Brittyn's Birthday!!

Brittyn and Tim's birthday isn't until Tuesday (May 27th) but we had their party Saturday. It turned out so nice. We had excellent weather, sunny and 80, and tons of friends and family. The food was yummy, the cake was cute, and the games were fun.

Please excuse the fact that none of the pictures are in order, but that's because blogger handles pics crappy!

Snickerdoodles

Ingredients

Makes 4 dozen

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup pure vegetable shortening
1 3/4 cups sugar, plus more if needed
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon, plus more if needed
2 large eggs

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, with one rack in top third and one rack in bottom third of oven.

Line baking sheets with Silpat baking mats or parchment paper; set aside.

Sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine butter, shortening, and 1 1/2 cups sugar. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add eggs, and beat to combine. Add dry ingredients, and beat to combine.

In a small bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup sugar and the ground cinnamon. Use a small (1 1/4-ounce) ice-cream scoop to form balls of the dough, and roll in cinnamon sugar. Place about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the cookies are set in center and begin to crack (they will not brown), about 10 minutes, rotating the baking sheets after 5 minutes. Transfer the sheets to a wire rack to cool about 5 minutes before transferring the cookies to the rack.

Homemade Marshmallows

Just yum!! Also I'll give the temps even though I don't use them. I always just have a room temp glass of water beside me and do the ball method, which means you take make a drop of it in the glass and if it balls up when it hits the water it's good!

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar (for dusting)



Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment. Let it stand 30 minutes.

Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup of water in a small heavy saucepan; place over low heat and stir until sugar has dissolved.

Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals. Clip on a candy thermometer; raise heat to high.

Cook syrup without stirring until it reaches 244 degrees (firm-ball stage). Immediately remove pan from heat.

With mixer on low speed, slowly and carefully pour syrup into the softened gelatin.

Increase speed to high; beat until mixture is very thick and white and has almost tripled in volume, about 15 minutes. Add vanilla; beat to incorporate.

Generously dust an 8 x 12-inch glass baking pan with confectioners' sugar. Pour marshmallow mixture into pan. Dust with confectioners' sugar; let stand overnight, uncovered, to dry out.

Rasberry Cream Sandwich Cookies

I got these from Martha Stewart and although they look all fancy they're really.

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 sticks (10 tablespoons) soften butter
1 1/2 cups plus 2 teaspoons sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise, seeds scraped and reserved
6 ounces (1 cup) fresh raspberries
7 1/2 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup heavy cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

Mix butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add egg, extract, and vanilla seeds; mix until smooth. Reduce speed to low. Gradually mix in flour mixture.

Scoop batter using a 1-inch ice cream scoop; space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
Bake cookies 4 minutes. Remove from oven; gently tap baking sheets on counter to flatten cookies. Return to oven, switching positions of sheets; bake until cookies are just set, 4 to 6 minutes more. Let cool on parchment on wire racks.

Puree raspberries and remaining 2 teaspoons sugar in a food processor. Pour mixture through a fine sieve into a small bowl, pressing to extract juice; discard seeds. Set mixture aside.

Melt white chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Remove from heat; whisk in cream in a slow stream. Whisk in reserved raspberry mixture. Refrigerate 30 minutes.

Spread 1 heaping teaspoon raspberry cream on the undersides of half the cookies. Sandwich with remaining cookies.

Cookie Dough Cheeseball

This is the best thing ever! I must give credit to my lovely niece, Heather, for introducing me to this magnificent creation.

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball
1 pkg. 8oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
1/4 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbs. brown sugar
3/4 cup confectioners sugar
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans (optional, I don't like it with the nuts but I'm not a nuts fan)
Graham crackers



Beat softened cream cheese, butter, & vanilla until creamy. Slowly add sugars until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Place mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap and form into a ball. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Roll ball in pecans. Serve with graham crackers.

Beef Cups

Tim was making these long before we met so I should give him credit...but since I've been making them they taste a lot better. :)


1lb hamburger, turket burger, and kind of burger you want
one bag cheddar cheese
Your favorite BBQ sauce
one package biscuits (just buy the cheap little ones, for this they work the same)


Preheat oven according to biscuits.
Brown hamburger and add BBQ sauce so it's moist but the meat's not overwhelmed in sauce (basically just pour as much as you want in).
In a muffin pan squish your bisquits in the bottom and up the side creating a well in the middle.
Spoon hamburger in each well overflowing a little for extra yumminess.
Add cheese to the tops and bake according the biscuit directions.

