Friday, February 6, 2009

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries


Chocolate covered strawberries -- how much more decadent can you get? These luxurious treats are so easy to make and ideal to serve at a dinner party.

I simply melt some dark semi-sweet chocolate buds in a double boiler and then dip in the strawberries. The chocolate needs to set so I place the chocolate strawberries on a waxed baking sheet in the fridge for half an hour.

To make the strawberries extra special I like to melt some white chocolate and then dot on white chocolate seeds.

They're a guaranteed hit every time.

Ingredients:

  • 15-20 small - medium strawberries, washed and patted dry
  • 1 1/4 cups of dark semi-sweet chocolate buds
  • 1/4 cup of white chocolate buds (optional)
  • Double boiler or metal bowl to melt chocolate

Preparation:

Wash the strawberries well and then pat dry with a paper towel.

Line a plate with waxed paper. Set aside.

Fill a pot with warm water and then place a metal bowl over the pot. Make sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl.

Place the dark chocolate buds into the bowl and turn up the heat to medium-high.

Stir the chocolate while it melts to make sure it's smooth. Keep stirring until it's completely smooth.

Turn the heat down low but keep it warm enough that the chocolate doesn't harden.

Dip in each strawberry 3/4 of the way. Let any excess chocolate drip off and then place berry gently onto the waxed paper. Repeat process.

Once all the berries are coated place them in the fridge for 30 minutes and then serve.

If you want to decorate them with some white chocolate, then clean and dry the metal bowl. Place the bowl over the pot of water and then repeat process with the white chocolate buds.

Remove the strawberries from the fridge and then use a wooden or metal skewer to dot small amounts of white chocolate onto the dark chocolate coating. Repeat process and refrigerate for another 20 minutes. Serve.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

I'm cleaned....

I just finished doing what to me is a Scary Thing
I just finished cleaning out my eMails
I had some from as far back as 2004
Now I have about 32 folders to go through full of information BUT,
From over 3,600 eMails to 30 is Amazing for me.

Plus with tax time here-
I had to clean off my desk....
Now i don't have a small or even regular computer desk
I have one of those EXTRA LARGE Half moon shaped Executive desk
(bought off cheap-plus I need it)
I have only 1/3 of it cleaned BUT, that is one third less to clean.
LOL Still have the other two thirds to finish...LOL

I can FULLY see ALL keys on my keyboard....
That is AMAZING!!!

I have to admit-
I'm not the neatest person when it comes to my desk
the bad part is about half of it Isn't for me-
The kids drop off stuff on my desk
or I'll stick something here to hid from them
so I don't have to hear them fight for it
The only thing to that is IT gets lost...
Eatten' up by my desk clutter!!!!!

Now I have my 2 under desk storage drawers
to go through-One holds ALL Freebies
The other holds crafty thing to do with boys-
Each unit has 4 drawers...

Plus I have 2 XL drawers (suppose to be filling cabinets)
I have my sewing items in...That needs a cleaning out as well

I DO have a filling cabinet next to my desk
that is already CLEAN-It's a 4 drawer system.

1Drawer:
All my pictures on CD/DVDs
Important CDs for computer to work correctly

2 drawer:
Recipes, Cooking ideas, "Top Secret" Recipes,
Cook Books, & notes with recipes for cooking!!

3 drawer:
Gifts, rewards, specials-
this group goes for the boys
good grades, kindness, helping out
cleaning up after ones self with out mom asking
Over all-them being good dogs!!
I have in that drawer what each one likes
for Rex-train magazines & books & special items for his "one day" train city table
for Spot-firetrucks, & construction truck books & stickers
for Juicy-monkey stickers, Blue's Clues stickers, & mini books

I have folders in one drawer-
One folder for each expense such as:
electric bills
phone bills (house & cells)
water bills (house & delivery)
house note
my truck notes
hubby's truck notes
truck insurances
life insurances
health insurances
cable bill
clothes receipts
food receipts
fuel receipts
Donations receipts
Pay Check Invoices
Yard
(
this is for the spray of bug control
& our Yard maintenance
)

Education
(
anything that has to do with the subject
I don't to my son's school for different events
)

Entertainment Folder
(
that is anything else to do with our family
outings OR what we may spend for others
ex: rent movies, buy PPV UFC, parties,
dinners here at home for guest, vacations)

Hurricane Folder
(
when it is that time of the year
I like to keep track of all the spending
that is involved with what it takes to
evacuate, feed, fuel, & live in the event
Plus what my hubby is missing in work as well...BLAAA)

This way come tax time I can find
everything with out going "Mad dog"
on our house-Also comes in handy when
I need to find bills for certain departments-
Keeps everything in order!!!

I hope some of my organizing skills helps y'all out
It does tend to help MY life run just a tad smoother

TTFN-HAGD

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Shark Farts