Sweet Cards and Decadent Desserts Blog Hop: Day Two

Welcome to Day Two of the Sweet Cards and Decadent Desserts Blog Hop!  Each blogger participating in this hop is featuring a Valentine's Day card for someone special in their life, whether it be a husband, boyfriend, child, friend, teacher, parent, etc ...  Each participant is also posting a recipe for a decadent dessert that you might want to make for someone sweet in your life!

This is a two-day blog hop with some participants posting projects on both days.  So, please be sure to check out yesterday's projects if you missed them!

For today's project, I used a cute digi named Wryn from Tiddlyinks. I just love the flowerpot with the hearts growing from it.  I think this digi is great in that it can be used for other occasions, not just Valentine's Day.  I really enjoyed coloring her hair with my Copics.  I did mess up with her dress, though.  *sad face*  I wasn't paying attention and inadvertently used my darkest shade of pink to color her dress.  I was supposed to use it for shading.  I think I could have attempted to fix it a little with the colorless blender (I THINK!), but I decided to leave it alone.  Lesson learned:  Never assume you grabbed the right Copic pen.  Double check before you start coloring!  Other info:  sentiment is from Tiddlyinks and sketch is from iheart2stamp.com.  

On to the recipe I'd like to share with you today.  

OREO TRUFFLES

I'm sorry that picture isn't better.   I took it with my iPhone which, unfortunately, does not have a flash.  

Oreo Truffles are very easy to make.  They are very rich, and eating just two or three would be enough to satisfy most people!  

RECIPE :

1 package of Oreo cookies, crumbled (I don't yet have a food processor, so I do mine in batches in my blender!)

1 package of cream cheese, softened

bag of chocolate chips or 1 pkg almond bark

assorted toppings such as sprinkles or colored sugars (optional)

Combine the softened cream cheese with the crushed Oreo cookies.  Shape into truffle-sized balls and placed on waxed paper on cookie sheet.   Freeze for approximately 30 mins.  Melt your chocolate or almond bark.  

Place a truffle on a fork and dip into the melted chocolate.  Tap gently on side of bowl to allow excess chocolate to run off.  Place truffle back on waxed sheet.   Sprinkle topping if you have any.  Repeat with the rest of the truffles.  Place in refrigerator.  

These truffles are so easy to make but sure do impress !  Thank you for stopping by my blog today.  If you try my recipe, I'd love to hear how it turned out!  Please hop on over to Anita's blog  next to see what she has to share with you!

The complete blog hop lineup is below:

1. Dena : http://missdjones.blogspot.com/
2. Anita : http://www.anitaandbugs.blogspot.com
3. Janet : http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com
4. Nicolette : www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com
5. Jearise : http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com
6. Jamie : http://myamusinglife.blogspot.com
7. Kerri : http://www.crafttimeandcupcakes.com/
8. Melissa:http:..www.timeweavers.wordpress.com
9. Kristy - http://scraptasticalkreations.blogspot.com 
10. Zenita: http://www.scrappinwithz.blogspot.com

Sweet Cards and Decadent Desserts Blog Hop: Day One

Welcome to the Sweet Cards and Decadent Desserts Blog Hop!  Each blogger participating in this hop is featuring a Valentine's Day card for someone special in their life, whether it be a husband, boyfriend, child, friend, teacher, parent, etc ...  Each participant is also posting a recipe for a decadent dessert that you might want to make for someone sweet in your life!

This is a two-day blog hop with some participants posting projects on both days.  So, please be sure to stop by tomorrow also! 

For today's project, I made a card using some stuff from my stash. I found some cute Doodlebug cardstock stickers that I thought would be perfect for this theme. The alpha stickers are also by Doodlebug. I love that font! This was a pretty easy card to put together. Sometimes, it's nice to do a quick project. =)

The decadent dessert recipe I'd like to share is :

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

(yes, that is a picture of the actual cheesecake I made!)

Why cheesecake?  Well, cheesecake is my honey's absolute favorite dessert, so it's only fitting that I chose to share my recipe for this hop.   I, too, enjoy a slice of cheesecake with some coffee from time to time.  And, let's not forget about cheesecake ice cream!  YUM-O!!!  

