Chocolate Mousse Torte (See Below.)White and Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark - Sweet, Sweet Valentine
Here’s one sweet that won’t hurt your kiss-ability on that special day! White and Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark is a super easy treat that you can prepare for your Valentine even at the last minute. Not only does this Bark look and taste great, but the recipe is virtually mistake-proof, although your Valentine never need know! Don’t worry if you can’t cook. This is E-A-S-Y.
And with Valentine’s Day becoming such a materialistic holiday, what better way to show someone you care than by putting forth the effort to make her or him something? Give from the heart, not the wallet, if it’s the heart you want to reach. That’s what I think, at least.
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
Homemade Quick Rise Pizza
Pizza is one of my favorite evening meals, and since I like to make what I can from scratch, I’ve done a lot of research on pizza dough and pizza sauces. What I have found is that most dough takes too long for the average person to make on a weekday night. I’ve also found that most recipes call for oil, which doesn’t seem necessary to me. To enable myself to make a pizza quickly and without extra, added fat, I devised this recipe.
I’m also including a simple pizza sauce recipe that you can make from just a small can of tomato sauce. When my garden is blooming, I love to substitute sliced, fresh tomatoes for the canned sauce and fresh herbs for the dried ones, but either way it comes out slightly sweet and thoroughly enjoyable.
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
Homemade Tortillas
People seem to be really impressed when I tell them I make my own tortillas. I find this rather amusing because they are actually super easy to make - I didn’t exactly grow up watching my grandmother make authentic Mexican tortillas for breakfast every morning - this is something I experimented with and taught myself. But, because it truly sounds neat to be able to say, “Oh, I make my own tortillas,” I thought I would share my recipe with you.
They are better than any store bought tortillas out there, period, and what is nice is you can play with the recipe to make it fit your taste. I enjoy them because I can make them as salty as I like or as thick as I like. And, quite frankly, I think my inability to roll out a perfect circle gives them “great personality.” And isn’t a tortilla with personality so much more interesting than those perfectly round, flat, preservative-laden ones you buy in the store?
I literally make these tortillas all the time, especially when I am busy. They are good for breakfast tacos and for beef fajitas, if you can find the time to marinate meat. Mostly, however, I make chicken fajitas because no advance preparation is needed. I do that by simply taking a couple of chicken breasts out of the freezer, slightly defrosting them, slicing them long ways and cooking them in a skillet with sliced onions and butter. Wrap your homemade tortillas around the chicken and onions, throw on some Extra Sharp Cheddar, and you have fajitas completely from scratch!
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
Summertime Watermelon Treats
It is HOT! Just two weeks ago the local meteorologists said it was late in the season for us not to have reached 90 degrees. I was ever so briefly encouraged that perhaps this would be a cool summer. But now we regularly tempt the 100-degree mark, and the heat is downright oppressive. Part of that is humidity from the hit or miss thunderstorms we get this time of year, but mostly it is just the good old Texas heat that will be here to stay for the next few months.
Heat is a way of life here in Texas, and while we may not actually get to enjoy many lazy summer afternoons lounging on the back porch, we do know that one of the best ways to keep cool is to enjoy a frozen treat. These simple summertime watermelon treats should be kept handy and plentiful in the freezer so they are ready to go anytime you need a little afternoon refreshment.
Because watermelon is 92 percent water, this is an excellent way to help keep sweaty children hydrated while playing outdoors, not to mention providing them with healthy vitamins. And since they are homemade, there is no need to worry about the preservatives, chemicals, and artificial flavorings and colorings that are added to store bought Popsicles.
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
Lemon Peach Angel Food Cake and Creamy Fruit Topping
Fresh peaches are plentiful and delicious this time of year. While the standard plan for an abundance of peaches is to “Make peach cobbler,” I find that in the hot weather I want something a little lighter and a little cooler - something more refreshing and maybe just a little different from the norm.
I created this Angel Food cake with a twist and a sweet fruit filled topping (also great for dipping) that I think is a great alternative to traditional cobblers and other warm desserts. I have loved it, and I hope you enjoy it as well.
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
Patriotic Strawberry Gelatin Cake
I like the Fourth of July. It’s a holiday where you don’t actually have to DO anything. There are no gifts to buy or huge meals to prepare or major plans to make. It’s a laidback, hang out with the family, grill up some burgers kind of day mixed in with a little sunshine, swimming and fireworks.
But, even though this isn’t a high stress time, we still have to eat. And since it’s a holiday, eating includes dessert. This simple patriotic cake fits in with the holiday’s casual style, adding a little extra twist to a standard cake mix.
Everyone will want to know, “What’s different about this cake? What did you put in it?” The difference is gelatin, and it makes for a very moist and sweet cake. And because it is made with a blue frosting, it’s also sure to get noticed among all the red, white and blue desserts.
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls
The cooler weather has begun blowing onto our doorsteps, ushering in the new Fall season just in time for Halloween. Each year as the seasons change, I always find myself eager to get caught up in the atmosphere of the holiday spirit and also to reminisce about the holidays of my past.
