Chocolate-y Goodness

Oh the weather outside is frightful...  why do we only hear that song at Christmas?  We aren't likely to see any snow until after Christmas in the Sweet Carolinas and polar vortex has made sure there is frightful weather all winter long!

I've got a drink recipe I think it perfect for these cold winter days.  Go ahead and turn the fire up, snuggle in and have a Godiva Chocolate Martini, but be carful- its good!

 

Of course the more chocolate the better, so swirl some chocolate syrup around the glass. 

 

The recipe is easy; Mix 1 shot of each of the following

 

Godiva Milk Chocolate Liquor

Godiva Dark Chocolate Liquor

Godiva White Chocolate Liquor

Chambord

Vodka

 

Cheers!

 

 



Double Layer Pumpkin Pie

I know Thanksgiving was last week and November is over, but I miss it already.  Thanksgiving is so special to us at the Fudge house!  2004-Brian and I went on our first date the day after Thanksgiving.  2005-I spent Thanksgiving with him the next year and met his whole family.  2006-Then we moved to Carolina and my parents came to visit us for Thanksgiving.  2007-We closed on our house the day before Thanksgiving. 2008- Brian's Family started joining up for Thanksgiving also.  2009- We announced the name we chose for Baby Fudge (William Alexander Fudge)

 

Then we took a bit of a dip in 2010 with Liam's cancer diagnosis. I still wasn't over the stress of that in 2011 and had a hard time relaxing and enjoying Thanksgiving, so in 2012 we went on a cruise, for me it was a way to celebrate Liam and all he went through.

.

But we were missing my parents, they had to cancel last minute when they found out my dads cancer was back.

 

This year I was happy to return to our traditions of Thanksgiving and just celebrate being with the family we had there.  And of course part of the tradition of Thanksgiving includes food!

 





 

Woman (my mom) has been making a special pumpkin pie since the '90s, 1992 to be exact.  And what recipe could be better than one that came out of a random magazine



and this is still how we follow the recipe today.

Here's what you need


4 ounces of cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon of milk or half-and-half
1 tablespoon of sugar
11/2 cups thawed coolwhip, whipped topping
1 Graham cracker pie crust
1 cup milk or half-and-half
2 packages or 4-serving  Jell-O vanilla flavor
1 can pumpkin (not the pie mix I accidently pictured!)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves



Directions:

• mix cream cheese, milk and sugar in a large bowl until smooth.  Gently stir in whipped topping.  Spread on bottom of the crust.
• Pour 1 cup milk (or half-and-half) into the bowl, add pudding mix and blend well.  Mixture will be thick.
• Stir in Pumpkin and spices, mix well.  Spread over cream cheese layer. 
• Refrigerate at least 3 hours

What's your unique Thanksgiving recipe?

Dear Pinterest: I need folders

Let me just start with saying I don't understand couponing. We don't coupon. I've tried. For several weeks I bought newspapers, but I just never found enough coupons of things I actually bought or needed. Maybe someone can explain this whole couponing thing to me.

I have however managed to save plenty of money each week just by planning dinner menus and going to the store with a list. That and going alone (sorry Brian).  I am telling you, this alone has probably cut our grocery bill in half.

I don't mind cooking at all, I just hate coming up with ideas of what to make.  Pinterest has helped me change up our meals a bit. And Brian has gotten much better at letting me experiment on him.
My one complaint is looking through my food board on Pinterest and its so unorganized. Yes I could just make several new boards (drinks, soups, salads, dinners, appetizers...) but I'd really just like to see folders inside the board to organize it.


Somedays I much prefer to look at other blogs, which have their recipes organized.

The Girl who Ate Everything

I am really enjoying this blog, like pinterest, there are pictures to show you what the recipe is.

 

 

Sweet Tooth Sweet Life

This blog has a lot of great recipes we have tried out, but you need to click the links to get to her pictures.

So PLEASE Pinterest, can I have folders to help organize my boards?

If anyone has any great recipes or tricks you would like to share for cutting costs on your grocery bills, Please share away!

August Goals

It's good to have goals, right?  Here are my goals for this month.

Run 100 miles
   I think I made this goal last July or August... Nope didn't happen.  But my running has taken a hit this year, as have my weight and body image...  But now I am running a 5K in about 10 days, I think I should get to running.  Somebody PLEASE light a fire under me, I need some motivation/tough love!

Write 15 blog posts
    Is there anyone still reading this blog?!  I know it have been a pathetic showing on my part.  I can do better!  Liam, Brian and I are all busier that just 2 post worth of stuff in a month!

SELL, SELL, SELL
    Have I mentioned yet our Thanksgiving plans?  We are taking Liam on a cruise.  He has never had a good Thanksgiving yet so we are going to make up for it big time this year.   So the first thing on my list to sell this month is lanyards.  Great for teacher/students.  more to come on this late this week!

Share more recipes
At some point before I asked from some recipes to share because that is the biggest problem we have with making dinners- WHAT TO DO?!  I have tried some great pintrest recipes so I need to share them on here.  But also if you have a recipe your family loves please send it to me.

What are your August Goals?

Pinterest Food Week

Happy Monday.

Yup; back to work today. I MISS SPRING BREAK!!!

Okay, enough whinning. When we got home yesterday I went to the store to buy Liam some food for the sitter's.

I also decided I would plan meals this week based off pinterest.

So on the menu for this week.

Monday

Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday- Brian fends for himself... I work out with my trainer!
Friday

Okay so I am not good at taking my own food photos {suggestions welcome} but that is the plan this week. Any pinterest recipes you would suggest?

Food Friday

...a day late. Sorry, more technical difficulties at the Fudge house.

This week I promised a recipe for the adults. It's no secret I love my wine. When Brian and I first decided to have a baby he asked me if I was sure I could give up wine. Of course I did and it wasn't hard at all, but I am happily enjoying it again!

A fun wine cocktail I enjoy in the summer is sangria. I picture glass pitchers, fresh fruit, cool breeze, obviously I am not picturing the hot sweaty south.

Fruity Sangria

2 fresh, peeled and sliced peaches
1 cup sliced strawberries
1 orange thinly sliced
1 lemon or lime sliced
1 liter carbonated water
2 cups white wine
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup of cranberry juice

Place fruits in a container and pour liquids over.

Now I usually don't go for white sangria, but YUM!

Food Friday

Okay as promised I am going to being sharing recipes on Fridays. Don't forget to email me a family favorite or 2 that I am share here!

This week I want to share one of the recipes we have for Liam. We met with a nutrionist this week to help with feeding Liam. It was very informative! I will share more about what I learned soon. Right now the nutrionist is most concerned with Liam not eating any vegetables, so are we!

We were given a few different ideas to "sneak" vegetables into his diet. One is in muffins.

Here's the recipe yielding 5 muffins

1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/16 teaspoon salt
1/16 cup butter, softened
1/8 cup brown sugar, or other sweetener
1/4 egg
5/8 cup of veggies pureed
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Okay so I KNOW the measurements seem odd. I was on food.com searched for kid friendly recipes. On this site you can change the serving size and it'll adjust the measurements for you. I am obviously not going to make 24 muffins for Liam, it would be a waste of food.
I think the adjustment feature on this website is FABULOUS! So many recipes are wrote to serve 6-8 people, and I'm the only one in this house willing to eat leftovers.

Remember email me at liamfudgeATyahooDOTcom to share your favorite recipes. Next week will be one for adults!