Cake Balls

I am obsessed with anything cake, cupcake. And when I first saw these I was so excited to try them, they are so easy, and so delicious, and they make a fun treat for kids, they can be dressed up elegantly for weddings and parties, or decorated for holidays.

1. 1 box cake mix ( any flavor)
2. 8 (oz) cream cheese
3. 2 cups powdered sugar
4. 4 tbsp butter
5. 1 tbsp milk

Bake the cake until done, cool in refrigerator, when it is completely cool,  crumble into large bowl with a fork until it is fine crumbs.
In a separate bowl whip the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and milk, until smooth. Pour into cake mix, and mix with spoon until you are able to roll dough into a ball on your hand.
When the mix is done, refrigerate until firm

Cake Pops

1. Lollipop sticks (found at Michael's, JoAnn's, or other craft stores
2. 12 ounces chocolate chips
3. 12 ounces white chocolate bark 
4. Edible wax (optional)
5. Colored sugars, candies, and other decorative sprinkles

Prepare two large baking sheets by covering with wax paper or parchment. Take a little bit of the cake mixture and roll it into a ball. If you want to use the lollipop sticks, stick one into the end of each ball, pointing upward, as you put the ball back down on the sheet. [Note: I cut the long lollipop sticks in half; they seemed a little long for the size of the balls.]
Repeat until you've used up all the mixture. As each sheet fills up, put it in the freezer so that the balls harden.

Dip hardened cake balls, into melted chocolate, candy chips etc, and decorate however you like. 

Being an adult

When I was a kid I couldn't wait to turn 16 and when I turned 16 I couldn't wait to be 18, obviously you see where this is going.  Now that I am an adult and have the weight of the world on my shoulders, I sometimes struggle with the excitement of growing up, getting a job, raising my children!  I often think back to times in my life that were so easy, I mean seriously we didn't have a care in the world other than what we looked like, what boy or girl we liked and how much allowance we got. I know full well that I am an adult and I can never go back to that time, but guess what I don't want to, being an adult might be hard, but it is so rewarding, although at times we might not think so but it truly is. I get to see my children grow up and experience life, love, I get to choose a dream career, I get to go about my business with no one telling me what to do, and I don't have a curfew! So as I sit here and write this, I have the biggest smile on my face, because I am truly happy, and I wouldn't trade places with that awkward, quirky, freckle faced girl any day.

Taco Pasta Salad

Who doesn't love tacos, the yummy seasoned meat, the melted cheese, lettuce, tomatos, salsa. I know I love tacos, and I love pasta too  It's all so delicious, so I came up with a fun and clever way to incorporate tacos, into a delicious cold pasta salad. It is sure to be a big hit with your family, and it's an easy way to incorporate veggies into your childs diet.

Taco Pasta Salad

1. 1 can whole kernel corn (14.5 oz)
2. 1 can sliced olives (8oz)
3. 1 pkg tri-color spiral pasta
4. 1 can black beans (14.5 oz)
5. 1 green bell pepper (chopped)
6. 1 tomato (chopped)
7. red onion (chopped)
8. 1 bottle ranch dressing
9. 1 pkg taco seasoning
10. 1 pkg Cheddar cheese ( chopped)

In a large saucepan bring 3 quarts of water to a boil, add noodles. Cook according to directions on package
In a large bowl add the olives, black beans, corn, bell pepper, tomato,cheese,  and red onion. In a small bowl mix ranch, and taco seasoning until well blended.
Drain pasta, and rinse under cold water, until cooled. Pour pasta into large bowl, mix with veggies, and pour dressing over the top, and  mix well. Chill for an hour to blend flavors. 

Enjoy :)

Pumpkin Cobbler

How did it become fall already? It seems like just yesterday I was decorating Easter eggs with my baby girl.  I know their are some that love the hot weather, playing in the ocean, having camp outs, but not me I find comfort in the fall, I love cozying up to a blanket, feeling that crisp chill in the morning, and enjoying that clean air. And I especially love the fall baking.  Warm cinnamon, creamy pumpkin, nutmeg, apples. Mmm it's all so delicious. So I decided after thinking all day as to what I should make to bring that fall feeling to my home, and I decided on a pumpkin cobbler, it has all the makings of an amazing desert, and I know you will enjoy it as much as I did, and hopefully it will bring you that fall feeling like it did me.

Pumpkin Cobbler

1. 1 can 15oz pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
2. 1 can (12oz) evaporated milk
3. 2 whole eggs
4. 2 egg whites
5. 1 cup sugar
6. 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
7. 1/4 tsp salt
8. 1 box yellow cake mix
9. 1 cup butter (melted)
10. 1 cup chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350' spray 13x9 with cooking spray
In a large mixing bowl, mix all ingredients except cake mix, butter, and pecans.  Pour into pan.
In a medium mixing bowl mix cake mix, butter, and pecans with a fork until large clumps form, crumble mixture over filling.

