Happy birthday to my wonderful boyfriend, Sawyer! I baked him Oreo bottom funfetti cupcakes with vanilla icing and skittles on top. I later named these goodies Oreo Butt Cakes!

I decided to film a video showing my sweet treats and ask you guys to do a favor for me to make this the best birthday EVER for him.

Step 1- Go to youtube.com/sawyerhartman and subscribe to his channel, then comment happy birthday on one of his videos!

Step 2 - Tweet him at twitter.com/sawyerhartman with #HappyBirthdaySawyer

Let's spam the heck out of his youtube and twitter.

Thank you so much everyone!

What's your favorite dessert on your birthday?

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Hola, everyone! Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, so today I’m sharing a simple salsa recipe that you can easily whip up in a flash. This is perfect to bring to a party or just enjoy as a snack any other day of the year. It won’t take long to make and you can adjust the amounts depending on how much you need to make.

10-Minute Salsa Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice
• 2 cans (10 Ounce) Rotel (diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies)
• 1/4 cup Chopped Onion
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin
• 1/4 teaspoon Sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 1/2 cup Cilantro (more To Taste!)
• 1/2 whole Lime Juice

Directions:

(Note: this is a very large batch – the chef recommends using a 12-cup food processor if you make it all at once, otherwise you can process the ingredients in smaller batches and later mix it all together in a large bowl.)

1. Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor.
2. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you’d like. (Recipe suggests about 10 to 15 pulses)
3. Test seasonings out with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed.
4. Refrigerate salsa for at least an hour and serve with tortilla chips

If you’re feeling a little bit more adventurous, here are cinco other salsa recipes I found that sound really tasty and interesting:

• Mango Salsa recipe
• Grilled Corn Salsa recipe
• Peach Salsa recipe
• Vegetable Mint Salsa recipe
• Hot Salsa Verde recipe

I recommend going all out with your homemade salsa. Clean out a mason jar or other nice container, and then make your own custom label for the dip.

Do you prefer spicy or mild? If you make any of these, tell me in the comments!

P.S. Recipe is from The Pioneer Woman & photo is from here.

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My favorite food of the moment is definitely quiche. It might be a bit odd, but I had it 3 times in the span of 10 days, which proves I am in love! If you haven’t tried it yet, you absolutely should!
 
My little love affair with quiche started when we were filming Beauty Vlogger Boot Camp. The caterer had it for breakfast the first morning we were filming and I totally fell in love with it. Quiche and I met again at Little Next Door when I ordered it for lunch a few days later, and then again at Blair’s birthday party (click here for more on all of the food she had for her Breakfast in Bed birthday party!). This was all within a span of about 10 days! LOL! I haven't had it since but writing this makes me crave it!
 
My favorite kinds are the ones with cheese and/or vegetable; I don’t like the meat ones quite as much, so I will usually order a vegetarian quiche when I eat it at restaurants.
 
Below is a recipe for classic spinach and cheese quiche from Smitten Kitchen. I haven’t made this yet myself, but it sounds really yummy and not too complicated. Try it out if you’re in the mood to get in the kitchen this weekend!
 
Spinach Quiche
 
Ingredients:
·      1 3-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
·      1/3 cup half and half (or milk)
·      3 eggs
·      1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
·      1/2 cup grated cheddar (gruyere works well, too)
·      1/4 cup grated Parmesan
·      4 to 6 green onions, thinly sliced (1/2 cup finely diced red or white onion or shallots work as well)
·      1/4 teaspoon salt
·      1/4 teaspoon pepper
 
Directions
1.    Preheat oven to 425°
2.    Beat cream cheese in medium bowl until smooth. Gradually beat in half and half and eggs. Mix in remaining ingredients.
3.    Pour mixture into prepared crust.
4.    Bake until crust is golden brown and filling is set, about 25 minutes.
5.    Cool 10 minutes before serving.
 
Do you like quiche? What’s your favorite food of the moment?
 
For the original source of the photo and recipe, click here.

