Death By Chocolate

1 (19.8 oz.) box fudge brownie mix

1/2 cup Kahlua

3 (3.5 oz.) boxes Jell-O chocolate mousse

8 Heath candy bars

1 (12 oz.) container whipped topping

 

Bake brownies according to package directions; cool. Punch holes in brownie with fork. Pour Kahlua over brownies and set aside. Make Jell-O chocolate pudding according to package directions. Break Heath bars into small pieces with a hammer. Crumble half of the soaked brownies and place in the bottom of a glass trifle dish. Cover with half of the candy, half of the mousse, and half of the whipped topping. Repeat layers with the remaining ingredients.

 

This is by far one of the best desserts ever. And so easy to make! It's really rich, but highly addictive. Just be prepared, because if you make this it won't last long!

The New Business

So while I was on maternity leave, I decided that I needed to find a way to bring in a little extra money. I did a some research, and stumbled upon string art. I thought, "What the heck?!", and Vann and I decided to give it a whirl! A few days later, we were up and running! Thanks to Facebook, we have been quite popular and are starting to get orders on a consistent basis! How awesome is that?!? We are trying to expand as best as we can, and day-by-day we are thinking of new ideas to help our small little business grow. We are Dragonfly Terrace, and we love what we do! We also make customizable coasters, which are beyond awesome, and they are such personal and unique gifts (picture below). If anyone is interested in ordering their own customizable piece, please send us an email at dragonflyterrace@yahoo.com. Or you can find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dragonflyterrace. We can make anything you want, as big or small as you would like, with any number of colors! Prices for string art pieces vary by size and intricacy. Customizable coasters are $20 for a set of 4, plus $5.95 shipping. We truly love what we do, and we hope that you will become a part of this journey with us!

Spicy Sausage Pasta

1 Tbsp. olive oil

14 oz. smoked turkey sausage

1.5 cups diced onions

2 Tbsp. minced garlic

2 cups chicken broth (I used a 14.5 oz can)

1 (10 oz.) can Rotel tomatoes, not drained

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

8 oz. farafalle pasta

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions, optional

Add olive oil to an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add sausage and onions  and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add broth, tomatoes, cream, pasta, salt, and pepper; stir. Bring to a boil, cover skillet, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese. Top with remaining cheese and sprinkle with scallions. Broil until cheese is melted and lightly browned.

Yesterday I finally found the energy to make something for dinner. With little one due next month, I can't remember the last time I actually felt like getting into the kitchen and making something. My poor husband has been stuck eating out, or eating fast food, which isn't all that bad, but after a while it gets old, and I was starting to feel like a horrible wife! And mommy-to-be! I was determined to make something last night, and I am so glad that I decided to make this. It is a one pot meal, which is wonderful. Not only that, but it tasted absolutely amazing. Thanks again to Pinterest, we have now found another recipe that will be added to our regular rotation (once I feel like rotating again!). 

Spicy Spaghetti

2 green peppers

2 cans tomato paste

2 cans crushed tomatoes

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. basil leaves

1 tsp. oregano

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 pkg. pepperoni slices

1 pkg. meatballs

Cut up green peppers and cook in medium pot until soft. Add tomato paste, cooking until color becomes orange, then add crushed tomatoes and stir slowly. Add salt, pepper, basil, oregano, and garlic. Last, add meatballs and pepperoni to sauce. Let simmer for at least one hour.

I love this spaghetti! It doesn't have too much of a kick, but it has a heck of a lot of flavor. We actually went to Nashville this past weekend to see my parents, and when my Mom asked what we wanted for dinner Saturday night, the first thing I thought of was this spicy spaghetti. And it wasn't just the baby talking, either! It really is easy to throw together, and it makes the house smell incredible. Serve it with a salad and some garlic toast, and you have a truly incredible dinner.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Adapted from: annies-eats.com

2 cups plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
12 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled until warm
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (I prefer milk chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside. In a mixer, combine butter and sugars until thoroughly combined. Beat in egg, yolk, and vanilla until combined. Add flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop onto parchment-lined cookie sheets in 2 Tbsp. balls. Bake 11-14 minutes, or until light golden brown.

This is by far my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. They really do come out thick and chewy, and they don't taste like you just got the recipe from the back of a chocolate chip bag. Today was such a beautiful day, and it was about time I got in the kitchen and whipped up something quick and sweet. You can throw these together so fast, and they turn out wonderful every single time! Not only that, it finally gave me a chance to use one of the cookie scoops Vann gave me for Christmas!

Easy Breakfast Casserole

2 cups dry chicken flavored Stove Top Dressing
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups sausage, browned, drained, and crumbled
6 eggs, beaten
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 9x12 baking dish. Mix all ingredients together, then pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until set. Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.

I have never made a casserole on Christmas morning. I've seen a lot of people talk about it, and it was something that I have always wanted to do, but Vann and I alternate Christmas between Birmingham and Nashville each year, so we've never really been at home. This past Christmas we finally got to get up and enjoy the morning together and open our gifts before heading over to his Uncle's house to celebrate with the whole family. I was skeptical about the stuffing, but it turned out great! My taste buds have been a little off since I found out that we have a little bit on the way, so I'm hoping that next time I make this I will like bacon again so I can toss it in! This truly was easy to make, and once it was in the oven we were able to watch the Disney Parks Christmas Parade (which was perfectly fitting since this was our first married Christmas together, and we went to Disneyworld for our honeymoon!)!