Simple Girl

Did you see these cute little Peep Heart Marshmallows at Target?  They made the perfect addition to some Valentine's hot chocolate this morning.  Ahhhhh...... I love life's simple pleasures! Happy Valentine's Day! xo Rachel

The key to surviving a Minnesota winter, it turns out, is not snuggling under a blanket and sitting by the fire.  The key to surviving a Minnesota winter is bundling up and playing outside.  This includes ice skating.  Every single person in the north owns a pair of ice skates.  It's required by state law.  And the winter ritual of taking one's skates to get sharpened at, say, Hisdahl's, a converted house with gingerbread trim, makes it quite apparent that, Dorothy, we're not in Georgia anymore.

If you are from The South, especially near New Orleans, there's a good chance you've eaten a King Cake.  King Cakes are traditionally eaten during Mardi Gras, the period between Epiphany and Lent.  The cake is a brioche-style cake similar to a giant cinnamon roll with a delicious, sweet glaze. To understand the significance of the King Cake, you need to backtrack.  To Christmas.  That's right.  Just when you thought you finally got your last ornament tucked away.  It's back!  If December 25th is the First Day of Christmas (thing Partridge in a Pear Tree) then January 6th is the 12th Day of Christmas.  On the Christian Church calendar, this day is also known as Epiphany, or King's Day.  King's Day is the day when the Christian Church celebrates the Wise Mens' (or the Three Kings') journey to see baby Jesus.   The King Cake tradition in the United States is believed to have begun with French settlers around  the year 1870...

 You might remember these super cute Owl S'mores from Amy at Living Locurto.  Well, since I'm still in love with owls, I decided to update them for Valentine's Day! Just a few switcheroos on the ingredients, and you have the perfect Valentine's treat! I know my kids are going to love them! THIS POST MAY BE LINKED TO:  MONDAYS :    MADE BY YOU MONDAY ,   FLOUR ME WITH LOVE ,  MANIC MONDAY ,  OUR DELIGHTFUL HOME   TUESDAYS :  TALENT SHOW TUESDAYS ,   TEMPT MY TUMMY TUESDAY ,   TRICK OR TREAT TUESDAY  , GET YOUR CRAFT ON ,     MANDY'S RECIPE BOX    WEDNESDAYS :   WORKS FOR ME WEDNESDAY ,   GINGER SNAP CRAFTS ,     THURSDAYS : ,  STRUT YOUR STUFF ,   FULL PLATE THURSDAYS  ,   CHIC & CRAFTY PARTY , FRIDAYS :   I’M LOVING IT ,  FOODIE FRIDAY ,  FOOD ON FRIDAYS ,   T ATERTOTS AND JELLO ,       SHINE ON ...

Back by popular demand.....  You may remember a similar post I did last year about these scrumptious bites of ambrosia.  Recently, I found the original recipe, which I got from my friend Libby, and made this version for the Super Bowl!   Sweet and salty, creamy, crunchy and chewy, these would make the perfect finger food for you and your sweetheart! Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates Ingredients 12 slices of bacon 24 large Medjool dates 3 ounces of Chevre (goat cheese) 1 tablespoon honey 1/4 cup Pecans, chopped 24 wooden toothpicks Either 1/4 cup soy sauce plus 1/2 cup loosely packed brown sugar or 1/4 cup maple syrup Directions Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Slit the dates lengthwise along one side using a sharp paring knife.  Gently remove the pits and discard. Combine the cheese, chopped nuts and honey.  Put 1 tsp of filling into the cavity of each date. Cut the bacon slices in half, crosswise.  Place bacon on...

Pin It for next year!  I always have a dozen party ideas swarming in my head, but when it comes down to the wire, the easy ones usually win!  These football brownies were a last minute edition to Sunday's Super Bowl line-up, but nearly every kid under age 80 took one! Look how easy they are. Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownies are my go-to basic brownie mix because A) They are super moist and delicious and B) I can get them at Costco. Sigh. I love Costco. This is my half-sheet pan.  It's the perfect size for a big batch of brownies.  I mixed together a triple batch of 8x8 inch pan brownie batter and poured it all in.  The parchment-lined pan sprayed with cooking oil is the key to removing the brownies later.  It's kind of like wearing belts and suspenders.  You just don't want your brownies to stick to the pan. While the brownies are baking, locate your football cookie cutter.  I know you have one.  If not, draw a...