Graduation Look

I just graduated from the University of Arkansas. For my graduation I went with a fit and flare white lace dress from Dress Barn. Then I accessorized with red jewelry from Versona.

 

Valentines Day

So what do you do when you are alone on Valentine's Day? You have a blast with your girlfriends! This year for Valentines I went to dinner with some girlfriends of mine and then we indulged ourselves on a chocolate fountain. This was the best way to have fun and to not worry about having a date. Here are some pictures of our night.

Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookies

 

 

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups butter flavored Crisco
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons vanilla
• 6 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

 

 

Procedure:

• Heat the oven to 375*
• Combine sugar, Crisco, beat at medium speed until blended
• add eggs, sugar, syrup, vanilla
• beat until blended and fluffy
• combine flour, baking powder, soda, and salt in a separate bowl
• gradually add flour mixture to creamed mixture at low speed until blended
• drop rounded teaspoons on to an ungreased baking sheet 3 inches apart (I use a small ice cream scoop)
• (sprinkle with colored sugar if desired)
• bake for 10-12 minutes- DO NOT OVERBAKE
• cool 2 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack

~If desired you can also frost the cookies with buttercream frosting


Oatmeal Craisin Cookies

Oatmeal Craisin Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups craisins (or more depending on your liking)
1 1/4 cup quick oats
1 package white chocolate (I prefer almond bark)

• Heat the oven to 350*
• Beat the butter until creamy, gradually add in the sugars, beat well
• Add egg and vanilla, mix
• Combine flour, soda, powder, and salt
• Gradually add flour mix to butter mix
• Stir in the craisins and oats
• Drop onto a cookie sheet (small scoop)
• Bake for 9-11 minutes
• After they are cool, melt the white chocolate or almond bark and drizzle over the top

Stain-Glass Cookies

Stain-Glass Cookies 

(adapted from  Food Network Magazine)

2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks of butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
several colors of hard candy (I  used Jolly Ranchers and Dum Dums)

1. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl
2. Beat the butter and sugar in a stand mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Add in the flour mix, beat until incorporated.
3. Place bowl into the fridge until it gets cold and firm
4. Separate the candy by color and break the candy into small pieces. (you can mix different types of candy)
5. Line baking sheets with parchment paper
6. Roll out the dough on a counter covered with flour and cut out with shapes (cookie cutters). Then transfer to the baking sheets and use a smaller cookie cutter to remove the inside. Then fill the shapes with candy pieces.
7. Bake cookies 1 pan at a time at 350*  for 12-15 minutes
8. Let cookies cool before removing from the baking sheets.

Holiday Dress

That  Dress Tho....

 

I found this awesome purple lace holiday dress at Dress Barn. It is sassy, fun, and flirty while still being modest. It is definitely a go to dress for every special occasion. Here are a few pictures from when I wore it the first pic was girls night out, the other two were from a Christmas Banquet. It can be worn when it is warm as well as if it is cold. I added a fun cheetah print jacket to it since it was cold.

 

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Pasta E Fagioli Soup

Pasta E Fagioli Soup

 

I am a big fan of Olive Garden and an even bigger fan of soup, salad, and breadsticks. I found a standard recipe for Pasta E Fagioli and then tweaked it and I think it is a pretty good copy- cat of Olive Garden's.

1 pound ground hamburger
1 pound Italian sausage
2 cups frozen vegetable blend
2 cans Hunt's garlic and herb pasta sauce
4 cups water
2 cans red kidney beans
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon basil
1 cup elbow macaroni (uncooked) (or other small pasta)
3 tablespoons parmesan cheese

brown the meat in a skillet and drain
in a large soup pot combine all the other ingredients (except pasta) and bring to a boil
reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour
add pasta the last 10 minutes of cooking
cook until the pasta is tender

Super Super Yummy :)