Golden cookie cupcakes!

Happy 30-something birthday to my dear husband!! We always go out to eat for his birthday so I thought I'd make some cupcakes for him! I had a sleeping baby and had to work with what I had in the cupboard and all I had was one box of white cake mix but thought that was too boring. Golden Oreos are his favorite and he had just bought a new package of them so I decided to make the boxed cake mix as is and add in some crumbled cookies! I then made homemade frosting with shortening, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and almond extract. It turned out oh so delicious!!! Cupcakes are my absolute favorite thing to bake and decorate. I have this crazy dream of someday opening up my own cupcake shop!! So this wasn't anything too fancy but it just shows you can add anything to a white cake mix to 'jazz' it up a bit :)

My measurements for my frosting are approximate since I usually eyeball it. But I started with 1/2 cup shortening and added about 3 cups of powdered sugar and 1/4 cup of milk. I did add a cap full of vanilla and almond extract (does anyone actually measure these things!!) LOL

The finished product turned out pretty amazing I think!

Happy Birthday Derrick!!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Yummy yummy yummy!!  This is my go to dish for potlucks and social events.  We are huge buffalo chicken fans and I'm a sucker for dips.  So this is perfect.  I don't know how many times I've made it, we sometimes just eat it for supper! 

Well we had friends over Sunday night and we were ordering pizza but I insisted on making something so I chose this dip.  It was a bunch of guys so I figured they'd love the buffalo chicken part of it and I made it in the crockpot so I loved it!!

I got my original recipe from Allrecipes.com here:

Buffalo Chicken Dip

• 2 (10 ounce) cans chunk chicken, drained
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup Ranch dressing
• 3/4 cup pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot®)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 bunch celery, cleaned and cut into 4 inch pieces
• 1 (8 ounce) box chicken-flavored crackers

Directions

1. Heat chicken and hot sauce in a skillet over medium heat, until heated through. Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing. Cook, stirring until well blended and warm. Mix in half of the shredded cheese, and transfer the mixture to a slow cooker. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, cover, and cook on Low setting until hot and bubbly. Serve with celery sticks and crackers.               

Now the only difference I make is I literally just throw everything (but the celery and crackers of course) into the crockpot and put it on either high or low depending on how fast I need it made.  I have also halved the recipe before as this recipe as is makes a TON! 

Of course I was in a hurry so I only got a picture of it after it was cooked and ready to eat in the crockpot.  It was oh so yummy and the boys gobbled it up!!  This photo makes it look less than appetizing but I swear if you like buffalo chicken you will LOVE this! LOL