Whoopie Love

Holidays allow for over-indulgence. Maybe that's why I love them so much. Either way, I'll take any excuse to bake sugary treats! I headed over to a dear friends house who has a kitchen equipped with frosting guns...frosting guns, people!! 

I'll forgive you if you think these look like tiny butts & not hearts. Because I agree. 

You may be wondering why we're pouring Jack Daniels into the frosting, so here goes: While touring the Jack Daniels Distillery on a whirlwind Nashville weekend trip, our 80 year old tour guide named Betty, gave us her baking secret. Directly replace vanilla with Jack Daniels in all things baking & it tastes just as good, if not better. This may be a direct result from all employees receiving a bottle of Jack  the first of every month...blame it on the booze! 

Inspiration found here and recipe found here. Bon Appetit! 

Carpe Diem, 

Mandy 

Celebrate Love

I am a sucker for all holidays. I'll take any excuse for a celebration- champagne, decor, oodles of candy & gifts. I think Valentine's Day is a fantastic reminder to tell the special people in your life just how much you love them. Of course, it would be ideal to celebrate those people all year long, but how about you treat them extra special on February 14th? Celebrating love is a glorious occasion & a girl can't complain if it's accompanied by flowers and breakfast and chocolate and jewelry.....

Speaking of love, I adore Instagram. Above are a few of my favorite photos lately, all lovey-dovey themed of course. 

1. Ombre heart inspired by Valentine's Day while creating Vanillawood's window display

2. Red Velvet Woopie pies (recipe coming soon!)

3. Almond French Toast stuffed with Vanilla-Coconut Blueberry cream cheese filling (recipe here)

4. My new Bevin bronze ring gifted from Mr. Riggar for our first married Valentine's Day <3 

What's your take on Valentine's Day? Love it? Hate it? Hallmark Holiday?

Carpe  Diem, 

Mandy

Cookie Bombs

Let's talk about sweets. I get my sweet tooth from my grandmother & father and boy, when I have a hankering I am unstoppable. It's an issue some days. When I saw these cookies on beloved Pinterest, I had to eat them immediately. So began my dive into the baking world.

These are very simple: homemade chocolate chip cookie dough, wrapped around an Oreo. For convenience matters, I also tried with store bought cookie dough and it was an epic fail. Domestic-fearing cookie addicts, the "quicker" route is not the solution this time (I will not even show photos, they are that terrible). So, roll up your sleeves & start pouring the sugar because theses babies are all homemade.

These make a great party favor & are easy to transport to a pot luck. Most think they are traditional chocolate chip cookies at first sight, until the first person eats one...and then those cookies become the life of the party. I did not win the Super Bowl cook-off, but I totally think the contest was rigged anyways. I don't believe it one bit.

Recipe found here.

Carpe Diem, 

Mandy