Angel Food Cake Dessert

I made this yummy dessert for my friend's birthday.

The cute glassware saying "Happy Birthday" was at the Dollar Store(DollarTree). Its the perfect container for the Angel Food Cake Dessert.
I got the recipe for the Angel Food Cake here.[sorry I can't get "Heavenly Angel Food Cake" to come up only the reviews] It is so good I will never make another angel Food Cake Recipe!

ANGEL FOOD CAKE RECIPE:

Beat together:

12 eggs whites

1 1/2 tsp. cream of tarter

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. almond extract

then slowly add:

1 cup sugar until soft peaks are formed

Fold in:

1 1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 cup all purpose flour

Gently spoon into a tube pan. I did mine in a 9 x13 pan.

Bake at 350 for 33-35 mins.

[The Pudding mixture was a combination of my mom's recipe & my own.]

PUDDING TOPPING RECIPE:

mix together:

2 (3.4 oz.) cheesecake pudding

3 cups 1/2 & 1/2

then add:

the zest of 1 orange

1 small tub of cool whip

Directions: Layer the dessert with cake and then pudding. Top it off with fresh strawberries and coconut or white chocolate shavings.

ENJOY!


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Cream Cheese with Fresh Salsa

I've been craving this "Salsa" I had at my niece's bridal shower. I made it this last weekend for the holiday with our family. So easy and oh so tasty!!!

This recipe actually calls for cranberries but its not winter time and I didn't have any in the freezer so I will list the original recipe and a second version that is just as tasty.

"Winter" Cranberry Salsa (Original):

12 oz. bag of fresh cranberries

1 jalapeno, no seeds

5 green onions

1 bunch of cilantro

1/2 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

 Blend everything together in the food processor until coarsely chopped. Toss in 3/4 cup of sugar. Serve over a block(8 oz.) of cream cheese with Wheat Thins. Best if made 6 hours before needed.

"Summer" Cherry Salsa (my version):

1 pound fresh cherries(pitted)

1 jalapeno, no seeds

5 green onions

1 bunch cilantro

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1 tsp. lime juice

Blend everything together in the food processor until coarsely chopped. Serve over a block(8 oz.) of cream cheese with Wheat Thins. Best if made 6 hours before needed.

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Bread in the Bag

I did the greatest activity today in Science with my daughter Aulina. We made Bread in a Bag(ziplock).
It was so easy. I might be able to take a break for a week and let her make the bread for our family.
I came home and recreated it for you to see(since I forgot the camera) what we did.

How To:
In the Gallon Ziplock put the DRY ingredients.

2 cups white flour(but wheat or bread flour will work also)
1 envelope of yeast
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
Close bag and shake for about a minute.
Add WET ingredients.

1 TBL. oil
3/4 cup HOT water
Mix well in bag for 2 minutes. If you can turn the bag upside down and the dough will fall to the "bottom" then it is ready to take out.

Put the dough onto a floured counter top.
With floured hands knead for a couple of minutes.

 Cover it with the used gallon zip lock bag & let rest for 5 minutes.

I cut the dough into 2 pieces to fit into the 3x5 loaf pans.
 I let it rise for a couple of hours (until double in size). Bake it at 350 for 15-18 minutes.

The Science teacher is going to bake all the bread loaves at the school. Aulina will get to bring hers home tomorrow.
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"Chips" & Dip Snack

Now that I'm trying to eat more healthy, this is one of my favorite snacks.

I cut my own "chips" from 3 tortillas(about 90 calories) and toss them in a little oil. I then sprinkle them with taco seasoning & dried cilantro flakes. Bake at 450 for 15 minutes.

The "dip is made from 1/4 cup salsa & 1/4 cup cottage cheese(about 50 calories). I know the cottage cheese sounds a little different but its good. I have a hard time just eating cottage cheese by itself so this gets my protein without me having to gag it down.
I usually will have this on the days I have a lighter salad for dinner.

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{Homemade} Hot Chocolate

Its been so cold lately-snow,rain,windy. This is the perfect weather for Hot Chocolate!


This is the hot chocolate I used to buy. . .


