Cake Pops!

My friend, Stephanie, made cake pops last week and they were de-lish.  She was kind enough to share the process with me so I thought I would share it too--it could be a fun weekend baking project! 

Bake a regular cake. 


Let it cool.

Add frosting. ¾ of a regular sized tub.

Mix.

Roll into balls.

Freeze balls for about 15-30 minutes, depending on how cool your freezer is. Or you can put in the fridge overnight.



Buy chocolate candy chips from Michaels or Joann’s…they come in all sorts of fun colors. They have coupons

Melt chocolate – directions are on the bag.

You really want the chocolate to be the right consistency, or else you’ll have a hard time dipping the cake pops. If you need a thinner consistency, add a little bit of vegetable oil. The candy chips cool fast, so you may have to reheat.



Dip cake pop stick into chocolate, then put on cake ball.

Dip cake pop in chocolate. You may have to spoon some of the chocolate onto the cake pop.

Once chocolate has covered the cake pop, tap the pop on the side of the bowl to get off excess chocolate.

Add sprinkles or whatever you want (crumbled cookies would be good too….)



To cool, place in a colander or buy a piece of Styrofoam. You may have to put them in the fridge to cool, but they cool pretty fast.

SOUNDS FUN & RELATIVELY EASY - HAVE YOU EVER MADE CAKE POPS?



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CONTEST

Stop by my other blog to find out how you can win a lovely Thymes candle in Verbena Bamboo!

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An Easy Post

I haven't blogged in AGES!  This is an easy one to get me back on track.  I got it from my friend, Emily at Lacey Maybelle--she is fantastic - check out her blog.   I promise to do a more structured update, but for now....here ya' go!

1. What is your occupation? Receptionist at the corporate office of a well-known bath & body co.


2. What are you wearing right now? Jeans, flip flops and a white top from Nordstrom over a pink tank top—I went very casual today.

3. What are you listening to right now? KDWB

4. What was the last thing you ate? A candy bar—bad me!

5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes, and it is my preference!

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? One of the purple shades

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? A customer

8. How old are you today? Legal

9. Favorite drink? Coffee and white wine

10. What is your favorite sport to watch? Football

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? Highlights

12. Favorite reality TV show? Real Housewives but only Bev Hills, Orange County and New York—the others are annoying!

13. What was the last movie you watched? Planet of the Apes

14. Favorite day of the year? My birthday!

15. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbies and stuffed animals and model horses

16. What is your favorite, fall or spring? Fall (my birthday)

17. Hugs or kisses? Depends from who!

18. Cherries or blueberries? Cherries

19. Favorite dessert? Can’t go wrong with carrot cake or cherry pie

20. Living arrangement? Married with pets

21. What is on the floor of your closet? More like what isn’t on my floor! Shoes, clothes, handbags—yikes!

22. What did you do last night? Went for a walk, did the elliptical, played Words With Friends & read a book before falling asleep.

23. What are you afraid of? Mice! Eek!

24. Plain, cheese, or spicy burgers? None! I am a vegetarian. I don’t even like veggie burgers because of the texture.

25. Favorite breed of dog? Pugs, Shih Tzus, Cairn terriers

26. Favorite day of the week? Saturday

27. How many states have you lived in? 3 – Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin

28. Celebrity crush? Johnny Depp forever

29. Ever driven a motorcycle or heavy machinery? Shockingly yes

30. Who is your favorite NFL team? I like the Seattle Seahawks

31. Do you have a house phone that is not cordless? No, this isn’t 1990! :-)

32. 10 inches of snow or 100 degree weather? I die in hot weather. 10 inches of snow is nothing!

33. What sports did/do you play? Tennis

34. Married? Yes!

35. If not, dating anyone? Not this week!

36. If so, what is your favorite thing about him? He puts up with my nuttiness.

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Things That Make Me Happy

I have a running list of things that make me happy.  One of them is this!  A real life Barbie car. 

