How to Ruin A Perfectly Lovely Recipe...

…and still have it turn out rather tasty.

Rice Krispie Treats
3 Tbsp butter or margarine
1 10 oz pkg marshmallows
            or 4 cups mini marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispie cereal

Step 1: In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat.
Step 2: Decide that it would be more fun (and tasty) to use Cocoa Pebbles instead.
Step 3: And since you happen to really like having Cocoa Pebbles for breakfast, decide to make only half a recipe.
Step 4: Realize you now have too much butter, carefully scoop out what you think might be about half the butter. Measuring is for wimps.
Step 5: Search the pantry for plain mini marshmallows. Find none. Search for regular plain marshmallows. Still none. Now resort to any type of marshmallow. Find half a bag of mini peppermint marshmallow and some lemon meringue ones. Decide to eat the lemon meringue version after the kids are in bed.
Step 6: Add peppermint marshmallows to butter and stir to coat. After sneaking one, notice that they are rather stale. No worries. Commence melting.
Step 7: Watch as the pink marshmallow yumminess slowly deflates.
Step 8: Stir in cereal anyway. No turning back now.
Step 9: Press the sticky pink and brown lump into a greased 9x13 pan, keeping it as even as possible.
Step 10: Notice that despite the rather lovely pink coating, these treats still look a little dry. No one likes a crumbly treat.
Step 11: Fret about the dry treats for about an hour or so, until they've cooled down.
Step 12: In a small saucepan, pour 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream and turn heat to medium. Stir until it gets nice and warm. Add a big handful of chocolate chips (still no measuring allowed). Let sit for another five minutes while you play a game of Candy Crush Saga on your phone. Stir until chips are melted and your chocolate rescue plan is smooth.
Step 13: Drizzle ganache over your cocoa treats and deem them acceptable.
Step 14: Have your kids sample them first. Just in case.

What recipe have you ruined lately?

The Hazards of Being a Floor Cleaning System

I spend a fair amount of time in the kitchen. And when I do, I have a little dog constantly underfoot. It's not just because she always has to be within three feet of me (because she does) and gets pouty when I won't let her in the bathroom with me. She's there because I drop a lot of stuff, which means she gets to eat whatever hits the floor. Ham pieces. Bread crumbs. Cream. Shredded cheese. Usually, this works out pretty well for her. Sure, she might get stepped on periodically, but on the plus side, there's free food.

That brings us to last Sunday. I was schmearing chocolate frosting on a cake (because chocolate frosting on cake is awesome). For some reason, I could not keep my grip on the spatula. I dropped it on the floor three times. Since dogs should never have chocolate, I had to fight off my fluffy bundle of ravenousness in order to get the splatters cleaned up. She was getting a little frustrated with my breaking the Sacred Rule of Floor Food. So much so that she was practically sitting on my feet in an attempt to beat me to any drops.

I loaded up the spatula with a particularly large dollop of this delicious, gooey, dark chocolate frosting. Have I mentioned that my dog is pure white? Because that's pretty significant. You can probably see where this is going. Once again, my grip is faulty and the spatula falls.

But the frosting never touched the floor.

And of course, she didn't learn her lesson. Except that maybe she needs to get a longer tongue.

Lessons Learned from Chocolate

Several years ago, I got a quote-a-day calendar as a birthday gift. Having known me for over a decade, the giver wisely chose one with a chocolate theme. I still use it and it still makes me smile. Or crave peanut butter cups, depending on the day.

Here's a quote from the Chocolate Calendar:

"I taught my kids to count using little chocolate candies. They could make it to 20 before either fo them started school, but I gained 5 pounds."

Some other things I've learned from chocolate:

• Nothing says "I love you" like getting your favorite treat (it means they've paid attention enough to know what you'd like).
• Chocolate bloom (that grayish film on some chocolates) has turned me into a chocolate snob.
• When in doubt, bake brownies. Everyone loves brownies! Need it fancier? Add a scoop of ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a cherry. Anyone who refuses that ought to be asked to leave immediately.
• It's perfectly acceptable to have chocolate for breakfast. In fact, it may just be recommended, as it starts your day off on a sweeter foot.
• As luxurious as the bubble bath might be, it's just not enough unless there's chocolate to nibble.
• Children can be bribed with chocolate. Even the promise of one single M&M will bring out the unexpected in your little ones (like making their bed, being quiet for 10 minutes, or using the potty).
• I don't judge people based on their race, religion, or education, but on whether or not they like white chocolate.