One of my non-food addictions!!

.....Are these awesome clips made by my friend Jenny. They rock! They stay in virtually no hair, or lots of if you're Brittyn!!

Check them out! I command you:

http://addiemae1.etsy.com

Spicy Chicken Chili

This was created late one night when I was hungry and didn't have anything to eat. I threw everything chili related in the crockpot and cooked. Delish!!

2 cans of beans (I used one can kidney beans and one can pinto beans)
1 small can chiles
4 raw chicken breasts cubed
1 can diced tomatoes
1pkg taco seasoning
1 sliced jalepeno (or any pepper you have available)
Chicken broth


Throw it all in the crock pot and cook until the chicken is done!!

Peanut Butter Pie

Seriously, this combines everything I love: peanut butter and pie.


1c heavy cream
refridgerated peanut butter cookie dough
6oz cream cheese softened
2/3c sugar
2/3c packed light brown sugar
1/2c creamy peanut butter
1tbsp vanilla
1/2c chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350.

Spray a 9" pie plate.

With an electric mixer beat cream to stiff peaks. Refridgerate.
Roll out cookie dough into as big a circle as possible and place in pie plate. Press dough up sides but not over the rim. Refridgerate 10-15min.
Bake for 18-20min. Remove and press down center if puffed up. Let cool completely.
In a bowl, blend cream cheese and sugars until smooth. Add peanut butter and vanilla. Fold in whipped cream. Smooth p.b. filling into crust. Refridgerate at least one hour.
Melt chocolate chips in microwave, stirring halfway though. Drizzle over pie.

Jennifer's Crockpot Spagetti Sauce

Just calling it spagetti sauce doesn't do it justice. This stuff is awesome. It's good on pasta, hotdogs, chips, nachos, by itself in a bowl, I swear this stuff would make anything taste good.

I usually half this recipe and it still gives me plenty to freeze. Also bc it's in a crockpot it's so easy just to throw everything in and leave.

4lb ground beef
2 12oz cans tomato paste
2 15oz cans tomato sauce
1/2c sugar
4 bay leaves
5tbsp chili powder
2tbsp vinegar
1/2lg onion chopped
2tsp garlic powder/salt
4tsp salt

Throw everything in the crockpot and cook for ~5hrs (or longer, this stuff really doesn't care, it can cook forever).

Gooey Pumpkin Cake

This is a nice alternative to Thanksgiving pie.

crust

1 yellow cake mix
1stick melted butter
1 egg

filling

1 8oz cream cheese
1 bag powdered sugar
1 stick melted butter
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 can pumpkin filling

make the crust and spread evenly in a 13x9 pan. Cover with the filling. Bake at 350 for ~40min.

Oreo Truffles

1 pkg Oreos
1 pkg 8oz cream cheese
2 pkg 8oz each baking chocolate semi sweet melted

Crush 9 cookies and set aside.

Crush remaining cookies and mix in cream cheese.

Shape into 42balls.
Dip in chocolate.
Place on wax paper and sprinkle with remaining cookie.
Refridgerate for at least an hour.

Good for you Bisquick Mac N Cheese

This is from my friend Allison. She's amazing in the kitchen!

1c macaroni
2c shredded cheddar cheese
1/2c bisquick
1 1/2c milk
1/4tsp red pepper flakes
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 400.
Mix everything but 1/4c cheese in a round baking pan.

Bake covered with foil for 20min.
Uncover and cook enough 5-10min
Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on and cook 1-2 mins

Tim's Peanut Brittle

Yummy, need I say more?

2c sugar
1c light corn syrup
1/2 c water
1c butter/margarine
2c peanuts (dry roasted no salt)
1tsp baking soda

Heat and stir sugar, syrup, and water in a pot until the sugar dissolves. When the syrup boils blend in butter. Stir often after 230 degree. Add nuts at 250 degrees. Stir constantly until 305 degrees. Remove from the heat and stir in the baking soda. Mix well. Pour onto 2 cookie sheets. Stretch thin by using a fork around the edges. Take off the pans as soon as possible.

