"Enjoying the Ride" 60th Birthday Party

I've always been a daddy's girl.  There is no doubt about that.  So, when my step-mom asked me to help out with my dad's 60th birthday party...of course, I was thrilled.  She came up with the wonderful BBQ menu and I was in charge of cupcakes and decor.  We wanted to do a theme that wasn't the usual "over the hill", something fun.  My dad's newest hobby his riding his motorcycle.  Perfect!!  I came up with "Enjoying the Ride".  I used speed limit signs, motorcycles, and other road signs to signify is wonderful ride to 60.  The party went off without a hitch and it was a night full of family, laughter, and great food!!

Me and my handsome dad before the party

The cupcakes - ready to be devoured

  

Oreo Stuffed Cupcakes with Oreo Buttercream Frosting (printable recipe) & Neapolitan Cupcakes with brownie bottom, strawberry cake, and vanilla buttercream (printable recipe)

My dad and my hostess step-mom

Greeting poster - I covered posterboard with wrapping paper and decorated it

The cupcake picks I made.  I created my own printables from clipart.   
Click HERE for the FREE printables. 

The utensils all wrapped up and awaiting the guests

This party was featured on:
 The REAL Housewives of Riverton
One Creative Mommy

This party is linked up to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

Tasty Thursdays #1

Welcome to my new adventure in hosting a linky party. I hope you will help me to make it a success.

Features will be posted next Thursday!!

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Party Guidelines:

1. Grab my button or add a text link somewhere on your blog

2. Follow me through Facebook, GFC, or both.

3. Link something new {MUST BE MADE BY YOU} or a great oldie that you haven't shared before.

4. No etsy shops, giveaways, round ups, business links, please.

5. Link up to your post, not your main blog

6. Link as many items, recipes, crafts, etc... as you want.

**Make sure you "like" my Facebook page.  I will be featuring some of your links there over the next week. 

Now I want to see what you find tasty this week!

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

Mexican food is definitely my favorite type of food...other than dessert!!  This is a recipe that has evolved over the years in my own kitchen.  And these are great right out of the oven, as leftovers the next day, or to take to a friend or family member for a special event.  Simple ingredients for a delicious meal!!

(printable recipe)

Makes 8-10 enchiladas

2 lbs chicken, diced and cooked

1 large can (or 2 sm) of cream of chicken soup

2/3 c. salsa (whatever kind you like)

2 green onions, chopped

1 pint sour cream

shredded cheddar cheese

tortillas - medium size

Cook chicken.  While chicken is cooking, mix soup, salsa, onions, and sour cream in large sauce pan.  Heat through over medium heat, add cooked chicken and mix well.  Use large serving spoon, scoop mixture into middle of tortilla, sprinkle with cheese.  Roll up and place seam side down in greased 9x13 pan.  Spread remaining mixture over the top of the enchiladas, sprinkle with cheese.  Bake at 350 for 30 - 40 minutes. 

** If you have some of the mixture left, and I usually do, you can use it as dip with tortilla chips.

Source: a Mandatory Mooch original recipe 

This recipe was featured on Addicted to Recipes

This recipe is posted on Back For Seconds, Cornerstone Confessions, Lady Behind the Curtain, Savvy Southern Style , Gingersnap Crafts ,The NY Melrose Family ,The Kings Court IV , Homestead Simple , Baked in the South, Watch Out Martha, The Dedicated House,  A Bowl Full of Lemons, Sugar Bee Crafts, Mommy by Day Crafter by Night , Jam's Corner, A Pinch of Joy, You Are Talking Too Much, Pinkapotamus, Making the World Cuter, Craft o Maniac, The Tablescaper, Addicted to Recipes

Mini Cannolis

My family loves to visit a local Italian restaurant that has a dessert buffet full of wonderful rich cakes, cookies, and treats.  One of our favorites are the cannolis...full of rich cream and covered in chocolate chips.  I knew I just had to come up with a quick recipe of my own.  These would be great for any party, dinner, or fun treat.

(printable recipe)

Makes approx. 30 cannolis

1 box Nilla Wafers
1/2 pkg. vanilla almond bark (or white chocolate, melted
powdered sugar
wax paper

Filling:
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Combine all filling ingredients together using a mixer. 

Pipe or spread filling onto one wafer and top with another creating a mini sandwich

Melt almond bark or chocolate in microwave in 30 second increments until smooth.  Dip wafers in melted bark or chocolate

Roll in mini chocolate chips (or lay on wax paper and sprinkle chips onto bark)

 Let cool on waxed paper.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Serve immediately or store in refrigerator.  Best if served the same day...vanilla wafers tend to get a bit mushy the next day.

Source:  a Mandatory Mooch original recipe

This recipe was featured on: 
Walking on Sunshine
The NY Melrose Family  
Simply Sweet Home 

Linked up to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!! 

Nutter Butter Stuffed Cupcakes with Rich Peanut Butter Frosting

These fun cupcakes were a surprise for some of my neighbors.  We went to their lake house a few weeks ago.  The husband knew that I liked to bake, especially cupcakes.  He teased me about not bringing cupcakes with me to the lake, just store bought cookies.  So, one night when the family was out of the house for a few hours I raided their cabinets.  With it being a lake house I wasn't sure what I would find.  Hoping to surprise them with cupcakes...I actually found a chocolate cake mix, cupcake liners, and other baking supplies.  Now, what to top them with?  Then I found the bag of mini Nutter Butter cookies.  That was it!!  I stuffed the cupcakes with the cookies, and made a rich peanut butter glaze frosting.  Feeling like I was on "Cupcake Wars", I finished just as they were walking in the door.  They were pleasantly surprised to find a yummy treat waiting for them.  I hope you enjoy them too!!

(printable recipe)

18 Cupcakes:
chocolate cake mix (and all the ingredients it calls for)
Nutter Butter Bites mini cookies

Rich Peanut Butter Frosting:
2 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. milk
1/2 c. peanut butter


Make cake mix as it directs on the box.  Fill cupcakes liners 1/3 full, place cookie in middle, top with more batter until 2/3 full.  Bake as directed on box.  Cool completely.

Mix all frosting ingredients together, gradually adding milk until blended well.  If it is too thick, add a little more milk.  Pipe onto top of cupcake (or put in a plastic bag and snip off corner to pipe...that is what I used at the lake house).  Top with crumbled cookies.

Source:  a Mandatory Mooch original recipe

This recipe was featured on Alli 'n Sons

This recipe is posted on Its a Keeper, Miz Helen's County Cottage, A Little Nosh, The Brambleberry Cottage, Delightful Order, Michelle's Tasty Creations, Lady Behind the Curtain, Homestead Simple, The King's Court IV, The NY Melrose Family, Ginger Snap Crafts, Savvy Southern Style, Cornerstone Confessions, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Mommy By Day Crafter By Night, Sugar Bee Crafts, The Dedicated House, Pinkapotamus, Making the World Cuter, Watch Out Martha, Baked in the South, Jam's Corner, You Are Talking Too Much, Pinch of Joy,  Craft-o-Maniac , The Tablescaper, Addicted to Recipes, Country Momma Cooks, Funky Junk Interiors, Gingerbread, Six Sisters' Stuff, Kitchen With My 3 Sons, Simply Sweet Home, Alli 'N Sons, My Turn For Us, The Shabby Nest, Twinkle in the Eye