Our Annual Valentine's Day Brownies

My mom made a simple yet yummy cake every year for us on Valentine's Day.
When she passed away 3 years ago, I decided to keep the tradition alive for my family. Why the heck not, right?

It is so simple and soooooo very good. Mom always made it in a heart shaped pan, but this year I decided to layer it and switch it up some.

• Make brownies...your choice. I used box mix, but if you feel adventurous by all means..make your own!
• Top with a can of cream cheese frosting (or make your own ya over achievers! hehe).
• Now plop a can of cherry pie filling (jeesh, you aren't going to make your own cherry pie filling now are you?)

Now I switched it up this year because I am wild and crazy like that. I made the brownies in a larger than normal pan, cut them in half...and layered. I also warmed up the frosting so it would would make more of a yummy glaze....and only used a half a can as a result (healthier, right?).

Seriously, make it. It will make you smile.

Have V-Day weekend.

Cherries Cherries Cherries

My menu was inspired by Joe at one of my fave food blogs. I did some minor changes due to me trying to loose weight and what we had on hand.

Here is my version:

Chicken Salad with Cherries and Goat-Cheese Dressing

2 ounces crumbled fresh goat cheese (low fat)

1/2 cup fat free sour cream

2 tablespoons chopped chives

2 tablespoons water

2 teaspoons white-wine vinegar

salt and fresh ground black pepper

1 1/2 tablespoons Olive oil

garlic/rosemary seasoning

2 large chicken breasts

1/2 Bag Spring Mix Salad

1 1/2 cup sweet cherries, pitted and halved (I used a straw to pit)

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

In a small bowl, whisk together goat cheese, sour cream, chives, water and vinegar - season to taste with salt and pepper.

Drizzle chicken breasts with olive oil and season with rosemary seasoning and s&p. Grill until no longer pink.

Remove and place on a cutting board to rest for 5 minutes. Thinly slice chicken.

To a plate add lettuce, chicken, cherries, dressing and walnuts. Enjoy!

The dressing was soooo good, Chad and I will definitely do this again! And the kids LOVED it.

Thanks Joe for the great recipe!

Now, for dessert. I bought some pastry shells and wanted to use more cherries. I made this recipe up...so I will call this:

Cherry Sussy hehe

4 pastry shells

1 C pitted cherries

1/2 C sugar

3T water

1T corn starch

1T lime juice

Fat Free Cool Whip (I had some on hand, added vanilla to mine and froze it... you can use ice cream for sure!).

Left over walnuts from dinner

Bake shells according to directions

In a sauce pan add cherries through lime juice, let it get bubbly and thick...stir stir stir. When cherries are nice and fat and sauce is thick, it is ready. You may have to add more sugar to thicken.

Then arrange: pastry, cool whip, cherry sauce, walnuts.....eat. Yum.