Peanut Butter Fudge

This is THE BEST peanut butter fudge recipe there is! I promise. My mom has had this recipe for years and it does not compare the to microwave "easy" recipes out there. It's simply delicious. It makes a full 9x13" pan, so there's plenty to share or take to a holiday outing.

Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
Ingredients: 
4 cups of sugar
1 stick of butter
2 T Karo syrup
2 cups peanut butter
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 tsp cocoa

Directions:
Mix sugar and cocoa well. Add syrup and milk. Cook on medium heat until it comes to a boil. Add butter. Cook until soft ball stage (see note below). Add peanut butter and remove from heat. Use a whisk to beat until it starts to thicken and lose gloss. Pour into buttered 9x13" pan. Cool in fridge. Cut and Enjoy!

*Note* If you have never made candy before on the stove top you might not know what "soft ball stage" refers to. I had no idea and I called my mom in a panic after waiting for what seemed like forever for it to cook.

Soft Ball stage refers to a specific temperature range when cooking sugar syrups. Soft-Ball Stage occurs at 235-245 degrees. (you do not need a thermometer) This stage can be determined by dropping a spoonful of hot syrup into a bowl of very cold water. In the water, use your fingers to gather the cooled syrup into a ball. If it has reached soft-ball stage, the syrup easily forms a ball while in the cold water, but flattens once removed from the water.

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

I made this pie for our family Thanksgiving and it was wonderful! Last year I had a bit of difficulty making a pecan pie. For some reason it just wouldn't set. I was nervous about making another one this year, but this was such an easy recipe and turned out perfectly!

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
Original Recipe HERE

Ingredients:
(1) 9" prepared (unbaked) pie crust
3 eggs
3/4 c. light corn syrup
4 T butter, melted
3/4 c. light brown sugar firmly packed
2 T bourbon
2 T flour
1 T. vanilla
1 1/4 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. chocolate chips

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

-In a large bowl mix eggs, corn syrup, butter, light brown sugar, bourbon, flour and vanilla until well combined.

-Add pecans and chocolate chip.  Mix well.

-Pour into prepared pie crust.

-Bake on the bottom rack for 15 minutes at 425 degrees.

-After 15 minutes, reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for another 45 minutes.

Let pie cool at least an hour.

Enjoy!!!

Weekend

 We decorated our tree this weekend. 

 Pancho hates wearing clothes, so he was pretty mad when I put him in this Santa costume. 

 On Saturday we had a few friends over to hang out and we went a little overboard with the food. 

 Dan put together a nice looking meat and cheese tray! 

 I made the most amazing peanut butter fudge! I will post the recipe on the blog this week. I also made turtle treats and red velvet cookies.

Holiday Party Looks

This is my absolute favorite time of year for shopping, both for myself and others! I get so excited for the festive holiday dresses and outfits. I had to accept months ago that dressing is no longer fun and that there's always next year, post pregnancy.  I still get bummed that I can't buy anything or wear all the cute dressy holiday clothes this year. I could say it a million times, but there is a such a lack of trendy, quality, and affordable maternity clothing.

Since the baby is due this month, we don't have the usual amount of holiday events. We only have one company party, and I dread dressing for it. Nothing says fun like dressing up your 38 week pregnant self for a party you can't enjoy alcoholic drinks and certainly won't be embarrassing yourself by dancing at. ha! While trying to find something appropriate to wear I found LOTS of great non-maternity options.

If you are NOT pregnant and still looking for fun holiday options, here are so great ones!

Sequins

 

Top Row: all H &M
Bottom Row: ASOS dress
// Nordstrom Skirt // Victoria's Secret Pants // Nasty Gal Blazer
// ASOS jumpsuit

Feathers

Dillards Skirt // Dillards Dress // Revolve Clothing Dress// Dillards Dress // Topshop dress

Leather Dresses

Forever 21 // Ann Taylor // Forever 21 // Revolve Clothing // Nordstrom

 

Jumpsuit

Express // Ann Taylor // Loft

Maternity Holiday Look
 

Destination Maternity lace sleeve dress // H&M blazer (non- maternity) // H&M dress (fits like top) // Pea in the Pod faux leather maternity leggings // Macy's fur clutch purse

Nursery Progress

Since the beginning we have been busy designing the nursery. We have gone through countless ideas and colors and with 4 weeks to go we are still trying to get it finished. Dan has done a good majority of the work himself. I can't wait for everything to be finished! It may or may not happen before the baby comes home but we are at least ready with the necessities now.

 

Dan putting the crib together.

 

Precisely measuring the wall and attaching the decals.

 

A friend of mine is having a quilt made for us in the colors we have chosen above. I am SO excited to get it and tie all the other colors in the nursery together!

Mint green DIY changing table dresser.

 

I'll take some more pictures with my good camera and post as soon as it's a little closer to being finished!

Kardashian Kids

I have never really been into the Kardashian's style, but I recently looked up their kids line and I think it's pretty cute! I would imagine their Babies R Us kids line will go over better than their Sears women's line. I really like the neutrals with a touch of edge like the faux leather patch pants. Dan might not approve, but if we have a girl I could see myself buying a few pieces of the collection. They have a new boys line coming out too.