Happy 4th!

Hope everyone has a Happy 4th of July.

In-case you want to make something fun today with the kids, here is the post where I show how to make my Smores on a Stick.  Still one of my most popular post 3yrs later.  Have fun!  :)

Mini Marshmallows

When we went on our walk last week, the sun may have been shining but it was chilly.  After walking around for a while, our faces were cold.  It was perfect to come and have a large cup of hot chocolate.

Last Friday I found these perfect mini marshmallows at Target and new the kids would get a kick out of them.  Have you seen them yet?  They come in Vanilla and Chocolate.  They are those mini mallows that you find in the packets of hot cocoa....the ones you never have enough of and they melt quickly.

I let them sprinkle as many as they wanted in their cups.

The kids had a blast eating them.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

I saw these here and as soon as I did, I knew I had to make them.  Which is strange for me because I am not really a baker.  I don't make lots of sweet treats very often because they do not get eaten.  Not because they don't taste good...my husband & I don't really eat many sugary treats.  I do LOVE eating raw cookie dough though.  My weight loss doesn't like it so I try and avoid doing so.

But these cupcakes looked and sounded so delicious.

I made the cookie dough the night before, made cookie dough balls and froze them. 
Amanda's cookie dough recipe is DELICIOUS!  (she adapted it from Picky Palate)

For the cookie dough:
2 sticks softened butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips

To make the cookie dough, combine the butter and sugars in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 mins. Beat in milk and vanilla until incorporated and smooth. Beat in the flour and salt until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Using a 1.5 tbsp scoop, shape the dough into balls or tubes. Freeze on a parchment lined baking sheet overnight.

I used a spoon to get about the same size balls because that is how I was shown growing up by my mama. I don't have those pretty scoops because...

1. I don't bake much.
2. My kitchen is small. Which means I have to find a home for the scoop in my kitchen and if it isn't something I use on a semi-regular basis, then it isn't worth finding it a home for the item.  I have LOVED purging things through the past few years.

Anyway...

I had a box cake mix on hand so I used that instead of doing it from scratch.  Not to mention I am lazy.

I divided the mix between 24 cupcake liners (remember I don't have those pretty scoops).  Place a frozen cookie dough ball on the top center of each cupcake.  Bake at 350 for 16-18 mins.  SUPER EASY!

I used canned Buttercream frosting.  I was going to make the Cookie Dough Buttercream frosting, but was afraid my husband would not eat one because it would be too much Cookie Dough for him.  I added the frosting to a plastic bag and cut the corner so I could pipe it on the cupcakes.

Lily added mini chocolate chips to the top.

They were delicious!

The kids LOVED them!

My husband liked them, too.  BUT, he said I should just bake the cupcakes and cookies separately because then we would have twice the goodies.  LOL.  (I did only make 12 cookie dough cupcakes and 12 plain, not knowing how he was going to like them)  I ate the rest of the frozen cookie dough that I didn't use in the cupcakes.  Shhh...don't tell anyone.  It was very DELICIOUS! 

(and for those of you who are concerned about raw eggs...there are no eggs in that cookie dough recipe)

Have a great weekend!
I am also linking to these fabulous parties, here.
and here...

Blueberries

I have never gone blueberry picking until last Friday.  Lily & I went blueberry picking with my friend Sharon and her kids.  (Ian was fishing with his grandfather.)  We went picking at Cudney Farm during their U-Pick Blueberry Fundraising Event.  All proceeds were donated to the Western New York Land Conservancy. 

It was a beautiful day.  As soon as you would get hot, the sun would go behind the clouds and you would cool off. While we were there Channel 7 news was their filming us picking the blueberries.  We ended up on the 6:00 news' piece about the fund-raising event.

Lily did fantastic!  I was only going to do one quart because Jeff & Lily really don't eat them unless they are in something, but when I looked over Lily had a quart container 1/2 full.  So I decided to fill both her's and mine and get 2 quarts.  I LOVE blueberries.  Who am I kidding, I LOVE most fruits. 

I decided to make a Blueberry Coffee Cake Sunday morning with some of the blueberries.

