I'm linking to Jeremiah 29:11for Fantastic Friday

Happy Good Friday! I was going to work today, but I've changed my mind and I'm taking the day off. I have a couple of nieces arriving for a visit tomorrow or late tonight so I thought I'd play hooky today.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week. I have several things for my post today.

First, I want to give a shout to Deb & Jack over at Jeremiah 29:11 and wish them a very happy, happy anniversary. My prayer for you today is that you have a day filled with wonderful surprises and heavenly blessings. 

Since it is Easter weekend, baking and cooking will be in full swing at our place these next few days. Hubby will prep all the veggies and eggs for the potatoe salad and macaroni salad tomorrow. I'll make my angel eggs tomorrow night so they will be good and cold come Sunday. But today, is for baking. It is not a holiday unless I bake something or several somethings (I like change so I need lots of choices for junk food!)

I have already been up and at 'em this morning so I could use the oven before the day gets too warm. 

One of my weaknesses is Hershey kisses. Pillsbury has a "break and bake" cookie that is Big Chocolate Chip cookies with mini Hershey kisses in it. So I ripped open the package.

 Placed them on the cookie sheet (so big it only makes 12, which is perfect for me and hubby. Two for him, 10 for me. Just kidding...I think)

 Then after 16 minutes, took them out to let them cool just a little bit.

 Then had 2 of them for breakfast with a glass of ice cold whole milk. It doesn't get any better than that.

Hubby has discovered Ghiradelli chocolates. It is his newest addiction. Yesterday at Food City, we found this box of Ghiradelli iced brownies on sale so I grabbed a box to make for him for Easter.

 While the cookies were baking, I gathered my ingredients per the box instructions.

 Poured it in a greased 8 x 8 pan

Took it out of the oven and warmed the icing pack like the instructions said

And frosted the brownies. This will be dessert tonight with vanilla ice cream. As usual, I have the dessert planned before I even know what's for supper. :)

Tomorrow I'm going to make an orange cake with orange icing. It's one of those semi-homemade desserts.

Purchase a Duncan Hines Orange Supreme cake mix. You can make the cake mix per the instructions on the box or you can substitute fresh squeezed orange juice instead of the water on the instructions. I also put about 1-2 teaspoons of grated rind in the cake mix. Bake as per directions and cool. For the icing, use one box Confectioners 10X Sugar, the juice from 2-3 oranges (mix to desired consistancy) and the grated rind from two oranges. This makes a nice thick icing. The amount of juice you need for the icing will vary due to how thin or thick you want the icing. I'm not making this until Saturday so I'll post a pic of the finished product later.

Tomorrow, I'll offer some more tips on fattening up your piggy bank with various ways of saving. So stay tuned.....