Pizza Birthday Cake

I was surfing the web for a fun birthday cake idea for my little man (who turned 4 today), and I saw this one.

I think one of the reasons I fell in love with it is because on Friday's at our house it is pizza night, so this was very fitting!  

Pizza Cake

1 GF yellow cake mix ( I used Betty Crocker's)

Frosting - add red food paste and a little bit of brown paste to give it more of the dark pizza sauce color)

Cheese: grated or finely chopped white baking chocolate
Pepperoni: Strawberry Fruit Roll-Up cut into circles
Pineapple: yellow DOTS cut in half
Green peppers: GUMMI BEARS cut into pieces
Hamburger: TOOTSIE ROLLS sliced
Parmesan Cheese: Finely grated white chocolate

Color your frosting. Cook cake as directed.  If needed, level cake on top with a knife.  I spread my frosting on while the cake is still slightly warm to give it that runny sauce look.  Sprinkle on chopped white chocolate.  Then add toppings as desired.  Have fun with it and use any candy or treat that resembles a pizza topping!  For that special final touch, place the pizza cake in a pizza box!!

Calypso Spinach Salad - Rumbi Island Grill Copycat

We spent the last week and a half in Utah visiting family for spring break.  We went to eat at Rumbi Grill and this is the salad I chose.  It is so delicious!!  I would like to figure out how to make my own Balsamic Vinaigrette that tastes just like theirs, but until then, I just bought Smith's Brand Private Selection Creamy Balsamic Light.

Baby spinach
Grilled chicken pieces
Bacon bits
Mandarin oranges
Feta cheese
Carrots - grated
Red onion finely diced
Caramelized walnuts ( I did not use these)
Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette

Nutella Brownie Bites

Rich, moist, chocolaty flavor.  Definitely need a glass of milk with these little brownie bites!!

I got this recipe off of a blog I follow, which said this recipe comes from Sunset Magazine, but when I tried to find it there, had no such luck.  

Nutella Brownie Bites

1/2 cup butter
2 oz unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup Featherlite Flour Mix
½ tsp xanthan gum
1/2 cup Nutella

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter 8 muffin cups in muffin tin. Microwave 1/2 cup butter to until melted. Add chocolate, stirring until melted. Add sugar and cocoa. Whisk in egg, vanilla, and salt. Add flour and stir until smooth. Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups. Using a small spoon, make a depression in each portion of batter and spoon 1 tbsp Nutella into each brownie. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Let cool for 10 minutes then remove brownies from muffin tin.

** I just sprayed my muffin tin with nonstick spray and I used my mini muffin tin and got 20 brownie bites. I used about ½ tsp Nutella per brownie bite

Homemade Refried Beans

Tuesday is 'Taco Tuesday' at our house and the best part of that meal is the homemade refried beans.  After eating these homemade beans, I can't bring myself to eat the 'stuff' they sell in the cans!  This recipe took me a few times to get the flavor right to our liking.  The more garlic powder and dried onions, the better!  I am able to cook  2 C of dried pinto beans in my 4 quart crock pot on high in 4-5 hours.  My crock pot cooks things really fast, so this time frame will vary with every crock pot.  The amounts I have listed for the garlic, onions and salt are just a starting point.  This is something you will have to experiment and adjust to your liking.

Refried Beans
Yield: 4-5 C refried beans
2 C dried pinto beans
2 1/2 quarts of water
1-2 TBS garlic powder or fresh minced garlic (This amount is really a personal preference)
1/4-1/3 C dried onions (This amount is really a personal preference) 
2-3 tsp salt (This amount is really a personal preference)  (but do not add this until after the beans are cooked and drained)


Place beans, garlic, onions and water in crock pot. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours.
When beans are soft, drain and reserve juices.  Place beans in blender, add salt.  If beans are to thick, add some of the reserved juices.  Beans will thicken up as as they cool.  May serve hot or refrigerate until needed.

Seriously the best beans ever!!

Bears on Cloud Nine (Jell-O Dessert)

We are BIG Jell-O fans at our house!  There are so many fun things you can do with Jell-O.  This recipe comes from KRAFT foods.

Ingredients:

2 cups boiling water

2 pkg.  (3 oz. each) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin

4 C ice cubes

1/3 cup  bear-shaped gummy candies (2 oz.)

Directions:
Add boiling water to gelatin mixes in medium bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add ice; stir 2 to 3 min. or until gelatin is slightly thickened. Remove any unmelted ice.