What has chocolate taught you?

Poor Man's Almond Roca

I've been making candy all week. My mom's recipe for caramels. My dad's recipe for fudge. Then my friend Amanda posted about toffee bars. Mmmmm…toffee bars. My mom used to make almond roca that was to die for but I've never attempted it and didn't have her recipe. So I took a look at Amanda's recipe link, made some of my own changes, and came up with this:

Faux Roca
1 pkg graham crackers
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups almonds, ground up in your food processor

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Use aluminum foil to line a 9x13 pan, then spray with cooking spray. 
• Use graham crackers to line the pan as close to the edges as you can get. You might need to break the crackers into smaller or skinnier pieces.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add in brown sugar and stir. 
• Turn up the heat to medium high and bring the sugar to a nice frothy boil while you keep stirring. This should take about 5 minutes.
• Pour sugar mixture over crackers. Use a spatula to spread it out to cover all the crackers.
• Place pan oven for five minutes or until the sugar mixture is bubbling. (Took mine about 7 minutes.)
• Once it's out of the oven, evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top and let them melt. 
• When melted, spread chocolate so it covers everything, making sure to keep it even.
• Before the chocolate cools, sprinkle nuts over the top until all chocolate is covered. Press them down into the chocolate. You may have nuts leftover and that's fine.
• Let cool completely.
• Break into pieces and enjoy!

The crunch from the crackers mixed with the toffee makes for a very similar roca experience and doesn't require a candy thermometer. And you can't go wrong with something smothered in chocolate and nuts.

What are your favorite Christmas treats?

I'm Blue (Da Be Dee)

Look what came in the mail!

Woot!

My partner was the lovely K from Living the Lindicious Life. My favorite color is blue (but you already knew that, right?). Interestingly enough, we both chose BLUE as our favorite color so putting together a package was pretty easy and just plain fun. K hasn't received the package I sent her yet because I was a day late in mailing (I have repented of my swapping iniquity) so you might have to check her blog later for a peek at what she got but here's my box o' blueness:

In fact, everything K sent me has something to do with chocolate! There's the obvious things, like the chocolate spread, chocolate-covered gummy bears, and chocolate cupcakes. Then she put in a gorgeous mug for sipping hot chocolate, a hot pad for taking those brownies out of the oven, a leather-bound notebook for recording all my favorite chocolate recipes, licorice to dip in chocolate, a photo album for pictures of my family eating chocolate, and a lovely sparkly blue scarf so I look spiffy when I go out to get more chocolate. Perfect!

And my favorite item? Why, this of course:

Not a spot of blue on it but I don't care! Sometimes it's good to break the rules just a little. Mmmmm…broken rules are so yummy! 

And K? Baby would like to sincerely thank you for the chocolate-dipped gummy bears. They are her new favorite "successful potty trip" rewards.

My Summer Survival Secret: Nutella

I love me a good recipe. On a weekly basis, I am subjecting the family to new experiments. For the most part, they turn out well enough and some are even added to permanent rotation. Then there are the miserable failures that have us scraping off our plates and snacking on grapes and crackers the rest of the evening.

It's far too hard to be flawless all the time. Really, I need to lower the expectations every now and then or there's just no way I can keep up with the demands.

So it was very unfortunately that I came across perfection in baked form. I'll never be able to top this one. Self-Frosting Nutella Cupcakes.

 Be Different…Act Normal was the first to mention these extraordinary beauties. Lorie has never steered me wrong in the past and these might just be my new favorite. And usually, frosting the cupcake is my favorite part but with these, it's sinking my teeth into a the next one that sends me over the moon.

When I moved to Happy Valley, the local grocery store did not carry any delicious chocolate hazelnut spread. The store manager was open to special requests so I made one. On my most recent visit, there were three spaces on the shelf dedicated to Nutella. Now, previously, my favorite form of Nutella was by the spoonful straight from the jar while making dinner, after the kids have gone to bed, or when there's fighting coming from the other room and I need to solidify my resolve to confront it.

