Kool Aid Play Dough

Kool aid play dough is a perfect activity for children of all ages. Homemade kool aid play dough will provide hours of fun not only for the kids but for adults too! This year for my little one's preschool class I am wrapping a small amount of play dough and tagging it with the message
"Everyone Kneads a Little Love"
and of course everyone will get the recipe too! If you have never made homemade play dough I highly encourage you to do so! It is such a fun, family activity everyone will enjoy!



Now on to the recipe...
1 cup of flour
1/4 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 package of any flavor/color kool-aid (.14oz)
(I used strawberry in this batch)
1 TBS + 1 1/2 tsp oil
1 cup of water

In a large bowl mix dry ingredients. In a small sauce pan heat oil and water just until simmering. Add water and oil to the dry ingredients. Mix well with a large spoon until a dough mixture is developed.  Once the dough has cooled knead into smooth play dough. Store in airtight container and refrigerate when not in use.

Adding kool aid not only gives the dough color but gives the dough fun scents such as lemon, cherry, strawberry, lime, and orange.

No worries, if your child consumes the play dough it is non-toxic and it shouldn't stain hands! Yay :)

 

Chocolate Raspberry Oatmeal Bread

Hi everyone! Today I am bringing you a delightful Chocolate Raspberry Oatmeal Bread and just in time for Valentine's Day. This bread is a mock of my
Blueberry Oatmeal Bread
with a little addition of cocoa powder, whole wheat flour, and of course raspberries! To make this bread even sweeter you can add chocolate chips to the batter.
This bread is a perfect way to say good morning to your special sweetheart!



Ingredients:
makes 1 moist and delicious loaf

1/2 cup butter (softened)
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup non fat plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup of cocoa powder
1 cup old fashion oats or quick oats
1 1/2 cup raspberries, fresh or frozen

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs and vanilla until creamy.
Next, add cinnamon, baking soda, salt, Greek yogurt, flours, and oats; mix together all ingredients until you have a thick batter. Finally gently fold in your raspberries.
Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan, smooth out top and sprinkle with oats. Bake at 350 F for 65-75 minutes or until done.  Cool 15 minutes, remove from pan, then allow to cool completely.

Enjoy!

Happy Valentine’s Day

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!
I love this holiday because it is all about love and
where would we all be with out True Love.
Today and everyday I am reminded of my one true Love who searched for me and never forsakes me.

I am so thankful for all the Love in my life, my amazing husband (who is in Afghanistan working on base), my wonderful children, and my loving family.
My cup over flows :)

If you missed out on any Valentine fun here
@ Once a Mom Always a Cook
here is a
Valentine Recap

Frozen Hot Chocolate
Perfect for watching your waist line!

Valentine Sugar Cookies
”You are too sweet!”

Brownie Batter Dip
My most popular recipe find yet

I Heart Family Dinners
A memorable night your family will not forget!

Melted Crayon Hearts
"You Melt My Heart”

Hope your day is filled with Love!
Happy Valentine’s Day

Frozen Hot Chocolate

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Original Source

Serendipity is a NYC ice cream parlor that's famous for its over-the-top Frozen Hot Chocolate. When I get a chance to visit New York this is one place I want to be with my love!

Guess what?!
I found a recipe that will take you to NYC with your love right in the comfort of your home! This recipe is from Joy Bauer, click here for the original source. If you are looking for yummy healthy recipes she has a huge variety to choose from. Everything I have tried is always full of flavor, low calorie, and a big hit with my family!

Another surprise…without the whip cream it has only
150 calories per serving!
Perfect if you are watching your waist line this Valentine’s Day!

Makes 4 Servings

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup chocolate syrup
1 cup milk, evaporated, fat-free
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups ice cubes

PREPARATION

1. Combine chocolate syrup, evaporated milk, vanilla, and ice in a blender and blend until smooth

2. Pour into glasses, and garnish with a dollop of whipped topping or a sprinkling of chocolate shavings if desired.

Variations:
Mexican Hot Chocolate: Add ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate: Substitute ¼ teaspoon mint extract or 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract for the vanilla extract.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Valentine Sugar Cookies

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This was my first time making roll out sugar cookies!
I am such a drop by the spoonful kinda girl!
When I was looking for a recipe I went to the one and only Sweetopia! 
If you have never stopped by to visit this blog, hop over there right now! Marian’s blog/website is packed full of how to tutorials.
I did not attempt royal icing, but it is on my to-do-list.

