Snowball Cake

{Image courtesy of kraftfoods.com}

I made the above little cutie for a family Christmas party this year and oh boy was it so much fun!! I have one little sliver of a piece in my fridge and it is calling my name! I am going to be super lazy.eo and give you the link for the recipe instead of writing it out! Tis' the season for quickness! Happy Holidays everyone!! The Cammacks.

http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/snowball-cake-114038.aspx

Play Dough Cookies

I have to say when I read this I thought of you Brandee! I know you'll have so much fun with Rylie making these!

Play Dough Cookies

3/4 C butter
3 ounces cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 t vanilla extract
2 and 3/4 C flour
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
assorted food coloring (gel or paste works best)

...1. In a bowl cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
2. In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir until soft dough forms. Divide dough into Fourths. Tint each with a different food coloring. Wrap in plastic and chill for two hours. (I stuck it in the freezer for 15 minutes because I hate to wait!)
3. Preheat oven to 350. Shape colors into 3/4 inch balls. For each cookie place one pink, one orange, one green, and one blue ball together and roll to make one giant ball. Roll into a 12 inch long snake, and then starting at one end coil roll to make a cookie. Place cookies 2 to 3 inches apart on greased cookie sheet to allow for spreading.
4. Bake for 8 minutes or until lightly browned.
Cool and store in an airtight container.Enjoy!
I found this at
http://sitsgirlsrecipes.blogspot.com/2008/09/somewhere-over-rainbow-by-little-momma.html & the pictures are from this post http://ourcutiekids.blogspot.com/2009/11/play-dough-cookies.html
If you liked this post, you'll love Little Momma & Company!

http://theidearoom.blogspot.com/2009/10/candy-corn-bark-and-peppermint-bark.html

This blog has a receipe for Peppermint Bark! I am going to try this one!


Here is a different one as well:
http://www.joyofbaking.com/printpages/PeppermintBarkprint.html
Peppermint Bark Recipe
Peppermint Bark: Line the bottom and sides of a 9 inch (23 cm) square baking pan with aluminum foil, smoothing out any wrinkles.
Melt the semi sweet chocolate and 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Immediately pour the melted chocolate into the prepared pan and tilt the pan so the chocolate makes an even layer. Place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate has set.
Then, melt the white chocolate and remaining 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Immediately pour the melted white chocolate over the dark chocolate and tilt the pan so the chocolate is in an even layer. Sprinkle the crushed candy canes evenly over the white chocolate. Place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate has set.
Remove the Peppermint Bark from the pan by lifting the edges of the aluminum foil. Peel back the foil and break the bark into small irregular pieces. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Makes about 25 pieces.


6 ounces (150 grams) semi sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
6 ounces (150 grams) white chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/3 - 1/2 cup (50 - 80 grams) crushed candy canes



Maple Pecan Cookies
http://www.calamityanne.com/

You'll Need
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons mayonnaise (Hellman's)
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup pecans, chopped
Preheat oven oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar together on medium speed for three minutes until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and mayonnaise and mix until well blended. Add the maple syrup and blend well.
In a medium bowl sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add the flour mixture by spoonfuls to the brown sugar mixture until well incorporated. Fold in the pecans until well incorporated. Cover the cookie mixture with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Using a 1" scoop, drop spoonfuls of the cookie batter onto either a wax paper -or- parchment-lined cookie sheet (I recommend using a new sheet with every batch). Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges. Cool for a minute before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to completely cool. Store in an airtight container.
Makes 1 cookie shy of 5 dozen

Grilling Veggies

Another good 1 from that blog!

Wanna grill some of those fabulous veggies that are poppin out of everyone's gardens this time of year?

Here's how to grill some delish

Asparagus:
Cut off ends.
Soak in water for 30 minutes to an hour.
Pat dry and brush with olive oil. Place on grillo, turning every minute.
Remove when tips start to turn brown.
You can add some extra flavor to asparagus by mixing a little sesame oil in the olive oil before you brush them.

Bell Peppers:
Cut through the middle of the pepper top to bottom.
Remove stems, seeds and whitish ribs. B
rush lightly with oil and grill for 2-3 minutes on each side.

Chili Peppers:
Brush with oil.
Grill whole on each side, 2-3 minutes. To reduce the heat, cut off the stems and pull ou the seeds.

Corn on the cob:
Gently pull back the husks but don't remove.
Remove the silk and cut off the very end.
Soak in cold water for about 30 minutes.
Dry and brush with butter.
Fold the husks back down and tie or twist the ends.
Place on grill for about 5-7 minutes.
Turn to avoid burning.

