Food and Drink

Cupcake Shakes

June 22, 2010 By admin

Here is another great idea that you could use for an ice cream social that is easy, simple and fun!

They are a cute and inexpensive way to display the cupcakes and add color to any party table.

SUPPLIES:
- Cupcake Mix
- Frosting
- Gumballs
- Straws
- Candy Filler (I used Skittles)
- Paper Grass
- Goblets
INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Make cupcakes as instructed. After cooling, frost cupcakes.

2. While frosting is fresh, add GUMBALL to the top as well as sprinkles. (I think the RED or PINK gumballs looks best). Set aside.

3. Fill bottom half of goblets with paper grass (which can be found at any Dollar Tree OR I like to stock up on mine after Easter when it’s 75% off). Then add Skittles/Candy til the cup is 3/4 full.

4. Insert cupcakes, making sure top half is sticking out. Add a Straw to the cupcake to finish it off.

NOTE: The bottom half of the cup could also be filled with tiny party favors instead of grass and skittles.

What’s so great about these CUPCAKE SHAKES is not only do they look awesome, but they are SOO STINKIN’ EASY to make.

Source – Lil Luna

Filed Under: Food and Drink, Kids Parties

Jalapeno Frenzy for Father’s Day

June 18, 2010 By admin

My dad and my husband both love to grill! I love it because I love cooked out food and I love that I don’t have to cook!

One thing that we all like when we cook out are Jalapeno Poppers so I thought I would post several ideas with Jalapenos.

The Pioneer Woman has a similar recipe to our Jalapeno Poppers.

Here is a great appetizer recipe for Jalapeno Jelly.

Try grilling this Jalapeno POP Burger.
Jalapeno Popper Burger

My Dad loves peanut brittle but here is a new one to try…

Jalapeño Beer Brittle

Spray a large cookie sheet with cooking spray and place an oven set to “warm.” Combine one cup white sugar, a half-cup corn syrup, a quarter-teaspoon salt, one-third cup beer (preferably dark beer), and one or two chopped, seeded jalapeños in a large saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, and then attach a candy thermometer to saucepan. Stir often until temperature reaches 300 degrees F. (Keep a close eye on it after 280 degrees, Porter says. “The temperature has a tendency to race up at that point.”)

Remove the pan from heat and add one teaspoon baking soda and two tablespoons butter, stirring until incorporated. Quickly add in a cup and a half of roasted, salted peanuts and stir until completely coated. Remove cookie sheet from oven, and pour brittle out onto it. Use two buttered forks to pull the brittle mixture out from the center, until it is thinly spread and relatively even. Cool completely and then break into pieces.

I am not sure if I would try this one…

Jalapeno Ice Cream

To all of the great Dad’s (especially mine!)… Have a wonderful weekend!

Filed Under: Barbeques/Chili Cook Off, Father's Day, Food and Drink

S’more Recipes

June 15, 2010 By admin

S’mores aren’t just for fun anymore…they are a great way to entertain. Here are some great S’more recipes from Jeanne Benedict that I can’t wait to try!

S'mores Hot Chocolate

Even though s’mores are a summer fave, this hot chocolate version is ideal for winter time. The s’mores float is easily made in the oven and in no time at all the kids can have that outdoor camping feel in December or any season of the year.

S’mores Hot Chocolate with a Gooey Float

1 cup milk
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
3 tablespoons Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme
1 graham cracker square
1 chocolate bar square (to fit on top of graham cracker)
1 marshmallow

Heat milk in a small pot until just warm and pour into a mug. Stir in chocolate syrup. Add marshmallow crème on top and allow to sit for a bit until cream settles into an even layer.

Place chocolate bar square on graham cracker square and top with marshmallow. Set s’more stack on a baking sheet. Heat broiler on high and place rack in the middle of oven. Set cookie sheet on rack and broil for 30 to 60 seconds – watching the whole time- until marshmallows are lightly browned. Remove from oven and place s’mores stack on marshmallow crème float topping hot chocolate.

S'mores Brownie Sundae

Set up a s’mores brownie bar at a kid’s party and watch their faces light up! Instead of worrying about the combo of kids and a campfire at a party, make it easy on yourself by baking marshmallows in a casserole dish (think marshmallows topping yams for Thanksgiving) and let everyone simply scoop out the roasted marshmallows in a safe and unique way. Then, they can pile on the rest of the s’mores fixings along with their favorite candies as toppings.

S’mores Brownie Sundae Bar

1 (10 oz.) bag marshmallows
Brownies in individual bowls
Vanilla ice cream
Milk chocolate bars
Graham crackers
Chocolate syrup
Whipped cream
Maraschino cherries
Toppings in Small Bowls:
Chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Sliced strawberries and fruit
M&Ms
Chopped nuts
Ice cream scoop and dessert spoons

Arrange marshmallows in a glass baking dish. Heat broiler on high and postion rack in middle of oven. Broil marshmallows for about 30 to 60 seconds – watching constantly – until they are lightly browned. Remove from heat and make sure dish is cool before placing on the table with the other S’mores Brownie Sundae Bar ingredients. Put all ingredients in bowls on the table for the kids to build their own sundaes!

S'mores Pie

This “no bake” recipe couldn’t be easier. A graham cracker pie shell is filled with chocolate pudding and topped with s’mores ingredients! Absolutely delicious!

S’mores No-Bake Silky Pie

1 (5.9 oz.) box Jello chocolate instant pudding & pie filling
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup milk
1 (9-inch) graham cracker crust in pie tin
30 marshmallows
4 Green and Black Organic Milk Chocolate Bars
4 graham crackers

Prepare chocolate instant pudding & pie filling according to instructions on Jello box using 2 cups of heavy cream and 1/2 cup of milk for a thicker texture. Pour mixture into prepare graham cracker crust and chill in the refrigerator until set; about 1 hour.

Arrange marshmallows, chocolate bar pieces, and graham cracker pieces on top of pie. Heat broiler on high and place rack in the middle of oven. Set pie on rack and broil for 30 seconds – watching the whole time- until marshmallows are lightly browned.

Remove from heat and serve!

S’mores aren’t for kids only! This Bailey’s elixir with s’mores embellishments is a fun flirty way to have your campfire-inspred cocktail and eat it too! (Come on, weren’t we all girl scouts or boy scouts at one time way back when?)

S’mores Martini

3 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur
1 oz. chocolate liqueur

For the rim and garnish:
1/4 cup chopped milk chocolate bar
1/4 cup finely ground graham cracker crumbs (2 graham crackers)
4” long bamboo skewers
Mini marshmallows

Place chocolate on a microwave-safe saucer and melt chocolate in the microwave in 10-second increments; stir until smooth. Place graham cracker crumbs on another saucer.

Dip the rim of a Martini glass in the melted chocolate and then in the graham cracker crumbs.

Lightly coat the tips of the bamboo skewers with margarine and slide a couple of mini marshmallows on the tip. Flame the marshmallows with a match or lighter for about 10 seconds to lightly brown them.

Add liqueur ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into the prepared glass to serve. Lay the marshmallow skewer across the top rim of the glass.

Be sure to check out Jeanne’s other great creations here!