Bake 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm with whipped topping or vanilla ice cream. If desired

Tips & Techniques
You can make this recipe lighter by replacing the butter with fat free spread, and  1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup artificial sweetener for the 1 cup sugar.

Terrible Twos

My mom put a curse on me when I was little that my kids, would be worse than me. I never understood why my mom would do that, so I asked her one day and she said her mom did the same thing to her, so she had to pass down the tradition. HA I know she just wanted payback for all the rotten things I did as a child and teenager. So here I am 32 years old and I have a 2 year old, I love her to the moon and back, she is my world. But,  there's always a but, she is in her terrible 2's. Going out to eat she throws a fit, what kind of food she wants, she throws a fit, even what clothes she wears, or how I do her hair. I fully understand this now, this is my curse. So I will grin and bear it, because I wouldn't change it for the world. As mothers we love our children so much, that no matter how rotten they are, we always know we have the curse.

Pumpkin Pie Bites

I was going through my grandma's old recipe book, when I found this recipe. She used to make these during the fall around thanksgiving, and served them on a  silver platter along with other delicious cookies she made. When I found this recipe I knew I needed to make them right away, so my daughter could experience them, but so you all could try them as well. They quite literally are pumpkin pie in a bite size, it doesn't get any better than that, and the recipe is fully customizable as well, which I am a huge fan of. Go ahead and replace the pumpkin for sweet potato, or add pecans or chocolate to the top, it's totally up to you.

1 can pure pumpkin
1 egg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 pkg filo dough

preheat oven to 350'
In a large bowl mix all ingredients, except filo dough. Set aside
Unroll filo dough and using a pizza cutter cut into strips (about 20)
Place filo dough in mini muffin pan, to form a bottom and sides.
Pour filling on top of filo dough, and bake 20 mins or until golden brown. I added pecans to mine, because I love them, like i said these are fully customizable!

Weather

I was just getting into the fall spirit, here in sunny southern California. And then bam, it's 100 degrees out and to hot to bake, so as I'm sitting here watching my daughter play, I remember when I was a kid when my mom made me and my sister No Bake Chocolate Bars, they were so yummy and I have such great memories enjoying these with my sister and friends on a warm summer day. I know they will be a hit with your family too, and they are so easy to  make, and did I mention delicious!

No Bake Chocolate Bars

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups quick cooking oats
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter

1. Grease a 9x9 inch square pan.
2. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and vanilla. Mix in the oats. Cook over low heat 2 to 3 minutes, or until ingredients are well blended. Press half of mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Reserve the other half for topping.
3. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Pour the chocolate mixture over the crust in the pan, and spread evenly with a knife..
4. Crumble the oat mixture over the chocolate layer, pressing in gently. Cover, and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or overnight. Bring to room temperature before cutting into bars.

Fall Hot Cocoa

I don't know about you all, but Hot Cocoa on a crisp night, is a wonderful treat, that makes your senses happy. And when you add a fall twist,with homemade marshmallows it's even better. If you have never had a homemade marshmallow before, those nasty things in a bag will be a thing of the past!

 Marshmallows

• 3 cups white sugar
• 1/4 cup corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

Coat a 13x9 pan with Non-stick cooking sprayIn a large saucepan, combine corn syrup, water, sugar, and salt. Heat to between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface. Remove from heat and beat until stiff peaks form, stir in vanilla, and pour into prepared pan.  Loosen edges with a knife, and dust with confectioners sugar. Turn onto flat surface cut into squares and dust with sugar again.


Hot Cocoa


1/2 cup half & half
1 1/2 cups milk
2 blocks chocolate (any brand you prefer) 
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp cinnamon 
3/4 tsp vanilla extract 

 In a large saucepan, combine half & half, milk, and chocolate. Cook on low until chocolate mixture is melted and frothy. Remove from heat, and add spices, and vanilla. Pour into your favorite mugs, and top with homemade marshmallows. YUMMY :) 


Makes 4 servings

Cake Mix Turtle Cookies

I just made the most amazing cookies, and they are super simple. Think chocolate, creamy caramel, and pecans yummy! If you are in need of a really quick and easy desert, you have to try these. PS these are fully customizable, you can do any kind of cake mix you like, and add any kind of ingredient (IE; chocolate chips, peanut butter cups, walnuts)


Cake Mix Turtle Cookies

1pkg cake mix (any flavor)
1/4 cup of oil
1/2 cup of water
1 large egg
24 caramels
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup half&half

Preheat oven to 350'F

Combine cake mix, egg, oil, and water. Beat until well blended.

Drop by teaspoon about 1in apart on greased cookie sheet, bake for 15 minutes until done. (Note: check every 5 mins, these cook really fast.)

While cookies are in the oven, in a small saucepan melt caramels, with half and half on low.

After cookies are cooled, drizzle with warm caramel, and chopped pecans.


Makes about 4 dozen! :)