A Little Basket Stuffer

I can't believe it's almost Easter! It seems like just last week was St. Patrick's Day...because it was. Easter is kind of a throw-away as far as holidays go. Though there are small gifts, there's no extended time off from work or school and sometimes it's chilly. Once you realize there is no bunny and nobody hides money in plastic eggs for you anymore it just becomes about food, or Jesus coming back to life (if you believe that). After slaving off your winter weight in your home gym, it seems unfair to have another holiday binge. I've never been one to turn my nose up at holiday binges or any occasion that includes candy, so I decided to make some treats to get in the spirit of things. LDP is really on a white trash kick this month...here's another fine example of something you'd see at a church bake sale. 

White (trash) Chocolate Takealongs

you will need the following

2 sleeves Ritz (or Savoritz) crackers 

1 c peanut butter

1/4 c confectioner's sugar

1 bag white chocolate chips

Step 1: Mix peanut butter and sugar in a bowl. Make cracker sandwiches with peanut butter. Set on parchment lined cookie sheet and chill in freezer. 

Step 2: Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler (white chocolate burns really easily). With tongs, dip cracker sandwiches in chocolate and cover on all sides. Set on cookie sheet, repeat until out of crackers. 

Step 3: Return to freezer for about 20 minutes. Once completely set, remove cookies. Wrap and give to friends (or eat by yourself). 

A Little Etiquette Craft

They Say that Breaking Up is Card to Do..

Anyone who knows me knows I love making cards on my Silhouette paper cutter. Every occasion should be met with a handmade card, even the unpleasant ones. I've always wondered why there aren't break-up cards, it's a simple idea really. Nobody wants to have the uncomfortable break-up talk over text or Facebook chat, but these days it happens more often than not. Another terrible way to break up with someone (though it's my personal favorite) is the old fade-out, in which you pretty much just stop talking. I find that one to be more typical of city folk who date casually for shorter periods of time. If you're like me, the break-up talk is generally coming from the other person, so when I have to do it to somebody, face-to-face seems like the worst thing ever. If Sex & the City taught us anything it's that you can't (or shouldn't) break up with someone via post-it note. I made this card instead, a thoughtful and crafty way to honor what could have been...

Personalize it with a humorous quote from a movie you guys once watched together. Ya know, to soften the blow. 

A Little Sunday Supper

Ordinarily I hate the word supper, but given what I made today, the term fits. I went on a date with a really trashy guy in high school once who said supper and the term has irked me ever since. Speaking of dates, the last date I went on was at a trendy barbecue place in Wicker Park, which unfortunately burned to a crisp last week. I take it as a sign. After going to a Tennessee Williams play tonight, I found myself in the mood for some southern cuisine, and I guess since my BBQ place burned down, I'll have to make it myself. It's also still mostly winter here despite that it's technically spring, alas crock-pot season continues. The nice thing about this recipe is you end up with enough pulled chicken to last a week. No spinster's kitchen is complete without a week's worth of leftovers...or a crock-pot for that matter..

White Trash Sundee Barbecue

you will need the following

3-4 chicken breasts

1 onion (diced)

1 mason jar BBQ sauce of choice

paprika

garlic salt

salt & pepper

Step 1: Tenderize and season chicken with garlic salt, paprika, salt & pepper. Place chicken in crock with a little water. 

Step 2: Toss in onion and smother with BBQ sauce. You can't put too much sauce in there, nobody's going to complain. Some people put a can of coke in too. I didn't, but knock yourself out if you're feeling adventurous. Cook eight hours on low. 

Step 4: After eight hours, all you'll need to do is stab at your breasts with a wooden spoon and they should fall apart. After the ol' stab 'n stir, pile high upon buns with mustard and pickles. Supper is served. 

A Little St. Patrick's Day Treat

I'll be the first to say it, I'm a St. Patrick's Day Grinch. Something about adults forgetting that their college days are long behind them saddens me. I made the mistake of going downtown to do some shopping today and got swept up in the crowds of tourists hustling and bustling to see Chicago's famous green river. Just in case anyone was wondering, it turns green from a reaction with sewage. Despite all the green tu-tus and carnival hats, perhaps the most depressing thing I witnessed on the Red Line was a young woman decked out in her Sunday worsts, desperately slurping from a hole in the side of her Diet Coke can. I just wanted to take it and throw it away, baby it's a lost cause, no need to shotgun. After all that hullabaloo I decided to spend the rest of the day grocery shopping and baking.

Better Luck Next Year Crispy Squares 

There's nothing drunk people love more than rice crispy treats, so I made these with Lucky Charms instead. Inspired by my favorite local doughnut shop, I've been wanting to make something festive that somehow incorporated Lucky Charms. The best I could come up with were crispy squares, so easy I'm almost ashamed to take credit for it, but I will. These literally took five minutes. 

you will need the following 

1/2 stick butter

1/4 tsp vanilla

5.5 c Lucky Charms (ignore that I used generic)

5.5 c marshmallows

Step 1: Grease pyrex pan with butter. Melt butter in a large pot with vanilla. 

Step 2: Add marshmallows and melt with butter. Once melted, add cereal in small amounts. Remove from heat and mix thoroughly. 

Step 3: Push mixture into pyrex and press down with buttered hands. Allow to cool and then cut into squares. I made these a few hours ago and now they're gone.