Homemade birthday treats for my baby!

Dustin's birthday was Monday. I love when his birthday comes around, not only because it means he and I are the same age for a little while (I'm 8 months older), but also because I get to have fun shopping for him and making him yummy treats! 

This year, since we're saving up for our wedding and also in the process of buying a house (Yes! I think we are actually about to seal the deal, but I won't get too excited till the closing date is set), we decided to scale back a bit on the presents. I bought him something small, but I felt like it wasn't enough to honor my favorite boy on his special day, so I decided to cook up a smorgasbord of birthday treats that didn't cost much but made for a very happy fiance.

First, I surprised Dustin when he arrived home from his vacation with some Birthday Cake Oreo bark! It was sooo easy to make and even more delicious. 

Birthday Cake Oreo Bark

All you need to make some Oreo bark is about 9-10 oz. of white chocolate, parchment paper, and a box of Oreos - in this case, the limited edition Birthday Cake flavor. Be sure to buy real white chocolate that contains cocoa butter, not that fake "white candy confection" crap! Quality matters when it comes to my candy! I chose Baker's Premium White Chocolate squares from the baking aisle. 

1. Chop up all the Oreos into quarters, and then randomly chop again to get smaller pieces of random sizes. 
2. Line an 8x8 in. pan or baking dish with parchment paper.
3. Melt the white chocolate in a medium saucepan over low heat. It's easier to melt if you break the chocolate into smaller pieces before putting it over the heat.
4. Once the white chocolate is liquefied, remove from heat, and stir in 80% of the Oreo bits.
5. Pour the delicious mixture into the parchment-lined pan, and try not to lick the spoon!
6. Sprinkle the remaining 20% of Oreos on top of the mixture. 
7. Optional - if you have some rainbow sprinkles handy, add these on top for a pop of fun color.
8. Chill the pan of Oreo bark in the fridge for at least an hour or until hardened. 
9. To serve, simply stab the Oreo bark with a fork to break it up into snack-size pieces, and place into a pretty candy dish of your choice!

Notice the little flecks of color - that's from the "Birthday Cake" Oreo filling! Yum!

I found a cute and colorful little Happy Birthday box at Dollar Tree that made a perfect container for my Birthday Cake Oreo bark!

All of this cost me about $10 - not bad when you consider that one small piece of Oreo bark at Godiva can run you about $6! 

In addition to the Oreo bark, I also cooked Dustin a romantic birthday breakfast and a fancy dinner that cost me very little as well! Here are the recipes I used, FTW!

Breakfast - Eggs in a Basket - just like the ones in V for Vendetta

I followed the recipe but added my own loving twist by cutting heart shapes out of the bread instead of plain old circles. I free-styled it, so my hearts came out a little funny looking, but full of love nonetheless. I served on a plate with lots of halved strawberries to add to the heart effect. The lightness of the strawberries also made a nice, healthy contrast to the buttery eggs and toast versus the usual bacon we eat on the side! This dish was cheap to make - organic strawberries were on sale for $3.99 and I used only half of them. I used a total of 4 slices of whole wheat bread and 4 cage-free organic eggs, so that must add up to maybe $0.75 worth, right?  Add some fresh squeezed OJ and it was about a $5 breakfast for two when you factor in all the leftover ingredients I was able to use later in the week.

Dinner - Cornish Game Hens with Garlic and Rosemary

This recipe is super delish and surprisingly easy to make, considering how tasty and impressive it is! The recipe is simple with just a few ingredients, but the combination of the garlic, lemon, and rosemary provides a burst of robust flavor that enhances the chicken and goes great with a mild side like rice or potatoes.

It also makes for a pretty cheap dinner - the cornish hens were 2 for $7, and I already had garlic and lemon on hand. I bought some rosemary for $2, and some white/wild rice for $1.50. I served with some salad on the side, which I always keep around the house.

In total I'd say it was about $12 for a fancy dinner at home for two. Add a bottle of cheap white wine and you're dining big at home for $20.

Overall, it was a successful birthday full of delicious food, savings, and one satisfied hubby-to-be!