Smores Pie

This recipe is really easy and really yummy.  My sister's best friend got married this summer to our cousin and we had a joint bachelor/bachelorette party for them at my mom's house.  I usually get tasked with desert and the bride loves smores so we tried out this recipe.  Here's what you need:

Gram Cracker Crust

Brownie Mix (and ingredients to make from box)

Marshmallows

Caramel Sauce

Chocolate Chips

All you have to do is make the brownie batter, pour it in the crust:

 Bake the brownies

Put marshmallows on top, and then place under the broiler until the marshmallows are browned and melty, keep a close eye on it!

Top with caramel and chocolate chips!

Wood Signs- Happily Ever After Starts Here

My best friend got married on her dad's farm a couple of weeks ago which gave me the opportunity to make lots of pretty things to make her day the best day it could be!  I made this Pinterest inspired wood sign using wood I bought at Hobby Lobby, I stained it and then used a sharpie paint pen to color in fonts I traced from print outs.  Super easy and super cute. 

Dollar Store Craft

I needed something to put all my junk on my bathroom counter on, so I took a trip to the dollar store to find some plates, bowls and candle sticks.  I probably should have taken a picture of the unpainted dollar store finds, but I forgot.  Sorry.  Everything pictured was just glass plates, bowls and candle sticks.  I sprayed each one individually and then hot glued them together.  After doing that though I think I probably could have just glued them together first and then painted it.  Also I think the next one I do I will use a stronger glue.  This serves it's purpose but I think it could be a bit sturdier.  I'm sure I'll be making more for Christmas that I'll share later.

 Tada!

Cucumber Salad

I wasn't in love with this recipe but I thought I would share it because, who knows, maybe you will be.  I had to throw together a quick recipe for a grill out my church put together so we could meet new people.  I wanted to impress everyone with my cooking skills so I was going to spend a ton of time making my favorite Red Potato Salad, however I didn't have enough time so I threw this together.  It's really easy!

What you'll need:

• 1/4 cup of white wine vinager
• 2 teaspoons of sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 2 cucumbers sliced and cut into half moons
• 1/2 of a red onion sliced thin
• 2 teaspoons of freshly chopped dill

Directions:  Combine vinager, sugar, salt and dill, then pour on top of cucumber and onion, then mix well.  And you're finished!  See, very easy.  Just chill for about 20 minutes before serving.

Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I have been in a major winter funk.  It's too cold to do anything.   I absolutely do not like cold weather, I don't understand people who take vacations to the cold mountains to ski.  Do they not know about beaches and sun and sand and vitamin D and what it does for your life?  Apparently not.  So to break myself out of the funk yesterday I decided it's time to start baking again.  I had all the ingredients for this recipe on hand so I went with it.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Here is what you'll need:
2-2/3 cups All Purpose Flour
1 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp salt
1-1/2 sticks butter
1 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup buttermilk

Directions
Firest pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees 
Then whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt and set aside for later

Next in a large mixing bowl (or in your new Kitchen Aid mixer that you got for Christmas!!), beat butter using paddle attachment. Add sugar and beat for a few minutes.

Add your eggs, one at a time while continuing to beat on low, then add vanilla. Add mashed bananas on low as wel.

Mix in the flour and buttermilk alternatively, beginning and ending with the flour.

Fill into cupcake pans about 2/3 full.  It is important to try and make them all the same size, a few of mine turned out a little more brown than I would have liked since they weren't all exactly the same size.  I am in love with this batter filler that my brother and sister-in-law bought me for Christmas.  Next time I will be using it properly! 

Bake the cupcakes for approximately 18-minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  A tooth pick or this cute handy tool!

The cupcakes can be stored in room temperature for up to 2 days!

Recipe yeilds 18 cupcakes.