Pour all but 3/4 cup gelatin into 12 (5-oz.) clear plastic cups. Beat remaining gelatin with mixer on high speed 30 seconds or until fluffy and doubled in volume. Spoon over gelatin in cups.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Top with Gummi Bears.
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Love Floats

A friend of mine posted this idea on Facebook and it was too cute to pass up.  It makes a great gift for teachers, friends or maybe even your spouse!  I would have preferred to use white taffy, but could not find a store that had enough for the amount I needed to make this sweet treat....so I just used pink and red taffy.

This is what it should look like before you start gluing on the taffy...

Supplies Needed:

Glass cups  ...  any style or size...can be bought at the dollar store

Styrofoam balls cut in half (make sure you get a size to fit the glass you bought)

Pixy Sticks for the straw

Candy for the bottom of the glass (Hot Tamales, M&M's, Conversation Hearts, Sweet Tarts, Kisses)

Wrapped Salt Water Taffy (White would be preferred choice, but can do coordinating Valentine's colors)

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Directions:

Fill the glass with candy, right up to the top.  Make a hole in the styrofoam and slide pixy stick through.  Hot glue styrofoam half to top of the glass.  Hot glue taffy to the styrofoam ball in layers starting at the bottom and working your way to the top.  Very easy and a fun project to do with the kiddos!

Happy Valentine's Day.

Homemade Hot Chocolate

A friend of mine had a Hot Chocolate party the other day and it was the most amazing hot  chocolate I have ever had!!  It definitely puts the boughten stuff to shame.  She shared the recipe with me and I had to pass it on!  Enjoy...

Homemade Hot Chocolate
¾ C sugar
¼ C (heaping) cocoa powder, plain or dark chocolate depending on preference
Dash of salt
1/3 C hot water
4 C milk
¾ tsp vanilla

Place first four ingredients in pot on stove. Have milk and vanilla ready to add. Cook and stir on medium heat until it comes to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, still stirring. Add milk, cook and stir until back up to desired  temperature. Add vanilla, stir and remove from heat. Add marshmallow if desired.

**Can use 3 ¾ C milk and ¼ C heavy whipping cream.

Waffle Bowls

Who needs Cold Stone when you can make you own delicious waffle bowls at home.  These are so yummy and you can make just about any ice cream creation to go inside the waffle bowl!!  I get about 15-20 waffle bowls from a full batch.  

This recipe comes from eatingglutenfree.com  (under the ice cream section)


Waffles Cones

3 eggs
¾ c. sugar
½ c. butter, melted and cooled
2 Tbs. vanilla
1 C. Featherlight mix
¾ tsp. xanthan gum
1 tsp. baking powder

Beat eggs, gradually adding sugar. Add cooled butter and vanilla. In other bowl, combine flour mixes, xanthan gum, and baking powder. Blend into egg mixture until smooth. Dough will be sticky. Drop by heaping spoonful onto a hot WAFFLE CONE baker. (can be purchased in some stores or online)

Bake as directed. (Usually for about 20 seconds.) Remove from baker and either roll around a waffle cone shaper or drape over an upside-down bowl or cup. The cone will harden quickly as it cools.

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Delicious...no other words...

I did use chopped ham this time only because we are still trying to use up leftover holiday ham.  I also just added the salt and pepper to the seasoned crumb mix rather than sprinkling it on the chicken.

Chicken Cordon Bleu

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
6 slices Swiss cheese
4 slices cooked ham
1/2 cup seasoned crumbs (recipe below)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Coat a  baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness. Sprinkle each piece of chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Place 1 cheese slice and 1 ham slice on top of each breast. Roll up each breast, and secure with a toothpick. Place in baking dish, and sprinkle chicken evenly with seasoned crumbs. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove from oven, and place 1/2 cheese slice on top of each breast. Return to oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese has melted. Remove toothpicks, and serve immediately.

Seasoned Crumb Recipe

1 1/2-2 C  Rice Chex cereal (then place in bag and crush with a rolling pin)
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
2 TB parsley
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 tsp garlic powder

Mix together in a bag.

Seasoned Crumb Recipe

Seriously the best breaded crumbs we have had in a VERY long time!!

Seasoned Crumb Recipe

1 1/2-2 C crushed Rice Chex cereal

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

2 TB parsley

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp basil

1 tsp garlic powder

Mix together in a bag.

Chicken and Ham Veggie Soup

I love soup on cold days and I was looking for a way to use up some of our leftover ham from the holidays.  This is a very flavorful soup.

4 C chicken broth
2 chicken breasts
1 large onion chopped
3 celery ribs chopped
1 C carrots chopped
1 14 oz. package frozen corn
1 can black beans rinsed and drained
1  can petite diced tomatoes
3/4 C chopped ham
1/4 C ketchup
1/2 TBS sugar
3 TBS red wine vinegar
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp hot sauce
1 tsp dried marjoram (I used Oregano)
2 TBS taco seasoning.

