Giving Thanks for Cupcake Creativity

Preparing for Thanksgiving can be hectic, especially for the cooks. This year, why not get the kids involved. Your neighborhood bakeries are always full of creative ideas, and Thanksgiving is no different. With some of these awesome cupcake ideas for a Thanksgiving treat, your kids will want to be just as involved in preparing the Thanksgiving meal as they are in eating it!

While putting desserts together for Thanksgiving, keep in mind that desserts are meant to be fun. There is no need to stick with elegance and refinery when wrapping up a huge dinner or lunch. Letting the kids get involved in desserts can make the holiday a bit more special and give them a true sense of creativity.

So try out these three Thanksgiving cupcakes as a finisher to your Thanksgiving meal:

Candy Corn Turkey Cupcakes

These are simple to bake and so much fun to decorate! Just whip up some chocolate cupcakes, top them with some fudge frosting, and then use candy corn pieces for their tail feathers and beaks. For their eyes, you can probably find decorative sugar bits at your favorite local bakery, or maybe even use miniature marshmallows. These are a huge hit for the kids because of the variety of sweets in one single dessert!

Turkey Cupcakes (With Nutter Butter Bodies)

This is another simple set-up that your kids will love to help with. Again, we start with a traditional chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing. You can even throw some chocolate sprinkles on them to give the ruffled appearance of feathers. Then stick a Nutterbutter cookie vertically near the front of the cupcake. Use white frosting for the eyes and fruit roll up strips for the feathers and beard. These look so cute that you may not want to eat them!

Cherry Pie Cupcakes

These are fun to make and downright delicious. Start by baking a batch of cupcakes with vanilla frosting. Top these with a layer of buttercream icing and then use real cherry pie filling to cover this. Using vanilla icing, create a lattice pattern on top of the cherry filling. The end result should look like a mini cherry pie. You might want to make a lot, as these tend to be a delicious crowd favorite.

For more fun ways to bake for Thanksgiving, see your local bakery stores. Surely, they know their way around a holiday table. They'll not only have great ideas, but incredible recipes and specials you can choose from.

Looking for the best bakeries in Brooklyn to create the ultimate Thanksgiving treats that kids will love? Visit Duet Bakery Boutique and have all of your sweet fantasies come true in the expert hands of Chef Diana Rodov and her staff.

It's Time To Say Hello With Christmas Cupcakes

Christmas cupcakes for the occasion is a lovely sojourn with appetizing creams and caramels. It's like celebrating with taste, and making the occasion best with several cake making tips and ways. Making a snowman Christmas cupcake is all so very easy. You just need to know the ingredients required for the purpose. To give shape to the particular cake the things that you need include icing sugar, apricot jam, white marshmallows, eatable silver baubles, strawberry belts of the red candy variety, dried coconut and to add you also need to arrange for hot water.

Making of the Snowman

To prepare snowmen Christmas cupcakes, you first require heating the oven to a temperature of 180°C, 350°F. You need to fit the cake papers well on the holes, or else there can be problems when the cake starts settling down. Take a mixing bowl and start mixing sugar and butter. Beat well till the batter is light and creamy.

Then it is time for you to beat the eggs well after you have completed stirring the flour. Remember to add vanilla extracts and baking powder and continue hitting the batter until it turns absolutely smooth. After you have well applied the mixture into the cup holes, you should allow them to get baked for twenty to twenty five minutes. Once ready you would know as the cakes would rise and turn golden automatically. You can use the coconut, apricot jam and marshmallows for perfect garnishing of the snowmen Christmas cupcakes.

The Mood for Chocolate Mud Cupcakes

You can even make Christmas special with the chocolate mud cupcakes. These are even referred to as holiday cakes and to make them you require chopped butter and Lindt dark chocolate stuff. You should also arrange for instant coffee powder, coffee liquor, plain flour, cocoa powder, egg, brown sugar, hot water and chocolate curls for stupendous cake decoration. You would also necessitate preparing the chocolate ganache with Lindt dark chocolate accompanied by sour cream.

For the mud Christmas cupcakes you need to heat the oven at a temperature of 160°C. You can use one of those muffin pans with the paper cases placed in style. Take a medium sized saucepan to make a perfect amalgamation of butter, hot water, coffee liquor, coffee powder and chocolate, and stir the ingredients well over low heat. After the batter is completely smooth stop applying heat. Then it is time to add sugar after which you should leave the batter aside to cool for four to five minutes. Apply the blend over the already prepared pans and allow it to be baked for 15 to 20 minutes. The process is completed with the making of the chocolate ganache which should be spread well over the cupcakes.

The Other Exciting Cupcake Models

The ingredients for the Christmas cupcakes are more or less similar. The exceptions lie in the final garnishing. For instance, when you sit to prepare the Santa hat cupcakes, you should make use of frosted red buttercream to give shape to the hats. For an exciting Christmas tree cupcake decoration, you can even make use of festoons like star and silver balls to make the cake shine for the occasion. The kinds of Christmas holiday cakes are made to look pretty in all plausible manners. To make the cake appear different in its kind you can set to decorate with reindeers and penguins. In fact, the cupcakes meant for Christmas are the cutest stuffs to be served on the occasion.

Jacob Reed has worked as a renowned Christmas cupcakes maker for a period of time. He has some of the most wonderful holiday cake recipes in store to share.

8 Easter Posts To Enjoy: Food, Funny, Poems, Photos

Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food: 8 Easter Posts To Enjoy: Food, Funny, Poems, Photos: From Denny: Check out the fun facts posted about Easter on my blogs from traditions, origins of the holiday, a photography post of awesome sunrises by many good photographers, a funny Easter Bunny Rap music video, recipes and Spring renewal Easter poems.

May you enjoy your renewal this Spring!

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Funny Easter Bunny Abby the Bunny

* * * Support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - see what's new!

Toasted Marshmallows and Our Meals

The marshmallow has been a toasted favorite for years. Children love making smores and adults love adding them to desserts such as sweet potato pie. Regardless of their application, it is a fact that marshmallows have been around for much longer than you might expect.

To start with, the history of the marshmallow is actually very different from what it's known for today. In Ancient Egypt, it was applied for both its medicinal and flavor abilities. Originally, the marshmallow was an extract from the mallow plant, which is renowned for its ability to ease a sore throat. The mallow root was squeezed, releasing a substance that had several applications. Because pharaohs were required to speak to large audiences, this often left them hoarse, in which case the mallow came into popular use.

The Greeks also put the plant to use, including the leaves as an extract to reduce muscle aches, burns, and even alleviate severe medical conditions such as bronchitis. But, in these particular cases, they relied primarily on the leaves to make a marshmallow tea, rather than a sweet treat.

Since then, the marshmallow has undergone recipe changes and seldom includes mallow extract in its composition. There are various recipes, many of which include gelatin, sugar, and often vanilla extracts, which vary according to the producer, but have become extraordinarily popular in Asia.

The popularity of the marshmallow has grown so much that it even has its own dedicated holiday in Japan. In 1978, as an answer to those who gave chocolates and sweets during Valentine's Day, March 15 was designated as their National Marshmallow day to pay homage to the women of Japan.

Regardless of location, it is obvious that the marshmallow has been a symbolic sweet throughout time, and has made a mark in the books of history. For this, it has earned recognition and honor that can only be expressed by enjoying a dish that incorporates some toasted marshmallows. And while we may consider the only place a campsite favorite, we can always rely on our West Texas caterers to whip up a dish that puts this age-old favorite to tasty use.

