Category Archives: Fun Stuff

Popcorn Salad

Dinner Ideas, Fun Stuff, Salads, Side March 28, 2013 Leave a comment

POPCORN SALADpopcorn salad

Who would have thought? I never had it until I moved to Montana. We had a potluck today and one of our employees, Kathy brought it in.  Immediately, I thought wow, this might be a “kid friendly” salad. A great way to get vegetables into your little ones, and what kid doesn’t like popcorn?

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag of microwave buttered popcorn popped (about 6 cups)
  • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup of finely chopped green onion (scallions) or red onion
  • ½ cup of diced green pepper (or any other color)
  • 6 – 8 strips of cooked bacon crumbled (or substitute 1/3 cup bacon bits)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ to ¾ cup lite mayonnaise (just enough to “wet” the popcorn when mixed)
  • The following vegetables can be added for color and flavor (optional);
    • Celery, sliced thin
    • Raisins
    • Baby peas
    • Sliced green beans
    • Grated carrot
    • Sliced water chestnuts
    • Tiny little broccoli flowerets that have been steamed until crunch tender
    • Pomegranate seeds
    • Shredded cabbage, red or white

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together, refrigerate.  Keeps for 2 days.

Chocolate Cherry Shots

Appetizers, Dessert, Fun Stuff March 28, 2013 1 Comment

Great idea for a party, pair up with the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shots ! You can make your own

Chocolate Cherry Shooter

Chocolate Cherry Shooter

chocolate cups, or you can purchase mini chocolate cups on-line at places such as amazon, or http://www.gourmetfoodworld.com/chocolate-and-desserts/chocolate-cups.asp  Or if your budget won’t allow, just fill little shot glasses with this delectable concoction !

Ingredients:

  1. 1 part Kahlua coffee liqueur
  2. 1 part amaretto almond liqueur
  3. 1 part white crème de cacao
  4. 1 dash grenadine syrup
  5. Container for your shot (I recommend a mini chocolate cup

Directions:

Mix the first 4 ingredients and then add the grenadine syrup

Fill your vessel of choice with the mixture, top with a cherry or whip cream.

Chocolated Covered Strawberry Chocolate Shots

Dessert, Fun Stuff March 28, 2013 Comments: 3

Try to choose strawberries as big as you can find, unless of course you want to make baby shots

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Chocolate Shots

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Chocolate Shots

Ingredients:

  • 1 part Vanilla vodka
  • 1 part Godiva Liquor
  • 1 part Chocolate syrup
  •  Whipped cream
  • Sprinkles

Directions:

Cut the point of the strawberry off so they can stand on their own, the melted chocolate helps form a little base too which makes them even more stable

  1. We recommend hulling out the strawberries using a paring knife and grapefruit spoon, you have to be careful not to make them too thin or they’ll break
  2. Pat strawberries dry before dipping in chocolate
  3.  Freeze the dipped strawberry cups for maximum sturdiness, and to keep your drink cold
  4. Mix liquors and pour into each individual strawberry
  5. Top with whipped cream and sprinkles

Let the strawberries thaw for a few minutes before serving

Gift in a Jar – Brownie Mix

Dessert, Fun Stuff March 28, 2013 Leave a comment

Credits for this recipe go to my friend Sarah Graham Elton who posted it on her Facebook page.  This is

Brownie in a jar

Brownie in a jar

another “gift in a jar” recipe.  Make a few batches for yourself to keep on hand for company or last minute chocolate cravings!  Another plus, you know what all the ingredients are.

 Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Sugar
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa
  • ¼ tsp Salt
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips or walnuts

 Directions:

Mix all dry ingredients together and place in a zip lock baggie and store in your pantry or pour into a mason jar to give as a gift.

To make the brownies add the following ingredients and be sure to write this on your zip lock baggie or add a cute little card to your gift.

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Stir the following ingredients to dry mix:

  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Spray a 9×9 inch baking pan with cooking spray and pour batter into the pan. Bake for about 20 minutes or until center is firm to the touch.

Spinach Salad with Candied Pecans

Appetizers, Dinner Ideas, Fun Stuff, Lite and Weight Watcher Recipes, Salads, Side, Weight Watcher Friendly March 25, 2013 Leave a comment

Ingredientsspinach salad

  • ¼ cup brown sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
  • 6 tablespoons Olive oil, divided
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, divided
  • 1 cup pecans
  • 6 ounces baby spinach
  • Pomegranate seeds

Directions

  1. Combine the quarter-cup brown sugar with one tablespoon of Olive oil and one tablespoon of Balsamic Vinegar in a frying pan and place over medium heat until the syrup bubbles. Around one minute.
  2. Toss in the pecans and mix to coat. Stir the nuts for about four minutes or until toasted and evenly coated. *Be careful not to burn them.
  3. Place the sugared nuts on a foil sheet that has been coated with nonstick spray and carefully separate them. Cool completely
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining brown sugar, olive oil and vinegar.
  5. Place spinach in a large salad bowl and coat with the dressing, mix.
  6. Stir in pecans and pomegranate seeds, sprinkle with feta cheese or Gorgonzola cheese

Strawberry Margarita Jell-O Shooters

Appetizers, Dessert, Fun Stuff March 13, 2013 Leave a comment
Strawberry Margarita Jell-O Shooters

Strawberry Margarita Jell-O Shooters

Strawberry Margarita Jell-O Shooters
Credit to my Sister-In-Law Karen Coleman

Yields 24-30
Strawberry Prep:
Carefully slice the tip of the bottoms of the strawberry flat to get them to stand upright.  Use a huller or spoon to empty out the strawberry. Do not scrape too far down, you want a solid bottom, with no holes.
Once the strawberries have been emptied, use a paper towel to pat the outside of the strawberries dry.

