Living La Vida Holoka


Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts

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Skip the box of chocolate this Valentine’s Day and bake up a batch of these Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts instead!


It seems like I can’t go grocery shopping without seeing an entire aisle devoted to Valentine’s Day this time of year.  But there’s only one reason I keep venturing down these aisles – my husband.  Every year for Valentine’s Day, I buy him the same small box of chocolates.  It’s become a yearly joke between us. 

My husband loves Blue Nose Pitbulls.  So five years ago, when I stumbled across a box of chocolates with a couple of blue pits on it, I knew I had to get it for him.  He ended up loving it so much that he kept the cover of the box.  

Year after year, I kept seeing the same box of chocolates.  So every year, I’ve bought it for him.  This year, I haven’t seen that box of chocolates yet, but I’m determined to find it!  In the meantime, my permanent Valentine gets to help me test out recipes for Heart Day – you know, just in case that box of chocolates doesn’t show up this year!


These chocolate dipped meringue hearts are better than a box of chocolates!

 
During the holidays, I did a lot of baking! Most of it was semi-homemade from cookie mixes, but I did manage to bake a batch of homemade meringues.  I had misplaced my star tip, so I affectionately called my holiday meringues “snowman poop.”  They were vanilla meringue cookies decorated with a snow inspired sprinkle mix.  The cookies turned out so good that I decided to make them again for Valentine’s Day.  This time, I made them into pink hearts and dipped them into dark chocolate.

I figure these cookies will easily keep me from nosing around those Valentine’s Day aisles for myself, as tempting as they may be.  My sweet tooth will stick to meringue.  After all, a plain meringue cookie is only 10 calories.  It might be a little more dipped in dark chocolate, but it’s so worth it.  Especially when you compare it to the candy hanging out in those seasonal aisles in the store!


These cookies are light, crispy, and have a subtle vanilla flavor. You could definitely swap out the vanilla extract for a strawberry or raspberry extract.  I dipped them in dark chocolate because that’s what I had on hand.  Plus, dark chocolate is basically the healthiest chocolate you can consume.  Despite the sweet temptation of the Valentine’s Day season, I’m still trying to keep my healthy eating habits in check. 

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Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts

Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts

Ingredients

  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
  • Dash of salt
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • Red food coloring
  • 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
  • Valentine's Day sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Add egg whites to a small bowl and let them come to room temperature, at least 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 250 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  3. In a bowl of a stand mixer, add the egg whites, vanilla, cream of tartar, and salt. Beat with a whisk attachment until the eggs become foamy.
  4. Gradually add the sugar. Once the sugar is incorporated, add a couple drops of red food coloring.
  5. Continue mixing on high until glossy and stiff peaks form.
  6. Add the mixture to a piping bag with a round tip. Pipe heart shapes onto the prepared baking sheets.
  7. Bake the meringue cookies in the oven for 45 minutes. Then, turn off the oven and let the meringues sit in the oven for an hour.
  8. Once the meringues are baked, melt the dark chocolate over low heat, stirring continuously until the chocolate is smooth and melted completely.
  9. Dip half of each cookie into the melted chocolate. Then, sprinkle with Valentine's Day sprinkles.
  10. Let the chocolate set in the fridge (or at room temperature) and enjoy!
  11. Store the cookies in a sealed bag or container in a cool, dry place.
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Have a Galentine’s Day gathering coming up or want a special treat for your Valentine?  Whip up a batch of these cookies!  As long as you make sure that your egg whites come to room temperature before whipping up these meringues, you’ll be good to go! 

Don’t forget to share your meringue hearts by tagging me @lavidaholoka and using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats! 

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If you like this Valentine’s Day recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

You’ll Have Heart Eyes for These 20 Valentine’s Day Cocktails

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Whether you’re having a romantic night in for Valentine’s Day or getting together with the girls for Galentine’s Day, these 20 Valentine’s Day cocktails will make you feel warm and fuzzy!


Valentine’s Day gets me all sentimental and has me thinking about sweet moments in my relationship.  Actually, it has me thinking about sweet moments in some of my friends’ relationships, too.  Like, I never really had that immediate “he’s the one” spark with my husband.  It’s something that developed over time.  But I sure as hell knew that my friend’s then-boyfriend-now-husband was “the one” for her as soon as I met him!  Funny.  Isn’t it?

It’s the season of sweetness, red and pink, and hearts – lots and lots of hearts!  I’ll have one or two Valentine’s Day recipes coming up for you soon, but today I’m talking about cocktails!  Sweeten up your Valentine’s Day evening with one of these Valentine’s Day cocktail recipes!  I’ll more than likely be sipping on a glass of red wine with a special romantic dinner for two, prepared with lots of love, on Valentine’s night! But who knows?  Some of these cocktails look very tasty and easy to make, too! 