Before I share the recipe, I'd like to share a few tips:

• Be sure to bring all of your ingredients to room temperature. 
• Use a water bath.  If you are not familiar with this method, I would suggest checking YouTube.  In fact, before I attempted to make my first cheesecake, I watched a bunch of different YouTube videos! 
• It's best to bake your cheesecake well in advance of when you actually want to eat it.  It needs time to set completely.  It's best to make it a day ahead, but I will admit to having a slice half a day later (baked in afternoon and had a slice very late at night because I couldn't wait... LOL)
• If you end up with any cracks in your cheesecake, just throw some fruit or fruit sauce on there! LOL!
• 
  

RECIPE:

Crust: 
2 cups graham crackers
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
pinch of salt


Filling:
5 packages of cream cheese
1 1/2 cups sugar
5 eggs PLUS 2 yolks (be sure to add one at a time)
pinch of salt
3 Tbsp. flour
1/4 cup sour cream
1 Tbsp. lemon zest (for me, usually about two lemons)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla


1)  Mix the crust ingredients and press into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.  Let cool to room temperature.
2)  Mix cream cheese until smooth.  
3)  Add sugar and mix at medium speed until well blended (approx 5 minutes).
4)  Add eggs and egg yolks one at a time.  
5)  Add remaining ingredients and blend well.
6)  Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.  Then, lower heat to 250 degrees for 1 hr. and 15 mins.  
7)  Cool to room temperature.  Refrigerate.

I know a lot of people think that cheesecake might be difficult to make.  It's really not!  I remember being nervous the first time I made it, but it was perfect!  =)  If I can do it, anyone can do it!  If you try my recipe, I'd love to hear how it turned out!  Please hop on over to Anita's blog next to see what she has to share with you!

The complete blog hop lineup is below:

1. Dena : http://missdjones.blogspot.com/
2. Anita : http://www.anitaandbugs.blogspot.com
3. Janet : http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com
4. Nicolette : www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com
5. Jearise : http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com
6. Jamie : http://myamusinglife.blogspot.com
7. Kerri : http://www.crafttimeandcupcakes.com/
8. Melissa:http:..www.timeweavers.wordpress.com
9. Kristy - http://scraptasticalkreations.blogspot.com 
10. Zenita: http://www.scrappinwithz.blogspot.com

Christmas Cards & Cookies Blog Hop: Weekend Two

(click on image to enlarge)

Welcome to Round Two of the Christmas Cards & Cookies Blog Hop!  There was so much response to the Christmas Cards & Cookies Blog Hop that it had to be split between two weekends.  Round One was held last weekend.  Round Two is this weekend, beginning on Saturday, Dec. 10th, through Sunday, Dec. 11th.  We have a talented group of women who love papercrafting and baking.  Each of them is sharing a recipe for a yummy Christmas treat along with a Christmas card or tag.  Hopefully, you’ll pick up some great ideas for your own Christmas gift giving this season.  So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy!

In Round One of this blog hop held last weekend, I featured a cookie recipe.  It's a long-time favorite called Rolo Cookies.  If you'd like to see that post, CLICK HERE.

For this weekend's project, I am featuring The World's Easiest Fudge recipe.  It really is super easy!  Now, I know a lot of people use the recipe on the back of the marshmallow fluff jar, but I don't always have a jar of that stuff on hand.  This recipe calls for only two ingredients!  Here is the recipe:

World's Easiest Fudge

Ingredients:

one bag of chocolate chips

one can of prepared frosting

Pour both into a microwavable bowl.  Heat in microwave in 30-second intervals.  Heat and stir until melted.  Pour into wax or foil-lined pan and cool.  

*Optional:  Mix in nuts, raisins, crumbled cookies, etc ... to kick things up!

(yummy fudge)

(my daughter showing off some of the fudge she made all by herself)

This fudge is really rich.  You don't need to eat a lot of it to satisfy a sweet tooth!

