What's Coming UP????? Lots..check it out and see.

Hey followers.....
You might ask "what's coming up?"  Or at least I hope you are asking that...

Well!!  I am going to be featuring a VERY Special lady who just won $10,000 for a delicious cup cake recipe.  I'll ask her what her secrets are and how we can do the same thing.....You are going to love this interview.

Then I have been really into baking some good things for you lately...I'm going to give you a preview today, but you'll have to wait for recipes and more to come.  Are you entering baking contests???  I am and I am so excited to see what the future has to hold. 

 

 

Rasberry Burst Cupcakes..so good and so pretty.

Creamy and fancy.

I LOVE cupcake towers!  Don't You??

 

 

How about a little taste of Peanut Butter and Chocolate?

I Love making desserts...this one is NO BAKE!!

Watch for the interview...and more great recipes and photos!!!  What would you like to see a recipe for???
Leave me a comment as to what you want me to bake next....I'll do my best.

Is Your Home Healthy? Find out how to protect your family from hidden household dangers.

Hi Followers!

I hope you had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day.  It won't be long until Easter and I am busy preparing some wonderful dishes to share with you.  Hopefully I can give you some inspiration and share with you what Easter was like at my house as a child and as I was growing up.  It is a very important holiday in our house.

But today, I want to share something very important with you about making sure your home is safe and healthy.  I have been reading the book, The Healthy Home, by Dr. Myron Wentz and Dave Wentz and learning so much. The Wentz's are a father and son team who have come together to write a book that walks it readers room by room through a typical house, point out surprising health risks that we see everyday.  It has great colorful illustrations and quizzes.  It's really interesting and informative.  I've already made some changes in my own household.  Take two minutes to watch this video that is so interesting and will be a little teaser to the book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-GGiziJvFI&feature=player_profilepage

You can also find out more at the website www.myhealthyhome.com.  You can purchase the book on Amazon and they even have it for the Kindle.

Now for us foodies...there is alot of information about safety in the kitchen and helping to get the very best nutritional value out of our foods.  Here is a sample of what you'll find.

Cut Less, Retain More
If you've ever cut up an apple only to have it turn brown in a manner of minutes, you've witnessed the depleting effects oxygen has on fresh produce. By exposing fruits and vegetables to oxygen, you're reducing the nutrient value of the food exponentially. Your taste buds have probably also noticed this -- bags of shredded carrots hardly have any flavor at all, whereas biting into a fresh, whole carrot is a completely different, and more satisfying, experience.

To prevent losing the nutrients in your foods, simply put down the knife. Give your children whole apples in their lunches instead of cutting them up. Skip the cartons of pre-sliced carrots and celery -- cut up your own vegetables for a party tray instead. You'll begin to see that many fruits and vegetables come prepackaged in their own skin, and don't need to be prepared in any way to be enjoyed. And if you must cut up your fruits or vegetables before you eat them, do the cutting right before you plan on eating, and cut larger pieces to prevent exposing too much of the produce to the air. 

And great news.. "One simple rule to remember; The less work you need to do while you're in the kitchen, the more nutrient value your food typically will have...reduce the amount of slicing, dicing, cooking, blending, boiling and peeling.

 



Cook with Care
How you decide to cook your vegetables will have a big influence on how much of the food's vitamins are retained to feed and fuel your body. Most research supports microwaving, baking, and steaming as the methods that are the least destructive and most efficient at protecting the nutritional content of your food. That's right, microwaving is on the ‘good' list.
 





In fact, studies show that vitamin C losses from broccoli due to boiling exceeded 30 percent, as opposed to about 20 percent for steaming and less than 10 percent for microwaving. 
                                                      Table of Contents:

Bedroom
Chapter 1: There's the Rub
Chapter 2: The Body Electric!
Chapter 3: Sleepytime

Bathroom
Chapter 4: Let's Get Personal
Chapter 5: Bright, White, and Pearly
Chapter 6: Don't Be a Dope

Kitchen Chapter 7: For the Love of Food
Chapter 8: Let's Get Cooking
Chapter 9: Drink Up!
 
Living Areas
Chapter 10: Clean Living
Chapter 11: High Tech, High Risk

 Garage and Yard
Chapter 12: Gremlins in the Garage
Chapter 13: Going Green in Your Yard 

So you can see that there is much more than just the cooking part...
Let me know what you think about the book and the web site please.  I would love your feedback.

I was provided a copy of this book, but was not paid to give a review.  The opinions are my own. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day to My Followers

Hi, Happy St. Patricks Day everyone.  I have a couple of great recipes for you and some beautiful photos. I wanted to post them a day ahead so you'll have time to go to the store if you want to make these tomorrow.   I know you all love to eat great food and I love to cook it.  I have been experimenting a lot lately and will share those recipes with you.  The people my hubby works with and my neighbor are really loving this phase of my cooking.  I make it, they eat it.  I got some good comments about St. Patty's Day from some of my followers.  Marie, Shannon and Nancy, you will all be getting something special soon.  Thanks for following and for commenting.  I am really working on making this a site you want to visit every day!!  

