Whoopie pies

I have come to the conclusion that my signature dessert might be whoopie pies. Some people do cupcakes, some decorated cookies others bundt cakes (I like those too), but I really like whoopie pies. My next quest is to come up with my "secret" recipe and method that is my favorite.

For our school carnival's cake walk, I made what else? Whoopie pies. I used this recipe that was super easy (from a box easy) but really super yummy! I used her frosting recipe too, but I threw in 4 oz. of cream cheese, because frosting with cream cheese is soo much better!

I wrapped the little yummy cakes in freezer paper and taped them with washi tape! So cute and so stinkin' easy. I need to find a cuter container than generic bread tin, but given my week, this would have to do. Then wrap It all in cellophane and a ribbon and wa-laa.

Little tiny cake happiness!

Pin and Tried!

I have been busy trying recipes from Pinterest. I realized that I might hurt the originator's feelings if I am not so nice about my reviews, I don't mean to be rude or hurt feelings, I am just sharing my personal opinion. I want the originators to know that I am not personally attacking you or your posts, just sharing with other's my take on your recipes. I hope you aren't mad at me :=)

so, with that being said... here we go with the latest pins:

1) Buttermilk Pancakes - these were fine, nothing to write home about. But I didn't use the Buttermilk Syrup and I am sure if I did, they would have been out of this world. I am sure the syrup makes the pancakes.

CONSENSUS: DELETE PIN (I am sure I can find a better pancake recipe out there in the wide world of the web).

2) Rachel Ray's Southwest Chili Co Queso Pasta Bake - I didn't like this recipe. And the only reason is that i have a hard time mixing mexican flavors with pasta. Pasta should be reserved for Italian flavors only. Mixing the two ethnic flavors just doesn't work for me.

CONSENSUS: DELETE PIN

3) Delish Chicken Marinade - I really liked this marinade. It was super yummy and I could taste all the subtle flavors in each bite. It definitely is delish.

CONSENSUS: KEEP IT PINNED

4) Cinnabon Popcorn - this was good, but not my favorite when it comes to caramel popcorn. I loved the flavors (cinnamon, pecans, chocolate, caramel all together - how could you not, right?). But the caramel popcorn part was a little to crunchy for me. I prefer my caramel popcorn a little more chewy.

But what I would do is use my favorite caramel popcorn recipe and then add the cinnamon, pecans, chocolate, etc. Then it personally be the best popcorn ever!

CONSENSUS: KEEP PINNED (but use my own caramel corn recipe).

5) Mashed Potato Skins - I really liked these. They tasted great and so easy (you don't have to peel the potatoes). They were nice and creamy and because of buttermilk, not as fattening. I would definitely make these again.

CONSENSUS: KEEP PINNED.

Pinned and Tried

I have tried a few more recipes I have pinned on Pinterest. Here is my report.


Best Burger. I am not an expert when it comes to burgers, but these hamburgers were really good. I will keep trying different burger recipes, but I have a feeling I will be keeping this one and using it again and again.
CONSENSUS: KEEP PINNED


Strawberry Lemonade Cake. I made this for Father's Day. The presentation of this cake is worth it alone. People see this cake and they think WOW! As for the taste of it. It is good (I am mean how could it not be), but I felt like the tastes were a bit lopsided. Maybe too much cake. It was good, but I don't know that i would make it again. I think I will keep looking for something a bit better.

CONSENSUS: DELETE PIN (but if you are looking for a "make a statement cake" that is still edible... you might want to try this one!



Pineapple Chicken Sandwiches. I made these last night and was disappointed. The way the originator raved about them. I am not sure if it was because I used canned pineapples or what, but not that great. It was missing something (specifically a sauce of some kind). I added barbecue sauce and it was better.) Overall, it was so-so.
CONSENSUS: DELETE PIN

PS - the images come from the blogs that I link for the recipe. The credit goes to them!

Labor Day Salad

Here is my new favorite salad i made a few weeks ago and we are having it again for Labor Day tonight. It is packed full of flavor and yumminess and it looks great too.

Here are the ingredients (in case you couldn't tell)

lettuce, chicken, corn (fresh from the cob), black beans, avocado, jicama, egg, bacon, tomatoes, and blue cheese. Served with BBQ sauce and ranch dressing. And then I made these to go with it. and of course watermelon.