Ingredients:

  • 30 Strawberries

Margarita Mix:

  • 1 box Strawberry Jell-O, 3oz.
  • 8 ounces tequila
  • 6 ounce Cointreau
  • Coarse salt for garnish

Directions:

  1. Boil one cup of hot water in a saucepan, then add in Jell-o powder and whisk until powder is completely dissolved, about 2 minutes.
  2. Set aside. Measure out 1/4 cup of cold water and set aside.
  3. Combine tequila and Cointreau, in cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  4. Add liqueur mixture to cold water and stir to combine.
  5. Then add cold liqueur mixture to hot Jell-O mixture and stir to combine.
  6. Pour final Jell-O mix into strawberries and chill overnight.
  7. Use a moistened brush to wet the edge of the strawberries, dip and rotate the strawberries in salt to rim.
  8. Garnish with cut lime triangles to finish.

Ambrosia

Dessert, Fun Stuff, Salads, Side March 10, 2013 Leave a comment

Everyone has tasted this summer salad at least once. There are so many different

Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia Salad

recipes on the internet for Ambrosia, it is hard to choose which one to prepare. I have included the “traditional” version in this blog as well as a new version using Greek Yogurt. Try both, decide for yourself.

 

Traditional Version:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans of pineapple tidbits
  • 2 cans mandarin oranges
  • 1 small container of cool whip (or fresh whipped cream)
  • 1 small container of sour cream
  • 1 bag of mini marshmallows
  • ½ bag of coconut

Directions:

  1. Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to blend flavors.

New Version

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of fresh pineapple cut into small pieces
  • 2 mandarin oranges or cuties (tiny oranges) sectioned, cut the sections in half
  • ¼ cup slivered almonds
  • Optional add in fruit:
    • Strawberries (sliced)
    • Kiwi (sliced)
    • Blueberries
  • ½ bag coconut
  • 1 bag of mini marshmallows
  • 1 large container of Plain or Vanilla Greek Yogurt
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

  1. Mix all ingredients together and serve immediately

Vanilla Bean Syrup

Dessert, Vanilla Bean Syrup March 7, 2013 Leave a comment
Vanilla Bean Syrup

Vanilla Bean Syrup

Vanilla Bean Syrup can be used on pancakes, waffles, in coffee, tea, cocktails anything you can think of to use vanilla syrup on or in.  A lot of old cocktail recipes call for vanilla syrup, a sweet flavoring that can also be added to seltzer water for a refreshing nonalcoholic soda.

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped, and seeds and bean reserved
  • 1 cup granulated sugar or raw sugar
  • 1 cup water
Directions
  1. Place vanilla bean and seeds, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Once the mixture boils, reduce the heat to low and simmer, swirling the pan occasionally, for 5 minutes.
  2. Remove the pan from heat, cover, and let sit for at least 1 hour at room temperature. Discard the vanilla bean and refrigerate the syrup in a covered container for up to 1 month.

Vanilla Bean Sugar

Vanilla Bean Sugar March 7, 2013 1 Comment

Vanilla Bean is the best and most expensive way to add the vanilla taste to any recipe.  You can make

Vanilla Bean Sugar

Vanilla Bean Sugar

homemade vanilla sugar by tossing your leftover vanilla bean pods with the sugar of your choice.  Or scrape the inside of a vanilla bean pod into your sugar and add the pod to keep the flavor strong.

Combine a Vanilla Bean Pod (scrape the inside of the pod) and sugar (I like to use raw sugar for color and flavor) in a glass jar (again, airtight is best here!), and let the flavors mix and combine.  It’s great for adding extra flavor to coffee or tea. And, of course, any recipe that calls for sprinkling sugar on top before baking!

vanilla bean sugar

Vanilla Bean with Raw Sugar


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Vanilla Sea Salt

Dessert, Fun Stuff, Vanilla Bean Sea Salt March 7, 2013 1 Comment

sea salt caramelAnother gift idea to go along with the Vanilla Bean Extract, and Vanilla Bean Sugar Cubes. Vanilla Bean Sea Salt will add a delightful flavor to homemade caramels, chocolates, sweet and salty brownies, and chocolate icings.  Package in a pretty jar and you have a great gift for the gourmet cook in your circle.

Vanilla Sea Salt

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup sea salt
  • 4 vanilla beans, split lengthwise and scraped, seeds reserved

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine sea salt and vanilla seeds. Use the tips of your fingers to rub the vanilla seeds into the sea salt until they are thoroughly combined.

2. Spoon salt into individual jars, cover tightly, label, and store in a cool, dry place for a couple of weeks to blend the flavors.