Date Cookies

When I was growing up, my Mom would take me to the local bakery and we'd get Date Cookies. They were her favorite and became one of mine. The bakery closed and the ones my Grandma used to make for her when she was little, well Grandma couldn't remember the recipe. I searched and searched for a recipe that she thought was similar and she said this one works. I hope you enjoy them.

1/2 C Butter
2 Eggs
1 C Sugar
2 T Milk
1 t Vanilla
2 1/2 C Flour
1/4 t Baking Soda
1/2 t Salt

Mix the wet, add the dry until combined. Put some flour on your counter and roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. I use a circle cutter because I like to fold them over and make little pockets like the ones from the bakery but I've made them without folding and they were just as good so it's your choice.

3/4 C Dates chopped
3/4 C Raisins chopped
1/2 C Sugar
1/2 C Water
2 T Lemon Juice

Heat all together over low heat until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. The smaller you chop the dates and raisins the quicker it will thicken but I've gotten lazy over the years and barely chop and it's all good.

Put a dollop of dates in the middle of the dough and fold over. Press the edges together so the dates don't seep out. Bake at 400 for about 10 minutes. Bottom should be light brown. Makes about 3 dozen.
Dates in the pot
Thickened
Cut out circles
Fill and fold over
Done

Lips

My sister gave this to me a few years ago. Since that time, I have purchased MANY tubes of it because if you live in Minnesota, you need to find a lip product that works for you. Your lips are exposed to cold, wind, sun and there are days when your lips STING. This products is almost perfect.

I say, almost because it doesn't have an SPF and it's not cheap. But if your lips are stinging, you put this on and ahhhhh, life is so much better. I've tried the generic versions of this and they are not the same. MAC also offers an incentive...if you bring back 6 empty tubes, you get a free lipstick.

I use it everyday, a few times a day and have given it as gifts and they are now addicted as well. Both of my kids look for this when their lips hurt too. So if your lips are stinging, give this a try...I promise you'll love the way your lips feel.

Best Frosting EVER

I found this on Pioneer Woman and LOVE it. It's not great for a piped/decorated cake but it's great for just a simple frosted cake.

Cooked frosting
5 T Flour
1 C Milk
1 t Vanilla
1 C Butter
1 C Granulated Sugar (not Powdered Sugar!)

In a small saucepan, whisk flour into milk and heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens, looks like pudding when it thickens. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature. Stir in vanilla.

While the mixture is cooling, cream the butter and sugar together with your mixer until light and fluffy~you can't cream too much, you want the sugar to basically dissolve into the butter. The longer you beat it, the better they mix. Then add the cooled milk/flour/vanilla mixture and beat until it all combines and resembles whipped cream.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Do you want an easy appetizer that is always a crowd pleaser?? Look no further, Buffalo Chicken Dip is the answer.

I received this recipe a few years back from my friend Karol and changed it just a bit so that I could serve it in a crock pot.

What you'll need:

2 bricks Cream Cheese softened ~ I use low fat
1/2 C Ranch Dressing
1/2 C plus 2 T Hot Sauce ~ I use Frank's
1 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese
2-3 C Chopped cooked Chicken ~ I boiled mine in chicken broth with salt, pepper and garlic but you could also used canned, just be sure to drain it well

Melt cream cheese, dressing and hot sauce until smooth and blended. Add cheese and chicken and heat through. Pour into your crock pot and serve with French Bread rounds and celery sticks.

Cream cheese, dressing and hot sauce melted and ready for cheese and chicken to be added
Chopped chicken ready to go in
Yummmmm

Molten Chocolate Cake

Big day today...Valentine's Day. I was trying to think of a fun thing to post but then I thought, what would I want today and the answer is Molten Chocolate Cake. Truthfully, I could eat this cake EVERY day.

I have posted this recipe before but it is worth repeating because it is SO yummy! It is an awesome and easy way to let someone know you love them or it makes a crappy day better. I orginally found the recipe here.

