Food for thought

Taste of Home Magazine's absolute cutest recipes!



PEANUT BUTTER HONEYBEES

TIME: Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 square (1 ounce) semisweet chocolate
1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Directions:
In a small bowl, cream the peanut butter, butter and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Stir in crumbs. Shape a teaspoonful of dough into 1-1/2-in. ovals; place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Place chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave on high for 1 minute or until melted. Let stand for 5 minutes. Transfer melted chocolate to a resealable plastic bag; cut a very small hole in corner in bag. Pipe three stripes on each bee. Insert two almonds into each bee for wings. Use a toothpick to poke holes for eyes. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 4 dozen.


STRAWBERRY GHOSTS

TIME: Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Ingredients:
30 fresh strawberries
8 squares (1 ounce each) white baking chocolate
1 teaspoon shortening
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions: Wash strawberries and gently pat with paper towels until completely dry. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt white chocolate and shortening at 50% power; stir until


SUNFLOWER CAKE

TIME: Prep: 15 min. Bake: 30 min. + cooling

Ingredients:
1 package (18-1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix
2 cans (16 ounces each) chocolate frosting
19 yellow chick Peeps candies
1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two greased and waxed paper-lined 9-in. round baking pans. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely; carefully remove waxed paper. Level tops of cakes. Spread frosting between layers and over the top and sides of cake. Without separating Peeps and curving slightly to fit, arrange chicks around edge of cake for sunflower petals. For sunflower seeds, arrange chocolate chips in center of cake. Yield: 12 servings.

Orange Beach Take 2!

At the last moment, Michael and I both arranged an impromptu getaway to Orange Beach to visit Michael's parents. Mr. & Mrs. Stovall were on a week vacation in Orange Beach with two other families, The Pattersons and the Jones along with their kids. We arrived at 1:30 am Thursday morning and stayed until Saturday. Michael and I had so much fun! We laid out on the beach both days (30% chance of rain and we saw none!). The first night we went to the Oyster House and the outlet mall then the second night we went to The Shrimp Basket and the Track! Of course Greg placed first and Michael second. We also found a place called Daylight Doughnuts that we ate at both mornings! (I am back on my diet starting immediately!) The food was wonderful, the beach was sunny, the ocean crystal clear and the company was outstanding! Michael and I could not have asked for a better quick getaway! I did make it to my 8am conference call on Friday(hopefully brownie points with my new boss for working on my day off!) It was a pretty fantastic trip except the fact that I lost my Rainbow sandals twice (still MIA!)

Double Date!

Friday night was double date night! I was thrilled when we ran into Jeff and Anna Claire the other night and Michael suggested we all go to dinner together and catch up! Anna Claire and I worked at the Huntsville Times together and still regularly have girl's night out. We all met at Connor's Steakhouse at Bridgestreet. It was a lovely night and we could not have had better company! Michael had steak and I had fish but the best part of all was the yummy calamari appetizer!

4th of July

Since we spent the week prior to the 4th of July holiday with my parents in Orange Beach, it was only fair to spend the holiday weekend with Michael's family. We spent the holiday weekend in Killen, AL with all of the Stovall Family. Tiffany and Paul made the trek down from Little Rock and the extended family came from parts of Tennessee. It was so much fun! We played in the sun the whole time.

I made my new favorite holiday cupcakes! Confetti cupcakes with cream cheese icing and handmade flags on top! YUM! I also made a fruit plate with a homemade fruit dip. (both turned out very well!)

Michael and Paul along with the kids played in the pool almost the entire two days!

Paul carried the game, BAGO, which p.s. was sooooo much fun! We had tournaments all throughout the trip home. (I eliminated Mr. Stovall! I'm kinda proud of that!)