Gooey Desserts, Yummy Dips and other HAPPY Things...........

ahem. . . . . 

this is my kinda happy. . . . . . 

so it seems only right to focus on a few things that make me smile.

or feel happy.

and of course, food is part of that!  haha

but there's other stuff, too.

like this super cool truck. . . . . . 

now doesn't the sight of santa sitting in his truck just make you 

smile?

in my weekly email from pinterest,

my most popular "pin" was of this YUMMY appetizer dip.

funny too, because i haven't made it in years!

but it IS yummy, and EASY.

and VERY husband friendly.

unless he is on some weird diet.

then, whatever. lol

Zesty Fiesta Sausage Dip

1 package (16 oz.) Jimmy Dean® Regular Flavor Pork Sausage Roll

1 large onion chopped

1 large red bell pepper, chopped

1-2 jalapeno peppers, seeded, chopped

2 pkgs. (8 ounces each) cream cheese, cubed

1 large tomato, seeded, chopped

½ cup hot yellow banana peppers, drained, seeded, chopped

⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro (i don't like cilantro, so i often eliminate this:)

Tortilla chips or crackers for serving

Directions

1. Cook sausage, onion, red pepper and jalapeno peppers in large skillet over medium-high heat 8-10 minutes or until sausage is thoroughly cooked and vegetables are crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Drain sausage mixture; return to skillet.

2. Reduce heat to medium; stir in cream cheese. Cook and stir 5-8 minutes or until cream cheese is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Stir in tomato, banana peppers and cilantro; cook and stir 3-5 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

3. Serve with chips.

Cook’s Tips: Substitute ¼ cup chopped drained jarred pickled jalapeno peppers for the fresh jalapeno peppers. Garnish with additional chopped tomatoes and cilantro just before serving. Spoon hot dip into small slow cooker or chafing dish to keep warm while serving.

i love this sign. . . . . . 

it truly makes me smile!

 i think these bags are AMAZING!

and amazingly easy.

my new obsession:)

gather old leather handbags. . . . . . 

or hit up a thrift shop.

use some no-sew glue to place the doilie and embellish with jewels.

sooooooo cute!

this snowglobe cake from Taste of Home is MUCH easier than you think.

and it is also CUTE, don't ya think?

and for a dessert you're gonna want to DIVE into. . . . . . 

omg. . . . . . .

it has everything good in it!

Better Than Anything Cake

By Chef in Training 

1 box chocolate cake mix and any ingredients it requires

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (16 oz) jar caramel topping

1 (8 oz) container cool whip thawed to room temp

3-6 Heath Candy Bars chopped

instructions

Bake cake according to directions in a 9x13 pan.

Let cake cool for about 5 minutes.

Poke holes in cake with the handle end of a wooden spoon. 

While cake is still warm, slowly pour over sweetened condensed milk over the top making sure some gets in all the holes of the cake.

Next drizzle the caramel topping evenly over the cake slowly, 

making sure some gets in all the holes as well.

Spread cool whip over the top evenly.

Sprinkle with Heath Candy bar pieces.

Store in fridge until ready to eat. 

Store any leftovers in fridge.

leftovers?

what leftovers?  haha!

last but not least,

this CRACKS ME UP!

i know, i know, it's a halloween costume!

but i remember these cabbage patch dolls.

and this little doll looks like the CUTEST cabbage patch doll ever.

i want one of her for Christmas:)

 xoxoxo

Suzanne

Hurricane Isaac, Random Stuff.....and FOOD:)

Hurricane Isaac is on it's way.
but before i write any more,

i am so sorry to hear about the people killed in Haiti
and the Dominican Republic.
i can't imagine living in a tent during this!
all we can do is pray, right?

so, living in south florida,

we are kinda used to this.

and it looks as if we will "only" get a few 

REALLY rainy/windy days.
no worries......
all we need is some of this stuff and this attitude.......

Hurrican Isaac by shabbychicks featuring pink boots

OKAY.......

it's cool going to the beach in the days leading up to it.

we went to the Naples Pier Friday night and

all was calm.......HOT and sunny:)

Yesterday we went for a walk on the beach.....

calm but now cloudy.

and today, we should feel a breeze when we go.

oh my gosh, i wish i could bottle that  breeze.

it really has been a LONG HOT SUMMER!

here are some pics from the weekend.......
i have to ask,
what do you think of my hair?
besides the fact that is SHORT?:)
it's okay if you have nothing nice to say.....
i took a razor to it Friday afternoon:)

yesterday we found colorful little shells.
and SEAGLASS!
 always a special treat!
i noticed Taylor picking up broken shells that were very colorful.
she has always collected shells.....
we all do.
but Taylor used to (still does)
collect broken ones, too.
i finally asked her why.
she said "look at the outside of a broken shell and then the inside.
sometimes the inside is much prettier."
WHOA.......
talk about a lightbulb moment!

maybe, just MAYBE, it's a great reminder
to see what's on the inside rather than the
 outside of people.
yep, that's what it is alright:)

i love this.........

it's no accident......by the way:)

food.
did i mention food in the title?
OF COURSE I DID!
what else do i talk about.....
or think about?:)
well..........
i found the MOST amazing cookie recipe
from culinary concepts by peabody on pinterest.

culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody

these are so soft and YUMMY!

White Chocolate Topped Gingerbread Cookies

3 cups flour

2 tsp. Ginger, Ground

1 tsp. Cinnamon, Ground

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. Nutmeg, Ground (I used fresh)

1/4 tap salt

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1 egg

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 cup white chocolate chips

Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl.

Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add molasses, egg and vanilla; beat well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Press dough into a thick flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies just begin to brown. Immediately press about 5-6 white chocolate chips into center of each cookie. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Store cookies in airtight container up to 5 days.

Adapted from McCormick and Company Inc.

and one of my favorite,

SUPER easy appetizers is to throw a brick of light cream cheese on a plate,

dump some pepper jelly on top and serve with crackers.

(throw.....dump......gee! really makes it sound appetizing. hahaha)

ANYWAY, look at this cute idea using just those ingredients......

How clever! Just cut a cream cheese block in half on the diagonal to make a tree shape. 

Add some bell pepper decorations and some pepper jelly (and crackers), 

and you have an awesomely cute appetizer! (Betty Crocker)

lastly, i leave you with a cloud photo

my 15 year old daughter, Jordan, snapped with her phone the other day.

can you see anything in the clouds?

let me give you a clue.......

we just finished watching Shark Week on TV.

for some weird reason, we like Shark week:)

it's a SHARK cloud!

see his pointy nose, eyes, TEETH.........

i think it's super cool.

i want it to go viral.........

she caught a great photo and deserves it:)

okay my friends,

be BLESSED on this Sunday morning!

XOXOXOXOX

Suzanne