Lacey's PB Cup Cuppies...

At the end of October my lil' ol' blog turned 1 year old and to celebrate I gave away a dozen personalized cupcakes to one sweet reader.  Lacey Ringulet (the owner and creative mind at A Country Home Floral) was the lucky winner.  We spoke a couple of times and I would pick her brain about different things that she enjoyed to eat.  Fortunately for me she is a food lover (like myself)...so the sky was really the limit.

I thought about going for something that was not really my taste because it is nice to step outside of your comfort zone and because all of you coconut lovers out there may NEVER get a recipe from me..it just isn't my favorite.  The fact is that...I JUST COULDN'T DO IT!!  In my original conversation with Lacey she told me her favorite candy bar was a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and I couldn't shake it...no matter how hard I tried to divert that out of my mind I ALWAYS came back to this tasty combination.

To begin I started with a chocolate cake mix.  I have never had much luck (because of the elevation here- 4800 feet) with homemade cake recipes.  Plus "doctoring up" a regular cake mix is not only 10 times easier...it is also fabulously moist and delicious. 

To make the cake you will need 1 chocolate cake mix, 1 small package instant pudding mix, 4 eggs, 2/3 cup oil, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup sour cream and 1 teaspoon vanilla...

Mix the ingredients with an electric mixer for 2 minutes on medium speed(mixture will be thick) and then transfer to your lined muffin pan.  Be sure to only fill each cup about 2/3 of the way full.  Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or until tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Allow to cool completely on wire rack.

For the frosting you will need 1/2 cup of softened butter, 8 oz. of cream cheese, 1/4 cup of peanut butter, 4 cups powdered sugar and vanilla extract...

Mix the ingredients with an electric mixer and pipe the frosting on each cupcake. 

Use a knife to spread the frosting out.

Dip the top of the cupcake into melted Wilton chocolate...

While the chocolate is still wet top the cupcake with a chunk of what else...A PB Cup...

Once bite into this little piece of heaven and you are going to be hooked!!

Sweet winner- 

Weekly Thoughts-Week 48

Week 48 -Giving is better than receiving!!

I love this time of year because it is such a great time to thank and remember those who are there for you throughout the year.  A simple gesture of kindness can brighten a day quicker than anything because lets face it...everyone likes to be thought of (Ok, ok...so receiving is good too)!!  Taking a moment to remember your mail man/woman, garbage driver, child's teacher, neighbors, great friends...whom ever it is that you want to say thank you too is such a nice and heartfelt gesture.  I encourage all of you to surprise someone with a small token of your appreciation this holiday season. 

To get you all in the mood, throughout the month of December I will be sharing with you many ideas for simple and affordable things that can easily be put together for those people on your gift giving list.  Sweet giving-

Christmas "JOY"...

Thanksgiving 2013 has officially been put in the books.  It was a wonderful long weekend filled with family, food and a ton of fun...I couldn't have asked for anything more!!  As much as I love Thanksgiving I am always excited for the Christmas season to begin.  For me it starts the moment my stomach is full of turkey and I am on the road with my mom & sisters in search of Black Friday deals.

To get myself in the mood for decorating I decided to make a fun and adorable decoration to add to my already giant collection.  It is a simple project that can be completed with only a few items.

Card board letters (purchased at Jo Ann's for $2.99 each), yarn of choice and my always handy glue gun...

Using my hot glue gun to hold the yarn in place...I began wrapping the yarn around the letters.  It gets a little trickier on the small edges but just use a little more glue and it will work well.  It truly is a project that anyone can accomplish...I promise.

The finished product is a perfect addition to my home for the holidays.  I love the yarn I chose because it reminds me of a cozy sweater and who doesn't love cozy this time of year.  I can hardly wait to finish up the decorating and share it with all of you.

Sweet Joy-

Weekly Thoughts-Week 47

Week 47-Today I am thankful for my life. 

I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving is tomorrow!!  The holiday season has snuck up on me and I usually don't let that happen.  Parenting has been A WHOLE LOT of challenging the last week and so I feel a little blindsided by Turkey Day!!  Luckily my sweet mama is taking most of the burden of preparing our meal and I just need to bring a salad and dessert because I think if it were up to me a frozen dinner would be served this year. 

The fact is that even with the stress of parenting I feel pretty darn lucky to be living the life that I have been given.  I am blessed with an abundance of family and friends!!  I am dating someone who is amazing and lucky for me he has two sweet girls who bring even more joy into my life.  I am healthy and the happiest I have been in FOREVER!!  I have a job that I enjoy and allows me to be the mom I want to be.  My new home is MINE and it is warm, cozy, and perfect for my family.  Most importantly I have two beautiful children and even though times can get a little tough...I love them more than words could EVER express!!  Tater and Tales make my life complete.  Sweet thankfulness-

Be sure to tune in...Christmas will be taking over Sweet Taters and Tales starting Monday!!!

Candy bar going away gift...