Now that I found this homemade recipe why go back. {My scoop is a great measurement- I took it from my protein powder shake container}. I was able to fit most of the mix in a #10 metal can.
My version of the Recipe:
3  cup regular dry milk powder
4 cup chocolate dry milk powder
1 (12 oz.) container Ovaltine Rich Chocolate powder
[much healthier than Nesquik]
2 cups powdered non-dairy creamer
2 (3.9 oz.) boxes of chocolate pudding mix
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. salt (adds flavors together)

Mix together. To make Hot Chocolate: add 5 Tbl. mix to 1 cup of hot water. Store remainder in an air tight container. Best if used within 6 months.


Another Hot Chocolate Favorite(found with the Mexican supplies)


Some of our Favorite Add-ins: Syrups{Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Toasted Marshmallow,Raspberry, EggNog}. Just add 1 tsp.

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Danish Pancakes

Our kids LOVE these Danish Aebleskivers(aka danish puffy fried cakes). I picked up this pan awhile back in a cooking store(but you could buy them here) and it has added much pleasure to our morning breakfasts'.


After making the batter(recipe at the end of post), coat the pan with nonstick spray then pour into each cup of the pan. Fill only half full. If there's too much it will be doughy in the middle. Keep your pan at a lower tempature to cook.


Wait until it bubbles on the top, then you can flip it over.


Flip over the "aebleskiver" with a skewer stick(I found this out to be the best tool).


Our kids dip them in different syrups and jam. You could also sprinkle them with powered sugar.

Recipe:
2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups buttermilk or whole milk
3 eggs separated
Combine the flour, salt and soda. Add milk and egg yolks. Beat egg whites until light and fluffy. Gently fold egg into the batter. Grease each cup(i do it every time so they don't stick) with spray vegetable oil. Cook until golden brown on each side.

ENJOY! Pin It

Fruity Syrup Topping

My husband always like something sweet after dinner. As I was flipping through my FoodNetwork magazine I came across this Topping.


In this pan I did: 3/4 cup mixed [frozen] berries(their recipe called for fresh blackberries) + 3/4 cup cut up red grapes + 1/3 cup sugar + 2 Tbl. water. Stir as you cook it on medium heat for 11 mins. You might want to let it cool a bit so it doesn't melt your ice cream.


To assemble: I added these crushed up granola bars(since I didn't have any granola) to the bottom then ice cream(but greek yogurt was yummy also) then top it off with the syrup.

YUM! Pin It

Easy Homemade Croutons

For my late snack the other night I had some salad but I didn't have any croutons (which is a must on salad) so I had to use my day old french bread to make some Homemade Croutons! I guessed on the seasoning and oven time. When I took them out of the oven, my husband was already eating some-he said "these are really good".

Here's what I did:


I started with the day old french bread(1/2 loaf). . .


Cut them into cubes, added 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary(basil would taste great also), 1/8 tsp. garlic salt & 1-2 Tbl. of canola oil to moisten it. Cook at 450 for 10-12 mins.


You can add them to your salad or favorite soup! {I'm going to make some for our Halloween night soup bowls} YUM!

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Super Super Simple Enchiladas

I needed a super simple meal for dinner tonight. I just used a bunch of items I already had on hand. Enchiladas are a favorite around here so it was perfect.


Ingredients


Coat the pan(I used 11x7) with cooking spray. Then lay a layer of baby corn tortillas down.


Add the shredded cheese and shredded beef.[You could add other items such as onions, tomatoes, peppers- but I decided I didn't want to cut all that up].


Pour 3/4 of the 28 oz. can of enchiladas sauce over the top. Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 30 mins. When done remove foil and top with cheese-bake another 5 mins.


When its fully cooked you can garnish it with shredded lettuce and sour cream.
Enjoy! Pin It

Go To Sauce

I was given 5 bags of tomatoes so I had to use this wonderful recipe my SIL Fabiana gave me - Little Joe's Sauce. Its my GO TO Sauce -you can use it a few different ways so its a great sauce to always have on hand. A Homemade YUMMY!

#1 Spaghetti Sauce: 1 pint jar LJ Sauce + 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce [could + 1 (6oz) can tomato paste if you want it thicker]
#2 Soup Base: Put LJ Sauce in a crockpot and + your choice of meat, beans, veggies to go with it
#3 Cook over meat: use on Roast Beef or other meat. Pour it over and bake in oven.