After I make my next batch of these cupcakes, I'll have enough proofs of purchase for the spiffy Nutella Spreader.

Balm of Gilead

I'm feeling a little pouty lately. Really, it's just my selfishness and the fact that I've worked so hard to brainwash convince so many people that dorks are actually quite lovable and now it's all gone. Along with my best friend and my substitute mom.

Our ward boundaries changed. This means that approximately 18 houses in my neighborhood (of which one is mine) are now in another ward. Same building, same gospel, same truth. Different time, different faces, just plain different.

I don't like change. Wait, let me rephrase that. I don't like change that I can't control.

Since I can't control it, I've just got to learn to adjust, right? Or I can just sit on my couch, pout, feel like my comfort zone was dissected and rezoned by imminent domain, and eat chocolate pudding.

Homemade Chocolate Pudding

3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups milk
3 egg yolks, well beaten
2 oz baking chocolate, chopped (the darker, the better!)
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla

1. Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan.
2. Gradually stir in milk and egg yolks over medium heat.
3. Once combined, add baking chocolate.
4. Stir until mixture thickens and boils. Allow to boil (while stirring) one minute longer, then remove from heat.
5. Add butter and vanilla, mixing until well combined.
6. To serve warm (my preferred method): Immediately spoon into dessert cups.
7. To serve chilled (my preferred breakfast the next morning): Cover pan with plastic wrap, making sure the entire surface of the pudding is in contact, and set in fridge for at least three hours. Scoop out desired amount. Pudding will be firmer.

This is also quite scrumptious as a chocolate fondue.

* The image is from here, which also has another yummy pudding recipe.

Peep My Brownies

My buddy Sami from Symmetry In Motion is hosting a Peep-tastic event! For her April Symfully Sweet contest. Her candy of the month? Peeps!

You may remember my previous torturing of Peeps. I only eat them if they're stale and yet, I can't imagine an Easter without them. I'm not incredibly crafty lately (although I am totally in love with these and MUST HAVE THEM!) but I am pretty stressed so baking seemed like a good option.

Peep Brownies

Make your favorite brownie batter. And if you must use a brownie mix, then so be it, just don't tell me. Before pouring into the pan, mix in one cup of coconut and one cup of chopped nuts. Spread into your pan and bake it as usual, but leave the oven on. Should look like this:

Tempting, already, I know, but resist! Next, it's time to take out a little of your aggressions on small marshmallow bodies.

I started by lining the Peeps up but there were too many gaps so I disemboweled a few and scattered the remains over the others. Still, a few gaps. I tossed in a few plain mini marshmallows to fill it in. Then pop the pan back in the oven for about 7 minutes. Their guts will puff up and maybe start to brown a little.

While those are melting, dump a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips into a small saucepan and heat them until they melt. Stir in 1/4 cup of softened butter until it all smoothes out. Then? Pour it over the marshmallow mayhem.

Try not to lick the screen.

Let it set up, then cut with a plastic knife, and serve. Unfortunately, my diners were not as patient and demanded to be served.

Ooey, gooey, chocolate, mushy yumminess! And kinda pretty, too.

Chocolate is Way Better Than Coffee

I used to like the smell of coffee. I thought it was relaxing and rich. At my very first job, one of my duties was to change out the coffee to keep it fresh. One day, this was my first task just after signing in. And I proceeded to spill the entire thing all over me. Unfortunately, it was a Saturday and we were completely slammed so there was no chance for me to go home and change. I smelled like stale coffee for my entire six-hour shift.

So, I don't much like coffee anymore.

Then, when I was 16, I shared a yummy dessert with a friend during a double date. It was called tiramisu and was deliciously creamy but there was this weird, tangy taste that I didn't much like. Coffee. Such a tragedy that a treat like this was ruined by the coffee. Surely there had to be a better way.

Now, officially, you can't call it tiramisu without the coffee. And it's virtually impossible to find a recipe the omits the coffee, because, like I mentioned, it's "essential." Using a few recipes from online, I put together my own. I'm trying on other names, like TiraMormon, or TiraMissYou (but I don't miss the coffee).

