Recipe: Canoli Poke Cake

I have never made a poke cake, much less even heard of one until pinterest.  I decided to make this one because my sister loves Canoli.  I'm not a big fan, but this cake was delicious!  I didn't really expect it.  The topping has a little bit of an odd texture because of the ricotta, but it's not so bad it keeps me away from eating it.  

Ingredients: 

1 box of White Cake Mix, and all of the ingredients on the box (Oil, Eggs, Water) 

1 14 oz Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 1/2 cup Ricotta Cheese 

1 1/2 cup Mascapone Cheese 

1 tsp Vanilla Extract 

1 cup Powdered Sugar

1/2 tsp Cinnamon, Optional

1/2 cup Mini Chocolate Chips 

Powdered Sugar for Dusting 

Directions: 

Bake the Cake according to the instructions on the box in a 9x13 inch pan. 

Cover the WHOLE cake with half of the condensed milk, this picture is just showing the holes and some of the condensed milk. 

Allow the cake to cool, and then poke straw sized holes all over the cake. 

Pour half of the condensed milk all over the cake. 

Put the cake in the fridge. 

Combine the ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese, and the vanilla extract into a mixing bowl, beat until smooth.  

Add the powdered sugar and cinnamon, mix until combined. 

Add the rest of the condensed milk and mix until combined.  

Once the cake has absorbed all of the milk, spread the topping evenly over cake, top with mini chocolate chips and then dust.  

Allow the cake to set in the fridge for 2-3 hours.  

Enjoy! 

xx

*Note: I combined all of my topping ingredients at once, but my sister was string them while I measured them out and added them.  I'm pretty sure the mixing is in steps because the cheese is kind of firm and for it to combine better, it should be softer.  

I also forgot to dust with more powdered sugar. 

Adovia Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream:

A few weeks ago I recieved Adovia Anti-Wrinkle Cream in the mail, and I know what you're thinking, "But Ann, you're only 22 years old, what do you need an anti-wrinkle cream for?" And to be honest, I guess I don't really need an anti-wrinkle cream, but I want one.  Besides 1, it's never too early to use anti-wrinkle creams, and 2, I have baby wrinkles under my eyes that I wouldn't miss if they were to leave.  Haha.  

Adovia is a skin care line to that combines minerals with herbal extracts to create the perfect combination that will help your skin.  All of the minerals that they put into their anti-wrinkle face cream come from The Dead Sea.  

This anti-wrinkle cream is for all skin types, reduces wrinkles, fine lines, and it firms.  

I've been using this moisturizer for two weeks now, and I can definitely see and feel a difference in my skin.  I have wrinkles under my eyes and when I use Adovia's anti-wrinkle cream, I can see them less and less.  

The cream is very thick and feels a little sticky going on at first, but after a minute the stickiness is gone.  With other moisturizer I've used, if I used too much my face felt gross and I never wanted to use the product again, but with this cream it sort of seems like I can't use too much...I mean obviously you CAN use too much, but I feel this cream absorbs more into your skin then others that I have used.  

The smell, not going to lie, was a little off putting at first because it smells like baby powder and a light hint of roses.  I've stated before that I can't stand baby powder, but I tried it anyways, and the smell fades so fast I don't even think about it anymore.  That was a total plus for me.  

I really like this face cream, and I'll be really sad when it runs out. 

I definitely recommend this product!  

xx

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Recipe: One Pan Beans and Rice

I've been making a lot of food recently and when I stumbled upon this recipe, and it said that it only needed one pan I instantly jumped on it.  I used to love doing the dishes, but now that I'm the one cooking the meal and then I have to clean up, it's just so annoying.

I love, love, love that this only took one pan!  It was amazing.

I wasn't so sure about this dish, but I actually really enjoyed it.  The only thing I would add is a pinch of salt.

Ingredients: 

1 tbsp Oil 

3-4 boneless Chicken Breasts

3/4 cup Rice

2 cup Water 

1 can of Black Beans, Drained and Rinsed 

1 can of Whole Kernel Corn

1 cup of Shredded Cheddar Cheese 

Sour Cream. 

Directions:

Heat oil in a medium sauce pan. 

Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes on each side.  I cut mine up just to have it spread more in the dish.

Stir in the rest of the ingredients minus the cheese.
(There is chicken, but I just didn't get a picture.)

Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat. 

Let simmer for 20-25 minutes.  I then took it off of the burner and covered for 10 minutes just to let some of the juice to absorb.

Top with cheese, let melt, and then add the sour cream. 