Last week one of Tales good friends and her family moved to Colorado.  It is so sad when a good friend leaves you...especially when it is so far away.  I know that they will be friends forever but it changes things.  Luckily with today's technology they can face time, skype, email, text, and call when time permits. 

Before they left we wanted to make sure and have dinner with them (minus her Dad...he had already left).  We also wanted to take a little something special to her for a gift.  Something that would be inexpensive, yet cute and personal.  I decided that I was going to use candy bars to describe the many ways that Taylea was going to miss her.  It would be fun and could double as snacks for the long car ride they were going to be making.

To start I brain stormed and decided that these were the candies and sayings that I would use...

Gummy Bears-because you are a beary good friend.

100 Grand-because I wouldn't trade our friendship for 100 Grand.

Extra Gum-because our friendship is Extra special.

Snickers-because I love to Snicker with you.

Pop Rocks-because you Rock!

Mounds-because your are Mounds of fun.

This note was attached to the outside of a gift bag...

I then went to the store and purchase the candy I was looking for and used my computer to print out the sayings for each bar.  To attach the saying I used a hole punch and raffia...

It was a sweet gift for a sweet friend that Taylea will surely miss.  Sweet goodbyes-

Budget Beef-Hamburger Hash

At my house breakfast for dinner is welcomed...if fact it may even be preferred.  Actually I think that my children could eat breakfast foods three times a day for weeks and be completely satisfied.  Myself, on the other hand...I love breakfast food...just usually not for breakfast.  I am not a breakfast eater...I try...I just don't love it at that time of the day but make it for dinner and I am all in!!

Most hashes are made with sausage, bacon or ham but this one I used some good ol' burger and it was delish.  The combination of all of the ingredients (even if some are a little unusual) really pulls this dish together in a tasty way.  Having it only use one pot makes it even better...one pot meals rock!!! 

To make it you will need 1 lb. of hamburger, 4 medium sized russet potatoes (peeled and cut into 1/2" chunks), 2 grated carrots, 1/2 of a small onion (diced), 4 Tablespoons of heavy cream, salt & pepper to taste.

I began by browning the hamburger.  While it was cooking I peeled and diced my potatoes, diced the onion and grated the carrots...

Once the burger is cooked remove it from the pan with a slotted spoon and discard any remaining grease left in the pan.  I then added a teaspoon or two of olive oil to the pan along with the onion and carrots...

I cooked the carrot and onions until they were soft and then removed them from the pan with the hamburger...

Add 1 Tablespoon of olive oil and the potatoes to the pan.  To make sure they cook evenly and brown well I like to make an even layer and pat them down with a spatula.  You can also add a lid to them while cooking and the steam does a great job of softening them up quick...

Once the potatoes are cooked through I added the hamburger, carrots and onions back to the pan, along with the heavy cream.  Instead of making fried eggs in the mixture (because not everyone in my house loves them) I scrambled 4 eggs...

Make a well in the middle of the hash and pour the eggs into it.  Continue to cook until the eggs are as desired...

I served it with toast and jam...

A perfect and easy to clean up meal that will stick to your ribs and make your family VERY happy. 

Sweet hash-

Weekly Thoughts-Week 46

Week 46-Today I am thankful for the AMAZING women in my life. 

Not only was I blessed with an AMAZING mama but I also have two AWESOME seesters and two of the BEST friends that anyone could ask for.  Everyday I am thankful for their constant support and love.  Having a great support system is one of the greatest gifts that I have been given.  I believe that everyone needs people in their life who understand you and accept you even with all of your flaws.  Ladies who stand beside you through anything that life throws your way...Good and Bad.  Thank you Mom, Jamus, Amus, Tonia and Jenn.  I am one very lucky and blessed girl.  Sweet ladies-

Snickerdoodles with Cinnamon Chips

During one of my weekly trips to Klamath Falls for Tale's volleyball I ran upon a bag of cinnamon baking chips at Walmart.  I have heard of them before but had never tried them...so excitedly I threw the last bag they had in my cart and began imagining the possibilities.  The first and best (at least in my opinion) idea that I had was to add them to my Snickerdoodle recipe before I rolled them in cinnamon and sugar.  A little extra cinnamon flavor and an added crunch could take this basic cookie to a whole new level and I couldn't wait to try it out.

I want you to know that I realize not everyones mind works in the same way that mine does.  Most of you are NORMAL and don't obsess over cinnamon baking chips...Halloween dinner food...housewarming parties...ground beef recipes...or any of the things that consume me.  I also want you to know that I am alright with that...I think...because what the hell could I do about it anyway!!  I'm cursed (it's a trait from my mom...sorry to rat you out) and besides what the heck would I blog about if I didn't have a million and two unimportant things filling my mind!!  Anyhoo...back to the chips...

To make the Snickerdoodles you will need 1 cup (2 sticks) of softened butter or margarine, 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar, 2 eggs, 2 3/4 cups flour, 2 tsp. cream of tarter, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 1/2 cups cinnamon chips & 2 Tbsp. sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon for rolling dough in...

