Bridal Shower Cupcakes! 

These are cupcakes my friend and I made for a mutual friends bridal shower.  Aren't they CUTE!?!

The white frosting ones are Raspberry cupcakes w/ Champagne Frosting

The purple frosting ones are Lemon cupcakes w/ Blueberry Frosting

YUMMO!!

My good friend Nicki made those cute little pinwheels we put on top.  I think they turned out great!  

<3

Mini Deep Dish Fruit Pizzas!

Have you ever had a craving for fresh fruit pizza, but the thought of making the crust, and frosting the entire thing without it falling apart into a pile of crumbs make you cringe?   Well my friends, then this recipe is for you!   

If you can even call it a recipe.  It's SO simple.  All you do is grab a roll of Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookie dough, cream cheese, cool whip, and whatever fruits your little heart desires.

Pull little chunks off the dough and roll into a ball, about 3/4 inch.  Sorry, I forgot to take pictures of the whole process.  Anyways, drop your cookie balls into a mini muffin pan.  Bake at 350 for about 7 mins.   Don't leave them in too long.  While they're in the oven they should puff up, and then slowly drop down.   Sometimes they wont drop down until after you take them out of the oven and let them cool.   The first time I did this, I thought they weren't going to drop, so I left them in the oven longer, and then they got too brown and crunchy for my liking.   I promise they'll fall, just take them out and let them sit.   Once they've sat for a couple minutes, they should just pop right out of the pan.

For the frosting, just whip 1 block of cream cheese with 1 large tub of cool whip.  Ta-Da!! Yummo!!!   I put my frosting in a piping bag with a large round tip and just squeeze a dollop in each cookie cup.  Then just place your fruits on top and WAH-LAH!  Deliciousness!  And so pretty, trust me everyone loves them.  

One package of cookie dough makes about 48 pizzas.  I made these for a picnic party with about 14 people, and every single pizza was eaten.   I will warn though, once they sit out for a while and the cookie warms up, they will get kind of melty, or pliable... but it doesn't make them any less delicious!

Recipe 

1 roll Pillsbury Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Dough

1 8oz block cream cheese

1 large tub Cool Whip

Any fruit you want 

( I used blueberries, blackberries, kiwi, and strawberries)

Rolls pieces of dough into 3/4 inch balls, bake in a mini muffin pan @ 350 for about 7 mins.  Let cool for 2 mins, pop out of the pan.

Mix cream cheese and Cool Whip with electric mixer, fill cookie cups with frosting.

Top with your choice of fruits and ENJOY!!

Almond Poppy Seed Cookies

My husband absolutely loves almond poppy seed muffins. So, I decided to make these cookies to get something with the same flavor, but a little sweeter! They were a big hit! They flavor is light, the cookie is so soft, and the glaze is sweet, but not overpowering. Delicious and easy!!

Ingredients:

Cookie:

• 1 Pouch Sugar cookie mix
• 1/3 C. Flour
• 1/2 C. Unsalted butter, softened
• 1 TBSP. Poppy seeds
• 1 Pkg. Cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp. Almond extract
• 1 Egg

Glaze:

• 1 C. Powdered sugar
• 4 tsp. Water
• 1 tsp. Almond extract

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl add, cookie mix, flour, butter, poppy seeds, cream cheese, almond extract, and egg. Stir together until dough forms.
2. Roll dough into walnut sized balls, place on ungreased cookie sheet, and press just to flatten them a little bit.
3. Bake for about 10 mins. Cool for 2 -3 mins, then move to cooling rack.
4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl add, powdered sugar, almond extract, and water. Mix together to make a glaze consistency. If you need more water to thin, just add 1 tsp at a time until you get the desired consistency.
5. Spread the glaze over the cookies while they're still warm, but not hot.

Mint Chocolate Chunk Cookies

These cookies are so easy to make, and so tasty! People will think you spent hours making them!

Ingredients:

• 1 Pkg. Sugar cookie mix
• 1/2 C. unsalted butter
• 6 Drops green food coloring
• 1 egg
• 1 C. Mint chocolate chunks
• 1 C. Semisweet chocolate chunks
• 1/4 tsp. mint extract (optional)

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, add cookie mix, butter, food coloring, egg, and extract (if wanted) and stir until dough forms. If you add the extract it will make them extra minty!
3. Mix in mint and semisweet chocolate chunks.
4. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake 8 - 10 mins. Cool for 2 -3 mins, and then move to cooling rack.

Cheese Manicotti

This manicotti is so creamy and good! You can add chicken, sausage, hamburger, or whatever you want if you'd like. I prefer just the cheeses. Pair with garlic bread for a delicious meal.

Ingredients

• 1 Bag Mozzarella cheese (32 0z)
• 1 Tub Cottage or ricotta cheese (16 oz)
• 1 Egg
• Pinch of ground oregano
• Pinch of parsley
• 1 Jar spaghetti sauce (whatever kind you want)
• 1 Box giant shells
• 1/4 C. Grated Parmesan cheese

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Boil shells until al dente, stirring often so they don't stick together, or to the bottom of the pot and rip.
2. Meanwhile mix in a medium bowl, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, all the cottage cheese, egg, oregano and parsley.
3. Once shells are done, drain and let cool for a couple mins.
4. Spread half the jar of spaghetti sauce on the bottom of a 13x9 inch pan. Take one shell, open and fill with a spoonful of cheese mixture. Close shell, and place in sauced pan. Continue until cheese mixture is gone. Cover shells with remaining sauce.
5. Bake for 30 mins. Remove from oven and cover with remaining mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. Bake for an additional 5 mins. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 mins. Enjoy!

Irish Cream Brownies

These are rich, chocolatey, delicious brownies, with a splash of irish cream. You can't go wrong with these! Add a big glass of milk, and you'll be in heaven!

• Ingredients:

Brownies:

• 1 pkg Fudge brownie mix
• 1/2 C. Oil
• 1/4 C. Irish cream liquor
• 2 eggs

Frosting:

• 1/2 C. Unsalted butter, softened
• 2 C. Powdered sugar
• 2 TBSP. Irish cream liquour
• 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
• 3 tsp. Milk

Glaze:

• 1 oz. Semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 tsp. unsalted butter

1. Heat Oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of 13x9 inch pan. In a large bowl, mix the brownie ingredients together. Spread into pan.
2. Bake for 25 - 30 mins. Cool 45 mins, or until completely cool.
3. Beat 1/2 C butter in a small bowl until fluffy. Beat in the rest of the frosting ingredients. Add more milk if needed, until you reach your desired consistency. Spread over cooled brownies.
4. Put glaze ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for about 30 seconds, or until completely melted and smooth when you stir it. Drizzle all over the frosted brownies. Refrigerate at least 30 mins before serving.

Gingersnap Cookies

Gingersnaps are so easy to make and so delicious. The longer you bake them the crunchier they get. I like mine crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. They are so good, they're sure to be a hit!

Ingredients:

• 1 Egg
• 1/4 C. Molasses
• 3/4 C. Shortening
• 2 tsp. Soda
• 2 C. Flour
• 1/4 tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1 tsp. Ginger
• 1 tsp. Cloves

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream egg, sugar, molasses, and shortening together in a medium bowl.
2. Add soda, flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Stir until well mixed. Batter will be sticky.
3. Form into balls about the size of a quarter, and roll into sugar.
4. Bake for 8 mins, longer if you want them crunchier. Let cool for 1 minute, then move to cooling rack.