Now, for my card shown at the very top of this post:  I made a 4 x 4 note card to give with a package or tin of fudge.  I like doing these little notecards because you can keep them pretty simple.  The word "Christmas" on the front is actually a sticker that I matted.  I added some ribbon, twine, and a dimensional sticker.  The green polka dot paper is actually much brighter IRL.  I wish it photographed better!  *sigh*  All in all, making this card was pretty easy and quick.  One tip I'd like to pass on is that matting really helps to add pizzazz to a card!

Well, I hope you try out -- and enjoy -- this recipe!  If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in a comment along with an email address so I can contact you.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please be sure to visit Theresa's blog next to see what she has to share with you!  

Below is the complete lineup should you get lost. 

1. Dena J - http://missdjones.blogspot.com

2. Theresa Thescrapbookingqueen: http://www.thescrapbookingqueen.com 

3. Lynda B-J: http://memoriesintyme.blogspot.com/ 

4. Jearise H: http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/ 

5. Linda T:  http://www.lindascreativity.blogspot.com 

6. April N: http://curlsandgrins.blogspot.com 

7. Susan B: http://susanascorner.blogspot.com/

8. Tami McD: http://tamboscreations.blogspot.com/

9. Melissa Haereiti: http://timeweavers.wordpress.com

Christmas Cards & Cookies Blog Hop: Weekend One

Welcome to Round One of the Christmas Cards & Cookies Blog Hop!  There was so much response to the Christmas Cards & Cookies Blog Hop that it had to be split between two weekends. This is Round One and begins Saturday, Dec. 3rd, continuing through Sunday, Dec. 4th. Round Two will be held next weekend. We have a talented group of women who love papercrafting and baking. Each of them is sharing a recipe for a yummy Christmas treat along with a Christmas card or tag. Hopefully, you’ll pick up some great ideas for your own Christmas gift giving this season. So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy!

I made a Christmas card using some super cute Doodlebug paper!  The snowman is from a diecut swap I was in last year.  I made this diecut with a Sizzix die.  It's one of my faves!  I filled in the hearts with red stickles and used a white puffy paint pen for the white wavy accents on the arms and legs.  The scarf was some fancy ribbon I had in my stash.  The scarf and ribbon are actually red IRL (in real life).  Unfortunately, the colors don't show up so well here.  Last, I added faux stitching with a pen.  I made a few of these last year and kept them to use this year.  So glad that I did!

Now, for my recipe:

ROLO COOKIES

Ingredients: 

1 box devil's food cake mix

2 eggs

1/3 c oil

Rolo candies

Mix the first 3 ingredients.  Take a small portion, just enough to wrap around a Rolo candy.  Shape into a ball.  Bake at 350 degrees on greased cookie sheet for approximately 7-9 minutes.  Dust with powdered sugar (optional).

That's it!  Easy peasy!  These are always a crowd pleaser.  The caramel gets nice and gooey when the cookies are fresh out of the oven.  YUM!  If you have any questions, feel free to post a comment with your email address, and I'll get back to you.  Don't forget to return next week for Round Two of the Christmas Cards and Cookies Blog Hop.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Please be sure to visit Robin's blog next to see what she has to share with you!

Below is the complete blog hop lineup:  

1) Dena : http://missdjones.blogspot.com/

2) Robin : http://scrapandchat.blogspot.com/

3) Janet N: http://createatdreamscrapbooks.blogspot.com/

4) Carla: http://racincrafts.blogspot.com/

5) Zenita: http://www.scrappinwithz.blogspot.com

6) Jennifer: http://www.craftycardgallery.blogspot.com/

7) Kari: http://purplefuntasticcreations.blogspot.com/

8) Susan: http://susanascorner.blogspot.com/

9) JulieK: http://jk-littlebitofbling.blogspot.com/

10) Ellen ♥ CardMonkey: http://www.cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com

11) Kerri: http://crafttimeandcupcakes.blogspot.com/

12) Janet S: http://www.ladyluvbug.blogspot.com/

13) Carol: http://huffandpuffscrap.blogspot.com/

14) Christina http://cema1cema.blogspot.com/

15) Staci McD http://preciousmem.blogspot.com/

16) Pam http://pammejo-scrapbookflair.blogspot.com/

17) Maria http://marlm-creativebydesign.blogspot.com/

18) Nicolette- www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com