Valentine Candy and Cookie ideas....

Here are a few SWEET ideas for Valentines Day - or Galentines Day.

Make a few chocolate lollipops using chocolate wafers and some candy sprinkles:

or just plain chocolate:

Chocolate Peppermint Bark is easy to make with white and milk chocolate wafers and leftover candy canes, crushed:

Just refrigerate and break it up and it's ready to share or enjoy yourself:

It's delish!

You can make a lollipop bouquet with Tootsie Pops....

...perfect for children:

If you aren't in the mood to make something, just buy some pastel dinner mints....

...or good old fashion conversation hearts:

I often have leftover candy from Christmas, so I put some Hershey Santa Hat Kisses out on the side table - BUT -  I need to change my walk pattern because every time I walk buy a snag a piece!

Jello Cookies are easy and delish - recipe

These shortbread cookies are so easy to make:

Here is another delicious candy treat: 

Hawaiian Chocolate

2 11oz pkg Giradelli white choc chips
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1 cup dried pineapple, chopped
1 cup crushed corn chex cereal

Put last 3 ingredients in a large bowl and pour melted white chocolate over it. Toss and spread out on parchment paper and cool to set. Break into bite size pieces.

Whatever you choose to make for Valentines Day, make it SWEET!

Zucchini-Stuffing Casserole

This is the perfect side dish for pork, chicken or turkey.  You can adjust the vegetables, by adding a variety, but I like this combo as it is colorful and tasty.  But feel free to take some away and add celery, peas, green beans or corn!

Zucchini-Stuffing Casserole

1 Box Stove Top stuffing (chicken)

2-4 zucchini and/or summer squash

1 onion, sliced

1 cup grated carrots

8 oz sour cream

1 stick butter

1 can cream of chicken(or celery) soup

Directions:

Cut squash into chunks, and onion in slices,  and place in a 9x13" casserole dish. Microwave for 15 minutes.  Salt and pepper the squash.




Melt butter in large bowl and stir in grated carrots, sour cream and soup.  Add dry stuffing mix.  

Drain any water produced by squash and onion and combine with the soup/stuffing mixture.  Toss gently. Put mixture back into the 9X13" baking dish.
Bake for 30 minutes @ 350'.

YUM!

Valentine Cocktails....

Here are a few delicious cocktails to enjoy with your loved one on Valentines Day!

                                   Enjoy!

Upcycling Wine Corks....Do it Over Designers

I am joining the Do It Over Designers and sharing some ways to upcycle wine corks!

Many wineries are switching to synthetic corks because they are cheaper. They’re not made from wood, so they don’t degrade or dry out and there’s no need to store bottles on their sides to keep the cork damp. Synthetic cork also won’t break apart, so there’s no risk of cork crumbs to fish out of your wine.

 Cork is made from wood, which dries out and crumbles with time.  Cork is a natural product, and each is slightly different. Cork brands and their porousness vary, which affects the rate at which air interacts with the wine in the bottle.   Wines cellared for long periods of time must be kept on their sides to keep the cork damp.

I prefer to save real corks rather than synthetic, mostly because of their imperfections!

 There’s something romantic and ceremonial about popping a champagne cork.  Champagne corks, which expand upon removal and cannot be placed back into the bottle.  

One way to upcycle these corks is to add an alligator clip:

...and use them as place cards....

...or to label food at a party...

One of a few ways I have used traditional corks in the past is to make a small bulletin board.  The corks can simply be glued onto a strip of wood, ruler or yardstick

A few years ago I made my daughter a cornice for her wine-themed kitchen, again they were just glued onto a thin sheet of wood:

I used wood glue on each cork, but applied them to the wood backings with a dab of hot glue to secure each until wood glue dried.

Cork wreaths can be made by attaching the corks to a straw or

styrofoam wreath:

I also made a removable backsplash for a small counter in my kitchen to cover electrical and telephone plugs:

We enjoy wine, I like white and my husband likes red!

When the pandemic ends I look forward to enjoying a glass or two with girlfriends!

Hop on over to these blogs to see the makeovers they created:

The Apple Street Cottage

Birdz of a Feather

Cloches & Lavender

Little Vintage Cottage

Pandora’s Box You are here

Chas’ Crazy Creations

Unique Creations by Anita

Modern on Monticello

Purple Hues & Me

Doodle Buddies

Decorating for Valentines Day....

It was time to brighten up my home and Valentine hearts and flowers always make me happy! I made a few paper bag valentine snowflakes and they cheer up my home during this grey and dreary season.  

I am anxious for spring and pulled out a lot of pastel pieces this week....

...I filled my tray with lots of "pink",  2 of my favorite Susan Branch books, milk glass and hearts!

The bar cart is ready for happy hour...

...with my hand painted wine glasses, chocolates and another huge snowflake!

My mantle has a simple heart garland...and look at that sky....that is a band of snow heading our way!

A side table has cute little coasters and a sweet tray with some pastel mints...

...and another hand painted piece:

A few more hearts....

All of these happy colors throughout my home have me anxious for Spring!

Some of these items I will keep out after Valentines Day and incorporate into Easter decor!

An Easy Valentine Snowflake....and a winner...

All you need is 9 paper bags, a glue gun and a pair of scissors:

You stack the bags, one by one, by gluing each one with a "T" shape strip of glue and layer each bag this way:

Quick and easy - almost impossible to make a mistake:

Cut a triangle off each corner of the top of the stack of bags:

Cut a 1/2 heart shape out of each side  (or a triangle):

Then you spread open the bags and glue the two opposite ends together and glue on a string as a hanger!

These are so simple to make and only take a few minutes.  Paper bags can be purchased at the dollar store, so they are also inexpensive.

And all of the 1/2 hearts you cut out can be opened up to make some "heart confetti":

Easy Peasy!

The winner of the Raw Rutes Juniper Cocktail Picks is Linda @ Life and Linda