Caramel Corn

Thanks Miranda for this! She made this for a GTG and I couldn't quit eating it. So the next day she brought me the recipe.


Carmel Corn
1 bag puff corn
1c brown sugar
1 stick butter/margarine
1/4c corn syrup
1tsp vanilla extract
1tsp baking soda
A large brown bag

Combine sugar, butter, and corn syrup in a large bowl and microwave for 3min.
Stir.
Microwave for an additional 2min.
Add vanilla and baking soda.
Grease the paper bag (cooking spray). And pour the corn in.
Pour the caramel mixture over top and stir in the bag.
Close the bag and shake.
Microwave the entire bag for 1min.
Shake.
Microwave for another min.
Shake.
Pour the corn on a sheet of wax paper and cool.

Blueberry Lemon Cake

I had this a month ago at our MOPS meeting and have already made it 4 times since then. It's the perfect combo of sweet and tart!


Blueberry Lemon Cake (Pampered Chef)

1 can blueberry pie filling
1 pkg lemon cake mix
3 egg whites
1c water
1/3 c vegetable oil
_______________
1 lemon
1c boiling water
1pkg lemon jello
2tsp powdered sugar
Whipped cream
________________


Preheat oven to 375
In a 13x9 pan pour blueberry filling on the bottm and spread evenly.
Mix: cake mix, egg, water, & oil.
Pour over filling and spread evenly.
Zest 1tbsp lemon.
Juice 2tbsp of lemon juice.
Add jello to boiling water
Mix jello, zest, and juice.
Pour on top and spread evenly.
Bake 35-40min.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with lots of whipped cream.

Plain Jane Chicken & Gravy

Plain Jane Chicken & Gravy

In a piece of foil place a whole garlic and EVOO. Wrap in the foil and bake ~20min or until soggy.

Chicken

In a glass pan pour some EVOO. Put in chicken. Cover with salt, pepper, and grill seasoning. . Pour move EVOO on top. Bake ~35min.

Gravy

2tbsp butter
2tbp flour
Chicken broth
Mashed garlic (from above)
Salt
Mix and bring barely to a boil.

Pour over chicken.


Also good to dip plain jane potatoes in.

Plain Jane Potatoes

Don't let the name fool you, these have lots of flavor!!

Plain Jane Potatoes

Cut potatoes into wedges.
Cover pan with EVOO.
Put potatoes on and cover with salt, pepper, and grill seasoning. Pour more EVOO on top.
Bake at 425 for 30-40min

Banana Berry Bread

This bread is awesome. You can fidle with it and make all kinds of variations. My favs being banana raspberry, banana cinnamon, banana blueberry, banana nut, plain ol' banana, basically any berry is yummy.

It's a bisquick recipe so kudos to bisquick.

I also do three mini loaves instead of one regular loaf because this stuff freezes great and also is good as gifts. I've used it as a house warming gift, new baby gift, sick family gift, it goes over well every time.

Lastly, if you're breastfeeding this is a great snack to up your milk supply. The oats really do their job.

2c bisquick
3/4c quick cooking oats
2/3c sugar (optional)
2c mashed very ripe bananas (think the bananas that you look at and think "what am I gonna do with these")
2 eggs (or 4 egg whites)
1/4c milk
1c fresh or frozen berries (or nuts if you plan to do the banana nut)

Heat oven to 350. Grease bottom only of loaf pan.
Stir bisquick, oats, sugar, eggs, bananas, and milk in large bowl. Fold in berries or nuts.
Pour in pan.
Bake 55-69mins for one pan or 45min for three mini loaves.
Cool 10min then remove to wire rack.

If you leave the bread in the pan instead of removing it the bread becomes steamed and soft.