Eggplant:
Cut lengthwise for smaller eggplants or in disks top to bottom for larger eggplants.
Soak in water for 30 minutes.
Pat dry, brush with oil and grill 2-3 minutes.

Garlic:
Take whole bulbs and cut off the root end.
Brush with oil and grill. 4-5 minutes for small mushrooms, 6-8 minutes.
Use a grill basket or topper for small mushrooms.

Onions:
Remove skin and cut horizontally about 1/2 inch thick.
Brush with oil and grill 3-4 minutes.
Tomatoes: Cut in half, top to bottom.
Brush with a light coating of oil and grill cut side down 2-3 minutes.

Potatoes:
Wash thoroughly and dry.
Rub with oil.
Wrap in aluminum foil and grill 35-40 minutes, turning occasionally.

Zucchini and small squash:
Slice 1/2 inch thickness. Brush with oil and grill 2-3 minutes per side. Small squash can be cut down the middle and grilled in halves.

Peanut Butter Candy

So I was checking out blogs and found some recipes on this blog!! Its the Z103 blog, how funny!

Here is a delicious recipe for Peanut Butter Candy from Brad's wife. (Brad from Z103)

If you don't know, Peanut Butter Candy is the dessert that school cafeterias serve where it's like an inch of peanut butter goodness topped with a small layer of chocolate ecstasy.

(I think this and chili & cinnamon rolls, were the best thing the school ever cook!!)

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Candy

2 C. creamy peanut butter

8 T. butter; softened

2 3/4 C. powdered sugar

6 C. rice krispies; crushed

1/2 bag of Chocolate Chips (melted)

*Mix butter and peanut butter together.

Mix powdered sugar and rice krispies together. Combine mixtures. Press into 8x8 ungreased pan.

Melt half bag of chocolate chips and pour over peanut butter mixture.

Place in fridge to harden chocolate.*How do you melt chocolate?

Here are 3 different ways to do it.

Just be careful, cuz if you burn the chocolate, it stinks up your place, and it makes little children and me cry.

Method 1

Place the chips in a microwaveable bowl just big enough to hold them.

Place in microwave on low heat setting and microwave in 30-second increments.

Stir after each 30 seconds to ensure all chips melt.

Method 2

Place water in the bottom of a double boiler and chips in the top.

Melt the chips over medium heat, stirring them with a wooden spoon until just melted.

Method 3

Place the chips in a small ovenproof casserole or metal mixing bowl.

Heat oven or toaster oven to warm (150 to 200 degrees F).

Using the potholder, check the casserole and stir the chips every 3 minutes until they are melted

Apple Jelly

This is awesome!!

And yummy too!

You can use all the garage from pealing apples for your pies, applesauce, or just use all the "ugly" apples you have!!

This is a jelly bag. In the blog that I got this from, she didn't know what it was or looked like.

I asked one of my friends that I thought would know what one is.

It works, but is small. I just used the cheese cloth, lots bigger.

This is all my waste from peeling the apples. I didn't take one after I left it over night. Should have, it was disappointing.

But then when we tasted this.... Well it was worth it, even though it doesn't make a lot. Its wonderful!!! And hey, it isn't hard.

I made strawberry applesauce and pumpkin spice applesauce, and regular. I try to post those soon.

Happy Halloween

My sister in law had this on her blog:

Black string licorice

20 orange creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies

1 teaspoon chocolate ready-to-spread frosting (from 16-oz container)

40 miniature candy-coated chocolate pieces

1. For each cookie, cut eight 1 1/2-inch pieces of licorice for legs. Insert 4 pieces into filling on each side of each cookie.

2. With frosting, attach 2 miniature chocolate pieces to top of each cookie for eyes.

32 Hershey®'s Kisses® milk chocolates,

unwrapped 1 package (11 1/2 ounces) fudge-striped shortbread cookies

(32)1 tube (4.25 ounces) orange or red decorating icing1.

Attach

1. 1 chocolate candy to chocolate bottom of each cookie, using decorating icing.

2. Pipe decorating icing around base of milk chocolate candy.

Some more good recipes

French Breakfast Puffs

So I don't feel so good, can you tell?? I looking for comfort food!! And I am going to try to get the energy to make some, to make me feel better, atleast that's my plan. Let ya know if these foods do the trick!

This is a recipe from Pioneer Woman.

French Breakfast Puffs

3 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

(I used cinnamon as I'm not a nutmeg fan)

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup shortening (Crisco)

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 teaspoons cinnamon

2 sticks butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 12 muffin cups. Stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside. Pray.

