I went in with Treats and Left with a New Title ...

I went to a PTF meeting last night for school and I made treats for the parents.  I wanted to make something very yummy but I couldn't decide between two cupcakes so I made them both!  Heck why not right?  I had a few left over when I left but thankfully there were kids outside that ate them.  I still haven't found that perfect recipe that everyone likes, we'll see what I find next month!

First off I found this S'More Cupcakes on this awesome blog Toni Spilsbury. I tweaked mine a bit and added 4 to 5 mini marshmallow's in the middle before I cooked them!

Ingredients:

1. flour- 1 1/4 cup
2. cocoa powder- 1/2 cup, like Hershey’s Cocoa
3. baking powder- 1 tspn
4. sugar- 1 cup
5. butter- 1 stick
6. milk or dark chocolate- 4 oz., melted in microwave
7. egg whites- 3
8. milk- 1 cup
9. vanilla- 1 tspn
10. honey graham crackers- quartered, like Honey Maid Honey Grahams
11. jumbo marshmallows- like Jet-Puffed Marshmallows

Directions:

1. mix together flour, cocoa powder and baking powder
2. In standing mixer, cream together butter and sugar
3. add melted chocolate, egg whites, milk and vanilla; mix together until creamy
4. slowly add flour mixture until batter forms
5. bake until toothpick pulls out clean
6. set timer about five minutes before baking is complete, at 15 minutes
7. add one graham slice on top of each cupcake then top with a marshmallow
8. continue baking another 5 minutes until marshmallow is toasted and toothpick comes out clean

Next on my list was to use up some banana's and why not do a Cocoa Banana Cupcakes on Taste of Home's Website.  I had to whip up the frosting towards an end so I didn't have time to pip it all pretty but hey it still was yummy :).

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon each baking soda and salt
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/4 cups fat-free milk
• 1 cup mashed ripe banana (2 to 3 medium)
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• FROSTING:
• 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
• 3 tablespoons fat-free milk
• 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup baking cocoa

Directions

• In a bowl, combine dry ingredients. In another bowl, combine eggs, milk, banana, oil and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
• Coat muffin cups with cooking spray or line with paper liners. Fill three-fourths full. Bake at 375° for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
• Beat cream cheese, milk, chocolate and vanilla until smooth. Combine confectioners' sugar and cocoa; gradually beat into cream cheese mixture. Frost cupcakes. Yield: 1-1/2 dozen.

Cupcake Stage

 Frosting Stage

And since I can't seem to stop wanting to do and helping I some how volunteered to be PTF Secretary!  OH yes I stepped right into that one, our current president is planning on being president for 2 more years and guess who she wants to step in after ... lol.  Yup I don't just half do anything!  

A little Mission Help

I'm still feeling a bit under the weather so I quick post.  The boys attended a GREAT VBS last week at a local Baptist church were the them was "Amazing Wonders Aviation".  So of the boys where thrilled they love all things about planes.  It was a GREAT 4 hours instead of the normal 3 hours and they just loved it.  One of the things the VBS was doing was collecting  school smilepacks as their mission project.  They asked that people bring one item but I wanted the boys to be able to pick out the whole kit with the money they have been earning to help out someone else.  They were very excited to be able to build the kits and take them to the class.  I'm sure the party they got if they got 20 had nothing to do with it, I'll just go with the helping others.

Our Kits cost about $10 Each but well worth it.

Sick and Forgot My Anniversary

Well I called it when I said I was feeling run down.  I ended up coming down with a horrible cough on Wednesday, finally forcing me to leave work early and then by Thursday AM I wasn't able to get out of bed with out the room spinning.  I spent a WHOLE day in bed, thank God the boys were in a VBS down the road that was 4 hours long so I had a quiet house.  I almost forgot about what was so special about the day!  

9 year ago yesterday Rick and I got married!  It has been 9 years of many ups and downs, like most marriages and I can't say enough about the persons we have become over these years.  I've been blessed to have a house and 2 kids that may drive me nuts some days but they are the noises in my life that keep me going.  Marriage is so different then the fair tales but I think that is what makes us who we are and I am so proud of that and our family.  To many years to come.  Happy 9th Year Anniversary (+1 day)!!

