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My grandma’s chocolate snowball recipe

June 20, 2014 By: Stephanie9 Comments

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  old fashioned chocolate snowball recipe

chocolate snowball

chocolate snowball dessert

This was the very first recipe I ever learned to make. I remember being in my Mommom’s kitchen and helping to stir it up. I remember constantly opening the freezer door to see if it was ready.

I cannot go through a single summer without making it for my own kids.

I asked once where the recipe came from. Mommom said that she invented it decades ago. She read about something similar in the newspaper, but it had much fancier ingredients, ones that she couldn’t afford, so she made do with what she had. 

The result became a family tradition. I love that it perfectly embodies every memory I have of her: simple, modest, but totally satisfying and full of love. And fun for kids.

There are only two ingredients. She named it Chocolate Snowball because it was chocolate and it was cold.

  ingredients for chocolate snowball

It does not matter what kind of milk you use.

how to make chocolate snowball

Empty one can of chocolate syrup into a square freezer-safe baking dish. Then add one can of milk and one can of water. (Mommom used two cans of milk. My Aunt Charlotte modifies it to 1 can of milk and 1 can of water and I tend to do the same so that I don’t waste as much milk, plus it makes the end result easier to serve.)

Have some helpers stir for a few minutes until everything is evenly combined.

cooking with kids

making chocolate snowball with kids

Clear out a level surface in your freezer and very carefully transfer it there to freeze for at least 4-6 hours, preferably overnight.

chocolate snowball in the freezer

To serve, use a sharp knife to cut thin strips, then break each strip into small chunks and spoon into a dessert glass.

slicing chocolate snowball

It is almost similar to a chocolate Italian Ice from Rita’s.

chocolate snowball recipe

The customers are always happy.

adorable kiddos

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That Time There Was a FIRE at Our House

June 12, 2014 By: Stephanie3 Comments

It has always been one of my biggest fears as a mom of multiple young children:

What if the house is on fire?

Will the older kids stay calm and listen to directions? What if we are on opposite sides of the house? What if I can’t get all the kids out at the same time? What about the dog?

Last week, the nightmare hit way too close to home.

Apparently some teenagers who clearly were not thinking lit our next door neighbor’s van on fire. It caught the vehicle next to it on fire too. Those vehicles were surrounded by trees and right next to a storage shed, which is separated from the neighbor’s home, but only about 500 feet from our house.

The scariest part?

There was a tower of fire 50 feet high only a few yards away from my children, and I had absolutely no idea. [Read more…]

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BlogU was AMAZING!

June 9, 2014 By: Stephanie31 Comments

It was so fun to watch everybody #GetSchooled at #BlogU14 over the weekend!

This conference was a year and a half in the making, but this weekend it finally came to fruition, and it was FABULOUS.

It was surreal sitting at the registration table with Meredith and watching everything we had worked towards for so long transform into reality.

BlogU registration

Photo credit: Motherhood, WTF?

From the cocktail party on Friday night sponsored by American Public University, where everyone loved the Full Tilt beer tasting, the book signings, and especially the open mic portion of the night. My favorite part was that the attendees continued the open mic back in the dorm rooms until the wee hours of the morning.

BlogU open mic

Photo credit: Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

To the amazing keynote panel with Jen Mann, Karen Alpert, Ilana Wiles, and Susan McLean…

To all of the professional sessions. I only got to sit in on one for a little while, unfortunately, because I had a lot of running around and signing for deliveries to do, but I heard great feedback from all of the attendees. Two people told me that the graphics session taught by my dear friend Robyn was going to completely change the way they approach their blogs, and I can’t even count how many people said that the Pinterest and Instagram session taught by Anna and Ilana was “life-changing.” If you are not a blogger, that might seem silly, but the information shared in those sessions is the kind of thing that transforms hobby bloggers into professionals. 

Did I mention that we had a cupcake bar? Thanks, Macklin’s!

Or that the editors and content curators from NickMom and HuffPost Parents joined us for a lunch panel and told the attendees exactly how to get their work published?

Or that NickMom also sponsored the best retro prom that ever happened in the history of the world?

Because, yes, that all happened. I was also so proud to share my beautiful Alma Mater with everyone. The campus of Notre Dame of Maryland University made a gorgeous backdrop and did a fabulous job with all of the catering and guest services, as I knew they would. 

We wrapped up yesterday with a closing speech from Yours Truly and a fun awards ceremony for our attendees, sponsored by Trim-A-Rim.

But don’t just take my word for it. A bunch of other people thought BlogU was fabulous too.

I will leave this link-up open for the next month or so, so that the other attendees can link up their wrap-up posts and you can see all of their pictures and stories too.

If you were at #BlogU14 and have a post on your blog about the conference, please link it up here!

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Welcome! I’m Steph.

This is a little corner of the internet we like to fill with honesty, heart, and humor. Read More…

Cover for Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese
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Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese

Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese

Stephanie Giese is an indie author based in Florida. She writes stories about realistic problems with humor, heart, and sass. Her work has a strong focus on mental health and consent. Her North Bay small-town romance series is set for release in 2025.

Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese

3 months ago

Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese
I know it’s a small thing, but I believe small things can add up to big changes. my entire North Bay series, including Out of Left Field, Right as Rain, and Way Off Base, is free on Kindle from Jan. 30-Feb. 3. Please take the funds you might have spent on my books this week and reallocate them toward the areas in our country that need them the most. Follow creators like Dad Chats who can direct you toward practical needs local to them. I hope my quirky romcoms can bring you some comfort and joy during difficult times, and I hope together we can take small, practical steps toward big changes. ... See MoreSee Less

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Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese

3 months ago

Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese
I know there is an overall feeling of helplessness in our country right now. So many of us are at a loss for what to do beyond making phone calls and social media posts (which are still important, but can feel like not enough). I believe strongly in the power of small things adding up to big ones. As one person, I might not be able to do much, but what I CAN do is use my voice and my books to work toward the change I’d like to see. That’s why, for the next five days, from Jan. 30-Feb 3, I’m making the Kindle versions of my entire North Bay series (Out of Left Field, Right as Rain, and Way Off Base) completely free. Art has power, and I do hope these comedies can bring you some comfort and joy in difficult times, but most importantly, I also hope you’ll consider redirecting the funds you might’ve spent on my books and donating instead to one of the many charities working tirelessly in our cities right now. If you are located in an area like Minnesota or Portland, please use the space below to make people aware of the organizations in your area that need help. ... See MoreSee Less
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