I got the recipe for the coffee cake from my mom.  The original coffee cake recipe is from her 1969 Betty Crocker Cookbook, which has a few variations.


Favorite Coffee Cake (Blueberry Buckle version)

Cake Ingredients
2 cups Flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup shortening (I used butter)
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
2 cups well drained blueberries

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease round layer pan, 9x1 1/2 inches, or square pan, 8x8x2 or 9x9x2 inches.  (Note: I used a 8x8x2 pan.  My mother uses a 9x13 inch pan and bakes for less time.  I will probably make it next time in a 9x13)  Blend all ingredients except blueberries; beat vigorously for 1/2 minute.  Carefully stir blueberries into batter. 

Sprinkle Topping (recipe below) over batter in pan.  Bake for 45 to 50min.  (until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean)

Topping Recipe:
Mix together 1/2 sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 cup soft butter.

*A side note:  I measured out all of my dry ingredients and left out my butter the night before I made this.

The coffee cake was yummy!!  I have frozen blueberries to make another one and some muffins this winter.

I am linking to these fabulous parties, here.

Smores on a Stick

So on Wednesday I teased you with this shot and said I would tell you more today...

Every year Ian requests that I make these for his school treat to celebrate his birthday.  His birthday is in July so we send them in at the end of the school year.  Jeff & I were joking that I probably will be making these for his high school graduation.  I probably will be. 

Ian wanted to help me...but he ended up exhausted from swimming at his friend's house so I sent him to bed.

Here is how I make them.

Ingredients...
marshmallows
melting chocolate
graham crackers
sprinkles
lollipop sticks

Crush the graham crackers and add sprinkles.

Put a lollipop stick in each marshmallow.

Then dip them in chocolate and in graham crackers.

I put them on a cookie sheet and then place them in the fridge for the chocolate to set up.

I also made ones with just sprinkles....

Everyone in Ian's class got one of each.

Kim...LOL, not sure how many ww points these are. ;)  I only ate a couple on weigh in day. 

I am linking to these fabulous parties, here. 

Yummy!!

One of my favorite things to make is my mom's banana bread recipe.  It is soooo YUMMY!  It makes me smile every time I pull out the green paper my mom wrote the recipe on.  I can still remember the her giving me the recipe when I was living in my first apartment along with the dry ingredients.

 

See my utensil holder?  I had a different one before, but it just seemed to big for the space.  I was on a search for a while to find a new one.  They all seemed to big & too expensive.  I was so happy when I finally decided to use a dollar store glass vase.  I LOVE it!!  Works perfect for me.  =D

Onto the yummy recipe...

2 1/2 Cups Flour
1 Cup Sugar
3 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 Cup Milk
3 Tablespoons oil
1 egg
1 cup Mashed Bananas (I typically use whatever brown bananas I have...I used 4 this time)

Preheat Oven 350degrees.  Grease & Flour 9x5x3 pan

Mix dry ingredients in lg bowl.
Mix milk, egg & oil together (with fork) in separate bowl (I do this in the measuring cup where I measure the milk)
Mix dry & wet together & then stir in banana.
Pour into pan and bake for 55 min or until toothpick comes out clean.  Remove from pan.

***I usually add sugar to the top of the banana bread before I bake it.  That was something I added to the recipe for my husband.***

ENJOY!

Salt Dough Ornaments

As a child I made salt dough ornaments with my mom. Last year she gave me the ornaments I made throughout the years to blog about. It is so fun to look back at how I changed over the years.


In 1984 we all made bears. If you add instant coffee to the salt dough recipe it will turn the dough brown. It also looks like the first year we added food coloring instead of painting the dough.
In 1992 I decided to make bears for everyone I worked with at Wendy's. I still have a bunch of those left.  (You can see me making these, here.)


After my niece was born (1996) I made more bears for my husband's (boyfriend at the time) family. My brother in law made me a dowel tree so I could hang them to dry after I dipped them in varnish. Ahhhhh...having to touch the drips every so often so there wasn't a drip bump on the bottom of the feet. I do not miss that part of making these ornaments. Definitely worth varnishing though so they do not mold over time.