Easter is almost here, so today I thought I’d put together a list of some pretty and colorful Easter-inspired treats for you to try making this weekend – or just drool over from your computer screen! Here they are…let me know which one is your fav in the comments. 

1. These are so clever – the twigs are actually chow mein noodles!
    

   

2. These look like they require some skill, but the payoff might be worth it! These little Brownie Eggs are so sweet:
    
3. Bunny Cake Pops! I LOVE the pipe cleaner ears on these:
    
4. This isn’t really a treat per se, but it’s just too cute to pass up. Click here to learn how to make this adorable Bunny Bread.
    
5. These Peeps S’mores are so fun and colorful. Maybe these will cure Elle’s hatred of Peeps? LOL.
    
6. These Homemade Marshmallow Nests are so precious:
    
7. I feel like just about everyone would like these Easter M&M Cookie Sticks. Click here for the recipe.
    
8. Can’t forget about popcorn! Click here to learn how to make this Salted Caramel Easter Popcorn.
    
9. Do they still make pastel Oreos for Easter? Because these look yummy…
    
10. And finally, this Easter Candy Bark might be one of my favs on the list. It’s got it all...even pastel candy corn! Click here for the recipe.
     

Which one do you want to try the most?

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How much do you love this sign? I just think it’s so great… I want to hang it in my kitchen! Ha! Anyway, I know I’ve said it before, but this sign is a good reminder so I’ll say it again: sometimes, you really do just have to treat yourself. Whether it’s a latte or dessert, it’s nice to have something to look forward to and reward yourself with. Just make sure you keep it a treat and save it for the occasions when you really need it…like Mondays!

Here are 3 smart treats you can pack yourself if you need to de-stress with a little dessert:

1. Sherbet or sorbet – Sherbet or sorbet is a much smarter, much more refreshing alternative to ice cream. Perfect for summer!
2. Angel Food Cake with berries – Angel food cake is naturally low-fat but still very sweet and yummy. Add berries for even more flavor and extra nutrients.
3. Dark chocolate and nuts – Try making a little trail mix with your favorite variety of each!

When you need to treat yourself, what do you reach for?



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Print by Rock the Custard.

Hi loves! Do you have any fun plans for St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow? Since I had so much fun putting together my post on Valentine’s Day-inspired treats last month, I thought I’d put together a similar post for this month’s holiday!

Whether you’re having a get-together with your friends or you just feel like doing something festive, here are 10 yummy treats that keep the St. Patty’s Day spirit alive:

1. You guys know I love my Thin Mints, so naturally I had to include these Thin Mint Krispie Treats in the recipe round-up:
   

   Pin It

2. These Green Velvet Cheesecake Shamrocks look like they could just melt in your mouth:
   
3. For your more “traditional” velvet cake, why not try these Green Velvet Cake cupcakes?
   
4. This recipe for Shamrock Ice Cream Pie looks really quite simple and would be great to make with your family to enjoy right away:
   
5. I think these Leprechaun Hat S’mores are so creative! You could even keep this recipe on hand to make top hat s’mores come Thanksgiving.
   
6. If you like a little salt with your sweets, I would try this Lucky Leprechaun Cookie Bark that’s made with pretzels:
   
7. Back to cupcakes! These Andes Mint Cupcakes with Mint Buttercream frosting are both scrumptious-looking AND the prettiest shade of mint green:
   
8. These Chocolate-Mint Thumbprints from Betty Crocker look like the perfect size dessert to pack for an on-the-go treat:
   
9. These Homemade Mint Oreos look so dreamy!
   
10. And to round out our list, I give you the “Leprechaun Trap Cake”… I applaud anyone who attempts this intricate creation!
    

Do you have a favorite green treat? Which one on this list do you want to try? Share in the comments below!

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Hey everyone! I found the CUTEST cupcakes online and just had to do a post on them… Take a look at these little monkey cupcakes:

Pin It

Don’t they just make you happy? LOL. Anyway, I thought it might be a fun activity to try baking these and wanted to share how I would make them with you all. Maybe you can make them over the weekend and bring them in to work or school on Monday as a fun surprise for your friends and classmates!

