Peanut Cake

Another year and another loss. For the past three years I've entered a cake in cake decorating contest at the National Peanut Festival and I've yet to win anything but oh well I've enjoyed making the cake. The first year I made my cake with real cake but last year and this year I've used styrofoam or whatever you call the stuff they make fake cakes out of. So yes this cake is fake its not edible well I could eat the fondant and icing. 

Ghost Cookies

These cookies are really simple and fast to do all you need is a package of NutterButter cookies, 1 package of white almond bark, and semi sweet chocolate chips. 

Melt your chocolate in the microwave. Break up your squares then use a knife or fork to break those squares into smaller pieces. I started by microwaving them for 20 seconds at a time and stirring between each 20 seconds. Of course depending on your microwave you might have to adjust this. Once the chocolate is melted start by dipping your nutter butter cookies in the chocolate. I used a fork so that the excess chocolate would drain off and I wouldn't have a huge glob of chocolate on the bottom of me cookies.

Then lay them on your wax paper and add your two chocolate chips for eyes. 

Then you have your ghost cookies. 

Let them set till dry. The drying time can vary depending on how much chocolate you have on your cookies I let mine set for about 30 minutes. These would be great if you have kids that want to make some Halloween treats.

Birthdays and Vacation

Well my October so far has been packed with birthdays and a vacation to DisneyWorld. October 1st was Zack's 27th birthday. 

(Red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing and chocolate mustaches)

The one semi smile I got out of him. 

My birthday banner that I worked on all day and dried just in time for it to be used. Then on Saturday we made our way to Orlando FL to start our vacation. We first hit up the shopping outlets soon as we got there of course out first stop was BassPro. Then Sunday we started our official Disney vacation at Hollywood Studios.

My favorite show from here is Indiana Jones I even remember watching it as a kid and I still love it. 

Me with a replica of Scarlet Ohara's dress from Gone with the Wind which is one of my all time favorite movies. Sorry picture is a little blurry. 

(Yeah Zack doesnt like taking photos as you can tell.) Then the next day we went to the Magic Kingdom which I had a total blast but my feet and legs were killing me by then. My feet have never hurt so bad that was the worst part of the trip but of course I wouldn't have this problem if I was in shape. 

The next day we went to Epcot and went on my favorite ride out of all the parks Test Track!!!! We rode it three times and I would have rode it all day if I could and the best part is at the end of the ride when u get off u can see the new cars for Chevrolet they had the Corvette, Camaro, and Suburban that I would love to have. 

The last day was at the Animal Kindgom where we rode the Everest rollar coaster and for anyone who knows me I hate rollar coasters and being up high. The entire ride I closed my eyes which was a real shock when the thing stopped and then went backwards, but I survived and in the end it wasnt that bad. Then came Saturday which was MY BIRTHDAY!!!! I make sure that everyone knows its my birthday for a like a week before well really probably before that. So Saturday my parents, Zack and me spent our morning at an estate sale were me and my mom racked up on some great deals. Then for dinner we had Olive Graden which I love there soups they have there and breadsticks!! My parents got me a delicious ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. It was a pretty great birthday I just can't believe I'm 25.

Selfie with my cake. 

Pretty Little Liars Cake

I'm a huge fan of Pretty Little Liars this is the first show that I haven't started at like season 3 and had to go back and buy the first two season just to see it all up to date. I'm one of those people that if I'm a big fan of the show you can't call during my show because I won't answer and don't u dare get in front of the TV. So for the summer premiere I made a PLL themed cake. It was super easy and fun to make. I made a chocolate cake with chocolate icing which got all over my board as u can tell from my picture but I love chocolate so that's what I made. 

I rolled out my black fondant 

I measured the cake around and how high it was. That's not how u are suppose to do it but I was feeling like trying something different. Then I took my  cake pan and traced the bottom onto the fondant and it fit perfectly on top. 

I piped on my boarder and today I found a cute cookie cutter of a dress so I cut the dresses out of the black and traced it with white icing so they would stand out. And of course the cake wouldn't be complete without without the -A . 