As for those who enjoy the marshmallow here at home or in the back yard, we are truly able to understand what it means to spend some time roasting a few sweets together. After all, it's not always about the sweetness of the treat. It all comes down the experience we share together.

Creamy Crock Pot Chicken and Rice

Once the older kids get home from school around 4pm, it gets even busier around here with homework and activities. So, having dinner already planned and cooking in the crock pot is wonderful! I already had everything on hand for Creamy Crock Pot Chicken and Rice, so I figured this recipe was worth a try.

Ingredients (printable recipe)
2-4 frozen chicken breasts (depends on size)
1 (10 oz.) can of condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (0.7 oz) pkg. of dried Italian salad dressing mix
1 (8oz) pkg. cream cheese
1 (10 oz) can Rotel (tomatoes with green chilis) or just diced tomatoes or Italian seasoned diced tomatoes
milk as needed to thin sauce (or water or chicken broth)
About 3 cups cooked rice
Chopped green onions, if desired
Directions
1. Stir together cream of chicken soup and Italian salad dressing in crock pot.
2. Put frozen chicken on top.
3. Let cook on high for 4-6 hours or until chicken is cooked and fall-apart tender. Reduce heat to low.
4. Stir and break-up chicken into bite sized pieces. Put cream cheese on top and pour in Rotel. Let the cream cheese soften in the crock pot for about 30 minutes.
5. After 30 minutes, the cream cheese will be nice and soft. Stir everything together. Add some milk, water or chicken broth to thin the sauce to your desired consistency.
6. Add about 1/2 cup cooked rice to a serving dish and ladle on the creamy chicken sauce. Sprinkle on chopped green onions.
Makes about 6 servings

Adapted from Stick A Fork In It

Just mix the soup and salad dressing together in the crock pot.

Lay the frozen chicken on top. My chicken was in a FoodSaver bag. That's why it's smooshed together and had the lines on it.

After the chicken has cooked, just lay the cream cheese on top in the middle. No need to soften first, it will soften inside the crock pot after about 30 minutes. Don't forget to pour in the Rotel or diced tomatoes, too!

The sauce was a bit too thick, so I stirred in some milk until I got the consistency that I wanted for pouring over rice. That's it. Dinner is ready!

The Results...
Easy and tasty, too. My husband and I gave this 3 to 3 1/2 stars (out of 5). We liked it. I was surprised that my son gave this 4 1/2 stars! He really liked this dish. My little girls thought it was a bit spicy. I would suggest adding just plain diced tomatoes if you have little ones that might be sensitive to the green chilies in the Rotel or I would also try using a can of Italian seasoned diced tomatoes. I'm glad I gave Creamy Crock Pot Chicken and Rice a try!

I share recipes at these linky parties.
This recipe is share at the Weekend Potluck.

Decorating Cupcakes For Your Party

Cupcakes!!! The very first thought of this delicious, mouth-watering dessert fills you with joy. But when it comes to attracting customers or kids, especially, you need to work on its presentation also. Merely cooking a simple cupcake is not enough; you need to decorate it also so that the eating experience is more joyous and satisfactory. And when it comes to decorating the cupcakes, there comes various decorating options.

Decorative items may include edible things as well as other packaging materials. Edible items include edible glitters and sprinklers, colours and luster sprays. Packaging and other presentation items include cupcake stands and wrapping materials, cupcake cases, carriers and boxes.

A beautiful cupcake stand not only helps you serve your guests in a better and convenient way in a party but it also adds a charm to your desert. A charming stand with a princess castle carved or printed on it will make your daughter jump high in her birthday party. The stands provide an easy, efficient and decorative way to serve the cupcakes and sweets.

The cupcake wraps are also important. A beautiful wrap going with your party theme is really worthy to spend for. You can also buy the wraps and stand that go with each other; it will give a classy look to your food corner. For instance, a cupcake stand with pink princess castle and wrap with yellow base and green dots will complement each other very well.

You may also use cupcake and muffin cases like colored foil cases to give them a vibrant extensive look. You may also buy carriers and boxes to provide your visitors with a box full of delicious and yummy cupcakes as a return gift. There are several designer boxes available in the market for the same. You may decorate these boxes further with florist tapes or metallic flower wires to give them a more attractive look.

Concentrating a bit on this decorating section is really worthy to spend your time and money for. Moreover, these decorative items don't come so expensive; some sellers provide these stands, wraps and cases at a really reasonable rate and that too with a variety of designs' options. There are various e-commerce websites on which you may search and select the best and cheapest item according to your need.

A party is incomplete without dessert, especially cupcake and these cupcakes are incomplete without their decoration. So you should also give importance and spend some of your resources to this side also.

Author is a professional writer as she is writing articles on various topics from last three years. With this post she wants to share information on decorative cupcake stands .

Significant Strategies Before You Make Gluten Free Christmas Cakes

Christmas cake is a usual cake for Christmas celebration. They may be considered as fruit cakes because of the fruits that it contains. It also has flour and nuts. This delicious cake is widespread in UK and as well in US. t can also be conventional in Japan as well as in the Philippines. If you could be unfortunate to have gluten intolerance, then this dessert just isn't for you. However, good thing there is certainly already a gluten-free baking that will allow you to create Gluten Free Christmas Cakes and make your Christmas far way better than last year. But remember the fact that it's also important to follow a guide when about to make one. Read below.

First, it can be crucial you have a plan about the quantity of people that will likely be eating the Gluten Free Christmas Cakes so you wouldn't think it hard to estimate the ingredients' measurements. If your Christmas is going to be celebrated with the whole family and relatives, it definitely is a great idea to bake a larger size of cake. Through that way, one and all will get the possibility to consider a bite of your delectable cake.

Another thing that you will definitely keep in mind is always to read the label to make sure that the product that you're buying is gluten-free. Do not also disregard the flour and the other products have to be carefully checked as well. Keep in mind to follow this step because this will likely assist you to have an ideal result.

Another, before leaving for the grocery shop, it will be indeed necessary for you to write the list of ingredients that you will buy. Carefully check your list first so you may see in case you have forgotten a single ingredient. The Christmas cake recipe has to be searched well too. You may try to find it online or at food magazines.

4th, being a customer, there is a need for you to be prepared with all the budget. In order for you to have a thought if just how much must your budget is, calculating the estimated prices of the ingredient would help a lot. In case you do not know each ingredient's price, it will be the best idea to search it online. It could be best to have an additional budget also so you wouldn't run out of money at the grocery store.

With the holiday season steadily approaching, the prospect of extended family visiting can be daunting. It pays to prepare early and pick this years Christmas cake recipe. Avoid any awkward dietary restriction of your lesser known relatives, and opt for gluten free Christmas cakes - you will also look very trendy!

Celebrate Fall with Delicious Pastry Flavors

Fall is here and it's time break out the long sleeves and pack away the summer clothes. It's also time to bring certain spices and recipes to the forefront of your kitchen. Just like Halloween decorations, there are also certain flavor combinations and cake recipes that represent the season to its fullest.

All seasons should be celebrated with foods that coincide with the weather and holidays, but there is something truly special about Fall-themed foods. This goes far beyond candy corn and candied apples. If you'd like to truly see how fall can be celebrated in food, you'll see it very clearly in bakeries and pastry shops. Sample a slice of their heavenly pumpkin spice cakes or other pastries to get a glimpse of the flavors of the season. Pumpkins spices and flavors are obviously a staple of any fall dessert recipes, but fall tastes go far beyond this.

