Whoopie Pie Wednesday: Chocolate Covered Strawberry

Every time I think I cannot like a new flavor more than the previous, I am surprised. I really liked the strawberry cream in the middle against the dark chocolate of the cookie. A perfect valentine treat.

Ingredients

1 box dark chocolate cake mix

2 eggs

1/3 cup oil

1/4 cup coffee creamer

filling

1 packet strawberry cream pudding

4-6 oz cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tbsp heavy whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350'

Mix together dry cake mix, oil, eggs and creamer

I normally use a round TBSP to place on cookie sheet, but you can also use a round TSP to make them bite size and get more out of it. Bake 8-9 minutes

For the filling

Cream softened cream cheese on low for 1 minute to get fluffy, add the pudding packet and 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream, beat until fully incorporated and slowly add the  whipping cream and beat until peaks begin to form. or for alternate version, prepare the pudding w/1 cup cold milk and bourbon, mix w/cool whip. Place in fridge for hour to let either version set up. 

Place a large dollop on one cookie and press another on top to spread the filling out.

Make these as quickly as possible!

Super{bowl) Birthday Weekend

that involves an almond joy cheesecake dip. a chocolate covered strawberry trifle. a pizza dip. Oh, and you know...bacon covered pretzel nuggets. Plus...a fire and then there was some game that was played on Sunday night. I am not a fan of the outcome so I choose to pretend I don't care. It's working for me so far.

We headed to Virginia to celebrate the big 1-2 birthday for my nephew, Isaiah[Zay]. We hung around Friday night doing much of nothing(woohoo for a night in) we watched the movie Lawless. Which actually takes place in Virginia and not too far from where I grew up) about Moonshine.  I thought the acting was great and it was a movie that kept my interest...if you don't count the six or so times I had tocover my ears and close my eyes all while singing nananana leave the room for the violence. haha but I did still enjoy it.

We woke up early Saturday morning and headed to the parentals. We hit downtown Lynchburg and my sweet sis in law, Rue, took a smorgasbord few  pictures of me for a project I am working on in the next few weeks.

here is just one sneak peak

Glasses just classy a girl right on up. I mean...right?

sweet, sweet boy!

 Enjoying the fire! but not the smoke that infiltrated every inch of my hair and clothes

Sweet bit, Nadiah

Since his birthday fell on the day of the Superbowl, we went with the obvious decor: football! And I whipped up some treats. The quickest one was an almond joy cheesecake dip. My sis in law and my friend Rhonda both asked me to make something w/coconut. After going back and forth for a bit, I came up with this tasty treat. I am not the biggest fan of coconut(as I have mentioned numerous times) but I actually liked this(well, as much as someone who abhors coconuts can like it;)

Almond Joy Cheesecake Dip

8 oz cream cheese(softened)

1 pkg coconut cream pudding(dry)

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup coconut coffee creamer( you could use plain creamer, this just added "oomph")

1 cup dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup shredded coconut(optional)

beat softened cream cheese till fluffy, add the pudding packet and creamer and beat on low till fully incorporated.(this is where you would add the shredded coconut if you wanted to) Slowly add in the whipping cream and increase speed, whip until it becomes very thick. Place in fridge for 2 to 3 hours or in freezer for around 1 hour. place in dip bowl and cover with chocolate chips. Serve with graham crackers, vanilla wafers or apples.

*if you want it as a cheeseball, keep in freezer a little while longer. Take out of freezer and roll into ball and then roll in the chocolate chips. Serve w/same items.

linking up with

Helene In Between

Whoopie Pie Wednesday:Red Velvet & Bourbon Cheesecake

yes. I know. I just made your day, right? No? Well...I doubt we could be friends then. I mean, this is just a bunch of goodness in one place. And for those of you pansies...the bourbon is understated. haha sorry. I am a lover of corn in all forms, including the fermented variety;) 

But seriously...these are tasty. These are the only ones I have made that have had friends texting me at 2 am, in the middle of breast feeding to inform me that "if I cared about her at all I would make her some more and bring them to her immediately." My friends are kinda bossy, huh? but I love them and their sleep deprived bossiness and all. Cause, let's be real, who doesn't love being threatened in the middle of the night over something they have baked. Threats of  violence just may be the most real compliment I have received to date. Cookie bully.addict

I am not gonna lie...I made these at Christmas time, hence the cropping that happened. I didn't think that a snowman w/a Santa hat screamed romantical notions and to me, red velvet is all kinds a romance. at least between me and my cookie.