I guess you could say I have been making sculpted ornaments since age 5.
WOW, 31 yrs!
Oh, now I feel old.


Here is a recipe for Salt Dough Ornaments:

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
(Substitute coffee for water - great for gingerbread people & bears. Add food coloring to make colored dough)

Directions:1. Mix salt and flour.
2. Add in half the water, then gradually add the remaining water.
3. Knead until the dough is smooth, this can take up to 10 minutes.

Baking: Time varies based on thickness of ornament
Temperature: 325 degrees
Time: 1 1/2 hours - or until dry

Coat with acrylic varnish when everything is dry.

Have fun!

Fried Provalone Cheese

My parents are vegetarians. They became vegetarians when I was really young. They are not vegan or in your face about it, but they do not eat meat. They do eat seafood, eggs and dairy products. My parents let my sister and I eat meat growing up. My mom would buy my sister and I chicken noodle soup, but my parents never ate it. I am no longer a vegetarian, but my sister and her family are. I do however LOVE getting cheese subs still and both of my children LOVE vegetables. My mother is an awesome cook and baker.

So onto the fried provolone cheese. As a vegetarian, BLT's are not really an option. Now a days you can purchase what I like to call fakin bacon, but back then they didn't have anything like that. My mother was watching Phil Donahue one morning in 1983 and saw Nikki & David Goldbeck on the show. They were promoting their book, American Wholefoods Cuisine (Over 1300 meatless common wholesome recipes from short order to gourmet). My mother thought the Fried Provolone Cheese looked yummy and went to our local bookstore and had them order the book. When my mom fried it we usually had a CLT (cheese, lettuce, tomato) sandwich that night. It is yummy on it's own and my kids and husband will eat it that way, too. BTW...my husband is REALLY picky and is a meat & potatoes kind of guy and he likes it. One of my BBF's is even pickier than my husband and she asked me why I never made her try it before (I had her try it a couple years ago). She now makes it, too.

It is really simple to do. Place a slice of cheese (I just used regular slices I bought at the deli) in a hot non stick frying pan. When the edges get a bit crispy use tongues and flip the cheese. When the other side looks golden brown take out and drain, like you would if you fried bacon.

My mom also makes Onion Soup using the recipe she found in this book and it is FANTASTIC! MMMmmm...wish my picky husband liked Onion Soup.

I have to apologise for the tutu post. (if you were here earlier you know what I mean) I posted that on the wrong week and it will be back next Monday.


I have a favor to ask of my blog readers. I entered my swirly santa ornament in the Michaels Handmade Holiday Contest. I would LOVE to win. (who wouldn't?) Would you please go here and give me 5 snowmen. No need to register...just click through and click 5 snowman (under the picture of my santa click on the last snowman). Thanks a bunch!!

Please note: You can vote once a day.

Mmmm...Cake!!

I blogged about my birthday cake here. I haven't made this cake in a really long time (it was before kids). I also never got a cake for my birthday this year. So yesterday while at Walmart I decided to buy the ingredients for my favorite cake. Last night I made it for dessert. All I have to say is YUM! My husband had to complain that I used raspberry jello because he hates raspberry. He ate it though. I am sure it would be ok with other flavors of Jello, raspberry is my favorite though. My mother found this recipe in a Jello flier MANY MANY years ago. It was also her go to cake when she went to wakes because it is a cake you can eat with your hands. It was always a hit.

Here is the recipe again:

The Ruby Slipper Cake Recipe
1pkg (2-layer size) yellow cake mix or pudding included cake mix (**I used pudding included mix)
1c (1/2 pt) sour cream
1/4c water (**I used skim milk instead)
2 eggs
1pkg (3oz) Jello Raspberry Flavor

Combine cake mix, sour cream, water and eggs in a large bowl.
Blend, then beat at medium speed 2min until creamy.
Spoon 1/3 of batter into a well greased and floured 10in bundt pan.
Sprinkle with 1/2 of the gelatin
Repeat layers.
Spread the remaining batter over the gelatin to cover.