Happy Labor Day!

Birthday Dessert!

What a week! It started out with Valentine's Day and ended with Ella's 4th birthday. We had a little family celebration on her actual birthday with presents and a new family tradition.... sprinkle pancakes.

I came across this idea and recipe and fell in love with it. I love it because I don't really need two cakes around the house (there was one for her birthday party), so this is a great idea to have a fun birthday dessert without another cake. And besides who doesn't love cake, pancakes and sprinkles. This is all in one!

I also thought it was perfect because one of the few foods Ella eats are pancakes. So, I knew she would eat it. But believe it or not, she didn't because of the sprinkles. Who is this kid? But that is a whole other story.

She loved finally turning four years old. She has been waiting for months to finally say "I am four." And now she finally can. You could tell she was so pleased to have the whole day be about her!

More to come about her flamingo birthday party!

Friends and Neighbor Treats

This year I decided to do the assortment of Christmas goodies on a plate. Who doesn't love a variety of yummy treats. I spent two days in the kitchen and then we spent 2 1/2 hours delivering these plates to our friends and neighbors. As you can see... we did chocolate dipped pretzels, chocolate dipped Mint Milano Cookies rolled in crushed candy canes. My favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe with holiday M&Ms, homemade frosted sugar cookies and Paula Deen's Holiday Whoopie Pies. Those things were so good! And a Molasses Cinnamon Pecan English Toffee. It was a lot of work (but what isn't a lot of work when you are make 20 of them), but worth it in the end and always a fun way to make the home feel more Christmas-y!

A chocolate Cobbler

My kids favorite place to eat is Sweet Tomatoes. I like it because I can get a good salad made my way. My husband loves it because of their chocolate lava cake! Well, I came across this chocolate cobbler recipe and made it the other day. It is almost identical to Sweet Tomatoes' chocolate dessert.

It is so super easy and really so super yummy when served with vanilla ice cream! The dinner guest I made it for couldn't stop raving about it. Another recipe to add to my cookbook!

The long version of the recipe with picture can be found here.
the short version can be found here.
and the photo comes from here.

To Quench and Love

I haven't been posting lately and I feel bad, so I wanted to share this yummy drink recipe with you.

Okay, I am a sucker for anything with Sweetened Condensed Milk in it. You honestly can't go wrong with that ingredient. As soon as it stops raining and the spring-like temperatures come back... I am making this drink!

Brazilian Lemonade (but really limeade)

2 bottles Simply Limeaid
1 can sweetened condensed milk
4 sliced limes for serving
1 bag crushed ice

In a very large pitcher, pour about a cup of the Limeaid in then pour in the sweetened condensed milk. Pour in the rest of the Limeaid, mix well.

Fill desired glasses to the brim with ice, pour Brazilian lemonade over top with lime and serve immediately.

The photo and recipe are courtesy of Meikel Reece.

Baking Goodness

I found this cheesecake recipe and said... I want to make that. I have never made one before and I am not sure why I wanted to now, but it just seemed like a great dessert to make! Not that I need a whole (or even a half) of a cheesecake in the house. So, when I had a girl night out with friends, I thought "I will make that cheesecake recipe" and I did.

Here is a picture of all 6 blocks of cream cheese goodness baked into a pretty round mound.

Here is the link to the recipe and directions (which I did following word for word).

Bravo me! It really was soooo good. Also, I used oreos for the cookie crust (that was pretty great too).

Great Meal

Last night I made a surprisingly great meal. First off... I have wanted to make homemade bread for some time now, but have always been nervous, since I have never done it. But then I found this recipe and let me tell you. it is awesome and awesomely easy.

All you need is water, flour, salt and yeast. And it is just as easy to make (and my hands hardly got dirty too).
Here is the recipe and seriously it is a super asy way to bake bread.

Also, I love soup. So I wanted to make a minestrone soup for the first time too. I took this recipe from Tyler Florence and adapted it a bit to make my own recipe. Here is it and it too is great.

