Valentine's Day Sweet & Salty Popcorn

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Its almost that time of year!! Valentine's Day is right around the corner I am scrambling to post a few fun ideas.  Here is a quick and easy recipe for anyone.  Its great for kids and men!  The classic salty and sweet combination here taste great.  How could you go wrong with honey roasted peanuts, 2 types of M&Ms, 2 types of chocolate, and marshmallows all mixed in with popcorn!?  Whats great about this recipe is you can change it up for any holiday or special occasion.  Enjoy!



Sweet & Salty Popcorn - Adapted from Theyummylife.comYield: Lots!Ingredients:
8 Cups Popcorn (I use light butter)
1 Cup Honey Roasted Peanuts
1/2 Cup M&Ms Regular1/2 Cup M&Ms Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Milk or Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup White Chocolate1/2 Cup Mini Marshmallows
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil, divided
1 Teaspoon Salt
Decorating Sprinkles (red coarse sugar, pink nonpareils, or similar)
Directions:

1. Spread popcorn on a large baking sheet that has been lined with parchment or waxed paper.
2. Sprinkle peanuts and M&Ms evenly over top. 
3. Combine chocolate chips with 1/2 tablespoon oil and melt in microwave. With spoon, drizzle evenly over popcorn mixture. 
4. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Add food coloring and 1/2 tablespoon oil to white chips, melt, and drizzle over popcorn mixture. 
5. Sprinkle with decorating red sugar and pink nonpareils. After melted drizzles harden, break into pieces and store in airtight container or sealed plastic bags.
6. Enjoy!!

*Modify food coloring and M&M colors for any occasion: colors of sports teams or schools, green for St. Patrick's Day, red/blue for 4th of July, black/orange for Halloween, red/green for Christmas, etc. Food coloring can be omitted entirely--use plain white melted chocolate and rely on M&Ms and sprinkles to add color to the mix.
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Reece's Peanut Butter Hearts

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Valentine's Day is coming!!! Here are some homemade Reece's Peanut Butter hearts.  They are as close as it gets to the real thing.  My boyfriend loves Reece's so I made these for him.  I haven't got down the dipping or decorating yet.  Its harder then it looks dip things in chocolate, and I am not very good at it.  Out of about 20, only about 4 came out presentable.  I think using the candy melts are easier then using real chocolate,  the thinner the coating the easier to work with.  Well I am going to pick up my boyfriend from the airport today and I will surprise him with one of these.  If he likes it, then we know they are good!  Wish me luck!




Reece's Peanut Butter Cups - Adapted from Flour Me With Love
Yield: 2 dozen, depending on thickness
Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Butter
1 1/2 Cups Creamy Peanut Butter
1/8 Teaspoon Salt
4 Cups Powdered Sugar
2-3 Tablespoon Milk
Chocolate (or white, or pink) for coating

Directions:

1. Cream together the butter, peanut butter and salt.
2. Slowly mix in the powdered sugar until it becomes crumbly.
3. Add the milk and mix until it starts to come together.
4. Pour out onto a flat surface.
5. Knead together until it forms a ball.
6. Roll out to desired thickness.
7. Cut out whatever shape you like; I like hearts.  Place them on a cookie sheet. 
8. Place in freezer for about 30 minutes.  Melt the chocolate, let them cool a little bit, then start dipping and decorating.
9. Enjoy!!

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Chocolate Chunk S'mores Brownies.

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How To Hunt for Your First Apartment Together 101. 
1. When you walk in the door... does it feel like home? Can you imagine living here and making memories together? Hint: If you're already planning date nights of making dinner in the tiny kitchen, shutting out the world, and catching up on Once Upon a Time, with a couch against the wall here and the TV right there... the answer is yes.

2. Start a Pinterest board. Obviously.

3. Check out the closet situation. Preemptively claim 3/4 of it. 
4. The kitchen: can you bake cookies in this kitchen? Does it feel like home too? Is it bright and full of natural light? Does it make you want to bake banana bread, late-night s'mores, Christmas dinner, and pumpkin pies?


