Chocolate Bunny Cakes

I wanted to make something fun for Easter with the kids I babysit, so as I was researching online for something to do I came across this bunny cake recipe on Bettycrocker.com. It was so easy to make and the kids had a blast making them. So if you are looking for something fun to make this Easter I would recommend making these chocolate bunny cakes.

Chocolate Bunny Cakes

1 cake mix, any flavor (water, oil and eggs according to package)

2 cans of frosting ( You can also do vanilla frosting and dye it to the color of your liking)

Candy pieces, marshmallows, cookies, etc... for the face.

Heat the oven to 350º. Grease 2 round cake pans. Prepare and bake the cake according to the package. Let the cakes cool completely. Cut each circle in half and use frosting to piece both halves together. Stand the cake up with the cut sides down and frost the rest of the cake, making swirls with the frosting. Use the candy and decorate the cake however you choose. Enjoy and Happy Easter :)

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Bird's Nest

I thought it would be fun if I made something inspired by Easter. So as I was walking down the Easter candy isle I came across Reese's Pieces eggs, so I thought it would be nice if I made a nest to put them in. Therefore I decided to make a favorite childhood treat that my mom used to make for me and my sister, but instead of them being called Bird's Nest we called them Haystacks. The only thing different about the two is we never put egg shaped candy on top, that was just a little creative touch of mine.

Bird's Nest

1(12 oz) package package of semi-sweet chocolate chips

½ cup peanut butter
3 ½ cups crunchy chow mein noodles

Measure out the crunchy chow mein noodles and place in a deep bowl, set aside. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter in 30 second intervals until smooth. Pour the melted chocolate peanut butter mixture over the chow mein noodles. Stir until coated. Drop by spoon on to waxed paper lined baking sheet making nest shapes. Place egg shaped candy on top of nest. Put in the refrigerator until chocolate is no longer melted. Store in an air tight container, preferably in the fridge so the chocolate will not melt. Enjoy.

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Orzo with Parmesan and Herb de Provence

This is one of my favorite side dishes to have with dinner. My mom stumbled across this recipe sometime last year on allrecipes.com and we have been making it ever since. The original recipe called for fresh basil, but I felt it would taste better if I used my favorite seasoning Herb de Provence. If you do not have any of that on hand you could always use Italian seasoning or use fresh basil like the original recipe called for. Enjoy

Orzo with Parmesan and Basil

2 Tbsp butter
1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
3 Tbsp Herb de Provence (or more if desired)

Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in orzo and sauté until lightly browned. Stir in Chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15-20 minutes. Mix in parmesan cheese and Herb de Provence. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

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Almond Crusted Chicken

A long time ago I was searching for a new chicken recipe and I came across this almond crusted chicken recipe in a magazine while I was working. After I first made the chicken I felt it needed something more. The original recipe called for plain almonds, well I thought it would taste a lot better if I used a flavored almond. That's why I chose to add the Almond Accents Roasted Garlic Caesar. It made it taste a lot better and my boyfriend agreed. As years passed I lost the recipe for the chicken, therefore I had to recreate it to the best of my knowledge. So below is the recipe for how I make the chicken now. Enjoy.

Almond Crusted Chicken

3 chicken breast (cut in half)
½ cup flour
1 package All Natural Almond Accents: Roasted Garlic Caesar (crushed) or any almonds you desire
Dash of pepper
1egg
2 Tbsp butter

Combine flour, crushed almonds, and pepper in a shallow dish. Beat the egg in another shallow dish. Dip the chicken breast in the egg and then coat the entire chicken breast in the flour mixture. Heat a skillet to medium-high heat and melt the 2 tablespoons of butter in the skillet. Add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked thoroughly. Serve with a nice side dish and enjoy.

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Buttery Parmesan Knots

I got this recipe from my mom’s blog, whom got it from someone else’s blog. These knots are absolutely delicious. They are so good everyone fights for the last one, therefore in my house I sometimes have to double the recipe. So I hope you love these as much as I do.

