Dessert Designer- Creations You Can Make and Eat!

March 3, 2013 by 4 Comments

Desserts, we all love them and what’s even better than to be able to get creative and have fun with desserts? Besides eating them of course!

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I recently was able to review Dessert Designer– Creations you can make and Eat by Dana Meachen Rau. I had fun with this book as I love to get creative with my food not just desserts. The beautifully illustrated book is full of FUN as well as easy creative designs to brighten up any party or even just a sweet treat you want to share with the family. I was really surprised at how easy most things looked in here. They do require time and patience as well as tools, but all is listed for what you need to create a fun sweet piece of art.

I attempted to to the Tipsy Flower Tower but my kids had other ideas and literally pushed their way in around me to watch which created a very bright tipsy flower tower falling on the floor! I used the idea to make flowers out of what I had left.

Not towers, not tipsy [Read more…]

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Snow Ice Cream!

February 24, 2013 by 11 Comments

Well, we have been wishing and hoping for snow for over 2 years now! We might get a little here and a little there, but I am happy to say that we finally got snow. Not only did we get snow, but we got 16+ inches of snow, and the possibility of more snow within the next couple of days.

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Both of my daughters have really not seen much snow (sad to say, since we live in the Midwest), so they were a little apprehensive about playing in it, but finally were ready to get out and play all that we could.

I remember when I was a kid, we would always make snow ice cream when we got a big snow. I was so happy to get a big snow [Read more…]

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Happy Valentine’s Day- Chocolate Chip Cake

February 13, 2013 by 1 Comment

Need a last minute treat to make for Valentine’s Day? I have just the cake for you! This is so easy to make, quick and not to sweet while nice and chocolaty. My kids and their friends helped make this while they had a play date. It tastes like a soft cake brownie. I don’t frost it because the chocolate chips sweeten it up enough there’s no need. Add a cup a milk with a slice of cake you have a great Valentine’s Day treat for the family!

cake

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

2 large [Read more…]

Filed Under: food, recipes

Mexican Pizza with Del Monte – Win a Gift pack and $25 Gift Card

February 8, 2013 by 81 Comments



Just wanted to share a recipe with you all for some interesting pizza.

On pizza night I like to make the pizza from scratch- we have a pizza stone and I like to make the dough. It takes a while, but with practice and patience, a great meal is worth the wait. (And it makes your house smell great all day long.)

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Dough/Crust

Ingredients

2 cups flour

1 packet yeast

1/4 cup sugar

dash salt

at least 4 cups warm water, maybe a bit more

To make the dough you must give yourself 3-4 hours before cook time in order to get the perfect dough. First of all get 2 cups warm water, about the same temperature as bath water and mix in your sugar until it is dissolved. Once dissolved mix in the yeast packet and let it sit someplace dark and warm. Personally we use the microwave, but DO NOT put it on. Let the yeast sit for about 15 minutes until the yeast wake up and start bubbling and making a foam at the top of the water. At this point take your dry ingredients, the flour and the sale, mix, then add your yeast mixture. You will have to add more water. This is the part where you have to eye ball it. You want the dough to form a ball. This is also one of the fun parts of the recipe that kids can help with you want to mix it with your hands. We always end up having to add more water so its a good idea to start out with 4 cups of warm water so there isn’t a scramble to the sink with dough covered hands. If you don’t use all the water, don’t panic. Once your dough ball is formed, put it into a big bowl which has been greased with olive oil and put a warm damp towel over the top of it and let it sit in a quiet warm [Read more…]

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Milk Unleashed- and Perfect for Lunchboxes

February 6, 2013 by 1 Comment

milk

Milk has always been a staple in Americans refrigerators since the inception of the refrigerator.

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As such, it is assumed that all milk must stay in the fridge or else is spoils. And it spoils in such horrid ways, doesn’t it? The horrible smell arrives, or maybe instead of cereal and milk you end up with cereal and cottage cheese. Or how about some lemon milk with your coffee? All of this scares the junk out of us, so milk is only kept in the fridge, right? Wrong. It is also sold in what is called shelf stable containers. It is able to sit on a shelf in your pantry along with your dry pasta for quite some time, up to six months. After that point the milk is still good but there is a loss in nutritional value and such, but it has been done. Just be wary. Once it is open it must be refrigerated, and will last about [Read more…]

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Udi’s – Gluten Free and Healthy

February 5, 2013 by 7 Comments

With all the allergy issues plaguing us humans of recent, one of the most annoying would have to be a gluten allergy. This allergy cuts out most pasts, breads, and even cereal and crackers. This would make me very, very unhappy as bread and bagels are a staple to my diet. There is a glimmer of hope in the form of Udi’s Gluten free baked goods.

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Udi’s as been around since 1994 but didn’t actually make their first loaf of gluten free bread until 2008. Soon after which a local celiac group in Colorado gave the bread a try and they never turned back. The bread was a hit and exploded in popularity from there. As of 2012 they are the market leader in Gluten Free products, and for good reason. Their products are delicious.

I hope [Read more…]

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Stir Fry

February 2, 2013 by 1 Comment

I was in a rush the other day to get dinner done and threw together a last minute stir fry. Didn’t even have the right ingredients, like peppers (how could I not have peppers?) We all have these days, but you don’t have to worry, stir fry is like another one of those dinners you can throw almost anything at and it’ll come out great. Play with flavors and have fun with it! I used this simple quick recipe this past week.

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Stir Fry-

1/3 c. chopped onion

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/3 c. soy sauce

2 tbsp. oil

Chicken tenders or beef strips

Vegetables to add (you some, [Read more…]

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The Digest Diet Review

January 30, 2013 by 6 Comments

The Digest Diet is a 21 day weight loss plan, based on science, new foods and habits that can help the body release that unwanted fat. Along with the Digest Diet, we reviewed the Digest Cookbook which is full of easy quick, and tasty recipes to enjoy. If you get the Digest Diet book, I highly recommend getting the cookbook as well. There are great tips in both books so be sure to pick both. On average a dieter using the 21 day plan losing up to 26 lbs! The books contain the most up to date research and are full of good information to help you through the fight against fat.
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My take on The Digest Diet and the Digest Diet Cookbook-

The cookbook itself holds plenty of recipes to pick from, from main meals, snacks to desserts that will help fill you up but also slim you down. The Digest Diet book (no the cookbook) itself has your 21 days’ worth of recipes as well. Everything you need to get started is in the first book, but I like the additional cookbook for the obvious reasons- it gives you more to choose from. There’s tips, even varieties to choose from so you can change up dinner plans in a flash. This right here is a must for any diet cookbook, not only do most families not have time, we cannot run to the store for things. The cookbook uses things that are mostly all on hand making it easier to use.

Throughout each book you break down habits, nutritional facts and aids to help you get in the right frame of mind to see areas you need to [Read more…]

Filed Under: cooking, food