Happy Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras!

I had white, yellow and green leftover icing from my Super Bowl Cookie Cake so I decided to make some purple to celebrate Mardi Gras and some pink for Valentine’s.  I think the two events go together perfect… I know that there is a lot of LOVE going on down in the Big Easy with more than just Mardi Gras to celebrate.  With the Saints Super Bowl win so close to Mardi Gras, no doubt the past week and the coming weeks will be some of the craziest ever in New Orleans!
These are nothing fancy… Slice and Bake cookies, Wilton Butter Cream.  But oh so good!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday

We are having a few friends over to watch the game.  A sporting event is always a reason for me to bake and practice my cake decorating skills.   This is my standard sugar cookie cake with Wilton buttercream icing.  I’m pretty darn proud of myself!

The fleur-de-lis was the most intimidating part.  But I think I did okay!

I’ve drawn a million horseshoes in my life, thanks to 4 years of being a Murrah Mustang Cheerleader! These didn’t scare me at all!

Of course, I’m rooting for the Saints!  Growing up in Mississippi, the Saints were our team too.  And they always were terrible but we’d watch them on Sunday’s anyway.  Between Archie Manning and Deuce McAllister, the love for the Saints has only grown in Mississippi over the years.  It’s amazing to finally see them have good seasons in a row and to finally be on the big stage at the BIG GAME!  Go Saints!

Life and Times of Admiral: Playdate with Clive

Ryan’s parent’s were keeping Clive while Kevin and Steph were in New Orleans for Steph’s Birthday (Happy Very Belated Birthday!!!) so they brought him over to play. When these two get together, you don’t have to really play with them, they tend to wrestle for hours straight. It’s great.

Jeff did give them a few rounds of fetch.

Clive isn’t interested in being the first one to get to the ball. He’s fine to let Admiral get there first.

Then, he fights him for the ball the whole way back.

And repeat…

I just thought this was a good picture of Admiral in his stride. He’s a pretty goofy dog but can, at times, be graceful when he runs!

Cola Onion Pork Chops

Suzie sent me this website the other day, http://www.supercook.com/, where you can put in the ingredients you want to use and it will find meals that use them, show you what other ingredients you will need, etc. It searches other recipe sites like AllRecipes.com and gives you options. I put in Pork Loin and Onion and this recipe was one of the top results. I couldn't resist a 3 ingredient meal where one of the ingredients is Coke!

Cola Onion Pork Chops
by: User KATHERINEMICHELLE on AllRecipes.com

3 thick cut boneless pork chops (I thick sliced "chops" off a whole pork loin)
1 (12 fluid ounce) can cola-flavored carbonated beverage (I used Coke)
1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix (I used Liption Onion Mushroom, it's all I had)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place the pork chops in a shallow glass baking dish. Pour the cola over them, and sprinkle with onion soup mix.
Bake uncovered for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Turn over, and continue baking for another 30 minutes, until sauce is thickened and chops are fork tender.
As I re-read this recipe, I realize that I never turned my chops. I only cooked them for 45 minutes since they were sort of small in diameter. They were cooked through and tender. Ryan and I were very pleased with this recipe and it's SO EASY. I'll definitely be making this one again.

Looking back, I should not have sacrificed a Coke for this recipe. I should have used one of the Pepsi's I bought when they were on sale. No reason to waste a perfectly good Coke when you have some far less enjoyable Pepsi laying around! :)

Product Review: Yoplain Frozen Smoothie

Several months ago I signed up for a program that sends you free samples/coupons for new products. One of the questions for signing up and being accepted is about if you will talk about the products on your blog. I don't know how many people read my blog... maybe 10. But, hey, they sent me a free sample, I'm holding up my end of the deal.

I got a coupon for a free Yoplait Frozen Smoothie and a stack of $1 off coupons to share with friends (let me know if you want one). I've been looking for them at my Kroger the past few weeks and couldn't find them but finally found them yesterday.

They are regularly priced at $3.19 and make two 8oz smoothies for 70 calories each when made with skim milk. It's just a packet of frozen fruits and yogurt that you blend with 1 cup of milk (I had to use a little more milk to get it drinkable). I got the Triple Berry flavor and really enjoyed it. I probably could have had both servings for myself but I shared with Ryan.

I'd probably buy this product again, especially with a coupon. It was a quick breakfast and even if I drank both servings, 140 calories is way less than a drive through at Chick Fil A!