Not Tiramisu

1 cup whipping cream

1/3 cup sugar, divided

4 egg yolks

1 lb mascarpone cheese

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

24 ladyfingers

1 cup hot water

2 Tbsp cocoa powder

2 oz chocolate, finely grated

• Whip the cream with a tablespoon of sugar until stiff peaks form. You're done with this for a bit but keep it away from heat.
• In a larger bowl, beat together the egg yolks and remaining sugar. Switch the mixer to low and then scoop the mascarpone cheese in a little bit at a time until fully combined.
• Take 1/4 of the whipped cream and mix it into the cheese. Then fold in the remaining amount of cream, careful to not over beat it, along with the vanilla.
• Spread 1/2 cup of this mixture in the bottom of a 2-quart dish.
• In a small bowl, stir together hot water and cocoa powder.
• Dip ladyfingers in this mixture but don't let them soak! Carefully place in the bottom of the dish in a single layer.
• Scoop half the cheese mixture over the top and gently spread over the cookies. Sprinkle half the grated chocolate evenly on top.
• Now, repeat the last two steps!
• Cover and pop into your fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.

Here are a few tips:

• The only ladyfingers I could find were in the bakery and were almost like an angel food cake. These would completely fall apart if soaked in the hot chocolate mixture. So don't be concerned if there's a lot of that chocolate leftover.
• Some recipes call for cream cheese. I prefer mascarpone. You can usually find it in the deli section of your local supermarket.
• I used dark chocolate because I like it and it has a stronger taste. Use whatever you'd prefer.
• This would look pretty in a trifle dish!

Wordless Wednesday: Happiness

(And yes, that is real five-pound bar of chocolate.)

Little Chocolatiers

Boo loves having friends over for play dates. She has some good friends at school but lately, most of the friends she's asking over are boys who want to play Wii games the entire time. Because she's pretty good at 'em and can teach them a couple new tricks. But I don't want them sitting in front of video games for two hours so I had to come up with something that's appealing to both genders.

First time around, I had the kids make brownies. It went great until they decided that stirring was hard work. Lumpy brownie batter makes for large lumps of unmixed flour and stuff in the finished product. I think Boo now has greater appreciation for my skill with carbs.

Next time a friend came over, I opted for something simpler: Rolo candy. Have you had these before? They are awesomeness in bite-size form. The Co-ed's BFF first taught me how to make them and they are uber easy.

Rolo Candy

Ingredients: Bag of pretzels, Rolo candy, pecan halves, semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional).

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Line cookie sheet with waxed paper.
• Unwrap all the Rolo candies.
• Place pretzels on waxed paper, leaving at least an inch between pieces (I've used the traditional twisted pretzels and these waffle-looking things; both worked fine). Use as many as you have Rolos to match.
• Center each Rolo on a pretzel.
• Place in oven for seven minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool for a couple minutes (not too long - this is more to let the pan cool down than the chocolate).
• Squish a pecan firmly onto the candy, making sure you stay centered, but not so far down that the chocolate overlaps the pretzels.
• Melt chocolate chips in the microwave. Scoop into plastic baggie. Snip a small portion of the corner off. This makes your drizzle bag.
• Zigzag the melted chocolate over the pecan (or, if you are an 8-year-old, do whatever you want and make all kinds of shapes and pictures that no one except for you will recognize).
• Pop the tray into your freezer to harden up the chocolate before your kid's friend has to go home.

Chocoholics Meeting

Can't call it "Chocoholics Anonymous" because you guys know me. And since I have an computer genius for a husband, I know all of you (also because of Google Analytics). Have no fear. I shall only use my powers for good.

I call this meeting of the Chocoholics to order. Please swallow whatever scrumptious delight you are currently savoring and join me in reciting the Chocoholics pledge:

"We need chocolate, some creamy chocolate. Chocolate ice cream. Chocolate mousse. Some chocolate cheesecake. Bavarian chocolate. Bring on the chocolate. We need a boost!"*

Now, I understand that you and every good chocoholic out there is looking for new treasures and being the sharing kind, I can't keep this to myself. I'm picky with my chocolate and only reach for the Hershey's if there's nothing left in the house. Are you just as particular? Then try out Chocomize.com. They let you completely customize your chocolate, add in anything you'd like.