Ingredients

1 box red velvet cake mix

2 eggs

1/3 cup oil

1/4 cup milk

filling

1 packet cheesecake pudding

4-6 oz cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tbsp bourbon

Preheat oven to 350'

Mix together dry cake mix, oil, eggs and milk

I normally use a round TBSP to place on cookie sheet, but you can also use a round TSP to make them bite size and get more out of it. Bake 8-9 minutes

For the filling

Cream softened cream cheese on low for 1 minute to get fluffy, add the pudding packet and 2 tbsp bourbon, beat until fully incorporated and slowly add the  whipping cream and beat until peaks begin to form. or for alternate version, prepare the pudding w/1 cup cold milk and bourbon, mix w/cool whip. Place in fridge for hour to let either version set up. 

Place a large dollop on one cookie and press another on top to spread the filling out.

If you love red velvet, then check out a few of my previous recipes.

.Giant Red Velvet Whoopie Pie

Red Velvet Mudslide

Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwiches

Go forth and make some red velvety goodness. 

and I am disturbed  slightly befuddled I apparently need to make this declaration, but some times a good PSA is  what it takes.. I assumed everyone knew that the exorbitant amount of food coloring in most red velvet cakes would make for, let's go with  interesting...bathroom situations.(for certain people, and sometimes only certain brands &  I could use this time to mention the whole 'you know what assuming gets you adage', but I won't.) Just know that due to the fact that more than 2 of my friends thought they were having internal bleeding after eating them...keep in mind. you're fine. Your kids are fine. I promise;)

and it is still worth it...

linking up today with
My Girlish Whims
Rolled Up Pretty

Salsa Verde and Queso Chili

I don't know about you guys, but I love me some chili. and by love I mean obsess. I always get excited when we stumble into a new restaurant and I see a crock of chili on their menu. Only one time have I ordered it somewhere and absolutely hated it. and man, that was a sad day in the life of one Maddie;) haha

Anyways, I make it at home a lot. One of my favorites is my Turkey Chickpea Chili, but sometimes I just have the urge to try something a tad bit different. I had the salsa and queso on hand from making a taco dip and just decided to throw that in. I often times make my own chili seasoning and taco seasoning( I got the recipes from pinterest) so you are welcome to use those, but for simplicity sake, I will just reference packets, which would probably be equivalent to 3/4 tbsp of homemade.

This was really hearty and I have gone out of my way to make it since then. Perfect on a "chilly" (haha yes, pun most definitely intended) night at home.

Ingredients
1 to 1 1/2 lb(s) ground meat( I prefer turkey or venison)
1 packet taco seasoning
1 packet chili seasoning
1 cup beer
1 cup queso
1 cup green salsa
1 small can diced tomatoes( chili flavored is best)
1 can black beans(drained)
1 can kidney beans(drained)

Brown the meat and drain, add half of each of the seasoning packets and pour in the beer, stirring to incorporate the seasonings and letting simmer for about 5 minutes. Add in the beans and tomatoes. Stirring again add in the salsa, queso and remaining seasonings. Cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes and then let simmer for about another half hour. 

Serve hot. I love to top mine with shredded cheese and tortilla chips. Wiki loves to add cheese, sour cream and avocados. You can top it w/whatever your heart desires. You really can't go wrong.

And you can use any type of beans your prefer or omit them. You could use chicken stock(or even water) instead of beer. I just like the added dimension that the beer gives it and the alcohol cooks out, so the kiddies can still have some;) and I would think that you could brown the meat in the morning and then add all ingredients to crock pot and cook on low for a few hours:)

And now I am ravenous. Hungry girl problems.