You’ll Have Heart Eyes for These 20 Valentine’s Day Cocktails
  1. Amazing Raspberry Bellini – Simply {Darr}ling
  2. Lemon Raspberry Mimosas – Delightful E Made
  3. The Divine Damiana Valentine Cocktail – She Keeps a Lovely Home
  4. Raspberry Love Potion Cocktail – Who Needs A Cape?
  5. Be Mine Valentine’s Moscow Mule – A Worthey Read
  6. Valentine’s Cherry Strawberry Screwdriver Cocktail Recipe – This Mama Loves
  7. Love Potion Chocolate Cherry Martini – A Mother Thing
  8. Kiss Me Quick Cocktail – Holly’s Cheat Day
  9. Valentine’s Day Cherry Vodka Cocktail – Growing Up Gabel
  10. Mini Red Velvet Milkshakes – Pizzazzerie
  11. Blood Orange Martini – Cooks with Cocktails
  12. Sweetheart Martini – Nellie Bellie
  13. Chocolate Cake Martini – Delightful E Made
  14. Strawberry Confusa – Big Oven
  15. Cupid’s Colada Cocktail – Who Needs A Cape?
  16. Cherry Lime Moscow Mule Cocktail Recipe – Simply Darrling
  17. Elderflower Fizz – Love Happy Hour
  18. Cupid’s Pink Arrow – No Spoon Necessary
  19. Raspberry Cheesecake Cocktail Shots – Busy Being Jennifer
  20. Sweet Candy Cocktail – Dell Cove Spices

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Do you have a favorite cocktail to sip on Valentine’s Day?

No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars

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These No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars are the perfect snack for when you’re trying to stay on track with your healthy eating goals, but crave the occasional chocolate treat!


We’re halfway into January and I’ve been doing pretty well with making healthy switches in my diet.  But the one thing I can’t manage to shake is the craving for a snack before bed.  If you’re like me and have read an abundance of diet/healthy lifestyle books, then you know that the debate about snacking before bed hasn’t quite been settled.  Some dietitians say you should cut off eating before a certain time eat night.  Other diets have said you should be eating right up until you go to bed to keep your metabolism lit like a fat burning fire. 

Now, I’m no expert when it comes to dieting, but I hate going to bed hungry.  There’s nothing worse than your growling stomach keeping you awake at night.  So I’m all about that “everything in moderation” business.  If your stomach is still begging you for a bite after dinner, eat something.  Obviously not a full dinner, but a little something-something to stave off the hunger and keep you satisfied.  

I feel the same way about cravings.  Want pizza?  Eat a slice of a pizza (not half a pie).  Want chocolate?  Eat some damn chocolate!  That’s where this recipe comes in.


Okay.  Let me just preface this recipe by saying that it’s health-ish.  I’m not going to tell you that you can scarf down half a baking dish of these bars just because they’re made with almond butter, coconut flour, and dark chocolate.  It goes back to that “everything in moderation” thing.  However, these Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars are made with simple ingredients that definitely have a few added benefits.

Almond butter

Almond butter has healthy fats in it, which is good for heart health.  It’s also full of vitamins and minerals. 

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate may actually have higher amounts of antioxidants than some fruits!  It’s also another heart-healthy food and may lower cholesterol levels. It’s also pretty good for the brain! 

Coconut flour

Coconut flour is a great, gluten-free substitute.  It also may aid in fueling your metabolism and keeping your blood sugar a healthy level.  Coconut flour is also high in fiber, so it’s good for digestion. 

Oh, and have I mentioned that they’re no-bake?  So when that craving for something sweet hits, you can whip up a batch of these bars in no time!

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No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars

No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars

Ingredients

  • 1 cup creamy almond butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 12 oz. dark chocolate chunks, 1/2 cup set aside
  • Optional: 1/4 cup almonds, chopped
  • Coconut oil, to grease the pan

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, add the almond butter, coconut flour, and vanilla extract. Mix on medium until well combined.
  2. Stir in 1/2 cup of the dark chocolate chunks.
  3. Grease an 8x8 square baking dish with coconut oil.
  4. Then, spread the almond butter mixture evenly into the pan.
  5. Add the rest of the dark chocolate chocolate into a small saucepan.
  6. Heat the chocolate over low and continuously stir until the chocolate is completely melted.
  7. Remove from heat and pour over the almond butter.
  8. Sprinkle chopped almonds on top, if desired, and let the chocolate set in the fridge for at least an hour.
  9. Once the chocolate is completely solid, you can cut into bars and enjoy!
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A few other things about this recipe:

  • If you want perfectly cut square bars, you’re probably not going to get it.  If you do somehow manage – well, you’re a wizard, Harry.  That was not happening for me!
  • The almond butter may separate a little from the chocolate while you’re cutting this recipe into bars.  Not a big deal.  You can easily press it back into place and let them harden up in the fridge again.
  • I definitely recommend wrapping these bars up individually after cutting them and keeping them in a baggie or container in the fridge. 
  • If you want to make tinier portions, grease a mini muffin pan and make them like homemade almond butter cups instead!

