eyeshadow...so many..ha
6. Blush..I wear mac springsheen a lot
7.Blacktrack eyeliner
8. LIPGLOSS..that should actually be #1 bc i even wear to bed...i am addicted to lipgloss...mac love nectar and ample pink are my everyday colors
9. eye shadow primer
10. false lashes.

Working on AnnaBella's Room(s)

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 I made coconut cupcakes. I have made them before, but decided to try a new,denser recipe...I thought they were absolutely delicious.

I have also been trying new thing with cooking..trying to broaden my seitan cooking skills. I have been making seitan black bean burritos and stuff like that...I DID make peanut noodles with sesame seitan. It was my first time making anything like it, and, it was pretty freakin' good.

Other than that, we have been redo-ing rooms in the house and I am trying to stay busy. I have been having a hard time adjusting to the move..heh. It's just so different. Praying for Spring to get here soon so hopefully it makes my stay here a little easier ;)