Carrot cake is also fairly popular to many families at this time of the year, When joined with other fall flavors, namely pumpkin and ginger, carrot cakes can make a very delicious addition to any party or get together. Cake bakeries show this flair in a variety of ways and are up to the challenge of incorporating any flavor profile into their pastries.

Fall also brings to mind carnivals and fairs to a great deal of the US. So it only makes sense that caramel apple would find its way into any fall cookbook. Bakery stores offer delicious variations of this classic flavor in cakes and cupcakes and any other pastry you might need.

This is also a great time of year to tell your children the tale of the gingerbread man, as gingerbread is a great way to celebrate fall and even the approaching winter and the kids prepare for Christmas. Festive outfits for these gingerbread man can brighten any child's day, making the treat easy on the eyes as well as the stomach!

For a more refined and adult taste, spice rum cakes are also a very good recipe option for fall desserts. A tasty spiced rum cake with rum glaze is a delicious way for the adults to enjoy the flavors of fall as well.

Whatever your taste buds may feel about the fall season, cake shops and bakeries are sure to please any taste. From adorable pumpkin cupcakes for the kids to enjoy, to comforting spiced apple pies, they're are ready to help you get into the fall spirit with a variety of delicious pastries!

Looking for the best bakery shop Brooklyn to create the ultimate Fall pastries that will stun your guests, make them lick their plates and ask for more? Visit Duet Bakery Boutique and have all of your sweet fantasies come true in the expert hands of Chef Diana Rodov and her staff.

How to Design Memorable Wedding Cake?

Recently I went to a wedding in Birmingham and the one thing that was unforgettable was the wedding cake and its decorations. It is not that bride and groom were not looking awesome, obviously they were at the top of everything else that happened in the wedding but it was cake that catched my attention and dreamed of having most memorable cake at my own wedding just like that. So I thought of ways to make it most memorable and decided to discuss it with all. With right decorations and shape, you can make wedding cake that you dream of.

Mostly round shaped cakes are widely used in weddings because of its simple design and low cost. As now more and more people are going for such stuffs, many suppliers are offering various styles of cakes to choose from like Cadbury purple with diamantes and cascading flowers, photo cakes with picture of bride and groom onto the cake, 3 tier with shapes of your choice, decorated with edible diamonds, raspberry pink satin ribbon and many more decorations to choose from. When such a large varieties are available then why would any one go for traditional shapes of round, square and oval?

I would not recommend you to go for heavy decorations cake if you are planning a small gathering as it will not suit your theme. Choose the cake according to the theme. If you are planning a budget gathering then go for real stuffs like fresh flowers and ribbons to bring down the cost. They will add beauty as well as real essence to it. These decorations will make your cake look beautiful without adding much to the budget. Instead of ordering special cake, people prefer to choose from already made that are on display in grocery stores. I know of many such stores in Birmingham that sell them and even offer you to add extra topping to match your theme.

Choose the taste of cakes by keeping your guests in mind. Some of the most common preferred taste are fruitcake, lemon, chocolate, marble, marzipan and all time favorite white. Look out for best deal by visiting shops and searching online. Do some research before finalizing any deal with one particular baker. Check their portfolio and website for reference. Be sure to check the price of cakes with decorations to avoid last time confusion and delivery option. By giving attention to small things you can make your wedding cake most memorable and crowd pleaser.

Care 4 u by Julz is supplier of Wedding Cake and Wedding Decorations Birmingham . Also supply and fit party decorations for any occasion, to compliment your cake and special event. To contact call 07796646493 or 0121-353-5980.

Wedding Cake Toppers And Unity Candles Are Essential Parts Of Your Celebration

Making arrangements for a wedding can be difficult. You are entering a new phase of life and you want to make it special. Making it exceptional in regards to every single detail is absolutely important. One such important detail that you must not miss out are wedding cake toppers. It represents the togetherness of the new couple. A cake without a suitable topper will ensure that the wedding reception arrangements are not done in vain. You don't have to think deeply but select wisely so that the topper can add the perfect meaning to your marriage celebrations.

You can surprise the guests with a soulful topper or something which is vivid and will help you to cherish the day for a long time. These will help to spread love and romance and add value to the wedding. Don't forget to flaunt these at your wedding reception. You can even go for customized ones that are available at quite a few online stores. Besides the conventional toppers you can find various incredible and interesting toppers as well.

There are serious wedding cake toppers which usually indicate the traditional ones. If your partner has a good sense of humor then you can go for the funny toppers that indicate the figures of the couple in doctor's attire. Other topper ideals include sceneries and animals etc. Don't limit yourself to the conventional ones when you are going for the toppers. You can add your own taste and themes to the current ones. You can put in a few additional toppers such as decorative crafts or something that represents your preference. However, you must ensure that whatever you choose it should reflect your togetherness.

Other items that you must not forget when making arrangement for your marriage are the wedding unity candles. The color of the candles has to suit the ones used in the decorations. The candles can be purchased before ensuring that they are everything that they expected them to be. The candles are a wonderful marriage custom which can be seen in most celebrations. It is now becoming more and more popular in the present times.

In certain situation there is only one candle but in some other events you will find three. A single candle symbolizes the uniting of the lovely couple. The lighting of the candle represents the friendship, affection and support shared by the happy married couple. You can go for the personalized wedding unity candles which feature a stylized couple. The candles add a little character into your ceremony. Go for a striking design that will give a modern look to the conventional picture of the couple. You can also go for heart filigree which is a beautiful accent to your ceremony. Personalize with your date, name and decorative monogram for an exquisite candle.

The Combo Of Coffee Cake And Coffee Cups Perfect To Relax After A Busy Day

Christmas and New Year celebrations are all over but not the partying time, it never ends. Every day is part day; you just need to find a reason with positive mind set. Partying is not only attending and enjoying the massive gathering with vibrant mood; you may enjoy some moments with your family members also with same spirit. Forget the concerns about the budget and enjoy at yours best. Is it really possible? Yes of course it is with nice collection of coffee cake and coffee or tea cups.

Enjoying every sip of favorite beverage at terrace or in lawn with homemade perfect coffee cake is a special liking for most of us. The pleasure of this small cost activity becomes multiple times higher if we have nicely shaped coffee or tea cup in hand. So, the presence of 2 or 3 different types of coffee and tea sets is necessary to enjoy the relaxing moments of life when you return home after long rush of busy day. Keeping the collection of cups and mugs up to date is not a costly affair; instead, it is a specific task that needs little bit concerns for some insignificant looking but important aspects.

When we roam the city stores or surf from one online store to another, we come across variety of cups and mugs. Most of these look impressive and ignite the desire to have these instantly. But do you know that nice looking coffee cups or tea cups may not be best buy from paid dollars? Yes, it is not compulsory that all the models from famous brands would be really a good addition to glassware collection. Similarly it is not sure that a nice looking cup would be really comfortable to handle and sip the drinks from. Then, consider following few issues before placing the order for any cup set.

Base should be broad enough to give the filled cup a good stability. It is not necessary that only round base are good; stability depends upon the height and the shape at upper end. Rectangular and contour edged tea cups are also in fashion. The theme is another major issue which most of us miss. The pattern and design over the cups should match with our likings or hobbies. Season can also be considered but the cup sets bought on this basis seem odd in other season. The handle is another aspect that needs special attention. All the long handles are not good; the space may be too much congested to accommodate two fingers.

