Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Splash into Summer Giveaway Blog Hop /The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz & Ice Cream Scoop




Thank you to I'm A Reader, Not A Writer, and Page Turners Blog for hosting this great Blog hop!!  I  am giving away a brand new cook book and a new Wilton Ice Cream Scoop.  The winner will be drawn randomly and announced June 1st.  I will email the winner and list nthe first name or alias here.  Thank you for participating and Good Luck!!  Please fill out the form below.

The Perfect Scoop: Ice Creams, Sorbets, Granitas, and Sweet Accompaniments


WILTON ICE CREAM SCOOP ASSORTED COLORS 2104-1133 The one you can win is Green!




***It appears that Google Friend CONNECT IS HAVING PROBLEMS.  Please look at the top of the blog and the follow button there will work.  I have noticed this problem on many blogs the last few days.


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz

The Perfect Scoop: Ice Creams, Sorbets, Granitas, and Sweet Accompaniments

This is the perfect cookbook for all of those hot summer days to come!  Come back on May 25th and register to win this book and an ice cream scoop!  Seriously, this book is great.  It has beautiful photographs of almost every recipe.  Not only is it full of ice cream recipes, but it also has gelato and frozen yogurt recipes along with sauce recipes to top off the perfect summer treat.  I am having a difficult time choosing a recipe to share because they all look good!

Ok, I am going with lemon ice cream since I love all things lemon!

Super Lemon Ice Cream
Makes about 1 quart
2 lemons, preferably unsprayed
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice, about 3 lemons
2 cups half and half
pinch of salt
Zest the lemons directly into a food processor or blender.  Add the sugar and blend until the lemon zest is very fine.  Add the lemon juice and blend until the sugar is completely dissolved.  Blend in the half and half and salt until smooth.  Chill fo a hour, then freeze the mixture in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Other recipes in this book that look great are:  Fresh Fig Ice Cream, Pear Caramel Ice Cream, Peach Ice Cream, Blueberry Frozen Yogurt, Cheesecake Ice Cream, Rum Raisin Ice Cream.  That is just a small sampling of the recipes in this book! 

Monday, May 9, 2011

Spring Carnival Blog Hop Winner!

Congratulations to Stella @ exlibris! She won her choice of cookbook!  Thank you everyone for participating and thank you for all the lovely comments.  I hope you will come back for the Splash into Summer Hop at the end of the month!  I will be giving away another great cook book that will be perfect for Summer!  The random number generated was 40, but I couldn't figure out how to make the number stay so that I could post it(I'm still new at this).

Thanks to everyone!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

BabyCakes Covers the Classics by Erin Mckenna and Snoballs Recipe

happy Birthday Maegan and Joe!!!!

BabyCakes Covers the Classics: Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes from Donuts to Snickerdoodles


Before I give my review, I want to tell My Baby girl Happy Birthday!  Also Happy Birthday to her  husband, Joe.  Maegan was born on May 6 and Joe was born on May 7th.  We will be going out to lunch tomorrow but,



Review:
 I bought this book for Maegan and thought I would go ahead and review it today.  She has been told to try eating gluten free and that is what this book is all about.  Every recipe in it is gluten free.  The recipes look great.  I was going to bake her a cake from the book, but after going to Target and Walmart and not finding the ingredients, I decided not to.  But for anyone that has a serious gluten allergy, I would recommend this book because, everyone needs cake.  Then it would justify spending the money on the different kinds of flours that are necessary to cook gluten free.  Let's take a look at the goodies inside this book.  There are :



Wonder Buns


Smores


Rice Krispie Blocks


German Chocolate Cake

And


The recipe that I am going to share is Sno Balls
Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened coconut
1 1/2 tbs india tree natural red food coloring
3/4 cup white or brown rice flour
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup potato starch
1/4 cup arrowroot
1 TBS baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup agave nectar
1/2 cup melted refined coconut oil or canola oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup vanilla extract
1tsp lemon extract
1/2 cup hot water
1 1/2 cups Ricemellow cream ( found at Suzanne's Specialities Ricemellow Cream)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside.  In a small bowl, combine the coconut  and red food coloring and toss with your hands until the flakes are uniformly pink.  Add a touch more food coloring if you want the flakes brighter pink.  Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, potato starch, arrowroot, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, and salt.  Add the agave nectar, coconut oil, applesauce, vanilla, and lemon extract and mix. with a rubber spatula until the batter is smooth.  Add the hot water and mix until fully incorporated.

