From the Heart Stamps Birdbrain Valentine

I actually made a Valentine card. Couldn't resist using this new release from From the Heart Stamps of the Birdbrain chick. I think these guys are pretty cute. Happy Valentine's Day.

Valentine Sprinkle Cookies

I've made sprinkle cookies before and posted the recipe but these are just a teensy bit different and a teensy bit cuter with the adorable mini sugar hearts sprinkled on top. There is still time to whip up a batch for Valentine's day or anyday for that matter.

Valentine Sprinkle Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 cup sprinkles plus hearts for the top

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla.
Beat in dry ingredients and fold in sprinkles.
Shape into balls and flatten slightly by pressing additional sprinkles on top.
(I made about 18 cookies
Chill the dough for about 30 minutes to prevent spread. Bake in pre-heated 350F
oven for 8 minutes and cool on baking sheet. These will be very soft, yummy cookies. 

Conversation Heart Bark

Here's another quick Valentine confection that you can try. It's just an easy bark (I used chocolate chips and white chocolate melting wafers) with Rice Krispies and conversation hearts.

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Melt about 3 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips and spread it out in a thin layer on the cookie sheet. Let harden for about 20 min. then in another saucepan or carefully in the microwave, melt the white chocolate. Stir in about 3/4 cup Rice Krispies and spread over hardened chocolate layer. Sprinkle on conversation hearts and break into pieces when hardened.
This is a yummy combination and the hearts add that extra Valentine cuteness.

Valentine Candy Skewers

I've been working on a few ideas for Valentine's Day. I've made these candy skewers before but I thought I would make them again for my Valentine sale. My little Worker Bee Kate came over to help me package them up and sample a few treats.

 Here's a few tips if you want to give them a try. I got 8 inch skewers at a Restaurant supply place. They seemed to be a little thinner then the usual BBQ type and you don't have to cut off the excess, both important when you are threading 25 plus skewers. Spray them with some Pam to help the gummy candies slide on a little more easily. I always secure the bottom with a fairly heavy candy and cover the pointy top with a candy so it won't rip the bag. You can use any type of candy that will hold together when you skewer it. For some reason, candy just looks more appealing on a stick in a bag, tied up with some curling ribbon and a cute tag.....

M & M, Oreo Cookie Bars

One thing about cookie bars is they are very easy to whip up with none of the fuss of scooping out dough and changing cookie sheets. The downside is that I always find the edges are a bit crispier if you want the middle to be cooked. I guess that way you can satisfy both the crispy and soft tastes.
I believe this recipe was satisfactory because I gave  a batch to my neighbours and they served it up and got 2 requests for the recipe, so I will give it my endorsement also. (because you know I tried it too!).

Oreo Cookie, M & M Bars
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup light brown sugar packed
1 cup all purpose flour
15 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup M & M's

Line an 8x8 pan with aluminum foil. Spray with Pam
Melt butter, let it cool a little.
Add egg, sugar, vanilla and whisk. Add flour. Do not overmix.
Stir in Oreos. Smooth down the top a bit with a spatula.
Evenly sprinkle M & M's on top and lightly presss down.
Bake until the top is set and edges are browned. Cool before slicing.

From the Heart Stamps - Monthly Challenge

Look at me go.... This month's Freebie from From the Heart Stamps was this adorable Birdbrain image that comes with a whole whack of sentiments as well. And it's FREE! if you completed last month's challenge.
I thought I would double up my challenge participation and enter the weekly sketch 51 from the same site (you get $ towards future digi purchases)
Here's the Sketch I based my card on....

14 in 14

I decided to continue this year with my list of goals, not things I SHOULD do like go to the gym (ever) or eat better etc. etc but things I'd like to do and be mindful of through the year. The beauty of the list is if you don't complete it you can just add it to the list again the next year or discard it completely. No rules!
So here's my list for 2014. A little late, but then again, they're not resolutions, are they?

1.  Link up to more challenges
2. Try a new Pinterest recipe every month 
3.  Travel someplace I've never been
4.  Donate blood twice
5.  Support two charities (previously unknown to me)
6.  Write to my World Vision child at least twice
7.  Use one new scrapbooking item a month
8.  Compete with Lindor in CKC Rally/Obedience
9.  Use my Green bin (not to hold up the eavestrough)
10.  Use my freezer more wisely and on a regular basis
11. Read 20 books. (Fell a bit short last year)
12.  Participate in the Terry Fox run (walk)
13. Investigate some local Service Clubs
14.  Host another Major Scrapbooking Fundraiser.