Month of Love Day Nine

"i {heart} cookies"

{I'll post the recipe on Sunday,
but I thought these cookies would brighten your day. }

{ hearts }

{all the yummy colored frosting}

{the hubs and his secret messages in Korean}

{Nothing says romantic like the Eiffel Tower}

{fun activity for the whole family, bake, frost, EAT}

Happy Love Month! See you tomorrow!

Mmmmm! Today's yummy recipe is for gooey Carmel Popcorn! This has been a yummy family recipe for years and is one of my favorite treats! Sorry I didn't really take any pictures of this or of the process.


Carmel Popcorn

2 batches of air-popped popcorn
1/2 Cup Butter
2/3 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Karo Syrup
1/2 tsp Vanilla

Pop popcorn and set aside
Bring butter sugar and Karo to boil.
Add Vanilla
Pour over popcorn and stir to coat evenly

ENJOY!

A Month of LOVE Day Two

Homemade chocolate bowls!

I know I'm supposed to be avoiding treats, but I really like this fun idea. People are always thinking of fun ways to make a memorable treat for Valentine's Day and this is a fun and unique idea. I heard about this from Studio 5 and knew the hubs and I had to try it.

{Need chocolate, balloons, wax paper, and any toppings}

{melt chocolate as directed}
{blow up balloons to desired size of bowl}
{be sure your chocolate isn't TOO hot}
{dip bottom of balloons in chocolate}

{smooth chocolate over balloon}
{place on wax paper to set}
{I put mine in the fridge}

{when chocolate is set, pinch balloon and cut it to let air out}

{balloon will shrivel and pull away from chocolate}
{it may need help separating}

{ta da! A finished bowl!}

{add desired ice cream, candy, etc}

Happy Love Month! See you tomorrow!

Today's recipe is CHEESECAKE POPS! Don't they sound and look delicious? Well, I've got news for you... they ARE delicious! I pulled the recipe from a book the hubs gave me last year called "Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey" by Jill O'Connor. Thanks babe! After the success of this recipe, you'll probably see Jill's other goodies pop up a time or two.

{Jill has a great cheesecake recipe that even I could get right!}

What you need:

Five 8 oz packages of Cream Cheese, at room temp
2 Cups Sugar
1/4 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1/4 tsp Salt
5 Large Eggs
2 Egg Yolks
2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
1/4 Cup Heavy Cream

Boiling Water as needed
30-40 8-inch lollipop sticks
Dipping Chocolate and Toppings

• With hand mixer on low, beat cream cheese, sugar, flour and salt until smooth.
• Add the whole eggs and then egg yolks one at a time, beating well {on low} after each addition.
• Beat in the vanilla and cream.

• Lightly grease a 10-inch baking pan {or 9 x 13}
• Pour the batter into the cake pan
• Place the cake pan in a large roasting pan {or cookie sheet}
• Fill the roasting pan with boiling water until it reaches half-way up the cake pan

Bake until cheesecake is firm and slightly golden on top {35-45 min}

{remove cheesecake from oven and cool to room temp}
{refrigerate at least 3 hours, or up to over night}

{when cold and firm, scoop the cheesecake into 2-ounce balls}

{place balls on parchment paper and carefully insert lollipop sticks}
{freeze the pops, uncovered, until very hard- at least 2 hrs}

{while pops are freezing, prepare any wanted toppings}

{we used oreos, butterfingers, graham cracker crumbs, mini m&ms, and reece's}

{when cheesecake pops are frozen, prepare chocolate coating as directed on package}
{quickly dip frozen cheesecake pop in the melted chocolate}
{shake off any excess}
{dip or sprinkle with desired toppings}
{place on clean parchment paper}

{we made 35 pops with plenty of cheesecake to spare}

{Mmm... don't they look tasty?}

{sorry, couldn't help myself}

{what toppings would you add?}

NOTE: If the prospect of making your own cheesecake from scratch is intimidating to you, you could easily make these with a cheesecake purchased from the store! Just scoop the cheesecake into balls and pick up from there on the recipe!

Okay, I didn't take enough pictures through this process, but I had to share this yummy recipe! I'm sure many of you have seen Bakerella's cake pops. Now obviously, I don't profess to have abilities in any league of Bakerella's, but I do love desserts! These Cake Bites are super easy to make and even easier to eat!

Ingredients:

• One completed cake, any kind- I have made Devil's Food, White, and I am hoping to try red velvet soon!
• One tub of cream cheese frosting (I have also used peanut butter with a little powdered sugar for sweetness)
• Dipping Chocolate
  

{bake your cake}

{crumble to pieces and mix it with frosting}
{form balls and chill}

{dip in chocolate and devour!}

Now, obviously if you are an over-achiever, you are welcome to make a cake from scratch and make your own frosting. I am not a dessert snob so this way works great for me! :) I did drizzle some with mint chocolate (not pictured) though and would highly recommend it for the mint lover!