March Madness ... Basketball Oreo Cookie Cupcakes

Cole played basketball at the YMCA and we just wrapped their season. We had an award ceremony with a potluck meal. I thought it would be fun to bring cupcakes for the kids.   I saw these Basketball Oreo Cookies on The Domestic Rebel. I knew they would look perfect on top of a cupcake!  I love serving cupcakes in a clear cup that is wrapped in a clear bag with ribbon. It's perfect for parties so people can take them home away with them.

What you Need:

Frosted Cupcakes

Oreo's

Orange Candy Melts

Chocolate Chips

Plastic Cup (Optional)

Clear Plastic Bag (Optional)

Ribbon (Optional)

Bake and frost your cupcakes.  Melt your orange candy melts, I put mine in my glass pampered chef bowl and place in microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds. I stir the melts to make them smooth then place an Oreo in the candy melts. Using my slotted spoon I take the Oreo covered on to some parchment paper to dry.  Once dry I melted some chocolate chips in a pipping bag. I then pipped the lines to look like a basketball on top of the dipped Oreo.

You can serve this way or you can place on top of a frosted cupcake like I did. Now I like to serve cupcakes in a easy transportable way. I do this for a lot of parties so ppl can take cupcakes home. I place the done cupcake in a clear cup (12 pk dollar tree $1) then take a clear bag (25 pk dollar tree $1) and put the cup/cupcake into it.  I tie with a ribbon (Roll Dollar tree $1). BAM done!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Easter Peep S'Mores ... Easy Classroom Treat

Easter is just around the corner and I had big plans to get the treats for the class done in advance. I also had an idea to do one for Caden's class and one for Cole's class. WELL time has gotten the best of me and I'm done to the wire and having only one project to do!

I kept seeing Peep S'More's all over pinterest, so forgive me if I don't link the right person but I'll post the one that came up the most. Peep S'mores found on Confetti by Lexi. Since I needed to make like 45+ of these I needed a print out that had a lot on one page. I searched and searched but couldn't find the exact one. WELL I found some on Etsy but I didn't want to pay for a class gift on top of what I've bough already. My husband is already all over me for making treats for every holiday. So I found a great free printable on Craftibilities for Peep S'More's I copied her one square pasted into a word doc and made it the right size to have 6 per page. I added a text box and typed the boys name and put on top of the printable next to the From:. 

What You Need:

Peep's (12 Per Pack $1 Dollar Tree)

Graham Crackers

Hersey Bars (I used Crunch Bar's)

Plastic Bags (25 pk $1 Dollar Tree)

Ribbon ($1 Michael's)

White Card Stock Paper

Whole Punch

Scissors

Ink Jet Printer

Add one Peep to your plastic bag, add 2 graham cracker squares to the middle of the botto of your bag and then add a chocolate bar.  (I couldn't find Hersey bars, after 2 stores I resorted to Crunch Bars). Cut your tag out and add a whole with your whole punch. Tie up bag with a ribbon and add your tag to the bag. BAM your done!

Any Easter Treat Plans?

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Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Pizza Buns ... Easy Meal

This weekend I found on Facebook a post from Twin Dragonfly Designs for pizza buns! I just knew the boys would love and I had everything I needed. I happened to have pizza dough in my freezer from a pizza and movie night at a friends house that was canceled but not before I had already made the dough. 

• White bread dough (I made my own pizza dough using Recipe found on Deliacreates).
• Tomato paste (not as runny as pizza sauce).
• Sliced pepperoni (I used Turkey Pepperoni)
• Top with 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (I had low fat cheddar I used)

Roll out your dough, top with the tomato paste (I agree pizza sauce would be too runny). If you want a little extra spice add some Italian seasoning. Top with sliced pepperoni and cheese. Roll up like a jelly roll and then slice into 1" sections. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 35 for 20-25 minutes.

ALEXIS NOTES: I used a whole wheat flour for my dough, turkey pepperoni and low fat cheddar cheese.  I tried to cut out some calories where I could.

VERY yummy and perfect for snacks and dinner!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Bunny Buns Featured

I love to come on to see something I made was featured, I was having such a week and this just made my day!  A big thank you Laura at I'm not a trophy Wife Friday Favorites #102. These Bunnies We're on of my favorites to make and also eat!! They were so yummy!