Next time your craving for something sweet and chocolaty hits, make a batch of these No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars!  They’re pretty much guilt-free, have no added sugar, and taste just like an almond butter cup! 

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If you like this recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

The Best Cricut Tools & Accessories for Beginners

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Tackle your very first Cricut project with the help of these Cricut tools and accessories for beginners! These staple items will help you craft your first vinyl cutting project!


I had a Cricut machine on my crafting wishlist for a couple years.  So I finally took the plunge this year after seeing a blogger friend’s Instagram story.  She was roaming the aisles of the craft store, showing off all of the great tools, vinyl sheets, and accessories you could get for your Cricut.  It was also a great time to purchase a machine.  They were under $200 at the time (the Cricut Explore Air 2 is still under $200 on Amazon!).  That afternoon, I headed to the craft store and bought myself a brand new Periwinkle Cricut Explore Air 2 and a roll of black vinyl.

As a beginner Cricut user, I was honestly intimidated to start my journey into vinyl cutting and crafting.  My Cricut was set up, but it took me days to finally try to use it.  Turns out, I had nothing to worry about.  It’s so easy to use!  Since my purchase, I’ve made so much!  I got my Cricut before Christmas, so I ended up making some homemade ornaments as gifts.  As the New Year approached, I began making labels for storage.  If I could put a label on it, I’ve probably done it! 


 
You’ll want to use your new Cricut machine everything!  I haven’t made anything too fancy yet, but I’m constantly on my design app (you can download it while you’re setting up your new Cricut) looking for inspiration for my next project.  You can also work off of your computer, but I love how handy the app is!

If you got a new Cricut machine for Christmas or have one on your crafting wishlist, I’m sharing some of the Cricut tools and accessories I immediately bought off of Amazon.  The Cricut Explore Air 2 comes with a premium blade, pen and cardstock sample, cutting mat, and more to get you started.  But I couldn’t wait to get my hands on some vinyl and accessories!

The Best Cricut Tools & Accessories for Beginners

 
Cricut Explore Air 2

The first thing you obviously need is a Cricut machine.  There are a few different models available, but – to be perfectly honest – I got the Cricut Explore Air 2 because it was on sale and available in many pretty colors.  I didn’t know a thing about this or any other Cricut machine!  It’s still a learning process for me, but I’ve got the basics down. 

Power on the machine, then head to your Cricut Design Space app or program.  From there, you can scroll through hundreds of free images or pay a small price for other images (check out Pinterest, too).  Then, you can resize the image for your project, cut the vinyl to size on your mat, load your mat, and let the cutting begin!

Black adhesive & iron-on vinyl

I totally recommend grabbing a roll of black vinyl.  I have it in adhesive vinyl and iron-on vinyl.  It’s great for labeling jars and storage containers.  Before Christmas, I used it to make an adorable llama face ornament!  I haven’t used the iron-on vinyl yet, but I can’t wait to design my first shirt!  

White vinyl

Just like black vinyl, white vinyl is great to have on hand.  It stands out a little more than black vinyl on certain surfaces and will be used for so many projects!

Glitter vinyl

Because I was making ornaments, I loaded up on glitter vinyl.  First of all, they’re just so gorgeous!  Who doesn’t love a little sparkle?  Plus, it makes an ordinary project a little “extra.”

Vinyl Sampler Pack

If you’re looking to play around with some color right off the bat, I totally suggest grabbing a vinyl sampler pack.  I grabbed the “brights” pack and love the colors that came with it!  It comes with sunshine, lime, Caribbean, flamingo, azure, and grape colors.  They would be beautiful for summer projects (always thinking ahead!) or just to brighten up a surface! 

Weeding tool set

It was recommended that I get a weeding tool set.  It’s definitely something every Cricut user should have.  It makes removing vinyl images and lettering that much easier!  The tools are sharp and there’s a variety to use with different projects.  The set also comes with a nice pouch to keep everything stored safely. 

Transfer tape

Transfer tape is going to make applying your vinyl cutouts so much easier!  Cut the tape to the size of your cutout and use the scraper from the tool set to apply pressure to the image.  Then, easily apply your vinyl cutout to a surface.  Smooth it out and carefully lift the transfer tape off of it.  The transfer tape has grid lines on it so your cutout will be evenly aligned during application.

Extra mats

It’s also recommended to get extra mats.  The mats are available with different grips on them, but the Standard Grip can be used with a variety of different materials.  Having multiple mats allows you to work quickly between projects.  It’s also wise to rotate your mats so they stay sticky.

Tip: if you need to clean your mats, rinse them with warm water and a little soap.  Let them air dry and they’ll be good as new! 


 
I’ve been having so much fun with my new Cricut! There are so many other vinyl products and Cricut accessories available, but these are great items to start you on your vinyl crafting! 

Once I get more comfortable designing projects, I hope to share some of them here on the blog.  But for now, it’s been a lot of fun creating projects for our home! 

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What Cricut tool or accessory would you recommend for beginners?



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