Pink Monday

Monday= Coffee+ Donuts

Have a pink day everyone! :D

Christina xx

Recipe: Liberty Lemonade

Hey everyone--
Here is a refreshing, patriotic drink recipe just in time for your holiday weekend. It's super simple to make and perfect to share with your friends and family as you celebrate! Give it a try this weekend!
Have a very happy 4th of July everyone! 
Christina xx
Ingredients: Lemonade, Sugar, Frozen Strawberries, Frozen Blueberries 
Steps: 1. Start with lemonade. I used Minute Maid lemonade that I bought already made, but feel free to make your own lemonade to start with.
2. Sweeten the lemonade with sugar. For a punch bowl size of filled lemonade, I used 1 cup of sugar. You can put however much sugar in it as needed to get it as sweet as you want.  (Skip this step if you don't want to sweeten it)
3.  Next add strawberries.
4. Then add blueberries.
5. Pour your lemonade into a glass and add a straw & enjoy! 
(P.S- Be sure to drink within 24 hours because the fruit can ferment .. or just wait to add the fruit until you're ready to drink it! P.S.S- This warning is here because I made this mistake!)

Recipe: Ooey Gooey Cookie Sandwiches

Hey everyone--

This yummy recipe is an adapted mix of two that I found on Pinterest:

1. the strawberry buttercream frosting from Cooking Classy

2. the chocolate chip cookies from Sally's Baking Addiction 

I wanted to make cookie sandwiches but I wanted to fill them with a strawberry flavored buttercream because I was making them for my sweet boyfriend Fred! Strawberries are his favorite so I wanted to add some strawberry flavor to the sandwiches! I think these are a really yummy sweet treat for the summertime.

Note: These are very gooey and will melt in your hands! So keep some napkins close by!

Have a sweet day!

Christina xx

Ingredients:
Frosting: 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp strawberry puree, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/4 cup salted butter, 2 1/2- 2 3/4 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Cookies: 2 cups flour, 2 tsp cornstarch, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 3/4 cup unsalted butter, 3/4 cup light brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 egg, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Steps:
Frosting: 1. Put the strawberry puree in a small pan and heat mixture over medium-low heat.
2. Stir occasionally and continue to let simmer until it's been reduced by about 2/3 to 3 tsp. This will take about 10 - 15 minutes.
3. Then, pour the puree in a bowl and let freeze until cool.
4. In a bowl, whip unsalted and salted butter together.
5. Mix in 1 cup of powdered sugar.
6. Blend in the reduced strawberry puree.
7. Put in the vanilla extract.
8. Add 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and continue to mix until frosting is fluffy.
9. Add an additional 1/4 cup of powdered sugar until you get the perfect fluffiness.

Cookies: 1. In a large bowl, mix the butter together until creamy.
2. Add in the brown sugar.
3. Add in the granulated sugar and mix all together until fluffy.
4. Mix in the egg.
5. Mix in the vanilla.
6. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt.
7. Add in chocolate chips and mix for about 5 seconds.
8. Cover dough with plastic wrap and let chill for at least 1 hour, 2 hours preferred.
9. Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
10. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
11. Roll the dough into balls.
12. Bake the dough balls for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges.
13. Let the cookies cool for at least 30 minutes.

Then: 1. Sandwich the frosting between two cooled cookies to create the sandwich!
& Enjoy!

Pink Monday

Have a pink Monday everyone!

Christina xx

Recipe: Gummy-Bear Popsicles

Hey everyone--
I first saw a gummy-bear popsicle recipe on Laurenconrad.com. They looked so sweet and so cute, I knew I had to try some this summer season! On the Lauren Conrad Blog they suggested using coconut water or Gatorade as the liquid, but I used pink lemonade! I love pink lemonade and I adore gummy-bears so I thought they turned out awesome! If you're looking for a fun, easy, summer popsicle recipe, keep reading!

Ingredients: Pink Lemonade, Gummy-Bears, Ice Pop/ Popsicle Mold, Freezer

Steps:
1. Take the sticks/bottoms out of each slot and make sure your ice pop/popsicle mold is clean and ready to go!
2. Pour pink lemonade evenly throughout the mold. Don't fill it to the brim, because dropping the gummy-bears in it will make the liquid rise and you still have to place the stick/bottom back into it too.
3. Drop as many gummy-bears as you'd like in each slot.
4. Place the stick/bottom back into each slot.
5. Put the ice pop mold into the freezer.
6. Leave the mold in the freezer for at least 2 hours to freeze into solid popsicles.
7. After about 2 hours you can take the mold out of the freezer and the popsicles out of the mold. (You might have to jimmy and shake the stick/bottom a bit to get it to come out, but it should be fairly smooth and easy!)
Your yummy gummy popsicles are now ready to be enjoyed and shared!
Have a sweet day! Christina xx

November's Treat: Mini Pumpkin Pies

In honor of Thanksgiving week, I decided to make these adorable mini pumpkin pies. I knew I had to try these the minute that I saw them on the Little Bit Funky blog. Follow these steps to make your own mini pies!

Ingredients:

1 15 oz can of pumpkin puree, 2 eggs, 1 12 oz can of evaporated milk, 2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice, 3/4 cup of sugar, 1/2 tsp of salt, 2 boxes of ready made pie crust, 1 cookie cutter (circle or heart shape), cooking spray, whipped cream

Instructions: 

1. First, spray muffin tin with cooking spray.

2. Unroll ready made crust and cut out shapes with cookie cutter.

3. Place cut out crust into each muffin cup. You will need to work with a bit to create the shape you want.

4. Combine the sugar, pumpkin pie spice, eggs, pumpkin puree and salt together. Once everything is combined, stir in the evaporated milk. 

5. When the mixture is combined, pour into each muffin cup. The mixture can reach almost to the top of the crust. 

6.  Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes, depending on your oven. ( Mine were done a little after 30 minutes) You can check to see if they're done by putting a knife in the center, if it comes out clean they are done.

7. Let the pies cool and then garnish with whipped cream. The pies are now ready to enjoy and share with friends!

Christina xxoo