Thank you again Laura!

Bunny Buns

Have a GREAT weekend!

It's a Bum"per" of a Car Accident

The week before I left for Boston for work I was heading to my woman's group, while sitting at a red light I happened to be looking in my rear view mirror. Ok I admit it I'm a people watcher and watch people behind me. I watched as the car behind me was sitting to see the car behind him no slowing down. This on a good side allowed me to warn the boys we were about to get hit but I also tensed up ... ugh. At first I was fine, or so I thought. My neck felt a little sore like I needed to pop it.  Sitting an hour and a half in the cold for the policeman was no fun. The turd that hit the car behind me actually took off, thank God for my husband who hoped in his truck and followed him. My husband was able to take the police right to him. The kid had no insurance ... grr just got a no insurance ticket for $500. 

YUP this left me with a need for a new bumper and as days went by a stiffer neck and back. Who would have thunk a little bump could case so much damage.  So I will be heading to the chiropractor and a massage therapist. God's way of telling me to slow down and take some time for myself. NOW to just get over the headache's that come when I get adjusted ... ugh.

Looked like a simple fix but turns out a whole new bumper!

Boys wanted to keep the rental car :)

Hope your week is going better :)

Life Gives you Lemons ... Cheer Me Up Gifts

A really nice lady that works at the YMCA that is always so cheerful and nice seemed a little down. We usually chit chat say hi etc and got to talking that she was just having a hard time lately.  I goggled Cheer Me Up Gifts and came across and idea on Michelle Paige's.  She had a cute free printable also to add to the basket.

This is a cute idea and rather inexpensive to make.

What you need:

Basket (I found at Hobby Lobby 50% off for $4.99)

Lemonade Cup (I added this to the gift at Hobby Lobby 50% off for $2.99)

Lemon Soap (Big Lot's $1)

Small Lemons (Grocery Store 5/$1)

Crystal Light Lemonade (Grocery Store $2.99)

Lemon Candies (Hobby Lobby $1.99)

Lemon Citrus Chapstick (Big Lot's $1)

Plastic decorating bag (Dollar Tree 25pk/$1)

Ribbon (White and Pink or just Pink)

Card Stock (For Tag and optional lemonade decorations)

Tissue Paper (optional to fit items in basket)

I had a plastic cookie bag I put the lemon's in.  I added some fun little details using my circut cutter. We had a Lemonade cartridge from the Lemon Battery Science Fair ProjectCaden did so I cut out a few lemons and a drink that I then cut out square's using the George Cartridge. I added in all the treats I picked up into the basket, I put a little tissue paper to hold everything together. I used ribbon to attach the free printable she had, I printed on white card stock and then added a piece of yellow card stock behind to make the tag pop.

You don't have to have the lemon's etc I just thought it would be fun and I had the cartridge and paper so it was easy to do. Make it fun add what fun lemon's you find, I recommend Hobby Lobby they had a whole lemonade section. 

Have a great week!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Spiderman Cupcakes for Birthday Dreams

Next on my cupcakes list to do for Birthday Dreams (bringing cupcakes to homeless kids) was for Spiderman cake .. WELL what I wrote down was Spiderman what it was suppose to be was Batman.  I felt like such a boob, so have to much on my plate ... ugh.

What you Need:

Cupcakes

Frosting

Spider Cookie Cutter (I bought mine at Halloween from Michael's)

Spiderman cookie Cutter (I bought mine on Ebay)

Black Modeling Chocolate

Red Modeling Chocolate

White Modeling Chocolate

I found a recipe for Moist Chocolate Cupcakes on Food.com and made them, they smelled so good! This was a great easy and yummy recipe!

While the cupcakes were cooling, I found a recipe for Easy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting on Good Cheap Eats. Another super easy and yummy frosting, I found it a little thick so I added extra heavy cream to make it easier to pipe onto the cupcakes.

For those who have not seen my previous post on how to make modeling chocolate (aka candy clay) all pictured but the orange.

