Snowman Soup!!

 

I made these for a party Im doing. 

 

They are hot chocolate mix, add some cinnamon, instant coffee, vanilla instant creamer for an added bonus. 

Then top with mini chocolate chips and then marshmallows. 

I printed the labels with Avery templates

Ribbon and a stir stick candy cane. 

 

fun for a party favor, classroom gifts. 

 

Enjoy. 

 

Cost was about $4.00 per jar. 

 

Ive never been much of a decorator, but I love hosting get togethers.  So I am a work in progress!!  I realize I like rustic things, wood, nature ect.  Not a big fan of LOUD colors and bold things.   Which is odd cause I can be a bit obnoxious myself.  :0)

this is my favorite.  mason jars and an old cake place....

playing with a few different looks.

 

 

and another i did!  :0)

mason jars with cranberries, cinnamon sticks and floating candles...smells great and very pretty!

Im just learning, but thanks for listening, looking and maybe trying some of my ideas!

 

 

brown butter frosting! The best ever!

I love butter, most do.  But browned butter is a whole nother ball game.  Its nutty, toasty, butter goodness!  Perfect for fall and for a gingerbread cupcake! 

  Would also be great on a carrot cake, spice cake, maybe just a plain white cake.  I am in love.  The color is amazing with the little specks.   Here is what you need:

1 stick of butter
1 tsp cinnamon
1 8 ounce cream cheese
powder sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
cream

**  I dont use measurements on the powder sugar or cream.  Make it as sweet and thick as you like. 
Here is how you make the frosting:
saute the butter over a low/medium heat...watching it carefully.  It will take about 20 minutes.  You want it to get golden in color. Stir often. 
About halfway through, add cinnamon.  If you dont like cinnamon, you could add a split vanilla bean instead.  Remove bean at the end, scrap out all goodness!
Let butter stand and cool. 
Beat cream cheese until light and fluffy, maybe 5 minutes.  Add cooled butter, scraping it all out.  beat with cream cheese till well blended.  Add vanilla and salt.  Slowly add powdered sugar.  I start with one cup.  At this time I would add a bit of Heavy whipping cream...maybe a tablespoon.  Then more sugar...getting it to the consistency and sweetness you like.  Enjoy.  Frosts about 12 cupcakes heavily frosted with a piping bag.  :0)

Black Bean and Corn Cakes!

Okay so I have been messing around trying to create good, maybe great vegetarian items.  These are so yummy! You wont even remember they're good for you. 

So first I mash one can of black beans drained.  Add a half a bunch of cilantro chopped.  Add a half a bunch of green onions chopped.  Then add two eggs and mix.  Doesnt look too appealing .....YET!

this is the Yummy part.  Chop an orange bell pepper finely.  De-corn (lol) an ear of corn.  Dice one jalepeno.  Grate one sweet potato.  Chop up four cloves of garlic (DONT ADD THESE TILL THE LAST FIVE MINUTES!!) Saute veggies in some olive oil for 5-10 minutes...just as they start to brown.  Let them cool.    Then add them to the bean mixture and stir well.

Finally 1 cup of Panko bread crumbs.  Form a ball of the bean mixture and roll it in the panko...patting down as you go....completely covering in panko.  Saute bean cakes in vegetable oil..1 tablespoon on a medium heat.  About 6 minutes each side. 

I serve these with fresh "mushed" avocado....and a cilantro lime sour cream.  (1 cup sour cream, 1 lime zested and juiced, 1 tbsp of a garlic chili sauce and 1/2 a bunch of chopped cilantro).....

ENJOY....would also be great as a veggie burger!!

I love fruit pies!!  Who doesn't, right?  But, truly I am a sucker for cobbler.  I find it funny that there are so many interpretations of "cobbler", thin crust, biscuit crust, crumble....gahhh too much for my feeble mind. 

Im always looking for a way to improve my cobbler: so this is my favorite rendition for sure:
This is a cherry cobbler..but you could use any fruit you like!

1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk

two small frozen bags of cherries...whatever kind you like. 
1 lemon zested and juiced
2 tbsp flour
3/4 cup of sugar

Add the stick of butter to a 9x13 pan (this is the key I believe to this dessert)
Put this in a preheated (350 degree) oven , just until butter is completly melted.
Mix the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder , milk and vanilla...till blended.
Pour batter on top of butter evenly.
mix cherries, lemon zest, lemon juice, flour and 3/4 cup sugar....

pour on top of batter.  Bake about 35-40 minutes...till it is cake like in the center.

SERVE...must have hot with ice cream!!  :0)  Enjoy.  Let me know what you think.  My belly says it's amazing!!

We are a bunch of monkeys!! That said, we love monkey bread, but it seems we are always fighting over the crunchy sugary bits.  You know what Im talking about!!  So last night we made individual monkey breads and it was a big hit.

These would be great for a brunch of some sort.  I ate three, yes three in one sitting though. 

What you'll need:
 cans of the small biscuit dough..I like the flaky layers...if your using grands...just use two cans.
1 cup of sugar
1 Tbsp of cinnamon
1 pinch of allspice.
1 1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla.

Muffin cup liners.

I cut up the dough into four pieces per biscuit (for the smaller can), do eight for the Grands.
Roll into balls and roll them around in the white sugar, cinnamon and allspice.
Melt your butter in saucepan and add the brown sugar and vanilla...cook till dissolved.   Maybe 5 minutes.
Put six of those lovely little balls into each paper liner.  (about 24)  Top with melted butter mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes...depending on your oven. 

Options:  If you like nuts ...these are great with walnuts....add 3/4 cup of walnuts to the butter mixture...then top the dough with that. 

Enjoy....Have a happy mothers day...