Been Missing in Action!!

Well its' been 9 months since my last post!  Had lots going on in my life this year, but I won't go into all the details here.  I just need to start keeping up with my blog...so here are the only goodies that I've done since February.

This is a cake that I did for my daughter last March.  I have a tutorial for the inside of the cake on the Sugar Teacher's Blog.  Don't laugh at how much filling is in the middle of this cake!!!!  It was an eggless recipe that didn't work very well...so there!   

I made a mint grasshopper pie for my birthday last March.  Way too green but it was very good!

Did a ton of cookies for a school function last April.

Wedding cake that I did in July.  I got the colors mixed up though, but they were okay with it and loved it anyway.  Wheeeeeew!!!

First time making lilies like this!!

Wedding cake that was done last August.  Hope they liked it because I never heard anything from them.

My Carlee girl's birthday cake!!  I was so ready to do a castle cake!  She changed her mind about a week before her birthday and insisted on a Star Wars cake.  She is so into Star Wars!!!  The Death Star is made out of white chocolate that was sprayed silver.  The cake is really all rice krispy treats and the we had eggless cupcakes with kind of dumb looking light sabers.

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There ya go for the goodies.  I'll be back to share some other things that have been going on later!  

Our Valentine's Goodies for 2011

Wow!!  I need to get on the ball and get this blog updated!!  Where the heck does the time go!!  

Here's some of the goodies I made for February.

Here is a strawberry cupcake that I did just because it sounded soooooo good!!!  And you know what?  It was!  I posted the recipe on our Sugar Teacher's Blog.  You can find it here...

Below are some chocolate hand dipped Oreo's that the grandkids, Kaitlyn and I made.

These heart Oreo's are made using a Wilton cookie mold.  They're kind of tricky to make!  I had to put the red in, making sure I didn't fill it too much, then I put them in the freezer to harden.  I put a very thin layer of the chocolate (white or brown) and let the harden in the freezer for a few minutes.  Then I run the melted chocolate down the sides and let harden again.  I tried to do it like the directions say on the mold, but it would never look nice!!  Go figure!

Next we made dipped pretzel rods.  These are yummy!  I love the sweet and salty taste these have.  I think the pictures are pretty self explanatory.  If you want more details, let me know!!

Just make sure you put the sprinkles on before the chocolate hardens!!!

We had a Valentin's party over at my daughter's house.  

Here's her table set up and the one below is for Carlee and Kailey

We had heart shaped pizza, salad and cake pops for dessert!!  

My First Cheesecake!!

I have to admit that this recipe came out really scrumptious!!!  Even my very picky son-in-law loved it.  Now I just need to learn how to cut it.  It stuck to the knife, so please add your thoughts on this!

I'll give you two different crust recipes.  I had to use the graham cracker crust because we have too many nut allergies and haters in this family.

Crust recipe 1:

1/4 cup finely chopped pecans

1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

1/4 cup finely chopped almonds

3/4 cup finely crushed vanilla wafers

2 tablespoons melted butter

Mix all the nuts and wafers with melted butter and press into buttered 10" springform pan, trying to line sides as much as possible, about 1 1/2" up the sides of the pan.  Place in freezer until filling is done.

Crust Recipe 2:

1 1/2 cups graham crackers crumbs

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/3 cup melted butter

Combine the graham cracker crumbs and cinnamon in a medium bowl.  Mix in butter.

Press the crumbs into a 10" springform pan.  You can line the bottom and sides of pan with parchment paper, but I found it tedious and only lined the bottom.  Use a drinking glass to press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the pan and about 2/3 the way up the side.  Put into the freezer until the filling is done.

Filling ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs cream cheese
1 1/3 cups sugar
5 large eggs
16 oz. sour cream
1/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons lemon juice

All of the filling ingredients should be at room temperature.  Beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy with an electric mixer set on low. 

With the mixer still set to low, add the sugar a little at a time and continue beating until creamy.

Add one egg at a time and beat after each egg.  Add flour, vanilla and lemon juice, mixing well.  Add the sour cream and beat well again.

Pour cream cheese mixture into the springform pan.

Place on cookie sheet in the middle of a 325 degree preheated oven.  Pour some water into the cookie sheet and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  I forgot to add foil around the outside bottom of the springform pan! 

When the timer goes off, turn off oven and prop the oven door and let cheesecake set for one more hour.

Remove from the oven and let cool.  Refrigerate for 24 hours to season the flavors.  It is so worth it!!

S'mores Cups

 Are you missing your favorite summertime camp goodies?  Well with this recipe, you can have s'mores all year round!!  No messing with any fires either!!