Modeling Chocolate

12oz Candy Melts

1/4 Cup light corn Syrup

Melt your Candy Melts in microwave (mine takes about 2 minutes). Stir them to become smooth and add the corn syrup.  It will become thick and form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit out and dry.  Takes a few hours or over night is best. (Alexis note: I found to roll this out use a little powder sugar (like you would do with flour), also you have to kneed it a little like you would dough to make it easy to roll out).

For the Eyes I cut a small red circle from the candy clay.  I then took the inner eye and made white eyes that I attached to the red.

For the spider's I used a spider cookie cutter to cut out black spiders.

I attached the Spiderman Eyes and Spiders to the top of a frosted cupcake.

I box them up in the great clear cupcake boxes I picked up on Amazon.

And deliver them to the shelter.

Have a great week!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Small Olaf Cake

A while back I made a large Olaf Cake for a charity I help Birthday Dreams. A friend of mine asked if I could make a smaller version for her daughter that was having a couple friends over.  I made one batch of a homemade cake and scaled it down to this size. 

Ingredients

• Creme-filled cookies (I used Black Modeling Chocolate)
• Miniature creme-filled cookies
• Chocolate licorice
• Orange frosting (I used Orange Modeling Chocolate)
• Black frosting
• Buttercream frosting
• 1 box of cake mix (I made mine from scratch)

Instructions

1. Bake your cake mix, according to instructions. Use your mix to make two 8-inch round cakes. Since mine was small I used a square 9x12 pan and a small round pan for the feet and neck.
2. Allow cakes to cool.
3. Freeze cakes, preferably overnight.
4. Make your Olaf template. Since this cake was small I did this by hand and using bowls to trace the body.
5. Once satisfied with your Olaf cake template, take your cake out of the freezer and place template on top. Using a sharp knife and small cuts, carefully cut around your template to shape the cake. Remember to go slowly… it’s tougher to add cake back on than it is to cut a bit more off.
6. Put cakes back in the freezer.
7. Mix your buttercream frosting (I use My Sturdy Buttercream Frosting).
8. First, spread your cakes with the buttercream frosting.
9. Refreeze frosted cakes while you prepare the rest of your ingredients.
10. Here’s what I used:

• For eyes: Half of a creme-filled cookie for each eye. Use a mini creme-filled cookie for the inside of the eye. / This time I used black and white modeling chocolate.
• For nose: Dollop of orange frosting. / This time I used orange modeling chocolate.
• For mouth: Black frosting mixed with our white buttercream frosting to make a charcoal grey. Tip: We made a separate template for his mouth. We cut the inside of the mouth out, set it on top of the cake and spread our frosting in the middle, using that template like a stencil. When we pulled our stencil, this gave us a sharper edge all around. / This time I used black modeling chocolate.
• For tooth: I didn’t want to spend money on fondant for such a small piece. This was a little tough, but I gently scraped the inside of a creme-filled cookie and called it a tooth. / This time I used white modeling chocolate.
• For buttons: Creme-filled cookie. Use just half the cookie – or the full. / This time I used black modeling chocolate.
• For eyebrows: Chocolate licorice / This time I used black modeling chocolate.
• For hair: Chocolate licorice
• For arms: Chocolate licorice

ALEXIS NOTES: I made my notes above, since this is a smaller cake I had to use smaller items then the oreo's etc. I just used modeling chocolate I had on hand and made to scale.

When you leave left over cake out from making the body you find this.

Have a great week!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Healthier Red Beans and Rice

On my quest to bring healthy meals I search different blogs and websites. I try to find something the boys would love and I won't feel guilty eating. I found this Healthier Red Beans and Rice meal on My Recipes from Cooking Light Magazine.  NOW it's far from pretty but it sure was filling and tasty!

Ingredients

3 cups water

1 cup dried red kidney beans

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

3/4 cup chopped celery

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon paprika

3/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 (14-ounce) package turkey, pork, and beef smoked sausage, thinly sliced

1 bay leaf

5 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups hot cooked long-grain rice

1/4 cup chopped green onions

Preparation

Combine first 12 ingredients in an electric slow cooker. Cover with lid; cook on high heat for 5 hours. Discard bay leaf; stir in salt. Serve over rice; sprinkle servings evenly with green onions.