Irish Coffee

This version of Irish Coffee is non-alcoholic for those of you who do not drink liquor.  It's delicious and easy. 
 

A deliciously smooth flavor inspired by traditional Irish crème.

The enchanting flavor of Irish crème is captured in a deliciously rich flavor experience. Enjoy warm Irish charm in every creamy sip. Stir up a moment of sweet inspiration and make each cup your own with International Delight^®.

AVAILABLE:

At grocery stores in pints and quarts, and at your local convenience store coffee bar.

Also available in convenient creamer singles

1 cup (8 ounces) hot coffee
1 tsp brown sugar
1/4 cup International Delight Irish Cream
1 heaping tbsp. vanilla ice cream or whipped cream

Combine coffee and brown sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved.  Add International Delight Irish Crème in a mug and stir to blend. Float softened ice cream or whipped cream on top. Serve immediately.

Pot Of Gold Cheddar Soup

5 tsp. butter
1 small onion
1/3 cup flour
1 1/4 cups chicken broth
1 cup milk
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. Hidden Valley Dry Ranch Dressing Mix
1 tsp. dry mustard
8 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1. Begin by chopping onion and set aside.  Melt butter and saute onion until translucent (approx. 5 minutes).
2.  Stir flour into the butter and onion mixture.  Mix well and add chicken broth, milk, salt, cayenne pepper, ranch dressing, and mustard.  Stir ingredients together and simmer for 5 minutes. 
3.  Add cheddar cheese to soup mixture and stir until cheese is melted and well incorporated. 
4.  Serve and enjoy!

 So you have a meal fit for a leprechaun.  Or your family, which ever you'll be serving today.  Now don't forget that the traditional dish for St. Patty's Day is corn beef and cabbage.  I went to the farmers market in Immokalee, FL and found the most beautiful head of cabbage to cook.  I haven't cooked it yet, but I wanted you to see it.  It's so BIG and beautiful and I only paid $1.00 for it.  It will feed an army...

That is an 8" Chef's Knife beside the cabbage to tell you how big it is and those beautiful pink roses are from my rose bush right outside my back lanai door.  It blooms so much and is so beautiful. 

Masterbuilt is on QVC today...watch and see what they are offering!!!

Hey everyone, Masterbuilt, the company who gave us the awesome Turkey Fryer before Christmas is on QVC beginning at noon today.  Go and see what they are offering...I can't wait.  Check them out on Facebook and get in on the livestream during the show.

Here is where you can find them:

www.masterbuilt.com

www.dadgumthatsgood.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Masterbuilt/153933621381  

Twitter: @JohnMcLemore, @DadgumThatsGood, @Masterbuilt

Here is a photo of the fryer if you weren't following at the time....

Today they are talking about their wonderful smoker and the great cookbook I told you about.

Be sure to drop in to QVC for a little while to purchase a smoker!!!  That's on my mother's day gift list....hint hint hubby.

Here is the smoker...he's showing it right now on QVC, it's Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

You can cook an entire meal at once in the smoker...Meat, veggies, mac & cheese...wow, awesome!!

Sassy and sweet they're the talk on the street!!!



Sassy and sweet they're the talk on the street!!
2011 Sweet n'Healthy Blogger Recipe Contest

Hey Followers!!
How about serving your kids a delicious, scrumptous, yummy dish that is good for them?  I have just the dish for you.  It's my Sassy and Sweet Orange Blossoms.  Yes, they have oranges in them, but more importantly they have sweet potatoes in them too making them even better for you and your kids. 

                                       
Imagine a delicious dish that is good for you.  Why sweet n' healthy?  Because
sweet potatoes are so versatile and can be made into side dishes as well as desserts. 
Sweet potatoes aren't just for Thanksgiving.  The sweet potato is the vegetable with SUPER FOOD POWERS!

The North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission has sponsored a fun recipe contest for bloggers showing great ways to use sweet potatoes.  I wanted to join in on this fun contest and at the same time share how good for you and delicious sweet potatoes can be. 

This recipe is easy to make and is kid friendly.  Have your children help you make these for special time together.  My kids always loved to cook with mom and grandma.


Sweet potatoes are as American as apple pie, and even more so. Native Americans were already growing Sweetpotatoes when Columbus came to these shores in 1492. Sweetpotatoes have been growing in the South for as early as 1648.


Sweetpotatoes are not even potatoes! In fact, they aren't even distant cousins.
Potatoes are tubers from the solanaceae family.  Sweet potatoes are part of the morning glory family.
North Carolina sweetpotato growers planted 42,000 acres in 2009. Across the nation, 106,000 acres of sweetpotatoes were planted. North Carolina produces 40% of the national supply of sweetpotatoes.
 
At http://www.ncsweetpotatoes.com/ your children can find lots of fun and games and learn about the sweet potato also.  They can meet Spencer Sweetpotato.


Spencer Sweetpotato

  
 
 
 
So if this isn't all you want to know about sweet potatoes, please be sure to go to their web site.  As for now, I'm going to share my recipe with you!!



