Apple Taffy Dip

Today I have something simple and quick to share with you which includes a Fall staple, the apple. Apple Taffy Dip is the perfect little mid-week treat. It has just the right amount of sweetness like a dessert and there are some healthy aspects to it too. I always like to have it as a treat with a nice Granny Smith apple with my lunch or after my workout. Just because it is called “Apple Dip” doesn’t mean you can’t have it with anything else. I like to dip strawberries, grapes, and melons in it as well.

Apple Taffy Dip

1 8 ounce package of cream cheese

1 tsp. of vanilla

½ cup of brown sugar

¼ cup of powdered sugar

Whip up the cream cheese and sugars until light and fluffy.

Add in the vanilla.

I usually double the recipe and sometimes I put in less sugar as well so that it doesn’t get too sweet.

Slice up an apple and dip away. I like the Granny Smith apple because the sourness compliments the sweet dip.

At Home Mani and Pedis

                                                           

Usually around this time of the year we are doing our big Craft Fair prep but with COVID, that is not happening this year.

Instead, we have been finding lots of things to do around the house. I’ve been giving myself pedicures and manicures so I thought I’d share with you my steps for some at home mani/pedis and some of my favourite products and colours to use.

For my pedicures I always like to do a nice foot soak the day before. Before I soak, I actually like to use a good foot file and scrap away all of the dead skin on my heels, side of the foot, and side and under the big toe. My favourite file is a wooden “dry” use one that I get at the Body Shop.

Then I clean up my toe nails and cut and shape them and take off an old polish.

After, I like to get a bucket and fill it with warm water and then add about ½ cup of Epsom salts and soak away for about 15 minutes or until the water gets cool. I like Dr. Teals Lavender Epsom salts the best.

I dry my feet and massage them with some lotion (Vaseline Cracked Heel lotion) and put on some socks and then go to bed.

The next day I paint. I’m usually a soft and simple person when it comes to colours. Essie is my favourite brand. My all time favourite for toes and finger nails is Ballet Slippers! I’m also a fan of Essie's Muchi Muchi, Buy Me A Cameo, Go Ginza, Berry Naughty and Heather Hustle, Sand Storm, and Racing Rose by Sally Hansen. I actually use Sally Hansen Quick Dry or Sally Hansen Diamond Coat as my base. 

I need to use toe separators when I paint so put those on and then start to paint. Depending on the colour, I usually do three coats as I choose lighter colours. I finish it all off with Essie’s Speed Setter top coat. It really works and sets things so fast.

Now for the fingers. I like to shape and cut the day before and buff away any bad stuff. Then I will use Essie’s Apricot Cuticle Oil and Eucerin, Glysomed, or Gold Bond hand lotion. I like to massage it into the dry skin on my hands. They are so dry now with all the sanitizer and hand washing.

I basically do my base coat, then three layers of polish leaving about 2 minutes in between. I finish it all off with the speed setter coat and then I’m done. I am still cautious with this speed setter coat but I feel less likely that any smudging will happen when I use this. A tip, make sure you take the top coat and paint it horizontally over the end of your finger nails; that will prevent chipping at the ends.

Classic Brownies

 

What day is it? I totally have lost track. Everyday seems like it is the same as before and they all run into each other nowadays. Haha.

We are just starting November and the weather has gotten colder and we are all inside hibernating once again. I have been trying out some new recipes, the fluffy muffins from last time for example, and now I have tried out another, classic brownies. These are the brownies that are similar to the ones from the box that we are all used to having in our childhood. They are fudgy on the inside and crackly crunchy on the top. Take a look and make a batch to have on a cozy day inside with a nice big glass of cold milk.

Classic Brownie Recipe

You will need…

1 ¼ cup of flour

¾ tsp. of baking powder

½ tsp. of salt

1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips

12 tbsp. of butter

2 cups of sugar

4 eggs

1tbsp. of vanilla

Butter a glass baking dish, 13x9 in size.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together.

Melt the chocolate and the butter together in a large glass measuring cup or bowl in the microwave, stirring often.

Whisk the sugar into the chocolate mix and then the eggs.

Then fold the flour mix in this mixture in three separate additions.

 

Give the batter a good stir and then spoon into the glass dish.

                                                               

Bake for 30-35 minutes.

Cool completely, about 2 hours and then cut and serve.