5. Remind your boyfriend that this is a model apartment. The flatscreen is just for show. Also not sure what you're looking in the refrigerator for.
6. Decide where will the Christmas tree will go. No, seriously.
7. This deck is cute... but can I photograph stacks of brownies out here without the neighbors noticing?
8. So... these bright orange accent walls. We can paint, right?
9. Allow yourself a full minute to panic over lease lengths, deposits, rent, square footage, and the fact that you no longer have an excuse to avoid the gym. 
10. Let's be honest: how close are we to a Starbucks?


Can I be honest with you for a tiny moment? Looking for an apartment can be completely overwhelming.

There. I said it.

You know what's not overwhelming?

Making chocolate chunk brownies on a lazy summer day.

Except, at the last minute, like the total adult you are, you swirl in marshmallow fluff and a handful of crushed graham crackers.

Just because.

I think we can agree... s'mores need no reason. Especially s'mores in the form of thick, fudgy brownies full of chocolate chunks, dark chocolate chips, swirls of marshmallow dreams, subtle, crunchy bits of graham crackers... and a crackly graham cracker top.

Impulsive baking. It's now a thing.



This is summer. This is easy-living. This is not an accent wall. I can handle this. 
Chocolate Chunk S'mores Brownies

Printable Recipe

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar2 large eggs1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/3 unsweetened cocoa powder1/2 cup all-purpose flour1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 cup chocolate chunks (I used a mixture of chocolate chunks & dark chocolate chips)1/2 cup crushed graham crackers1 cup marshmallow fluff
Preheat oven to 350°F. 
Grease or line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mix together the melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Mix in cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder until well-combined. Fold in chocolate chunks and crushed graham crackers using a wooden spoon.
Microwave marshmallow fluff for about 10-20 seconds, give it a quick stir, then add to brownie batter. Fold in a few times until just combined. You want there to be visible ribbons of marshmallow cream throughout the brownies.
Pour into baking dish and spread evenly. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until done and a toothpick inserted into the center of brownies comes out clean. 
Allow to cool completely before serving.

Pumpkin Spice S'mores Cracker Candy.

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Remember a couple summers ago when I made graham cracker s'mores candy? 

You know... chocolate and marshmallows melted over a layer of bubbling caramel and graham crackers?

It's been my summer 2012 go-to, last-minute, I've-been-at-the-beach-all-day recipe. Wait, we're going to a barbeque where? You said I'm bringing what? Tonight? 
Give me just one second. I need some graham crackers.   Well, this is that recipe... hunkered down for fall.

Graham crackers become cinnamon-sugar grahams.

Marshmallows become orange, pumpkin-shaped pumpkin spice mallows.




And white chocolate chips and toasted pecans replace the handfuls of Hershey milk chocolate squares and chocolate chips. 
Basically buttery, brown sugar, caramel-y goodness.  All in a pan, all for you.
P.S. Should I be worried that most of my favorite holiday recipes involve crackers? 

This.
This is what November tastes like.
It's pumpkin spice meets pre-game bonfires meets cinnamon-sugar s'mores, all together, during Revenge commerical breaks, in under twenty minutes. 
Seriously, these are so easy. If have butter and graham crackers, you're halfway there. 

If you have a new apartment, no kitchen table, no place to sit, one baking sheet, one spoon, and one pot holder, you're also halfway there. In case you were wondering.
Pumpkin Spice S'mores Cracker Candy
Printable Recipe 
12 sheets of cinnamon graham crackers3/4 cup butter3/4 cup brown sugar1 (8 ounce) package pumpkin spice marshmallows1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips1 cup toasted pecans
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 15x10x1-inch jelly roll pan with aluminum foil, leaving a 1-inch overhang over the ends, and spray foil with cooking spray. Line graham crackers up on the foil so that the sides are touching.

Toast pecans for 4-5 minutes on a baking sheet (I used a metal pie pan). Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and mixture comes just to a boil (about 4-6 minutes). Remove from heat and pour evenly over crackers. Bake 5 to 6 minutes, or until bubbly.
Remove pan from oven and immediately sprinkle marshmallows, white chocolate chips, and toasted pecans over the crackers. 
Return pan to oven for another 2-3 minutes, or until marshmallows begin to soften and puff up. 
Cool completely before serving. Lift from pan using foil edges; cut into bars and enjoy!
Source: Adapted from my graham cracker s'mores candy, originally from Stefanie's Cooking Spot.