Bake 350degrees for 45 min, until cake springs back when lightly pressed.

Cool in pan for 5min, remove from pan and cool on rack.

Sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

ENJOY!!

Shhhh...gonna go get another piece of cake now. =D

Take Me Back Tuesday & Flashback Friday

November 1979
My 6th Birthday

If you know me, then you know I am not a cake, icing or ice cream fan. There is one cake I do love, though. My mom would make it every year for me. It's called the Ruby Slipper and it is soooo yummy!! My mom has since given me the bundt pan (I bought her a new one). I miss my mommy making me my special birthday cake.

The Ruby Slipper Cake Recipe
1pkg (2-layer size) yellow cake mix or pudding included cake mix
1c (1/2 pt) sour cream
1/4c water
2 eggs
1pkg (3oz) Jello Raspberry Flavor

Combine cake mix, sour cream, water and eggs in a large bowl.
Blend, then beat at medium speed 2min until creamy.
Spoon 1/3 of batter into a well greased and floured 10in bundt pan.
Sprinkle with 1/2 of the gelatin
Repeat layers.
Spread the remaining batter over the gelatin to cover.

Bake 350degrees for 45 min, until cake springs back when lightly pressed.

Cool in pan for 5min, remove from pan and cool on rack.

Sprinkle with confectioners sugar.


Enjoy!



***EDITED TO ADD***
You can vote once a day!!

I have a favor to ask of my blog readers. I entered my swirly santa ornament in the Michaels Handmade Holiday Contest. I would LOVE to win. (who wouldn't?) Would you please go here and give me 5 snowmen. No need to register...just click through and click 5 snowman (under the picture of my santa click on the last snowman). Thanks a bunch!!




You can participate and/or check out other Take Me Back Tuesday posts at A Giveaway Addicted Mommy.

You can participate and/or check out other Flashback Friday posts at Christopher And Tia's blog.

MckLinky's Weekly Blog Hop - wk4

Welcome to MckLinky's Weekly Blog Hop!!

This week the theme is Favorite Recipe or Dish. I have a couple I would like to share...

Baked Potato Soup
I originally shared this here.

Here is how I make my Baked Potato Soup.

• 4 large baking potatoes
• 6 c milk
• 4 green onions (sliced)
• 2/3 c flour
• 2 c cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2/3 c butter
• 12 or so slices bacon, cooked & crumbled
• salt & pepper to taste

Bake potatoes and cool. Peel off skins and dice. Melt butter in heavy saucepan. Add about 2 cups milk to saucepan. Combine half of the flour and 1 cup of milk in shaker. Shake and slowly add to pan. Do the same to the rest of the flour and milk, until all combined. Cook over medium heat until thickened. Make sure to keep stirring so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Add potatoes, onions, cheese, bacon, salt & pepper; cook until thoroughly heated.

Somewhere in the original recipe there was sour cream. The person who gave this to me doesn't like sour cream so she deleted it. It's tasty without it, but feel free to add it if you like.

When I made this for my vegetarian mother I deleted the bacon and then just added it to each individual bowl after dished up. You can also do that with the green onion. This recipe is also very good with ham instead of bacon or add broccoli instead of any meat.

Chicken Wing Dip
I originally shared this here.

4c chopped chicken
12 oz red hot sauce (we love Franks here in Buffalo, it's sooooo yummy)
2- 8oz cream cheese
1c ranch dressing
1c chopped celery
1c monterey jack cheese (put on top...I personally have been mixing it with the rest of the ingredients so there is yummy cheese throughout)

mix all ingredients and bake 30 min on 350.

(photo was taken of a 1/2 batch prior to baking)

I usually make a 1/2 batch for small gatherings. Beware, I made a 1/2 a patch and brought it to a cookout a few years ago (thinking that there would be lots of dips because it was bring a dish to pass thing) and it was gone in 15min.

**I usually serve this with tortilla chips.**

Thanks for hopping by! I love comments, I would love for you to leave a comment so I can check out your blog, too.

I entered this photo in a contest. Please go on over here and vote for me, Whimsical Creations.