I very rarely ever see a pink VW Bug in Minnesota-Wisconsin, really only ever in Southern California but I saw one last night on the way home.

Cute!

Adorbs!

Happy Friday!


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Randomosity

Not sure that is really a word, but if it isn't, I don't care--then I just made it up!  Today is Wednesday, July 13th, which means my birthday is exactly three months away and also the number 13 is lucky for me so I mailed in my raffle entry today to win a 2012 Porsche.  Even if I don't win (but, I AM GOING TO WIN) the $100 goes to the lung cancer foundation.  Also, I have always thought Wednesdays were my lucky day and they are doing the drawing on October 16 and October is my lucky month.

I wrote about this on Facebook and one of my friends insisted that there is no such thing as luck.  To which I replied adamantly that I am a big believer in luck.  How about you?   Do you believe in luck?

In other news, I just finished Candace Bushnell's latest book in the Carrie Diaries series (a prequel to Sex and the City), Summer And The City.   It was wonderful; I loved it.  I just love how Candace Bushnell writes--she inspires me. 

You can follow her on Facebook and she is having a promotional contest called What Would Candace Do where you can ask her a question regarding fashion, relationships, lifestyle, etc., and each week she chooses the 2 or 3 most interesting to answer.  At the end of the summer she is going to choose her favorite question out of all of them and the person who asked that question receives autographed copies of the Carrie Diaries and Summer and the City, and an autographed I Love New York t-shirt.  How cool would that be?  I am still trying to think of a really good question.

Tell me in the comments if you believe in luck and/or if you have read either the Carrie Diaries or Summer and the City.  Or if you have ever won a raffle for that matter!

Happy July 13th!!!

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Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

Wishing everyone a very Happy & Safe 4th of July weekend!  

Be sure to stop by other blogs (links below!) for some pictures of Mackinac Island and some shopping on Mackinac.  

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Ten on Tuesday On A Wednesday Because I Am Late Like That

Today's 10 on Tuesday are inspired by Amber at A Little Pink in The Cornfields, of course! 

1. What’s the recipe for your favorite drink? (Smoothie, alcoholic, coffee, whatever.)


I can’t think of any drink recipes right off the top of my head unless it would be a mimosa (orange juice & champagne, easy peasy) otherwise I take my coffee black, my water with lemon, and my iced tea with lemonade (good old Arnie Palmer!). In a related matter, I really want to try the strawberry frozen lemonade at McDonalds, but I am sure it has a gazillion calories.

2. What kind of razor do you use?

A few Christmases ago I received an electric razor as a gift and I really wanted it, but guess what—like many gadgets that you think you have to have (think Roomba!) I never use it. I like my cheap old disposable razors in the popsicle colors.

3. Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?

I don’t have a favorite Sesame Street character, honestly. Maybe cookie monster??!! I like cookies!



4. What makes the perfect salad? (Lettuce type, toppings, dressing, etc.)

I am a vegetarian who doesn’t really like lettuce all that much - the best salads have pasta! And chick peas. And blue cheese.

5. What was your favorite subject in school?

English, art and history – I hated anything to do with math and science and was not a fan of gym class.

6. What’s your favorite summer tradition?

Going to Mackinac Island, S’mores, patio dining at my favorite restaurants, fireworks, brunch cruises on Lake Minnetonka – summer when the living is easy!

7. Do you suffer from seasonal allergies? How do you combat them?

I never had allergies until I hit my 30s and now I think I am allergic to cats, lilies, my dog, wine and dust! So I wouldn’t say they are seasonal but rather situational! The only thing that really helps is Benadryl and I hate how it makes me feel—all tired and dopey.

8. How often do you have to charge your cell phone?

Constantly. I think Words with Friends is really a drain on my iPhone. I charge it in my car(s) when I am driving and a few times a week I try to remember to hook it up to my Mac and get a really good charge. And I try to remember to turn it off at bedtime.  BTW, if you play Words With Friends, find me at Leslialison.

