Merry Christmas! {COOKIES}

Made these 12 am Christmas morning with my bestest friend [=

Hazelnut Cappuccino Crinkles

• 1 pouch Betty Crocker double chocolate chunk cookie mix
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablspoons hazelnut-flavored syrup
• 2 teaspoons instant coffe granules or crystals
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• chocolate covered coffee beans (I didn't find any so I used, a chocolate bar with coffee in it)

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl, stir cookie mix, oil, syrup, instant coffee, and egg until soft dough form
2. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in powdered sugar. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake about 9 minutes or until set. Immediately presss candy piece into top of each cookie. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix

A gift that i've probably given way too many times. It's easy to make and has more of personal touch than just buying the store bought mixes. But most important of all, it actually tastes really really good. So good I'm making one for myself to sip while doing my last minute Christmas preparations.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup powdered milk
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy

In a 1 quart jar layer powdered milk, cocoa, sugar, salt, chocolate chips, and crushed peppermint candy. Include Instructions on gift tag or recipe card: "Mix contents in a large bowl. For each serving place 1/3 cup cocoa mix in a mug and stir in 1 cup boiling water. Store remaining mix in an airtight container."



Recipe from: {myrecipes.com}

If you don't really care for peppermint or were just looking for something different to give the same site has a recipe for {Mexican Cocoa}

Fun With Wire

My first and fourth attempt at wire wrapping. The second and third weren't all that exciting because I only had smaller beads to work with.. The first one got sent to Sweden as a Christmas gift, the fourth one i'm wearing proudly. I was hoping to take a wire wrapping class during my extended break from school, but that might not be until February. Youtube has a lot of good videos for learning some of the basics. Side note: I have my last exam tonight! [=

Dinner & Boredom

Bacon wrapped steak & edamame.

 Dinner & Homework.

Yum & Bleh.

I will craft awesome things this weekend.

I will craft awesome things this weekend.

I will craft awesome things this weekend.

Bazinga!

Finished this cross-stitch a while back, figured it was time I post it.

For those who don't know it's the main characters of my

all time favorite show, The Big Bang Theory.

The pattern can be bought on Etsy from the weelittlestitches shop.

<3

Thrifty Finds

Did some quickie thifting on Tuesday. Went to Second Wind thrift store in Satellite Beach, Fl and found a dreamcatcher twice the size of my head for $7.50 then a couple stores down I found these earrings for $1.00. Got a few other things but these two were hands down my favorite.



Studded Collar... Yes, Please

Clothes Encounters has become one of my favorite youtube channels. I like how they make the most random dated thriftstore finds look adorable and effortlessly chic. They have great styling tips and i'm in love with this DIY video. It's definately made the top of my to do list.

Happy Halloween! [Special Brownies]

[Super Special Brownie/Cookies]

1 layer of chocolate chip cookie dough, 1 layer of double stuffed Oreo's, and 1 layer of brownie mix (I used dark chocolate fudge). Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, for 45-55 minutes.

"Recipe" from: [http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=393410.0]

{My Halloween} 

Scariest of all...

Trying to get KiKi to wear her Halloween costume long enough to take a picture.

Halloween Decor

So this has been a rather uneventful month on the blogging front. Again, school and life have kept me pretty busy. From this blog you'd never know that October is pretty much my favorite month ever. It's my birthday month as well as my dad, aunt, cousin, and little adorable nephew. Weather in Florida gets less disgustingly hot. And most important of all it's Halloween time! Here are some things I crafted just for this occasion:

Everything but the labeled jars were made this year. The labeled jars I made last year, but I didn't have a nifty blog last year so I figured I would include them now. The labeled jars were inspired by another blog but I don't have the link to it anymore. The labels are just regular printer paper, after you print your words out you rip around the edges to "cut" them out. Carefully burn the edges, then dip in tea, take em out & let dry.

Scallops in White Wine Sauce

{SUCCESS!}

So I haven't cooked in a while. Yesterday I attempted to cook cheese ravioli with pumpkin alfredo sauce. It was a hot mess. The sauce completely boiled over, and somehow parsley was all over the floor. The end product wasn't bad but it was just blah. Tonight I redeemed myself with these scallops. They are delish.
Ingredients
1 pack of sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon diced onion
3 cloves minced garic
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup cheap white whine
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1-2 pounds frozen scallops
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

1. Start by sautéing the mushrooms in a little oil. While mushrooms are cooking, melt the butter in another pan on med-high heat and add the onions, garlic and flour.

2. Add the browned mushrooms, wine, lemon juice, salt and pepper to the pan with butter, onions and flour. Reduce heat on the sauce to low. Add a little more wine if the sauce gets too thick.

3. Sauté the scallops on medium heat in the pan that previously held the mushrooms. If using bay scallops, cook 2-3 minutes on each side. For sea scallops, cook for 3-5 minutes on each side.

4. Drain any excess water from the scallops and then add them to the sauce.  It’s best to serve immediately, but you can let the dish simmer a couple of minutes until you’re ready to eat. But no too long or the scallops may over cook.

