Hello Kitty Cake! (and other stuff)

This one is a no brainer for me.  My younger daughter is completely and totally nuts about cats and Hello Kitty is her pop culture icon of choice.  I saw this cake and knew she'd want it for her birthday. However, I was quite disappointed to get to the Betty Crocker site and find there was no handy link to download or buy the template the show.  After a little searching I found some cute options that are linked below.

Click here for the ultimately disappointing Betty Crocker idea page.

Click here for a template I found.  

(You will have to size and print it according to your needs, but it should do the trick.)

Click here for a good Hello Kitty cake tutorial.

Or, you can do what I will most likely ultimately do and opt for the really easy way out - a Wilton character pan!  Honestly, if the template was ready for me to print up and use, I'd prefer to go that cheaper route, but the money saved on a pan would be outweighed (for me) by the time I'd spend messing around creating a template.  So, purchase this I will!  

Also, you should click here for a page full of great Hello Kitty party ideas from a fun blog called Look What I Made!

Zucchini Brownies

The first time I made these I didn't tell my kids their main ingredients were fruits and vegetables. I didn't want them to prejudge. I just served them up with a smile on my face. The kids dug in and we all smiled. The next time I made them my oldest daughter helped. She was surprised to see me pull the bags of shredded zucchini and applesauce from the fall harvest from the freezer and even more surprised to see bananas go in the mix. But hey, if they're good they're good and she gobbled them up same as before.  I truly wish I knew where I got this recipe because as good as it is I know whoever created it would have more yummy stuff I'd like to make. These are as delicious and as guilt free as brownies can get.  

Brownies made with zucchini, bananas and applesauce, yielding a brownie with only 120 calories, 2 grams of fat, and a whole bunch of vitamins and minerals, and egg free. YESSSS!!!!

These are even a very moist low fat chocolate brownie alternative, for weight watchers, only 2 ww points per serving ( 24 servings). Its not going to be the same box brownie, but especially someone that only eats sweets occasionally like me, this healthier option is delish and guilt free!!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 2 small or medium bananas mashed
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups finely shredded zucchini (I used frozen. It worked well, just allow for time for it to thaw and drain well before adding.)
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces  

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 9x13 inch baking pan. In a large bowl, mix together the applesauce, mashed bananas and sugar. Add vanilla and cocoa and mix together. Then add baking soda, salt, and zucchini and mix together. Add flour and walnuts and mix together. Spread evenly into a prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes until brownies spring back when gently touched.

White Trash Cereal Treats (Plus Gifting Ideas!)

This little gem was buried in my email archives way back in 2008.  I haven't made it yet, but it looks yummy.  I think I would be a cute when given with a humerous red neck / white trash themed gift.  I'd  package this in a large mason jar, tie a burlap bow around the top and pair it with one of the fun ideas I posted below the recipe.

White Trash Cereal Treats

Ingredients:

•  2 lb. white chocolate shaved and melted
• 3 1/2 C Cheerios
• 3 C Rice Chex (small box)
• 3 C Corn Chex (small box)
• 1 lb. plain M&Ms
• 2 1/2 C salted mixed nuts (no peanuts)
• 2 C small pretzels (Eagle snacks or other small, straight pretzel)

Directions:

Mix everything except chocolate well in large bowl.  Pour melted chocolate over everything and mix well until coated.  Spread over foil lined cookie sheet and allow to cool completely then break up into desired sizes.

Red Neck / White Trash Humorous Gift Ideas

To Die For Blueberry Muffins

My girls asked me to make blueberry muffins when they had friends spend the night.  Of course I wanted extra tasty ones to impress their friends so I looked for a really good recipe.  I found one called To Die For Blueberry Muffins that truly did look like they might be to die for.  I whipped them up. and sure enough they almost were to die for.  My girls (ages 11 and 8) asked to make them on their own today.  The recipe is simple so I just turned them loose. (We have cooked together enough that they know how to measure correctly, spoon flour into a cup instead of scooping it, etc.)  They did need a bit of help from me, but mostly they did it all on their own.  Our crumble doesn't turn out like the one in the picture, but it does taste delicious.  In the end, that's what matters most, right?

To Die For Blueberry Muffins

Click Here for Original Recipe

Makes 8 - 12 muffins depending on the size of your muffin tins.  Our standard Wilton pan makes 12.

Ingredients:

     Batter

• 1 1/2 C all purpose flour
• 3/4  C granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/3 C vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1/3 C milk
• 1 C fresh blueberries (we used frozen and it worked fine)

     Crumb Topping:

• 1/2 C granulated sugar
• 1/3 C all purpose flour (we plan to add a bit more next time - our topping was more crusty than crumbly)
• 1/4 C butter, cubed
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
2. Combine 1 1/2 C flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place 1/3 C vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups almost to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.  
3. To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.  This is a great job for younger helpers.
4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.

• 
  

• 
  

Marshmallow Carmel Popcorn

This is a recipe that has been bouncing around Facebook forever.  I finally decided that if I'm really going to remember to make it I'll have to put it on this blog.  It does look delicious!  (I have no idea who to contribute the original recipe to.  It has appeared on many friend and food page feeds.)

Marshmallow Carmel Popcorn

• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 c. butter
• 9-10 marshmallows
• 12 c. popcorn
• Microwave brown sugar and butter for 2 minutes, add marshmallows & microwave until melted.
• Pour over popcorn.

Stir well and enjoy!  

Robert's Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Our friend Robert invited us to a party last weekend.  He served a plethora of delicious Mexican themed foods, but my favorite was the slow cooker shredded chicken he made for chicken tacos.  He graciously shared his "thrown together" (as he put it) recipe.  Of course he made a party amount so you can divide this recipe as you need to suit your family or do what I did and make the whole thing so there will be plenty for the freezer.

Robert's Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

(I'm not a food photographer.  This photo came from the Kraft website.)

Ingredients:

6 boneless chicken breasts

4 C. Water

1 medium size (16 oz.) bottle picante sauce 

1 small can (10 oz.) red enchilada sauce

4 packets chicken taco seasoning

1 large onion, diced

handful (about half a cup or to taste) shredded cilantro

taco shells or tortillas

taco toppings as preferred 

     (I like them with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded Mexican cheese blend and avocados or guacamole.)

Directions:

Put everything except shells and toppings in the slow cooker.  Cook on high 4-6 hours.  Stir occasionally, shredding chicken as you can.  At the end of this time, shred the rest of the chicken and cook on low for another hour.  

Serve with shells or tortillas and toppings.  Smile because it's SO good.  

Over 500 Dutch Oven Recipes!!!

I found the best thing ever yesterday!  A site with over 500 user submitted Dutch Oven recipes!  I think I'm in heaven.

Click the picture so you can be in Dutch Oven Recipe Heaven, too!