Here’s how I suggest making these:

• The cupcakes themselves could really be any type of cake you want – it’s all about the topping with these. I would just choose your favorite basic cake recipe and focus your energy on the frosting.
• For the top of the cupcakes, I would try using chocolate frosting first, and then using regular Nilla Wafers, Mini Nilla Wafers, red gel icing, and hot fudge for the faces.
• After frosting the cupcakes, make the monkey faces by first slicing off a very thin edge from each of the Nilla Wafers to create the mouth shape.
• With red gel icing, draw the smile on the wafers.
• Heat up some fudge and add little droplets for the nose markings on the wafer (hold off on the eyes for now).
• Then gently press the wafer into the frosting where you think the mouth should go.
• Now add the eyes on the frosting with droplets of hot fudge. You could even use chocolate chips to make it a little easier.
• Break a Mini Nilla Wafer in half and place each half equal distance from the eyes for the ears. Now you have your monkey!

Are these the cutest cupcakes you’ve ever seen? If you make them, take a picture and upload it to your ElleandBlair.com profile and post the link in the comments!

Photos and recipe are from here.

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Pin It

It’s that time of year again. Nope, not spring…Girl Scout Cookie season!! Those incredible little cookies are yours for the taking pretty much everywhere by now. Since I am just so excited and I know a lot of you are too, I thought I’d share what my favorite cookie is and a recipe that you can try to make them at home yourselves.

My absolute favorite kind of Girl Scout Cookie is hands down the Thin Mints. I am so in love with them that I can eat an entire box in one sitting. LOL. Do you ever freeze yours too? Soo yummy!

Here’s an easy-looking recipe I found online that you can try at home this weekend. I haven’t tried it out before but I really want to, so let me know if you do or if you have another recipe of your own. :)

Homemade Thin Mints Recipe
Courtesy of BakingBites.com
Makes 3 ½ - 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• 6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup white sugar
• ½ cup butter at room temperature
• 1/3 cup milk
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ¾ tsp peppermint extract

Directions:

1. Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder and salt in a small bowl
2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. With a mixer on low speed, add in the milk and extracts. The mixture will look curdled. Gradually add in the flour mixture until it is fully mixed together
3. Shape the dough into two logs, about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Wrap in plastic and freeze for at least 1-2 hours, until dough is very firm.
4. [Once dough has been thoroughly chilled] Preheat over to 375.
5. Slice dough into rounds no more than ¼ inch thick (keep them thin so that they stay crisp!) and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. They won’t spread too much while baking so you can place them quite close together on the sheet.
6. Bake for 13-15 minutes, until cookies are firm at the edges.
7. Cool the cookies completely before dipping phase

Dark Chocolate Coating

• 10 oz dark or semisweet chocolate
• ½ cup butter at room temperature

1. Combine chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Melt in microwave on high, stirring every 45-60 seconds, until chocolate is smooth. The consistency should be somewhere between chocolate syrup and fudge for a thing coating
3. Dip each cookie in the melted chocolate, turn with a fork to coat, and transfer to a piece of parchment/wax paper.
4. Let cookies sit for at least 30 minutes, or until chocolate is cool and firm.
5. Reheat chocolate coating mixture as necessary to keep it smooth and easy to dip into.

Click here for the full recipe.

What’s YOUR favorite cookie? Vote in the comments below!

P.S. Did you know there are even smartphone apps for girl scout cookies now?! If you have a smartphone you can find cookies near you on the go with The Kellogg Company’s Girl Scout Cookie Locator App. Click here to access it in iTunes. I recommend taking the “What’s Your Cookie Personality?” quiz.

P.P.S Photo is from here.