One of the memories of my childhood involving this time of year is when my mom would make popcorn balls for us. A special treat, it was something that would only happen a couple of times a year, and it was always so exciting to come home from school, walk in the back door and see a big pile of popcorn balls waiting on the kitchen counter.
My mom said she has been making these popcorn balls since before I was even born so I suppose they can be called “old fashioned,” but whatever they are called, I have never had popcorn balls as good as these. They do take some effort but are definitely worth it for a special treat or for a special occasion. My mom used to make these for carnivals, Halloween parties, and other events, where they always were a great success.
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds - Plain, Salty, or Sweet
You’re up to your elbows in pumpkin; you’ve made three mistakes so far carving the elaborate pattern your child insists upon; and you’re wondering how long your hands will stay orange. Why not make all that effort pay off for more than just one night? With hardly any more effort, you can use the pumpkin seeds and make a tasty treat plain roasted, salty, or sweet.
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
Oatmeal Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
The inspiration for these cookies came as I stared at yet another bunch of browning bananas on my kitchen counter. This recipe may sound a little unusual, but these cookies are very good!
There’s no reason to keep glancing back at your bananas, thinking you should eat them, stalling until they are all the way black and you KNOW you have to throw them away. This recipe will help you get rid of those extra, leftover bananas and will allow you to make room on your kitchen counter for a big plate of warm, gooey cookies!
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
Cranberry Pumpkin Bread Homemade Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Marshmallows Chocolate Mousse Torte Chocolate Chip Coconut Macaroons Pancakes with Panache Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake Baklava Christmas - Chocolate Peppermint Bark
What says Thanksgiving better than pumpkins and cranberries? Turkey and stuffing and falling asleep on the sofa might rank highest, but pumpkins and cranberries are an essential part of the Thanksgiving cornucopia of flavors we unfortunately miss out on most other times of the year. Combining the sweetness of pumpkin with the tartness of cranberries in a simple bread makes a memorable addition to the traditional Thanksgiving table.
This striking Cranberry Pumpkin Bread stands out with its dark orange background and deep red berries - some of which will burst while baking, making it even more eye catching - and looks stunning on a red platter.
I must tell you, however, it is highly addictive. People who like cranberries and pumpkin will find themselves going back to the tray over and over and over again. The first piece is good, the second piece is better, and after the third, you’re hooked.
Luckily, it’s super easy to make; it’s just a matter of picking up a bag of cranberries and a can of pumpkin from the store.
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
Yes, you can make homemade marshmallows! These make absolutely fantastic Christmas gifts!
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
This is an impressive dessert that can make regular cake a dramatic presentation. By cutting the cake in to layers and assembling the layers with chocolate mousse, strawberries, and chocolate glaze, box-mix cake becomes homemade “Wow!” I used strawberries in this recipe because quality raspberries are hard to find this time of year, but this recipe would work great with raspberries when they are in season.
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
These Chocolate Chip Coconut Macaroons are light and airy cookies that provide the same kind of a taste fix as a Mounds candy bar without having all the heavy ingredients, and they are also super easy to make. These cookies transport well once completely cooled. I recently mailed some to my Dad for his birthday, and he described them as “scrumpdelicious,” saying he had to hide them from his co-workers after word got around about them!
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
I managed to get a group of 19-year-old college freshman spring breakers up at the wee hour of 11 a.m. to eat these Banana Pancakes, and it took them all of about one minute to finish everything on their plates. If that doesn’t define success, I don’t know what does.
These pancakes are made from a regular pancake batter mix, but the addition of a few extra ingredients makes them far from ordinary. I created these on a whim one morning and ended up eating them for three meals over the next two days I loved them so much. I have no doubt that you will love them, too.
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
Strawberries, strawberries! Everywhere I look strawberries are on sale, and usually in huge containers. While strawberries right out of the container are great, I thought I would try a twist on a classic favorite to help me get through my jumbo family sized container a little faster.
These chocolate shortcakes are different in texture from the Bisquick variety kind, but they taste fantastic and are a good way to have your chocolate and strawberries and eat them, too. I hope you enjoy them!
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
When I make baklava, people almost always comment that it is supposed to be really hard to make. On the contrary, I have found that it doesn’t take skill, just concentration and a little patience. Here is a recipe that makes an incredible batch of baklava.
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
Here’s a sweet that won’t hurt your kiss-ability under the mistletoe!
A simple recipe, this White and Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark is a super easy treat you can prepare for your holiday gatherings or Christmas gifts - even at the last minute. Not only does this Bark look and taste great, but the recipe is virtually mistake-proof! Don’t worry if you can’t cook. This is E-A-S-Y.
And if holiday shopping has left your nerves a little frazzled, believe me when I say that preparing the peppermints is oh, so therapeutic.
To purchase this recipe for reprint, click Request an Article or Column! and place the title in the subject heading. For personal use (honor system please!), recipes are free. Follow the above directions and indicate that it is for personal use only.
No comments:
Post a Comment