Fun with your Food

My daughter, Claudia and I, were assigned after-game snack for her very first soccer game. In addition to a lunch bag of healthy snacks, I decided to make soccer cupcakes. Claudia helped make the cupcakes and had a blast eating the leftovers!




Simple Soccer Cupcakes

1 box of Your Favorite Cake Mix, Prepared as Cupcakes in Liners (I used soccer-themed liners)
1 container/recipe of Your Favorite Vanilla or White Frosting
Green Food Coloring
Green Sprinkles
Foil-covered Chocolate Soccer Balls

Tint frosting to your desired color green, or as close to bright green grass. Frost cupcakes. Sprinkle liberally with Green Sprinkles. Top with chocolate soccer ball. (Let sit at least an hour-or overnight-before traveling.)

The Luck O' the Irish

I'm a 4th generation Irish-American. I love a great Irish recipe, and Dublin Caramel Apple Cake is fantastic. This is often served at our St. Patrick's Day celebration, but can surely make an appearance any day of the year. Dublin Caramel Apple Cake is incredibly moist and packed with fresh apple flavor. Although I don't use the Whiskey option, the alcohol will cook out of the cake.

Dublin Caramel Apple Cake

Caramel:

1/2 C. Brown Sugar, firmly packed

1/4 C. Butter

1 8 oz. Carton Heavy Whipped Cream,divided

1/2 C. Pecans, chopped

Cake:

1 Package Apple Cinnamon Quick Bread Mix

1 C. Chopped, Peeled Apple

3/4 C. Water

3 Tbsp. Water (may use Irish whiskey)

1/4 C. Oil

1 Egg

Topping:

Remaining Heavy Whipping Cream

2 Tbsp. Powdered Sugar

Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In small saucepan, over low heat, combine brown sugar, butter, and 2 tablespoons whipping cream. Cook and stir just until butter is melted. Remove from heat. Stir in pecans. Pour mixture into bottom of ungreased 9-inch round cake pan or 9-inch square pan. Set aside. In large bowl, combine all cake ingredients. Stir 50-75 strokes by hand until mix is moistened. Carefully spoon batter over the caramel mixture, making sure caramel is completely covered. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 1 minute, then invert onto serving plate. Cool. Just before serving, in small bowl beat remaining whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar. Beat until smooth peaks form. Top with whipped cream. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Store in refrigerator.

Extravagant English Toffee

During the holidays, my family always has boxes of Whitman's and Russel Stover's Chocolates around the house. I always scan the "menu" on the top of the box to see where the chocolate covered toffee pieces and chocolate walnut/pecan cups are located. This recipe is also a holiday favorite using 2 of my favorite sweet treat ingredients, chocolate and pecans! You'll find yourself making this one year round!

English Toffee

1 C. Pecans (or Walnuts can be used too), chopped
1 C. butter (NO substitutions)
1 C. Sugar
2 Tbsp. Water
3 Tbsp. light corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
8 oz. milk chocolate chips or milk chocolate bar, broken into pieces

Butter a 9 x 13 in. cake pan or cookie sheet. Sprinkle 3/4 C. chopped nuts in the bottom of the pan, set aside. Combine butter, sugar, water, and corn syrup in a heavy sauce pan. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until candy reaches hard-crack stage (300 degrees or when dropped into cold water, mixture forms hard, brittle threads that break easily.) Pour candy over nuts in prepared pan and spread slightly (I use a "buttered" spatula to help spread the candy.) Pour chocolate chips over hot candy. Allow to melt for 3-5 minutes, then spread the chocolate over the candy. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 C. chopped nuts. Allow to cool and harden completely (You can speed up the hardening process in the Refrigerator.) Makes 1 1/2 lbs.

**This makes a great gift, placed in a holiday themed canister lined with parchment paper or any cute container with a bow.

By Popular Demand...BYU Brownies!!