For icing I used my whipped topping recipe, find the recipe below!

Click here for the Sugar Cookie Recipe.

I halved the cookie recipe and it made
approximately 20 heart shaped cookies
for the size of cookie cutter I was using.

How to make…

I use whipped cream often in the place of icing. YUM YUM!

Ingredients

2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup of powder sugar sifted
Wilton’s pink icing color
(add a little at a time to reach desired shade)

Chill your mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for about 10 minutes. Then in a large metal bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks are just about to form. Beat in vanilla and sugar until peaks form. Enjoy on top of cupcakes, cookies, or heart shaped pancakes. The possibilities are endless!

After topping your heart cookies with whipped topping add pretty and festive sprinkles and enjoy!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Brownie Batter Dip

Original Recipe Found Here

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I found this amazingly, addictive Brownie Batter Dip recently at
Raising 4 Princesses 
and had to give it a try!
Wow, it is a keeper!!! It will have your taste buds dancing :)
This dip is a perfect addition to your sweet Valentine’s Day Party!
This has already been made twice in my kitchen.
I have been putting it in my kiddos lunch and pairing it with fresh strawberries and Graham Crackers!

Ingredients:

1 (8 ounce) 1/3 less fat cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup butter (room temp)
2 cups powdered sugar
5 TBS flour
5 TBS cocoa powder
2-3 TBS milk (add more if needed)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

 cream together cream cheese and butter

 alternate adding powdered sugar and milk

 mix in remaining ingredients until smooth and tempting

 add more powdered sugar or milk to reach desired consistency

Enjoy!
Happy Valentine’s Day :)
Thank you for stopping by!
-Audra

{I Heart Family Dinners}

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 Hello All! I hope you are enjoying the  14 days of Love

A big thank you to Ashley from Cherished Bliss
for hosting this fun series!

I am so honored to be a part of this series with
some pretty amazing ladies.

Let’s get started…

What I love most about family dinners is the laughter that is sparked from the crazy conversations that the kids bring to the table. I love making each holiday memorable, so
today I have prepared a Valentine Family Dinner that is sure to make everyone feel the love in the air!
The inspiration for this dinner is the most popular
Valentine’s Day fruit…

Strawberries have a good source of Folate and Potassium, and a
very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C and Manganese.

Who’s hungry ?

Appetizer-
Strawberry Salad Tossed with Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Topped with Toasted Pecans

How to make…Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing:

This recipe has been moved to cherishedbliss.com, click here for the recipe!

Main Course:
Personal Heart Shaped Pizzas topped with
Heart Shaped Pepperoni

Click here for The best bread machine pizza dough and the most amazing pizza sauce recipe.
If you do not have a bread machine check out this five star pizza dough recipe.
To make personal pizza just divide the dough to your desired size!

To shape your pizza in to a heart all you need is a pizza cutter and your imagination of a heart!
It’s ok if you mess up just roll the dough out and try again!
I always keep my pizza dough on foil until the last 5 min. of cooking, then I remove the foil and allow the crust to become crispy!

To shape your pepperoni into a heart all you need is scissors! Fold your pepperoni in half and shape into a heart!
(I use Turkey Pepperoni)

Now this is what everyone has been waiting for…

Dessert:
Chocolate Covered Strawberry
Cheesecake Bites

How to make
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake Bites:

First wash and core 24 strawberries.

Then dip strawberries in melted chocolate.
(I recommend Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips)
Allow the chocolate to harden in the fridge.