Linking up with
Tell Me About It Tuesday

Baby You A Song, You Make Me Wanna Roll My Windows Down

and CRUISE;) Still reveling in the afterglow of the concert. I had the bestest of bestest times this weekend. And I escaped left Raleigh just in time. The snow actually started falling while we were on the plane and they had to quickly de ice it and then we were off. 

The second I got off the plane, the sunshine worked it's wonders on me. Nicole and I headed straight to their condo and I was greeted by one of my favorite three year olds, Blakey. and this view...

It's ok to be jealous. I am back in Carolina and I am once again jealous myself.

My facebook was inundated w/shots of "all the snow" back in Raleigh and since I am so kind, I  uploaded this picture w/the caption "I see all your snow shots and I raise you a sunset over the Gulf" See how sweet I am;)

 haha admittedly my favorite comment was from my friend Kim and it went something like this "I see your sunset picture and I raise you...my middle finger" hahahaha I may have smirked. but only a bit.

I mean, the intercoastal from one bedroom and the gulf from the other. Now that I am no longer there...I am bitter;)

That night we hit Bella Brava in St. Pete for some yummy dinner and then meandered our way to a wine bar for some more gossiping girl time.

And on Saturday we woke up and prepared for Mr. Bryan. Nicole made a tasty apple streudal type bake for breakfast and as I was getting ready I walked by the mirror and noticed I had what appeared to be mud on my face. I scrubbed and scrubbed it off, I then noticed battle scars bruises I must have gotten from the night before. All signs of a good time. So as we are walking out, I ask Nicole, "did you notice I had something on my face at breakfast? She paused and started laughing and goes "hahahaha yes, but I had never really seen you without make up and I thought maybe it was a birthmark and you just cover it up really well, so I didn't wanna ask about it" Then we were both dying laughing. 

Ok...maybe that is one of those 'you had to be there stories' but it was hilarious. Take my word for it. Would I lie to y'all? Never.

We had lunch and headed out to Orlando and did what any woman worth her salt would do while in O town...we shopped at the outlets. Duh. and stopped to get gas before doing a double take and noticed they were charging six bucks(six dollars?!?!?!) a gallon and got only enough to get where we were going. Can you say "tourist trap rip off?"

And finally it was time for the show. We got our boots on and we was all kinds a ready;)

First up was Florida Georgia Line and they sang the song of my aptly titled blog post, Cruise. Everyone was going crazy. They put on a good show.

Then next came Thompson Square, you may know their song, "Are you gonna kiss me or not?" They were pretty good, too...although, I thought for sure that, at some point, they were gonna make a baby on stage. But hey, after 13 years of marriage, yay for their chemistry still being all kinds of hot;) 

And then...it was Mr. Bryan's turn. Can I just say, "Yes, Please". He may have put on one of my favorite shows. He was so much fun, At one point he was on the piano and he quipped "so the Beibs was here last night, huh?" and then he sang a little Justin Bieber. Pretty funny.

Did y'all know that you actually spell Luke Bryan... S.E.X.Y. I mean, really. He is almost as sexy as Wiki. But only almost. Sorry bout it. Luke;)

We had a blast and the drive back to St. Pete sped by(ok, well I was the passenger, so it did for me)

We woke up early yesterday and she sent me packing. haha Flew back to Raleigh and it was a balmy 29'. ugh. No thanks. and then we were on the tarmac for about 30 minutes for mechanical issues. I just feel like I would rather they...tell me anything but that. I mean, dogs on the loose. Cool. Storms on the horizons. No problem. Snakes on the plane. no biggie. Just kidding. I would choose mechanical any day. My name is not Samuel L., people.

This was in the spirit magazine and yes...I will be making this. ASAP.

I made it safely(yay;) and we had to work a basketball game at Duke(women's) and then went out in Chapel Hill. 

 We stopped at Southern Rail, an old train depot and rail cars transformed into a bar/restaurant.

 My wings and Bellini were so tasty.

Love the steeple of this church against the backdrop of the overcast sky.

and then this morning I was playing around w/a new app for my instagram and "gussied up" one of my favorite quotes( and yes, I used the term gussied up...you're welcome.) Choosing to have a great week this week. Hope everyone else has a fabulous one too!

                                                 Linking up with
                                                Weekend Update
                                                    YOLO