Chocolate chip ice cream pie

1/2c chocolate syrup
1/3c semisweet chocolate chips
2c rice krispies cereal

1 qt chocolate chip ice cream softened

coat bottom and sides of an 8in pie plate lightly with butter.
Combine syrup and chips in a small bowl and microwave on high until hot, ~45sec. Stir until smooth. reserve 1/4c for later.
Combine remaining chocolate and cerealand mix to coat. Press mixture over bottom and up sides of pie plate. Freeze until firm, ~15min.
Spread the ice cream over the chocolate shell and drizzle with remaining chocolate mixture. Freeze pie, covered, until firm, ~1hr.

Apple Turnovers

I wanna give credit to Katie, I think. I know this is from one of my Mom's Corner girls and it is to die for. So if I named the wrong girl please let me know and I'll change it.

These things are fabulous. I made half a recipe the first time and my mom ate half of it so now everytime I make them I have to make the whole recipe so my mom won't eat them all. I pair them with ice cream and I wanna cry they are so good.

2 granny smith apples
2 cans crescent rolls
2 sticks butter/margarine
1 1/2c sugar
1tsp vanilla
cinnamon
1 can mt. dew

peel and core apples
cut each into 8 slices
poll each slice in a crescent roll
place in a 13x9 buttered pan
melt butter, mix with sugar and barely stir
add vanilla, stir and pour over apples.
pour mt.dew around the edges
sprinkle with cinnamon.
bake at 350 for ~40min.

Treasure Island Chicken

I got this recipe years and years ago from someone, but for the life of me I don't know who to give credit to. It's so yummy and can also be made in the crockpot just by throwing everything in and cooking until the chicken is done. Also the orange juice can be substituted for orange marmalade, which is just as good.

1/2stick butter/margarine
2tbsp flour
2tbsp sugar
1/2tsp salt (optional)
1/2tsp cinnamon
1/8tsp ginger
1 1/2c orange juice

Mix everything together and put in a saucepan. Cook on med heat until thick. Pour over top cooked chicken and bake at 375 for 30min.

Strawberry Dump Cake

I take this one to EVERY party I go to. It's always a big hit and unfortunately we never have any to take home!!

1 3oz pkg strawberry jello
1 1/4c boiling water
10oz strawberries (can be frozen or fresh)
1tbsp sugar
pinch of salt
1 lg tub of cool whip
1 regular tub of cool whip.
1 angel food cake (I just get store bought bc it's SO much easier)

Dissolve jello in water. Stir in strawberries (thawed if frozen), sugar, and salt. Cool until it begins to thicken (~1hr). Fold in cool whip (big tub). Cover the bottom of a 13x9 pan with torn pieces of cake. Pour jello mixture on top. Repeat the last two steps. Refridgerate 4-5hrs. Top with more cool whip and decorate with fresh strawberries and mint leaves.

Broiled Parmesian Tilapia

I hate fish but I make this for Tim and he loves it.



1/2c parm cheese

1/4c softened butter

3tbsp mayo

2tbsp lemon juice

1/4tsp dried basil

1/4tsp ground black pepper

1/8tsp onion powder

1/8tsp celery salt

Tilapia



preheat broiler

mix ingrediants

broil fish 2-3min

flip and broil 2-3 more mins

top with ingrediants and broil 2 more mins!!

Vera's Puppy Chow

Now, I've heard other people make this, but I can guarentee it's not as good as Vera's.

Melt in large pan:
12oz chocolate chips
1 stick butter/margarine
1 cup peanut butter


Stir in 1 large box of Crispix.
Stir VERY gently until well covered.
Throw this in a large paper bag with one bag of powdered sugar and shake well.

Tim's Hard Candy

Tim makes this every Christmas and no other time. And every Christmas everyone in the family is looking forward to it.

3 3/4c sugar
1 1/2c light corn syrup
1c water
_______________

1tsp Lorann flavoring (this can be substituted for any other brand candy flavoring but he swears by this kind).
Food coloring of your choice. (IMO what kind of crazy person doesn't make cinn candy red though?)
powdered sugar

________________

Mix first three ingrediants in a large sauce pan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
Boil, without stirring, until temp reaches 310 degrees on candy thermometer. Remove from heat. After boiling has ceased, stir in flavoring and coloring. Pour on lightly greased cookie sheet and cool. Break into pieces. Makes ~2lbs.

My all time favorite favorite thing to eat: Grandpa Queen's noodles!!!