Ingredients

2 cans vegetable stock
3 tablespoons crushed garlic
1 cup salad pasta noodles (the mini-mini rigatoni noodles, the kind you can use to make necklaces)
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp sage
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1/2 tsp thyme
3/4 pound sweet Italian pork sausage
2 medium carrots, roughly chopped
2 celery ribs, roughly chopped
1 onion, roughly chopped
1 zucchini chopped
1 bunch of green chard, chopped
mushrooms chopped
1 potato, chopped
1 (28-ounce) can crushed plum tomatoes
1 bay leaf
2 (28-ounce) cans cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 bunch fresh parsley leaves, finely minced

Parmesan cheese for sprinkling on top
and bread

Preparation

Brown the sausage, add garlic. When completely cooked through add all the vegetables and spices and cook for 15 mins on medium heat until softened.

Then stir in the crushed tomatoes, bay leaf, cannelloni beans, and vegetable stock. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.

Then pour in the salad noodle pasta and cook until the noodles are done. If you need it to add more water add about a cup more or until the desired consistency.

Garnish with parmesan cheese.

NOTE: I cooked the soup for a long time mostly because I was trying to keep it warm. I don't think it mattered how long it simmered, but definitely don't put the pasta noodles in until about 15 mins before you are ready to serve (so they don't cook too long and get mushy).

the image and bread recipe came from Artisan bread in 5 mins

Activity Day - Recipe Finder

Last night for Activity Days, the girls started their own collection of recipes. I purchased cute recipe boxes at the Michaels and some cute recipe cards. I brought all my recipe magazines for the girls to look through. The girls were to find recipes that looked good and copy them onto the cards so they could start their own recipe collection. The girls had a blast flipping through the pages and learning about reading recipes along the way.

Such things as what the oven temperature is, unsalted vs. salted butter, tsp vs tbsp, etc. I told them girls if they go home and make one of these recipes and then tell me about it, I would sign of you of their Faith in God requirements.

I also, made a cake for dessert and gave the girls a recipe card for the cake to put in their own box.

I am attaching the cake recipe... this is a definite keeper. This cake is so moist and chocolate-y. One of the best cakes i have ever had.

Throw'n it together

My in-laws are visiting for a few days and they love desserts in the evening (who doesn't right?) So, for our Sunday evening dessert I had a lot of sourdough bread that wasn't going to get used so instead of letting it go to waste I thought BREAD PUDDING! And to make it even more exciting, my in-laws brought with them my new Rachel Ray Bubble and Brown Bakeware. It is always more fun to cook with new things. but back to my baking endeavor.

I found a great recipe on this site but decided I needed a bit more "dessert" (which really means chocolate), so I threw in a bunch of other ingredients and came up with a very rich, decadent but oh so yummy bread pudding.

I wasn't sure if it was going to taste good, but i have to say this is a real keeper and will be used as one of my go-to desserts. It was that good.

Here is the recipe and what I did to alter it just a bit.

old fashioned bread pudding & vanilla-caramel sauce

pudding ingredients:
4 cups (8 slices) cubed white bread (although i used sourdough bread)
2 cups milk
1/2 can sweet condensed milk (I added this ingredient, anything was sweet condensed milk is ooh soo good).
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chocolate chips (again added these)
1/2-1 cup shredded coconut (and added these)

sauce ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon vanilla

heat oven to 350°F. combine milk and 1/4 cup butter in 1-quart saucepan. cook over medium heat until butter is melted (4 to 7 minutes). pour milk mixture over bread; let stand 10 minutes.

stir in all remaining pudding ingredients. and then added chips and coconut. Pour into greased 1 1/2-quart casserole. bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until set in center.

combine all sauce ingredients except vanilla in 1-quart saucepan. cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens and comes to a full boil (5 to 8 minutes). stir in vanilla.

to serve, spoon warm pudding into individual dessert dishes; serve with sauce (and even better add a little ice cream while hot). store refrigerated.

Again, this recipe originally came from Kelly. I just added a few more goodies to the mix.

Bake your Behind off!

I have been baking for the last 4 days. It started with those pretzel treats I highlighted a few days ago. Then a double batch of of sugar cookies (which we decorated today) then my first attempt at English Toffee (which was a success) and finally rice krispies for our car trip to Utah. I think I am done baking and definitely sugared out!

Just so you know... this isn't a picture of all my baking... it is from Disneyland's Santa House. It looked so nice, I had to take a picture.