Bring chicken broth to a boil in a large pot.  Add uncooked whole chicken breast, onion and celery.  Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.  Add carrots, continue simmering for 15-20 more minutes.  remove chicken from pot and let cool slightly.  Shred chicken and put back in pot.  Add all remaining ingredients, cover and simmer on low for 30 more minutes.

***Crockpot version
Cube chicken and brown in frying pan.  Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until veggies are tender.

Chili Dip

This recipe is one you can adjust to the size of crowd you would be feeding. (With what is listed below, I served 5 people - 1/2 C serving  each and had about 2 C leftover)  

3 cans of Hormel Chili (with beans)

1 8oz. Cream Cheese (cut into smaller chunks)

2 tsp. Taco Seasoning

Grated Cheddar Cheese

Chips for dipping

Add chili, taco seasoning and cream cheese chunks into crock pot.  You are only cooking it long enough to melt down the cream cheese.  If you are in a hurry, put it on high.  I like to simmer mine for about three hours on low, stirring every thirty minutes.  Before serving you can add grated cheese to the entire batch, or serve it separately on the side.

Caked Oreo's

I found this recipe over here at Picky Palate.  Her version is NOT GF, but I switched a few things to make them work for us.  I chose to use a GF cake mix rather than the brownie mix.  The cake mix tends to be a bit more runny which makes covering the Oreo's a little easier. They are DELICIOUS!!  These little cakes are simple to make and very adaptable for any holiday or occasion.

 

1 Brownie mix (I used Betty Crocker Chocolate Cake Mix)
1 package GF Oreo's (I used Kinnikinnick Brand)
White chocolate, melted for drizzle
Sprinkles

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare cake/brownie batter according to package directions. Leave in mixing bowl. Dip Oreos in cake/brownie batter, then place in bottom of cupcake tins that have been generously sprayed with cooking spray. (I used cupcake liners in mine instead of spraying them. I do not enjoy cleaning/washing cupcake pans!) Bake for 12-15 minutes, until cake/brownie is cooked through (doesn’t take long). As soon as you remove, take a plastic knife and run along edges if not using liners, (this is VERY important so you can get the cake/brownie and cookie out together.
2. Let cool for 5 minutes, remove and drizzle with melted white chocolate and add sprinkles.
 Enjoy !!

** There are only about 21 cookies in the Kinnikinnick Oreo package, so I just made candy cane cupcakes with the rest of the batter.  (I smashed a bunch of candy canes and stirred them in into the batter).

Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

I seriously cannot believe that I have not posted this recipe....We use it all the time!!  I LOVE the Olive Garden's Alfredo sauce, and a couple of years ago I received a collection of recipes in a cookbook that has a imitation version of their alfredo sauce.  It is SO good, you almost don't miss the bread sticks !!

Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

1 pint of Heavy Whipping Cream

1 cube of real butter
2 TB Cream Cheese
1 tsp garlic ( a like to use about 2 tsp)
½ - ¾ C Parmesan Cheese
**I like to add Black Pepper (add to your liking)

Melt together whipping cream, butter and cream cheese. Add garlic and parmesan cheese. Simmer together for 15 minutes or until smooth. Will thicken slightly. Pour over cooked pasta. We like to add chicken and sometimes broccoli.

**My personal opinion...Trader Joe's has the best Brown Rice Noodles.  In our area you can get a 16 ounce bag for $1.99.  That is the cheapest price for the best tasting noodle!!

Holiday Popcorn

This is a easy holiday treat.  All I did was pop up some popcorn, drizzled white chocolate and milk chocolate all over it and then sprinkled crushed cashews and red hots on it.  This is just the beginning of many possibilities.  You can add just about anything to this....M&M's, marshmallow, peanuts, dried cranberries...be creative!!  Fill a holiday tin or a cute treat bag and tie it off with some curling ribbon.  Makes for a great gift.

Popped popcorn (I used 1 cup of kernels)

Milk Chocolate (2 cubes)

White Chocolate (2 cubes)

Crushed Cashews

Pop popcorn and try to remove as many loose kernels as possible.  Spread out evenly over a large baking sheet.  Melt chocolates (separately) in double boiler (I made my own by placing a bowl over a small sauce pan filled with water.  Turn heat to medium high).  Drizzle melted chocolate over popcorn.  If using any other mix-in, add them now.  Place baking sheet in a cool/cold place and let chocolate set.