Using a 1/2 cup measure, divide the batter among the baking cups.  Bake for 14 minutes, rotate and bake until the cupcakes are lightly golden on the outside and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 14 minutes more.  Let stand in tin for 30 minutes.

Remove the liner from each cupcake.  Cut the bottom third of the cupcake away and set aside for another use.  Using a spoon, hollow out the inside of the remaining section of the cupcake and fill each with 1 Tbs ricemellow creme.  Spread an additional 2 Tbs creme on the top of each snowball and roll in pink coconut.


Happy Birthday to my Favorite people in all the world!








Wednesday, May 4, 2011

101 Gourmet Cupcakes in 10 minutes by Wendy Paul

101 Gourmet Cupcakes in 10 Minutes101 Gourmet Cupcakes in 10 Minutes by Wendy Paul
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"It's what's Inside that counts!"

Yummy! That describes this cute little book in one word!The recipes are all quick and the cupcakes are all filled.  Just to tempt you a little, I will list a little of the deliciousness to be found inside.  Banana Cream Pie, Best Ever Apple, Key Lime Pie, Lemon Blueberry, Lemon Cream, Orange Cramsicle, Peach Cobbler, Chocolate Cream, Strawberry Shortcake, Root Beer Float, and Little earthquake.  There are lot more and Wendy Paul even offers frosting suggestions, and easy easy ways to top your cupcakes beautifully!

Here is a lovely recipe from the book:




Lemon Cream with Whipped Cream
1 box lemon cake mix
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, softened
2 Tbs grated lemon zest
1 recipe whipped cream
1tsp lemon extract
1/2 cup crushed lemon drop candy

Mix together cake mix, eggs, sour cream, and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.  Add grated lemon zest and combine .  Fill paper liners 3/4 full.

Bake at 350 degrees gor 15-18 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.  Remove and cool cupcakes on a wire rack.

Add lemon extract to whipped cream and combine well.  Top cooled cupcakes with lemon whipped cream and sprinkle with crushed lemon candy for garnish.
Enjoy!!!
Charla

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Blog Carnival and Cook Book Giveaway



Welcome To the Freak Show!
For the Blog Carnival giveaway, one commentor will win their choice of cookbooks.  One freakin winner will be able to  choose between Biscuit Bliss by James Villas or Cupcakes From the Cakedoctor by Ann Byrn.  Both are brand new books and you can see my reviews below.  Please leave a comment and tell me which book you would prefer and around midnight at the end of the blog hop on May 8th, the winner will be randomly chosen.  Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you will come back soon!  Thank you also to the ladies at Pure Imagination Blog, Candaces Book Blog, Book Swarm and Reading Angel  for hosting this Hop!

This book makes my mouth water!  I love biscuits!  I will list one of my favorite biscuit recipes here.  It is for Angel Biscuits.  If you have never tasted an Angel biscuit, you must try this because they taste like they are straight from Heaven.  This recipe says these books are often called Brides Biscuits because using double leavening can guarantee them to be feather light. (the first taste I had of these was at a Bridal Breakfast in Natchez Ms and I embarrased myself because I couldn't stop eating them!)
Ingredients:
1 envelope active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 TBS sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chilled vegetable shortening
1 cup buttermilk

1.  In a small bowl, combine the yeast and warm water, stir and set aside to proof.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Add the shortening and cut in with a pastry cutter or rub with your fingers until the mixture is mealy.  Add the yeast mixture and buttermilk and stir with a fork until soft, sticky dough forms.
3.  Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface, form into a ball, roll out 1/2" thick and cut out more rounds.  Arrange the rounds close together on a baking sheet, cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm area about 1 hour.
4.  preheat oven to 400 degrees.
5.  Bake the biscuits in the center of the oven till golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.

Some of the other recipes in this book are, Cloud Biscuits, Cathead Biscuits, Butter ogurt Biscuits, Stovetop Biscuits, Cheddar BiscuitsOrange Cream Scones and many more.
Makes about 20 biscuits.