About the Author:- James J. Steve is writing the articles for coffeecakes.It offers christmas cakes that include our best selling gourmet best Stroopwafel,Coffee Cake ,Whiskey Cakes,fruitcakes,Dutch Cookies,Wall Glass,Tea Cups, Tea Cups, Whiskey Cakes and much more. Rate this Article

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Jons Smithjen has published 5 articles. Article submitted on January 25, 2013. Word count: 422

Butterfly Cake

I made this Butterfly Cake almost 3 years ago when my oldest daughter turned 6. She loved it! This would be a fun cake to bring to any spring or summer gatherings, too. It looks difficult, but it's really quite easy!

Cake (printable recipe)

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
Platter, tray or foil-covered cardboard (about 10x10 inches)
Frosting and Decorations

2 containers (1 lb) Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting

1 candy stick or marshmallow pole (8 to 10 inches long)
Food color (in desired colors)
Betty Crocker® decorating gel (from 0.68-oz tube) in any color
Decorating sugar crystals (any color)

Jordan almonds (could use jelly beans instead)
Small round candy decorations/sprinkles
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350°F (or 325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Make and cool cake as directed on box for 2 (8- or 9-inch) round cake pans. Level the tops of each cake and put together with a layer of frosting in between.

2. Cut cake in half crosswise; cut each half into 1/3 and 2/3 pieces (as shown in diagram). Place cake pieces on platter to form butterfly. Gently separate cake pieces to form wings.

3. Reserve 1/2 cup frosting. Frost cake pieces with remaining frosting. Place candy stick between cake pieces for butterfly body.

4. Stir food color into reserved frosting until well blended. Spread over cake in desired pattern on wings. Outline wing patterns with gel. Sprinkle with sugar crystals. Place jelly beans on corners of wings. Decorate butterfly with candy decorations.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Follow High Altitude directions on cake mix box for 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pans.

Adapted from Betty Crocker

Everything gathered and ready to start. This was the first time I used Baker's Joy and it worked nicely. Since I made a double layer cake I used two cans of frosting instead of one.

I followed the cake mix directions and baked the batter in two 9-inch round pans. After the cakes cooled I used a serrated knife and leveled off the tops of each cake. Then, I stuck them together with a layer of frosting before I cut out the butterfly shapes.

It took me a few times looking at the diagram to figure out how to arrange the butterfly shapes. I decided to try the tip from the video to put wax paper underneath the edges to keep the cake pedestal clean while frosting the cake. I think it helped.

The Results...
It took me awhile to frost the crumb coat. There were a lot of crumbs since most of the outside edges are cut edges. It didn't help that I made a confetti chip cake mix. This was the most tedious part, but after the crumb coat was done it was time to have fun!

The video on Betty Crocker was really helpful. I watched it before I started decorating. I used my daughter's favorite colors (pink, purple and light blue). I used glitter gel to accent the wings and used white sugar crystals and confetti sprinkles for some extra sparkle and color.

My daughter was excited when she came home from school and saw her birthday cake. She liked how it turned out and it wasn't difficult to put together. We couldn't wait to sing Happy Birthday and dig in!

I share recipes at these linky parties.

Cookie Making Made Easy My Busy-Mom-Method

In the early 1970s, when I was very young and with small children to care for, I had a few cookie recipes I would make very often, because they were simple recipes, with ingredients I usually had at hand. Cookies are a terrific snack, don't require utensils to pick up and eat and can be made ahead for a party. However, even with all that, they are just not my favorite things to make, because they need to be made either by dropping individually onto the baking sheet, rolling out and cutting (making a mess on the counter and more cleanup), or the often added step of having to chill the dough before working. I like immediacy. I want to mix up a recipe, bake it, clean up and be done.

One morning I made a batch of these cookies, finally popped the last pan in the oven, and set the timer. Itching to get outside for a bit and see what the children were doing, I went out . . . and got distracted. By the time I remembered the cookies in the oven, they had burnt and shrunken down to tiny little black hockey pucks - not even the dogs had any interest in them! It pays not to get distracted when baking. This was the last straw. I had to think of a better way.

I came up with a brilliant idea that I call my "Busy-Mom-Method"; one I use to this day. Rather than take the time to make all the individual cookies by batches, with separate baking times (and time to get distracted), I would roll the cookie dough directly onto a greased baking sheet, working it evenly to the edges and baking it as one large cookie. It is best to use a baking sheet that has three open sides, as it is simpler to maneuver the rolling pin and get the cookie rolled evenly. Keep in mind also, that a little more flour may be needed in the dough to allow for lifting it out and forming into a rough rectangle for rolling. Also, a little extra flour over the surface while rolling helps to keep the rolling pin from sticking. Try not to add any more flour than absolutely necessary, or the cookies will come out denser and harder.

It takes a few minutes more in the oven with one large cookie, but it comes out perfectly. Just watch for the edges to be golden, and the center to be set. With these cookies, I also make a simple icing that is just 1½ cups of confectioners' sugar, a pinch of salt, ½ teaspoon of vanilla and enough water or milk to make a relatively thick consistency (very slow to fall from the spoon). Spread this over the hot cookie straight from the oven. The hot cookie warms the icing, making it melt and spread easily, using the back of the same spoon I used to mix the icing. I am all for less cleanup! Once the cookie cools, the icing dries and hardens, and I just cut the large cookie into small bar or square shapes, and voila; cookies in half the time! Two of my favorite recipes for this method were Hermits and Simple Vanilla Cookies. If you are a busy mom, try this method with any simple cookie dough. The Hermit cookies had raisins in them, but the thickness of the dough was no less than the thickness of the raisins, so it still worked well.

Simple Vanilla Cookies

Makes about 7 dozen

1 cup unsalted butter

2/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

2¾ cups all-purpose flour

Cream butter, shortening and sugar. Add vanilla and salt. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in flour, mixing well. Drop from a teaspoon 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Flatten with floured, flat-bottomed glass. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove immediately from pan.

These Simple Vanilla Cookies are incredibly good, from such a simple recipe. Don't take my word - try them out, either as individual cookies, or with my "busy-mom-method."

Chris Rawstern Photo

My name is Chris Rawstern and I have been on a cooking and baking journey for 42 years. Many people have asked what A Harmony of Flavors means. Have you ever had a meal where the visual presentation was stunning, the smells were incredible, the taste was so remarkable that you ate slowly savoring every bite, wishing the experience would never end? Then you have experienced what a truly harmonious meal can be like. My passion is to teach people how to create a Harmony of Flavors with their cooking, and help pass along my love and joy of food, both simple and exotic, plain or fancy. I continue my journey in ethnic and domestic cuisines, trying new things. I would love to hear from you, to help me continue my journey to explore diverse culinary experiences and hopefully to start you on a journey of your own. Visit my Web site http://www.aharmonyofflavors.com/ or on Facebook. I will send you a copy of my monthly news letter full of recipes the latest tips.

Cake Decorating Made Easy with Edible Inks

If you've become a fan of the cake competition shows, you know how intricate and time consuming it is to create a designer, custom cake. Some come away from watching these shows with the impression it only takes the hour long show to produce these cakes, but in reality, many cakes take upwards of 30 hours to create. When it comes to implementing designer touches, there are a few exceptions to the rule. One way to give the impression you've spent countless hours decorating a cake is to use a designer print or photo that has been printed in edible ink on to an icing sheet.

Let's say a mom wanted to make her daughter's wedding cake but only knew some basic cake decorating techniques. She could step it up a notch by using the daughter's wedding stationery as a design inspiration and scanning the design into the printer. The printer would then spit out an icing sheet with an edible design. That design could then either be directly applied to the sides of the cake, cut into shapes with scissors or a punch or applied to fondant or gum paste decorations which would just bring a hint of the design into the cake.

