Caponata Style Sauce...

Last minute dinner...turned out very well!!

Cookie Pies

I had some pre-made refrigerated pie crusts that I wanted to get rid of so while Paige was napping I came up with these cute cookies. Of course, she woke up when I was making the lattice top so I brought a chair up to the counter and gave her the trimmings to play with while I finished these. They turned out so cute! I made the filling with frozen berries I had in my freezer but you could get creative with these. Apple pie? Apricot jam? Cherry pie filling? Chocolate and peanut butter? Something savory like cheese and green chilis? They would be so adorable for a little girl's tea party, don't you think?!

Filling: 

Frozen berries and about a tsp of balsamic vinegar and a squirt of honey in a sauce pot. Cook the berries down to a jam consistency. Let cool. 

Make your lattice top.

Now, spread the berry mixture over the bottom crust and cover with the lattice top. Use a biscuit or cookie cutter and cut little pies. When you push the cutter down it will seal the edges as much as you need. Place in a sheet tray and brush tops of pies with a little honey or an egg wash if its savory. Bake in a 375 degree oven until golden brown. 

And here you go! So cute and yummy too! 

I'm back!

My last post was 2 years ago and I just found out I was pregnant. I was too sick to blog about food and too tired to really care. But... I'm back! I will start posting more recipes and such for you! Enjoy! 

Kitty Litter Cake = Happy Halloween!

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• Every Halloween, I like to prepare what I call "gross out" foods. It gets you in the Halloween spirit and just makes it much more fun! Yesterday my niece and I prepared this cake...and its so easy that an 11 month old can help with it. Emily sure loves stirring! It sure does look disgusting but it is the best cake to serve at a Halloween Bash! Enjoy!
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• 1  package chocolate cake mix
• 1  package white cake mix
• 2  packages instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1  package vanilla sandwich cookies (I use Golden Oreos)
• 3 drops green food coloring
• 1  package tootsie rolls

Prepare cake mixes and bake according to directions (any size pans). Prepare pudding mix and chill until ready to assemble. Crumble white sandwich cookies in small batches in blender, they tend to stick, so scrape often. Set aside all but about 1/4 cup. To the 1/4 cup cookie crumbs, add a few drops green food coloring and mix using a fork or shake in a jar.

When cakes are cooled to room temperature, crumble into a large bowl. Toss with half the remaining white cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding. You probably won’t need all of the pudding, mix with the cake until just moist; you do not want it soggy.  Put mixture into clean litter box.

Put unwrapped Tootsie rolls in a microwave safe dish and heat until soft and pliable. Shape ends so they are no longer blunt, curving slightly. Repeat with more Tootsie rolls and bury in mixture. Sprinkle the other half of cookie crumbs over top. Scatter the green cookie crumbs lightly over the top. Heat remaining Tootsie Rolls, three at a time in the microwave until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake and sprinkle with cookie crumbs. Place the box on a newspaper and sprinkle a few of the cookie crumbs around. Serve with a new pooper scooper.

Game Day

So it's Sunday...that means football in my house. Actually, Saturday is a football day too. I don't complain... instead I make my husband snacks to enjoy while watching his game(s). As I am doing this, I can't help but wonder why he doesn't make me snacks when I am enjoying my Sex and the City/Golden Girl marathons???  Anyway, this is one of his favorite snacks. I often throw in some browned chorizo or shredded chicken. Don't limit yourself to anything...

Game Day Nachos

1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped red pepper
4 to 5 cloves garlic, minced
2 scallions, minced
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
2 tbsp. minced jalapeno peppers
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika

 

Mix together peppers, olive oil, garlic and butter in a saucepan.Sprinkle in flour, pour in milk and stir until mixture simmers -- do not allow to boil. When mixture begins to thicken, stir in the cheese and remaining ingredients, Simmer on low heat an additional five minutes or until cheese is fully melted. If you feel like, now is the time to add in your shredded chicken/browned chorizo/ground beef. Serve with tortilla chips/potato skins/carrots.

Whatever your sport is...these are delish!

Sweet Beezus!

Rosh Hashana is around the corner and it's time you start planning your menu. Traditionally, you serve apples with honey to symbolize your hopes for a sweet new year. Take that up a notch...and serve this. L'Shana Tova! Oh...and you don't have to be Jewish to enjoy this fabulous cake, you can make it just because it's good! 

Sweet New Year Cake

3 large tart apples (I use granny smith) peeled, cored, and sliced
1 cup of flour
1/3 cup of honey
1/3 cup of sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup real butter - melted and slightly cooled
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 TBS cold, real butter - chopped in smaller pieces

Preheat oven to 350F, and lightly oil a deep dish pie plate.

Place sliced apples in your baking dish; sprinkle with 1 tsp of the cinnamon and 2 TBS of the chopped butter.

In a medium bowl,  mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Stir in the egg, melted butter, and honey.  Pour on top of apples and sprinkle with remaining teaspoon of cinnamon.

Bake for about 30 minutes, until topping is slightly puffed and deep golden brown. 

AMAZING when served with ice cream!

*Beezus is my dog...in case you were wondering

I Bequeath the Taco Wreath

I started making this dish a couple of years ago to give my pizza stone a little taste variety in its boring life. My pizza stone was very impressed and is always begging me to make this. Its easy to make, it looks hard to accomplish and it tastes awesome! My pizza stone loves me for this because she gets to go to pot luck parties and is always the center of attention when she shows up with the taco wreath. The best part about this is you can change out the ingredients and make it your own. This is another great way to use leftovers. Leftover chicken and rice? Mix it with cheese and salsa and put it inside! Scrambled eggs and potatoes? Put them inside! Leftover meatballs? Yes please... just don't forget the cheese! You got the idea!

1 pound ground beef/or turkey

1 small onion, chopped

1 small bell pepper, chopped

1 package taco seasoning mix

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Two 8-ounce packages crescent rolls

1 head lettuce, shredded

2 tomatoes, cubed

1 small onion, chopped

1 small can sliced black olives

1 cup salsa

Sour cream

Green onions, sliced

Pizza pan or baking stone

Preheat oven to 350F. In skillet brown ground beef and add the onion and bell pepper. When cooked, drain. Add taco seasoning, cheese and 1/4 cup of water, mix well. On a large pizza pan or baking stone arrange crescent triangles with shortest sides toward center, overlapping in wreath shape and leaving a circle in center. Points will overlap edge of pan. Spoon meat filling on widest part of crescent rolls. Pull end points toward center over filling and tuck under base at center, forming a ring. Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown.
In the center of the circle arrange lettuce, tomatoes, onion and olives. Garnish with salsa, sour cream and green onions.