Friendsgiving 2014

This weekend Miguel and I had about 10 people over for a Friendsgiving dinner. This was Miguel's idea, but I love throwing themed parties and so I was excited to help host! I am fully aware that I go a little cheesy with themes, but I don't care, I embrace it haha.  For example, I cut out Thanksgiving photo props that no one used, but Miguel was kind enough to humor me and take a picture as a pilgrim! 

Once people got to our house I didn't remember to take any photos, but I snapped some pics of the food and decor earlier. 

This was the first time we used our new dining room table! We put one of the leaves in so that we could fit more people, but that also meant that there was very little wiggle room as the table took up pretty much the whole length of the room! 

Poor Madison got stuck in the chair closest to the window! Once she got in, she couldn't get out. Especially once we added a chair to the opposite end, essentially blocking the doorway to the kitchen. 

We also set up another little table so that there would be more room, but in the end we didn't get enough extra chairs so it became an impromptu "sweetheart table". 

Publix commercial salt and pepper shakers my dad gave me years ago =)

We also had candles and a fire going outside, but then, of course, it started to rain... pout.

To make the house smell like fall I had a simmer pot of orange peels, apples, cinnamon, cloves, cardamon, etc going on the stove.

Our guests each brought a Thanksgiving dinner side or two, so I put my energy towards making little finger foods and things to snack on before dinner. 

These cute peanut butter pumpkin balls were my favorite thing! They were so easy to make! I think this would be a fun activity to make with kids too! And, apart from the pretzel stick stem, they are GF and DF!

Next I had a pumpkin pie dip with graham crackers and apples. I just wish the apples didn't brown so quickly.  This was also pretty simple to make, but sadly, it's not DF. I may still have had a bite or two though...

I also made some GF & DF sugar cookies that I made in the shape of fall leaves and pilgrim hats. They tasted really good to me, especially for being GF and DF!

This pic is pretty blurry, but for drinks I made a cranberry champaign cocktail.  It only has 3 ingredients and is so easy to make! Just don't make the same mistake I did and have the spout of the drink dispenser open when you pour in the juice!

But, of course, the biggest hit of the night was Miguel's turkey! Yummmmmmmy! He smoked it in the Big Green Egg and it turned out wonderfully! 

We had a fun night with good friends and are very thankful to have such a great group of people to celebrate with here in Savannah! Now that we are all warmed up  we are definitely looking forward to this upcoming week celebrating with our families!

Looking Back: Miguel

I had so much fun going through old family photos last week when I was looking for pictures to post for my sister's birthday. Tonight I had fun going through some old pictures of Miguel and his brothers. I think they're so cute, so I have to post some!

and here he is all grown up!

Also, have you checked out my other blog recently? I posted a great pasta recipe as well as a homemade red velvet cake recipe! Check them out: CLICK HERE!

Check out: Ready for Easter

 

Check out i want chocolate to see the yummy desserts I made for Easter lunch and dinner!

3 different types of cupcakes, two pies, and deviled eggs!

Click HERE!

Check Out: Chubby Bunny Easter Cookies

Click here to see the Chubby Bunny Easter Cookies on my other blog, i want chocolate!

From now on . . .

From now on my baking will be posted on my other blog, i want chocolate. Please check it out and follow me!  But I'll still use And Puppy Makes Three for all my posts about my life in general and, of course, about the Emma doodle. 

Click HERE to go to i want chocolate

Springtime Brownie Pops

Brownies are my favorite dessert. However, I'm tired of baking and eating square, brown, boring, flat brownies. Okay, my tummy is never tired of the 'normal' brownie, but my eyes want something pretty to look at. So... today I dressed up my brownies for springtime and made them pops! 

I love these! They're the perfect size, a little fancy, a little scrappy, and there are so many ways you can serve them. They make the perfect Easter basket treat. And they're fairly simple to make! 

First, you need a round brownie pop mold. I use the Wilton Round Brownie Pop Mold, it was $9.99 from Michaels.  Make your favorite brownie mix (mine is Ghirardellie in a box), spray mold with cooking spray, and fill the mold. I always hit mine gently against the counter to make sure the batter gets all the way down to the bottom. 

Place filled mold on a cookie sheet and cook according to brownie recipe instructions. Once baked, cool completely on rack.

Once completely cooled, bend the mold back and forth to help loosen brownie mix from mold. Gently press on the bottom of the mold and place on cooling grid. Once cooled cut the bottom with a serrated knife to get flat bottom.

Next, use candy melts (I use Wilton Candy Melts in a light pink). Melt in microwave for 1 minute on half power. Stir... (chocolate retains it's shape when melted, so stirring is important). Microwave again for 30 seconds on half power and again if needed in 30 second increments until melted. Make sure no water comes into contact with candy. It will ruin it and it won't melt correctly.

Using a knife, put melted candy on bottom of brownie and place on wax paper or cooling grid with paper beneath it.

Use lollipop sticks and place one end in melted candy. Next press stick in top of brownie with the candy end. This helps secure the stick.

Once the candy sets and is completely cool, you can start to decorate. I decorated three different ways. The first I placed melted candy on end of brownie and then rolled it in sprinkles. I also used an icing knife to completely cover some and then covered with sprinkles. And the other ones, I piped on icing all over to add some texture and then also covered with sprinkles. 

They turned out so pretty. The colors are looking a little dull on my computer screen, but they're really fun looking and taste great too! 

Place on liners or wrap in lollipop bags.

Homemade Dog Treats

Emma loved the homemade sweet potato rawhides so much that I decided to give homemade dog biscuits a try. A plus to making dog treats from scratch is you know what is going into it and know what your dog is eating. For example, some dogs are allergic to wheat flour, so you can choose a different type, etc. These are also cheap to make, and, for me, are fun to make! 

(Click Here to Print Instructions)

You will need:

1 cup rolled oats

2 cups flour

1 1/4 cup hot water

1/3 cup of peanut butter (I used smooth)

1 egg

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Step 2: Mix the oats and flour together

Step 3: Add peanut butter and hot water; stir. (If the dough is too sticky, add more flour)

Step 4: Knead the dough.

Step 5: Place the dough on flat, floured surface and roll out dough to about 1/4 inch

Step 6: Place cookie cutter in bowl of flour before each press into the dough, and cut out shapes. I used the dog bone cookie cutter from Wilton 4 piece Pet Cookie Cutter Set.

Step 7: Place cut out dough onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper

Step 8: Beat 1 egg in small bowl with fork

Step 9: Put egg wash over dough with a brush, this will make the treats have a sheen to them once baked

(I also made some smaller cut outs using two different heart cookie cutters)

Step 10: Once baked for 40 minutes, take out of oven and place on cooling rack. 

Once thoroughly cooled, treat your dog and enjoy all the wags and lip licking goodness!

This recipe makes a lot... I got four sheets worth out of it.

Look at those focused eyes!