You are certainly not limited to scanning. Any photo already in your computer or downloaded and any print you download can be sent to the printer. Personal photos can be used to top a cake or incorporate into picture frames to adorn the cake.

Taking the design skills a step further, you can take any design you print out on the icing sheet and run it through an electronic cutting machine. The machine can be used for more difficult designs with small, precise cuts or to neatly cut out letters in certain fonts. The electronic cutting machine comes with some pre-programmed patterns and other cartridges are available, to do scrolls, repetitive patterns that would take forever to cut by hand, numbers, etc.

Even if you want to create your own hand-drawn design but need to create multiples of it to put on the cake, scanning it and printing out as many as you need is so much faster and convenient than individually creating them on the cake. You can hand paint a design on paper, scan it and the icing sheet will reveal your brush strokes, making it look like you hand painted the design on the cake.

Edible inks not only make the cake decorator's life easier; they open up so many advanced design possibilities the decorator may never have attempted with other mediums.

Theresa Happe is a cake decorator who enjoys working with edible inks and icing sheets to create custom designs for cakes.

Some Halloween Cake Recipes With GW Bakeware

Struggling for baking ideas for Halloween? Here are some creepy creations to make for a spooky soiree.

Moon cake

For this dessert, you can enhance your normal cake mix with some extra ingredients.

Distribute prepared cake mix between two 8-inch pans coated with cooking spray. Bake for 30 to 25 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius and cool for 10 minutes.

Cover the top of the layer with dark chocolate frosting and place the second cake layer on top. Ice the entire two-layered cake.

Chill in fridge for 20 minutes and apply vanilla frosting in a crescent shape.

Make the cookies by increasing your oven temperature to 180 degrees Celsius. Wrap and chill the dough for 15 minutes.

Roll dough to one-eighth thickness and cut your bat shapes. Place cookies on a lined baking sheet and cool for 10 minutes. Bake on your bakeware for 7 to 10 minutes.

Spider Cake

To make this simple recipe for a chocolate spider cake, first distribute some prepared cake mix over two 8-inch pans.

Put the cake on your bakeware for 30 to 35 minutes at 350°F, then cool for 10 minutes while still in the pans.

Ice one of the layers with some vanilla frosting, placing the second cake layer on the top. Then, Ice the entire double-layered cake and cool in the fridge for around 15 minutes.

Make a spider template, cut it out and place it on your cake. Cover your image, and sprinkle it with black sanding sugar, making sure it is properly by pressing it down and brushing off extra sugar.

Chocolate Pumpkin Cake

Prepare your cake pans by heating your oven to 180 degrees Celsius and lightly buttering three eight inch cake pans, lining them with baking parchment.

Make the batter by sifting flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg into a larger bowl, and then set it aside.

You can combine buttermilk, pumpkin, and vanilla into a medium bowl and set aside. Mix the butter and sugar together in a bowl, preferably, with an electric mixer.

Add in your eggs, beating well until the mixture is smooth and light.

Bake your cake by dividing the batter among the pans and bake until a wooden skewer is inserted in the centre, which should come out clean after 35 minutes. Cool cakes in the pan for 20 minutes.

Remove cakes and cool. Then, assemble the cake and trim each layers, placing one layer on a cake plate and topping with one third of the frosting.

Repeat with the second and third layers and refrigerate.

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Enhance The Level Of Festivity With Red Velvet Cupcakes

To make occasions memorable and to intensify the depth of festive feel, it is time that you start blending ingredients to give form to the special red velvet cupcakes. These are special yet easy to make cakes and with the perfect cheese toppings, you are made to think that Santa is on the way. The cakes would be just perfect to commemorate the onset of the Christmas month. So, it is time to feel happy with Christmas cupcakes. Yummy is the word which comes to mind when you sit to rejoice with your red velvet cupcake in hand. Just a bite will tell you the making of the desert. It is all buttering and smearing down the way.

The Things Required Shaping the Cake

Making red velvet cupcakes is not rocket science. You just have to go through the steps rightly and you would know how to make the cakes puff in time. First, it is time to make a list of the ingredients you would require for shaping the cake. You can choose to make use of two and a half cups of all-purpose flour. You can start compiling with one and a half cups of sugar, one teaspoon of baking soda, one teaspoon of salt, one teaspoon of cocoa powder, one and a half cups of vegetable oil, one cup of buttermilk at normal room temperature and two large sized eggs. You would also require two table spoons of red food coloring, one table spoon of distilled white vinegar, and a single spoon of vanilla extract.

Frosting with Cream Cheese

The red velvet cupcakes alone don't look good till they are aptly frosted with cream cheese. For the process you would require one pound of cream cheese. Before you make use of the cheese you must make sure to soften the stuff, so that it sits well over cake. You should also make arrangements for two sticks of butter, a single spoon of vanilla extract four cups of sugar preferable of the shifted confectioner variety, and to end with you can even deliver with chopped pecans. The final trimmings can be made apt with fresh strawberries and raspberries.

How to Make the Cakes

For making red velvet cupcakes you have to make use of muffin pans. It is required that you preheat the pan to a temperature of 350 degrees. You should arrange for proper cupcake papers to hold the cakes well. Take a medium sized mixing bowl and put all ingredients of flour, baking soda, sugar, cocoa powder and salt to mix well.

Take another bowl and congregate ingredients like oil, eggs, vinegar, food coloring, butter milk and vanilla. You need to amalgamate the ingredients in the correct proportion for the apt formation of the red velvet cupcakes. This is the time you must make use of an electric mixer for the proper blending of the ingredients. Mix the dry ingredients with the wet ones and the smoothening has to be done perfectly. Fill each cupcake papers with the mixture and then allow them to be heated for a time span of about 20 to 22 minutes. In the midway, you can turn the pans once and test the cakes to measure the extent of readiness of the Christmas cupcakes.

Last Tips to Follow

Be very sure to let the red velvet cupcakes be completely cooled before you start with the frosting. For preparing the frost you have to beat the cream cheese well. Butter, vanilla and sugar should be added at a low speed to combine things fine. Amalgamate well till the mixture turns fluffy. Finish with the red velvet cupcakes by providing with raspberry and strawberry toppings.

Jacob Reed is a homemaker and she has shared her experience and thrill in the making of the red velvet cupcakes . She has even received acclamation for her lips smacking Red Velvet Christmas cupcakes recipes.

Make a Rage of Delicious Desserts with Berries

The word 'dessert' means a lot of different things to different people, and most of these feelings are pleasant and happy. The sugary and textured feel of these food items are a treat for the tongue and taste buds. While chocolate and vanilla usually form the basis of most after meal sweet meats, fruits, spices and syrups are also a major part of them. Here are a few items that will help you create the finest and tastiest sweet dishes for the upcoming holiday season using berries. And the best part is that most of these may be consumed by strict vegetarians too.

Muffins, Brownies and Cakes

Essentially made from similar dough, these are best made soft with a pinch of baking soda. When it comes to adding strawberries or blueberries to these items, it is always a bonus as these fruits go extremely well with chocolate, vanilla or any other flavor. The conventional way is to use a bit of berry essence and bake these food items with the fruit itself. However, you may experiment and sweeten the berries beforehand, and put on the top as garnish.

Souffles, Mousse, Trifle and Ice Creams

The frozen goodness of these desserts is just enhanced by adding a handful of raspberries or blackberries to it. In fact, they offer an added flavor to the sweets. You may opt for a tangy taste or a sweet one by boiling these fruits with a bit of sugar water. You may even use a mix of both for the sweet and sour taste which may bring a unique burst of flavors in the mouth. The benefits of strawberries and other fruits is that they may be used full or cut into pieces to match these food items.

Tarts, Pancakes, Cobblers, Pies

Strawberries and raspberries are known to be versatile, whether you use it for main course or salads, thus, when it comes to creating the warm, homemade pancakes for breakfast or bite sized tarts for a party, these may be used anywhere.

Sorbets and Iced Pops

Nothing better than icy treats during the chilly winters! Use the sour blackberries to create the finest of ice candies and scoops of sorbets during the party time. You may make these in advance and store them in the freezer so there is hardly any last minute work to be done.

Treat your sweet tooth by making these amazing desserts by adding bite sized fruits to it.

Berries at Driscoll's® - We grow some of the finest strawberries, raspberries , blueberries & blackberries. Also, we have a huge variety of berry recipes for you because there is just so much one can do with berries. Our recipe index gives you options for appetizers, beverages, main courses, etc. Check out our entire recipe index here . If you would like to speak to a Driscoll's representative, please call our 24 hour toll free number at 1-800-871-3333.

Online Diwali Sweets Make Life Easy

The great epic of Ramayana contains the most popular legend associated with the meaning behind the festival of Deepavali. It is said that when the epitome of human virtue 'Maryada Purushottam' Sri Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of unfair exile which he accepted only to honour his elders and thereby set an example to human society for all times to come, the citizens of Ayodhya lit rows of earthen diyas to welcome their rightful ruler back. His brother Bharata had ruled Ayodhya for these fourteen years as his agent and had duly installed Rama's Charan padukas on the throne of Ayodhya!

Another legend associated with one of the days of Diwali is related with the day after Dhanteras, popularly known as 'Chhoti Diwali'. 'Chhoti Diwali' is also celebrated as 'Naraka Chaturdasi' when Krishna and Satyabhama killed the demon, Naraka. Despite Lord Indra intervening in the process, Lord Krishna proved his supremacy in putting an end to the demon Naraka on this day. Not only was Lord Krishna the Divine Advisor to Arjuna and the Pandavas in the epic battle of righteousness versus evil represented by the Kauravas, He - as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu the Preserver - is also the vanquisher of Narakasura. This event from Krishna's holy life is commemorated on 'Chhoti Diwali'.

We can see how Lord Krishna and Sri Rama, both considered avatars (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu are inextricably intertwined in the traditions and foundations of the most important festival of all in the Hindu calendar - the Holy Festival of Deepawali. Both the Hindu Gods are amongst the most respected and most popular Gods in Hinduism. They are worshipped in almost every Hindu home and remembered in times of need as well as trial. 'Hey Ram' and 'Radhe Krishna' are two of the most common phrases one can hear in religious Hindu homes.

Children eagerly look forward to Chhoti Diwali when the flow of gifts to and fro from friends and relatives turns into a torrent since only a day is left for Diwali. Diwali sweets and Diwali mithai are enjoyed all day on Chhoti Diwali and kids love a prelude to Diwali by merrily bursting firecrackers in the evening. Children as well as Adults love the Diwali mithai that inevitably forms a central part of the festival's celebration. With the availability of Online Diwali Sweets, one can place an order several days in advance so one doesn't need to rush on the last days before the festival.

How Important Are Wedding Cake Decorations?

The wedding cake goes back as far as the Roman Empire. Throughout the years, it has become the focus of a variety of customs and traditions. Around 1900 years ago, the Romans began baking wheat and salt into a small cake to be eaten. During the ceremony, the groom would eat part of this cake and then break the rest over his bride's head. They were made of wheat, a symbol of fertility and prosperity and taken as a sign of good fortune and a blessing for long life and many children.

When it comes to choosing a cake and decorations, there is a wide variety of styles from which to choose. Start your selection process by browsing through as many wedding magazines as possible; they will all undoubtedly have plenty of fine examples to tempt you. You can narrow down your selection to your top five favourites and then sit down with your partner and have some fun!

It is the most exciting and talking point for the guests at the ceremony. The appearance of cake should tempt the guests to taste it. It should be properly placed on the cake stand. The table where it is placed should also be decorated as per the theme and other decors.

The ceremony of cake cutting marks the beginning of the married life of the couple. It is the symbol of celebration and happiness. It signifies love and fidelity for each other. This ceremony takes place either at the end of the wedding ceremony or at the reception party thrown by the couple.

Since nothing is created in stone, any cake you find can always be altered to better reflect your own tastes, personality and relationship. Make each layer a different flavour or change the colours for instance. Remember, there are some spectacular wedding decorations out there so let your imagination run riot. Some people like the traditional topper on their cake while others prefer more modern styles. If you do choose to go the topper route, there are numerous fun, fanciful and creative ideas available today.

Most wedding cake decorations consist of flowers made of icing or silk. Itwill provide both of these. Another option is fresh flowers. These will need to be ordered from your decorator. There are countless designs for the wedding eating piece. To choose your design look through as many books and magazines as you can.

Another popular trend includes selecting the cake with a monogram or photographs of couple imprinted. You can even opt for large multi- layered cakes based on the themes or even decorated with many accessories.

Wedding cakes decorations are in constant process of transformation as people's tastes change. It has evolved from its traditional form of white simple wedding cakes to spectacular sophisticated ones

ambrosia dessert

Getting ambrosia dessert ready along with ingesting excellent foodstuff while using one you're crazy about is one of the excellent delights involving joint venture. Ambrosia, often known as the meals on the gods, is really a pleasing along ambrosia dessert with enjoyable expertise for your tastebuds that's intended to arise a new second half's urge for food.

This particular recipke is really ambrosia dessert a modern-day ambrosia and one involving my personal favorite sensuous along with straightforward desserts you can enjoy giving having special someone that you experienced. It is a strong aphrodisiac ambrosia dessert in order to give to one another ambrosia dessert before or perhaps after a practice involving really like along with closeness.

Substances, Every Enthusiast:

1/2 pot Greek Yogurt (Preferably through Trader Joes, yet niche promotes can bring that because well)

Inside Summer- Try out 1/2 pot Fresh new Organic and natural Sliced up Peaches

Inside Much cooler Months- Try out 1/4 pot Fresh new Pomegranate Seed products

1 ½ teaspoons involving Organic Baby

In the event desired, 1 ½ Tablespoons Organic Pistachios

Not to mention the main component... Your own Enjoy!

Inside wonderful a treat containers create each and every component, one over a different, sufficient reason for each and every level people create post your current really like through your heart along with palms into the foodstuff to generate a substantial vibrational "Lover's Dessert" for just two.

ambrosia dessert

On summer months nights, you'll be able to function that a treat exterior from the comfortable hot air under the celebrities along with moonlight. On cooler nights you'll be able to snuggle upward in the comfortable ambrosia dessert quilt in front of a new fireplace along with give each other spoonfuls of the second half's excite. The greater the actual taster sinks into the connection with the actual flavors, textures along with temps on the a ambrosia dessert treat a lot more delight will be encountered.

As well as by simply paying attention ambrosia dessert to the actual delight your ambrosia dessert second half is provided with may create energy towards fires of the enthusiasm. Your own urge for food for all those items passionate along with delicate may distribute divorce lawyers atlanta nip of the a treat. That of a amazing way to devote an morning while using one you love?