In a different bowl, cream together 1 cup sugar and shortening, then add eggs and mix. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until golden. In a bowl, melt 2 sticks butter. In a separate bowl combine remaining sugar and cinnamon. Dip baked muffins in butter, coating thoroughly, then coat with cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Eat. Faint.

Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Ingredients
COOKIES
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
1 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
CREAM CHEESE FILLING
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions
FOR COOKIES:PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Lightly grease or line four baking sheets with parchment paper.COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large mixer bowl on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add pumpkin and vanilla extract; beat until smooth. Stir in flour mixture until combined. Drop by heaping measuring teaspoons onto prepared baking sheets. (A total of 72 cookies are needed for the recipe.)BAKE for 10 to 13 minutes or until springy to the touch. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.FOR CREAM CHEESE FILLING:BEAT cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until light and fluffy.SPREAD a heaping teaspoon of filling onto flat side of one cookie; top with flat side of second cookie to make a sandwich. Repeat with remaining cookies and filling. Store in covered container in refrigerator.

I want to make these!!

So I have plums. A lot of plums. I think they are santa rosa plums(Delicious tart flavor. Great for fresh eating, yea sounds like what mine taste like. Small to medium size) but not totally for sure? But we picked them, 4 huge bowls full of them! Now what so do with all of them?
Here are a few recipes we are going to try!

Plum Sorbet
While the alcohol in this is optional, a small amount will help keep the sorbet from getting icy if you plan to store it in the freezer.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups of sliced plums, pits removed
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons of sugar
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon of Grand Marnier (optional)
Method
1 Place the sliced plums, sugar, lemon juice, and salt in a blender and purée until very smooth. Push the plum puree through a fine mesh sieve to catch and large pieces of skin and discard them.
2 Mix the Grand Marnier to the purée just before churning. Place the purée in an ice cream machine and churn according to instructions, for approximately 25 minutes. Serve immediately or place in an air tight container and put in the freezer for two hours to firm up.
Makes a little less than one quart or sorbet.
Simply Recipes http://simplyrecipes.com/

Santa Rosa plums are great in this dessert, although any juicy plum will work nicely. Because it's good served either warm or at room temperature, this is a choice make-ahead dessert. After scraping the seeds from the vanilla bean, use it to flavor sugar: Bury the bean in a container of granulated sugar, and store for up to 6 months.
Yield
9 servings (serving size: about 1 cup)
Ingredients
14 plums, each cut into 6 wedges
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons dry red wine
1 (4-inch) piece vanilla bean, split lengthwise
Cooking spray
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup regular oats
6 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange rind
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
5 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°.
Combine first three ingredients. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean; add seeds to plum mixture. Discard bean. Toss mixture gently to combine. Spoon into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through nutmeg) in a medium bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle flour mixture evenly over plum mixture. Bake at 375° for 45 minutes or until plum mixture is bubbly and topping is lightly browned. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Plum Cobbler
Ingredients
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp (170 g plus 30 g) of white sugar
10 fresh plums (we use Santa Rosa), sliced and seeded - about 4 cups
2 Tbsp corn starch
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup (110 g) all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (50 g) butter
1/4 cup (60 mL) milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
Method
1 Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2 In a large bowl, combine 3/4 cup white sugar, plums, cornstarch and cinnamon. Place the fruit mixture in a 2-quart casserole.
3 In a medium bowl, combine the remaining 2 Tablespoons of sugar, flour, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter in with a fork or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk and egg until just moistened.
4 Drop batter on fruit, or if desired, spread batter in stripes. Bake in a 350°F oven for 35 minutes.
Serves 6. Serve with whipped cream (optional).

Lasagna Rolls

Got this from http://alittleofthisandsomeofthat.blogspot.com, but I changed some things:
Lasagna Rolls

