Short & Sweet #6: STAR WARS TRILOGY OF SNACKS

GAHHHHHH!!!

That was the sound of me getting very excited over the Star Wars Episode VII cast announcement. It was perfect timing on their part too! Now that we know the new involved in the new movie, we can stalk them endlessly to gauge whether or not they're worthy of being a part of our favorite Sci-Fi world. Let the nerdfest and theorizing begin!

Of course, a full-blown nerdfest is not complete without fellow nerds. And there's no better way to celebrate the explosion of Star Wars news than to gather all your Jedi/Sith friends together on May 4th. I'm sorry...May the Fourth. Star Wars weekend is upon us! So go throw a party!

This the inspiration for this week's recipes. Yes, recipes. As in plural. You no doubt have a gaggle of friends joining you for a giant Star Wars marathon, so make sure there's enough food to go around! This trilogy of themed snacks will be a perfect addition to any party in a galaxy far, far away. Make sure to check out the YouTube video for why I chose these three items :)

Lightsaber Pretzel Sticks

Large pretzel rods

Candy melts (colors of your choosing)

1. Melt candy according to package instructions.

2. Dip pretzel rods into melted candy. 

3. Place on wax paper to solidify. Aaaaaand, you're done!

Wookie Cookies
Pre-made cookies of your choosing (Easy Peanut Butter Cookies)
Black icing or decorating gel
White icing
Small piping tip
Mini chocolate chips (optional)

1. Make three small dots on your cookie, two for the eyes and one for the nose.
2. With small piping tip and white icing, pipe a mouth and little wookie fangs.
3. If you wish, add mini chocolate chips on the black icing.

Leia's Hair Buns
Canned cinnamon rolls
Bacon

1. Preheat oven according to cinnamon roll package instructions.
2. Cook bacon until crisp.
3. Unroll each cinnamon roll. Place one slice of bacon on each unrolled piece of dough. Roll it back up.
4. Place finished rolls in 8" or 9" pan to bake according to package.
5. If you wish, finish warm cinnamon rolls off with icing.

What a good-looking Star Wars spread. 

Short & Sweet #3: NUTELLA MUG CAKE

Yeah, yeah. I completely forgot to post a recipe last week. No excuses here! But hopefully this will make up for my absence :)

This is my special single serving Valentine's Day recipe for everyone! Why? Because I personally don't have a Valentine to share this day with. And I know that I'm not the only one. But this needs not be a reason to despair. Here are some pros for why it's better to be alone on February 14th:

• You don't have to share your cake.
• Dinner and a movie? There's no need to argue about what to eat and watch.
• You don't have to put on a bra or change out of your PJ's to get dressed up to go out.
• Presents? All for yourself!
• You don't have to feel the pressure of planning something elaborate or romantic for your significant other. 
• No one will be there to judge you while you cry over rom-coms.
• You don't have to share your cake.

I think I've made my point... In all seriousness, this really is the perfect dessert to have on this holiday. It's chocolatey and extremely rich. If you do decide to share this treat with that special someone, it's also easy, fun to prepare together, and definitely sure to impress. Nothing says "Bow-chicka-wow-wow" like moist things and chocolate. Watch my video for more details! :)

Nutella Mug Cake
4 Tbsp all purpose flour
4 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 egg
3 Tbsp Nutella
3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 Tbsp milk
(optional) A dash of salt
Toppings of your choice: whipped cream, chocolate shavings, raspberries, strawberries, etc.

1. Combine all ingredients (other than toppings..duh) in a VERY large mug.
2. Mix the ingredients thoroughly with a fork or small whisk. Mix until combined into a smooth, thick batter. At this point, if you'd like to make more than one serving, pour half of the prepared batter into a separate mug.
3. Microwave for 1 1/2 to 3 minutes. Start with 1 1/2 minutes, then continue at 30 second intervals if needed. Make sure you keep an eye on the mug! If the batter starts to overflow, stop the microwave, let the cake settle, then continue heating to desired consistency.
4. Remove cake from the microwave and let cool slightly.
5. Top with whatever you wish! Serve warm.

Original article on Buzzfeed