Boy or Girl? Cookie or Pizza?

I am happy to announce that I am going to be an Aunt! My sister is pregnant and this will be the first baby in our immediate family. Very exciting!!
To reveal the baby’s gender my sister, Carrie and her husband, Ryan, decided to have a gender reveal party. So after a little snacking we all anxiously stood around, cupcake in hand, and broke into the fate of our family.

My sister baked the cupcakes with a colored gumball inside. Depending on what the gender was, the gumball represented that color.
So… boy or girl?
Girl!!!
I am so excited to start buying frilly, girly, dressy clothes! My niece is going to be so spoiled and loved.
And after we experienced the baby excitement there was still another surprise. Why on earth would there be a pizza for dessert???
Surprise, it was a cookie pizza. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t really a surprise but I bet I had some people wondering.
The recipe is really easy to make and turns out looking really cute. And the pizza box is just a nice added touch. I was able to get mine at the local pizza place for free.
This recipe came from the Neely’s recipe on the Food Network’s “Down Home With the Neelys”.
Preheat oven to 375°
You will need:
•2 (16 1/2-ounce) packages chocolate chip cookie dough (recommended: Nestle Tollhouse)
•1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
•4 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate
•1/2 cup toffee chips
•1/4 cup chopped pecans
1.) Begin by spraying a 12 inch pizza pan with nonstick spray. If you don’t have a pizza pan it is ok! I didn’t either and here it what I did: Begin with a piece of foil that is fairly large. Draw a circle on the foil that will be the shape of the pizza. DO NOT cut the circle, just use this as a stencil for the cookie dough. You want to keep some edges of the foil in case the dough spreads. Spray the foil. And if you are using a regular pizza pan I suggest putting foil under it in case is spreads.
2.) Spread both containers of cookie dough on either the pan or foil and bake for 25 minutes. When pizza is finished, remove from oven and allow to cool.
3.) While the pizza is cooking, prepare the toppings. Begin by bringing the heavy cream to a gentle simmer. When it has heated, remove from heat and pour over chocolate. Begin stirring chocolate and cream until all of the chocolate has melted. Allow to cool and thicken.
4.) Top pizza with chocolate, then toffee and pecans.
5.) Slice, serve, and enjoy!

 

I hope you enjoy this recipe and the exciting news. Now I’ve got to start some online baby shopping so I’ll talk to you all soon!

Dads and Grads.

Happy Father’s Day!!
I hope everyone had a great day :)
I woke up late again today and loved it!
Breakfast was a random one but quite tasty! I was in the mood for something savory so I went with my craving.
A slice of rye toast, topped with tomato, a slice of precooked bacon, some cheese and black beans. It may look and sound a little weird but it hit the spot!
We headed to my cousins graduation party/Father’s Day celebration!
Awesome appetizer spread!
I love snacks :D
Sipped on a lemon drop, so refreshing!
Family enjoying themselves.
Had a glass of vino.
Played some bocce ball with Jay.
Meal time!
I had a little bit of everything! A piece of hoagie, peanut chicken, potato salad, ceasar salad, olives and a small piece of filet mignon. Everything was delish!
I was in love with the beautiful flowers my aunt had out.
Dessert time! My cousin in front of his graduation cake.
So good!
Dessert display!
Again, I had a little of everything. Chocolate cheesecake, raspberry cheesecake, canoli, graduation cake and a sugar cookie!
Jay and I :)
Me and my Dad when I was itty bitty.
Reading with my Pops.
Today with my Dad and sister!
Happy Father’s Day Dad :)