My first day on campus at Brigham Young University was rather intimidating. A few days before my classes began, I found myself, along with my mother, going over my class schedule on foot, so I wouldn't find myself completely lost a few days later. After finding the location of the last class on my schedule, we found ourselves in the Wilkinson Center where I came across one of the loves of my life...The BYU Brownie. Although I now live thousands of miles from where this piece of heaven originates, I'm thrilled that I can share this rich recipe with my family, friends and you!

BYU Brownies

Brownie:
1 C. butter, melted
2/3 C. cocoa powder
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 C. flour

Mint Frosting:
1/2 C. butter
1 lb. powdered sugar
1-3 Tbsp. milk (A little more may be needed)
1/2 tsp. mint extract
Green food coloring

Chocolate Topping:
1 1/2 C. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 C. butter

Brownie: Mix butter, cocoa, and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one. Stir in flour. Spread into a greased 9 x 13 in. pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes (or a little more if needed.) Let cool completely. Mint Frosting: Mix butter and powdered sugar. Add enough milk to make a smooth consistency. Add mint extract and enough food coloring for a light green color. Frosting will be thick. Spread over brownie layer. Refrigerate until firm. Chocolate topping: Melt chocolate chips and butter in microwave for 2-3 minutes. Stir well to combine. Pour over frosted brownies, covering frosting completely. Refrigerate until topping is set and hardened. Let brownies sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before cutting. Cut into squares. Enjoy!

Low Carb Swiss Bacon Salad

This salad is sooooo good. Like most people, we tend to serve our salad then move onto the main course and side dishes. With this salad, you'll see your dinner guests diving for the salad tongs for second servings! It's that good! If bringing this to a dinner party, be prepared! You'll definitely have recipe requests with this one!

Low Carb Swiss Bacon Salad

1 c. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2/3 c. Splenda
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
3 tsp. minced onion (freshly minced or dried)
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
pepper, to taste
1/3 c. white vinegar
12 c. mixed salad greens
8 sliced crisp cooked bacon or turkey bacon, chopped
4 oz. shredded swiss cheese
2 oz. toasted sliced almonds

Combine Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Splenda, dry mustard, minced onion, garlic salt, pepper, and vinegar in food processor or container with lid. Process or shake until well blended. Combine greens, bacon, cheese, and almonds. Add half of dressing, tossing to coat. Add more dressing, if desired.

Strawberry Avocado Salad

We are BIG time avocado lovers in our family. The following is a unique recipe, pairing two ingredients that compliment each other perfectly. The sweetness of the strawberry brings out the buttery flavor of the avocado. The opposing textures of the strawberries and avocado allow each ingredient to stand out separately in this refreshing salad.

Strawberry Avocado Salad

1/4 c. white sugar
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. honey
2 Tbsp. cider vinegar
2 tsp. lemon juice
4 c. torn salad greens
2 avocado - peeled, pitted and sliced or cubed
20 strawberries, sliced
1 c. chopped pecans or sliced almonds

In a small bowl, whisk together sugar, extra virgin olive oil, honey, vinegar, and lemon juice. Set aside. Place the salad greens in a bowl, and top with sliced or cubed avocado and strawberries. Drizzle dressing salad. Sprinkle with pecans or almonds. Toss lightly. Serve immediately.

Simply Saucy Sausage!

One of our family favorites, this crowd-pleasing recipe might quite possibly be the easiest recipe you'll ever come across! But don't be fooled by it's easy preparation. The slow cooking method allows for some serious flavor. I love to use this recipe when I have a busy day ahead, served with freshly baked bread from our local Italian bakery.

Simply Saucy Sausage

5 links Mild Italian Sweet Sausage
1 jar of your Favorite Spaghetti Sauce or equivalent homemade sauce

Place sausage in Crockpot. Pour sauce over sausage. Cook on High for 4-6 hours or Low 6-8 hours. Serve over white or brown rice. Yum!

**If desired, feel free to add the following to the crockpot: minced or chopped garlic, fresh basil, sliced onions and/or green peppers (My mom's favorite way!). Top with cheese (parmesan, mozzarella or cheddar), or even serve alongside or topping a pasta dish. This recipe is so versatile. Try out the different flavor combinations and see which ones you prefer!