Valentine's Day Recipes: Cupcakes & Chocolate-y Chili

It's Valentine's Week!  

We have some super fun Valentine's recipes to share with you 

this week including a guest post from my sister Hannah, 

and a Valentine's Day Menu for You and Your Sweetie! 

And all of this while celebrating our 1 Yr Blogiversary! 

On Wednesday we will announce the winner 

of our Red Keurig Mini Brewer giveaway - which means you only 

have a few days left to enter!! 

Click HERE if you haven't had the chance. 

It's going to be a GREAT week! 

Let's start with two awesome recipes that leave your tastebuds feeling loved!

Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cupcakes 

with Peppermint Frosting

This was the first recipe on my blog I invented myself! 

I was nervous about how it would turn out. 

But I was so pleasantly surprised! 

They turned out so cute and sooo delicious!

Click HERE for the recipe.

Chocolate-y Crockpot Chili 

What is Valentine's Day without chocolate?! 

Ugh. I can't even imagine. 

In fact, this week our Valentine's Day Recipe for You and Your Sweetie 

is going to be chocolate-themed. Yes, you heard me. Chocolate-themed. 

As in chocolate is an ingredient in Every. Course. Yum. 

But this Chocolate-y Crockpot Chili is so good and super quick and easy. 

This week, choose a night you don't much time to spare, 

but still want to feel in the spirit of Valentine's. 

Your loved ones will thank you!

Click HERE for the recipe.

In case you missed our DIY Gift Ideas Post,
click HERE to see some great ideas
including this DIY House Warming Gift!

We will see you tomorrow for a guest post 

from my sister Hannah on some delicious Valentine's macaroons!!

SuperBowl Sunday Menu

This weekend is the SuperBowl! 

I love the SuperBowl - not so much because I care about football 

(or at least NFL football - this family is allllllll about Penn State Football!), 

but because I do love watching a good game, 

I looove funny commercials, I Loooooove SuperBowl food, 

and I LOOOOOVVVEE any excuse to have a party with friends. 

So whether you will be rooting for the 

Denver Broncos for the Seattle Seahawks, 

you are gonna need some delicious munchies for you and your guests! 

And Quick and Easy is best because who wants to be slaving away 

in the kitchen while the game and all your guests 

are in the living room crowded around the tv?!

Let's start with things you can use as the main meal. 

I'm fine to snack on appetizers all night, 

but my friend Ryan says we have to have "something substantial." 

Well for all of the Ryan's in the world, here are some suggestions:

Meatball Subs

Now there is nothing special about this recipe. 

In fact, I really didn't make any of it. 

But we said quick and easy, right? 

Throw these puppies in the slow cooker, 

set out some buns and cheese, 

and you have a self-serve meal that is ready all night.

Click HERE for the recipe.

Slow Cooker Cola Pulled Pork

Pulled Pork is another recipe you can throw in the slow cooker, 

set some buns beside and walk away. 

Always warm, always ready to eat. 

And this fun recipe has an extra fun taste 

by adding a can of your favorite soda!

Click HERE for the recipe.

Chocolate-y Crockpot Chili

When I think of SuperBowl food, 

I automatically think of Chili. 

Make ahead in the crockpot, 

and set out a fun toppings bar! 

Some cheese, sour cream, diced green onions, 

maybe some fritos! So good! 

Annnd! This recipe will have you ready for 

Valentine's Day at the same time! 

CHOCOLATE is an ingredient. Yes, I said it. Chocolate.

Click HERE for the recipe.

Meat & Veggie Stromboli

Stromboli's are another perfect football-watching food. 

And you can stuff them with several different things 

to have a variety for your guests! 

Here are two recipes for Meat and Veggie Strombolis. 

Excuse the poor photo quality. 

This was my first recipe on Teach Me How to Cookie!

Click HERE for the recipe.

Ok, let's switch gears to appetizers. 

Here are some Awesome Apps your guests will love to snack on!

Quick and Easy Guacamole

Last night I bought a huge bag of avocados. 

With several parties this weekend, 

I plan to be making lots of guac. 

This recipe is so simple, yet sooo good!

Click HERE for the recipe.

Originally this was a Halloween recipe, 

so you can ignore the cute little Frankenguac cup 

and just make the guacamole. 

And you may want to double triple this recipe!

Crescent Pizza Rolls

These are one of my favorites! 

And your kids will love this one too. 

3 ingredients and done.

Click HERE is for the recipe.

Mandy's Fresh Avocado and Feta Salsa

My friend Mandy shared this wonderful recipe a few months ago. 

It's a fun twist on traditional salsa, and since everything is fresh, 

it is actually a more HEALTHY option!

Click HERE for the recipe.

Cabbage & Ramen Noodle Salad

Now this recipe isn't technically an appetizer, 

but this salad is such a hit, I just had to include it. 

I have had so many people tell me how much they love this salad, 

or that they took it to a party and it was gone as soon as they served it. 

It's one of my top 5 viewed recipes! 

Your guests will LOOOVE this salad!

Click HERE for the recipe.

That's all for today! 

But on Sunday, I will be sharing 2 last minute recipes 

for those of you who are still scrambling. 

Nutella Football Cupcakes and Buffalo Chicken Dip. 

Both quick. Both easy. 

See you on Game Day!

Chocolate-y Crockpot Chili

Happy Valentine's Day!

One of my favorite things about winter is a good, hot bowl of chili. My husband and I eat chili pretty much once a week all winter long, but we are always trying to alter the recipe (what am I talking about, we don't really use a recipe for this!) to give it some new pizazz! I thought I'd share one of my favorite chili creations today, and since its still Valentine's Day, of course it has to have chocolate in it! Another awesome thing about this recipe - the crockpot. Oh yes. My favorite kitchen appliance!

Chocolate-y Crockpot Chili

Shopping List:

2 lb Lean Ground Beef

16oz Kidney Beans

16oz Black Beans

28oz Tomato Puree

1/4 C Diced Onion

1/4 tsp Black Pepper

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Paprika

McCormick 30% less sodium Chili Mix

1 tbsp Cinnamon

1/4 C Hershey's Chocolate Syrup

(Any chocolate sauce will do, but having grown up just outside 

of Hershey, PA and led Young Life at Hershey High School for 4 years, I have a very strong 

allegiance to Hershey's. I even have  a Hershey's syrup Christmas ornament 

on my Christmas tree!)

Toppings:

Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Diced Green Onions

Sour Cream

Tostito's Scoops (optional)

1. In crockpot, combine ground beef, kidney beans (drained), black beans (drained), diced onion, tomato puree, chili mix, cinnamon, and chocolate sauce.

2. Cook 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.

3. Add toppings and enjoy!!

Happy Valentine's Day from my Valentine and me to you and yours! 

Use this opportunity to remind the special people 

in your life, how much you love them!