I'm bananas 4 U!

This is my first ever cookie bouquet! Collin wanted to give something to his cousin Kaitlyn for Valentine's day so I thought, Perfect! I got a cookie bouquet guinea pig! I've been wanting to try to make one of these for awhile now. It was so much fun to put together.

Baking the cookies took a lot longer than I thought it would since I could only fit two cookies on each cookie sheet. These were big cookies!

I didn't have an actual monkey cookie cutter so I improvised. Using my bear cookie cutter I cut off his ears and placed them down lower. It actually worked out great. Icing these little guys was the best part. I just love cute little monkey faces!

This cookie on the other hand was a disaster. I got too lazy to make royal icing so I just used my regular icing. The tip was too big and the letters spread farther than I wanted but Kaitlyn loved it and that's all that mattered.

I had to test out the placement before putting it all together.

Here's the final result! It was a big hit. When I delivered it to the school the other kids wanted to know where thiers was. I learned a lot making this and hope to improve next time.

Valentine Cookies

Here's a pic of just a few quick cookies I made for my

brother. I'm going to be making a TON more this week!

Little Carlee decided she would try to make some too.

Then she just started eating the frosting right
out of the bowl! Good thing I was done with it!

This is Collin's favorite cookie that he iced.

Yummy!

We're going to make some hearts to put with

Collin's valentine's cards on Friday.

If I have time to get 'em done that is!

His second favorite cookie was the bear he

made on the top of this picture. He did pretty good!

I'm Screamin for Ice Cream!

Last Saturday my mom, the kids and I headed out for

ice cream. I could eat ice cream even if it was below zero

outside. I love it that much!

We chose our flavors and they mixed the ice cream right in front of us. The kids thought that was the coolest. Especially since the employees let them put their hands by the bowl and feel the cold "steam".

They had a wide variety of flavors and add-ins to choose from. Collin just had to have chocolate with Oreo cookies.

Carlee had the same kind of course. I didn't want to deal with any ice cream fights! They both ate just about every bite. If only they would do the same with real food...

It was a fun atmosphere and we had a great time.

We'll definitely go back!

Chicken Salad Cream Puffs

My mother-in-law found this yummy recipe on http://www.allrecipes.com. She used green onions and green grapes instead of what was called for and added a little sprinkling of cummin for extra flavor. I usually only post recipes that I cooked myself but these were so good that I had to save this recipe on here so I can make them later! I did plate them with the fruit and vegi's so I guess at least that credit is mine.



INGREDIENTS
CREAM PUFFS:
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup butter or margarine
Dash salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, room temperature
FILLING:
2 cups diced cooked chicken
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 (2.25 ounce) can sliced ripe olives, drained
1/3 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated onion
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon pepper
salt to taste



DIRECTIONS
In a medium saucepan, bring water and butter to a boil. Add flour and salt all at once; stir until a smooth ball forms and does not stick to pan. Remove from the heat; and let stand 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue to beat until dough to well blended. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet, making six mounds 3 in. apart. Bake at 400 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and dry and firm to the touch. Transfer to a wire rack. Immediately split puffs open; remove tops and set aside. Discard soft dough from inside. Cool puffs.


For filling, combine the chicken, celery and olives in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients; stir into chicken mixture. Fill puffs just before serving.

Cherry Lime 7-Up Spritzer

I love simple and quick drinks to pull together.

This is one is one of my fav's!

INGREDIENTS:

2 maraschino cherries plus 1 T. of juice

1 slice of lime

Crushed ice

7-Up

***
Fill glass 3/4 full of crushed ice.

Add maraschino cherry juice and two cherries.

Add 1/2 slice of lime to glass and garnish with other half if desired.

Fill remainder of glass with 7-UP.

Makes 1 serving.

Healthified Brownies

This is my version of a quick healthier version of

brownies for the kids. They turned out great!

Ingredients:

1 box brownie mix

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup pure pumpkin mix

Substitute powder for 3 eggs

(or you can use real eggs)

1 can ready to use fudge frosting

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix ingredients until blended.

Pour into greased 13x9 inch cake pan.

Bake according to package directions 25-28 minutes.

Cool completely then frost.

Enjoy!

Superbowl Kids

This was my attempt to make a football-ish snack for the kids. I tried to cut out a football shape with their turkey sandwiches then topped it with sliced cheese to look like the laces. Collin thought it was too silly but he loved it. Carlee just stared at it for awhile before she ate it.