Showing posts with label appetizers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label appetizers. Show all posts

Monday, June 3, 2013

Apple Fritter Cake, Cute Quilts, and Shark Cupcakes. . .Good Stuff!

well my goodness...
even i don't know what to say after this latest absence!
sooooo much has happened in the past few months
that i want to write about.
one of these days i'll play catch up.
i have to...because i use my blog as a yearly memory album and there
are a few things i want included.

and i'm so sorry i haven't visited my special friend's blogs to
keep in touch.
i will...promise!
in the meantime, i have a shabby chicks facebook page 
that i post a lot of fun stuff on.
pop on over and like my page so you can follow along!

but for now, how about a light, kinda random post
to get me back in the groove.
ready?
let's do this:)

first off,
with school getting out, summer fun around the corner...
and shark week on TV,
how about some 
shark cupcakes?



awesome, don't ya think?
go to joanns.com for a supply list and info on the wilton shark cupcake kit.


summer decorating calls for a lighter hand, 
maybe a fresh new color or fun carefree accessory.
these pillows are just the ticket to lighten things up...


and you can find them at Pottery Barn Teen of all places!

speaking of teens (and the rest of us).......

great advice!

usually i make you wait till the end for the YUMMY recipe. . . . .
but not this time.

APPLE FRITTER CAKE. . . .
melt in your mouth goodness:)

Apple Fritter Cake
original recipe: http://nerdybaker.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/apple-fritter-cake-and-ufos/

Ingredients:
For Filling:
1 heaping cup of sliced apples (I cored and quartered and then sliced)
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
small pinch freshly grated nutmeg
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons water
Plus
1/2 cup brown sugar (I used a 1/4 cup each of dark and light)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

For Cake:
1/3 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup greek yogurt (you could use plain yogurt as well or sour cream)

For Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons milk

Instructions:

For filling: 
Make your filling by combining apples, sugar, water, cinnamon and cornstarch in a small saucepan.  Cook on low heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly until the sauce is thickend and the apples are a bit soft.  Set aside to cool.  In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together until well combined and set aside.

For Cake: 
Preheat oven to 350°.  Grease and flour a 9×13 baking dish.  Set aside.
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Add applesauce and vanilla and mix till combined.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Sift the dry ingredients together.  Add the dry ingredients to the batter in three parts alternating with the yogurt in two parts, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.  Beat until just combined.
Spoon half of the batter into the prepared pan.  Spoon the cooled apple mixture over the batter carefully and spread as evenly as possible.  Sprinkle 2/3 of brown sugar cinnamon mixture over apples and cover with the rest of the batter.  Sprinkle the rest of the brown sugar cinnamon mixture over the top.
Bake for 45-55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

For Glaze: 
While the cake is baking, make the glaze.  In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until the glaze is desired consistency.  When the cake comes out of the oven, immediately but carefully pour onto hot cake.  Try to pour as evenly as possible.  You might have to pick up the cake and tilt it to spread the glaze evenly.  I even poured some out that pooled at the corners and repoured that over the top.  Let the cake sit for awhile for the glaze to set.

beware...it's reallllly good:)

 awwwww.....


how about some mini munchies. . . . .
don't you love these ideas?


last, i really love this quilt!
so plush looking with the velvet squares and the pom poms:)


okay, that's all for now:)  
hope everyone is happy and healthy!
xoxoxo
Suzanne

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Hurricane Isaac, Random Stuff.....and FOOD:)

Hurricane Isaac is on it's way.
but before i write any more,
i am so sorry to hear about the people killed in Haiti
and the Dominican Republic.
i can't imagine living in a tent during this!
all we can do is pray, right?

so, living in south florida,
we are kinda used to this.
and it looks as if we will "only" get a few 
REALLY rainy/windy days.
no worries......
all we need is some of this stuff and this attitude.......
Hurrican Isaac




OKAY.......
it's cool going to the beach in the days leading up to it.
we went to the Naples Pier Friday night and
all was calm.......HOT and sunny:)
Yesterday we went for a walk on the beach.....
calm but now cloudy.
and today, we should feel a breeze when we go.
oh my gosh, i wish i could bottle that  breeze.
it really has been a LONG HOT SUMMER!


here are some pics from the weekend.......
i have to ask,
what do you think of my hair?
besides the fact that is SHORT?:)
it's okay if you have nothing nice to say.....
i took a razor to it Friday afternoon:)

yesterday we found colorful little shells.
and SEAGLASS!
 always a special treat!
i noticed Taylor picking up broken shells that were very colorful.
she has always collected shells.....
we all do.
but Taylor used to (still does)
collect broken ones, too.
i finally asked her why.
she said "look at the outside of a broken shell and then the inside.
sometimes the inside is much prettier."
WHOA.......
talk about a lightbulb moment!
maybe, just MAYBE, it's a great reminder
to see what's on the inside rather than the
 outside of people.
yep, that's what it is alright:)

i love this.........
it's no accident......by the way:)

food.
did i mention food in the title?
OF COURSE I DID!
what else do i talk about.....
or think about?:)
well..........
i found the MOST amazing cookie recipe
from culinary concepts by peabody on pinterest.

culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody

these are so soft and YUMMY!

White Chocolate Topped Gingerbread Cookies
3 cups flour
2 tsp. Ginger, Ground
1 tsp. Cinnamon, Ground
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg, Ground (I used fresh)
1/4 tap salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 cup white chocolate chips
Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl.
Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
Add molasses, egg and vanilla; beat well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Press dough into a thick flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies just begin to brown. Immediately press about 5-6 white chocolate chips into center of each cookie. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Store cookies in airtight container up to 5 days.
Adapted from McCormick and Company Inc.

and one of my favorite,
SUPER easy appetizers is to throw a brick of light cream cheese on a plate,
dump some pepper jelly on top and serve with crackers.
(throw.....dump......gee! really makes it sound appetizing. hahaha)
ANYWAY, look at this cute idea using just those ingredients......
How clever! Just cut a cream cheese block in half on the diagonal to make a tree shape. 
Add some bell pepper decorations and some pepper jelly (and crackers), 
and you have an awesomely cute appetizer! (Betty Crocker)

lastly, i leave you with a cloud photo
my 15 year old daughter, Jordan, snapped with her phone the other day.
can you see anything in the clouds?

let me give you a clue.......
we just finished watching Shark Week on TV.
for some weird reason, we like Shark week:)
it's a SHARK cloud!
see his pointy nose, eyes, TEETH.........
i think it's super cool.
i want it to go viral.........
she caught a great photo and deserves it:)

okay my friends,
be BLESSED on this Sunday morning!
XOXOXOXOX
Suzanne

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