Super Bowl Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

Phil's side of the family is really into sports, so Super Bowl Sunday is like a mini holiday with lots of Super Bowl themed snacks and treats.  This year I decided to make Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles in the shape of footballs.  They were actually pretty easy to make and will make the game a bit more enjoyable!  :)

I adapted Taste of Home's recipe a bit to fit the ingredients I had on hand.  This recipe makes 3-4 dozen depending on desired size of footballs. 

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts 

12 oz dark chocolate chips

2 tbls and 2 tsp of shortening

Betty Crocker white decorating icing

• In a large bowl, mix butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.  Add vanilla and continue to mix.  Gradually add flour and condensed milk, alternating between the two and beating after each addition.  Stir in chocolate and walnuts
• Shape dough into footballs by first rolling into a ball then rolling into a cylinder shape.  Pinch the ends to form the dough into a football.  Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets.  Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm
• Get out two different size heat-proof mixing bowls (one large, one medium).  In the large bowl, heat water in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until very warm.  Fill the medium bowl with dark chocolate chips and shortening.  Carefully place the bowl with chocolate into the bowl with water; water should come halfway up side of chocolate bowl
• Stir chocolate and shortening constantly with a dry rubber scraper until completely melted and smooth.  Do not get water in the bowl with chocolate and reheat water as needed.
• With fork, dip chilled cookie dough mixture into melted chocolate, one at a time.  Gently tap fork on edge of bowl to remove excess chocolate
• When dry, decorate the truffles with Betty Crockers white icing.  I found doing the short horizontal stitching first then the long vertical stitch second works best
• Store candies in refrigerator until ready to serve

I am excited to bring this with me to tomorrow's Super Bowl party.  What are you bringing with you to your Super Bowl Sunday party?  

How to Save on Your Engagement Ring

Phil proposed on August 18th, 2012 with a beautiful Mark Schneider engagement ring.  I found out afterward that he did a great job saving money in certain areas, so that he could give me my dream engagement ring.  Below are a few tips and tricks to help you with getting your dream ring.

Most guys appreciate a little guidance in determining what ring to be their future wife.  I shared with Phil some of the designs I liked online through Pinterest and certain designers.  Then we went to a few jewelry stores together to see what band thickness and style I liked the best on my finger.  It also helped me in knowing that we were getting closer to a proposal.  After 8 years, I needed the confirmation!

The best way to let your man know what you are looking for is to have an open conversation with him when you know you are ready.  While on Pinterest, you can show him designs that you like.  Walk him through your favorite designers websites and let him know which styles you are most excited about.  When friends get engaged, let him know what you like and dislike about your friend's rings.  I found going to the jewelry store the most helpful.  Make sure to try on a variety of rings--ones that he picks out and ones that you pick out.  Selecting two or three of your favorite styles for your man to choose from gives you an element of surprise the day you get engaged, but still allows you to have a say.

Be careful not to scare your guy with unrealistic diamond size requirements or having him try to fit a bigger diamond size into his budget.  You will end up delaying the engagement and potentially ending up with a less quality diamond.  In addition, weddings are expensive and if your family is not paying for it, then you will want to make sure that he has money in the bank to make your big day special.  There are of course ways to get a bigger diamond by sacrificing quality/clarity or getting a shape other than round.

 Phil saved on my diamond by purchasing it from Blue Nile.  He was able to get a higher quality diamond at a lower price point than we saw in stores (almost $2500 cheaper for the save quality).  The jewelry store where he got the band from did an appraisal on the diamond and it matched the quality listed on the site.  Blue Nile has a great guide for choosing the right diamond for you and starting price points.

Obviously, choosing a smaller diamond will help save money.  There is a drastic difference between a ring that is .99 carats versus 1.01 carats and looks the exact same.  Save your man some money and settle for something slightly less than the milestone diamond sizes--no one will notice.  Round shapes are typically the most expensive, so you can save money by selecting an oval or pear shape.   

Other ways to save are by asking your mom or grandma if you could use the diamond from their engagement rings.  It's always nice to have something that has been handed down from generation to generation.  Or go with a different stone other than a diamond.  If you go this route, make sure to choose a stone that will go with everything and you know you will love forever.

Phil was able to save a little bit on my band by buying both the engagement band and wedding band together.  Ask your local jeweler if they would be willing to cut you a similar deal.  Also, buying his ring from the same store as he bought your ring can usually save you $100+ off the price of the band. 

The less elaborate the band, the less the ring costs.  If you fall in love with a designer's band but cannot afford the price tag, bring a picture of the band to your local jewelry store to see if they have a similar design at a cheaper price point.  They can usually guide you toward a design that is comparable.

For more tips on finding the perfect engagement ring, check out Dana's post on how she found hers.  Do you have any tips for future brides-to-be?  Are there any other ways that you would suggest saving on the ring?

Heart Shaped Baked Pita Chips

Heart shaped pita chips are the perfect appetizer for your Valentine's Day party.  These chips are baked, not fried, and packed with flavorful seasonings.  Just before your guests arrive, lay out these pita chips with festive spreads like roasted red pepper hummus or sun-dried tomato pesto.

8 Pitas

Extra virgin olive oil

Salt

Dried Garlic

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Meanwhile, use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out mini pita chips.

Line chips on a cookie sheet and brush both sides generously with olive oil.  Sprinkle with sea salt and dried garlic to taste.

Bake for 10-13 minutes, or until crispy.

I hope you enjoy this recipe.  It is a great snack and you can use any shaped cookie cutter to fit your theme.  Try footballs for the Super Bowl, flowers for spring, or even snowflakes for a chilly winter day.