Ingredients:
1/2 cup olive oil
3 medium onions( I food process these)
4 stalks celery (I food process these)
1/4 cup minced garlic
8 cups tomatoes (I cut them up, measure the 8 cups then food process them)
5 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 Tbl. dry ground oregano
1 tsp. dry rosemary
4 bay leaves(crushed with hands)
2 tsp. dry basil
1 Tbl. black pepper
1/8 cup salt
{I added 1 cup of dehydrated red&green peppers}

Put all the ingredients in a big pot. Turn it on high to start a boil then turn down to low temp and cook for 2 1/2 hours. Stirring occasionally. Put in hot sterilized jars and Water Bath them for 30 mins.

Yields: about 7 pints jars

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Doughnut Breakfast Sandwich

One day I was watching Paula Deen (I love that lady!) & she did an interesting Burger.


This is my version as a Breakfast Sandwich.


I used the best doughnuts out there.


Cut the doughnut in 1/2.


Layer with spinach, egg whites & turkey bacon. I had to add healthy to it so I could justify eating a doughnut loaded with calories. [FYI: I didn't add any sauce but you could do salsa, miracle whip, mayo or other]

YUMMY! Pin It

Fall Off the Bone {Roast Beef}

We had the best meat for dinner last night!

As a kid we had Roast Beef every Sunday. My mom is a great cook but the roast beef was always dry. My sister & I would always use ketchup to dip the meat. So when I found the secret to cooking roast beef (in my BHG magazine), there were no words to describe how elated I was.

I didn't follow the exact recipe but when my husband will have 3rds I know I did it right.

[My version]-Ingredients:

2 1/2-3 lb. beef chuck roast

1 tsp. celery salt

1/2 tsp. dried garlic

1 Tbl. dried minced onions

2 (14 oz.) cans beef broth + 1 can with water

(liquid needs to cover meat)

Cook in the crock pot for 11 hours on low heat.

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Tin Foil Dinners

We've been up camping, a handful of times already, this year. One of our most favorite things about each camping trip is our first meal there- Tin Foil Dinners. Our kids even ask for them now, even when we are not camping. We love them!

HOW do YOU make your tin foil dinners? WHAT do YOU put in them? Please leave me a comment on this. I am always looking for new ideas.

HERE is how I make OURS...

Mine consist of these items:
Heavy Duty tin foil
Raw hamburger meat (lean ground beef)
Cream of mushroom soup
Potatos- peeled and cut small
Carrots- peeled and cut small
Frozen white corn
Dry onion flakes
Garlic salt- lots!
Pepper, olive oil, other herbs or spices I think of adding in, etc.

I peel and cut up the veggies (into small, bite-sized pieces so they will cook faster with the meat). I combine all the cut-up veggies, frozen corn, and dry onion flakes into a large bowl and mix them together with a little bit of olive oil.

I tear off a piece of tin foil and lay it flat. Then I spoon out some cream of mushroom soup (right from the can) and smear it onto the foil in the center. I put about a cup of veggies down first (on top of the soup).

Then I grab some raw hamburger and flatten it like a patty to put on top of the veggies. (Big enough to cover the veggies and about 1/2" thick. I sprinkle LOTS of garlic salt over the meat (and some pepper) and top it off with another cup of veggies. Then I dollup another spoonfull or two of soup over the veggies and fold up the foil to seal it all in. After wrapping it once, I get another piece of foil and wrap it again for better protection in the fire.

I make them big so we can all share. We cook these foil dinners right in our campfire. DELISH!! Clean-up is super easy with this meal. I love it for camping!! Do you make foil dinners too? What do you put in them??

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{Pumpkin} Chocolate Cookies

I know its summer but I crave pumpkin desserts.
I found this EASY cookie recipe-so yummy!

Ingredients: 1 box spice cake mix(dry), 1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin, 1 (12 oz) bag chocolate chips
Mix together and scoop onto greased cookie sheet.
Bake @ 350 for 13-15 mins.

Enjoy!! Pin It

Another one to Try

I was experimenting with a couple of the Protein Bar recipes. This is one is really good!! If I don't cut them into bars I might get ALL my protein in one (9x13) pan!



Mix together:

1 (12oz.) jar almond butter
1 cup honey
4 scoops vanilla whey protein powder
1 cup chopped almonds
2 1/2 cups regular oats
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk
about 1/3 cup water(just enough to make it stick together)

After all mixed together spread into a 9"x13" pan. Refrigerate overnight and cut into squares. You can get about 18-24 bars depending on how you cut it.

Store extras in the freezer. Pin It