"Dolphin" Treats

Call it humorous, but these catch their name from the lovely ladies of Phi Sigma which they were made for.  Over the past two years they have learned I bake and if I wasn't a nursing major I would open my own bakery.  It's something on my bucket list.  Here you go, it's an explosion in your mouth, hope you are ready.

These are the perfect combination of sweet and salty!

Ingredients:

1 Pack of Double Stuffed Oreos

Handful of Pretzels

2 Small Rolls of cookie dough

24 oz of Cream Cheese (room temp)

2 Eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

2/3 cup sugar


Directions:

1. In an 8.5x11 pan place tin foil around the bottom and sides.  Place cookie dough on the bottom and bake until cooked.  This will provide a crust for the cheesecake.  I slightly underbaked mine (not a shocker!)

2.  After cookie dough is baked, place a row of full oreos ontop of the cookie crust.

3.  To make the cheesecake, combine cream cheese, eggs, vanilla and sugar.  Beat until creamy.  Pour on top of the oreos. Sprinkle some oreos and pretzels on top for color and added taste:)

4. Bake on 350 for 35-45 minutes.  It will turn slight brown and when it doesn't giggle too much and the top moves as a unit you will know it is done!

5. Set in the fridge to cool completely before serving.  Allow them to sit for 20 minutes to thaw before serving! I placed them in the freezer for a bit too! You can make it up to three days in advance.  Make sure when storing it is sealed tightly!

Serving Tips: I placed mine in cupcake foils because I just love them.  At Michael's craft you can always find the cutest and cheapest ones! TJMaxx always has fun ones for events! Cut with a sharp knife!


ohhhh....here are my lovely sisters too:)

Holiday Cake.

Presentation I feel sells a product, especially food.  That is why for the most part I will go for cupcakes instead of a cake because once you cut a cake, I feel it gets sloppy.  Call me OCD, aha. But this is a cake made over Christmas Break that didn't turn out too shabby.

So this is a Red Velvet Cake with cream cheese icing with chocolate and butterscotch tree molds.  SUPER easy and looks FANTASTIC.  I took it to my family Christmas and it was a hit.  It looks tasty so therefore people want to try it!

I am not a baker who is against using boxed cake mixes.  But I do make a few slight changes.  Instead of water use milk, add an extra egg or two and then instead of oil use butter! The left overs just continued to get better and better the next few days! And it works with any cake mix not just red velvet:)

To make the molds just take chips, melt them and then on parchment paper or wax paper make trees! For those living on a penny, such as my college self here, I can't afford to buy piping bags so I use ziplock baggies for icing or making molds and you can even melt the chips in the bag! Once it is melted, snip off an end and pipe them out!

Oreo Truffle Brownies. A MUST.

Here in Nashville we have the greatest neighbors you could ask for.  We have been wanting to make a sweet treat for them, especially with the Holidays, but couldn't decide! I finally came up with this one, Oreo Truffle Brownies! If you are looking for something delicious to serve a group stop here, seriously.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 1/3 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 pkg. Double Stuffed Oreos
• 4 oz. cream cheese softened, add more as needed
• 10 oz. Dipping Chocolate, I used chocolate almond bark 

Directions: 

1. Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs and blend well. Add vanilla, salt, cocoa and flour. Don’t overbeat. Pour into a greased 9X13 pan. Bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
2. While brownies are cooling, make Oreo truffle layer. Crush Oreos finely in a food processor or by putting them in a ziplock bag and smashing them until finely ground with a rolling pin. When Oreos are finely crushed, using hands (or a spoon, I just think hands are faster), mash softened cream cheese and crushed Oreos until well combined. Start with 4 oz and keep adding until desired consistency is reached. When Brownies have cooled completely, place layer of Oreo truffle on top.
3. Melt dipping chocolate (you can use chocolate chips or other chocolate candy coating) and pour and spread evenly over the top of the Oreo truffle layer. Cover and put in fridge until set.

My suggestion, make them cupcake tins similar to what I did.  When the chocolate on top dries and you attempt to cut it you will crack it but you will also lose some of the Oreo truffle portion of the dessert.  

A Wise Friend.

"What I do know is this: I am as capable of saving myself as a corpse on the bottom of an ocean being eaten by some kind of amoeba. I am as deserving of salvation as a mass murderer. I am as good as dead. It has taken me too long to see that. But, because of Christ, I am alive. I have been given another glimpse of who I am without Christ. I no longer desire to be who I once was. Out of joy of what God has done I want to live a life for God’s glory as Shelby did. No longer do I long to waste my life, but to live it to the glory of God.
So what? There is no such thing as a coincidence. God is chasing after you + will tackle you down with His love. Today is the day of salvation.” -Noel Aker

Check out Noel's blog at http://brotucky.tumblr.com

Reason Why.

Grace.  Grace is a word with huge meaning to me.  I don't think there is one word that makes me feel as overwhelmed but yet so at peace.  My first true encounter with grace was hard.  It's that situation in your life that puts everything into perspective. I experienced what you could say was a life earth quake. It shook hard and torn down a lot with the quake, to say the least.  Am I thankful for the mistakes, no.  Am I thankful for the lessons, without a shadow of a doubt. 

During this time my parents wrote these letters.  Rereading these letters that had been placed in a "relationship memory box" I relived memories, those that are good and horrific but most importantly reflected upon a situation that molded a faith in God that has been a constant rock through the thick and thin of the years between now and then.  I learned that God desires you.  He wants to romance you and thrill you. 

At one point in a letter my dad wrote:

"Now we are on a journey together.  This road is long, winding and has hills and valleys.  There will be times where we cannot see what is up ahead, there will be time where we are uncomfortable and want to quit.  We will have mountain top views that are beautiful and then low places that don't look very appealing.  But we will take this journey and we will find the forgiveness that God offers, the cleansing that he promises and the hope of eternal life in heaven that will motivate us to live a life that honors him."

Inline with tonight, the common line you hear, "forgive and forget" I do believe holds some truth but by looking back on those types of moments you discover tiny miracles.  You see just how present God was through all those scenarios.  You are reminded and can realize that even in the future God will be faithful and He will be there continuously.  He is dependable and will not allow you to walk this life alone. Now I am able to see just a glimpse of the divine plan He has at work in my life which would be a completely different plan if I had not opened my ears to hear or my heart to move. 

I encourage you to take some time to reflect upon those moments that have molded you.  They may be a great moment or they may include those moments you are not too proud of.  Whatever your unique story holds dwell on the ways in which Christ has been making himself present in your life. What are those undeniable moments of grace like in your life?