Cake Balls! {A Tasty, Not-Too-Naughty Treat!}

Though my heart will forever belong to cupcakes, (Sorry, Patrick) but I thought these cute cake balls would be nice Spring treats!

I have lately been obsessed with a wonderful cooking blog called Skinnytaste! Gina is the author of the blog, and she creates tasty, healthy, low-fat recipes for her family and shares them weekly! Seriously, I'm obsessed. I've been on Weight Watchers to aid me in getting back into pre-pregnancy shape (that's another post), and she creates such delicious recipes and even includes the Weight Watchers PointsPlus value! They aren't your typical diet recipes either --- the other night, P and I enjoyed homemade buffalo tenders for dinner and they were delicious and not too bad for us! Healthy comfort food? You betcha! She creates innovative recipes to make foods that are normally much worse for you (be they loaded with sugar, carbs, butter or worse!) and makes substitutions to make them healthier! 

Along with a large assortment of recipes for dinners, lunches, breakfasts, desserts, smoothies and snacks she posted this one that caught my eye...

Skinny Cake Balls!!!

We were visiting both sides of the family for Easter this year and I thought they'd be the perfect treat to bring along. So I raided my favorite craft store for supplies and got to work!!!

You Need:
16 oz Box Cake Mix, 6 oz Non-fat Plain Greek Yogurt, 2 Large Egg Whites, 1 Tsp. Vanilla, 1 Cup of Water, 48 oz of Colored Candy Melts, Sprinkles, Baking Spray

It Would Help If You Had:
Cake Ball or Mini-Donut Pan*, lollipop sticks, wax paper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray your pan with baking spray. Combine all the ingredients (except the candy melts) in a large bowl. Transfer your batter into a pastry bag, or a gallon bag, (cut a corner off the gallon bag and BOOM! Pastry bag) and squeeze into the pans. Fill a little over 3/4 full. Bake for 18 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. 

                                 

If you notice above there are seams on some of the cake balls, because of their rising while baking. You can use a serrated knife to cut the seams off and make them more rounded. 

Stick the completed baked cake balls in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes, this makes it easier for the chocolate to stick to the cake ball. Melt the chocolate according the the packages' instructions. I used glass cups to hold the chocolate, and did one color at a time. I also took out five of the cake balls at a time to maximize the coolness of the cake balls! (Also, get your sprinkles ready!)

                                 

Dip the tip of the lollipop stick into the melted chocolate, then into the cake ball, and dip the cake ball into the chocolate. If you are using sprinkles, sprinkle them on immediately before the chocolate hardens.

                                 

This recipe makes about 48 cake balls AND they are at only 3 PointsPlus value from Weight Watchers --- which is a really good thing for me! They're delicious, and such a cute little treat for any occasion. 

                                 

                                 

They were a big hit at the Easter dinners! So was a certain little bunny! ;-)

*For this recipe, you really do need the rounded mini-donut or cake ball pan. If you don't have one of these you can follow this recipe from Epicurious!

Happy Spring!

Micah

Hello, my friends, Hello!

Hey everyone! As you can see, if you are still following (fingers crossed) I have a new blog title AND a new layout! Woo hoo!

I have been totally MIA for over half a year now, and that is all due to (I'm sure it's obvious to you) our baby boy's arrival in the world!

Here he is, on his first morning!

And here's our boy nowadays!

Being a new mother has been the most challenging, rewarding and amazing change to my life! We are over the moon with love for this boy. Patrick and I feel like our family is made whole with him, and we couldn't be more thrilled, or feel more lucky.

That is what took me away from blogging (as well as six shows back to back! Whew!). Our little family has been busy with growing teeth, trying out foods and learning to sit, as well as looking for a more permanent home and working on compositions and learning new theatrical skills (try to determine who's doing what here!). On the home front, literally, we are lucky to have made an offer and currently are in the process of closing on a condo in our beloved town of choice! More on that later...

