Valentines Fun and A New Day

Happy Valentines Day Eve!

This weekend I made a fun new cookie for my family.  My sister found this recipe in her Better Homes and Gardens magazine and we thought they looked so cute and fun to make.

Here is the recipe for Chocolate Cherry Dips

Ingredients

1/2 of an 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup finely chopped, drained maraschino cherries
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
60 vanilla wafers
12 ounces chocolate-flavor candy coating, coarsely chopped


Directions

For filling, in a medium mixing bowl beat cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Stir in cherries and almond extract. Spread filling on bottoms of half of the vanilla wafers. Top with the remaining wafers, bottom sides down. Cover and chill about 30 minutes or until filling is firm.

In a medium saucepan cook and stir chocolate candy coating and the 2 teaspoons shortening over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Using a fork, dip each sandwich cookie in melted chocolate coating, turning to coat completely and letting excess coating drip back into pan. Place dipped cookies on a sheet of waxed paper. Sprinkle with jimmies. Let stand about 30 minutes or until chocolate coating is set.

The filling......

Before dipping.......

All dipped and sprinkled!

I thought they turned out so cute and they were so fun to make.  I didn't like they way to cookie got a little bit soft, and I probably would add cherry flavoring to the filling, because the Marciano Cherries weren't very strong.  Other than that I liked them :)

Tomorrow is not only Valentines Day, but also my hubby's birthday!  We decided to celebrate early to beat the crowds.  Saturday we went to the Casino to spend a little money :)  We don't go much, neither of us like to waste the money, but once in a while it's fun to sit and play!

We ate upstairs at the Casio, and this was our view....

This is the Race Track.  It is so sad in the winter when there are not races going on.  We went to the races twice last year, and plan to go more this year.  It is so much fun!

We had a great meal and didn't spend too much gambling :)  We didn't win, but had so much fun playing Jacks Are Better :)

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Last Friday was my weigh in.  I've been struggling and haven't been doing very well, and gained 4 lbs.  So there it is.  I am always honest here, no matter how embarrassing.  It allows me to see it for what it is and then enables me to refocus honestly.  I almost didn't go to my meeting.  I knew I was up, I didn't want to see it in print, in my booklet, but I decided to bite the bullet and go.  I am glad that I went.  I never regret weighing in when I have gained.  It is a starting point for me, and I need that.  I am not dwelling on it.  I know what needs to be done.  I know what I am not supposed to eat. Today is a new day.....Day One....I need about 3 good days to get myself back in the mind set that I need to be in.  Send me your positive vibes.  Three days is nothing!  I can do it! :)  

xoxo