8.22.2011

Lindt Truffle Cupcakes


I happened upon TheSistersCafe.com the other day... and instantly my mouth was watering! GREAT recipes that sisterhood has... let me tell you!!! but one i found that truly was calling my name... was this one! WHOA BABY!

I LOVE Lindt Truffles- they are pretty much the best chocolate treat ever, (My sister Emily knows so, and one year for Christmas she gave me a whole platter of them! I was in heaven!)

*sigh!*

So, seriously... what's better than Lindt Truffles?? If you would have asked me last week?? (...nothing...) this week...?? Lindt Truffles CUP CAKES of course!!! dive in my friends...

Lindt Truffle Chocolate Cupcakes

1 box devils food cake
1 box instant vanilla pudding (small box)
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup water
1 cup sour cream
Milk chocolate Lindor truffles by Lindt ~ approximately 24

Unwrap milk chocolate Lindt truffles and place in a bowl for use later. In a separate bowl, add all ingredients and mix well. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake at 350. After five minutes, lightly press a Lindt truffle into each partially baked cupcake. Let the cupcakes bake an additional 13 minutes (total of 18 minutes). Cool completely, then frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
8 ounces cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar

Cream butter and cream cheese together, then add vanilla. Slowly add powdered sugar.

Another delicious Lindt recipe found HERE

Spinach Orzo Salad

While we were in Utah this summer we got together for a family dinner, Justin's Aunt Judy made this salad... Whoa, i could not get enough... KAAABOOM flavor, light and so, so, so tasty! Try it at your next BBQ! quick, summer is coming to an end! :(


Recipe from: Justin's Aunt Judy

1 cup orzo pasta, cook according to package directions
1 bag of spinach (Use the amount of your choice)
1/3 cup of sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup diced cucumber
1/4 cup olives of your choice
2 tsp fresh chopped or 3/4 tsp dried oregano
3-4 oz. feta cheese

Dressing

1/2 tsp. chopped garlic
1 tsp. chopped shallots
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil

8.17.2011

Anniversary Dinner


two words: CHEESECAKE FACTORY!!!
lalala-so fun!
Luau SALAD
Grilled Chicken Tostada Salad
I can't remember what this was called, but it was delish! We ended up taking it home!
SO fun to go out and celebrate US and our marriage!
~La vita รจ bella!!~

Next year for our 10 YEAR anniversary, I'm hoping more for a view like this!!
How's that for subtle?

staycation-nation!

Originally, this past weekend we were planning on taking a trip to PA to visit my family. but as time went on after Justin had take Friday and Monday off, things kept popping up for our church callings on Saturday and Sunday, so we decided i would go for Enoch's birthday and Grammy's surgery and then we would have a (broken) two day family stay-cation! We have had a wonderful few days-

FRIday:
we took the fam to VA Beach! (yes even pepper!)

she was really good, but wanted to chase those silly seagulls... but she had to stay on her leash.








SUNday:
Will pushing Brinley in baby stroller


I made some Green and Pink Smoothies for the next day.... (Mmm!)

Brinley- having a little sipper of some diluted pink smoothie!

MONday:
POOL and Movie DAY

(breakfast and a little photo shoot...)



yay, pooooooooooooooooooooooool!














After the pool we were going to take the kids to the movies... but there were no kid movies playing (weird). so we rented "Mars Needs Moms" (strange but funny movie with a cute ending) and we made our own movie theater at home! We put up blankets and made it dark in the TV room and had snacks and popcorn for the mini's. Caitlin made everyone movie tickets too!
sleeping BEE-U-dy... aw!
What a wonderful Summer Family Stay-cation!
WE <3 our Family!

8.16.2011

Love spelled backwards is Love

And i thought i knew what love was then...

Happy Anniversary to the most amazing husband!!
BEST 9 years in the history of the world!

8.14.2011

Orange Ginger Spinach Smoothie

3-4 cups water
1/2 cup fresh/frozen pineapple
1 orange, peal cut off
1 apple
1 banana
3 hand fulls of spinach
1 inch fresh ginger root, brown part pealed off

blend ingredients in a high powered blender until smooth. Enjoy!