This great book is full of cupcake ideas and they are all easy to make!  It also has icing recipes and muffin recipes.  There are Wedding Day Cupcakes, Ice cream cone cupcakes, Monster Monkies, Groundhog Day Cupcakes, Lemonade Angel Cupcakes and oh so many more.  This will be a great book for anyone with children, while at the same time being great for anyone with a sweet tooth.  Here is recipe from the book for : 

Key Lime cupcakes
These are part Pie and Part Cupcake
Ingredients
1 large lime, scrubbed for 1 tsp zest and 2 Tbs juice
4 large eggs
1 pkg(18.25 ounces) plain yellow cake mix
1 pkg(3.4 ounces vanilla instant pudding mix
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp coconut flavoring
Filling
1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup key lime Juice
Coconut Meringue
1/4 tsp cream of tarter
Reserved 3 large egg whites1/2 tsp coconut flavoring
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1.  Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line 24 cupcake cups with paper liners.  Set the pans aside.
2.  Prepare the cupcake batter; zest the lime and cut and juice and reserve 2 Tbs of juice.  Separate 3 of the eggs, place whites in a large bowl and the yolks in another.
3.  Add the remaining egg, cake mix, pudding mix, water, oil, coconut flavoring and lime zest and juice to the yolks.  Blend with electric mixer on low for 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more.  spoon or scoop 1/4 cup batter into each lined cup, filling 2/3 full.  Place in oven.
4.  Bake until golden, 18-22 minutes.  Remove the pans and place on wire racks to cool 5 minutes.  Increase oven to 450 degrees.
5.  Prepare filling.  Place condensed milk and key lime juice in a small bowl and stir to combine.  Spoon mixture into a pastry bag with medium tip.  Press tip 1/4 inch into top center of each cake and squeeze about 1 Tbs into each cooked  cupcake.
6.  Prepare Meringue.  Add the cream of tarter to the reserved egg whites and beat with electric mixer on high until frothy, about 45 seconds.  Add the coconut flavoring and 1 Tbs of sugar at a time, until the whites form stiff peaks.  Spoon 2 Tbs meringue onto neach cupcake and swirl.  Place them in the oven and bake until golden, 5-6inutes. Serve at once or cool 10 minutes.
Makes 24 Cupcakes
Don't forget to leave a comment stating which cookbook you would like to win!  This giveaway is open to all, I will mail the book internationally!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Hungry Girl 300 under 300/ Cheeseburger Mac Attack




This is the second cookbook that I have read by Lisa Lillien.  I loved the first and was not disappointed with this one either.  She offers several recipes for breakfast bowls that are under three hundred calories, but taste wonderful.  There are also several great recipes for oatmeal that are quick to whip up!  I tend to wake up hungry and want something quick and these fit the bill.

For lunch, why not try one of her sandwich recipes such as, The Skinny Elvis, or the Open Faced Chicken Salad Melt, or the Monte Cristo Sandwich!

For Dinner, she  offers several crock pot recipes.  I love these because you just throw it in the pot in the morning and by dinner time, it is ready.  I have cooked her barbecue pulled pork and even my husband loved it!  There is a lot to love about this book.  There is even a recipe for faux Fried Green Tomatoes! I love Fried Green Tomatoes!  I will try them and report here how they turned out.

For dinner tonight I am making the:

Cheeseburger mac Attack


8 Servings
5 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni with 2g fiber per 2 oz. serving
10 oz. raw lean ground turkey
1tsp onion powder
2TBS ketchup
24 oz frozen green giant cauliflower & cheese sauce
3 wedges The laughing Cow creamy swiss cheese
salt and pepper

In a large pot, prepare pasta very al dente, cooking for 1/2 the time on package.  Drain Well and set aside.  In a bowl, combine turkey, onion powder and ketchup.  Use your hands to mix well.  Transfer mixture to a crock pot.  Add frozen veggies and cooked pasta to the crock pot and stir.  Cover and cook on high for 3 -to 4 hours, until turkey is fully cooked.

Stir mixture and crumble turkey.  Add cheese wedges and stir until evenly distributed.  Season to taste.

8 Servings
per serving:
179 calories
5.75g fat
512mg sodium
19g carbs
2g fiber
3.5g sugars
12.5g protein

I will let you know how this turns out!


 If you have never tried her cookbooks, I suggest that you visit her website. On the website, you can get free recipes and many, many ideas for eating better.  www.hungry-girl.com

Happy Cooking,
Charla