9. Do you have a bucket list?

Not officially, just a vague notion of things in my head. I should make a list. Lists are good!

10. Do you have any desire to go back to school?


Yes and no. I always say I want to finish getting my degree in interior design, but no because I don’t want any more student loans. It was such a relief to pay them off.

THE END




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When Did I Become 92 Years Old?!

This is what I look like lately!  (I realize the girl above is not 92 years old!  The picture is a perfect example of my position lately and I just FEEL like I am 92 years old.  )  

When it comes to exercise, I am not that extreme--I do like to exercise about 40 minutes a day--but light exercise like walking and the elliptical and casually pedaling my bicycle around the neighorhood is my speed.  I don't like anything like heavy weight lifting or running.  I figure I do just enough to stay in shape and be able to indulge in the occasional French Toast. 

But lately my back has been killing me, not all the time but sporadically.  It really started to hurt this weekend when I was out shopping, heaven forbid!   Whereas last weekend I went horseback riding for an hour and rode my bicycle for 16 miles and walked all over Mackinac Island and nothing--no pain, I felt fine.  But try to run around Costco and Target and the grocery store and owwwwwwwwww.

Eric finally got fed up with me and bought me a pair of ATHLETIC shoes because he doesn't like how I run around in flip flops and heels and I even work out that way--well, not heels on the elliptical but I have been known to go for a walk in them!  It is his opinion that I am not giving my back enough support in my choice of footwear.

So anyhow I now own some white trainers with light blue trim.  And we will see if it helps.  My massage person says I need to stretch before and after exercising.  So I am trying to remember to do that.  Or it will be aspirin and a heating pad for me! 

Anyone have any back ache stories or home remedies to share?  Thank you in advance!

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A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

 I really, really have to get better at updating this thing or I will lose my readers.  You know, all 3 or 4 of you at this point in time!  It has been a hectic month of June so far.  The month started off with me getting waylaid by either food poisoning or a stomach bug--I am still not sure which it was but let's just say I have been avoiding sushi and Greek salad with feta cheese for the past two weeks! 

I had just recovered when Eric's parents arrived for a visit from New Hampshire.  We did a lot of entertaining and eating and drinking and then I think I broke my baby toe or severely bruised it (something about peanut shells and a Twins baseball game and a veggie dog and a hard metal seat--I will spare you the details--just know my toe looks like a Vienna sausage and it sort of limits my choice of footwear). 

Anyhow we went to the casino and to a Twins game and out to eat at Joe's Garage and Pier 500 and did a lovely brunch cruise down the St. Croix River.  It was a lot of eating & drinking and I only worked out one night the entire time they were here so am feeling fat.  Have to get back in the groove!  I did work out last night but I had to do the elliptical in flip flops because of my toe.  I wore a really cushiony pair so that was nice but I kind of felt like I didn't have much traction.  It has rained the past two nights but I am hopeful I can do a walk tonight. 

So they left on Tuesday morning and now this weekend Eric and I are taking off for a lovely trip to Mackinac Island, Michigan--one of my favorite road trip destinations!   It is all about bicycles and fudge and relaxing and unplugging.  This time I also bought us tickets for a ghost tour of some haunted places around the island and I am also hoping that we can go horseback riding.  You can rent a horse for $40 per hour.

So I am all excited about that!   And that is what has been going on with me in a nutshell.  I will put up some new pictures over at Daisy Chloe.

Happy Weekend Eve!



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Happy Memorial Weekend!

This is a little bit of a belated post, but I hope everyone had a lovely extended weekend!  Shockingly, I went into the weekend with no plans to speak of and no travel plans, but I still ended up doing something fun every day.