by: Giada De Laurentiis
Sauce:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Pinch ground nutmeg
Lasagna:
1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese (I used cottage cheese because it was cheaper)I did use the ricotta
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry
I used fresh spinach and chopped it up
I also put in a clove of garlic and 4-6 large mushrooms all chopped up with the spinach
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
I used an Italian mix of cheese
3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, chopped ( I didn't use this but I bet it would be tasty)
I used Italian sausage 1lbs, couldn't find prosciutto. Just cooked up the sausage and mixed in with all the other ingredients.
1 large egg, beaten to blend
3/4 teaspoon salt, plus more for salting water
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 uncooked lasagna noodles
I used only 10 noodles
2 cups marinara sauce
I used 4 cheese spaghetti sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella (about 4 ounces)
I just used the Italian cheese (the bag is 2 cups)
Directions
To make the sauce: Melt the butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk for 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk. Increase the heat to medium-high. Whisk the sauce until it comes to a simmer and is thick and smooth, about 3 minutes. Whisk the salt, pepper, and nutmeg into the bechamel sauce.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Whisk the ricotta, spinach, 1 cup Parmesan, prosciutto, egg, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend.
Add a tablespoon or 2 of oil to a large pot of boiling salted water. Boil the noodles until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Arrange the noodles in a single layer on a baking sheet to prevent them from sticking.
Butter a 13-by-9-by-2-inch glass baking dish. Pour the bechamel sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Lay out 4 lasagna noodles on a work surface, then spread about 3 tablespoons of ricotta mixture evenly over each noodle. Starting at 1 end, roll each noodle like a jelly roll. Lay the lasagna rolls seam side down, without touching, atop the bechamel sauce in the dish. Repeat with the remaining noodles and ricotta mixture. Spoon 1 cup of marinara sauce over the lasagna rolls. Sprinkle the mozzarella and remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan over the lasagna rolls. Cover tightly with foil. Bake until heated through and the sauce bubbles, about 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until the cheese on top becomes golden, about 15 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the remaining marinara sauce in a heavy small saucepan over medium heat until hot, and serve alongside.

Here is a picture of just before I put in the oven:





And after I cooked it!

Chicken Fajitas with Jicama Relish

Chicken Fajitas with Jicama Relish


Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup bottled Italian salad dressing
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 small red, green, and/or yellow sweet peppers, quartered lengthwise and seeded
1 small red onion, cut into 1/2-inch slices
8 10-inch flour tortillas, warmed*
1 recipe Jicama Relish
1 16-ounce jar salsa


1. Place chicken in a resealable plastic bag set in a shallow dish. For marinade, combine Italian dressing, chili powder, and cumin. Pour over chicken; seal bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 24 hours, turning bag occasionally. Drain chicken, reserving marinade. Brush marinade over sweet peppers and red onion.

2. For a charcoal grill, place chicken, pepper, and onion on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals. Grill until chicken is no longer pink (170 degrees F) and vegetables are crisp-tender, turning once halfway through grilling. Allow 12 to 15 minutes for chicken; 8 to 10 minutes for vegetables. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place chicken and vegetables on grill rack over heat. Cover and grill as above.)

3. Remove chicken and vegetables from grill; carefully slice into thin bite-size strips. Spoon chicken and vegetable mixture onto warmed tortillas. Top with Jicama Relish and salsa; roll up. Makes 8 fajitas.

4. *Note: To warm tortillas, wrap tortillas tightly in foil. Place on edge of grill and heat for 10 minutes, turning once.

5. Jicama Relish: In a large bowl combine one 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained; 1 cup chopped, peeled jicama; 1 large tomato, chopped; 1 medium avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and chopped; and 1/2 cup snipped fresh cilantro; set aside.



I found a Jicama at Ridley's in Blackfoot!! It is like a apple or a pear?? Looks like a fat potato, but taste a little sweet. But I think you could make this without a Jicama.

Great flavor!

Mexican Chicken Pot Pies

Ingredients:

1 can (8 0z) Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations refrigerated flaky dough sheet

2 TBSP Butter or Margarine

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 TBSP All Purpose Flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1 cup chicken broth

Chicken (frozen chicken breast strips or fresh chicken tenders). I used fresh chicken tenders and quickly grilled them on the George Foreman

1 can, 15 0z, black beans, drained, rinsed

3 TBSP green chilies, drained

1 cup frozen corn

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese (or any kind of cheese you have on hand)

1/2 cup salsa/hot sauce

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place four 6 0z custard cups upside down on a cookie sheet with sides. Spray cups with cooking spray.

2. Unroll dough on work surface; press into 12x8 inch rectangle. Cut into 4 squares. Place 1 dough square over each custard cup, stretching to fit bowl.

3. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. Remove from custard cups.

4. Meanwhile, in saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add flour, salt and pepper; stir until well blended. Gradually stir in broth; cook and stir until bubbly and thickened. Stir in chicken, black beans, green chilies and corn. Simmer about 5 minutes or until hot.

5. Spoon about 3/4 cup chicken mixture in each crescent bowl. Top with cheese and salsa. {We added cheese to the bottom of our crescent bowls before adding the chicken mixture - it was so yummy.}

[Recipe and photo courtesy of Pilsbury.com]

~My sister in law had this recipe today on her blog~

One side note here: Robyn sprinkles cinnamon and sugar on top before she cooks it.