Buttery Parmesan Knots
1 can (12 oz) refrigerated flaky buttermilk biscuits (the large kind like Grand’s)
¼ cup butter
3 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Herb de Provence or Italian Seasoning

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Roll each biscuit into 12 inch ropes and tie into a knot; tucking the ends underneath. Place on a greased baking sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

In a small bowl melt the butter in the microwave. When done add the parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Herb de Provence to the melted butter. Brush the warm bread with the butter mixture and enjoy.

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Doggie Diapers

Lately I've been having trouble with my dogs marking their territory around the house. It has been driving me insane. It smells and I'm tired of having to wash everything and shampoo the carpets constantly. Therefore I decided to sit down and make them their own diapers. I had some that my mom previously gave me, but only one fit one of the dogs leaving the other two without. So now they will have diapers that actually fit. Now I'm hoping this will stop the territorial markings, as long as I put the diapers on them.

It is very easy to make these doggie diapers, at least the ones for the boys. The one for the girl dog was a little more difficult just because I had to make sure there was a tail hole and that the measurements were just right, that way she would be fully covered. The first time i made her one I made the tail hole too big, therefore it didn't fully cover her allowing her to pee on the carpet. If you decide to make these for your dogs one thing I would recommend doing is putting a woman's sanitary napkin in the diaper, that way if they do pee themselves all you have to do is throw the napkin away plus it helps with absorbing. Well I hope you enjoy this little project. Below you will see my loving puppies showing off their diapers.

This is Tommy. He looks so handsome, besides the glowing eyes. :)


This is my little Kevin. He decided to sit down for his pose.

And this is my little girl BeBe. She is my little pain in the butt, but I love her.

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Ritz Cracker Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Snacks

This delicious and simple snack is something my mom has been making my sister and I since we were little girls. To this day I still make this snack and I plan to make it for my kids in the future. All you need is a few ingredients and you too can have a delicious snack. Depending on how hungry you are you can make a lot or just make a little bit if you are not as hungry. Either way I hope you enjoy this treat as much as I do.

Ritz Cracker Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Snacks

Ritz Crackers (as many as you want)
Peanut Butter
Miniature Marshmallows

Take a Ritz Cracker and spread a descent amount of peanut butter on it. Take three or four marshmallows and place on top of the peanut butter. Repeat until you have as many crackers as you desire. Place on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Broil them until the marshmallows start to turn golden brown on top. Let cool slightly so the peanut butter or marshmallows do not burn you. Enjoy

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Chocolate Chip Muffins

Since I woke up early today I felt like making something tasty to go with our breakfast, therefore I decided to go with chocolate chip muffins. My boyfriend thought they were good, but did not think they were a good breakfast food, but that is because he is not big on sweet things for breakfast. However, I thought they were good. And what is also good about these muffins is that you can add whatever you want to the mix. I wish I could have added blueberries or cranberries instead of chocolate chips, unfortunately I did not have any on me. To get the original recipe and see the other things that the original creator put in her muffins go to allrecipes.com and type in Best ever muffins. I will also provide you with the recipe below. Enjoy

Chocolate Chip Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup milk

¼ cup vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Stir the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar together. Create a well in the center of the mixture. In a small bowl beat the egg with a fork. Add the milk and oil to the egg. Add all at once to the flour mixture and mix quickly and lightly with a fork until moist, do not beat. The batter will be lumpy. Either pour the batter into a paper lined muffin tin or for a smaller portion pour the batter into a paper lined cupcake pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy.

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Fabulous Cherry Bars

I was searching around the Betty Crocker website and I came across many recipes that looked delicious. One of the ones I decided I will try was the Fabulous Fruits Bars because they looked good and easy to make, plus I already had most of the ingredients. Mine did not come out exactly like hers, but mine still came out pretty good, judging by the empty pan :) The only thing I noticed when it came to the recipe is that mine were done in 35 minutes not 45, therefore I would suggest that you keep an eye on them to make sure they do not burn. I would also probably recommend adding maybe a second can of cherry pie filling, since I feel it needed more.

