Lego Cake

via Parenting.com

Parenting. com has been posting some terrific birthday cake designs lately that are completely doable.  I want to throw out the suggestion that these do not have to be just for kids.  I like Legos, so who says I can't have a Lego cake too!

I'm Ready to Grill!

I'm doing a bit of magazine organizing right now, so you might start seeing scans from my magazine clippings.  I've discovered a new trick to clip pages from my favorite periodicals.  I use my gift wrap cutter (made by Scotch) to cut the pages out instead of the dangerous X-Acto knife that I used to use.  It's quicker, cleaner, and safer and I can't believe I didn't think of it before.

 

via Martha Stewart

Corn on the Cob Coins

•     8 ears of corn
•     5 to 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
•     1 teaspoon coarse salt
•     1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. Preheat grill to high. Shuck 8 ears of corn, and cut each crosswise into 3/4-inch slices. Mound the corn coins on a large piece of parchment-lined foil.
2. Scatter 5 to 6 tablespoons unsalted butter over corn, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper.
3. Fold foil to form a packet, crimping edges to seal. Grill, covered, for 15 minutes.

This recipe is from the August 2009 Martha Stewart Living issue.  I cut it out of my magazine and realized that it is on her website.  Martha, pretty much, does the magazine clipping for you.

Recipe: Christmas Punch

Christmas Punch

1/2 gallon crannapple juice
2 cups brewed tea
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
2 sliced oranges

Mix and heat on low in Crockpot. Remove orange slices after 1 hour or they will turn the punch slightly bitter.

Dough Ornaments

via katy elliot

Here, on Katy Elliot's blog, is a great tutorial on how to make your own ornaments.  They are beautiful and cheap.  I made a few of these as a kid and loved the whole process.  Somehow the ornaments above turned out better than my attempts asa  kid, though!

Recipe: Crockpot Roast Beef and Gravy

It is the day before Thanksgiving and I thought I would share an easy recipe to make when you don't have much time...

Crockpot Roast Beef and Gravy

2 lb. Stew Beef (uncooked)
1 packet Lipton's Onion Soup Mix
1 large can Sliced Mushrooms
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup

Combine all ingredients in crockpot and heat on low for 8 hours.  Serve over rice or egg noodles.

Favorite Recipe: Pesto Pinwheels

via Taste of Home

Pesto Pinwheels

1 (8-oz.) can Pillsbury® Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls
1/3 cup purchased pesto
1/4 cup chopped purchased roasted red bell peppers
Marinara Sauce

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Unroll dough into 2 long rectangles. Firmly press perforations to seal. Spread rectangles with pesto to within 1/4 inch of edges; sprinkle with bell peppers.
3. Starting at shortest side, roll up each rectangle; pinch edges to seal. Cut each roll into 8 slices. Place, cut side down, on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 13 to 17 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Serve warm with Marinara Sauce.

I have a love for pesto and crescent rolls; this seems to be the perfect marraige of the two.  Still tastes good when it has cooled, but really good when warm.

Favorite Recipe: Chunky Caramel Popcorn

You may not see a pattern to it yet, but today is the Favorite Recipe day.
I was just telling my friend about this Chunky Popcorn recipe shown below and how you make the caramel from scratch. It is so easy to make and really yummy. I actually got this recipe for free in the mail after signing up for recipes from Land O'Lakes.  Good ol' butter!

 via Land O'Lakes

Chunky Caramel Popcorn

12    cups popped popcorn

1     (9.75-ounce) can (2 cups) whole cashews
1     (5-ounce) bag (1 1/2 cups) pecan halves
1     cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4  cup LAND O LAKES® Butter
1/2  cup light corn syrup
1     teaspoon baking soda

1        cup dark chocolate chips
1 1/2  teaspoons shortening
1/2     cup white baking chips

Heat oven to 250°F. Place popcorn, cashews and pecans in large roasting pan.

Combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (7 to 8 minutes). Continue boiling 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda.

Pour butter mixture over popcorn mixture in pan; stir well. Bake for 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven; place onto waxed paper or parchment paper. Cool completely. (DO NOT BREAK INTO PIECES.)

Place chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening into resealable plastic food bag. Microwave on HIGH (100% power) for 30 to 45 seconds; knead bag. Continue microwaving at 15 second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag; drizzle melted chocolate over popcorn mixture. Repeat with white baking chips and remaining 1/2 teaspoon shortening, microwaving on MEDIUM-HIGH (70% power). Drizzle over popcorn mixture. Let stand until chocolate is set (3 to 4 hours). Break popcorn mixture into pieces.

Store in container with tight-fitting lid or resealable plastic food bag.

Favorite Recipe: Oreo Truffles

photo via Flickr

Kraft Foods has a great selection of recipes and a friend alerted me to this one a few years ago.  It is really easy and fast to make.  I added it to my annual holiday cooking immediately.  Any leftoever chocolate can be used to cover pretzels or other treats.

Oreo Truffles 
1 pkg. (1 lb. 2 oz.) OREO Cookies, finely crushed, divided
1 pkg.  (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened 2 pkg. (8 squares each)
Milk Chocolate chips, melted

1.    Mix 3 cups of the cookie crumbs and the cream cheese until well blended. Shape into 42 (1-inch) balls.
2.    Dip balls in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs.
3.    Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Store any leftover truffles in tightly covered container in refrigerator.


 Do you have any favorite holiday recipes that you make year after year?