Baking: Oreo Truffles...

These are my absoulte favorite things to make (other than cupcakes, cakes, and all other desserts, lol). Trust me, if you ever decide to make these, you will definitely regret it! I mean, they are DIET-BREAKING Yumminess!! I found a website that says these babies are 100 calories each! Wow! That's why I only eat one a day, haha.

I made these for Hubby, so he can take them to a work potluck. Apparently, they were the talk of the day! ;) You should really try these!

I am including pictures and instructions so you can make them yourself for you and your family (or maybe just for you)!

Good Luck and Enjoy!

These are the ingredients you are going to need:

-2 packs of Oreo Cookies

-2 packages of Cream Cheese (8 oz each - 1 per package of Oreo Cookies)

-White and Milk Chocolate for dunking and drizzling! Mmm!

That's it!

You should let the cream cheese sit on your kitchen table/counter for a while so it will be room temperature when you need it later on.

You will need to grind the Oreo cookies to a fine texture. Very fine. (I put 5 Oreo's in the blender at a time and grind until they reach the perfect consistency)
Many people have said you can buy a package of Oreo crumbs, but this is so much better because you get the cream filling and ALL in there! Yummy!!

(Sorry, no pictures of this next step) :(

You will have to add a package of cream cheese per each package of Oreo cookies and mix them together. I do this part with my very hands. It's mushy and fun!

Next, you have to make the Oreo balls thenselves. I also do this step with my bare hands. Don't worry about perfection.. they'll disappear before anyone realizes they're not all the same shape or size.

(Feel free to experiment with shapes as well, though I like the traditional round shape!)

Yum!

You should put the Oreo balls in the freezer (for about half an hour) so that they won't fall apart in this next step...

While the Oreo balls are in the freezer, you should melt the white chocolate (and later, the milk chocolate) on a double boiler for dipping.
I use chocolate chips for quick and easy melting:

I was very excited to get these done that I totally forgot to get pictures of the dipping and drizzling steps, but you get the idea! Cover each Oreo ball with white chocolate and drizzle them all with milk chocolate. Simple enough...right? ;)

Look at all of that goodness!

Mmm-mmm good!!

Want some of this yumminess?? :D

If you want to make these chocolate-covered pretzels, all you have to get is some pretzel sticks. They are easier to make than the Oreo Truffles. Just dip and drizzle!

These are definitely not the healthiest of snacks, lol, but they sure are the yummiest! I hope some of you make these and share them with loved ones!

Valentine's Day Cupcakes

Valentine's Day is around the corner and I just had to make some cupcakes for my friends! I always seem to make cupcakes because they are so easy and they're a blast to decorate! I'm going to keep the writing short because I have quite a few pictures to post!

Here goes:

A bunch of Cupcakes:


A Close Up:








All packed ready to take to school:





A Heart!
(Corny, I know, lol)






Little Packages!

For our Neighbors:


Guess what's Inside:


Mini Cupcakes!!
(Duh!)

Thanks for looking!

Hope you all have a
Happy Valentine's Day!

FYI: Just because I make cupcakes doesn't mean I am eating them!
I am sticking to my aforementioned diet and am still on track!

Cooking - Dessert: Father's Day Cupcakies! YUMx2!!

Father's Day Cupcakes were a success. I told my niece and nephews I'd make cupcakes for them so they can decorate some for their dad's. Well, it was so much fun! They decorated cupcakes for almost a whole hour!!

Here are some pictures of our productive
Father's Day Morning!!

Undecorated Cupcakes & Decorating Materials:

Close-Up of Decorating Stuffs:

Sprinkles, Chocolate Chips, and White/Milk Chocolate Chips:

My Nephew, Agustin (9) sitting proud with his 1st decorated cupcake!
Yay!

My Nephew, Betito (10), and my Niece, Gaby (15) decorating away!!

My last nephew, Jonathan (5) sitting proud with his over-decorated cupcake! =]


As you can see, Father's Day Cupcakies Day was a Success!!
FYI, if you haven't noticed, I have 3 nephews and 2 nieces (one niece, the 5 month-old
posted on a past post, isn't shown here) and I couldn't be a happier aunt!!


