How to Quickly Peel a Kiwi, Mango or Avocado

Use this photo for pinning.  :D

This is a great idea!  So simple, it's amazing everyone doesn't do it this way!
I found this video here: http://goo.gl/yLLjgQ

Watch Video Here:

A quick & easy way to peel kiwi, avocado and mango - Absolutely brilliant! :D
Posted by The Petite Cook on Thursday, March 12, 2015

Strawberry Cream Cheese Cobbler

This rolled through my Facebook feed this morning and I knew I had to save it forever. It will certainly be a hit with my family!

Click here to see the recipe as I found it.

heart emoticon STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE COBBLER heart emoticon 

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup milk
1 cup of all Purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 Teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 quarts whole strawberries, washed and tops off
4 oz cream cheese, cut into small pieces.

Preheat oven 350 degrees.
melt butter and pour into 9 x 13 inch glass baking dish.
in a small bowl mix together the egg,milk,flour,sugar,baking powder, and salt. Pour directly over the butter in the baking dish, but do not stir.

Add the strawberries,arranging in a single layer as much as possible. Sprinkle cream cheese pieces over strawberries. Place in preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes or until top is golden brown and edges are bubbling. ( crust rises up and around the fruit, but fruit will still pop a little out of top)

Strawberry Honey Jam - No Sugar, No Pectin

I'm always on the look out for a great jam recipe, so when I found this one I had to try it.  I was very happy that I did - it's delicious!  This recipe is a bit thinner than other jams because it doesn't have added sugar or pectin, but that just makes it healthier so I'm all for that.  Plus, because it's thinner it's also a very good ice-cream topping.  Yay!

I found this recipe and photo at Old World Garden Farms.  I retyped it for brevity, but I recommend you visit their post for more pretty pictures and detailed instructions.

Ingredients: 

• 6 lbs fresh strawberries hulled and halved
• 3 3/4 C raw honey
• 2 small granny smith apples, cored and shredded
• 1 1/2 TBS freshly squeeze lemon juice (about 1/2 large lemon)

Directions:

• Combine all ingredients in large stock pot.
• While stirring, heat to boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 15 minutes.
• When strawberries are soft, mash with potato masher or immersion blender until they are no longer distinguishable chunks, but not pureed.
• Simmer for 15 to 45 minutes depending on the consistency desired.  The longer it simmers the thicker it will be, but remember it will not be as thick as jam made with pectin.
• Jam can be placed in freezer safe jars and frozen up to six months or canned with a water bath for 10 minutes.

Teriyaki Chicken - Hawaii Style!

Teriyaki Chicken - Hawaiian Style
I found this recipe here.  I retyped it to suit my reading/cooking preference.

Ingredients: 

• 3 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 C soy sauce
• 1 C water
• 1 C sugar
• 5 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 ginger root, cut thinly

Directions:

• Combine water, soy sauce and sugar.  Stir till sugar is dissolved.  
• Add ginger and garlic to taste.  
• Add chicken and marinate at least 24 hours for grilling, pan frying or roasting.

OR

• You can boil the chicken in the sauce immediately if you don't want to wait.
• Cook chicken as desired, basting with sauce as desired.

Serve with rice and a green salad.  I also like a little grilled pineapple on the side. 

Enjoy!

Kill Ants Now! Two Ingredient Ant Bait.

This picture was in my Facebook feed this morning.  Now, I don't know anyone who is a fan of ants around their home, even if they are necessary little critters in the scheme of life.  They are not necessary in my house though and I hate using real pesticides around my kids and pets so I'm always on the look out for a good remedy that is a bit more natural but still works.  The original post at A Good Tired is cute and worth reading, so go check it out!

For my own self-reference, here's the important part.

Materials:

· 1/2 cup sugar
· 1 ½ tbsp. Borax
· 2 cups water
· Empty jar with lid
· Cotton balls
· Tin foil/ coke bottle lids, milk lids, yogurt lids

Directions:

1. Boil water, then pour in empty jar
2. Add sugar and borax to hot water and stir until completely dissolved
3. Soak cotton balls with mixture and place on a small tin foil piece or old drinking lid
4. Place cotton ball wherever you have ants!
5. 24 hours later, get your summer back, your car back, your kitchen back!… ant free.

Here's to ant free homes!

Homemade Butter Beer

 I've always wanted to try Butter Beer.  I see recipes all over the place but have never tried any.  Some look really complicated, but all three of these look totally possible.  
grin emoticon (They get progressivly more involved but there's nothing too crazy.)

Recipe #1: This is the simplest way to make Butterbeer. I found this one a few places online. If you want something that tastes good, and only has a few simple steps then this is it. It’s not as good as the real deal, but it will still please most.
• Cream Soda
• 1 tsp Caramel Syrup
• 1 tsp Butterscotch Syrup
• Heavy Whipping Cream
Combine Butterscotch syrup with heavy whipping cream and set aside. Pour cream soda in a chilled mug, but don’t fill to top, as you’ll need space for the cream topping. Drop in a teaspoon of caramel syrup and stir. Now top with your butterscotch whipped cream.

Recipe #2: http://www.designdazzle.com/2011/07/summer-camp-harry-potter-activities-wizard-for-a-day/

Recipe #3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_UUHphAYXs

Home Style Fruit Leather

Photo Credit

My kids love fruit leather.  Unfortunately, it's all too easy to find the stuff full of extra sugar and food coloring and inconveniently difficult to find the stuff that contains whole fruits and minimal added sugar.  That's why I like making our own fruit leather, well, that and it makes my house smell yummy and my kids think I'm awesome because mine is tastier than Fruit by the Foot.

My recipe:

Ingredients:

• 5 C fruit, fresh or frozen (thawed)
• My kids love trying different fruit combinations.  Their most unusual but delicious was apple lemon.  
• 2 TBS honey or to taste
• 1 TBS water as needed

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 150 or the lowest temp. available on your oven.
• Place fruit and honey in blender or food processor and puree.  Add water as needed to achieve consistency of thin baby food.
• Line baking sheet with parchment paper.  
• Pour puree over parchment paper and spread to an even, thin sheet.  Don't spread it too thinly though or you'll end up with fruit chips!
• Bake  for two to four hours (depending on oven temp and puree thickness), checking after two. Again, don't cook too long or you'll have fruit chips.
• You'll know they're done when the surface is not sticky but the leather is still flexible.
• Using very clean kitchen sheers, cut cooled fruit leather into strips (DO NOT remove from parchment paper first!).  
• Roll up and store in an air tight container.  
• Pro-tip:  My kids like to cut the leather into fun shapes like hearts, stars and even kitties. They love taking these shapes to school to share with friends.