Love and Cupcakes (Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting)

My wonderful, sweet, supportive, smart, funny, awesome husband's birthday is tomorrow.  When asked what he wanted me to make for his special day, he answered, "Cupcakes.  And macaroni and cheese.  And blueberry muffins."  

With fun sprinkles!!

Life by Chocolate (Truffles)

Today, I'm officially renaming Valentine's Day "Life by Chocolate" Day.  I think this name better captures the essence of what modern V-Day is all about - loading our loved ones up with sugar.  Honestly, I'm all for it.

 

Hubby and I don't go all out for Valentine's Day, since we just had Halloween, Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, New Years, and his birthday (in two weeks).  We kind of look at is as a good time to reexamine how we share our love for each other over the entire year.  

And as an excuse to drink wine and go out to dinner.

These little bite-sized Life by Chocolate Truffles go really well with wine.

Or milk.

So whip up a batch and go drink some with the one you love.  Even if that's yourself.  I won't tell.  :o)

Life by Chocolate Truffles

12 Oreo cookies, crushed

8 oz white chocolate

2/3 cup heavy cream

8 oz dark chocolate

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened ever so slightly

Over a double boiler or in the microwave, heat 1/3 cup of the cream to just before boiling.  Chop the white chocolate and stir into the hot cream.  Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted, set aside to cool.  Mix together (a hand mixer works best) the crushed Oreos and cream cheese until combined.  Stir in the cooled white chocolate mixture, being care not to overmix but making sure that the ingredients are combined completely.  Shape into 1 inch balls; refrigerate on a piece of wax paper for 20-30 minutes, until firm.  Heat the remaining 1/3 cup of cream.  Chop the dark chocolate and pour the cream over top.  Stir until combined, allow to sit for 5 minutes, until cool.  Dip the truffle balls into the chocolate and allow to sit 20-30 minutes, until set.  Enjoy!

It's that time again, folks (Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies)

Time for midterms!!

For what is hopefully the last time, my classmates and I are cramming for midterm week.  This quarter (hopefully our last) we have fluffy classes like "Leadership and Management" (which strangely reminiscent of a corporate training seminar), Ethics (what is the answer to life the universe and everything?) and "Research and Nursing" (a hypothesis is an educated guess).  We're also taking an NCLEX and skills review class to get us ready for the final comprehensive HESI exam (read: giant pretend nursing licensure exam at the end of the term that we have to pass to graduate) and review our clinical skills, like IV medications and dressing changes.  On top of all that fun, we have two serious classes, Critical Care Nursing and Gerontology (elderly) Nursing. 

Due to some curse by the scheduling gods and the Philadelphia area meteorologists, both our heavy class midterms are scheduled for tomorrow.

Which is Friday.