A few notes I have learned:

the pretzel treats: I used hugs and mint truffles and dark chocolate kisses baked at 200 degrees for 7-8 mins. The rolos and pecans were baked at 300 degrees for 8-9 mins. The regular kisses didn't melt very well, so I probably wouldn't use them again.

Sugar cookies: I used a recipe from a blog I trusted, but realized that cookie recipes are so subjective you just have to try and try different recipes until you find that one that works for you. I have yet to find the ultimate sugar cookie recipe that I love.

English Toffee: Most english toffee recipes are the same, but this recipe is slightly different and definitely a keeper.

Teacher's Gifts

I decided to make cookie mixes again for Hannah's teachers this year. I figure who doesn't love cookies and especially when they come in this adorable red square glass container. The gift is cute, easy and inexpensive and really was the cutest gift I could think of, so here is what i did.

the glass container I got at Target for $5. I love this container... I should have bought a few for myself.
The cookie recipe came from Bakerella, so you know it has to be good.
I attached a holiday spatula and holiday cookie cutters (just because).

and there you go! I hope they like it!

Easy Holiday gifts

Let the gift giving begin. I am always looking for easy, but yummy and cute gifts to give to friends and neighbors. Here are a few I have seen over the last few years that I love and are super duper easy.

1) just package up hot chocolate mix, candy canes, chocolate dipped marshmallows and waa-laa.
2) these are marshmallows dipped in chocolate and rolled in crushed candy canes. So, pretty and festive.
3) pretzels with kisses on top, melted and then a m&m to top it off.
4) more pretzels with rolos melted and a pecan to top it off.

HINT: My friends and neighbors might be seeing some of these this holiday season.

My Seasonal Favorite

My favorite thing this time of year are all the different versions of peppermint bark you can find in the store. Here are just a few I have tried and here are my favorites in order of best to worst.

Costco Peppermint Bark - five stars
ghirardelli peppermint bark squares - four stars
Andes Peppermint Crunch Mints - three stars
M&M mints - two stars
junior mints peppermint crunch - 2 stars

I haven't tried William and Sonoma's version, but i hear it is very, very good! So, I need to get out there and try some.

And while I am on the subject, I came across Peppermint Bark Brownies! I love it. I am making these for sure. Just take your own favorite brownie recipe or mix and melt white chocolate chips and spread over the top of the baked and cooled brownies and then sprinkle with crushed candy canes. I can taste it now!

Sugar Cookie Scarecrow Lollipops

We had our school carnival yesterday and I made these little guys for the Cake Walk. The idea was from Skip To My Lou who I think got it from Family Fun. And here is my take on Mr. Scarecrow. I loved how they ended up and I was a bit nervous the lollipop stick wouldn't hold him up, but it did and they turned out great.

But the real question is will I do something this creative and labor intensive again for a cake walk... probably not! But probably yes for a fun fall party or friends.

NOTES: I used pecans for the here. I used a bit pumpkin cookie cutter for the face. And this great cookie recipe... thanks Monique!

1 1/2 cups shortening
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
5 cups flour

Cream shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Refrigerate for 10 mins. Roll at least 1/2 inch thick... the thicker the better. Bake on greased pan at 350 degrees for 8-10 mins. Don't overcook! You want them to look just barely done. Let cool on pan for a couple of mins. then transfer to rack.
* If cookies are really big you might need to cook them longer.

How Do you??

How do you get frosting that looks like this? I want frosting that is fluffy and holds it shape when you decorate cupcakes. Every time I make frosting it goes on the cupcake and just goes flat with no shape. Anyone have the secret behind fluffy, but stiff frosting?

All about Presentation

I had to share this adorable idea for presenting a cupcake. I am not sure how practical it is, but imagine about 30 of these laid out on a table. SO CUTE! I might have to do these for a VT message or for a small gathering sometime. They are just too cute, someone in my life needs to get one.

Of course the idea comes from martha Stewart.. .click here for the recipe.

Making Breakfast fun

I found this little idea and thought brilliant. What a fun way to dress up breakfast. Instead of the same ol' cereal, why not make it look like a ice cream sundae. I love it and lucky me, I already have the ice cream glasses! Perfect!
thanks for the idea Stacy Jillian