So as not to completely overwhelm you with their awesomeness, they offer a few favorites to sort of warm up your taste buds. I like the Candy Bar. It has milk chocolate, gummy bears, chocolate candy, and Nerds. Feeling the need for a little luxury? Add 23 carat gold flakes. The candy section is enough to send your eyes into a sugar frenzy. Perhaps you're a little on the nutty side? They've got 12 different kinds (well, if you count the Corn Nuts). Try your chocolate with a little cayenne pepper. Or bacon.

As if that wasn't amazing enough, they've got a Chocolate of the Month Club. Oh, the ecstasy!

Now, I'd adjourn this meeting properly but you've probably already clicked over or opened another browser window to take a peek. Not that I blame you, of course.

What would you put in your chocolate?

* I borrowed this from one of my favorite tunes from Buddy Wasisname.

** And I got the images from the Chocomize website. They are definitely not mine. Unless licking the screen image of them counts...

Cookbook Giveaway!

Since I haven't been posting, I figured it was going to take some serious bribery to get you back here to my blog. So here it is:

The scrumptious cookbook from Annette Lyon! "Chocolate Never Faileth." I've had my copy for a week now and can't stop drooling over it...

Sure, it's a chocolate cookbook - which is completely awesome - but for someone not as chocolate obsessed as myself, what's so great about it? Well, let me tell ya!

• Lots of chocolate quotes and anecdotes! Every recipe has one. Makes my chocolate quote calendar unnecessary.
• Annette doesn't just give you the "what" for a recipe but also the "why." This is one of the reason why I love Alton Brown's Good Eats, because it explains the reasons behind doing things a certain way, not just bossing me around and leaving me uninformed.
• There are the classic recipes (like a basic chocolate cake - several, actually) but some new twists on old favorites (I'm dying to try to chocolate pavlova).
• Not only are you getting over 125 recipes to recreate heaven on earth, but the one I'm giving away is signed by the author. 'Cuz we're, like, totally tight and stuff. Seriously, we are! I've even been to her house (of course, I bribed my way in the door with cupcakes...).

Are you chomping at the bit now, dying to win this cookbook? Well, you should be! Here's how to enter:

1. Leave me a comment here saying something about chocolate. Anything. Except that you hate the stuff because then I'll have to block your access to my blog and blot your name out of the records.
2. Visit Annette's blog and tell her I sent you (I will verify this because I'm all about promoting me).
3. Follow me (or let me know that you already do).
4. Follow The Cake Cow.
5. Share this giveaway on Facebook (helps if you're also my friend so I can verify this).
6. Blog about my giveaway with a link here.

Now, you must leave an additional comment for EACH entry. Doesn't count as multiples when ya lump 'em all together. I will leave it to Random.org to pick the winner next Sunday at...let's say 8 pm MDT. Sound good? Okay, then, leave me some comments, people!

AND IF YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN MY TRUE COLORS SWAP...How is everything going? Are you finding some good items to send to your partner? Need any suggestions or tips? Shoot me an email. Deadline is this weekend!

Hey, good lookin', watcha got cookin'?

I hate breakfast.

Always have.

Breakfast cereal manufacturers say its the most important meal of the day but I nearly have to choke down that bowl of cereal. Ugh. I don't like my food cold and wet (unless it happens to be ice cream). I don't like food that gets soggy. And it is inevitable that my breakfast will get soggy. I have three small children in varying states of panic in the morning. Cereal is never a good choice for me.

I like my breakfast hot. Preferably melty. That's not always practical on a typical morning in the Cow household. And did I mention I'm not that big a fan of eggs and omelets? Ideally, I'd like to have a sausage and cheese croissandwich from Burger King every morning. But that's not exactly conducive to my weight loss goals.

While trying to have something in my stomach for breakfast, I've been drinking an Instant Breakfast or a Slim Fast shake (when I remember to buy the mix and we're not out of milk). It is easy enough to drink down, leaving one hand free to brush hair, retrieve shoes, and even manage buttons. But it doesn't keep me full. Within an hour, I'm getting hungry again.

So, what does that leave me that's not cold, potentially soggy, hot, melty, not eggs, keeps me full longer and is reasonably good for me? Diddly squat, that's what.

Or at least that's what I thought...

