14 Days of Valentine's: Baked and Shaked Goodies

Friends! There are only 4 more days until Valentine's Day!!! Can you believe it?!?!

We are gearing up at our house for a fantastic "love" day...and hope you all have a love-filled day as well!

I want to thank the lovely Kirsten of One Tough Mother for creating, hosting and sharing this wonderful love inspired project with us! Thanks lady...you are awesome!!!

I have to give you all a teeny-tiny story....

today, 5 years ago...

the Mr. and I started dating...

holy moly

Our very first date was today...

5 years ago...people

where did the time go?

So this day is pretty special in my book...

That makes today even more awesome...!!!!
Love you Mr.!!!!

Ok, enough of the mushy stuff... let's get started shall we?!?

Let me just start off by saying...these cookies are hands down

one of the best I have ever eaten...

and I think you should run to your pantry, grocery, whatever

and make these yourself!!!

Your welcome :)

Ingredients

Red Velvet Layer:
3 1/4 cup flour
2 1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
4 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon red food coloring
2 teaspoons white vinegar

Cheesecake Layer:
2-8oz packages cream cheese, softened (go with the light to help w/calories!)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 Directions:

Preheat oven @ 350 degrees

In a large bowl, mix together dry ingredients ( flour, sugar cocoa powder, salt, baking powder). In a separate bowl, mix together wet ingredients ( eggs, vegetable oil, milk, vanilla ex., food coloring and white vinegar).

 Combine the two dry and wet ingredients and mix until mold-able...like dough. Remove about 3/4 cup of the batter into a separate container (to be used later) and spread the remainder into a cookie sheet pan...until batter is evenly distributed to all corners (think pizza crust style).  Set aside.

In a bowl (or stand mixer if you have one...I used a hand mixer, hence the bowl) combine your 2 packages of cream cheese and sugar....mix until fluffy... around 2-3 minutes or so...then gradually add the eggs and vanilla mixing well...also about 2 minutes. Finally, add the 3/4 cup of batter (the one you set aside earlier) and slowly work in the pieces...until you get a even pink tint...

Pour the cream cheese mixture over the red velvet base (the one in the pan), evenly distributing it to all four corner with a spatula.

Bake for about 25 minutes (rotating once for full baking coverage)....or until the top layer is firm.

Let cool completely before using the cookie cutters...I used 1 large, 1 medium and 1 small heart shaped cookie cutters...but you can use whatever size you'd like!

Viola!

 Eat, Share & Enjoy!!!

Ohhhhhhh and wait!!!
Did you think the fun stopped there?!?!?

Oh no...!

With the left over (un-heartshaped) pieces...I'm going to show you how to make this....!!!

I know!!! I'm excited too...2 desserts in 1?!?! Can it be?!?!?

Here's what you need:

Ingredients

about 4-5 large scoops of vanilla ice cream (choose your favorite brand)

handful of the left over red velvet cheese cake pieces (you know the stuff that didn't quite make a heart)

1/4 cup of milk (I used almond milk, but you can use whatever kind you like)

Blend the ingredients until smooth...adding more ice cream if needed...

...magical...

...and so delicious!!!

*warning....this shake is a tad sweet...so you may not want it for breakfast...or, you might!
hah...either way...it is a super treat!!!

Enjoy!

****************************

I cannot tell you how excited I am to be participating with this awesome group of ladies!!!
What better way to get together than with 14 whole days dedicated to love?!?!?

Today is day #10 (of course) of the blog hop, so if you haven't checked out the other amazing ladies that came before... go do that now!!! ...below are links to their sites so you can head on over and show them some love too!! Also...there are 4 more days left so make note of the ladies hosting on days 11-14 and make sure you follow along there too!!!

Feb. 1 – One Tough Mother

Feb. 2 – DIY Dreamer

Feb. 3 – Pitter and Glink

Feb. 4 – My Amazing Chaos of Life

Feb. 5 – Measure Once – Cut Twice

Feb. 6 – The Brown Eyes Have It

Feb. 7 – One Tough Mother

Feb. 8 – Pint-Sized Baker

Feb. 9 – J Yipp Photography

Feb. 10 – Bird & Tree (that 's me!!!)

Feb. 11 – Growing Up Gabel

Feb. 12 – Scrapity Anne

Feb. 13 – My Life and Kids

Feb. 14 – One Tough Mother

Here's some link love too!!