DIY Valentine's Day Treats!

Whether out of necessity or preference, do-it-yourself Valentine's Day gifts can be lots of fun to make and to enjoy! Many folks take their sweethearts out on the town in honor of V Day. But just as many more are looking for fun and maybe frugal ways to celebrate by staying in.

I've put together a few recipes for you to create as DIY Valentine's Day gifts for your loved ones. They are desserts so even if you decide to dine out, you can always come home after and enjoy a delicious dessert together - or with a crowd!

Chocolate Ice Cream

Janet's Chocolate Chip Cake

German Chocolate Cherry Brownies

Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate Turtles Candy

Do you want to create the entire Valentine's Day dinner at home? Visit Annie's Recipes for tons of menu options and recipe ideas. Or connect with us Facebook and get even more recipe inspiration!

Mexican Food Weekend!

What kind of weekend are you planning? Is it going to be the same old food faire from your kitchen, or would you rather spice things up a bit? I propose a Mexican foodie weekend!

Prepare and feast only on Mexican dishes for the entire weekend and delight your friends or family with your cultural appreciation and kitchen prowess! And then...go Salsa dancing.

Okay, maybe pick a few of the tasty recipes below to try for just one day this weekend and see how it goes over. You might be surprised how alluring all those fresh scents wafting from your kitchen are...

Mexican Salsa

Santa Fe Chicken

Easy Chicken Tacos

Mexican Casserole

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

So I snuck in a cookie recipe...so what? With Super Bowl just a few weeks away, another fun idea would be to host a Mexican themed Super Bowl party and serve all kinds of Mexican dishes. Visit Annie's Recipes for more recipe ideas or connect with us on Facebook and share your favorite Mexican food or recipe!

4 Fiesta Foods Just For Fun!

With the 2012 Olympics just around the corner, I've trying to come up with a fun way to celebrate the opening ceremonies Friday night, July 27th. (My hubby is a huge Olympic fan.) I'm thinking bright colors, streamers, and...a fiesta! Too much? Well anyway here are some fun fiesta-inspired foods to fix for an Olympic celebration!

Easy Chicken Tacos

Homemade Salsa

Red Beans & Rice

Chocolate Mousse

Okay, so technically I don't really know if chocolate mousse is a traditional fiesta food, but it should be. In fact Chocolate should really have its own level on the food pyramid. I consider it to be one the necessary food groups. Try our Chocolate Mousse recipe to add a little sweetness to your fiesta!

Enjoy the 2012 Olympic Games in style - fiesta style! Connect with us on Facebook to share your favorite fiesta recipe, or visit Annie's for hundreds of other delicious free recipe ideas!

Mother's Day Fixins - Easy As ABC's!

Apple Muffins

Mother's Day is almost here and I have to ask...What are you fixing your mom for Mother's Day?  Breakfast, brunch or even lunch...I brought some recipes together to make your Mother's Day morning extra nice!

Bacon and Egg Casserole

Whether muffins and doughnuts or eggs and bacon are your style, we have something great for breakfast for just about anyone over at our site - check it out!

Cheesy Sausage Muffins

But don't take my word for it, try one of these easy muffin recipes or the egg casserole and let your taste buds be the judge.  Or better yet, let mom tell you which one is best!

Double Chocolate Muffins

Now that I have given you plenty to chew on, go ahead.  Plan a special birthday breakfast for your mom and don't be surprised if it turns out to be a huge success!

Happy Mother's Day!  Share your photos of breakfast success with us on Facebook!

4 Recipes For Your May Day Baskets!

Almond Cake Bars

On May Day (May 1st) it's tradition to leave a small basket filled with goodies, treats, and small treasures at the door step of someone you admire or care for.

Banana Brownies

We've collected a few recipes that we think will make excellent goodies to fill your basket with.  Although not as widely practiced in the U.S., the May Day holiday is a day filled with feasting, parades, festivals and merry-making.

Cashew Sugar Cookies

Europeans have the right of it on this one - let's make May Day fashionable again by giving May Day baskets!

Chocolate Bar Cookies

Organize a May Day garden party, bar-b-que or simple get-together for friends and loved ones.  If you need a reason to give someone you love a basket full of treats...Hey!  It's May Day!  Enjoy.  (We would love to hear how your May Day celebrations went - share with us on Facebook!)

Chocolate Fudge

Today's recipe is...

Chocolate Fudge

2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons corn syrup
3/4 cup milk
2 squares chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts

Cook sugar, syrup, milk and chocolate together until it forms a soft ball when dropped in cold water (236 degrees). Remove from heat and add butter. Cool until you can hold your hand on the bottom of the pan (112 degrees). Add vanilla and nuts and beat until creamy. Pour into buttered pan 4x8 inches. Mark into squares and cool. This is a creamy, moist and delicious fudge.

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Chocolate Nut Loaf

Today's recipe is...

Chocolate Nut Loaf

1 cup shortening
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tsp soda
3 (1 oz.) squares chocolate
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
1 cup chopped nuts
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream shortening add sugar gradually
Beat until fluffly
Add well-beaten eggs and beat again.
Melt chocolate over water and allow to cool.
Sift flour; mease and add salt and soda. Sift again
Beat thoroughly after each addition.
Add melted chocolate and chopped nuts
Blend into mixture
Pour into a large, greased loaf pan 5x9x4 inches
Bake at 350 for 1 hour
A very moist cake.

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Chocolate Bar Cookies

Today's recipe is...

Chocolate Bar Cookies

1 cup shortening
2 cups brown sugar, packed
4 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
4 oz unsweetened chocolate
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups finely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 325 F. Butter and flour 2 8x8 square pans.

Cream shortening in mixer for about 3 minutes. Add sugar and eggs, alternating and beat well.

Melt chocolate in a double boiler, or in a glass dish over simmering water. Blend melted chocolate into sugar mixture, stir in salt and vanilla.

Whisk together flour and baking powder then stir into chocolate mixture. Stir in nuts.

Bake for 30-35 minutes. Let cool in pan before cutting into squares or rectangle bars.

Notes: You can substitute chocolate chips for the nuts.

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Chocolate Raspberry Muffins

Today's recipe is...

Chocolate Raspberry Muffins

15 oz can raspberries in syrup
2 cups self-raising flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup Chocolate Chips
1 lightly beaten egg
2 ozs melted butter
3/4 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and prepare pans. Pour undrained raspberries into a pan, bring to boil, boil without stirring for about 12 minutes, or until mixture is thick and a jam-like consistency; cool. Combine the sifted flour, sugar and chocolate in a bowl. Mix egg, butter and buttermilk. Stir dry mix into wet mix until just combined. Gently fold in the raspberry mixture. Spoon into pans and bake for about 15 minutes or until cooked. Makes 12 muffins.

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