Decadant Low-Fat Brownies

Looking for a yummy healthy treat for the holidays? These brownies are soft, sweet and if your not careful you will eat them all.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 c. cocoa
1 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 c. white sugar
2 egg whites
3/4 c. applesauce

DIRECTIONS:
Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl using a hand mixer. Add egg whites, applesauce and vanilla. Mix all other ingredients in a separate bowl and add to the wet ingredients in the large bowl. Do Not over mix. Spray 8x8 dish with Pam and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

You can frost them if you want. I had leftover runny fudge that I messed up on and so I poured some of that on top. I might have made it unhealthy but it was worth it.

XOXO-

Par-Tay Tuesday: Hollywood Birthday

For my 30th Birthday I wanted to have a really amazing party! I love movies and am a fan of the classics so I wanted to go with a HOLLYWOOD theme! Since my husband and I lived in a small one bedroom apartment, I decided to make it an all girl party!

Here's the invites.

Here's the wall decorations.

Here's the spread.

I had the best food - caviar, fruit tarts, all sorts of dips and cheeses and cupcakes!

I even rolled out the red carpet for all my guests.

We watched a couple of movies:

HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE

featuring

Marilyn Monroe

(My Favorite)

and

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S

featuring

Audrey Hepburn

I had the best time ever and I definately had a memorable birthday!!! Turning 30 wasn't so bad after all!

Mama Monday: Crib Rail Cover

Crib Rail Cover

My first daughter Cheryl got her teeth really fast and soon became a beaver. Chewing on everything. I got some scrap fabric and ribbon together, measured the crib. All crib's have different measurement's. The first one I made was really fast, because I needed it right away. The second won I made I took my time and even sewed ribbon on the fabric for some cute detail. It was pretty easy to make too. If you don't have a sewing machine then you could use fleece fabric that doesn't fray and get some Velcro to close it together on the crib. I am all ready for my second daughter, if she starts to chew on the crib too.

Foody Friday: Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

One word - YUM!



I got this recipe from the Betty Crocker site. I had to make some cookies for a cookie exchange I was having at work and I came across these. I was craving mint chocolate chip ice cream and these looked like that but cookified! hehe Since St. Patrick's day is coming up, I was getting in the mood for these green little goodies again. Check out the recipe below...

INGREDIENTS

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon mint extract

 6 to 8 drops green food color

 1 egg

 1 cup creme de menthe baking chips

(I actually used Nestle Dark Chocolate & Mint Chips - delish)

 

 1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, extract, food color and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in creme de menthe baking chips and chocolate chunks.

2. Using small cookie scoop or teaspoon, drop dough 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 3 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Serve warm or cool completely. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

Makes 36 cookies

Simple right? Here's a picture of mine!

Mama Monday: Homemade Diaper Bag

I couldn't find any diaper bag's that I liked so I made my own. If you are not a experienced sewer then don't worry. I looked harder than it is. I used the Laura Ashley sewing pattern from Jo Ann Fabrics. But I modified the pattern a little. The pattern had a zipper and I didn't want one so I didn't add that. And I added some stroller straps on the inside. I also used upholstery fabric that is much sturdier. If you want to use some fun light weight fabric then line it with lining fabric and it should be fine. The hardest part was cutting all the pieces out. Once you sew it, it goes really fast. Don't be afraid to take a project like this on. It was fun and not as hard as it looks.

Penny Tuesday: Homemade Laundry Soap

Homemade Laundry Soap

I am always trying to find ways to save money wherever I can. So, I decided to make some homemade laundry detergent. I tried a couple loads from a sample I got and it was great...just like Tide. So, I made a huge batch. And it was super easy too.

It calls for:

1 bar Fels-Naptha bar soap

2 cups 20 Mule Team Borax

2 cups Arm & Hammer washing soda

You just grate the soap, like you would cheese. Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container. You only use 2 Tbsp. per load. (tsp. for HE washers) Everything was very inexpensive and much less than I would spend on regular Laundry detergent. If you have any questions go to our Contact Us page and shoot us an email.