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Feature Article #1

Our Family Photos: Jill VZ Photography

I stumbled upon Jill VZ Photography’s website when looking for someone to take family photos for our Christmas card. I just knew I had to have her take them because her lighting, natural posing, and style were exactly my taste. If you happen to be in Iowa and need a Des Moines photographer, I recommend [...]

| December 6th, 2011 | Continued

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Feature Article #2

Apple Dessert Braid

Everyone enjoyed the pizza braid I posted last year, so I thought I would turn it into something everyone enjoys – dessert. Not just any dessert though, but a super easy, delicious, and good-looking dessert that you can serve at parties and people will be amazed and think you spent hours in the kitchen. All [...]

| September 28th, 2011 | Continued

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Feature Article #3

Caramel “Apple” Grapes

The crisp fall weather has hit Iowa and I’ve brought out the pumpkin spice candles and the crockpot. I love this time of year and the food that comes with it. Caramel apples are one of the most popular fall weather treat, but just too messy and hard to eat for my liking, especially with [...]

| September 19th, 2011 | Continued

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Feature Article #4

Construction Party Dessert Table (Desserts & Designs: Des Moines Dessert Tables)

Gettin’ dirty, helping Dad work, and playing with trucks – just a few things Colton finds joy in at his age. When planning his 4th birthday party, there was no doubt about it, construction theme it had to be. Colton even went in to detail about the specific machinery he wanted on his cake. Oh [...]

| August 23rd, 2011 | Continued

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Feature Article #5

Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes

When we have summer cookouts my mother-in-law often makes strawberry shortcakes with homemade biscuits. I have to admit, these are the only strawberry shortcakes I have ever tasted, but they are delicious, especially warm. I believe the biscuit recipe is from an old Better Homes and Gardens cookbook not even intended for this dessert. First [...]

| May 31st, 2011 | Continued

About this Site

Emily is a young Mom living in Des Moines, Iowa (one of the top rated places to raise a family.) She stumbled upon how useful the internet could be for a new Mom craving adult interaction, after the birth of her son in 2007. While living in married-student housing at Creighton University, she had no family nearby and [...]

Homemade Valentine’s Day Mints

By Emily ~ January 27, 2012 4 Comments

I had a vision of mints the other day.

Cute, mini, glittery, heart mints for Valentine’s Day.

They are soo much better than those conversation hearts.

First you need a teeny tiny heart cookie cutter (I used this mini heart fondant cutter) or you could use a mini heart mold. I believe using a mold is the typical way to make mints.. but I didn’t have one so I improvised. This way works just fine!

For these hearts you can use a basic mint or cream cheese mint recipe. You first mix 2 Tbs softened butter, 1 Tbs Crisco, 1-2 tsp Peppermint Extract and 1/2 pound of powdered sugar. It should be clumpy. Add 1 Tbs hot water at a time (usually around 2-3 Tbs hot water total) until the mixture can easily be rolled into a ball without being too sticky.

If you want to make different colored or flavored mints, separate your mixture and add your desired food coloring or flavor.

Roll each color into a ball and place on a cutting board with powdered sugar. Roll out each ball flat until it reaches about 1/4 inch.

You want to wait about 10-15 minutes before you cut out your hearts or they will be too soft to handle.

Make sure you dip your cookie cutter in powdered sugar.

The trick to not get the hearts stuck in the cookie cutter is to press down quick and hard. If the mint gets stuck in the cutter, either wait a few minutes longer before continuing or just tap the cookie cutter on the cutting board until your mint comes out.

These are chocolate mints. I added a bit of cocoa powder to the mixture.

You want to then wait another 10-15 minutes after you’ve cut out your hearts. This makes it super easy to remove the surrounding dough and your hearts will come right out. If you want to add Edible Glitter now’s the time. Then place your mints on a cookie sheet and leave out for a few hours.

Then share with your friends and family! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Meal Plan Week #3

By Emily ~ January 24, 2012 3 Comments

I’m a little late coming up with my meal plan this week, so I am doing all of my planning and grocery shopping today (usually I do it on Sunday). On Monday we had one of our go-to meals, eggs and hashbrowns. These week, unknowingly, I have come up with a reoccurring theme for meals: comfort food. It’s so cold here in Iowa and we finally have some snow on the ground, so it only seems necessary we warm up with a little feel good food.

You can view all of my past meal plans that I update with tips and any recipes I would adapt or not make again. I try to make at least one meatless meal along with one meal I can turn the leftovers into another meal. This week I am using the leftovers from the roasted chicken for the pot pies.

Tuesday: Roast Chicken with Lemon, Potatoes and Asparagus

MarthaStewart.com

Wednesday: Pizza Monkey Bread with Trader Joe’s pre-made pizza dough and a Side Salad

foodfamilyfinds.com

Thursday: Deep Dish Chicken Pot Pie with Mashed Potatoes

Friday: Pasta with meat sauce, corn and bread.

Saturday: Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

thecookingphotographer.com

 Snacks/Baking: No-bake energy bites and Homemade Little Debbie Snack Cakes

Valentine’s Day Frosting-Filled Sandwich Cookies #CreativeCrescents

By Emily ~ January 23, 2012 2 Comments

Trying to think of something new to make with Crescent rolls is hard. There are your traditional pot pies and covered casseroles… and everything under the sun can be wrapped in crescents.

I tried to come up with something that would be a quick, decadent Valentine’s Day treat and boy are these little sandwich cookies sure decadent. I didn’t know if the Crescent rolls would work in this instance, but the buttery flaky crust pairs well with a thin layer of frosting (Don’t get too heavy-handed or you’ll get a sugar high!)

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Pillsbury Crescent Valentine’s Sandwich Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 container of Pillsbury No Seam Dough Sheet
  • Mixture of 2 Tbsp Sugar and 2 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/2 stick of butter
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp Milk (add more if needed)
  • food coloring (optional)
  • Sprinkles (optional)

Directions

1. Roll out your Pillsbury no-seam dough sheets and sprinkle with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.

2. Preheat oven to 350.

3. Using a small heart-shaped cookie cutter (about 1-2 inches) cut approximately 30 hearts in the Pillsbury dough and place on a baking sheet. Bake 7 minutes or until golden brown.

4. While cookies are cooling, mix your frosting. Place 1/2 stick of butter in a mixing bowl with your remaining ingredients and mix until combined. Add additional Tbsp milk until you reach your desired consistency.

5. Place your frosting in a gallon Ziploc baggie and snip off a small piece of the corner with scissors to create a piping bag. Pipe a thin layer of frosting on one cookie and add a second cookie to create a “sandwich”. Add sprinkles if desired!

Vote for my Creative Crescent Recipe and you’ll be entered to win a $1,000 grocery gift card!

Find more quick and easy Pillsbury recipes at www.CreativeCrescents.com.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pillsbury. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Contest Rules.


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