Merry Sushi Christmas!

We have a long-standing tradition of having sushi for our Christmas dinner. It started because we didn't feel like making a huge dinner and we were really sick of turkey and stuffing. So, we knew that the only restaurants open on Christmas day were typically Asian. Thus, the sushi tradition was born!

I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and an amazing 2010!!!!!

Pretzel Turtles

Easy and delicious. What a great combination.

Instructions found here.

Oreo Truffles

The name says it all. A little bit of heaven in a ball. And so easy you'll want to make them way too many times than is healthy. Ok, one time is unhealthy. But they are so good! Here is the recipe. Enjoy!

I'm Craving This....

You can find the recipe here.

Or if you want one that's a little more involved, go here.

This shepherd's pie recipe has hashbrowns on top. Yummy twist on the classic.

Or if you want to be a full-out gourmet chef, try this one.

Whichever recipe you try I'm sure it will be delicious and make you long for the English countryside.

Thanksgiving, Is A Wonderful Time. Jimmy Walker Says Dyn-o-mite.

What are your favorite Thanksgiving dishes? Are you a turkey purist? Do you like to get all crazy and deep-fry your turkey? This year my dad is smoking a turkey. We'll do a regular one as well, just in case. (And is it just me or does "my dad is smoking a turkey" sound hilarious to you too?) I love a good turkey, roasted to perfection, injected with butter and other fatty substances I don't know and can't say. I also love a honey-baked ham. I used to pay the big bucks for one of those real Honey Baked Hams. Mmmm, I love those! I love that crunchy sweet coating. But times are simpler and we'll be fine with a regular ham. But my favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal is the cranberry sauce!! Yes, you heard me right. I love it any way, shape of a can, or form. Can't get enough! I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and remember all the many things we are blessed with in our lives. Enjoy your yummy dinner and even yummier time with loved ones.

Caramel "Crack"

We made crack last night. In our kitchen. With only ingredients found in our home. It was easy and we'll do it again. And again. And again. If you try it you'll be addicted too. Don't be fooled into the thinking of, "Just this once" or "I won't be addicted my first try". You'll never be able to get enough. You are going to be hooked if you try it. And you'll never see saltines the same way again.
You can find recipes here or here or here
Photo from here

Sunday Dinner

My baby wasn't feeling well so I stayed home from work. It was great because I was able to catch up on a few neglected chores, like folding laundry, Blech!!! When I do menial tasks, like laundry, I prefer to watch tv to keep me entertained. And my choice of tv viewing is Food Network! And I was lucky enough to watch Paula Deen. And here is what she was making...

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf


Chocolate Sybil Cake


Let me tell you, it looked D-E-Licious! I really need some meatloaf and chocolate cake now. But it will wait until I have some time, like Sunday afternoon. Can't wait!

Mmmm, Pumpkin Cupcakes!

These cupcakes were DE-LI-CI-OUS!!!! I especially liked that the cake was dense, more like a muffin. I put a maple butter-cream frosting on them to make them extra yummy.

Click here for the recipe.

Dump Truck Cake

Here is my baby's birthday cake. I guess he's not technically a baby anymore, but he's my baby. He loves anything with wheels on it. And he's very into John Deere. So this birthday we did a dump truck that is John Deere green. He loved it and wouldn't let anyone else touch it. That's why I made a separate cake for everyone else to enjoy.



Please excuse the lovely pan the cake is sitting on. I knew it was going to be ugly in the pictures but after I made it I didn't want to transfer it. Three year olds don't care, right?

It's Fudge Makin' Season

I LOVE fudge. Who doesn't? If you don't care for chocolate there are so many other varieties to please your palette. Peanut butter, white chocolate, penuche, peppermint, caramel, the list is endless. I'm on the look-out for new, delicious recipes. I have my tried and true chocolate fudge that I can't even count the number of times I've made and I will make again and again. Mmmm, I love fudge makin' season!

photo from here

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

This scrumptious cupcake recipe is from Ina Garten so you know it's amazing. It's so pretty with the carrots all shiny on top. Don't you love a good carrot cake? I do!

