Valentine's Day Art & Crafts.........

For Valentine's day this year I wanted to give the grandparents & Lance something that B could help make himself & since he is only 18 months that meant something that he could get dirty doing & that meant that he would really enjoy it!!  I found this idea over at A Little Tipsy; I really did try to get B to put his hands on the paper the right way to make the hearts but he had something else in mind so I just went with it & decided that I would figure out a different way of using & making his hand painting into the perfect gifts.

I used a heart cookie cutter to cut out some hearts to mail with our Valentine's Day cards to friends & family & then used the rest of these to make frames for the grandparents & daddy.

For the grandparents...........

For daddy.........

I think that they turned out really well & think that they were a great way for B to show his favorite people how much he loves them!!

I also made more cupcakes (red velvet) & used another idea from A Little Tipsy for Valentine's Treats for B's daycare buddies.  I also think that these turned out well; I did change the type of chocolate to milk & white chocolate just because the kids in his daycare might not all like the mint flavor & I also just used red sprinkles instead of the crushed m&m's. 

 I used adorable printable tags that I found at Good Gravy Designs

 The kids loved them & the were so easy & fun to make.  The red velvet cupcakes that I made were from a recipe I found on Better Homes & Gardens (my new favorite recipe website) & they were a bit tricky when it came to the baking since they rise funny but I think that they turned out well after a 1st batch trial run (only fill the cupcake tins up half way).  I followed the recipe & sprinkled some of them with powdered sugar but had some left over cream cheese frosting from when I made these & used it on some of them as well.

I boxed them all up (well I did eat a few) & took them to family on Sunday & B's daycare for Valentine's Day.  I think that they were a hit & I have to say that I am really enjoying baking, cooking & being creative; these are things that I have always loved to do but have just never made or just taken the time to do lately.

Snow = Baking.......

Yesterday we woke up to a beautiful dusting of snow.  It was the perfect amount for the south; enough to cover the ground but not enough to send everyone into a morning panic!!  Schools & work didn't have to shut down & Georgia DOT didn't have to again show us how they can't handle it when it snows.  Stores did sell out of milk & bread because the weather men of course freaked everyone out the night before but hey..........that's what they are there for right??

I went around our neighborhood to take some photos just because I thought it was so pretty.

After a peaceful morning around our neighborhood I went in to make cupcakes & treats for Brayden's daycare class (& me) for Valentine's Day.  I have wanting to get back into baking for quite a while now but kept telling myself that I didn't have time to do it.  Well, I am going to make time to do it because I enjoyed doing it so much yesterday!!  Not to mention the fact that this pregnancy has brought on a horrible sweet tooth & though I have been trying to control it I have not been very successful at it; so now I have told myself that if I am going to have something sweet I am going to have to make it & NOT buy it.  My thought is that I will eventually get over baking for a minute or just to lazy & that in turn will mean no sweets for me.........we shall see if this works out for the good or bad over the next 3 months!!

I have been craving a Sweet Potato Cupcake ever since I saw this post on Mrs. F's blog; so I made them from scratch & I don't want to toot my own horn but TOOT-TOOT they were amazing!!!  I used a recipe that I found on Better Homes & Gardens & not only was it simple to make the cupcakes but the cream cheese icing was a cinch as well.

Sweet Potato Cupcakes

• 2  cups  all-purpose flour
• 2  tsp.  baking powder
• 1  tsp.  ground cinnamon
• 1/2  tsp.  baking soda
• 1/4  tsp.  salt
• 1  cup  butter, softened
• 1-1/2  cups  sugar
• 3    eggs
• 1  17.2-oz. can  vacuum-packed sweet potatoes (unsweetened), mashed
• 1/2  tsp.  vanilla
• 1  Recipe  Cream Cheese Frosting, below
•     Finely shredded orange peel

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line twenty four 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set cups aside.

2. In medium bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

3. In large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed after each addition until combined. Add sweet potatoes and vanilla, beating until combined. Add flour mixture; beat until combined (batter will be thick).

4. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Bake about 20 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool in pan on wire rack for 1 minute. Remove from pan and cool completely.

5. Place Cream Cheese Frosting in large resealable plastic bag. Cut a 1/4-inch opening in one corner of bag. Pipe frosting on top of cupcakes. Sprinkle with orange peel. Makes 24 cupcakes.

Cream Cheese Frosting: 

In large mixing bowl beat one 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened, and 2/3 cup butter, softened, with electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add 2 tablespoons bourbon or milk and beat until combined. Beat in 8 cups powdered sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time, until smooth and of a good piping consistency. Makes 4-1/3 cups.