You should try decorating cupcakes with a bunch of kids, it's amazing!! =]
P.S. It's really, Really hot back home which is why 2 of the kids don't have their shirts on, lol.
Sorry if they're inappropriate, hehe.

Cooking - Dessert: Father's Day Funnel Cakes!!! YUM!

For father's day, hubby and I decided to go visit our parents for the weekend so Saturday morning, off we were!
After swimming, playing with the baby, and having a carne asada, something caught my eye. It was a bag of powdered sugar. This may seem weird to you but since I've been baking and cooking so much (the housewife in me, lol), I felt like I just had to make something with it. I asked my dad what he wanted me to make (so long as it included powdered sugar). The first thing he said was "Funnel Cakes!" Funnel cakes....?? I don't even know how to make them or... Funnel cakes? Really?? Well, ok. Dad wanted it so Google and I became acquainted once again.

I found this quick and easy recipe on line and quickly started to work since all of the ingredients are things you'd normally have at home! Let me tell you... they were DELICIOUS!!! =] I was so glad I made them. They were going faster than I could make them so I decided to eat small pieces as I was making some more. Father's Day Funnel Cakes were a success!

Here are a few pictures of my funnel cakes:










Add some strawberry marmalade... Yummy!!

Six Flags ain't got nothin' on me! =]

You should all give them a try!
Not as difficult as you'd think.
Good Luck!

Cooking - Dinner: Beef Enchiladas

I had planned to make Enchiladas for dinner tonight since Monday evening. After checking in the fridge to make sure we had everything I was good to go! I decided I would take pictures of every step so I can teach others how to make Mexican Beef Enchiladas through my blog. Anyway, here are the directions along with pictures for all to follow (p.s. I really like cheese so feel free to omit some where ever you'd like)!! Good Luck and Enjoy!

Ingredients:
-1 lb ground beef
-2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
-16 oz of Salsa
-1 can of enchilada sauce (I prefer "Las Palmas")
-1 Packet of Taco meat seasoning (I use "Taco Bell" brand)
-1/4 cup of water
-8 Corn Tortillas






Directions:
1.) Heat all 8 tortillas and set aside to be used later
2.) Brown mean and drain. Add 1/2 cup of cheese, meat seasoning, water, and 8 oz of salsa to meat and heat until everything is mixed well and cheese is melted

3.) Open enchilada sauce can and pour sauce in a semi-deep plate (you need something wide enough so you can put the tortillas in one at a time but deep enough to hold the sauce)
4.) Put the remaining salsa (and cheese if you'd like) on the bottom of a baking dish to prevent the enchiladas from sticking when baked. (I like to use a squared baking dish and make 2 layers of 4 enchiladas)

5.) Dip a tortilla in the sauce plate, covering the front and back with sauce.
6.) Add some of the meat mixture and, if you'd like, a bit more cheese.
7.) Fold the tortilla over and place in the baking dish, over the salsa, seam side down
8.) Repeat with all 8 tortillas, adding a small layer of cheese between each layer of enchiladas
9.) Place in oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted10.) Add a dab of sour cream and enjoy!

Cooking - Dessert: Cupcakies!! =]

I have been in such a baking mood lately so I decided to make some cupcakes! I realized I didn't have cake mix or anything to bake with so off to Albertson's I went. Well, not only did I buy cake mix but I bought 2 large tubs of white frosting, a package of food coloring, and plenty of decorating sprinkles. After baking them I asked Hubby to help me decorate... We had a blast decorating them! My cousins showed up later that day (before I got to take pictures, which is why I only have 6 in the pictures, lol. They were so delicious (and pretty), I didn't want to eat any of them! I mean, look at this one with a palm tree and a sun... art!! =]

In other news, I wanted to show off my first plant! It's an Orchid I got at a wedding (it was used as a centerpiece, neat right!?). It is so beautiful and it has grown 2 flowers since I got it. One of them is barely blooming, see? It's so pretty isn't it!? I Love it!

Anyway, enough blabbing on for today! I'll post any more baking I do for inspiration. Father's day is right around the corner... Maybe I'll do something like this for dad! Hmm...