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It’s Friday! With Valentine’s Day less than a week away, I thought I’d put together a list of fun treats that you could try making this weekend and share with family or friends for the holiday. Here are 10 that caught my eye:

1. Adorable Valentine’s Day Buttons. You can get the recipe for these simple, pretzel treats here.
   
2. This Valentine Confetti looks like the perfect balance of salty and sweet:
   
3. These red velvet cake pops decorated for Valentine’s Day look super yummy:
   Pin It
   
   
4. These Conversation Heart Cheesecakes look identical to the candy!
   
5. I love the tiny hearts on these chocolate-covered pretzels:
   
6. For the gluten-free gal on your list, try making this festive Valentine Chex Mix:
   
7. Rice Krispies Treats are such an easy treat to make, so if the rest of these recipes sound complicated, this might be the one for you. Get the directions for how to make these heart-shaped versions here.
   
8. Chocolate-covered strawberries are always a classic sweet treat and this recipe promises to make them in no time at all.
   
9. Melt-in-your-mouth rose marshmallows would be perfect for fondue or cocoa. I think the idea of cutting them out using themed cookie cutters is so sweet:
   
10. The decorated sugar cookie will always, always be a tasty holiday staple. Simple, heart-shaped cookies are lovely and would be so cute tied up in a plastic cellophane bag as a gift. To change things up, why not make them extra teeny tiny:
    

These would all make great gifts for family and friends alike. Have some fun with the packaging and write a sweet little note on the tag before you give them out.  Do you have a favorite tasty treat that you like to make (or eat!) for Valentine’s Day? Which of these 10 do you want to try?

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Hey guys! You know how sometimes you wake up with a major sweet tooth but you don’t want to start off your day by eating a bunch of sugar? Well, I’ve got just the recipe for you. It’s a little delicious something the editor of Healthy Bitch Daily, Armie Valpone, shared with me called Almond Coconut Crepes. These crepes are not only gluten-free and vegan, they are packed with potassium and fiber too. Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

• 4 large bananas
• 1 medium coconut
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/6 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp. almond extract

Directions:

1. In a blender or Vitamix, combine bananas and coconut meat.  Blend; add coconut water until mixture is creamy. Add remaining ingredients; continue to blend until smooth. Transfer mixture to dehydrator Teflex Sheets.
2. Dehydrate until dry, then flip to ensure even drying.
3. Remove from dehydrator, transfer to serving dishes. Place fresh fruit and raw nut butter into the center of each crepe; roll up and enjoy.

What’s your favorite sweet but healthy breakfast recipe?

Photo is from here.

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Hi guys! During the holidays, Blair and I like to get cozy in our favorite pajamas and Uggs and bake together. We’ve been doing this ever since we were little girls and it’s something I always look forward to when Christmas is around the corner. I was researching recipes online for holiday cookies and found the CUTEST idea: Reindeer Cookies! They remind me of my favorite reindeer mug from Glitzy-Glam and I’m so excited to bake them with Blair. The little chocolate covered pretzel ears are adorable and the bright red M&M nose makes me smile. Did I mention these little nibbles of deliciousness are peanut butter flavored? Yum! I found the recipe on Bakergirl (apparently the peanut butter cookie recipe is from Jif) and have posted the recipe for you guys to try out below:

Ingredients:
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
Chocolate-covered mini pretzels
Mini brown M&Ms
Regular-sized red M&Ms

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Combine brown sugar, peanut butter, shortening, milk, and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Add egg; beat until just blended.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended.
4. Form dough into 1-inch balls. To make reindeer-shaped cookies, pinch the bottom of the ball slightly to form a point, then gently flatten with your hand. Space cookies about 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 7 to 8 minutes, until set or just beginning to brown.
5. Remove from oven and immediately (and gently) press two mini pretzels into the tops of the cookies for the reindeer's antlers. Press two mini brown M&Ms in for the eyes and one red M&M for the nose (or any other color... some of mine ended up with green noses. They might be South Pole reindeer.).
6. Allow it to cool 2 minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire rack or paper towel to cool completely.
7. Makes about 40 reindeer cookies.

What’s your favorite holiday cookie recipe?

Leave links to other cute recipes you’ve found online in the comments below too! I’ll let you know how our reindeer cookies turn out after Christmas.

Photo & Recipe from Bakergirl

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