While the chocolate is setting you are ready to make the…
Cream Cheese Filling
8 oz (1/3 less fat) Cream Cheese (softened)
1/2 cup Powder Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla

In a mixing bowl combine all ingredients. Set bowl aside, then make the…

Graham Cracker Crumble1/4 cup of Crushed Graham Crackers
1 TBS melted butter
1/2 tsp sugar

Mix all ingredients and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 250 until toasty (5-10min)

Next, fill a piping bag with the cream cheese mixture and pipe the cream cheese in the chocolate covered cored strawberries! Sprinkle the Graham Cracker Crumbles
on the top of the strawberries.
Now you have an amazing dessert that is like heaven in your mouth!
Remember- It’s just a Strawberry [

If you missed  Michelle’s adorable Lil' {Mustached} Men Valentines Holder @ Our Wonderfilled Life yesterday , don't forget to check them out! 
Then don't forget to come back tomorrow for Southern Lovely
in the
Trail of Love

Happy Valentine's Day

There will be a huge GIVEAWAY
as we end our love trail on the 7th!
Follow along to see what the prizes are, and make sure to stop by, and take a look at all these fabulous shops, because ONE lucky person will win it ALL! That’s right, all of it! Just a little hint, you might want to start liking them all on facebook ; ) It might just come in handy down the trail!

This event is sponsored by…

   

   

  

Melted Crayon Hearts

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This project is so much fun for the kids. I highly encourage you to allow your kiddos to experience the process of making these fun Valentine Crayons.

I have been wanting to do this project with my family for quite some time now.
I have finally allowed enough time to complete this exciting Valentine!
We had a huge bucket of used crayons waiting to be transformed into
creative, family fun!

Fist step:

Peeling off the crayon paper is time consuming! In this process your kids will be a big help. Even my four year old helped! I set a big bucket of used crayons in the middle of the table and an empty tub for the peeled crayons. I left it there for a few days, so when we had down time we would peel off the paper. 

It was also a great conversation starter for all of the family.

* I did not use any brown or black crayons.
If you want a more softer look use less blues and purples.

Second Step:

Place cut Crayons in a heart shaped silicon pan and bake @ 250 degrees for 10-15 min.

Allow the melted crayons to completely cool before removing from pan. The top of the heart will look different than the bottom. Be patient for the heart crayon to dry because 
this mosaic look is at the bottom :)

After cooling you will have an awesome Heart Crayon Valentine! 

These cute Valentine's are going to my little man’s preschool class!

x

The Trail of Love Starts Today...Come Follow Along

The Trail of Love starts today!

Start making your way down the trail of love with the first blogger, Desiree, over at
The 36th Avenue! 

….and just keep going! 

And don't for get the huge GIVEAWAY at the end of the love trail on the 7th! 

Follow

 my amazing sister, Ashley @ Cherished Bliss

 to see what the prizes are, and make sure to stop by, and take a look at all these fabulous shops, because ONE lucky person will win it ALL! That’s right, all of it! Just a little hint, you might want to start liking them all on facebook ; ) It might just come in handy down the trail!

 

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

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Now this is what everyone has been waiting for…

Chocolate Covered Strawberry
Cheesecake Bites

How to make
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake Bites:

First wash and core 24 strawberries.

r
Then dip strawberries in melted chocolate.
(I recommend Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips)
Allow the chocolate to harden in the fridge.

While the chocolate is setting you are ready to make the…
Cream Cheese Filling
8 oz (1/3 less fat) Cream Cheese (softened)
1/2 cup Powder Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla

In a mixing bowl combine all ingredients. Set bowl aside, then make the…

Graham Cracker Crumble
1/4 cup of Crushed Graham Crackers
1 TBS melted butter
1/2 tsp sugar

Mix all ingredients and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 250 until toasty!

Next, fill a piping bag with the cream cheese mixture and pipe the cream cheese in the chocolate covered cored strawberries!

Sprinkle the Graham Cracker Crumbles
on the top of the strawberries.
Now you have an amazing dessert that is like heaven in your mouth!
Remember- It’s just a Strawberry

Happy Valentine’s Day

 

Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

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This recipe has been moved to cherishedbliss.com, click here for the recipe!