Saturday I waffled between driving to Iowa to take my mom out for lunch or driving an hour north to the outlet mall in Albertville.  The outlet mall won out; sorry, Mom!   Eric and I had lunch at Boston's Gourmet Pizza in Maple Grove (wine and cranberry pecan salad for me) and then we hit Nordstrom Rack where I scored a cute pair of flip flops and some Pink Sugar perfume at half price!  Half price I tell you!   Last week, I paid full price at the regular Nordstrom, so from now on I think I need to check Nordstrom Rack although I am not sure that they always carry Pink Sugar. 

Then we proceeded on to the outlet mall where Eric bought me a really cute black skirt embellished at the hem with a black & white polka dot flower.  It is really cute!  Then we did some boring guy shopping at the Levi Store and the Nike Store  - yawn!!  :-) 

At Bath and Body Works I found a couple of very adorable car air fresheners shaped like turtles. I got a yellow one for Buttercup and a purple one for Daisy. The yellow is a peach bellini fragrance and the purple one is coconut.   Also some strawberry anti-bacterial soap, small enough for my purse, and then a bottle of Coconut shower gel. 



I also got a couple of peanut butter oatmeal cookies at Mrs. Fields.  It was a successful outlet mall shopping day!

Sunday, Eric had golf so I met my friend Sara at Starbucks at the Galleria in Edina and we talked FOREVER.  I had Tazo Tea Lemonade in Passion Fruit.  2 of them.  It was good to catch up with Sara.

Then Monday I went to see "Bridesmaids" with my friend, Donna and her younger sister, Megan.  We saw it at the West End in St. Louis Park where we had VIP seating.  I had white wine and chips and onion dip.  The movie was really pretty funny, made more so by the two glasses of wine, I think.   I highly recommend seeing all movies at the West End in VIP!

I also planted some things to remember two of my best friends who are no longer with me.  I like to do this every Memorial Day to remember my dad and my cat, Chloe.  This year I planted an orange geranium in memory of my dad and for Chloe, catnip, of course!

So that's it for my weekend--it was lovely.  Now back at the office on a Tuesday, but it seems like a Monday, but thank goodness it is not! 

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My Summer Reading List

Summer is upon us and it has come to my attention that there are a couple of classics that I have never read.  It is shocking, I know!  The first one is To Kill A Mockingbird.

I started to read this book when I was younger because growing up it was in our house, but then I didn't. Now I am going to!

The second book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

I recently uploaded this book to my Nook Color and now I am determined to read it.

I can't believe I let these classics pass me by.  Have you read one or both?  Did you enjoy them?  Comment please!!


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Good Old-Fashioned Midwest Salads

I stopped by my pal, Margaret's wonderful blog and I saw her recipe for Strawberry Salad.  I hope she doesn't mind if I share it here with you!  It got me to thinking about "salads" in the Midwest and the particular kind that we make with Cool Whip and cream cheese and Jell-o.  I think those types of dessert-y  salads could be particularly indigenous to the Midwest.  I have lived in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin my whole life and I think so!

Here is Margaret's recipe:

STRAWBERRY SALAD

8oz cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar

20oz can crushed pineapple, very well drained
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup nuts - I used pecans
10oz frozen strawberries, thawed
Cool Whip - about 2 cups

Cream sugar and cream cheese.  Add pineapple, bananas, and berries.  Stir in nuts.  Fold in Cool Whip.  Freeze in a 9x9 pan.  Remove from the freezer 20-30 minutes before servings. 



And then I was also reminded of a salad that I like to make called Snickers Salad or Caramel Apple Salad

SNICKERS SALAD

For that you will need

One package of instant vanilla pudding
8 ounces of Cool Whip
6 Snickers candy bars
6-8 green apples

Follow the directions to make the vanilla pudding and then add the Cool Whip and blend.  Core (obviously!) and chop up the apples, and also cut the Snickers into bite size pieces and blend into the pudding mixture. 

Voila!  Salad!

Do you have any recipes for your region?  Share with this Midwestern girl!











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