At a friend's suggestion, I tried steel cut oatmeal. It takes some time and usually ends up overflowing, getting burned or congealed while I give orders gentle instructions to my brood. So I switched to instant. Have you seen those little packets? Kinda small and not very filling, either. I felt like a big ol' glutton dumping in two packets, though. Of course, the flavors I like (peaches and cream, apples and cinnamon) are the high-sugar options. However, I recently found a "weight control" option that provides a slightly large portion while cutting down on sugar and fat. But oatmeal just isn't tasty on it's own and I don't keep fresh berries on hand to spruce it up. So here's where the melt factory comes in: I add a tablespoon of chocolate chips. They're the semi-sweet kind so have less fat and sugar than the milk option and a little bit goes a long way. The chips are nice and melty after sitting on a steaming bowl of oatmeal while I'm kicking escorting children out the door to school, and when mixed together, they are tasty, tasty good!

What do you eat for breakfast?

Chocolate Research - repeated

**I may or may not be out of town currently...but if I am out of town, be assured that my house and property is protected by rabid dust bunnies. So you don't get too lonely, I'll be reposting a few of my favorites. This post originally appeared Sept 14, 2007.**

Chocolate Calendar for September 14th:

"Tell people you are working as a consultant for a chocolate company, and your chocolate consumption is actually research."

Ummm...fell down the stairs again. This time it was in the garage and I nearly landed on the Boy. I caught myself on my knee instead of hurting my shoulder so I'm not hurt. Well, my pride is pretty bruised. So I am eating some chocolate today as part of my research. I'm attempting to see if I can move my center of gravity down lower (by enlarging my butt).

My Child

I found some Hershey's Kisses stashed where I normally don't keep chocolate. Sure enough, they had gotten too warm, melted a little, and then re-solidified. This causes the chocolate to "bloom," getting that grey-ish coating with spidery veins. The chocolate is still fine and will happily re-melt if you chop it up and throw it into some unsuspecting cookie dough. But if you insist on eating it straight, it's the grainy texture that will ruin the experience.

I am a chocolate snob. I won't eat bloomed chocolate.

Since I frequently look at my children, who so closely resemble their father, and wonder what parts of me did they get in their genetic make-up, I decided to conduct a test. I gave Boo and Boy each a greyed-over piece of chocolate.

Boo happily munched hers and then went back to playing.

The Boy, however, made a strange face while eating his. I asked him what was wrong and he accused me of not giving him chocolate at all.

Ah, that's my Boy!

Loyalty Rewarded

Oh, I am so relieved that you are still reading my blog! To show my appreciate, I have something for you...a little something for every taste.

Would you like some free chocolate?

a) Yes, please! Go here.

b) Yuck, hate the stuff and I hate babies. Go here.

c) Maybe later, I just ate a big, healthy salad. Go here.

I Pink-Puffy-Heart Food!

Valentine's Day! Some people hate it but I think it's fun. I didn't always feel that way. In fact, it wasn't until I was dating the Man that I had someone special on Valentine's Day. And that first one was not what I expected (I cried). The next one - our first as a married couple - was equally as disappointing (I cried, this time locked in the guest bedroom, not speaking to him). But he's gotten better! MUCH BETTER! And I've loosened up, too. We've started celebrating it as a day to spend with the people you love instead of purchasing over-priced flowers or an expensive dinner (but I still demand a box of nice chocolates).

Three years ago, I started the tradition of a heart-shaped dinner with the family. That year, we had a heart meatloaf and heart carrots (which actually didn't look at all like hearts, more like an orange PacMan). Last two years (here and here), we've had heart pizzas.

In my efforts to improve on the year before, I decided to tap into my Type-A personality and do everything in hearts.
Or pink.
Or with pink hearts.
And we started with breakfast: pink chocolate chip pancakes. I didn't take pictures because I was too hungry.

Here's lunch:

That's a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich made into hearts with a sandwich cutter I got at Wal-Mart (we also have a dinosaur one). It about blew their minds that the milk was pink. Boo kept asking me how I did it. I told her I was magic. Somehow, she didn't believe me.

Since we were once again having pizza for dinner, I made it more Valentine-y.