This recipe was passed down from my grandpa, who was the best cook I've ever met. He used to make these every holiday and he'd make the biggest pot he could find because they went that fast!! This is just a two person recipe (with a teeny bit left over for lunch the next day).

2c flour
3 egg whites
1 whole egg
2 tsp salt
1/4 to 1/2c water

Mix all ingrediants in a big bowl.
Cover a working surface with loads of flour and dump a portion of the mix in the flour. Cover it so your hands don't get all sticky. *Make sure to keep your hands covered in flour else it will stick to you!!
I don't believe in rolling pins so I I just use my palms and press the dough into a thin mass. Then I use a knife and cut strips of noodle. You can then either lay them flat to dry and freeze or dump in a boiling pot of chicken (or beef broth). Then add some cooked chicken and you're ready to go.

Cheese Fondue

Who doesn't love fondue? Seriously!!

This recipe calls for 1 1/2c of wine but IMO it was too strong so I cut it in half. Plus this way you have more to drink afterwards.


Cheese Fondue
In a pot rub ½ clove of garlic on the bottom
Add 1lb cheese (any variety but I like swiss & cheddar)
¾ c white wine
Salt & Pepper
Melt on medium heat.
Mix in a separate bowl into a paste:
2tbsp corn starch
2-3tbsp water
Mix paste with cheese
Cook another ~3min
For an added kick add a few drops of Tabasco

Taco Soup

I got this one from just throwing stuff in the crockpot, which I'm famous for. I liked it so well I went back and figured out what I put in it.


Taco Soup


1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans
2 small cans green chilies
1 can diced tomatoes
1 chopped onion
1 can chicken broth
1 pkg taco seasoning
3-4 chicken breasts
Put in the crock pot for ~4hrs. Shred the chicken with it’s fully cooked.

Strawberry Pizza

This is Tim's favorite dessert. It was originally made by an older lady in the church but Tim's kinda taken over and makes it any time we have strawberries.


Strawberry Pizza (Anita O)

Step One:

2c flour
2sticks butter/margarine
.5c powdered sugar
Cut together like a pie crust. Press dry mix on a 13” deep dish pizza pan. Bake 15min at 350. Cool.

Step Two:

1c powdered sugar
1 8oz pkg cream cheese
1 12oz cool whip
Mix together and spread on cooled crust.

Step Three:

2 quarts strawberries
2 pkg strawberry glaze

Spread on top of crust and cover with cool whip.

Apple Pancake Bake

I can't say anything about this besides yum! It is totally fattening but I don't care, it's delish.



Apple Pancake Bake


Apples

4 granny smith apples- peeled and thinly sliced
Preheat oven to 425.
Cover the bottom of a 13x9 glass dish with butter.
Boil butter in oven.
Add apples.
Boil again.

Pancakes

In a blender combine 1.5c milk, 6 eggs, 1tsp vanilla extract 1c flour, .5tsp cinnamon, 2tbsp sugar, salt and pepper.

Pour pancake mix on top of apples.
Sprinkle 1tbsp brown sugar on top.
Bake at 425 for ~20min
Sprinkle heavily with powdered sugar.

Brown Sugar Bacon

This is an awesome recipe for Brown Sugar Bacon. I love to pair this with the Apple Pancake Bake and we eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's also good on a turkey sandwich.

I'm not really sure how to describe it but I use a pan then set my cooling rack (from Pampered Chef) on top so it's not laying directly on the pan. HTH


Brown Sugar Bacon


Bacon
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp black pepper
Preheat oven to 300. Mix brown sugar and pepper in a bowl. Lay bacon on pan and rub mix on. Bake for time indicated on bacon package.

Just a little background info about me.

I'm Andrea, wife to Tim, mommy to Brittyn.

Tim and I were married on Nov 11th, 2005.

Brittyn was born May 27th, 2007.

We live a happy life with our two cats Allie (the black calico) and Ricco (the tiger) in Ohio.

I'm not the best chef, but I do have good recipes. If I can, I will always try to reference who gave me the recipe. Feel free to comment about the recipe and if you've tried it and revised it let me know so I can edit the post and say how great the revision is (and try it myself).

I hope you enjoy!