Photo taken from http://www.ncsweetpotatoes.com/



SWEET AND HEALTHY ORANGE BLOSSOMS

1 box white cake mix ( I use Pillsbury)

1 tsp. baking powder

1 cup orange juice

1 ½ cups sweet potatoes

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup oil

3 eggs (room temperature)

1/8 tsp. orange extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Peel 1 large or 2 small sweet potatoes and cube in equal pieces. Bring 3 cups of water to boil and add the cut sweet potatoes. Bring water back to boil and reduce heat. Simmer potatoes until fork tender (approximately 10 minutes). When done, drain water and mash the sweet potatoes until they are as smooth as possible.

3. In large mixing bowl combine white cake mix and baking powder. Add orange juice, 1 1/2 cups of mashed sweet potatoes, sour cream, oil, eggs and orange extract. Beat on low until the ingredients are all well incorporated. Next, beat for 2 minutes on medium high.

4. Spoon mix into cupcake liners until they are ¾ full.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 - 20 minutes.



Frosting

16 oz. cream cheese (softened)

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 cup sifted confectioner’s sugar

½ tsp. orange extract

Orange food coloring to desired shade (you can mix red and yellow)

1. Mix cream cheese , butter , orange extract and food coloring together until smooth. Add confectioner’s sugar ½ cup at a time. Mix until smooth and creamy. Spread or pipe onto cupcakes.

Decorate your cupcakes with delicious Orange Cream Cheese Frosting!!  Yummy!






Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes:


* Has a high nutrition rate when compared to other vegetables

* Rich source of anti-oxidants for protection against heart disease, stroke, cancer, and delaying the progression of Alzheimer's disease

* Among the top 3 food sources of potassium

* Low glycemic index for maintaining steady blood glucose levels

* Fat and cholesterol free

* High in fiber



Ways to add more sweet potatoes to your diet

* Pack a baked sweet potato for lunch, topped with vanilla yogurt or cinnamon-flavored applesauce

* Add peeled chunks to your favorite stew

* Switch from potato chips to sweet potato chips

* Peel and cut into strips to eat with your favorite dip

* Blend into a breakfast smoothie

* Substitute in recipes calling for white potatoes or apples

Hope you pick up some sweet potatoes and enjoy them.  You can check http://www.ncsweetpotatoes.com/ for recipes and more information.  Some of the information in this posting was copied from their website but there is much, much more!!

You don't have to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick's Day or to WIN a Prize!!

Hi Followers!!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!  It's coming soon, how will you celebrate?  I want you to submit your ideas and I'll pick the best idea.  If your idea is chosen I will send you a fun prize!  I'll be posting some great recipes and ideas that I want to share with you too!!!  Keep watching and checking in.  

Here are some photos of some of the goodies I'm going to prepare on that special day.  

Pot of Gold Cheddar Soup and Irish Coffee

It's Just past Valentines Day and I have a new dessert for you!!

Hello followers!!

I just created a new and delicious dessert that requires NO cooking and only takes about 15 minutes.  I have to say that I just took it to a meeting I went to and believe me when I say that they all LOVED it.  I just had to share it with you.  Not only is it beautiful to look at, but it tastes delicious.

Cherry Cheesecake Parfait

  You can serve it in individual dishes like I have in the photo above or your can make a great big bowl and serve it that way.  I also think it would be great in a 9 x 13 dish with the topping spread out over the entire dish.  However you choose to serve it, it's quick, easy, and so good that you'll want to lick the bowl.

This recipe will serve 16-20 people depending on the serving size you choose.  It's so colorful and pretty to look at.

Keep a tub of cool whip handy for those who want to top their serving with some extra creamy goodness.


  Why not try this the next time you want a great dessert to serve to a group?  Or cut recipe in half and serve anytime to your family. Although, you might want to make the whole thing because it says good for days.



CHERRY CHEESECAKE PARFAIT

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 large box jello instant cheesecake pudding (you can use vanilla if you can't find the cheesecake)
1 small box jello instant cheesecake pudding (you can use vanilla if you can't find the cheesecake)
1 21 oz. can crushed pineapple
1 21 oz. can chunk pineapple (drained)

2 21 oz. cans Lucky Leaf Cherry Pie Filling
16 ounces Cool Whip topping
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts (I prefer pecans)
1 jar maraschino cherries

1.  Blend together the softened cream cheese and the sweetened condensed milk.  Add both boxes of instant pudding and the can of crushed pineapple (with juice) and continue to blend until well incorporated.
2.  Stir in the entire can of chunk pineapple.  Fold in one can of the cherry pie filling followed by folding in 8 oz. of the Cool Whip.
3.  Stir in 1 cup of the chopped nuts.
4.  Pour into individual serving dishes or one large dish.  Top with the remaining can of pie filling, nuts and maraschino cherries.


I hope you will enjoy this delicious dessert as much as we have.  


I used the Lucky Leaf Pie Filling and it is so delicious.  They have a wide variety of different pie fillings and I think this recipe would be great using another flavor also.