Candy Cane Blossoms

Since Christmas is right around the corner I thought why not make cookies to give as gifts. I have been baking for two days trying to make different cookies and sweets for the guys that the hubby works with. I found the recipe for this first cookie on the back of a Hershey's Kisses bag.

Ingredients:

• 48 Hershey's Kisses, Candy cane flavor
• 1 Stick of Butter, Softened
• 1 Cup of sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons of Vanilla Extract
• 2 Cups of Flour
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Baking soda
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Salt
• 2 Tablespoons of Milk
• Red Sugar Sprinkles

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Remove wrappers from kisses.

 Beat butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla in a large bowl until well blended.

In a medium bowl add flour, baking soda, and salt.

Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients alternating flour and milk. Mix until dough forms.

In a small bowl add red sugar sprinkles.

With a small ice cream scoop make a 1 inch ball. Roll the ball in the red sugar until well coated.

Place cookie on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and cookie is set. Remove cookies from oven and leave the cookies on the baking sheet for about 2 minutes. Then press a kiss in the center of the cookie. Place cookies on cooling rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!!

With Love,
Jen

My 2 year anniversary

It is hard to believe that it has been 2 years since I heard the magical words from my doctor, “You are officially in remission”. I will never be able to thank my hubby for taking care of me and being the rock that I needed to stay positive. My parents who turned their lives upside down to come take care of me. My godmother who traveled thousands of miles to South Carolina to come spend two weeks taking care of me. My whole family who took time out of their day to pray for me to get better and stronger. My friends who have always been there for me. Life has a way of always surprising me, it is true that god only sends you things you can handle.  I feel blessed everyday that I was able to beat cancer and I was able to bring my beautiful baby boy to the world. At the same time that I feel blessed. I live with a huge fear inside that my cancer will return.  I don’t want to miss my son growing up. I don’t ever want him to see me sick. I don’t know if I will ever lose this fear I have or if it will ever get better. God is good and I know that he will continue to bless me. Now all I can do is live my life to the fullest everyday and know that I am stronger than I think I am.

Jason is the wonderful gift that god sent us.

With Love,

Jen

Mini Red Velvet Donuts

My mom bought me a mini donut pan about 2 months ago and I have been dying to use it. Since Christmas is right around the corner I thought why not make red velvet donuts with green sprinkles. These donuts are baked and they are fluffy and so yummy.

Ingredients for the Donuts:

•  2 3/4 Cup of Red velvet cake mix
• 3/4 Cup of Buttermilk
• 2 Eggs
• 2 Tablespoons of Butter, Melted

Ingredients for Vanilla Glaze:

• 2 Tablespoons of Hot water
• 2 Cups of Powdered sugar
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Vanilla extract
• 1 Tablespoon of Milk
• Sprinkles

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl add cake mix, buttermilk, eggs and melted butter.

Mix batter until it is smooth without any lumps. Batter will be a little thick.

Spray donut pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Put batter in a pastry bag. Cut the tip of the bag making sure that the hole is not too big. Pipe the batter into pan about 2/3 full. Place pan in oven for 7 to 9 minutes.

Remove donuts from pan and place on cooling rack. While donuts are cooling, start on the vanilla glaze.

In a small bowl add all ingredients. Mix until sugar is completely dissolved.

Dip the donuts in the glaze and place back on cooling rack. Add sprinkles while the glaze is still wet. If your glaze starts to get hard you can add a little more hot water.

Enjoy!!

With Love,
Jen

Brownie Pops

This was my first time making brownie pops. I have made cake pops before and they did not come out too great. I got the recipe from the back of a brownie box and I happen to have all the ingredients so I said why not give it a try. They came out really good!!

Ingredients:

• 1 Box of brownie mix, Family size ( I used dark chocolate )
• 1/4 cup of Chocolate frosting
• Candy melts
• Lollipop sticks
• Sprinkles (optional)

Bake the brownies following the instructions on the box. Remove brownie from the oven and place on a cooling rack.

Once the brownie has cooled completely place brownie in medium bowl. (Now it is time to get your hands a little dirty). With your hand crumble the brownie. Then add the chocolate frosting. Mix in the frosting until you can form a ball.

Start forming 1 inch balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Place lollipop sticks in the middle of each ball. Place in freezer for about 30 minutes.

Remove brownie pops from freezer and place aside. Start melting your candy melts. I melted mine in the microwave. Mine was still a little thick so I had to add some shortening until I got the constancy I wanted.

Then start dipping the brownie pops in the chocolate making sure you coat the pop completely. If you want to add sprinkles make sure you add them right after you dip the pop in chocolate. I used a bowl and held the brownie pop over the side. Sprinkled the sprinkles over the the brownie pop turning until you get sprinkles coated around the brownie pop. Place brownie pop back on wax paper and let the chocolate harden.

Enjoy!!

With Love,
Jen