Starfish Cottage

Hannah's Sweet Treats

Ok, so this post is really late, but I thought I would share with you all what my enterprising 6 year old did for this past Valentines Day...she started a business called "Hannahs Sweet Treats" and decided to sell boxes of homemade cupcakes and bags of gourmet dog biscuits to family, friends and neighbors...

...so after all her orders were placed "WE" had to bake 8 dozen cupcakes 

They looked so great in their boxes (shoeboxes covered in red tissue paper, with her little labels taped on the outside)

Next, we made the "gourmet" dog biscuits...

After a little research, we learned that chocolate is NOT good for dogs, but vanilla-flavor coating called "Almond Bark" is fine...and dogs LOVE it, so we used store-bought dog biscuits and drizzled them and added a few sprinkles.

They turned out so cute wrapped up in bags with ribbons...

Beau, our new adopted dog was Hannah's number one taste-tester and fan!  He's wondering if Hannah's Sweet Treats will be cooking up another batch of yummies in time for St. Patty's day...

P.S.  Hannah made over a $100, and although she was saving up to purchase a digital camera, she decided instead to donate her earnings to a fundraiser for children with cancer...I think SHE'S the SWEETIE!

Taco Chili

Well, for those of us here in Florida, it was a VERY MILD winter, which is great for alot of reasons, but not so great if you love a big bowl of soup or chili on a cool night (which I do), but the other night, I couldn't stand it anymore, and regardless of the warm temperatures, I decided to make a big pot of Taco Chili, a old Starfish Cottage favorite!  Here's how it goes...

First, brown up a pound of ground beef or turkey and throw it in the slow cooker.

Then add a packet of Taco Seasoning, 2 cans of Mexican diced tomatoes, a can of red kidney beans and a can of corn...

Mix everything together and cook for 8 hours on low.

When it's ready, top it with grated cheddar cheese, chopped onions, avacado and cilantro and serve with corn chips...yummo!