Friday, February 13, 2015

Valentine's Day Sweets + Loving Lately {Friday Linkups}

Before the regular Friday antics, two sweet recipes for Valentine's Day, TOMORROW! 
We did some baking last night to get ready for the holiday (Valentine's Day kind of crept up on me).

Valentine's Day Blonde Brownies

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Valentine's Day M&M's
*Note: Can make for any holiday with any color M&M's or regular with chocolate chips

Directions:
In a medium bowl, mix four, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Melt 1/3 cup butter (microwave or on stove) then mix with 1 cup brown sugar.
Add in beaten egg and vanilla.
Add the dry ingredient mixture, a little at a time (2-3 parts), mix well.
Fold in as many M&M's as you'd like - not TOO many.
Sprinkle the top with M&M's.
Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.
*I did mine for right about 22

 Valentine's Day Pink Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (one stick) butter, softened
1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix 
1/2 cup powdered sugar 
1/2 cup flour
2 egg whites (the yolk will turn the cookies orange if you use it)
Red food coloring 
1 cup baking chips 
*Once my batter was ready, I divided it into two bowls and used white chocolate chips in one, semi-sweet chocolate chips 

Directions:
Cream together butter and cookie mix.
Add in powdered sugar and flour, mix well.
Add egg whites and blend everything together.
Add red food coloring, a couple drops at a time (about 12 total).
Stir in chocolate pieces.
Put scoop of batter onto cookie sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

Package up cutely and you have some simple, homemade Valentine's!


Five on Friday: Loving Lately … 
1. Sunshine 
I'm loving that it's still not fully dark yet at 5:45 -- we are getting one step closer to spring/summer. Yay!

2. Macy's Thanks for Sharing
I'm loving that I got my "Thanks for Sharing" gift card in the mail from Macy's.  If your unfamiliar - if your a Macy's card holder, starting in September, you can pay $25 to their Thanks for Sharing charity program and then 10% of all your purchases until December 31st goes toward your "Thanks for Sharing" total and just this week I got my gift card!  I'm always in and out of Macy's so this was well worth it for me -- I can't wait to save it for something great!

3. Indulge 
I'm loving this special treat that I had for myself on Tuesday!  Tuesday was a long day, I was tired/grumpy/down and this little cookie hit the spot.  I mixed it up in about five seconds and undercooked it for about 10 and then indulged! I'm also loving my Kate Spade table runner in the background.
4. Husband's Night in the Kitchen
I'm loving that Derek was helping out in the kitchen the other night!  Sometimes we do it together, sometimes I do it, and sometimes he does it!  I had made a mess getting dinner together and the sink was piled up - I loved my couple extra minutes relaxing on the couch while he cleaned it all up for us.

5. Marnie met Taylor
I'm loving that Marnie the Dog is getting bigger and bigger - She met Taylor Swift at the Grammy's last weekend!  If your not following her you should be -- @marniethedog


What is everyone else loving lately?!

11 comments:

  1. Stopping by from Friday Favorites! So much yumminess here!! I adore your Kate Spade table runner! Gold + polka dots makes everything more fabulous! ;) Have a lovely Valentine's Day weekend!!

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  2. So many goodies to drool over!!!
    Marnie is adorable! Can't believe she met Taylor!
    Hope you have a great weekend!!

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  3. We trade off dishes too and it's the best!! Your Valentine's day treats look so good! Have a fab weekend! xo, Biana - BlovedBoston

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  4. Ummmmmmmm those cookies look so pretty and probably taste so good I want this wedding diet to be over!!!

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  5. Your treats look so yummy! And that table runner is too cute. :)

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  6. I LOVE Marnie the Dog!!! Also, those Valentine's sweet treat boxes look fantastic!

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  7. Desserts are my love language!! And those look so good (and the packaging!)! Also, yes to the sunshine hanging around longer!!

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  8. Oh man. SO MANY DESSERTS! Yum. Excuse me while I go whip some up for myself. ;)

    Have a great weekend!

    Making Mrs. M

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  9. Your Valentine treats look delicious!! Where did you find those cute boxes?? And as far as I'm concerned, Kate Spade can do no wrong! I have never seen her table runners before, but I'm going to have to check them out since I adore polka-dots :)

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