Happy Birthday, Bailey!

Ok, I'm a dork. I've learned to embrace this as I've gotten older.  Looking back, it's funny how in middle school I was so opposed to the idea.  Now, I let the dorkiness flow.  Just ask Joe.

So, in true form, I decided a first birthday party for Bailey was in order.  This could be no plain, old, boring doggie birthday, however.  This needed doggie treats, doggie favor bags, doggie birthday cakes, doggie party games!  This needed to be every first year-old (doggie)'s birthday party dream!

It started with one idea and the party just snowballed.  We ended up with two birthday cakes (can't forget about Bailey's friend Sadie, who practically shares a birthday with her), homemade dog toy favors, homemade doggie treats and "Pin the Tail on the Cat".  By the end of the week, I was afraid Joe might divorce me.

Luckily, the party was a success.  Even more so were the adorable doggie treats that Bailey and her friends devoured.  Even the people desserts were well received.  Bailey told me later how I'd made all her dreams come true.  Really.  She did.

Doggie appetizers (made with carob as icing - you don't think I'd poison Bailey's friends, do you?):

Recipe: I couldn't find the recipe online, but it's an easy one...

1/2 c. peanut butter

1/4 c. honey

1 T. olive oil

1 c. chicken broth

1 c. rolled oats

1 c. whole wheat flour

1 c. all -purpose flour

Preheat to 350. Whisk peanut butter, honey, oil and broth.  Separately, combine flours and oatmeal.  Mix it all together.  Roll out to 1/4 in. and cut out with a cookie cutter (I used bone shapes - Bailey's request). Baked for about 14 min. then drizzled and dipped with melted carob chips.

Red Velvet Doggie Cake Pops (for human consumption only):

Recipe: Puppy Pops (I was in a hurry...please don't compare craftiness)

"Fruit Bowl"

Super bowls are hit and miss.  I love football, but only every so often do you experience a super bowl with an engaging score, yet a half-time show as terrible as the one the Black Eyed Peas presented this year.  Wow.  This is actually one for the record-books...to a female, for once the game was more interesting than the commercials or half-time entertainment.  Thanks, FOX?!

Luckily, we had some fantastic food to upstage the terrible entertainment.  Joe and I ate the leftover cinnamon chips and fruit dip all week afterwards.  I've seen this dessert for years but only recently decided to try my hand at it.  The chips were super delicious (albeit a little messy to prepare) and the fruit dip exceeded my expectations  (I feared it would be super-duper sweet).  I suggest trying this one out - the chips lasted long after the dip and made for nice snacking whenever I needed a little "fix".  It's especially good for those out there who like dessert but can't take something over-the-top sweet.

Recipe: Cinnamon Chips and Fruit Dip

Sporty-Cakes

Obviously, I like to cook.  Baking, however, is a whole different ball game.  Baking takes planning, precision.  It takes extreme attention to detail and an intuitive nature I apparently don't possess.  But, I do happen to have some sort of artistic gene in my body which translates exceptionally well to icing baked goods.

I've always been able to practically artistically replicate anything I've seen.  So, when I was asked to create sports-themed cupcakes for a mutual friend's baby shower, I, of course, obliged.  Not to mention I (selfishly) love praise.  Come on, though, who doesn't?!

These cupcakes were chocolate and from scratch, although I'm afraid the cake itself wasn't anything to brag about (entirely operator error, I'm convinced).  However, with the help from one of my best friends, I was equipped with the cupcake making supplies to turn out about 20 cupcakes each decked out with decorations fit for a sporty baby shower.  GO TEAM!

Recipe: Chocolate Cupcakes 

Embracing the Crock-Pot

I've started really becoming interested in slow-cooker meals.  The last thing I want to do on some evenings after work is cook dinner for an hour (or more, depending upon my ambition).  The answer seemed to be calling out to me.  Every bride-to-be registers for a Crock-Pot.  Mine was especially fancy with timed cooking, three heat levels and enough room to stick in a large pot roast.  Sitting idle in my cabinetry was a device waiting to be utilized to its highest potential.  I decided to finally liberate this appliance.

And liberate, I did!  This meal was, hands-down, one of the most delicious I've made in many, many months.  And from a Crock-Pot, no less!  The ease and convenience was somewhat lost as we were snowed in by The Blizzard of 2011, but nonetheless the meal deserves 1,000 stars and a post on this blog.

Recipe: Chicken with bacon, mushrooms and onions, served with mashed potatoes