Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

For my sister's wedding my mom made the best Whoopie Pie's. Now if you have never had one, I would say it's a little like a homemade oreo, but much lighter and frankly in my opinion better! Everyone loved them and of course were the first things to go. I wanted to make some the other day and found this delicious recipe on The Girl Who Ate Everything for Red Velvet Whoopie's. Sounded like a dream, so I decided to give them a whirl. They were extremely easy and turned out beautiful. All which doesn't mean anything if they don't taste good right? Well they did, they tasted Better than good they were Fantastico!

( I used the whoopie pie filling and Loved it, plus it is easier)

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
by Better Homes and Gardens

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1-oz. bottle red food coloring (2 Tbsp.)

Whoopie Pie Filling
1/4 cup softened butter
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
7 ounce jar Marshmallow creme

OR

Cream Cheese Frosting
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter, softened
2 cups (8 ounces) powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
splash of milk if needed

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment; set aside. In medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2. In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high 30 seconds. Beat in brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating after each addition just until combined. Stir in food coloring.

3. Spoon batter in 1- or 2-inch diameter rounds, about 1/2-inch high on prepared baking sheets, allowing 1 inch between each round. ( the best thing to use is a small cookie scoop)

4. Bake 7 to 9 minutes for 1-inch cookies or 9 to 11 minutes for 2-inch cookies, or until tops are set. Cool completely on baking sheets on rack. Remove cooled cookies from baking sheets.

5. To fill, dollop Whoopie Pie Filling or Cream cheese frosting on flat sides of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies, flat sides down. Makes 60 one-inch or 42 two-inch cookies.

6. To store: Refrigerate in airtight container up to 4 days. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving.

Microwave Monkey Bread

Now everyone I know has had some version of Monkey Bread. You can even get a mix at Williams Sonoma. But my family definitely grew up on the Ghetto Version. My mom got this recipe from Homemaking night and we have been using it ever since. It would almost always make an appearance at Family Home Evening. The thing we love the best about it is that it takes literally no preparation or forethought and about 5 min. to make, all in the Microwave. But if it isn't darn good! Everybody loves it and the kids can even make it themselves. So if you need a fast dessert this puppy is definitely your man!






Microwave Monkey Bread

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

1 T. water

3 T. butter

1 pkg of refrigerator biscuits ( the small biscuits)

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix sugar , water and butter in a large pyrex bowl. Cook in microwave for 2 min. Add biscuits & nuts & insert small juice glass in the center of the bowl. Cook 2 min. and let stand 2 min. Remove glass and invert on a plate. .

Our Valentines

I know so late again. But I just can not believe how busy I have been the last 4 days. I woke up this morning soooo excited that the only thing I really needed to do today was go to work. So it might actually be a semi-relaxing day!

Anyways we had a pretty Amazing V-day!

Stuffed French Toast for breakfast. Then we all got in our Valentine's Best, even J picked out a red shirt without me telling him to.

For Hudson's Valentines we decided to do the Marhmallow Pops we saw here, that we did last week for play group treat. The kids helped make them and they were super easy, fun, and yummy.

Poor Pres didn't get any Valentines so her sweet brother gave her one and shared his Whole lot with her.

Jackson got out of his clothes too fast ( too hot yesterday)

but this is what he made for his class, yes he did help make it. We saw it here and had to do it.

Now I was planning on the neat dinner idea for V-day dinner with the kids that I posted about last week. But then my SIL Heather called inviting us to dinner. Frankly I hardly ever say no to a dinner invite ( for multiple reasons), so since I hadn't even bought the food yet I said yes.

Good thing I did because my meal was incredible. I have been craving a burger like forever!

With her homemade buns this one was worth the wait.

After dinner the kids finally got their prizes, went to bed happy and sleeping with their balloons.

I hope you all had a Wonderful Valentine's Day.

Kid Friendly Halloween Treat

I saw these little pumpkins on a blog, but when I tried to do it like her I failed miserably, so I had to change up the process a bit. They turned out pretty cute and my kids got to pass them out to their friends. Who in turn devoured them.
I didn't have orange melting chocolates, but I reccomend them since the most time consuming part was trying to make the right color of orange with the chocolates.

I used about half a pkg. of oreos and 1 1/2 pkg of melting chocolates

First I dipped one side in then let that dry then dipped the other side
When they started drying I filled in the little gaps and added a little pretzel piece to the top with some extra chocolate.
after they dried I piped some green leaves on, the one I first saw had a green ribbon tied around it. Since they were for the kids I wasn't quite as worried about presentation as you can tell.

My time in Virginia Beach

My mom and I took a girls trip over to Virginia Beach this past weekend to visit my oldest friend Jill Tyler and her fam. It was such an fun trip, we spent the first day at Colonial Williamsburg enjoying the crisp fall weather, shopping and of course amazing food.

Jill told us about this place that has AMAZING Hot Cocoa, and she was right it was Amazing even the homemade marshmallow inside was to die for.

Here is Jill dipping it into her Hot Chocolate ( or what we like to call the cup of melted chocolate)!

While this is one of the most extraordinary cups of Cocoa I have ever had, you must not drink one all by yourself after about the 8th sip or so it's overwhelming richness makes you want to chuck it! I know it sounds weird but both Jill and I had the exact same reaction and couldn't even make it through a 1/3 of the cup. Anyways if you do happen to make it out to Williamsburg hit up this place and see for yourself.

The Blue Talon

Both Jill and I have both been wanting to try these delicious looking Apple Pie Caramel Apples off The Girl Who Ate Everything .

We both aren't the best "candy makers" but we gave it a try.

Jill doing her special "tap" technique to get the excess caramel off.

"I am so proud of Me!"

We ran out of sticks so the knife made do.

Mixing up the white chocolate

adding the cinnamon sugar

ours didn't turn out quite as perfect as hers, but of freaking my they were MMMMMM Good!

I don't know exactly how many we ate, lets just say the kids didn't get much.

Will I make these again, Yes indeedy!

While we were there the Tyler's took us to the famous Wood Chicks BBQ, who won the Throwdown with Bobby Flay for their pork sandwich and is also on Pit Masters.

Well BBQ Pork sandwiches are one of my many food weakness and I couldn't wait to try it

I apologize that I ate it too fast and was unable to take a picture. But I will tell you it Rocked! So if you have a chance please stop in to Wood Chicks.

Thanks for a GREAT time Tyler's you fed us well!

Jill will also be featured in an upcoming guest food post! Till then, happy trails.