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

Valentine's Chocolate Love Cookies

 

I have always loved baking and trying new recipes but now with my new Kitchen aid Stand Mixer that I got for Christmas I just want to bake all the time! That means you can be expecting a new recipe at least once a week for a while. It just makes me so happy and makes baking even more fun now that majority of the hard work is done for me. Well with Valentine's Day just around the corner I thought it was time to get my family in the spirit too by making them these Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies. I thought that Valentine's Chocolate Love Cookies would be a wonderful name for these cookies since they are packed with lots of chocolate! They would be an excellent treat for that special Valentine in your life!

Valentine's Chocolate Love Cookies:

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

1 cup Valentine's M&M's 

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
2. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl.

3. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy.

4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5. Gradually beat in flour mixture, stir in chocolate chips and M&M's.

6. Scoop rounded tablespoons onto a cookie sheet lined with a Silpat or parchment paper.
7. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.

8. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

9. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie

Weekly Favorites

 

 

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

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

 

Week/Weekend Favorites

Let me start out by apologizing for the lack of posts last week. It was filled with tests and assignments due but don't worry this week things will be back to normal! I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

 

- Well this past week started off nice with two snow/ice days off from school and work. Which meant I got to enjoy my coffee and watch The Today show with Katie Lee and Hoda. The only downfall to those days was that we didn't get any snow and I had to study -

 

- Getting to enjoy a little study break and the beautiful warmer weather with this guy! -

 

- Receiving these Valentine goodies from my best friend! -

 

- Having the most amazing Valentine's Day with Jay and being completely surprised when he gave me this gorgeous emerald ring that I saw last weekend when we were back home! -

 - Spending Saturday doing a little shopping in Aspen Bay, one of my favorite stores in Starkville. The picture below is just a few of the things I picked up! -  

 

Honorable Mention:

 

- Getting a Valentines' Day card in the mail from my parents! -

 

- Watching this adorable video that expresses how pretty much everyone is feeling right about now, click here to watch -

 

 

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie