Month: June 2012

Cake Batter Cheesecake Bars

These look SOOO yummy! Click HERE for complete unstructions.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ¾ cups vanilla cookie crumbs (I used Nilla wafers, but any type of vanilla cookie should work!)
  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature (I used low-fat.)
  • ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
  • ½ cup yellow cake mix
  • 2 eggs + 1 egg yolk
  • ½ cup + 2 tablespoons milk (I used 1%.)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup sprinkles
  • ~5 drops blue food coloring (optional)
  • ~3 drops green food coloring (optional)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan, then line with parchment paper; set aside.
  2. Stir together cookie crumbs, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, and the melted butter. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until the crust is just brown around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining granulated sugar and beat for an additional couple of minutes, until smooth. Add the eggs and yolk, milk, vanilla, salt and beat again until completely combined and smooth. Finally, stir in the cake mix and sprinkles until smooth.
  4. Pour the filling over the crust. Set the pan in a larger pan (a 9×13-inch works for this), and add enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the baking pan. Bake until just set, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the baking pan from the water bath, and transfer to a wire rack. Let cool for 30 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.

Fabric Flower

Great way to use up those fabric scraps!

What you will need:

  • Fabric  This is a project where you can use up some of those scraps.
  • Glue  I really like using Tacky Glue.  It is much better than regular school glue and it really is… well… tacky.  I also use the glue bottle to form the petals.
  • Floral wire  I use the 18 gauge, white fabric wrapped floral wire.  In my area, it seems that Hobby Lobby is the only place that sells this exact kind but Wal-Mart does carry the wire too.  Just not the 18 gauge.
  • Rounded tool  This could be just about anything as long as it’s smaller than your glue bottle.  I’m partial to my wooden spoon because the handle gives a great shape.  You’ll see why soon.
  • Floral tape  You can find this at the Dollar store, Wal-Mart or any craft store with a floral department.
  • Wire cutters
  • Felt balls  I like to use 18mm in various yellow shades. 

    CLICK HERE for step by step instructions with fab photos!

Coconut Cream Fruit Dip

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 15oz can Cream of Coconut (This is not coconut milk – Find this in the adult drink aisle with the mixers.)
  • 8oz tub Cool Whip, thawed
  • Whip the cream cheese with the cream of coconut in a stand mixer until lump-free. Fold in cool whip