Cheese Ravioli and Pizza Bread

Ingredients for Cheese Ravioli

-1 package of frozen cheese ravioli 

-1 jar of tomato and basil red sauce 

-1 jar of Alfredo sauce 

-1 tablespoon of pesto 

Ingredients for Pizza Bread

-1 tube of ready pizza dough

-1 small package of mozzarella cheese 

-1 package of pepperonis 

-2 tablespoons of melted butter 

*and anything else u would like on your pizza bread like olives 

Instructions for cheese ravioli 

Follow the instructions on package for cooking the ravioli. ( most of the ravioli I've used only takes 5 to 10 minutes to cook) Once the ravioli is done drain and put back on stove eye on low heat. Then add your red sauce, Alfredo sauce and pesto.( You can use less of the sauces as long as they are in equal amounts. I personally like my ravioli covered but not swimming in sauce.) Leave on the eye a few minutes stirring it until the sauce is nice and warm. 

Instructions for Pizza Bread

Roll out your pizza dough onto a cookie sheet. Make sure to preheat your oven as  your package says mine said 400 degrees. Then add your topping like pepperonis and cheese.(or whatever your like on your pizza the sky is the limit). Then roll it up and cut a few slits in the top so that you can tell when your cheese has melted. Then take your melted butter and rub it all over the outside. Then I popped it in the over for about 15 to 20minutes or until its starting to brown and the cheese is bubbling. Slice it and its ready to serve. 

This is a quick and easy dish for those nights u don't want takeout but don't want to cook something that will take a long time. 

Apple Crisp

For Easter on Sunday I cooked dinner. We had ham, scolloped potatoes, yeast rolls and deviled eggs. And for desert apple crisp which was a hit and was the first time I've ever cooked it Zack especially loved the crust. 

I finally tried a project that I pinned off Pintrest, so I colored my eggs my favorite is the pink of course. 

Apple Crisp 

-6 cups thinly sliced and peeled apples

-1/3 cup sugar 

-1 tsp cinnamon 

-1/2 tsp salt

-2Tbsp butter melted

For crust 

-3/4 cup sugar

-1/2 cup all purpose flour

-1/3 cup butter

Directions

Mix together apples, cup sugar, cinnamon, salt and melted butter. Place in a 8 inch square baking dish and set aside. For crust mix together 3/4 cup sugar and the 1/2 cup of flour. And cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Bake at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes or until apples are tender. 

Before everyone dug in. 

Monogram Crazy

I bought a embroidery machine back in January and ever since I've monogramed everything that I could get my hands on. It all started when I wanted to send my brother something and it took over a week to get it done. So I said I'll solve that problem and get me my own machine. So after some research I found the machine for me a Janome 350e. So for valentines everyone got something with there name or initials on it. My dads birthday was a few days after valentines so pretty much everything he got was monogramed. 

My mom got dish towels. My dad got two jumbo bath towels that were more like area rugs than a towel. Zack received towels but not as big as my dads. My brother gave his girlfriend the really cute bag above it was the second bag I have done and it came out great. The first somehow got off a little bit and I just couldn't let him give it to her. I've also made tons of hankchiefs for my dad and brother and they both like them and they make get gifts. I really love to monogram towels they are super easy I figured that they would be a pain in the butt. 

Savannah's matching cosmetics bags. 

I made these for Zack's nieces. Lets just say that if u like to make stuff and u enjoy sewing or anything like that, and u have been thinking of getting a machine I would recommend getting one. 

No Bake Cookies

No Bake Cookies are some of my favorite  cookies to make. I have made them so many times that I almost have the recipe memorized. 

Ingredients

-4 Tbsp Hershey's Chocolate 

-1 stick of butter

-1/2 cup milk

-2 cups sugar 

-1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

-3 cups 1 minute Quaker oats

-1tbsp vanilla 

Combine the first 4 ingredients in a saucepan over low heat. 

Stir it occasionally. When mixture starts to boil, boil for 1 minute stirring constantly. Remove from hear and add peanut butter.

Stir until melted. Add oats and vanilla stir mixture until it is well blended. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool and harden and then enjoy. ( if you are out of wax paper or like me and have a wax paper box with tin foil in the place of your wax paper then use tin foil like I did here in the picture)