Peanut Butter Cup Fudge

Once a month the girls in my family get together for Dessert Night. I love catching up with everyone and having that time with family. Eating treats all evening long isn't too bad either. 

I made these yummy treats the other night and we all loved them. So easy and so good!

Peanut Butter Cup Fudge

22 regular size peanut butter cups

3 cups milk chocolate chips

1 (14 oz) can Sweetened Condensed Milk

Line an 8x8 inch pan with foil and spray foil with cooking spray. Unwrap and place 16 of the peanut butter cups in the pan. In a saucepan, combing chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk.Cook over medium heat and stir until melted and combined well. Pour over peanut butter cups and spread around to even it out. Cut up the remaining peanut butter cups and press into the melted chocolate mixture. Let sit at room temperature until the fudge cools a little bit and then transfer to the fridge to harden and cool completely. 

Makes about 24 pieces-depending on how big or small you cut the pieces. 

Source: Six Sisters Stuff

Mommy Guilt

This little blog of mine has given me some grief the past couple of months. After my last baby was born, I had a hard time getting back into blogging. I just didn't have the same excitement for it like I used to. Then last October, I felt really strongly that I needed to start doing it again and use this blog not only for recipes, but for sharing other things that I love-the gospel, family traditions, motherhood, etc. I was all ready to make this blog a big deal and then after a few weeks I kind of lost the momentum. I didn't think anyone even looked at this blog, so why was I going to spend my time posting things if no one even saw them?

Recently, I have been getting that feeling to start blogging again. I keep putting that feeling off. There have been so many articles circulating Facebook lately about moms and the different kind of moms out there.  I have had a hard time as I have read all of these articles because I don't understand why we have to treat ourselves so harshly as mothers. We are not all the same. We are not supposed to be the same. Why are we complaining about the holiday moms, or party moms, or whatever moms, just because we are not that mom? We need to support each other as moms, not rip each other apart.  

I am an Over-the-Top mom. And I love that that is who I am. I like big birthday parties (while the kids are little), I like to make my food green for St. Patrick's Day. I love that my kids like to have earth pancakes on Earth Day and that we eat red, white and blue pasta on Flag Day. Not all moms are like me though, and that is ok! But that also doesn't mean I am doing anything wrong because my way of celebrating or decorating or playing with my kids is different than yours. I don't blog or post things that I do on social media to be "in your face" with our activities or traditions. I post things for my kids and I post things for others who might find them beneficial. I love jumping online and finding someones cute idea that I can incorporate into our family fun without having to come up with it myself. That's one reason I love social media. 

I guess my point with all of this is, I didn't want to blog anymore because I am tired of feeling like I should feel guilty for being the mom that I am. But, I have tossed that nonsense out the window and I am going to start up this old blog again. For myself, and for others who find my recipes and ideas enjoyable and helpful.  

Celebrate the mother that you are. Celebrate the mothers around you. Don't feel guilty because your talents and skills are different from others. That's the way it is meant to be. Stop competing with everyone else and focus on your own family and their needs. And don't apologize or feel guilty for who you are as a woman and mother. You are exactly who you were meant to be!!

Resolutions

Every new year I usually write a long list of things I want to accomplish that year or things I want to improve on. The list usually gets tucked away in my journal and forgotten about after January. This year I wanted to try something different. Lately I have been focusing a lot on my issue of comparison. I have a real problem with comparing myself to other people. I think as women, we tend to do that naturally, but with the help of social media, my problem has gotten worse instead of better. I often feel like I am not pretty enough, my body isn't skinny enough, I'm not spiritual enough, my blogs aren't good enough, we will never have enough money, I'm not talented enough, my house isn't decorated cute enough, blah, blah, blah, so on and so forth. 

As I have thought about this demon in my life, I decided what I really wanted to work on in 2014 was learning to be content. Yes, my life might not be as good as someone else's, but it is my life and the only way for me to be truly happy with it, is to learn to love it just the way it is. I heard a quote about comparisons yesterday and I loved it! Someone said, "Does it inspire you or expire you?" What a perfect way to stay in check when comparing myself to others. I don't think comparing myself has ever left me feeling better. Therefore, when I start to do it, I am hoping to remind myself, "Will this inspire me or expire me?"

As a wife and mother of young kids, I never want to look back on these precious years and feel like I wasted so much of my time and energy not feeling good enough. I have a husband and kids who love me just the way that I am. We may not have a fancy house, or even a house of our own yet, and we may not be able to afford vacations or even afford to go out to dinner very often, but we spend so much time making wonderful memories and starting fun traditions. Those are the things that I want to look back on and remember the most. 

I have two quotes that are helping me with my resolution to be content. They are hanging in my kitchen where I can see them often and they have been good reminders to me so far this year. 

"The secret of being happy is accepting where you are in life and making the most out of everyday."

"Happiness is the result of favorable circumstances. Joy is the outpouring of a contented heart."

This year will bring some big changes for my little family, and my goal is that through it all, I remain content and focus on the blessings that I have and the person the Lord is trying to teach my to become. 

Mickey Mouse Birthday Party

My baby turned 2 last weekend and we celebrated Mickey Mouse style! Everything turned out really cute and we had a lot of fun with the Mickey Mouse theme. If you would like ideas or instructions on any of my party ideas, leave a comment and I will be happy to help you.

Reindeer Doughnuts

One of our family traditions during Christmas time is to have doughnuts and hot chocolate while we decorate our Christmas tree. A few weeks ago I was trying to think of a way to get a little more creative with this tradition and I came up with this idea. I loved how they turned out and my kids were so excited when they saw the finished product.

These are super fast and easy to make! I used glazed doughnuts, stuck some pretzels in for antlers and used a dot of white frosting for the eyes. I put a chocolate chip over the frosting and then covered doughnut holes in red candy coating for the noses. (The more candy coating you allow to drip off, the smoother your nose will be.) Once you have covered your doughnut hole with the candy coating, slide it onto the doughnuts and allow them to set for about 10-20 minutes, or until the candy coating is set. Super easy and super festive!!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

I could go on and on about this bread, but I will just say this-this bread will rock your world! I love, love, love it!!!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

3 1/3 cups flour
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tbsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup butter, softened
4 eggs
1 large can (30 oz) pumpkin puree
2/3 cup water
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease 3 large loaf pans. In a large bowl, sift together flour, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until well blended. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. After eggs, add pumpkin and mix to combine. Alternate adding dry ingredients and water to pumpkin mixture. Fold in chocolate chips. Divide evenly between 3 large loaf pans. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.


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Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodle Cookies

Yesterday I played around with some recipes and came up with this little treat. I wanted to make something familiar, but with a twist. I added a few new ingredients to my favorite snickerdoodle recipe (courtesy of Great Grandma Wanlass) and I am pleased with the final product. This will be a keeper at our house for this time of year!

Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodle Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2-3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. In another bowl, sift flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, 2 1/2-3 tsp of pumpkin pie spice and nutmeg. Combine dry ingredients with the butter mixture and mix well until combined. Add white chocolate chips and combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 and grease baking sheets. Roll chilled dough into 1 inch balls. Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 3 tsp cinnamon, and 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice in a shallow bowl or pie tin. Roll balls of dough into cinnamon/sugar mixture before placing onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes.

Makes about 5 dozen