Thankful

11/25- Today Im thankful that my grandparents are around to know and love their great granddaughters.

11/26- Today Im thankful that life lead me to all the places I was supposed to be to bring me to meet my husband and start our journey together on this day 9 years ago.

11/27- Today Im thankful for a safe and large suv that is fuel efficient and gets us where we need to or want to go.

11/28-Today Im thankful for a pregnancy that was so easy, a labor that I felt honored to have experienced and a child that was and is a dream.

11/29- Today Im thankful that while we are sad that my in-laws moved to Florida Im thankful that we are able to go visit on a 10 day vacation. We will be there on our 3 year wedding anniversary (and its where we spent our honeymoon when I was 4 months pregnant) so its a full circle trip and should be a hella lot of fun!

11/30-Today Im thankful that I started this blog. I often think its silly and that I never talk about anything entertaining or worth reading but looking back its a nice little journal and it has brought me some lovely e-friends and some awesome opportunities.

Thankful!

11/19 Thankful that we have enough to be able to donate to those who don't.

11/20 Thankful that I was raised in a way that always reinforced helping others and being thankful.

11/21 Thankful for the families that welcome me into their lives and give me the honor of photographing their precious babies.

11/22 Thankful that my boss is not only a wonderful, understanding person but a fabulous friend.

11/23 Thankful for parents that not only offer but are as excited as we are to have us move in with them.

11/24 Thankful that on Thanksgiving we get to spend it with an amazing, loving family and eat lots of food while keeping those who aren't as lucky in our hearts.

Have a GORGEOUS Thanksgiving and count your blessings!

Miniture Food Porn from ME to YOU!

I caved..I joined Pinterest and it was a fattening mistake! I am addicted, just as predicted, but my waist expanding addiction is your food porn. Im on a "mini-kick" (thanks to this and this) and when I saw these I had to make them!

 LASAGNA CUPCAKES!

You can go to that link to get the recipe but I didn't follow it completely. I thawed a frozen meat sauce I had made and used that instead of the sauce and ground beef. I also didnt measure anything--I just took pinches out of the bag for the mozz and used an entire 14oz container of ricotta as well as a full pack (48) wonton wrappers because I wanted to make more than the recipe makes since I figure we could freeze them since they are perfectly portioned for my girl.

I found won ton wrappers that were cut into squares (vs making circles like the recipe suggests)--this worked great and cut out some cookie cutting time!

 

I used a melon baller to "measure the ricotta--I used about half a ball of ricotta for each layer and a full ball of meat sauce.

You just put it in..flatten it with the back of the spoon or your fingers.

pinches of mozz sprinkled over ricotta.

oooo yea...its commin together now!

repeat the process for a second, and final, layer.

top with mozz and throw in a 375 degree oven for about 18 mins!

so done and so good!

they look fabulous and thanks to cooking spray they  just come right out when you pull on a side of the wonton!

My hubby and I eventually nixed the utensils and started eating them like finger foods..a FANTASTIC, self-contained appetizer!!

 

 

 SO good, so easy and fun to make! Its also a fun thing for the kids to help make since its just their size and they can spring the cheese or drop the sauce!

ENJOY!!!

I also made these for Haydens Thanksgiving class party! 

 MINI APPLE PIES!

I was so excited to make another mini food and I am SO glad I only made a few extra than what H's class needs because I wouldn't have been able to stop eating these!

Instead of the pastry topping I did a super simple streusel and..O.M.G..ridiculous.

For Streusel
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
5 tbsp (2.5 oz) unsalted butter, chilled

Combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in the work bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the dry ingredients. Pulse until the butter is cut into very small pieces, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
 

This is also another super fantastic and easy recipe and a great one to make with the kids--mixing the apples and spooning the filling into the cups is such a kid friendly activity!

HAVE FUN!