What to (Last Minute) Bake This Valentine's Day...

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Just a few pink, be-sprinkled, and baked-with-love recipes that I will frantically be baking after work tonight that are perfect for sharing with someone who you love. It's not all chocolate, champagne, and heart-shaped things! 
Dark chocolate raspberry banana bread- Sweet banana bread studded with dark chocolate chunks and fat, pink raspberries. Starting Valentines Day right!
"I Want to Marry You" cookies- A one-pot, one-spoon chocolate chip cookie situation stuffed full of cinnamon, oats, white chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips... and the promise of spontaneous declarations of love.  
Mini chocolate chip cookie sandwiches- Because... pink frosting! Roll the sides of these bite-size chocolate chip cookie sandwiches in some pink and red heart sprinkles and you're in.
Pink-glazed old-fashioned cake doughnuts- Crispy, cakey doughnuts covered in pink vanilla icing and sprinkles. That's love.
Brown butter snickerdoodles- A classic recipe with an extra-special twist. These taste like no other snickerdoodle! Someone in your life deserves brown butter. Be that girlfriend.
Cookie pizzas- Because who wants a giant chocolate chip cookie? Said no boyfriend or husband ever. 
Cake batter chocolate chip cookies- What better way to say I love you than festive chocolate chip cookies full of irresistable cake batter flavor and pink and red sprinkles? I can't think of one.
Buttery, soft chocolate chip M&M cookie for one- one giant cookie, a handful of pink, red, and white M&Ms, and... done.
Old-fashioned candy "milkshakes"- I made these last-minute last February 14th and they couldn't have been easier. Ice cream glass, M&Ms, adhesive glue dots (found at Michael's craftstores), pink and white taffy, a cute heart-shaped straw, and ten minutes. People will still be talking about you in July.  
The Baked brownie- The only brownie I could ever love. Chewy, rich, crackly-topped, and absolutely decadent.

Chocolate waffles- The chocolate waffles that led to a legendary kiss.

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope it's full of pink sugar, sprinkles, and love! 

Poppin' like CRAZY!

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I've been meaning to share some of my most recent CAKE POP CREATIONS with you all...but time just KEEPS getting away from me ;) Guess I'd rather be busy chasin' kiddos and playin' in the kitchen than NOT though right?!?!

I've had a TON of SUPER FUN requests lately for Cake Pops which is awesome since I love getting the chance to try new designs!

Sassy Skull Cake Pops for the Cedar Rapids Roller Girls!

These Bowling themed Cake Pops were for a little guy's Bday Party!

Cute widdle baby footsies for a shower ;) LOVE these!

Alligator Cake Pops! The teeth were a little wonky - LOL! Still cute though right?

Lions & Tigers & Bears...OH MY!

That's all folks!
Audrey

Ain't love {SWEET}

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If you aren't swooning over this set-up....STOP and check your pulse! I created all of these yummy treats for a recent wedding at The Festhalle Barn in Amana, IA. I've been a guest at several weddings held in this venue, and this was hands-down my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE dessert display here...I swear I'm not biased - lol! 

Little Fishy Cake Pops atop Cupcakes

Butter Pecan Cake Pops

I worked with the bride for over a YEAR on all of the details for her dessert table. She had SO many amazing ideas, a DIY-girl through-and-through....I loved hearing about all of her projects and brainstorming ideas. It was such a {TREAT}to finally get to see her vision COME TO LIFE! I just {LOVE} it when someone gets as excited as I do about planning an event...and this girl...lemme tell ya...she's in a league all her own!

The "Ain't love sweet" sign was BEYOND adorable...it made such a cute statement above the dessert table!

Cupcake Tower

The sweet Rosette Cake ;)

 I was so incredibly proud of this display. I think, in part, because it was a true collaboration! I just loved everything about it...and hopefully the bride felt the same way :)

{CONGRATS AMY & TRAVIS}
~Thank you both SO much for trusting me to bring a little extra sweetness to your most special day ;)
 
~Audrey

Poppin' away!

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I love (love-LOVE) getting orders for custom Cake Pops because they really challenge me to get creative in my kitchen. My baking roster is usually SO busy these days, that unless I get an actual order for a new pop, I don't really have time to just play around with designs like I used to. That's good for business....but a little sad for my Cake Pop artistic expression - LOL!

Here are some FUN Cake Pops I've had the pleasure of working on lately. If you follow me on Facebook you can keep up with my new creations. I post sneak peeks there all the time...too much probably...it's a bit of a problem (addiction?!?!).
Anywho...here we GO!

Sponge Bob and Patrick Cake Pops

Toy Story Cake Pops

Dora the Explorer Cake Pops

Super Mario themed Cake Pops featuring Toadie and Goomba Guys ;)

Holiday Swirl Cake Pops created for a FUN Magical Elf Party by Anders Ruff Custom Designs!

Miss Frankie Pops! A new variation on my classic Frankenmallow Pops

More Frankenmallow Pops...I made a TON of these this year!

Spider Ring Cake Pops from our Merry NOT Scary Halloween Party

First Birthday Cake Pops featuring my new sprinkle monogram technique! Love this style :)

A posse of Owl Cake Pops, with one grump in the mix!

Monarch Butterfly Cake Pops

This Cake Pop bouquet was created in memory of an amazing girl, taken from her family FAR-FAR too soon. I was honored to be asked to create something SO special and was happy to hear that the treats brought a smile to the faces of her family members. Our continued thoughts and prayers go out to the Smith and Lown families.

Thank you ALL for continuing to support my DREAM by placing orders and following my kitchen creations :) Making treats for your special occasions and events continues to give me immense joy, it also gives me an outlet for my artistic expression and affords me the opportunity to be home with my own children. I couldn't be any more grateful (even on the days when the kids are CRAZY lunatics and I'm ready to jump out the window -LOL!) It's ALL a blessing!

~Audrey

I'm LINKING UP!
You can find TONS of inspiration by visiting these WEEKLY LINK PARTIES!
I always do...and I'm sharing this project with them NOW!

Monday
Making Mondays Marvelous hosted by C.R.A.F.T.
Made by you Monday hosted by Skip to My Lou
Monday Link Up Party hosted by Making the World Cuter
Just Something I Whipped Up hosted by The Girl Creative
Market Yourself Monday hosted by Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Creative Me hosted by The Southern Institute

Tuesday
Get your Craft On Tuesday hosted by Today's Creative Blog
Take-A-Look Tuesday hosted by Sugar Bee Crafts
Show Me What Ya Got hosted by Not JUST a Housewife

WednesdayWe’re Organized Wednesday @ Organize and decorate Everything
Penny Pinching Party @ The Thrifty Home 
We Did It @ Sew Much Ado 


Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design
Show off your Stuff @ Fireflies & Jellybeans
Show and Share @ Southern Lovely

Thursday
Strut your stuff @ Somewhat Simple
100 Ideas under $100 @ Beyond the Picket Fence
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage 
Make it Wear it @ The Train to Crazy 
Tablescape Thursday @ BNOTP 
Hooking up with HoH @ House of Hepworths
Doggone Dirty Craftin @ Rhinestone Beagle
Lovely Things Thursday @ Modern Modest Beauty
Look at Me, I’m so Crafty @ It’s Fun to Craft

Friday
Feature Yourself Friday hosted by Fingerprints on the Fridge
Friday Flair hosted by Whipperberry
Catch as Catch Can hosted by My Repurposed Life

Saturday
Saturday night special @ Funky Junk
Check me out Saturday @ A vision to remember
Saturday Is crafty day @ Along for the Ride
Weekend Wrap Up Party @ Tatertots and Jello
Saturday Spotlight @ Craft Envy
Saturday Soiree @ A Little Lovely
Show and Tell @ Be Different Act Normal