white chocolate covered oreos.

mmm! lance is in love.

so, this is the easiest recipe EVER.

you need:
oreos (if you want to make them suckers, get double stuff--I didn't)
white chocolate (I bought the melting discs from walmart's craft section)
sprinkles
cookie sheet with wax paper for drying

1. melt chocolate in microwave in 20-30 second increments (at 50% power) until runs smooth
2. dip oreos 3/4 of the way (it actually looks pretty not totally dipped!)
3. set on cookie sheet to dry
4. sprinkle with sprinkles!

if you want to make suckers, stick sucker sticks in the middle of the filling before or after dipping...I'm not sure if the stick will hold for dipping, but MAYBE.:)

got the idea from http://angbrimwil.blogspot.com/

menu.

two posts in 1 day! I know. I know.

sunday:
manicotti & spaghetti (we had a vegetarian over for dinner)
garlic bread (we ran out of tx toast, so I actually made some! I thought it was good)
salad

monday:
chicken verde
rice
tortillas
fresh veggies
peaches

tuesday:
del tacos

wednesday:
chicken noodle soup
rolls
apples & snicker salad

thursday:
sloppy joes
veggies
pears

friday:
out

saturday:
homemade pizza
salad
jello

I have tons of new recipes I want to try, but first I have to use up this stuff!:)

sweet. tooth.

I don't know that I always had one. but boy do I now. here are some recipes I'm dying to try. btw, it is such a bummer to run out of flour.

cupcakes (black & white)

Preheat oven to 350
line muffin tins with cups and spray with non stick cooking spray.

Sift together the following ingredients and set aside.

1 c cake flour
1 c + 1 T all purpose flour
2/3 c cocoa
1 t baking soda
1/2 t kosher salt

In a large mixing bowl cream together

2 eggs
1 c brown sugar
1 c sugar

In another bowl combine

1 c buttermilk
1 c brewed coffee (cooled not hot)
2/3 c canola oil


In three additions, add oil mixture and flour mixture into egg mixture. Mix until just combined. Spoon into muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake 15-18 minutes (10 minutes for mini cupcakes)
Let cool in pan for 8-10 minutes and then allow cupcakes to finish cooling on wire racks.

Tip***if you do not have cake flour (I sometimes don't) you can spoon 2 T cornstarch into bottom of 1 c measure. Then spoon regular flour over top and level. This works just as well!

When they are cool frost with Buttercream Icing:

2 sticks butter (very soft)
1/3 c milk
2 t vanilla (sometimes I add even a smidge more)
6-8 cups powdered sugar

Start off with 6 cups sugar and then add more as needed until frosting is quite stiff. This should be thick thick thick! You can roll tops of cupcakes in mini chocolate chips, mini m&m's or top with sprinkles. YUM!

gotta give credit to THIS girl for that and this next one, whom I don't know, but has great recipes.:)

popcorn heaven
1 stick of butter
1 1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2-3 t vanilla
1 cup whole almonds
1 cup pecans (optional)
1/2 cup unpopped popcorn
milk & white chocolate for melting

pop your popcorn. then, in a saucepan mix the butter, sugar, corn syrup & vanilla. cook on medium to high-ish heat until the mixture reaches 228-232 degrees F on your candy thermometer. in a BIG bowl, mix together the popcorn, candy mixture & nuts (be careful, it's hot!) then, spread it out over a greased cookie sheet to let it harden. finally, top it all off with a generous drizzling of milk & white chocolate.

doesn't that sound heavenly? I'm a sucker for sweet popcorn. I need to get my mom's caramel corn recipe! YUM.

I am making them this week! I will let you know how much I love them.

this week's menu...late.

I keep my menu in google docs. it's so awesome! I have a shared grocery list with lance too. so we just add to it and print it when we go to the store.

sunday:
pancakes
eggs
sausage

monday:
stir fry
rice
frosty mandarin dessert

tuesday:
del tacos

wednesday:
meatless spaghetti
garlic bread
salad

thursday:
chicken fajitas
carrots and celery
peaces

friday:
out

saturday:
homemade pizza
salad
pears

as you can see I'm on a meat/main course, starch, vegetables, and fruits kick for each meal. we're trying to eat healthier. and did you notice--less mexican this week!:)