Valentines Almanac

[issuu width=550 height=287 embedBackground=%23f7c6c6 shareMenuEnabled=false showHtmlLink=false printButtonEnabled=false shareButtonEnabled=false searchButtonEnabled=false backgroundColor=%23222222 documentId=120213001125-71eadd5b2b074b8ab1b3b4425791757e name=valentine_almanac username=connectfour tag=archecture unit=px id=312d90cc-9e30-6ba2-1bb5-03433790a5a0 v=2]

Neapolitan Valentine Treat

 

Today I’d like to share with you a recipe I found on this blog. This is a perfect, delicious shortcake cookie for a Valentine Treat… Enjoy!

What You’ll Need:

– 1 cup of unsalted butter
– 1/2 cup of sugar
– 1 1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
– 1/2 teaspoon of Almond Extract
– 1/4 teaspoon of salt
– 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
– Pink or Red food coloring
– 2 1/2 tablespoons of Cocoa Powder
– 1 large egg
– 1 tablespoon of water

Add sugar and butter to a bowl and cream well with a mixer… Then add vanilla extract and almond extract. Mix. Now add the flour and salt, mix on low.

The dough should be a bit crumbly so knead it together to ensure that it doesn’t fall apart. Then separate into three equally divided balls of dough

Place one of the balls of dough in a bowl and add the cocoa powder, use a mixer to blend these together to make the brown colored dough, or you can also knead the cocoa powder and dough together to make this mixture.

Add another portion of dough to a bowl and add a few drops of pink food coloring, blend together with a mixer and you have your pink colored dough!

Take each color of dough and place it between two pieces of wax paper or plastic wrap and roll it to a thickness of about 3/8 inch

Use  a ruler and sharp knife to cut the dough into 3/4 inch wide strips and refrigerate for about 20 minutes. While the dough is refrigerating whisk together the egg and water .

Lay a large piece of wax paper out and spread egg and water mixture on a small strip of the wax paper before placing a strip of brown dough on it. Then repeat with pink and white strips using the egg mixture as a “glue”… continue process till you have a large striped dough pattern. Finally take a heart cookie cutter and cut  hearts out of the pattern.

Pre-Heat oven to 350 degrees and cook for 8-10 minutes and you have yourself a very tasty Valentine treat!

I’m Lovin’… Valentines Day

Yesterday I had a movie night with my amigos, we went out to eat and gathered at my house to watch the classic National Treasure. It was nice to catch up and just chill :] For our movie snacks we had chocolate popcorn (made by a local street vendor in my neighborhood), coke/sprite, and my mommy’s homemade Lemon Bars. Yumm…

Valentines Day is almost in our grasp <3 and to tell you the truth I haven’t thought about it much. I think I might make some goody bags for my sis’ but I need to think about it more this weekend… Hope you get lots of Xs’ and Os’ this year on Valentines Day!

One: Don’t forget your camera to capture the moments :]

Two: Etsy Sailor Playsuit… CUTE!

Three: Red Velevet Cupcakes are to-die-for!

Four: Wear the reddest Lipstick you own <3

Sources: one, two, three, four

Late Night Snack

Let’s face it, it is intrinsic to have late night cravings. Unfortunately for me it is a terrible sweet tooth – which often lands me in the dentists office – but that’s beside the point. My late night snack tonight is 1/2 blonde and 1/2 brownie! Such contrast – such sweet balance – they were made for each other! Just like yin and yang. Ok, maybe I’m over dramatizing this, but I was thrilled to find that my mom had made a pan of blondes when I came home from school today. I waited until Mom and Dad were safely tucked in bed, then I sneaked to the kitchen to get this amazing snack!

Disney/Pixar Sondtrack

Beginning a new week of school always calls for an upbeat soundtrack or two. So today I would like to share with you some of my all time favorite Disney/Pixar classics. These songs can make me laugh, cry, but most importantly dance 🙂 With school work always piling up sometimes its nice to drop everything and have a bit of fun! Hope you enjoy!

Disney/Pixar by Connecting Four on Grooveshark

Details: Depression Glass

Eating at my grandparents house is always a treat, I mean, the food is great-straight from the garden-and getting to catch up is even better; but one thing that I really love is their cutlery and glassware, a mixture of Depression Glass and Elegant Glass-two types of vintage dining china that were both introduced in the early 1920’s to the 1950’s. Depression glass has interested me more because of its connection to the major economic event in our country’s history: The Great Depression. Durring that time, companies would produce glassware and package it inside of cereal boxes and other non-durable products as incentive to buy the goods. They were also given out as a sort of freebie at movies and other events.

Depression glass is still a great addition to any kitchen and a great way to present food at parties and other gatherings. Our family has a set of Sierra Green Depression Glass that we love to bring out on special occassions.

The details invested in these pieces of glass are what make them really special to me. They are great for age-whether you are a college student and feel like being “hipster”, or are a working young adult and need something else for the less-than-authentic

Some other great uses for depression glass pieces are: as a vase for flowers, presenting candies or nuts, serving tea or coffee, in decor, or as a bathroom accessory.

Thank you Vicki, Calloohcallay, and Ginny for capturing depression glass so well.
 

My Favorite Snacks

Hello! School has been crazy but God has definitely helped me through this first week back through these verses in Psalm 49:18-19 : When I said, “My foot is slipping” your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.  That verse always reminds me to thank God for everything I have!

Today I would like to share with you guys some of my favorite snacks, for those times I need a little treat. I love food and I don’t know what life would be like without our pantry stocked with some of these items :]  1. Pretzels:  I love pretzels because they are the perfect snack for when you’re craving something salty.

2. Hot Cocoa: Hot Chocolate is perfect for whenever I’m cold and in need of a sweet drink to gulp down.

3. No Bake Cookies:  I love making no bake cookies real quick to bring to school or to have over the weekend.

4. Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing are to die for… I would chomp those down anyday!

5.  Fresh Fruit are perfect for when you want something crisp, sweet and, of course, healthy.

Sources: {1 Bowl of Pretzels, 2: Rich and Creamy Hot Chocolate, 3: Nutella No Bake Cookies, 4: Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing, 5: Rainbow Fruit Skewers}