ALEXIS NOTES: I used Jenny-O turkey sausage and brown rice. I skipped the green onions since I knew the boys would just toss them off, why waste the money.  I also didn't have red pepper so I used black.

Have a great Weekend!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Bunny Buns (Easter Treats)

Next on our list for the Easter Egg Hunt was a fun treat Bunny Buns that I found on Melissa's Cuisine. These turned out so cute, now mine were a little on the fluffy bunny side ... but that is the way this lady rolls ... lol. No literally it was my rolling technique didn't make them skinny enough .. hehehe (what a little baking humor didn't kill anyone). 

These were pretty easy to make and didn't take to much time.  I thought since they weren't something decorated they may not be a big hit. I was happy to see almost all were gone with in 20 minutes!  They were so yummy I probably could eat them all day long ... you know if I didn't want my jeans to ever zip up again!

Makes 14 buns

Ingredients:

2 cups milk

1 heaping Tablespoon yeast

5-1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup vegetable shortening

1/4 cup butter, melted

1.  Pour milk into a small microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 1 minute, until warm.

2.  Sprinkle the yeast on the warm milk and set it aside to proof while you mix the other ingredients.

3.  In the bowl of your stand mixer, use the paddle attachment to mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar.

4.  Cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

5.  Pour the milk and yeast mixer into the dough and mix using the dough attachment until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

6.  Divide the dough into 15 equal sized pieces.

7.  Roll each piece of dough into a long rope (like you're making pretzels).  Set aside 1 strip to use for the bunny tails.

8.  Form a bunny with each piece of dough by twisting the top of the dough together and leaving a "keyhole" at the bottom.

9.  Divide the reserved dough strip into 14 equal pieces and roll them into balls to use for the bunnytails.  Place the tails in the opening at the bottom of the buns.  

10.  Cover the bunnies with plastic wrap and set aside to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.

11.  Remove the plastic wrap and bake the buns at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes, until golden brown.

12.  Brush the hot rolls with melted butter after removing from the oven    

Any Easter Plans?

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Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Bunny Puffs (Sweet Easter Treats)

Every year my friend holds a 1,000 egg hunt, it's something we look forward to every year. This year she had moved out of state, we all were very sad not only to see her go but our annual party. Then surprise surprise she fly's back in to visit and hold the party!  It was great to have this early so we could attend!  I flew back in Friday PM / Saturday AM so I was a little jet lagged but was able to make a few things for the party on Sunday.

I had these Bunny Puffs from Pillsbury saved on Pinterest and gave them a try.  NOW I went for the regular sized peanut butter cups. So mine were a little on the chubby side probably be better with the mini peanut butter cups. But over all they were cute!

Ingredients

1

can (8 oz) Pillsbury™ refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

8

miniature chocolate-covered peanut butter cup candies, unwrapped

8

white miniature marshmallows, cut in half

4

pink miniature marshmallows, cut in half

16

blue miniature candy-coated semi-sweet chocolate baking bits

Step

• 1 Heat oven to 375°F. Line large cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper; spray paper with cooking spray.
• 2 Unroll dough and separate into 8 triangles. Place 1 peanut butter cup in center of 1 triangle. Gently stretch corners closest to and farthest from cup together at top of cup, pinching edges together to seal around cup. Pull up third corner; firmly pinch edges to seal. Place on cookie sheet; twist 2 longest tips of dough to make ears. If desired, bend down longer ear. Repeat with remaining dough triangles and peanut butter cups, shaping and trimming dough as needed for desired shape.
• 3 Bake 8 to 9 minutes or until puffs begin to brown. Place 2 white miniature marshmallow halves and 1 pink marshmallow half on center of each for bunny nose. Bake 1 to 2 minutes longer or until puffs are golden brown and marshmallows are slightly puffed.
• 4 For eyes, immediately place 2 blue baking bits on white miniature marshmallows for pupil; remove puffs to cooling rack.

ALEXIS NOTES: I picked up jumbo crescent rolls and large peanut butter cups. I used large candy eyes and some black decorating gel for whiskers. I couldn't find pink marshmallows so I used mini white ones.

Any Easter Plans?

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.