Goodbye Cheatherwichita

I started a new blog today and I have decided to retire this one (not that it was much of a blog to begin with, I know). Charles never actually contributed anything and we're no longer in Wichita, so it seemed like a good time for a change. I hope that you enjoy my new blog - http://daisiesanddamask.wordpress.com.

Christmas baking!

Here's an update with all of my Christmas treats for this year - peanut butter fudge, white chocolate covered pretzels, red velvet cheesecake cookies and toffee cookies. I have to say, all the recipes were new (other than the pretzels, of course) and they all turned out really well. The red velvet cookies were especially popular, so they may have to become a Christmas tradition.

I'm trying a few new recipes this Christmas and I made these Red Velvet Cheesecake cookies today. And, I have to say that I'm a big fan. They look good and taste even better. The cheesecake center gives the cake-like cookies the perfect touch of gooey-ness. I found them on Pinterest and here is the direct link to the recipe - http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/red-velvet-cheesecake-cookies/. I made medium-sized cookies and the recipe made about 20 cookies.

I heart iPhoto and decorating for Christmas!

Here are a few pictures of our Christmas decorations. It is definitely a challenge to go from a house back to an apartment, but we made it work. The pictures looked a little bland, so I played with iPhoto editing to make them a little more interesting. :)

This yarn wreath was my first attempt at a project discovered on Pinterest... now I just need to do one in Christmas colors!

Peanut Butter Pie Recipe

By request, here is my no-bake peanut butter pie recipe. It's really simple, but always turns out delicious. I've also made it with a chocolate cookie or chocolate graham cracker crust, but I prefer the regular graham cracker crust. Enjoy!

Graham Cracker Crust:
1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
⅓ cup sugar
6 tbsp butter or margarine, melted

1 tsp cinnamon

6-8 Peanut butter cups, chopped

Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, butter and cinnamon; press into a 9 inch pie plate. Bake at 375 degrees for 7 minutes. While crust is cooling, add a thin layer of chopped peanut butter cups on top of the crust.

Filling:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups Cool Whip
Peanut butter cups, if desired

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, butter and vanilla until smooth. Fold Cool Whip into peanut butter mixture. Spoon filling into cooled crust. Garnish pie with peanut butter cups, if desired. Refrigerate.

Happy Halloween!

No, I'm not suddenly a huge UT fan, but Charles liked this costume and I think she does look pretty cute as a cheerleader! :)

Some of the Halloween decorations that have been up in the apartment this month...

...And, for today only, my over-the-top Halloween centerpiece.

Autumn in Dallas

Although I won't be taking Halloween treats to work this year, I decided to go ahead and try something new. These are Orange Spice cupcakes... they didn't turn out looking exactly like I hoped, but at least they taste good.

I received a complaint the other day about my lack of blog entries, but let's face it - I'm just not a blogger. However, I will go ahead and share a few things. As anyone reading this knows, Charles and I moved to Dallas. Charles is working at a new law firm and I haven't found a job yet, so I have a bit of free time right now. Since moving to Dallas in the beginning of September, I have been to a Rangers game, a Cowboys game, a Taylor Swift concert, the Fort Worth Zoo, theTexas State Fair, a production of West Side Story and a Sleeperstar concert (a Dallas band that just signed a record deal, so you may actually hear about them one of these days).

Here is a couple pics of the Taylor Swift concert... but, I really didn't get any decent pictures, so you're just seeing a picture of the screen.

Stay tuned for pictures of Sophie in her 2011 Halloween costume! :) In the meantime, here's a recent picture of Sophie.

Brandon's Graduation

Brandon's graduation on May 21st...

Since Brandon got a new (to him) Mustang for graduation, I made Mustang cookies for his Open House.