2 cups granulated sugar
1-1/3 cups vegetable oil
3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour plus 1 Tbsp.
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. baking soda
1-1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 lb. carrots, grated
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts
For the frosting:
3/4 lb. cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 lb. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 lb. confectioner's sugar, sieved
For the decoration:
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 cup shaved or grated carrots
3 Tbsp. good maple syrup
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line muffin pans with paper liners.
2. Beat the sugar, oil, and eggs together in bowl of electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment until light yellow. Add vanilla. In another bowl, sift together 2 cups flour, the cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
3. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Toss the carrots, raisins, and walnuts with 1 tablespoon flour. Add to the batter and mix well (I use my hands - it works best!).
4. Scoop batter into the muffin cups until each is almost full. Bake for 10 minutes, then lower the oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack. Makes 22 cupcakes.
5. For frosting, mix cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in bowl of electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment until combined. Add confectioner's sugar; mix until smooth.
6. For the decoration, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat; add the carrots and maple syrup and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, until carrots are tender. Spread them on a paper towel to cool.
7. When cupcakes are cool, frost them generously and garnish with big pinches of sautéed carrots.

Here are more yummy cup cakes from BH&G. Enjoy!

The Cooky Book

My mom had this amazing Cooky Book when I was growing up. My sister and I would study this book. Not just casually look through it, but STUDY it. Oh how I wanted those painted cookies! Or the candy cane sugar cooky. Or the earthquake cooky. I would dream about this book. But I don't remember many of these cookies ever being made. We didn't lack cookies in our home. We had the usual chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin, sometimes peanut butter. But why never those fancy cookies on the cover of that book? It was always there, waiting and tempting.

One day a few years ago, I was in Costco just strolling through the aisles. I had no list, just wasting time. And there, right before my hungry eyes...THE COOKY BOOK!!! It wasn't wrapped in cellophane. It had no price, very odd for Costco. I knew I had to have that book. No matter the price, it had to be mine. My children needed that book in their lives. They needed to spend quality drool time, just like their mother. It would become an heirloom to be passed down through generations. So I took the book to the check out and the cashier tried to find a price, nothing. She called a manager, nothing. The book wasn't in their system. They thought it must have been left over from Christmas and somehow separated from the set it was packaged with. Since there was no UPC in their computers they said they would have to make up a price. I was expecting to pay around $15, maybe a little more. I didn't care! The manager asked me, "How about $1.00?" Seriously?!? $1.00??? Yay!!! My favorite book for $1.00! It was meant to be!

So now you ask, have I made any of the cookies from those bright, glossy, tempting pages? You better believe it! We made those earthquake cookies. But mostly just chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin. What if those painted cookies actually taste like cardboard and the dream is ruined? I can't do that to my children.

You can purchase your own copy of the book here or here. But you will have to pay a lot more than $1.00.

My Garden Runneth Over

With tomatoes!!! Well, not actually my garden, I don't have time to do a garden, but my parents' garden. The weather reports said it might freeze and so I went and picked tomatoes. Now I need to use them. Last night I made this...

Have you ever had bocconcini? It is bite sized fresh mozzarella balls. They are delicious! I mix a handful of halved cherry tomatoes with about 6 or 7 halved bocconcini. Then mix in some fresh basil or dried basil if you don't have the fresh stuff. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and then squeeze some fresh lemon juice all over your salad. AMAZING!!! And I eat it all and I do not share. Children really don't appreciate such delicacies until they are much older and their taste buds have matured beyond EZ Mac.

Here are some more tomato dishes that I am going to try...

Tomato Tart

Doesn't this make your mouth water? There are so many inspiring recipes at this amazing food blog.

Gorgonzola Tomato Pizza
I'm going to have to try a version of this recipe. I like to keep my pizzas simple.

Tomato Basil Soup

I love, love, LOVE tomato basil soup. There is a restaurant in Utah called Zupa's and they have this amazing tomato basil orzo soup. And Wisconsin cauliflower, but that's another post. I would love their recipe but I don't think they are too keen on handing it out. I found a couple recipes that claim to be similar. I'll be the judge.

A Little Bit O' Heaven

Nutella Croissants

So, I'm Back!

I know it has been a while. Okay, more than a while, but I was busy. I had to work full-time and kids in school activities, it all just got so overwhelming. But I'm back and I'll do better, I promise.

I just picked some amazing apples from my parents' orchard and I'm going to make something delicious with them. I usually have grand aspirations as to the desserts I will attempt but then I don't seem to have the time or ambition when I get home so I just end up making something simple. Still yummy, but simple. Well, that will probably happen again:)

But here is what I would like to make if I were home all day....

Caramelized Apple and Pecan Pie

Apple, Goat Cheese, and Honey Tartlets

Apple Dumplings


Apple Dumplings, a much easier version, and probably the one I will make, from one of my favorite food blogs, The Pioneer Woman Cooks.

I'll be back with my own pictures and we'll see what kind of mess I can come up with!