Enjoy!

xx 

L'Oreal Boost It High Lift Creation Spray:

I'm always looking for something to give my hair a little extra oomph.  I have super straight, super flat, hair.  While looking through the hair section at walmart, I saw this spray and decided "why not?" 

I've used this hairspray a few different times and in different combinations.  The first way  was on clean hair without teasing.  Just clean hair and the spray.  It worked for a little bit, but a few hours later, and you couldn't really see a difference.  

The second time I used it on day old hair with dry shampoo, the lift creation spray, and teasing.  It worked really great.   It kept as much volume as my hair could.  I'm not the best at teasing my hair, so obviously someone who is better could have better results, but what I did tease, stayed.  

The third time I used it on clean hair, lift creation spray, and without teasing.  It's definitely a product that if you want to keep the volume, you've got to tease it.   I mean it gives you some oomph, but nothing worth talking about.  

I'll keep doing different combinations and keep you as updated as I can, but for now this is what I have done with it.   Overall it's a nice product, and  it works if you know what you're doing.   I'm sure I'll play around with it in the future, meaning lots of teasing when I don't really have to go anywhere, and see where it takes me.  

The smell is an interesting one.  It's a mixture between floral and citrus for me.  It also has a hint of alcohol to it, but it's a hairspray so of course it does.  It's not offensive or anything, just interesting.  A youtuber who I watch described it as a baby powder/ bubblegum scent.  I don't smell either, and I really hate the smell of baby powder so I'm pretty sure I would be able to sniff that out.  I don't know.  Everyone has different noses, and they even could have changed their formula.  

'

The first time I used it, I used A LOT of it so it got stuck in the back of my throat for hours!  I was tasting this spray for I don't even know how long.  It was intense.  It's not an awful taste, it's actually sweet, but not something I really want at the back of my throat.  Just a small warning.   

The other few times it wasn't as bad.  Maybe only for an hour.  It also wasn't as annoying as it was the first time.  

I would recommend this to someone who likes volume in their hair and doesn't mind a little stickiness.  

xx 

Recipe: Penne Meatball Casserole

Another casserole recipe that I found on Pinterest!  It was good, but I would tweak if I make it again. 

More sauce and more cheese.  

Ingredients:

1 Pound Frozen Mini Meatballs, Thawed 

1 Box of Penne Pasta

1 cup Marinara Sauce 

1 cup Ricotta 

1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese 

Salt and Pepper 

Basil 

Directions: 

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. 

Cook the pasta, then drain. 

Combine the meatballs and the marinara sauce. Season with salt an pepper to taste. 

Toss the mix with the pasta and then transfer it all to a casserole dish. 

Top with dollops of ricotta and then cover with tin foil. 

Bake for 30 minutes. 

Uncover, top with parmesan cheese, and bake for another 10 minutes. 

Garnish with basil. 

Enjoy! 

xx 

 Notes:

 I would personally add more sauce. Maybe two cups. I used the whole 14 oz jar and it still want enough. 

I'm also not the biggest fan of ricotta so I used it sparingly. 

If you cant find mini meatballs get regular ones, like I did, but maybe cut them in half or in quarters.  It might be a little easier to serve. 

Real Technique Make-up Brushes:

For a while now I've been wanting to get new make-up brushes, but whenever I've looked, none of them really suited my fancy.   But reading more and more blogs, I decided to give the Real Technique brushes a try.  I went with the standard starter kit and then a random brush that I feel will do the best in my collection.  

These brushes are super soft, and I was kind of sad to use them since they were so fresh and clean.  

In the first box came four brushes.  

Brush 1 

This brush is the brow brush.  I've used it a few times instead of the brush that I have been using and I can tell you, since it's bigger, it works a lot better.  it covers more, and I feel like I have more control with this bigger brush than the smaller brush I have been using.  I think this one is my favorite out of the set. 

Brush 2

This brush is called a fine liner brush.   I didn't think that I was going to like this brush.   When I do eyeliner on my top lid I use an angled brush, but I decided to try something new.   I used this brush before my sister's birthday party, but unfortunately my gel liner has dried up a bit and it was a little hard to get a smooth line.  When I buy more, I'll try again.  Other than that little hiccup, I really liked the brush.  

Brush 3 

This brush is called the base shadow brush.  It says that it "applies a smooth, flawless foundation of color" and it does.  I like this on compared to the other brush that I was using before.  It's fluffier, so I feel that it covers my eyelid better.  I'm really happy that this brush does what I wanted it for.  

