Nothing domestic going on here.

crazypinkturtles.blogspot.com

I would like to send a shout-out to my friend Carol Hoffman who has bookmarked my blog on her computer at work.  I guess I will have to impress now :)

I have nothing for you.  Have done nothing all weekend and LOVE IT! Actually, I saw UP with my friends daughter and it was great, sad, but great.  I do have some exciting news for all my Martha Stewarty people out there...

Erics mother bought the "Martha Stewart Craft Encyclo - frickin - pedia"!!!!  One word, AWESOME!  I need to get a copy ASAP!!

I have a itch to do something super crafty this week...I will have to think of something.

Chocolate Reeses PB Cup cake and Cheesecake Dip

For those of you who use Stumble Upon, you know what an addiction it is. I have tons of bookmarked pages on my computer with recipes/projects that people have blogged about...love it...so I thought I would start one.

I signed up for birthdays this month at work. This person brings in a treat to celebrate all the birthdays of the month. This was my month, Chocolate Chip Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Cake and Cheesecake Dip.

Yesterday at work I was majorly hot-flashing...why? I went home sick and was worried I would be unable to make any treats. I took a 4 hour nap then woke up and ran to the Dominicks (you will notice that we call it "the Dominicks" and "the Jewels"...we are definitely from Chicago). I never make a list, but this time I did...only to forget the peanut butter. I had to run into Aldi and grab that. Got home, cooked, and went to bed...here is the outcome and recipes.

Chocolate Chip Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

I am totally not a baker...so I definitely like to use the cake-in-a-box.

Cake

1 box cake, follow directions

Frosting

1 jar of peanut butter

1 pint of whipping cream

about 2 cups of powdered sugar

Make the cake according to the directions. I made a small sheet cake this time...but you can also cut the sheet cake in half and stack the 2 halves on top of each other with frosting in the middle and make a small layer cake OR you can make 2 layer cakes and stack them on each other and make a big sheet layer cake...mmmm. Let the cake cool.

With an electric mixer mix the jar of peanut butter and the pint of whipping cream...slowly add the sugar and keep tasting until it reaches the right consistency and tastes right to you.

This is a huge batch of frosting so I would halve it for 1 box of cake mix...but what are you going to to with an extra half a pint of whipping cream?

Frost the cake and sprinkle with crushed Reeses peanut butter cup minis. I usually take a bunch and cut them in half and ring the border of the cake. If you make a tall cake, you can put the crushed cups on the outside too. You can also sprinkle some mini chips on to too.

Cheesecake Dip

This is a variation of a recipe for a cheesecake ball. I am pretty sure it will taste the same whether it is is ball form or in a bowl...but I don't know :)

1, 8oz package of cream cheese (you can use fat free if you want)

1 stick of butter, softened

1/2c. brown sugar

1 1/4c. powdered sugar
1tsp. Vanilla

2/3 c. mini chocolate chips (or however many you want!)

Mix everything together, top with extra mini chips, chill, serve with graham crackers, cookies, cracked sugar ice cream cones, wafer cookies, nilla wafers...anything that sounds good!

Its 2009...time to start a blog!

What should I blog about?

I dont know. I have an interesting family that does many blogworthy things. I love to cook AND take pictures of what I cook. I like to do projects AND take pictures of my projects. I have A LOT of animals that do crazy things.

I have a bizillion things to blog about, so lets start.

But where?

My name is Emily Louise Klarkowski. I am 26 years old and live with my parents, 6 cats, 2 dogs, and hamster (more on the animals later). I have 3 younger brothers named Nate, Jacob, and Calvin. I also have a boyfriend named Eric and we have been dating 4 years...lets just get married already you say? More about that later.

Long story short...I graduated from Western Illinois University in 2004, moved to Florida to work at a beach resort, did that for 9 months, hurricane came...made me homeless. Moved back with my parents, moved out with my boyfriend for a few months, and moved back with my parents. Since Florida I attended grad school for a week, worked with fake gangbangers in St. Charles, waitressed, nannied, substitute taught highschool, and most recently work in a hospital...dont ask.

I mainly wanted to start this blog because I am always starting projects and recipes and would love an outlet to share them with people...with a sprinkle of my crazy life.

Crazy Pink Turtles? I have loved turtles my whole life (explains the stupid tattoo) and also the color pink. Plus, there werent many options left :)

ALSO... I use a lot if these --> "..." because I am really bad at punctuation...so dont get annoyed :)

ALSO ALSO...Feel free to leave a comment...you dont need to sign up for anything :)