Make Ahead:Freeze unfrosted cupcakes in airtight containers up to 1 month. Store frosting in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 3 days.

nutrition facts

• Calories400, 
• Total Fat (g)17, 
• Saturated Fat (g)10, 
• Monounsaturated Fat (g)5,
• Polyunsaturated Fat (g)1, 
• Cholesterol (mg)71, 
• Sodium (mg)210, 
• Carbohydrate (g)60,
• Total Sugar (g)48, 
• Fiber (g)1, 
• Protein (g)3, 
• Vitamin C (DV%)9, 
• Calcium (DV%)3, 
• Iron (DV%)5, 
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

• 
  

I boxed them up in the adorable Valentine's boxes that I found at Walmart & they are all ready for delivery!!

If you like to bake or if you just get the chance I really do suggest that you try them.  I will have to post about the other treats that I made for Brayden's daycare class when I finish them; they look so yummy & I just hope the kids all enjoy them.

Have a wonderful Friday!!

Yummy Recipes

Last Saturday I went to a baby shower for a good friend & not only was the baby shower a blast but there were some YUMMY food too & I thought I would share with you all!!

This was the best; B even loved it!!

Annie's Fruit Salsa & Cinnamon Chips

Ingredients

• 2 kiwis, peeled and diced
• 2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced
• 8 ounces raspberries
• 1 pound strawberries
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor
•  
• 10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
• butter flavored cooking spray
• 2 cups cinnamon sugar

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, Golden Delicious apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.
4. Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.

I have really only ever loved my mom's potato salad but I am NEVER able to recreate it so I am going to try to make this one since it was delicious!!

Texas Ranch Potato Salad

• 1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
• 2 cups mayonnaise
• 3/4 cup chopped green onion
• 1 pound bacon slices
• 5 pounds unpeeled red potatoes

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add whole potatoes, and cook until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain, run under cold water to cool, and chop into 1 inch cubes. Transfer to a large serving bowl, and refrigerate until completely chilled, about 2 hours.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the ranch dressing mix, mayonnaise and green onion. Cover, and refrigerate for about 2 hours to blend flavors.
3. Wrap bacon in paper towels and place on a plate. Cook in the microwave until crisp, about 15 minutes depending on the power of your microwave. Cool.
4. Stir the mayonnaise mixture into the bowl of potatoes. Crumble bacon into the bowl, and stir to distribute. Serve.

Sausage Balls

(I am not a fan of sausage but these were to die for so here is that recipe as well!!)

1. You mix one pound of mild sausage with 10 oz of shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese and 3 cups of Bisquick and a little salt and pepper. 
2. Mix it with your hands (it's pretty gross!)----roll them into balls  
3. Make sure you leave the cheese out at room temperature so that it mixes better. 
4. You have to really mix it with your hands well to make it form! 
5. Bake them at 375 for about 10 minutes or until they are brown.

Cookies for the Big Guy!!

I have seen so many posts about family Christmas traditions & have been trying to figure out what the Goodson's Traditions are going to be & have decided one one for sure.  Every year we are going to make homemade yummy cookies for Santa; next year I will let B help & then the year after that both boys will be able to help but this year I decided to do it by myself since I haven't baked in quite a long time!!  This is going to a fun tradition for us as they grow up & even after they know the "big guy" isn't real it will be something that they can do once a year with their mom!!

They turned out very well & I must admit they are quite delicious too!!  I decided to make 2 different kinds just will be taking the majority of them to B's JuJu's house on Christmas day..........that is if there are any left; Colton LOVES sweets!!!

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

• • 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
• 1 cup coarsely chopped white chocolate

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. 

Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. 

Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in the macadamia nuts and white chocolate. 

Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

Oatmeal Raisin Classic Cookies

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 350

BEAT butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, egg & vanilla until light & fluffy

COMBINE flour, cinnamon, baking soda & salt

ADD butter mixture & mix well

STIR in oats & raisins

DROP by tablespoon onto greased cookie sheets

BAKE 12-15 minutes

REMOVE from cookies sheets & cool on wire racks

Santa's plate ready & waiting for these yummy cookies to be placed on it on Friday night & can't wait to let Brayden set out the cookies & milk for the first time.  I am sure that he will not understand what we are doing & will only try to eat the cookies but none the less it will be a treasured memory for his daddy & I!!

I can't figure out if myself or Lance is more excited about this Christmas but which ever one of us it is , this year is going to be the 1st of MANY happy Christmas' to come.  I have a few more traditions that we are going to be starting this year & will post about them as we do them.  

What traditions have you started with your family??