FFFFFFFFFFFF

So last night I was making Greek Butter Cookies and I kept hearing "fffffffff". I couldn't figure out what it was. Everyone was asleep except Brendon who was upstairs playing a video game and I knew that wasn't it. I'm looking all around and finally I figure out that it IS coming from upstairs. I look up and see this:

Do you see what I see?


Let me zoom in a little closers. Can you see it now?


Ok if you are thinking I am crazy, and don't see anything, don't feel bad because I looked at that exact spot 5 times before I realized that the sound is coming from the little black circle which is actually a nose belonging to this little guy:


SILLY PUDGE

Gingerbread Cheesecake Bites

Gingerbread Cheesecake Bites
Source: Pinterest


1 30 oz package Pillsbury Gingerbread Cookie Dough (refrigerated section) * I couldn't find it so I used the Betty Crocker mix)
4 oz cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cinnamon (optional)

*Set oven to 350
*Place paper liners in mini muffin pan.
*Roll 2 teaspoons of Gingerbread Dough into balls and place them into a mini muffin pan .
*Make a well or indentation in each ball to fill the cookies. I used my knuckle.

* Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla to create the cream cheese filling.
*Place filling into a piping bag **I used a ziplock bag and snipped an corner off.

*Fill each with a teaspoon or so of cheesecake mixture.**Do not over fill the dough, when the cookie bakes it will rise.

*Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes, or until the cookie part comes out with a nearly clean toothpick, they will continue to bake a bit when the pan is out of the oven cooling down.

**option: I sprinkled cinnamon over the tops just as they came out of the oven. YUM!




There ya go! They are really good! Enjoy!

What's on Deck

Today we're making a Sweet Pepper Cheese Ball and Gingerbread Cheesecake Bites.

YUM! Recipe and photos of the Gingerbread Cheesecake Bites to come soon!

Giveaway for a KILLER Camera bag!

Ok so you all know that I got a GREAT NIKON SLR Camera for my birthday. Ever since then I've been learning all types of photo tips and tricks. Well one thing I found is I am nervous to take my camera out and about with out lugging the MASSIVE case that it came with, with me. It only has room for my camera base and 2 lenses. Where is my wallet, keys, phone, chapstick, etc. suppose to go. There is no way I'm about to bring my camera bag AND a handbag. I maybe be crazy but I'm not nuts.

So there is this line of camera bags that are SUPER CUTE and super, and holds more than your camera. They are called Jo Totes. Check them out! They have all types of styles and colors. This one is on my Christmas Wish List.

It's Betsy-Chocolate (but I also LOVE the Besty- Mustard too). I just figured the brown bag would go with more. Isn't it cute. It can fit not only my camera goodies but all of the other goodies I need for a day out.




Anyway, over at A Bowl Full of Lemons is giving one of Jo Totes bags away. SCORE! So head over if you want to enter.... but be warned, I want it too!

Ricotta Cheese Cookies

This much-loved cookie recipe is quick, easy, delicious, and pretty. You can't go wrong! I found this on Pinterest ! I love that website.

Makes about 100 if you scoop them small.


For the cookies:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
1 (15 ounce) container of ricotta cheese
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups all-purpose flour

For the glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
milk (Didn't give an exact amount so just add and mix slowly)
sprinkles


*Preheat oven to 350 F.
*Mix all of the cookie ingredients well until the dough sticks together into a big ball. It will be sticky.

*Drop by teaspoon fulls on an ungreased cookie sheet.

*Bake 10 minutes (*I found that it took quite a bit longer 15-20 min.) or until the bottoms turn golden brown.
Let cool for 1 minute and then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
*Remember they are suppose to be moist so don't freak out if it's soft in the center.

*In a small saucepan slowly stir milk into the powdered sugar until it creates a glaze thin enough to be spread over the cookies. Stir over low heat then spread over cooled cookies. *I didn't heat the milk. I just dumped it in after I pulled it out of the fridge*
*Quickly top with sprinkles.

Tis the Season

TO BAKE! I've got 4 cookie recipes I'll be sharing with you over the course of the next couple of weeks!

First up will be Ricotta Cheese Cookies! YUM! Stay tuned!

Zero Scale

Ok my friends, so even though the Holidays are among us, and along with that comes all of the yummy food! With that it can be hard to watch our weight and when we do, some of us can get so stuck on the number on the scale and not on the fact that we are shedding inches and gaining muscle mass (which can be why the numbers on the scale aren't going down and may even go up a bit).

So, I got a chance to review, for free, a scale that makes stepping on the scale fun and motivating. It's called The Zero Scale. This scale has not just helped me not worry about how many pounds I weigh, but motivate me to make smarted choices when it comes to food and exercise. It's super easy to set up. Here's what makes this scale different and AWESOME. You step on the scale and it weighs you (but doesn't let you know your weight (you can find out if you wish). Then each time you step on the scale after that, it tells you how many pounds you've lost or gained since your last weigh in, and how many pounds you've lost total since you were first weighed.

I've been using this scale for a few weeks now and I've lost 8 lbs. and I'm excited to keep going.

Here are some awesome details about this scale you need to know about!

*This scale can have up to 4 different users and a guest mode.
* It has a 1.3" LCD display
*Measures in pounds and kilograms
*Measures up to 397lbs./180kg
*12.5"/12/5" platform
*There is a 10 year warranty.

Check out The Zero Scale here!

The great people at Zero Scale are offering you 15% off your first purchase on their site. Simply enter the code "zero" to received your 15% off!