Dip, Baby, Dip!

 

With Valentine’s Day coming up, everywhere I go I see the same thing:  CHOCOLATE, and lots of it!  This decadent dessert treat, which comes in many different varieties (dark, milk, white) is delicious by itself, but often times even better melted, and dipped with other tempting treats.

When I found this Tropical Foods “Dipping Chocolate Deliciousness” blog contest I was so excited to explore unique and yummy dippable snack foods using their delectable dipping chocolates.

 

 

Here are Grocery Lane’s Top 5 Favorites:

1.  Sweet:  Dark Chocolate Dipped Oatmeal Cream Pie

Soft, sweet and cream filled.  Topped with dark chocolate turns this kiddie treat into an adult dessert. 

 

2.  Salty:  Milk Chocolate Dipped Potato Chips

Using plain potato chips with our without ridges mixes the perfect combination of salty and sweet. 

 

3.  Chewy:  White Chocolate Dipped Dried Bing Cherries

White chocolate with any dried fruit is delicious, but dried bing cherries are chewy, tart and perfect.

 

4.  Crunchy: Dark Chocolate Dipped Short Bread

Buttery and crumbly short bread cookies are wonderful by themselves, but even more decadent dipped in dark chocolate. 

 

5.  Savory:  Milk Chocolate Dipped Bacon Strips

  Smokey and crispy bacon tastes delicious under a layer of ooey gooey milk chocolate.  It’s official – opposites do attract!

 

These chocolate covered creations barely scratch the surface on all of the amazing combinations that are waiting to be discovered.  Use your imagination and have fun!

For more information on these dipping chocolates and Tropical Foods visit www.dippingchocolates.com

Menu Monday

 

What a fun weekend!

We celebrated a bridal shower for our friend Jill at a downtown Orlando eatery called Spice before hitting the town for her Bachelorette Party – Round 2.

 

There were lots of gifts, fun games and adorable desserts.  We feasted on a heavy appetizer spread of sushi, chicken quesadillas (with a kick), spinach artichoke dip with pita, and a variety of flatbreads - the steak and blue cheese was my favorite. 

There was also plenty of wine flowing during all of the wedding themed festivities.

 

 

I even won a gift basket!  Yippeee!

 

 

Only 33 days until the big day – and we couldn’t be more excited!  St. Augustine better watch out, we’re going to own that city!

 

 

After the shower, we had to pick up a few things and then headed to “Bachelorette Headquarters”, the Dawkins residence, to get ready for the nighttime shenanigans.

 

 

Our homemade spread was made up of the following delicious dishes:

• Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
• Fruit Kebabs with Dip
• Pesto Feta Chicken Pinwheels
• Tomato, Cucumber, Feta Bites
• Chicken Salad Croissants
• Taco Dip and Chips
• Red and White Sangria
• Champagne Punch

 

 

 

Everybody was asked to wear black dresses for our night out on the town while the bride wore a sassy red dress.

 

 

Fun girls out for a fun night!

 

 

 

 

After quite a fun weekend, I am already looking forward to another one coming up…swimming with the manatees in Homosassa Springs!  Now I just have to get through this thing called work so we can get to the fun stuff!  Here is our menu plan for this week:

 

M: Baked Spaghetti

T: Chicken Wine Bake w/ Veggie Cous Cous and Broccoli

W: Low Fat Hotdogs w/ Pesto Feta Orzo Salad

Th:  Black Bean Soup w/ Chicken and Yellow Rice + Roasted Carrots

F:  Lasagna w/ Salad and Garlic Bread

Sa:  Steak and Baked Potatoes w/ Roasted Green Beans

Su:  Mexican Pizza

 

Have a good one!

Orange You Glad

 

Florida = sunshine, beaches  and oranges. 

This delicious Orange Creamsicle smoothie recipe is great for a hot, and sunny day at the beach or an after work treat.  With only 5 ingredients, this healthy concoction is not to be ignored.  Ice cold, refreshing and perfect!

 

 

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

Print this recipe!

• 1 cup skim milk
• 6 ounces low fat vanilla yogurt
• 1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients and blend for 20 seconds.  Serve immediately in a feel good glass.

-original recipe found @ www.food.com

 

 

Have a great Saturday!  7 mile run down, now off to celebrate my friend’s Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party! 

FF–Smoke and Mirrors

 

Happy Fashionable Friday!

One of the perks of losing weight is buying new clothes.  That can also be one of the most frustrating and costly effects as well.  When I started my “weight loss journey”, (can you tell I watch a lot of Biggest Loser?!) I loved to go shopping and try on everything I could in smaller sizes.  Shopping was no longer disappointing or stressful, but actually a lot fun. 

I loved getting snazzy duds and bought quite a bit of newness at the beginning of my weight loss.  The only problem, which is a good problem to have, was that I kept losing weight and suddenly my “new” clothes were again, too big.

 

 

This dress is an example of one of those items.  I love the color and print and remember that this was the first size 12 that I bought and was so excited about my accomplishment.  Now it is too big, but I can’t seem to part with this particular piece. 

The challenge?  Find a way to make this dress work appropriate and wearable without looking frumpy and too big.

I know that fit makes or breaks the clothes, (I watch a lot of What Not To Wear also) but with a little bit of smoke and mirrors, I figured out a way to make it work.  By adding a belt and cardigan, a great disguise takes place.

 

 

This dress, although big, is still very functional for work and is worth holding on to!  Whether it is a boxy shirt or oversized dress with no shape, try adding a belt to define your waistline and a cardigan to add color and hide large arm holes (which was a problem with this dress as well) and prolong the life of your clothing.

Good luck – TGIF!