Brush 4 

This brush is the deluxe crease brush.  It says "soft, oversized design for effortless contouring" and I agree that it's soft, but I think since I'm not used to it, it hasn't been working out in my favor.  I find it a bit to big for my eye, and I feel like I can't control where it's going.  On the box it says that Sam and Nic have step by step tutorials, so I'm planning on going over there to see if maybe I'm using the brush wrong, or if there are any tips that the videos will give me.  

The next brush is called The Expert Face Brush.  It says it's for liquid or cream foundation, but I'm basically just using it to blend everything out and together.  I like that it's a smaller brush so I can blend every little section of my face.  The first time I used this brush I fell in love, and eventually I will be back looking at their others. 

Do you use the Real Technique brushes?  Which one is your favorite?  

Let me know! 

xx 

Recipe: Apple Brownies

This is another recipe that I found on Pinterest, and they call it brownies, I call it Apple Crisp-ish Brownies.  It's really good, and really easy to make.  It was eaten within two days of being made, and if that doesn't say a lot, then I don't know what would.  It was great.  I loved it.  It's best warm and you can even top it off with some vanilla ice-cream with caramel sauce.  

Ingredients: 

½ cup Butter, melted 

1 cup White Sugar

1 Egg 

3 Medium Apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

½ cup Chopped Walnuts

1 cup All Purpose Flour

¼ tsp Salt 

½ tsp Baking Powder

½ tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Ground Cinnamon 

Directions:

Pre-heat your over to 350 degrees and grease a 9x9 inch pan.

Beat together the melted butter, sugar, and egg, until fluffy.

Fold in the apples and walnuts.

In a seperate bowl sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.

Mix the flour mix and the apple mix together and then place in the greased pan.

Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

Enjoy! 

xx 

** I didn't add the walnuts because my sister doesn't like nuts. 

Covergirl & Revlon Lipsticks:

To be completely honest, I'm not 100% sure why I bought these two lipsticks.   I would have never picked up the one from covergirl if it wasn't for one of those try out different hair and make up simulators.  On the outside it's purple.  On the inside it's purple with blue sparkles, applied it's purple, but after a bit it's more pink.  Which is totally confusing.  I love this lipstick.  I don't know how often I am going to wearing, but I love it.  I chose the Rimmel London lipstick because I've fallen in love with their lip butters and I think I'm slowly, subconsciously, trying to collect them all.  

The blue glitter doesn't show while it's on, and it's more pink after it settles in to your lips.  It will be in a FOTD in a few weeks. 

Covergirl 335 Embrace: 

Like I said above, it looks a lot different on the lips.  I wasn't so sure about the purpleness.  It scares me.  But also now that it's fall I've been looking for the perfect dark lipstick.  Something less spring/summer.  And if you've been here long you know that is a struggle for me.  I feel like I don't have the right skin tone for lipstick so dark, but the I see all of these amazing people who pretty much have the same skin tone as me wearing deep reds and burgundy and all of that.  So, I figure why not.  It a comfort thing that I have to get over, because I like the dark lip look, who cares that it's not exactly fashionable for me.  (that's not the right word, but it's the one that came to my head.)  

This lipstick has amazing staying power.  I have a lighter colored tube and I was wearing it the other day, forgot, took a shower, and when I got out of the shower it was still on.   It does not budge with light drinking out of a bottle, and it does not budge with my nervous lip biting/rubbing together habbit that I have somehow gotten myself stuck on.  I haven't tried it against eating a sandwich or anything like that, but I think it will be fine.   It's hard to remove.  I used a makeup wipe against it the other day, and I couldn't get all of it off.   I've used garnier fructis oil, and it was still difficult to remove.  

My only negative notes about this lipstick is the smell and after a bit it feels a little drying.  There is just something about Covergirls formula, that I don't like.  It's like old fashioned lipstick paired with perfume.  Not the best, but for how long it lasts, I can power through it.  

Revlon  050 Berry Smoothie: 

I expected this butter to be a little bit darker and more berry than it is.  It's more pink but it's still a very nice color.  Again, like I said above, I think I'm subconsciously collecting all of the Revlon Lip Butters.  This is my 3rd and that doesn't seem like much, but I'm not really one to have a lot of color options (yet).  

I haven't played with this one as much as I have with the Covergirl lipstick because I kind of feel like I already know how well it works.  You'll need to check it every little while, but other than that, it's really nice.  It doesn't dry your lips out and they're not as committed as a regular lipstick, meaning that they can be light or you can build them up.  

I do really love Revlon lipsticks.  I want to say their currently my favorite brand.  (Just be sure to stay away from the suede line.  Ick.)

I highly suggest covergirl and revlon.  Love, love, love! 

xx