You will need:

7 whole graham crackers (1 cup finely crushed)

1/4 cup powdered sugar

6 tablespoons butter, melted

4 bars (1.55 oz.) milk chocolate candy, divided

12 large marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place graham crackers into a large resealable plastic bag.  Finely crush into crumbs using a rolling pin.  Combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and the butter in a bowl. 

 

Using a small scoop or a tablespoon, place a scant scoop of crumb mixture in each cup of a mini muffin/cupcake pan.  Press crumbs to form a shallow cup.  Bake 4 - 5 minutes or until edges are bubbling.  Meanwhile, break two candy bars into rectangles.  Remove pan from oven; place one rectangle into each cup.

 

Cut marshmallows in half using scissors that have been dipped in cols water.  Place one marshmallow half, cut-side down, into each cup.  return to oven for 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows are just slightly softened.   Remove pan from oven to a cooling rack; cool for 15 minutes.  carefully remove cups from pan.  Cool completely.

Break remaining candy bars and place into a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave on HIGH 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until smooth, stirring every 30 seconds.  Dip the top of each marshmallow in the melted chocolate.  turn top-side up and let stand until chocolate is set, around 40 minutes.  Or set in refrigerator for a few minutes if you have a hard time waiting!

Store at room temperature for 1 week.

 

Peach Trifle...for Joe's B-Day

My hubby Joe, just loves trifles.  We usually make this with strawberries, because it tasted the best, but we made it Carlee friendly.  She didn't even eat some anyway, so next time it's back to strawberry!! 

I used mostly sugar free products in this trifle.  I don't really recommend it though!  Everything was too soft and runny.  It's best to use real stuff for best results.

In a trifle bowl, layer cake of your choice.  Here I used a cake mix with one can of diet soda, so that it would be egg-less and less calories for Joe and I.  the best cake to use for this is a pound cake or angle food cake.  Cut it into cubes and layer some on the bottom of the bowl.

Next you can add jam if you would like, but I didn't.  Then you layer some almost set up jello.  I used peach jello.  Use any flavor you wish!

Add your fruit on top of the jello.  Any fruit will do, but strawberries and bananas are scrumptious!!

On top of the fruit, you will add some pudding.  I just used vanilla here.

Top the pudding off with a layer of whipped cream.  I used the fat free Cool Whip, but...it's better with real whipping cream!!!  Mmmmm!

You then add one more layer of each ingredient and top with a fruit design or just whipped cream.  I sprinkled the top with a little nutmeg.  We usually put slivered almonds on top, but some people around here don't like nuts!  Sheesh!!  We did add them to our own serving though.  Anyway, I hope you try it!  Enjoy!!

Idea for Mandy #1

Today, Tina and I started working on ideas for her daughter, Mandy's wedding.

Mandy...let me know if you like the ideas or not!!

Dessert idea ~ Mini cupcakes with vanilla icing yellow sprinkles and blue royal icing flower. It's really supposed to be a violet. I can also do it with blue sprinkles and a yellow flower too. Next week I will do some small fondant flowers to show you!!

Below is a yellow and blue royal icing pansy. I made it just for the heck of it! It can be placed on larger cupcakes or desserts. All of these flowers can be made ahead of time and they are not hard to make!

Strawberry Trifle

Thought I would post something a little less fattening!! heh heh heh!!!

This dessert is easy to make and oh so easy to eat!!!

You will need:

Angel Food Cake, cubed (store bought or home made)

Sugar-free jam (I used strawberry)

Fruit, (fresh or frozen) sweetened with Splenda (strawberries again)

Large box sugar-free pudding, made with package directions using skim milk (vanilla was used)

Cool Whip

Almonds (optional)

Now all you need to do is layer the items in the order listed, layering twice using half at a time.

These are really fun to make in clear individual glasses for parties also!!

No Time to Cook!

This is just some food pics that I haven't posted.

Not a big deal, but fun and delicious!!

Homemade pizza night!!

Kami and the kids were here. Collin loved making his own pizza!

Turkey Cutlets a la Me!!

Plain turkey cutlets that I smothered in a concoction of olive oil, parsley, finely chopped onions, tarragon, McCormick Garlic Pepper Seasoning Grinder.

Baked at 325 degrees for 30 - 40 minutes.

Sliced it and served it with mashed potatoes and sauted brussel

sprouts in butter and bacon pieces.

Sausage Potato Stir fry served in an acorn squash ring.

Eggless Pumkin Pie

It turned out good!!

Trout from the neighbors! Thanks!!!

I made it so late at night that we just had sliced tomatoes and cucumbers with it.

That's it for now! I've been very busy working on other things and

haven't had much time to do anything fancy!!