Refreshing Summer months Formulas and Salads : A couple of Versions connected with Ambrosia Salad (Including Coconut)

Are you aware ambrosia salad? Should you, you could possibly wants the utter most effective method of doing the work? Properly, the following it truly is! Whatever you complete with this food is usually open a few cups of fruits, atart exercising . coconut, outfitting in addition to marshmallows! Away from most swift a treat quality recipes, the ambrosia salad is undoubtedly a good one particular!

Different bands because of this salad consist of pineapple ambrosia, marshmallow ambrosia (and quite possibly others).

How can orange in addition to coconut with each other seem? Is the mouth-watering? We recognized it would certainly. Pleased announcement, in your case, are which individuals are this particular salad's principal elements!

In fact, you will find 2 different versions of the food -- together with one particular as well as bad cream then one weight free of charge yoghurt (among different changes). Attempt no matter what works in your case (or both, to utilise all of them out). The edition together with bad cream offers these kinds of elements:

They're each of the elements particularly excellent salad:
Drained pineapple bits -- 1 can
Drained mandarin grapefruits -- 1 can
Little (or greater, if you cannot discover miniature) marshmallows -- 1 can
Flaked coconut -- 1 glass
Bitter cream -- 1 glass

Drained fruits cocktail -- 1 can
Drained mandarin grapefruits -- 1 can
Little (or greater, if you cannot discover miniature) marshmallows -- 1 can
Flaked coconut -- 1 glass
Fat-free yoghurt -- 1 glass

Instructions: Combination every one of the elements, lightly. Because the yoghurt edition aren't going to be agency after it is put together -- nevertheless, however somewhat runny -- you should refrigerate which edition for a few a long time. You don't have to accomplish this with the bad cream edition.

ambrosia dessert

In the event ambrosia dessert you enjoy producing frozen-style desserts to your family members, I'm sure you may love this particular ambrosia dessert simple create Ambrosia Product Squares recipe.

This particular recipe is finished within a several coating method. Remember to read the entire list of ambrosia dessert elements essential prior to starting the particular recipe. As soon as it is often finished, you will have to install it to the fridge freezer for 2 in order to several hours before portion. In case preferred, you are able to ambrosia dessert garnish the most notable of it with a few clean pineapple slices or maybe cherries.

Level 1 Components:

1/2 goblet butter, melted

two tablespoons dark brown sugars

1 goblet all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

In a very big serving, lotion with each other the aforementioned elements from the obtain likely given. Click the particular money to the underside of the 8 by 8" square the baking container that has been lightly sprayed with nonstick preparing apply. Bake within a 350 diploma cooker pertaining to 10 in order to 12 min's, remove as well as reserved in order to cool.

Level two Components:

1/2 goblet butter, melted

1 egg cell, well-beaten

3 glasses confectioner's sugars

Liquefy the particular butter from the microwave or maybe within a small saucepan. In ambrosia dessert a very medium-sized ambrosia dessert serving, combine the particular melted butter, outdone egg cell as well as confectioner's sugars with each other right up until ambrosia dessert creamy. Spread this specific mixture on top of the particular refrigerated initial coating from the the baking plate.

Level 3 Element:

1 (20 ounce) may killed pineapples

Strain each of the liquid through the pineapples. Spread the particular killed pineapples around top of the second coating connected with elements from the the baking plate.

Level several Components:

1 bundle connected with Desire Blow

1/2 teaspoon vanilla get

two tablespoons confectioner's sugars

In a very small pairing serving, conquer with each other the particular bundle connected with wish blow, vanilla get as well as confectioner's ambrosia dessert sugars right up until creamy as well as sleek. Delicately spread this specific mixture over another coating from the the baking plate.

ambrosia dessert

Deal with the particular plate as well as spot to the fridge freezer. Once the dessert can be corporation, remove through the fridge freezer as well as let have on place temp pertaining to 5 min's. Lower directly into squares before portion.

Orange Cranberry Quickbread

It may officially be spring on the calendar, but it's still COLD where we live. There's still snow on the ground and the forecast is a high of 29 degrees today. Yuck!

My kids keep asking me why it's not warm already. They know yesterday was the first day of spring, so where's the spring weather? Where's the flowers and warm sunshine? They've been looking forward to spending more time outside.

I'm also looking forward to them spending more time outside. :) I want to know where the spring weather is, too! I've had more than enough of winter and when I've had enough of winter, I think about moving somewhere like Florida---the Sunshine State.

I can't change the weather (sorry kids) and moving to Florida isn't going to happen, so I guess I'll turn on the oven instead and bake something that reminds me of the Sunshine State. Something with juicy, sweet oranges baked inside like this Orange Cranberry Quickbread.

Ingredients (printable recipe)
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for loaf pan
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 stick cold butter, cut into pea size pieces, plus extra for loaf pan
1 orange, zested (I used 2 mandarin oranges)
3/4 cup fresh orange juice (I used orange juice that we had in the fridge)
1 orange, peeled, sections removed and diced (I used 2 mandarin oranges)
1 egg
1 cup dried cranberries
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a food processor combine the flour, sugars, salt, baking soda and butter. Pulse, pulse, pulse until the mixture resembles finely grated cheese. Add the orange zest, juice and the egg. Pulse, pulse, pulse until the mixture is just combined. Remove to a bowl and stir in the diced oranges and cranberries.
3. Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan and add the batter. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Rotate the pan halfway through the cooking time to insure even cooking.
4. When done let cool for about 20 minutes and remove from loaf pan. Let cool completely before cutting.

Adapted from FoodNetwork/Anne Burrell

I only had a bag of mandarin oranges on hand. I adjusted the recipe and used 2 mandarin oranges in place of 1 regular orange (since mandarin oranges are smaller). I zested the oranges, peeled them, separated the sections and peeled each section, too---like you see in this photo. Once the oranges are peeled and diced, this quickbread comes together.......... quickly! :)

The food processor made a quick and easy dough. I have a 7 cup food processor and it was just big enough to hold all these ingredients

Love the colors!

It had a yummy, crunchy outside.......

And lots of delicious goodies on the inside!

The Results...

A little bit of sunshine for our tastebuds. Orange and Cranberry are one of my favorite flavor combinations. This bread was crunchy on the outside, moist inside, sweet and full of flavor. Everyone enjoyed it. Orange Cranberry Quickbread was quick to make and quick to disappear!

You might also like these Orange Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I share recipes at these linky parties.

A Truth Journal: XL Keystone Pipeline: Why Should America Take All The Risks and No Benefits?

XL Pipeline Protest

XL Pipeline Protest (Photo credit: Talk Radio News Service)

A Truth Journal: XL Keystone Pipeline: Why Should America Take All The Risks and No Benefits?: From Denny: Once again greedy Big Business seeks to hang the American taxpayers with all the liabilities - while they make billions in profits, free to walk away when it goes bad.

The XL Keystone Pipeline is a huge boondoggle that comes out of Canada. Apparently, the Canadian firm, TransCanada, along with some American energy partners sum up their business mantra in one chant, "Let the Americans pay for it!"

Our State Department has been on a fool's errand writing up a study on the impact on America's environment, concluding it would not be a problem, in order to act like they are satisfying the environment folks. As usual, everyone rivets their focus upon the distraction, taking their eye off the obvious.

mainImg

American Irish Men's Fitted T-Shirt

Check out the luck of the American Irish!