I'd like to start fresh with this blog, if you'll have me. My life is moving in a new and exciting direction; being a Stay-At-Home Mom and an Actor/Director/Producer! I want to share bits and pieces of this new life with you all. There will be many crafts, cupcakes and funny stories and of course, pictures of J (our little guy). AND I will finish the wedding recaps and go through the pregnancy (woof). All this is to say I'm happy to be back and excited to start a new chapter!

Much love,

Micah

Hello, Hello, Hello!

Hello everyone! Like so many posts before this one on this blog, I am apologizing for disappearing. Again. I'll fill you in on what I've been doing...

Basically, from the moment we stepped off the plane home from Italy to now, I have been in a show. Not one, but four separate ones. Next to Normal with Patrick in August, Evil Dead: The Musical in October, A Christmas Carol reprising my role from last year (!), and The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus in January/February (for which I was acting and producing). So ridiculously busy!

Now that it's March, I think things are finally calming down a bit for me to return (triumphantly) to the blogosphere, keep up with some recaps and move forward! Good thing too, because Patrick and I have a big announcement to make...

We're going to have a baby!

Not kidding. Completely thrilled. Almost no words to express the joy and love. We found out a little before Christmas that we'll be expecting the Little One in August! (Woo hoo!). Patrick and I had decided not to wait too long before having kids. We feel incredibly blessed, overwhelmed with joy and excitedment and content.

Lucky me too, it just so happens that one of my best friends (and bridesmaids) Abbie is also expecting (she's a full trimester ahead of me, so it's been wonderful to ask questions and discuss things with her!). 

Facts:

I am, this week, four months and a week pregnant.

We are having a little boy!

We're moving to a bigger apartment!

So, you can see, our lives have been even more of a love-roller coaster. We've been lucky, again, to have quickly found an apartment we really love (a little further out from where we were before) and we've slowly been packing and moving into the new place. It already feels like home! I can't wait to share with you our decorating (especially Baby's room!) adventures and life as a married (and soon to be parenting) couple! Don't worry -- there are plenty of crafts, wedding re-caps, and other typical Roses are Blue posts! So stay tuned!

:) :) :)

My very (preggies) best,

Micah



Bridesmaids (An awkward love letter)...

No Not the movie.

Although it is hilarious....

I'm talking about my bridesmaids. My girls! There are seven of them, and I couldn't be more honored, more proud and happy to have them stand with me on my wedding day. They're awesome, and so supportive!!! (I wrote a ridiculously long and detailed wedding-update-email to them at 11:15 two nights ago and almost everyone responded right away!) They are all beautiful, talented and smart women, all have my respect and love. And all are very special to me.

Alex, Maid of Honor, sister
Claire, Patrick's sister
Amber, Patrick's cousin
Abbie, best friendie
Erica, best friendie
Katie, best friendie
Joelle, best friendie

To Alex, my little sister and Maid of Honor, I love you with all my heart. I am so proud of you. You are growing up to be such an amazing person! I love you, forever.

To Claire, I cannot WAIT to have you as my sister!! You are so sweet and unflinching in kindness.

To Amber, I also cannot WAIT to be a part of your family. You are an amazing woman, and I honestly look up to you.

To Abbie, Nyello --- you put up with my awkies sense of humour, cupcake/crafting soliloquies, and still manage to stay best friends with me! You are such a role model for me in your grace, creativity and passion. Love ya girl!

To Erica, you have taught me so much about what it is to be an actor in love. I have learned so much from you. You are beautiful, talented and one of the most generous people I know. Love you!

To Katie, you let me be myself! In all seriousness, you do. And that is something that I have rarely had in my life. Thank you. Love!

To Joelle, oh hai, you are amazingly, energeticly loving and you are always always there for me. And I will always be there for you!!!

I feel kind of silly writing this post, as I do not feel that words can really describe my relationships with each of these girls. I am honored that they will be standing with me as I marry Patrick, and I simply could not see my wedding without them. The are the ultimate gift I can have in my life for friends, and I am so grateful!

Love you girls. Thank you for your unwavering support, wise words, kind thoughts, consolation, encouragement, love and everything else that my grace-less thoughts have failed to mention.

Yours,

Micah