Fabulous Cherry Bars

Base:

2 pouches (1 lb 1.5 oz each) Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix

1 cup butter

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

2 eggs

Filling:

1 can (21oz) cherry pie filling

Topping:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 Tablespoon milk

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Heat the oven to 350ºF. Spray the bottom and sides of a 13x9 in. baking pan with cooking spray. In a mixing bowl blend the base ingredients until it forms a soft dough. Press half the dough into bottom of pan. Spread the pie filling over dough and then drop the remaining dough by teaspoonfuls over the filling. Bake 35- 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool. In a small bowl stir the topping ingredients until smooth. If needed add additional milk 1 teaspoon at a time until it is smooth enough to drizzle over the tops of the bars. Cut into bars and enjoy.

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Cake Truffles

Since me and my mom were always making custom cakes we would always have scraps of cake leftover and we didn’t know what to do with them. So after researching the web we came across this recipe for cake balls, which we changed to cake truffles, on allrecipes.com. It is a very simple and delicious recipe that anyone can do. These cake truffles are perfect for any occasion or even just for you. If you do take them somewhere don’t expect them to last too long because everyone will love them. They are even perfect to give away as a gift. Just buy a pretty plate and arrange the cake truffles on it, then wrap it in cellophane and tie with a bow. I actually just made these recently for my friend Jeni, whom was recovering from surgery. She absolutely loved them and you will too.

Cake Truffles

1 Chocolate cake mix
1 can chocolate frosting
1 Package dipping milk chocolate
1 package dipping white chocolate (optional)

Bake the cake as directed on the box. When the cake is done let it cool until it is cool enough to handle. Crumple up the cake completely. Add in the entire can of frosting and mix thoroughly. Roll the cake mixture into small balls, about 1 inch each. After making all the balls, melt the dipping milk chocolate according to package. Dip the cake balls into the chocolate one at a time. Shake off excess chocolate and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. When all of them are covered, drizzle the melted white chocolate over the tops. Let chocolate dry then serve. Enjoy.

You can actually do any flavor cake truffles you want. Just buy the cake mix flavor of your choice and a can of frosting that will go with it. Instead of drizzling extra chocolate on the tops of the truffles you can put sprinkles of your choice to make them more festive.

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

I really love these cookies. I love them so much I make them at least once a month if not more. I got the recipe from the Nestle Toll House: Best-Loved Cookies cookbook. The only thing I did different is I added a lot more ground cinnamon because I feel it enhances the peanut butter flavor. Every time I make these cookies they don't last long, especially when they are warm and gooey. Well I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¾ (1 ½ sticks) cup butter
½ cup sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside. Beat the butter, sugar, brown sugar, and peanut butter in a mixer until creamy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture a little bit at a time. Add chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoons on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy.

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Kimono Pen Holder

Besides cooking, I also like to make other things as well. Yesterday, my boyfriend Tomas asked if I would be able to make him a pen case for his pen that he loves. So we sat down together and created a pen case that would work perfectly. Since his pen is shaped like a samurai sword, he wanted the case to resemble a Kimono. After no time at all the case was finished and he absolutely loved it.
Some more images of the pen case.

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Monkey Peanut Butter Bars

I was bored last night so I decided I should make something yummy. I tried to find something online but every time I found something good I either didn’t have all of the ingredients or they took too long to make. Therefore, I made something that was in my cookbook I put together. That yummy treat I decided to make was Monkey Peanut Butter Bars. I got this recipe from my mom many years ago and it has been a long time since I made them as well. They came out just as good as I remember and I think everyone in my house thought they were good too because they were gone in no time. Enjoy.

Monkey Peanut Butter Bars

½ cup butter
½ cup sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350º F. Cream together the butter and sugars. Blend the peanut butter, egg, vanilla, and baking soda. Add flour and oatmeal. Mix well. Spread into greased 13x9 inch baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Return to the oven and bake for 8 more minutes. Remove and smooth out chocolate chips. Cool and enjoy.

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Princess Birthday Cake

This is the princess birthday cake I made for Jillian's, the little girl I babysit, third birthday. She absolutely loved it. Both her and her big brother just stared at it in amazement and was so tempted to touch it. It was very easy to make, unfortunately I made it at the same time as the zebra wedding cake and the 100 cupcakes. By the time I was done I made a total of 12 batches of butter cream icing. But in the end everything came out great.

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