Mardi Gras Pizzelles

Hi everyone, Mardi Gras is next Tuesday already-did you  know that? Thought I'd share something fun from last year... Mardi Gras Pizzelles! You can also do this with sugar cookies.

They loved these pretty cookies at the office!

Have a happy day:@)

Vanilla Pizzelles

3 eggs, room temp

3/4 C sugar

1/2 C melted butter, cooled

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 3/4 C flour (I add 2 tblsp corn starch to the measuring cup, then fill with flour)

2 tsp baking powder

Directions:

Beat eggs and sugar. Add butter and vanilla. Sift flour and baking powder together and add to wet, mix well. 

At this point I divided it into three bowls and added the coloring (use as little as possible to create the colors). I scooped a bit of each color up on a spoon and made the pizzelles following the directions that came with my machine.

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Now, don't forget to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day... 

and don't eat all of the clover, we'll need some for Kathleen's 

St. Patrick's Day Blog Crawl 

on March 13th!

♥Have a happy day:@)

A-Z Valentine's Day!

Here's hoping we all get a visit from Cupig this Valentine's Day!

I hear he leaves chocolate covered bacon under your pillow:@)

A-Always kiss me goodnight.

B-Because I love you, that's why.

C-Candy-don't need to say anything more.

D-Don't you just love red and pink!

E-Everything is better dipped in chocolate!

F-Flowers, be sure to treat yourself to some.

G-Gushy, sentimental movies, there will probably be a few of them on TV-hankie alert!!!

H-Heart, don't go breaking mine... hope that song's not stuck in your head now:@)

I-Icing, yes, be sure to add extra icing to your goodies. Heart shaped sprinkles would be good too...

J-Just pucker up Baby, and...

K-Kiss me you fool.

L-Love can be fleeting or last a life time, to find that special person would be sublime! 

M-Milk or dark, what's your favorite type of chocolate? I'm a dark chocolate girl.

N-Not for women only, men can be romantic too.

O-Open the door to your heart so love can walk through.

P-Polka dots make everything more fun. I saw red and white cupcake papers at Walmart/Michaels.

Q-Quick fudge for a last minute gift, folks really enjoy this 5 Minute version-here.

R-Roses are red, violets are blue, I hope someone sweet, sends a Valentine to you!

S-Snow flakes would be so romantic to stroll through after dinner.

T-Truffles are truly decadent and a wonderful gift.

U-Ultimate flowers for Valentine's Day? I would pick red and white tulips. 

V-Velvety smooth cheesecake with chocolate crust and a big red strawberry swirl-yum.

W-"Will you be my Valentine?"-asks Earl.

X-X's and O's:@)

Y-You gonna eat that last Hershey Kiss?

Z-Zero in and focus on the special time spent with loved ones.

Have a happy day!

Maraschino Cherry Fudge

How about an easy, last minute Valentine treat... I wanted a little something special for dinner with the boys tomorrow and decided to dress up 5 Minute Fudge by simply adding a maraschino cherry and cutting it with a heart shaped cookie cutter-wa-la! They'd be so pretty placed in mini cupcake papers.

 Fancy minus the fuss:@)

What to do with the scraps? How about Fudge Balls:

Let the heat of your hands soften the fudge,
when it gets shiny roll it into a ball and embellish with candy decorations.

5 Minute Fudge with Maraschino Cherries 
(Foolproof fudge! This recipe has been around forever and can be cut in half, just use a bread pan)
2 Tblsp butter
2/3 C evaporated milk (the 12oz can makes 2 batches)
1 2/3 C sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 C mini marshmallows
1 1/2 C good semi-sweet choco chips (I like Ghirardelli)
1 tsp vanilla
Maraschino cherries, dried well

1. Combine butter, milk, sugar and salt in sauce pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. Bring to a full boil and cook for 5 minutes, stirring all the time.
3. Remove from heat and add marshmallows, chips and vanilla. (It's best to have all of this already measured out in a bowl ready to pour into the pot. I used walnuts in this post here.)
4. Stir vigorously until marshmallows melt and blend in (a minute or two).
5. Pour into 8" square buttered pan (I just line the bottom and sides of the pan with Reynolds Release or tin foil). Spread fudge out and smooth the top quickly.
6. Push cherries (that you have dried very well on paper towels) into the fudge.
7. Cool and cut into squares, or shapes with a cookie cutter. Note: it's easier to use the cookie cutter when the fudge is chilled and firm but not totally cold. 

Enjoy and have a happy day:@)

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Mediterranean Chick Pea, Tomato and Pasta Soup

How's that title for a mouth full? Love that this recipe calls for all pantry items and when bloggy buddy Carmie posted it I knew I had to try it. The recipe said it was ok to sub beans and judging by the number of cans I had on the shelf, I must like black beans... a lot!

This is different for me because it calls for cinnamon. Now, cinnamon is a beautiful thing in apple pie, 

not so much in other dishes for me. So I decided to cut back to 1/16th of a tsp. I could still smell and taste it and it added a unique, very nice flavor to the soup. 

Since Carmie mentioned it turns into more of a stew as written I cut the pasta back to 1/4 C, she simply adds an extra can of chicken broth to hers, it's your call...

One last thing, I think it needs a little salt and chose to add that in the form of some chicken base.

I took a bowl for lunch and the girl I work with said it smelled "wonderful":@)

Mediterranean Chick Pea Tomato and Pasta Soup
2 tsp olive oil
1 C onion, diced
1 1/2 C water
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 (15.75oz) can chicken broth
1 (15oz) can chick peas (or beans) drained and rinsed
1 (14.5oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 C ditalini, very short tube shaped pasta
2 Tblsp fresh parsley, chopped-I used a sprinkle of some I dried over the summer.

1. Heat oil in large sauce pan and add onion. Saute for about 3 minutes or until tender.
2. Add everything else except pasta and parsley. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
3. Add pasta and cook for 9 minutes. Stir in parsley and enjoy.

Have a happy day:@)

Pig Alert!

Pigs In A Blanket Cupcakes-How cute are these!!! This pic is from Cupcakestakethecake.com,

They are one of the designs in the this new book (lower right corner) available at Amazon here:

Just sharing something I thought was fun... 

Have a happy day:@)

Banana Cake

Hey everyone! I had some over ripe bananas and wanted a dessert for dinner... Goggling Banana Cake landed me on the Food Network site and this recipe. A very good thing! We all loved it.

 I made a half batch and topped it with cream cheese frosting-always a good idea!

Banana Cake
1 1/2 C sugar
1/2 C shortening
2 eggs, separate whites and yolks
2 to 4 bananas, mashed-use closer to 4 if smaller
1 tsp baking soda
1 C sour milk or buttermilk-Sub: 1 Tblsp vinegar, fill the rest of measuring cup w/milk, let sit 5 mins
2 1/4 C A/P flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

1. Mix sugar and shortening till creamy. Add yolks and bananas, mix thoroughly.
2. Dissolve soda in sour milk.
3. Sift flour, baking powder and salt. 
4. Add in milk and flour to banana mixture alternately. 
5. Mix in vanilla, turn mixer off.
6. Beat egg whites in separate bowl till stiff, fold into batter.
7. Pour into two 9" buttered cake pans.
8. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for approx 35-40 minutes or till toothpick comes out clean. Watch it in case it gets done a little early.

Have a happy day:@)

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