Free-Form Pear Tarts with Almond and Cinnamon

Free-Form Pear Tarts with Almond and Cinnamon are very simple to make. Don't let the long, fancy name fool you. Store bought almond paste and puff pastry help make this a quick and easy dessert. You don't have to tell your family and friends how easy these are to make. Let them think you slaved over these delicious tarts! :)

Ingredients (printable recipe)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (9-3/4-inch square), thawed overnight in the refrigerator
Flour for dusting
2 Tablespoons almond paste (from can or tube)
4 teaspoons sour cream
2 small firm-ripe pears, peeled, cored and cut into 12 wedges each.
Vanilla ice cream, if desired
Directions
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Unroll or unfold the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Pinch any creases together and then smooth them out with your fingertips. Cut the pastry sheet into four equal squares and transfer them to the lined baking sheet.

Roll 1-1/2 teaspoons of almond paste in to a small ball, flatten it slightly with the palm of your hand, and put it the center of one puff pastry square. Drop 1 teaspoon of sour cream on top. Sprinkle about 1/2 tablespoon of the cinnamon sugar over the sour cream. Arrange four pear wedges in the center of the puff pastry, two leaning away from the center one way and two leaning the other way. Sprinkle with another 1/2 tablespoon of the cinnamon sugar. Repeat with the remaining three puff pastry squares and filling ingredients---you won't need all of the sliced pears.

Fold corners of the puff pastry over the pears until the tips are just touching, but not overlapping and press the dough against the pears. (The tarts won't look pretty now, but they'll be beautiful once they bake and puff up.)

Bake until puffed and golden brown on the edges, 22-27 minutes. Let cool. Any juices that leak on to the baking sheet will harden to a candy-like consistency, so break-off these bits before serving.
Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if you like.
Makes 4 servings

Source Fine Cooking recipe by Gale Gand

Almond paste is found in a can like this or in a tube at your local grocery store in the baking section. Almond paste is basically ground almonds and sugar combined together with either egg whites or a liquid sugar syrup. (It's a little pricey--this 8 oz. can was about $5, but for this recipe I only used about 1/4 of the can.)
You could also make almond paste in a food processor. Just search for an almond paste recipe and you will find a lot of different ones, some with egg whites and some with simple syrup.

Almond paste, sour cream, cinnamon sugar, pears and more cinnamon sugar. Yum!

The corners of the puff pastry are folded up just until they touch. That's it! These tarts are ready for the oven. See, I told you these are so easy to make!

As these tarts bake, the pastry puffs up and opens, creating a bowl. A really delicious bowl!

The perfect spot for adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

The Results...
Easy and delicious! This was a fun dessert to make and share with my family. The kids can even help put these together by rolling the almond paste into balls or sprinkling on the cinnamon sugar.

Our family gave this recipe 4 stars (out of 5). My husband suggested I flatten out the almond paste more the next time I make these tarts. It was all in the middle and he would like it more evenly distributed because he enjoyed the almond flavor mixed with the pears.

Free-Form Pear Tarts with Almond and Cinnamon are part of The Lady Behind the Curtain's Dessert Challenge. (You can find more information about the Dessert Challenge here.) Every month we are assigned two ingredients (this month it was Almond Paste and Pastry Dough). We are to take those two ingredients and create or find a recipe using the chosen ingredients. I have to admit that I was a little worried about this month's challenge because I didn't even know what almond paste was or where to find it. But, I discovered that almond paste is at my local grocery store in the baking aisle!

The following recipes are from other blogs that are part of the Behind the Curtain Dessert Challenge, too.

Lady Behind the Curtain Dessert Challenge

I also share recipes at these linky parties.

A Truth Journal: FYI, Spring Fever At Our House! 6 Funny Links Too

Waterfall in Japanese Garden

A Truth Journal: FYI, Spring Fever At Our House! 6 Funny Links Too: From Denny: Yeah, been enjoying Spring time here in Louisiana, along with the huge hanks of oak tree pollen falling at my feet. The weather has been almost like Hawaii lately: soft warm breezes. Soooo, have not been posting as much lately. Too busy being downright happily sloth like and getting Pollen Head at the same time. I'm sure you all understand. :) My heart goes out to all of you still stuck in snow weather and Snowquester. Should be posting tonight, if not tomorrow. Talk about Lazy Bones here... Throwing kisses out to you all - and thanks so much for your support on this and all my other crazy blogs!

Related articles - meanwhile, to keep you entertained...

Comfort Food From Louisiana: New Orleans Chef Recipe: Jambalaya For A Crowd

Comfort Food From Louisiana: New Orleans Chef Recipe: Jambalaya For A Crowd: From Denny: Need an easy recipe for a crowd during Mardi Gras season? Chef John Besh of New Orleans paired with Zatarain's to create this faster version of jambalaya using Zatarain's Dirty Rice mix. In fact, the famous chef has a lot of great recipes on their site.

What makes jambalaya so tasty is the browning of the chicken and andouille sausage, mixing in the veggies like celery and onion, some liquid (some people like to use chicken stock in place of water) and then the rice to cook in all those tasty seasonings and juices.

It's a fabulous one-pot meal that is easy to make and a real crowd pleaser.

Funny Friday Weekend iPhone 5 Case

Funny Friday Weekend iPhone 5 Case

Tell the world how you really feel about coming back to work

* * * Support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - see what's new!

Chicken Fajita Pie

We love chicken fajitas and we love pie. Why not combine them into a Chicken Fajita Pie!

Ingredients (printable recipe)
1 (10 inch) flour tortilla (burrito size)
2 cups cooked chicken, diced or shredded
3/4 cup chopped bell pepper (red, yellow, green, orange, whichever you like)
1/3 cup chopped red onion
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves (I used a mini food processor)
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
cooking spray
Directions
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch pie plate. Press tortilla into prepared pie plate and spray lightly with more cooking spray. Toss chicken, chopped pepper, onion and 1 cup of shredded cheese in a large bowl until combined. Spread filling over tortilla.
2. Whisk eggs, milk, flour, baking powder, salt, pepper and cilantro in bowl until smooth. Slowly pour over filling. Then, sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until surface is golden brown about 20-25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.

Adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything and Cook's Country

I love that the crust is simply a large tortilla. So easy!

Here's the filling: chicken, chopped bell pepper and onion and cheese

I don't like chopping cilantro leaves. So, I put the leaves into a mini food processor and then added them to the egg, milk, flour mixture. I've used both whole milk and skim milk in this recipe. So, use whatever milk you have. One more tip: put your pie plate on a baking sheet covered with foil before pouring in this runny mixture. Helps if you happen to spill and makes it easier to pull this in and out of the oven. (Wish I hadn't forgot the foil. It makes clean-up so much easier.)

More cheese! Can you really ever have too much cheese?

The Results...
So easy to make! We liked Chicken Fajita Pie. My husband and son gave this about 3 stars (out of 5). They both like their Mexican food spicy and I intentionally made this mild so everyone could enjoy it. I could spice this up with some chopped jalapeno peppers. Maybe next time I'll make two pies, one spicy and one mild.

My little girls were happy this was mild and full of cheese. My 5 yr. old was the biggest fan and ate her entire slice of pie. She gave this recipe 5 out of 5 stars!

“I’m partying at the Pi Day Pie Party at Crazy for Crust today. Come party with us!”

This recipe is featured at:
On the Menu Monday @ StoneGable
Show & Share Wednesday @ Semi Homemade Mom
Tasty Thursdays @ The Mandatory Mooch

I also share recipes are these linky parties.