Balls To Go...Cake Balls That Is!!!!

This past week I started my first real grown up job out of college so I decided to start it out on the right foot! 

I know everyone has a soft spot for sweets so I made Cake Balls, and not just ho hum cake balls, but the decedent red velevet with cream cheese frosting covered with chocolate candy coating.

These cake balls are very simple to make and look like they took you hours to make.  I have to admit the first couple of times it took me a bit longer than it does now.  You know what they say... practice makes perfect! My family loves when Ipractice making cake balls!!

Must Haves:

-Box cake mix

-Container of icing 16oz

-Candy Coating

-Tooth picks

-Wax Paper

Here are the simple steps:

1. Prepare the cake as it directs on the back of the box and bake in a 9 by 13 pan.  

2. Bake the cake for the directed time on the box and you will know when the cake is done by sticking a tooth pick in the center of the cake. If it comes out clean then you are good to go!

3. Let the cake cool completely and then cut it into fourths

4. You will crumble the cake with your hands a fourth at a time.  (this can get messy but very fun, make sure you have a BIG bowl!)

5. Put 3/4th of the can of icing in the bowl of crumbled cake and mix it around. ( This can also count as an arm workout!)

6. Roll the cake balls in a ball shape as big or small as you like. Put on a sheet of wax paper

7. Melt the candy coating and start dipping.  

8.*Trick* After you dip the balls you want to try and get off all the extra coating then put them back on the wax paper.  IMMEDIATELY take a tooth pick and go around the base of the cake ball to make sure it will come off the paper in a round shape!

- The toothpick will make a line between the candy coating drippings and the cake ball

-They dry right away so you won't need to wait long unless it is really hot at your house!

 If you want to make them special you can melt a different type of color and pipe with a ziplock a design or just go over it very fast like I did mine.  

I made a scrapbook label on the top of my container to add a little punch of cuteness!! This is a very cheap and easy way to say you care! 

I hope you all have some cake ball fun of your own... trust me when you make them, they won't be around long!

Enjoy baking PLUS craft time!! 

Drug Of Choice..COFFEE!!

You know what I have come to love more and more these days??  I love iced coffee!!   I am not a huge coffee drinker because I would prefer to have brownies or some sort of chocolate in the morning to wake me up.  If you don't know this already,  I am addicted to sugar and it is my favorite food group!  My mom tells me I am just like my great grandmother, I see nothing wrong with that!!  

I have recently been getting sick from chocolate and sugar that I eat so I have to change around my morning routine a bit... I am not happy about this,  but it is for the better.  I am going to have iced coffee in the mornings to fill my sweet cravings and also wake me up.  I start my new "real grown up job" tomorrow at 7am so I will need something to jump start my day!  

I have tried to make iced coffee for a while now at home and I just thought I would never really understand how Starbucks does it.  I can't get the skinny vanilla latte to taste the same out of my kitchen!  I decided since I am on a budget it was time to tackle the task! I can save so much money by making my own latte at home than spending 4 to five dollars a day going to Starbucks!

I looked up some recipes that look simple, but I had to experiment myself or else I knew I wouldn't be satisfied. I got the Starbucks Dark Caffe Verona.  Iced coffee needs to have a dark roast because other wise its too weak and won't taste right.  I tried the light roast and all I could taste was the milk!

1.  I brewed the coffee like it said on the package and let it cool in the fridge over night.  

2. I filled my cup half with coffee and half with milk. (I use the almond milk because I am Lactose intolerant when it          

comes to milk) 

3. I added a teaspoon of vanilla extract 

4. Mix in sugar or Splenda, your preference.  I like sweet things so I added two to three Splendas. 

I am happy to say this satisfies my craving for now until I get addicted to coffee then I will need to think of another solution for my body!!  

Let me know if you have any tips about making iced coffee at home!!!

Dinner On A String ...Or Noodle

Hello Entertainers!

I don't know about you but does it seem like EVERYONE is getting married these days???  I know A LOT of my friends are engaged, or soon to be.  I just returned from one of my friends wedding in Chicago.  Traveling can get to be so expensive by the time you add in the airfare, food, and hotel!  I am finally back home in LA and wanted to catch up with one of my closest girlfriends, but since I just spend a good chunk of money on traveling I need to watch my bank account.  

One of my specialties is cooking and who doesn't have snacks ready for when guests come over?? I love Southern hospitality even though I am from the Midwest.  My way of showing people I care for them or appreciate them is to cook/bake for them. 

I am making dinner for my girlfriend tonight to catch up on life and our non-existent love lives! Like I said before I need to keep it cheap, but still delicious so I decided on the traditional spaghetti.  This is extremely cheap to make given that it only takes a few ingredients to whip up.  The only ingredients I had to buy were... 

1. Pasta

2. Meatballs

3. Marinara 

(I already have parmesan cheese and spices to amp up the meal)

My friend is bringing over Garlic bread since I am doing the cooking and entertaining.  This is a great idea to incorporate into your entertaining especially if you are on a budget.  Work out a plan with your friends that they will bring one item for dinner or to the event as a gift to you since you are cooking and hosting the dinner.  (this may seem very obvious but a lot of younger adults don't always know the proper etiquette)   

This is a very simple meal that everyone probably already knows how to make, but a great option for a small or big group of friends on a budget.  

*Tip*Sometimes I add in a can of spicy tomatoes or Italian style to add a little flavor, but I forgot them at the store! I just added in a little red pepper flakes  to get the same effect! 

~Introduction~

Hello guys and gals! 

I want to introduce myself and share with you who I am.  I am a normal girl who LOVES to entertain.  I just moved to Los Angeles, California away from all my family and college friends.  I graduated from Purdue University (Boiler Up) and am ready to start the next chapter of my life.  I invite you to join me on my journey.  I believe people should do what they love  so it’s time for me to start practicing what I preach!  I firmly believe with God, family, friends, and CHOCOLATE all things are possible.

I want to share my creative ideas about entertaining on a shoestring with you and all your friends.  Entertaining should be fun and inexpensive.. especially since I have student loans rolling in soon! 

I will be blogging about everything from food, baked goods, crafts, and how to maintain a budget with special splurges. 

I hope all of your creative minds are as excited as mine! 

-Kate