Here's what you'll need.
4 squares of Semi-Sweet Chocolate
Stick of butter
1 C Powdered Sugar
2 Eggs
2 Egg Yolks
6 T Flour

Put the butter and chocolate in a bowl. I actually use a Large Mixing bowl so I can pour the batter. It's not necessary, just makes it a bit easier. Melt the butter and chocolate in the microwave. I only needed a minute to melt the butter and make the chocolate soft.

The chocolate will not be completely melted so you need to stir it around in the butter until it's completely melted and incorporated. See how shiny it is.

My trusty assistant and daughter Claire thought that I should show all of you how to separate an egg. Crack the egg over a cup or bowl. Tilt one side so the yolk goes into half of the shell and the white slides into the bowl.

Flip the egg into the other half of the shell, getting rid of all the white. Hope that makes sense?? Claire thought it did, lol;) Add the rest of the ingredients and make sure it's mixed well.

Here are the custard cups. This recipe only makes enough for 4 of this size. Spray well with cooking spray, you don't want them to stick. Place the cups on a cookie sheet.

Equally fill the custard cups. These are ready for the oven, are you getting excited?? Did you taste the batter?? YUM.

They take 14 minutes at 425 in my oven, should be obviously set around the edges, lightly browned. Let stand one minute and then invert on a plate.

Claire thought you needed to see what happens when you cut into the cake, yep, that's hot fudge that comes out of the middle. Can you hear the angels singing??!

We have either ice cream or whipped cream on the side. Unfortunately, neither photograph well. Trust me, the cream is worth it!! This cake will SO make your bad day better. And, if you're having a good day...BONUS!

To make the whipped cream

Small container of Whipped Cream
1 t Vanilla extract

Whip it until it's firming up. Add 3/4 Powdered Sugar and whip until stiff. It's PURE heaven.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Valentine Eve

I just finished up the sugar cookies and cake balls for all our family and friends and as I sit here in a quiet house, I got to thinking about my favorite Valentine's day celebrations.

You would think that at my age, one of the memories would include a romantic evening with someone special because I'm pretty sure I've had them;) But, my three favorite memories are:

3. When Cody and Dylan were 2 years old, Craig and I gave their parents a night off and took them to Camp Snoopy at Mall of America. We rode rides, we ate cotton candy, we watched them run around giggling.

2. Three girlfriends and myself found ourselves single on the big night. We decided to make dinner reservations at a nice restaurant. We got dressed up and were each others dates. We had a few bottles of wine and then went dancing. I have a photo of Kristen and I from the end of the night and every time I see it I smile.

1. When I got divorced, I made a new Valentine's tradition with my kids. I let them pick where we went for dinner. I've been to Chuck E Cheese and other random restaurants but my favorite year, Max picked Hooters. Yes, Hooters. He was 8 years old I think and he thought the waitresses were pretty:) So, Alanna (her husband was out of town) and I took our kids, headed down early to have dinner, take photos with the waitresses and then went on rides at Camp Snoopy. Max still talks about it.

So if you find yourself without a plan, remember the best memories are the random ones when you have no expectations and you just let yourself be.

Caramel Crispix

My friend Shannon brings this to every girls weekend and it's safe to say I eat about half the bowl. It's completely addicting and that's why I haven't made it myself until now. Her recipe is a bit different but this worked for me.

My "plan" was to bring it to the hockey tournament we were going to but when it cooled and my kids tasted it...well, let's just say they share their Mom's addiction and the rest was bagged up in snack size bags for school lunches and a special treat for the teacher.

What you'll need:

14 oz box of Crispix cereal ~ I used store brand
12 oz peanuts ~ I used honey roasted
2 sticks Butter
2 C Brown Sugar
1/2 C Corn Syrup

Put your brown sugar, butter and corn syrup in a roaster. I used both burners to help the process along.
Simmer for about a minute and add cereal and peanuts. Put in a 350 degree oven for 8 minutes
Take it out and give it a stir and back in the oven for another 8 minutes
Put some wax paper on your counter, give it a light spray of cooking spray so nothing sticks. Pour mixture out onto wax paper, making a single layer so it dries without sticking in a big clump. Let it cool for about 1/2 hour and put in sealed bowl to keep fresh.