Valentine's Recipes

I thought today would be a good day to share the link to a few of my favorite Valentine's treats I have made in the past (click any of the links below). There are cookies, puppy chow, and red velvet! Be sure to check them out because each one makes great little holiday treats to give to friends and family! Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Red Velvet Puppy Chow;  Red Velvet Heart Mini Cakes;  Valentine Chocolate Love Cookies;   Frosted Animal Sugar Cookies

Lots of Love,  Natalie

Valentine's Day Pinspiration

- Valentine's Box - 

With Valentine's Day this weekend I have been pinning lots of things on Pinterest that make me more excited for Saturday! I thought I should share some of them with you in case you need any ideas for sweet treat or decorations to make the day even more fun and festive! Hope you enjoy! See you tomorrow! 

- Baked Vanilla Bean Doughnuts -

- Heart Installation - 

- Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes -

- Giant Geometric Wall Heart - 

Lots of Love,  Natalie

Hearts of Red Velvet

While watching the Grammy's last night I made these Red Velvet Mini Heart Cakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. I love baking Valentine's treats because they are so fun to decorate! These were going to be Red Velvet Heart shaped Whoopie Pies but halfway through I decided to just icing and decorate them instead. I hope you enjoy making these for your special someone or family! See you tomorrow!

Red Velvet Mini Heart Cakes:

Ingredients:

1 box of Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix

3 large eggs

1 cup water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 8oz. package cream cheese (softened)

1 stick unsalted butter (softened)

4 cups confectioners sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

* you will need a heart shaped cookie cutter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Follow directions on the back of the box.

3. Bake in a 13x9 inch pan for 25-30 minutes.

4. Remove from oven and let cool.

5. While it is cooling mix softened butter and cream cheese together in mixer until smooth. 

6. Slowly add confectioner's sugar and vanilla to the mixture. 

7. Mix until smooth and creamy.

8. Use the heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out the small cakes. 

9. Frost and decorate. 

10. Enjoy!

Lots of Love, Natalie

Love is in the air!

After the holidays I am always sad that all the decorations are gone but with Valentine's Day right around the corner I am seeing spaces filled with love. All the pink, red, and pops of gold are making me very happy especially since it is so gloomy outside. Love is in the air here at Fresh Ink! If you are in need or a card for the special someone or just a few little happies for those wonderful friends then be sure to check it out! I have already gotten everything I need to send some love to my girlfriends and of course the perfect card to give to Jay. I cannot wait until February 14th and I hope you are just as happy as I am to see all the pops of red and pink everywhere. See you tomorrow!

 

 

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie

Weekly Favorites

- Black and White for a chilly Thursday -

 

 

- Loving all the Valentine's cards and items all over the store -

 

 

- It was great finding a quick and easy week night dish (Poppy Seed Chicken) -

 

 

 

- Starting off the new year with a chic fresh start -

 

 

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie

Valentines Day 2014

(Mozart and his new toy named Ellie)

I would say this was the best Valentines Day I have had so far! I always like this holiday because it is a great excuse to bake and show how much you love everyone. I have to admit Jay spoiled me this year and I was not expecting everything he did. Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day! See you tomorrow!

 

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie

 

Weekly Favorites

- Over the moon about these Long Life Tulips that I cannot wait to bloom - 

 

- Starting to do a little Valentine's Day decorating but more on that next week! One week from today is Valentine's Day! -

 

- The best part of my week was finding out on Tuesday that my baby Mozart is cancer free -  

 

Honorable Mention:

 

- Successfully getting to work out 5 days in a row this week -

 

- Finally starting to get my plans for Spring Break worked out -

 

  - Going home today to spend some time with my family! -

 

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie

Valentine's Day Home

Love is in the air! With only 9 days left until Valentine's Day I hope you have started planning or decorating. Well if not here are some lovely pieces to help you out. I mean come on how perfect would some heart shaped muffins look on that cake stand while you enjoy coffee out of this chic mug on Valentine's Day.  

1. Wilton Silicone Baking Cups 12-Pack, Heart - Walmart

2. Porcelain Color Block Mug - C. Wonder 

3. Do What You Love Linen Cushion Cover - H&M Home

4. Love Candle - H&M Home

5. Apron - H&M Home

6. Cake Stand - H&M Home

 

P.S. These are all very reasonably priced so why not celebrate!

 

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie

 

Valentine's Day Part Two

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day! I like holidays like Valentine's Day because I love to bake. I made this Red Velvet Puppy Chow that I found here. Puppy chow is actually very easy to make which it good because it is addictive. Have a good weekend!

 

Red Velvet Puppy Chow:

 

Ingredients:

5 C. Rice Chex cereal

3/4 C. white chocolate melts or chips

1/4 C. chocolate melts or chips

2 oz cream cheese, room temp

1 1/2 Tbsp. milk

1 C. Red Velvet Cake mix

1/2 C. powdered sugar

Valentines colored M&M's or other candies

Heart sprinkles for extra decoration and cute-ness

 

Directions:

1. Measure out Rice Chex cereal and place into a large bowl.

2. Place cake mix and powdered sugar into a large plastic bag or tupperware with a lid.

3. Melt chocolates together in the microwave or on the stove top. Careful not to burn and stir until smooth.

4. Stir in cream cheese and milk (the chocolate will get thicker, but it's okay)

5. Pour chocolate over Rice Chex cereal and stir until coated.

6. Dump cereal into the bag or tupperware with powdered sugar and cake mix. Shake, shake, shake until coated.

7. Dump onto a cookie sheet and let cool.

8. Mix with extra colorful candies and serve!

NOTE: Because of the cream cheese, keep in the fridge if you won't be eating them that day. You can also omit the cream cheese all together if you wish...if you do that, you don't need the milk either!

 

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie