Scrapbook Layouts and a Card

Wanted to share a birthday card I made and some scrapbook pages. Scrapping is my outlet to relax and I love when I get time to work in my craft room.

 A birthday card for my little brother

 My brother and his fiance, love this Elle's Studio paper

 I love my Princess

 Princess after her surgery in September

 Princess recovering from surgery

 My little brother, can't wait to attend his games again soon.

Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies

I actually found this recipe thanks to instagram. I did use whole wheat flour in mine and these were so good. Here is the link if you're in the mood to try a new chocolate chip cookie recipe. Here's the link to this recipe:

http://bromstad.com/2013/12/salted-chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe/

Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

These were amazing, I love red velvet, but I didn't feel like making cupcakes so these were perfect. I had these in the oven while I was making a one pot meal on the stove. These would be great for Valentine's Day. Here's the link to this recipe:

http://www.cookingclassy.com/2013/12/red-velvet-brownies-fluffy-cream-cheese-frosting/

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake

This is perfect for when you want a little dessert, but don't want to make an entire cake. This takes about a minute and hit that dessert craving. Here's the link to this:
http://www.crazyforcrust.com/2014/01/double-chocolate-peanut-butter-mug-cookie/

Potato Ham Chowder

I haven't been enjoying all the cold weather we've been having, but I do love this time of year making comforting recipes such as this soup. This was perfect since I had potatoes and bacon leftover from another meal that I wanted to use up. Here's the link to this recipe:
http://damndelicious.net/2013/12/16/potato-ham-chowder/

Santa Ornaments

I've had these saved on pinterest for about 2 years and decided it was finally time to make them. I know it's only January, but I'm trying to start early this year so I'm not rushing at the end of the year. Plus I really wanted to make them and didn't want to end up in December again with no time to make them. I bought clear ornaments at Michaels, used clear pledge floor cleaner, squirt some of the cleaner in the ornament and roll it around to coat inside completely. Turn ornament upside down over sink to let out the excess cleaner. I then added red glitter, put my finger over the top hole and shook till the ornament was completely coated. I then used krazy glue to secure the top on the ornament. The buckle I cut with glitter paper in my silhouette, then cut strips of black paper. Added adhesive to the paper, put it through the buckle and then around the ornament. These didn't take that long to do and I love the ornaments with glitter inside because you get the pretty glitter look without the mess.

Bolognese Shepherd's Pie

This is a Rachael Ray recipe and was amazing. Perfect meal to warm you up on a cold Winter day. Here's the link so you can try this recipe:
http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/recipe/16675_Bolognese_Shepherd_s_Pie_with_Roasted_Garlic_Potatoes/index.html

Baked Honey Sesame Chicken

Mine is missing sesame seeds because I thought I had them and when I started making this realized I didn't have anymore. This recipe was delicious without them, but next time I will make sure to have the seeds. I love that this is baked in the oven. Here's the link to this recipe:
http://therecipecritic.com/2013/09/baked-honey-sesame-chicken/

Lemon Garlic Pasta and Chicken

I love one pot meals especially on those nights I want to make a good dinner, but am also tired from working all day so don't feel like making a mess and taking awhile making dinner. This recipe is quick, easy and delicious. Here's the link to it:
http://www.number-2-pencil.com/2014/01/10/one-pan-lemon-garlic-chicken-pasta/

Scrapbook Pages

Figured I'd share some scrapbook layouts since I haven't in awhile. Didn't do much scrapping over the holidays besides gift albums and tags These are of my brother, his fiance and my grandma

Mozzarella Sticks

These are a quick and easy appetizer for your next party. I baked mine, but the recipe calls for frying, which you can do and get a darker color on them. Here's the link to the recipe:

http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2010/05/panko-mozzarella-sticks/

Baked Potato Skins

These were a wonderful party appetizer and I actually used the insides for a baked potato soup that I've made before. Here's the link for these :

http://www.thewickednoodle.com/baked-potato-skins/

Caramel Apple Turnovers

Wow, these were just amazing! Will be making these for dessert next time we have company over. Here's the link to this recipe:

http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/09/10/caramel-apple-turnovers/

Chocolate Oat Smoothie

I love smoothies so when I saw this one I had to make it with the new blender I got for Christmas. This was amazing and I will be making it weekly now. So easy to make you just need:

• 1 frozen banana
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 2 tbsp oats
• 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
• 1 cup dark chocolate almond milk

Buttermilk Pancakes

I love pancakes and used to use those box mixes, until I discovered how easy it is to make them from scratch. This recipe was delicious and made enough for our company we had. Here's the link so you can also make them:

http://www.cookingclassy.com/2013/07/buttermilk-pancakes/

Cioppino

For Christmas Eve I always try to make 7 fishes for the feast of the 7 fishes. My grandma always did it so it's been a tradition for a long time that I like to carry on. Here's the link to this delicious soup:

http://justonecookbook.com/recipes/cioppino/

Cheesy Scalloped Potato Gratin

This was a wonderful side dish and would be great to take to any pot luck meal. Here's the link to this recipe:

http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2013/10/cheesy-scalloped-potato-gratin.html