First Dinner with us we Wooo you :)

I'm so excited one of my friends came over to let our kids swim and play in the back yard.  It was a GREAT night we talked, laughed, had some good food and a few cocktails!  The only sad part was I had to work the next morning so we needed to cut it short.  But it was so fun, I can't wait to do it again!  I wanted to make something yummy for us.  I found 3 new recipes  that I tried out on our guest and I'm so excited it was a huge hit with all the kids.

I'm going to put the links to the recipes with each picture so you can click on them to see what was involved and this way not to cut and paste and make a very long post (I'm pooped and time for bed .. lol).

I first started with a fun appetizer that I found on the Weight Watcher website when I started to search for a wonton  wrapper and a cream cheese.  This recipe took it a step further and added in artichokes!!!  This Artichoke Tart is super yummy (click the name for the recipe)!

Next on my list was something fun for dinner!  Of course sticking with my wonton theme I went to my favorite website Emily Bites (again if you haven't gone there you MUST).  She posted these Lasagna Cupcakes that were such a hit with the kids I should have doubled the recipe (again click the name for the recipe).  This was so easy to make that I think I may do it again soon!

And last on my list is from another GREAT site Hungry Girl she does these amazing swaps taking high fat items and making them weight watcher friendly.  I found this super yummy blueberry cheesecake (click name for recipe).  I took blueberries for my parents yard and ran with this, it was so yummy and the kids even liked it!

Enjoy I hope you try these out they were so simple to make and I couldn't get over how much the kids enjoyed it.  My girlfriends daughter had seconds and I'm told she usually won't eat much, I was tinkled!!


Happy Wednesday everyone!!

 And there you have it dinner at my house :).

Running on Empty

You ever feel like your running on empty?  Yup that is me the last few days!  I think today I will enjoy some wine with my friend who is coming to our house.  I figure if she drinks a few glasses then she will not realize that the house is so not perfect.  YUP I had huge plans on making the house spotless then the weekend hit.  I had a ton of work to do, church and kid stuff left me with no cleaning time.  OK I did have a day that Rick took the kids to the air show but I used those few hours to go hang with one of my best friends.  That field up my tank but then the rest of the weekend hit .. lol.


I must say I have been exercising EVERY day and enjoying it but I have noticed that I have been pooped so much.  I think I need to take my vitamins ... Well it's a short and rambling post today ... lol.


Hope you are all enjoying your week, I plan to kick back today and just enjoy it!  I may even go to bed early again ... lol.

Something Sweet but a Surprise Ingredient!

I wanted to bring something sweet with not all the calories to a party a few weeks back.  I went onto the Eating Well Site and found this Double Corn-Blueberry Cobbler.  I was surprised how yummy this was, yes I must admit at first I was a little worried when I saw corn in this recipe.  I did grind up the corn in my ninja so my guest didn't see chunks of corn.  This was a great summer time dish that was loved by all even the men liked it!  My parents have several blueberry bushes in their yard, so I thankfully have a ton in my freezer!

INGREDIENTS

FILLING

• 4 cups blueberries or blackberries (about 1 1/4 pounds), fresh or frozen
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon white whole-wheat flour (see Note)
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

TOPPING

• 1 cup white whole-wheat flour
• 3/4 cup cornmeal, preferably medium- or coarse-ground
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 cup corn kernels, fresh, frozen (thawed) or canned (well-drained) - This is what I ground up.

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. To prepare filling: Combine berries, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, lemon zest and lemon juice in a large bowl. (If using frozen fruit, let stand for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, to thaw the fruit before transferring to the baking dish.) Transfer to a 9-inch shallow glass or ceramic baking dish.
3. To prepare topping: Whisk 1 cup whole wheat flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl until well blended. Whisk egg yolk, buttermilk, oil and 3 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir to blend. Fold in corn.
4. Evenly spoon the batter on top of the berry mixture; the fruit will be almost completely covered with batter. Place the baking dish on a baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake until the berries are bubbly, the topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the topping comes out clean, 35 to 50 minutes. Let cool for about 20 minutes before serving.

Enjoy it was a real crowd pleasure!

Have a wonderful week!