Summertime Treats: Root Beer Float Truffles

   
   Root Beer floats are my husband and daughter's most favorite summer dessert. It's like as soon as

summer gets here they are obsessed with it. Now, me? I like them every once in a while, but I have

to be in the mood for it. My all time favorite treat is chocolate. We'll save that topic for another time,

though.

    I love this recipe because it tastes like ice cream and it practically melts in you mouth. They're

summer bbq's in a truffle, a pool party in a ball, a picnic in a.... Well you get the idea. Alright, you

talked me into it. I'll stop building it up and give you the recipe. What's your favorite summer

dessert? Let me know in the comments below.

Make time: 1 hour

Wait Time: 1 hour

Make about 15-20 truffles (depending on size)

Ingredients: 

1 bag white chocolate chips (11 oz.)

1 bag white candy melts

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Root Beer candy flavoring

Instructions:

1. Pour white chocolate chips into a heat proof bowl.

2. Warm heavy whipping cream to simmer and pour over white chocolate. Stir until smooth.

3. Add 40 to 50 drops of the root beer flavoring, stirring well. Taste after each addition to make sure 

you have the flavor that's right for you. (mine were lighter in flavor.) You can also add more if you 

like, but be careful, too much flavoring will make the truffles too strong.

4. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 min. or until firm.

5. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Roll mixture into balls and place them on the cookie sheet.

6. Place truffles into the freezer for 30 min. Be sure that you don't put them into the deep freezer, The 

extreme cold will make your candy melts crack.

7. Melt the candy melts in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave in 30 second intervals. Stirring 

after each, until smooth.

8. Dip truffles in candy melts and place back onto cookie sheet. Let candy melts set.

9. Place truffles in an air tight container and place in the fridge. Keep refrigerated. Their good for 

about a week. Enjoy!

Butterfly Fairy Charms

    Making jewelry is a hobby that I've been into since high school. The first necklace I ever made

was a seed bead daisy chain. After a while, I lost interest and stopped making them. Later, as an adult

I decided that I was tired of not finding bracelets that fit my tiny wrists and decided to make my own.

     I came up with the idea of the butterfly fairy one day when I was trying to think of a new charm

idea. These were simple and fun to make. I hope you enjoy this tutorial. If you enjoyed this tutorial

comment below and tell me how it went.

Tools you'll need:

1. flat nosed pliers ( purple handle)

2. needle nosed pliers ( pink handle)

3. wire nippers (pink handle)

Supplies to make charms:

1. butterfly beads with a hole going through the middle

2. flower bead caps

3. headpins with a ball at the end

4. 8 mm round beads ( I used natural agate druzy beads

How to assemble:

1. take a butterfly bead and add it onto the head pin.

2. Next, add the round bead.

3. Then top the charm with the bead cap.

4. With the needle nose, pliers make a loop by wrapping the wire around close to the end of the pliers.

5. Using the nippers cut off any excess wire. Be careful and aim away from your face. It hurts when it gets into the eyes. (oops)

6. If the loop is crooked you can use the flat nosed pliers to straighten it.

Congratulations! you just made your first butterfly fairy charm. Did you have fun? I sure did. What 

did you think? Remember to hop over to Instagram and post your finished projects with the hashtag 

adropofsweetness so I can see you finished charms. See you soon.

Dairy Free Blueberry Coconut Smoothie

                                  There is nothing more refreshing in the Spring or Summer than a smoothie.

They are cold and delicious, a lot like a slushy but so much healthier. Smoothies are so easy to make

and so fast to whip up. This Blueberry Coconut Smoothie is not only healthy but decadent and dairy

free. What makes it dairy free you ask? There is no yogurt or animal milk in it. It's made with

almond milk. So, lets get to the recipe and see what makes this smoothie so special.

                              Prep and Blend time: about 5 minutes

                              Servings: 1


                               Ingredients:

                       1 cup frozen blueberries

                       1 1/4 cups almond milk

                       1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

                       1/2 Tb cacao nibs ( the decadent part)

                       1 lemon wedge

                       1 cup ice

                       honey to sweeten (optional)



                            Instructions:

                      1. Add ice, blueberries, coconut, cacao nibs and almond milk into a blender.

                      2. Squeeze juice of 1 lemon wedge into the blander and add honey to sweeten.

                      3. Blend until smooth. To make your smoothie less thick add more almond milk.

                      4. Pour into a fun smoothie glass, add a straw and go to town! Enjoy.


          Now, I want to hear from you. What is your favorite ingredient to put into a smoothie? What

smoothie recipe would you like to see next?  Let me know in the comments below.




                             

                             

Granny Stripe Baby Blanket

                   A few months ago I decided to crochet a baby blanket for my brother's newborn baby

boy. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to give something handmade. I guess my brain is just

wired that way. How about you? Do you just have to give the gift of handmade? There's just

something that is put into the item that makes it that much more special.

                  When I was little I had a quilt that I just loved. It was a yellow hand-tied quilt with squares

with different shades of yellow. I always used that blanket. It didn't matter what time of year it was it

was always there. Eventually, it got old and thin. Sadly, I don't know where it is. Maybe it's still with

my mom or maybe it was tossed. There is one thing I am sure of, though, it got a lot of love.

               Okay, back to the baby blanket. I used a multi-colored yarn for the body and a white yarn

that I had in my stash for the border. Now, to be honest, I don't remember what the pattern for the

the border is called. I do know that is was a simple pattern and an easy stitch. The granny stripe is

achieved by making three double crochets in each space of a cluster. It's super easy and it works very

quickly. You can find it just by searching the internet. It's pretty popular.

               What was your favorite blanket as a child? Share in the comments below. Do you have a

a project that you're working on right now? I would love to hear about it.

Summertime Treats: Orange Creamsicle Truffles

                             Summer is around the corner. I mean, literally, it's next month. How did the school

year go by so fast? Soon backyard BBQ's and cool treats will be in full swing. Are ready for the

onslaught of pool parties and picnics? I don't know about you, but I am always on the hunt for a new

sweet treat during the summer months. Ice cream flavored treat and just ice cream in general seem to

be the most popular choices.

                             Growing up orange creamsicles were one of my favorite treats. the orange outer

shell mixed with the creamy vanilla center. I kinda want one right now. I wanted these truffles to

remind me of those yummy treats and they do! Even my daughter was excited to try them. And if

you like them you will probably like my Blueberries and Cream Truffles too. Okay, here is the

recipe. I hope you like it. Wait! I have a question for you. What's your favorite summer time treat?

Tell me in the comments below.

Ingredients:

1. package of orange candy melts, about 11 oz.

2. 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

3. 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

4. orange candy flavor

Instructions:

1. Heat heavy whipping cream in a small sauce pan until simmering.

2. Pour whipping cream over candy melts in a heat safe bowl and stir until completely melted.

3. Cover bowl and place in the refrigerator for about an hour, or until the mixture is set.

4. Roll mixture into balls and place them on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Freeze until set. About 30 minutes.

5. Melt white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl or mug and microwave in 10 second intervals until smooth.

6. Drizzle white chocolate onto the truffles and place them back into the freezer until set.

Store them in an air tight container in the fridge for about a week. Makes about 20 pieces. Enjoy!