Serves 4

Recipe from: {http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=383509.0}

Dark Floral

My new favorite top {Target $17.99}

It's kind of a big deal

All Cupcaked Out {Oreo Cupcakes}

This is what 140 cupcakes looks like.

 {Oreo Cupcakes}

For easy peasy oreo cupcakes add a cup of crushed oreo's to your favorite chocolate cupcake batter . Mix in crushed oreos with whipped vanilla frosting and top off with mini oreos for extra cuteness.

Spaghetti with White Truffle Oil

Ingredients

• 150 grams [about 6oz] spaghetti
• 1 large clove of garlic minced or chopped
• 1 tbsp sweet cream butter
• 2 tsp white truffle oil
• shredded parmesan cheese
• salt & pepper

How to

• Cook pasta according to directions on package.
• While pasta is cooking, melt butter in pan over medium heat, add garlic and cook until tender and lightly browned.
• As soon as pasta is done, drain it and add it to the pan. Salt and pepper to taste and add some of the parmesan. Mix thoroughly.
• Remove from heat and add the truffle oil. Mix again.
• Plate and add some more parmesan.

[Recipe from http://www.grouprecipes.com/118070/spaghetti-with-white-truffle-oil.html]

I've been so busy with school the past two weeks that I've missed cooking on Thurdays. But all I have left is one exam tomorrow, then I get a week off! The white truffle oil is a bit pricey but you don't need much of it. A little bit goes a long way. This recipe is 1 serving or 2 smaller servings. You could always add chicken or meat for a more complete meal.

The [Almost] Fat Elvis Cupcakes

SUN/MON - Hung out with my cousin and made cupcakes at 1 am with his awesome girlfriend. Not many people would agree to making cupcakes topped with candied bacon.

Boxed chocolate cupcakes, homemade peanut butter frosting and.... candied bacon. All we needed was banana chips and they would've been the perfect Fat Elvis Cupcakes.

Peanut Butter Frosting

1/2 cup butter

1 cup creamy peanut butter

4 cups confectioners' sugar

1/4 cup cream

In a large bowl, beat butter and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Slowly beat in 1/2 of the confectioners' sugar. Mix in 1/4 cup  of cream. Beat in the remaining confectioners' sugar. If necessary, add a little more cream or milk until the frosting reaches a good spreading consistency. Makes enough to frost 20 cupcakes. [from allrecipes.com]

Later Monday Morning

Ended up going to sleep around 4 am but only for 30 minutes at a time (at the most).  Around 5:40, just as I was about to fall asleep for real, my Aunt woke up. Then for some reason I just couldn't fall asleep. Ms. Sleep-All-Day was up at 6 am. And everyone else stayed in bed.



Chicken Wing Dip [Deliciously Unhealthy Dinner]

I guess it can't be as bad as fudge brownie icecream for dinner, it did require some minimal preparation. And it draws upon last minute conveniences of canned chicken, which frankly freaks me out a little. But you can't argue with the results.

Needed

2 cans of chicken or shredded chicken breast

1 stick cream cheese

1 bottle chicken wing sauce

1 bottle blue cheese dressing

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

I went halfsies since i'm only feeding myself. Mix it all together and bake at 400 Degrees for about 30 minutes. Stir it ocassionally so it warms up evenly. Serve as a dip or on toasted hoagie rolls.

Thai Peanut Chicken

Ingredients Needed:

-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 1 1/2 lb

[If you get the flat cutlets you don't have to pound em]

-1/2 cup panko crispy bread crumbs

-1/2 cup finely chopped dry-roasted peanuts

-1/4 cup purchased peanut sauce

[extra if you want some for dipping sauce]

-2 tablespoons mayo 

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray. If you bought regular chicken breasts place them smooth side down between baking paper or plastic wrap. Gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/2-inch thick.

 2. In a shallow dish, mix together 1/4 cup peanut sauce and 2 tablespoons mayo.

 3.  In another shallow dish, mix together panko and peanuts. Dip chicken in sauce mixture, then dip in panko mixture. Place on baking sheet.

4. Bake 15-20, turning once, until juice is clear when center of the thickest part is cut and coating is golden brown.

[Recipe from tablespoon.com]

Zombies in the Pool Hall: Birthday Cake!

Zombies+Barbies=Zarbies

Earlier that day...

Heroes & Villains

Showdown

The Aftermath

  This excellent cake was the work of the birthday boy/man's mother, son, girlfriend and myself. My main contributtions were the twisted barbies, the Joe/Ken Doll, and decorating cupcakes. Other than that I just assisted and consulted. It's a tradition for his mom and son to make awesome cakes for him every year. This was only my second year being involved but it definately beats last years cake.

  Oh and if anyone was wondering the green on the pool table is 2 sugar sheets from JoAnn's. You just peel off the backing and stick em on to the frosting. The pool balls are Nerd's gumballs dipped in white chocolate. The numbers and letters also from the JoAnn's sugar sheet section but the numbers had to be cut with an exacto knife to fit properly on the gumballs.