Gnocchi with Turkey Ragu

I love Gnocchi and when I found this recipe on pinterest I couldn't wait to make it. This was delicious. I love using ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef sometimes so this recipe was perfect. Here's the link to this recipe:


http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/gnocchi-with-turkey-rag-10000001673053/

Banana Stuffed Challah French Toast

I made this for Kyle for his birthday breakfast. Was so tasty, the recipe used french bread, but I went with Challah bread since it's a favorite in our household. Here's the link to this amazing recipe:

http://www.cookingclassy.com/2013/06/banana-stuffed-french-toast/

I think I will make this again for Valentine's Day and add strawberries to the bananas

Citrus Oven Roasted Chicken

We love chicken and eat it often, but I usually only oven roast when I get the whole chicken so this recipe was different for me, but tasted wonderful. Here's the link to the recipe:

http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2013/04/herb-and-citrus-oven-roasted-chicken.html

Grown Up Mac and Cheese

This mac and cheese was delicious and was perfect with the chicken I made so I had to share it. I used shells instead of the elbows used in this recipe. You can mix up the shape of the pasta to work for what you have on hand. Here's the link to this wonderful recipe:

http://thecozyapron.com/a-cozy-pasta-grown-ups-mac-n-cheese-for-the-grown-up-kid-in-all-of-us/

M&M Oat Cookies

This is another delicious cookie recipe that is a little "healthy"(jk) because of the oatmeal. Here's the link to this recipe:

http://www.somethingswanky.com/mm-choc-oat-cookies-christmas-quotes/

Holi Doodles

These are such a colorful Christmas cookie,that really make the cookie baskets festive. Here's the link to this wonderful recipe:

http://javacupcake.com/2013/12/holi-doodles/

Peanut Butter Blossoms

These are a family favorite and also from the 100 best cookies magazine

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• hershey kiss 
• sugar to roll cookies in

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Beat shortening and peanut butter for 30 seconds.
3. Add in sugars, baking powder and baking soda, beat till combined.
4. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla till combined.
5. Beat in flour
6. Shape dough into 1'' balls and roll in sugar to coat. Place 2'' apart on a cookie sheet.
7. Bake 10-12 minutes, press kiss in center of cookie when you remove from oven.
8. Cool on wire rack.

Spritz Cookies

This is from a 100 best cookies magazine I love these cookies, they are pretty easy to make,taste delicious and look so cute in the cookie baskets.

• 1 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• colored sugars

1. Preheat oven to 375.Beat butter and sugar till light fluffy. Add in baking powder, egg,vanilla and almond extract till combined.
2. Beat in flour. 
3. Place in cookie press with desired cutter plate and press onto cookie sheet.
4. Cover with colored sugars
5. Bake 8-10 minutes.Transfer to wire rack to cool.

White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Peppermint always makes me think of Christmas so when I found these on pinterest they went right onto the list for Christmas baking this year. These were minty and delicious. Here's the link:

http://www.bakerella.com/chocolate-peppermint-cookies/

I also wanted to share a few more of the wrapping I did for these cookies:

Christmas Melting Snowman

These totally didn't come out looking like the recipe I found, but they tasted wonderful. These probably belong on the pinterest fail blog for my decorating skills. Here's the link to this recipe:



http://www.bhg.com/recipe/chocolaty-melting-snowmen/

Snickerdoodle Chip Cookies

I love snickerdoodles so when I saw this recipe on pinterest I knew I would be making it for Christmas. These were delicious. Here's the link to the recipe:

http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/10/snicker-chip-doodle-cookies/

Buttery Sugar Cookies

This is another recipe that tastes really good, just excuse the crappy decorating job. I got this recipe from the Taste of Home Best Loved Cookies & Bars 2009.

• 2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 5 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 6 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp alt

1. In a large bowl cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy.
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well. Beat in milk and vanilla.
3. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and slowly add into butter mixture. 
4. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour, or until easy to handle (I left mine in fridge overnight)
5. On a lightly floured surface roll out dough to 1/4'' thickness. Cut with floured cookie cutters. Place 1'' apart on greased baking sheets. Sprinkle with sugar or leave plain to decorate with icing.
6. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Let cool
7. I bought an icing set at the store to decorate these.

Gingerbread Cookies

I used the abc gingerbread men cutters for these cookies.We aren't the best decorators, but these cookies do taste delicious. Here's the link to this recipe, add it to your list for next Christmas:

http://addapinch.com/cooking/2013/12/10/gingerbread-cookies-recipe-2/#.UqcPpmTXTPY

Red Velvet Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Icing

This is such a tasty cookie recipe I found on pinterest. Here's the link to this recipe so you can also make it:

http://www.cookingclassy.com/2013/12/red-velvet-sugar-cookies/