My Luv Day greeting...let me show you it.

Love Day

So I made some Valentines cards this year. :)
I'm working on the crafty side of life..

Super Bowl!!

This is to fun not to share!



Ultimate Super Bowl snack stadium

That is one way to pig out while watching the big game.

And who are you rooting for?



I'm not sure on my end.
Steeler-nation, baby! I love Pittsburgh, but I do like the Cardinals and their fairy tale season that they have had. It is a win-win for me.

Mmm, cookies!!

I recently got hooked on the Hannah Swensen mystery series by Joanne Fluke. The books are fun and there are plenty of YUMMY recipes, mostly cookies, peppered throughout the book. I bought the Christmas book back in the winter time, admittedly for the Laura Levine short novel in there, but became a big fan of Joanne Fluke.

This book contains a recipe for Lemon Whippersnapper cookies. Admittedly I didn't bake them, but if Mike can handle them...they have to be easy. :)


Lemon Whippersnappers – from Candy Cane Murder by Joanna Fluke

Oven – 350 with racks in middle

1 package (approximately 18 oz) lemon cake mix (the size you can bake in a 9 by 13 inch pan

2 cups Cool Whip – measure this

1 large beaten egg

½ c powdered sugar – don’t have to sift unless it’s got big lumps

Combine cake mix, cool whip and egg. Stir until well mixed.

Drop by teaspoons into powdered sugar and roll to coat

Place on greased cookie sheet – 12 per sheet.

Bake at 350 for 10 min. Let them cool on cookie sheets for 2 min. then move to wire rack to cool completely.

Yield : approximately 4 dozen

Can use different flavored cake mixes for different flavored Whippersnappers

Zuppa Toscana soup

This is the soup that they serve at Olive Garden. I made it last week and it turned out delish.

OLIVE GARDEN ZUPPA TOSCANA

1 lb ground Italian sausage
1 1/2 tsp crushed red peppers
1 large diced white onion
4 tbsp bacon pieces
2 tsp garlic puree
10 cups water
5 cubes of chicken bouillon
1 cup heavy cream
1 lb sliced russet potatoes, or about 3 large potatoes
1/4 of a bunch of kale

Saute Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in pot. Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients. In the same pan, saute bacon, onions and garlic for approximately 15 minutes. or until the onions are soft. Mix together the chicken bouillon and water, then add it to the onions, bacon and garlic. Cook until boiling Add potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour. Add heavy cream and cook until thoroughly heated. Stir in the sausage. Add kale just before serving. Delicious!

**I did see that you could add cauliflower instead of potatoes if you want to do it South Beach/Atkins diet style, which I am sure would be just as good.**

We ate it with french bread and it was filling. It made A LOT. Probably 14 bowls worth. If you don't want it to be really spicy, be sure to use the mild sausage. And you can cut back on the red pepper as well. I think that it actually tasted better on the 2nd day.

Enjoy!! :)

(And be careful you don't burn your hand on the oven in the process of cooking. Pffft! I have an ugly mark on my hand.)