Yummm I love Peanut Butter! These festive green Peanut Butter truffles make for a tasty St. Patrick's Day treat!

Ingredients:
2 cups of peanut butter
1/2 cup of butter
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups of confectioners sugar

Coating:
green melting chocolate
green sugar sprinkles

Directions:
In a bowl microwave the peanut butter and butter for about 30 seconds. Mix well and blend  in the vanilla and the confectioners sugar. Then create small balls and place on wax paper. Chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Next melt the green melting chocolate as directed in the microwave. Then dip the peanut butter balls into the chocolate and place on wax paper. Then top with the green sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet. Allow the peanut butter truffles to set and enjoy! 

This is such a colorful and healthy snack that is great for St, Patrick"s Day. To create this Rainbow Fruit snack you will need to select fruits that are the colors of the rainbow and simply arrange them in the rainbow pattern.
I used:

• Strawberries
• oranges
• pineapples
• kiwis
• blueberries
• cool whip for clouds

See it  is SUPER simple and absolutely DELICIOUS! 

Here is a quick St. Patrick's Day snack using popcorn. 

You will need: 
a bag of popcorn popped
3 tbs of butter
1 1/2 cups of mini marshmallows
4 tbs of green Jello
green sprinkles

Directions: 
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
In a medium sauce pan on low heat melt the butter and marshmallows. Once melted add the green jello mix and stir well. Pour the already popped popcorn into a pan. Then pour and fully coat the popcorn with the green  marshmallow mixture. Bake for just 3-5 minutes. This helps to make it less sticky. Take out of the oven and coat with the green sprinkles. Yummy! 

One thing I always look forward to for St. Patrick's Day is McDonald's Shamrock Shake! Well it is super easy to make yourself. 

Ingredients: 
2 cups of vanilla ice cream
1 1/4 cup of milk
1/4 tsp of mint extract
green food coloring
 whip cream and a cherry

Directions:
Blend the ice cream, milk, mint extract and a few drops of green food coloring in a blender. Pour into a glass and top with ice cream and a cherry. Enjoy!

Brrr it is cold outside. This simple Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Chili is the perfect meal for a frigid winter day.

Ingredients:
1 diced onion
1 8 oz can of kidney beans
1 8 oz can of pinto beans
1 8 oz can of black beans
1 8 oz can of tomato sauce
1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes with chilies
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 tablespoon of cumin
2 cloves of minced garlic
4 skinless chicken breasts
Shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
In your slow cooker combine the beans, onion, tomato sauce, tomatoes, garlic, cumin  and taco seasoning. Mix well and then lay the chicken on top. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 6 hours. When it is done removed the chicken and shred using a fork and then stir back into the chili. When you are ready to serve top with cheddar cheese and if you wish some fresh cilantro and sour cream. Enjoy with some tortilla chips. Yum!

In honor of Valentine's Day and the mid-season premiere of The Walking Dead, I made a realistic bloody heart cake. I was never a fan of gore and zombies but The Walking Dead is a fantastic show! So for all my fellow Walking Dead fans this Valentine's Day, this dessert is for you!

I made this by using:
-Cupcakes (whatever flavor you like)
-Frosting
-red fondant (I purchased mine at Walmart)
-red food coloring
-Cherry Jam

Knead  your fondant  and roll it out with a rolling pin. Make sure you roll out enough to cover the cupcake. On the bottom of the cupcake spread some frosting and place in the center of the fondant you just rolled out(this keeps it secure). Then begin to cover the cupcake with the fondant. Don't worry about making it super perfect because the imperfections will make it look more realistic. At the top of the cake make three funnels to look like arteries. You can look at some heart images online to try to make it look accurate(I tried my best).  Next mix a little bit of red food coloring and cherry jam. Then paint the cake with the  jam(this step really makes it look gory). 
Then you are finished with you bloody heart cake! Enjoy! 
​

This recipe was inspired by: ​http://www.eversojuliet.com/2013/10/halloween-how-to-anatomical-heart-cake.html

If you are looking for a fun and easy treat for your kids to take to school for Valentine's Day or just to hand out to loved ones, then these Rice Krispies treats pops will do the trick! 
All you need are some cake pop sticks, snack size Rice Krispies Treats, white melting chocolate and sprinkles. 
Insert the stick into the Rice Krispies. Melt the white chocolate and then gently dip and spread the chocolate on the treat (I added red food coloring to make a pink chocolate coating). Then top with some fun sprinkles or candy hearts. Set on wax paper and put aside in the fridge for the chocolate to harden(it hardens quickly). Then you can place in a bag and wrap with ribbon and handout. See I told you it was super simple. 

What is Valentine's Day without some heart shaped sugar cookies? 

Ingredients:
4 cups of flour
1 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt
1 cup of softened butter
2 cups of sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
Heart shaped cookie cutters

Directions:
Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder.
In another bowl, mix the butter, sugar, egg, lemon juice and gradually mix in the flour. 
Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Then  take the dough out and let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. 
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. 
Roll dough and cut into heart shapes and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Put in the freezer for 15 minutes.
Then place in the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. 
Once cookies are cool decorate with  icing. Royal icing works best. 

So I have been totally obsessing and drooling over the latest bagel trend. The Bagel Store located in Brooklyn is known for it's Rainbow Bagels among other interesting varieties. People are literally lining up to try these colorful eye catching  Rainbow Bagels.  I decided to make theses bagels myself and surprisingly it wasn't difficult. These bagels are tasty and so fun. Your kids will love them! 
I found this recipe on whatjewwannaeat.com

Ingredients: 
-2 cups of warm water
-1 packet of active dry yeast
-1 tablespoon of  sugar
-6 cups of flour
-2 teaspoons of  salt
-1 teaspoon of vegetable  oil
-Food coloring

Directions:
First you will need to make the yeast. In a bowl add 1 cup of warm water to the yeast and mix in the sugar. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until it foams and bubbles. 
Then add flour, oil, salt and the remaining water. Mix and knead and let it rise in a greased bowl for 60 minutes in a warm area. 
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Also, bring a pot of water to a boil. 
Take the dough and divide it up. Add food coloring to each divided piece of dough. Knead the food coloring in(I decided to wear gloves to not get food coloring on my hands). I used red, yellow, green and blue. 
Next, roll out each dough ball and then stack the dough in rainbow order (red, yellow, green,blue). Then cut out into strips and twist. Then pinch the ends together to make into a circle like a bagel.
Next you need to boil the bagels for just 30 seconds each. This allows the bagels to have a crunchy outside and soft inside. Place on a cooling rack and allow to dry  then bake the bagels on a parchment lined cooking sheet for 15 minutes, 
Once cool, spread with cream cheese and even add some sprinkles if you like. Enjoy!