Valentine Treat - Cute & Quick

I've been seeing this project posted all over the internet the last few weeks, and just had to try it for myself. Luckily, the first time I saw the post was just after Christmas, so I was able to scoop up a couple of boxes of mini candy canes on clearance at Target. And I love that they are "fruit flavored" (yes, I tried them...they really are), just in case anyone is still burned out on peppermint from the holidays.

Lay out pairs of candy canes to form heart shapes on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Position them far enough apart to leave room to place the lollipop sticks after cooking.

Place the sheet in a 300 degree oven for about 5 minutes. The canes will be just pliable enough to pinch together at the top and around a stick at the bottom. I protected my fingers with a small piece of parchment since...no surprise...the candy is very hot!

After wrapping them in small cellophane bags, I used some small foam hearts my daughter had left over from making valentines for tags.

The entire process of making the lollipops, wrapping and labeling them only took me about an hour and a half. Boy-howdy do I love fun projects that are quick, too!

If I were making them for my girlfriends, I would dress them up with ribbon or rhinestones on the bags. To display them on a dessert bar, you could cover a block of foam, and stick the lollipops in (like a little candy garden). So many fun options.

If you try it, let me know how they turn out, and how you "dressed" them!

Mmmmm....Banana Bread

Banana bread is a big favorite in our house. It’s one of the first things my 7-year-old learned to bake, and now she considers it her specialty!

So when I saw that the last few bananas on the counter this morning were reeeeeeaaaally ripe, I had no other choice but to mix up a loaf. (Insert smirk here.) What I did have a choice about was what new to add. Today the new item was chocolate chips. It’s something that K4 and I have talked about before, but have never actually gotten around to trying.

Although I know I’ll “get in trouble” for baking without her while she’s at school, I think that she’ll forgive me once she tastes it!

I'm sure everyone has the recipe for basic banana bread, but just in case you don't...I'll share mine.

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 or 4 medium size ripe bananas, mashed (a bit over a cup)

1/3 cup butter

2 tablespoon milk

2 eggs

1/2 cup chocolate chips

In a large bowl, mix 1 cup of the flour with the sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add in the mashed bananas, butter and milk. Beat with an electric mixer on low until well-incorporated, then on high speed for 2 minutes.

Add eggs, remaining flour and chocolate chips.

Pour batter into into a buttered loaf pan, and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 55 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean).