Cherries in the Snow

This recipe is one of my all-time favorite desserts! My mom always made this on Valentine's Day (why? i don't know) and I always looked forward to it. She even made me my own individual pies and brought them to College Station when I was in college. I needed a dessert for our neighbor dinner and this was the first thing that popped into my head. Enjoy!

Cherries in the Snow

Crust:

3 cups of crumbs

1 stick of butter

1/2 c sugar

Filling:

2-8oz of cream cheese (I used 1/3 less fat) (room temperature)

1-12 0z tub of cool whip (unfrozen)

1/2 c sugar

2 cans cherry pie filling

1. Crush graham crackers. Melt Butter. Add sugar to crackers and mix with butter.

2. Press mixture into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350* for 10 minutes.

3. In a bowl combine cool whip, cream cheese, and sugar until creamy. Poor evenly onto crust.

4. Top with cherry filling. Chill, then serve!

They grow up so fast!

I cannot believe my little girl is TWO today! Where does the time go!? I remember when she was so little and fit perfectly in my arms, and now she's 57 pounds and I can barely hold her. Well, in honor of her 2nd birthday I will show you how to make her favorite snacks! She love, love, loves them and really gets a kick out of licking the peanut butter off the spoon when we are finished. Here's how to make her favorite peanut butter treats and banana ice cream cubes.

Homemade Peanut Butter Bites

1.5 cups flower

3/4 cup oatmeal

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup honey

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup water

Directions: Preheat oven to 325*. Mix all ingredients until well combined. Form tablespoon sized balls and place on an un-greased cookie sheet (I personally make them more bite sized - the size of a quarter). Flatten balls to 1/4" (I use the bottom of a glass). Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Banana Ice Cream

2 cups vanilla or plain, low-fat yogurt

2 mashed bananas

2 tbls of honey

Directions: Put everything in a blender and combine. Put in an ice cube tray and freeze!

FYI: it is true that dairy products aren't good for your dogs, but yogurt contains much less lactate than regular milk and the live cultures are great for your dog's digestive system. - Thank you CTSPCA!

Oh, did I fail to mention my baby is a two year old, black and white, dog?! Oh yes, Aggie's a dog and she's my baby! ;-)

Aggie at 7 weeks old and 7 pounds!

Aggie today with her bone!

Happy Birthday Aggie!

50th Birthday Cupcakes

My mom threw a 50th birthday party for one of her friend's at her house. She helped me make and decorate all the cupcakes! We made chocolate cupcakes with chocolate, cream cheese frosting, vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and finally coconut cupcakes with cream cheese frosting! They were delicious! I just looove cream cheese frosting!

Happy Birthday Pam!!

Monogram Hearts & Rose Cookies

These cookies were made for a family friend who threw a bridal shower yesterday! I had a lot of fun making these, especially the rose cookies and I will definitely be making them again! Wouldn't they be cute in a variety of colors? =D

Happy Independence Day!

I spent today by the pool with friends and family, cooking out and enjoying everyone's company. I prepared a few desserts, a vanilla cake and chocolate cupcakes along with some white chocolate covered pretzels. I have a few more good ideas, but I guess those will have to wait until next year but be assured they will be red, white, and blue.

Here are my 4th of July treats:

I saw a cake similar to the one I made in a magazine back in May and I wanted to make it for Memorial Day, but time got away from me. I think it worked out much better for the 4th!

Happy 235th Birthday America!