Cream the butter, sugar and eggs together.  Add vanilla to the mixture...

Mix in the flour, cream of tarter, soda and salt until combined.  Add the cinnamon chips...

Using a Tablespoon (or icecream scoop) make rounded cookies and roll them into the cinnamon/sugar mixture...

Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 350° oven for 9-11 minutes...

The extra cinnamon flavor really makes the average Snickerdoodle EXTRA special.  These cookies would be perfect anytime but especially this time of year.  Sweet snickers...

Weekly Thoughts-Week 45

November is a great month to remember the things that we are grateful for...so this month my weekly thoughts will be thankful ones...

Week 45-I am thankful for my sweet babies, their different personalities and the joy they bring to my life.

To say my children are different would be an UNDERSTATEMENT.  Tater is a quiet, mild tempered, impatient, smart, Nascar loving-mama's boy who fills my heart and soul with love and tenderness.  Tales is a busy, know no stranger, witty, sometimes inappropriate, life of the party-independent girl who brings me overflowing amounts of joy and laughter. 

I thank God and my ex-husband (ya...you read that right) for giving me the two most amazing gifts that I have or will ever receive.  My babies make everyday better and life more complete.  Sweet kids-

Budget Beef-Calzones

I like traditional, tried and true recipes but I also love to try new ones.  New recipes that put a twist on an ordinary ingredient or that take a dish and re-create it into something new.  Calzones are usually like an individual slice of pizza...pepperoni, marinara and cheese nestled inside a pocket of dough that is easy to pickup and eat.  They are fun to make for a crowd and can easily be personalized to fit any taste bud.   So I thought I would try to create an updated version of them using regular ol' hamburger.

To make them you will need 1-2 lbs. of hamburger, 2 grated zucchini, 15 oz. ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 2 cloves of garlic (minced), 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 2 eggs, pizza dough and sauce for dipping.

For the filling I began by grating and sauteing the zucchini in a pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.  It takes a little while to do this because of the water content... 

Remove from skillet and begin browning the burger.  Once cooked through you will add the garlic and Italian seasoning to the meat...

While the meat was browning I combined the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan and eggs in a bowl and mixed it together...

I added the cooked zucchini to the mixture...

 

And then the hamburger...

Divide the pizza dough into 4 equal portions and roll them out...

Add about 1/4-1/3 cup of filling onto one half of the dough.  Take the other side and fold over and seal the edges tightly...

Bake in a preheated 400° for 12-14 minutes or until browned...

Serve with sauce of choice.  I love marinara but the kids preferred Alfredo.

Another tasty and easy hamburger recipe for the books.  Enjoy!!  Sweet calzone-

And the cupcakes go to...

Last week I had a giveaway for one dozen cupcakes (to mark the dozen months that I have been blogging).  The winner gets to help me personalize them to their own taste...sounds pretty sweet??  I think so!!

The lucky winner is A Country Home Floral!!! 

Lacey and I will be working on a customized recipe that will appear here on the blog VERY soon.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------

IN OTHER NEWS:

Friday night was Tater's last football game of the season (insert sad face)...

Taylea played more volleyball in Klamath Falls (I think I have burned a hole in the road between here and there)...

Grader had a playoff football game for Pop Warner (of which they lost but #50 rocked it)...

I hosted a Girl Party/Housewarming Party at my house (there may or may not have been wine drank)...

Sage is now a little over 4 months old (love this girl)...

I began my Christmas shopping (now I have a lot of work to do)...

I have realized that the wood sitting under my carport is not going to stack itself (groan, sigh, groan)...

I made a fun and chocolaty cake to donate over the weekend (thanks to Pinterest)...

Sweet times-

Simple Switch...

Yesterday marked the beginning of my favorite time of year.  I love November and December because of the holidays we celebrate but also because of the feeling that those holidays bring.  Everyone seems to be more thankful and giving this time of year & I absolutely love it!!  I try to be grateful for what life brings all year long but I admit that the month of November really brings it out in myself and so many others. 

To get ready for Thanksgiving I just needed to make a few simple switches at home.  Most of my fall decorations stay out...I just need to pull down my Halloween stuff and replace them with my pilgrims and turkeys...

My hutch was quickly transformed...

Turkey Time...

My dining room window was given a little fun with a banner I made last year...

A witch was replaced by precious pilgrims...

My sweet babies turkey hands...

I turned the candle around, so instead of a jack o'lantern...we just have a pumpkin...

Another candle turnaround and my turkey couple...

A cute "Give Thanks" anchors my crate shelf in the kitchen...

Gobble, Gobble...
 

My entry wreath gets a little turkey time...

Finished product...

So we are ready for my most favorite time of year!!  It literally took me less than 15 minutes to make the changes.  Sweet Thanksgiving-

P.S. - You have until 5:00 p.m. today to enter my blogs 1st Birthday giveaway!!  So get busy...cupcakes are to yummy to pass up!!