I folded the pepperoni in half then used my kitchen shears to trim out the hearts. It actually went pretty fast (and the pepperoni under the cheese is the normal round stuff but don't tell anyone). And that's not grease glistening on there...it's love.

Drinks were the same as last year (Sprite) but this time I made the heart ice cubes with pomegranate juice. It was rather tasty but not as pretty a color.

The pears had to be improved, too. I soaked them all day in pear juice with food coloring. This picture is actually rather deceiving; they were more pink than it shows. Next year I may try to get them soaking overnight for better color. And the Boy would have mutinied if I didn't have jell-o. These were made using the "Cool Layers" recipe from the side of the box (basically you mix in Cool Whip and it separates out as it sets) with raspberry jell-o.

For dessert, I used a silicone pan I got on clearance last year. I used my favorite brownie recipe but the details didn't quite come out so it's hard to see. It's mini loaves made to look like Hershey's bars. There was strawberry ice cream with chocolate sauce and piped chocolate hearts. The dessert plates were a clearance item from last year, too, for a quarter each.

While the dinner was tasty, it was also really fun to put together. I don't think I could have gotten everything done if it hadn't been a Saturday when the Man was home. It helps to have an extra set of hands to put kids in time out.

Product Review: Little Debbie 100 Calorie Snacks

In my quest to defeat the evil Wii Fit, I've been trying to eat healthier snack options besides chocolate pudding and A&W Cream Soda. So imagine my glee when I found these at the local grocery store:

Little Debbies! My favorites! And? They were on sale - 2 for $3. The box promised that they would taste just as wonderfully delicious as the originals. I snatched them up, eagerly looking forward to a "healthier" snack for the day (and maybe again before bed).

When I got home and opened the box...well, I was in for a surprise. On my next trip to the store, I had to get the normal goodies to compare them for you - such is my devotion to you, dear reader.

They meant what they said about these goodies tasting just like the original versions because they really do. But for those of you playing along at home, you might notice that the original brownies and Nutty Bars are just over 300 calories per serving. Obviously the big brains at Little Debbie didn't want to mess with a good thing so they just shrunk the portion size down to a reasonable 100 calorie size. Check these out:

Oh, look! It's a baby brownie! Oh, it's just so cute, I could eat the whole box!

And the Nutty Bar, while the same length is not the same height. They trimmed off a layer. And doesn't he look so lonely, all by himself, while normal Nutty Bars come in pairs? It's kinda like the creepy roommate who would never leave the room when you and your boyfriend wanted to make out.

Here are the Pros and Cons of these 100 calorie versions:

Pro - Taste much better than the normal fake-diet chocolate goodies.
Pro - Small enough that they're easier to sneak past your kids.
Pro - You don't look like such a freak when you stuff the entire serving in your mouth all at once.
Pro - Takes less time to finish off the entire box in one sitting.

Con - Cost the same as the fully-leaded versions but you don't get as much.
Con - Might not be enough to satisfy when you really need some chocolate, like when your husband is working late and your three-year-old is working on defeating your last nerve.
Con - Hey, they're only 100 calories each so eating five is no big deal, right?

Have you tried any "healthier" snacks lately?

Cookie Exchange!

We were invited to a cookie exchange this year. Last year, we missed out on a lot of the holiday parties because we left town. This year, I'm missing out on most of them due to a previously scheduled abdominal surgery. Kinda sucks. So I was pretty happy when I saw that I would at least get to make it to the cookie party. Although one friend said she was surprised to see me there, what the the contractions and all, and my response was "Hello! Cookies! I am sooooo there!"

Since I simply do not have enough to do, I decided to have my own little bake-off (instead of doing something useful, like sorting baby clothes). None of my current cookie recipes seemed up to par so I picked two from a cookie newsletter. We'd have a taste test and the winning cookie would be presented at the exchange.

First up: Chocolate Ribbon Cookies.


I had high hopes for these guys. They were so pretty and they had chocolate. Virtually perfect! But there wasn't much of a taste (maybe I should have used the rum extract after all). More like shortbread than anything else.

Then I made Peanut Butter Munchies.


These were a little more work but have to say, the taste was great! Kinda like a brownie wrapped around peanut butter. These won unanimously. I still have a couple downstairs and I gotta say, after writing about them, they are calling my name...

What is your favorite cookie to take to an exchange?