Thursday, January 30, 2014

My First Year of Blogging Celebration Giveaway!

     I am excited to announce my first giveaway to celebrate my first year anniversary and reaching 20,000 page views!  I know that this isn't a huge number in the blogging world, but it is huge for me knowing that just a year ago I was happy to see 5 or 10 people per day looking at my blog.  

     It really is so much fun sharing exciting new recipes with you and seeing the response.  I really feel like these recipes help people enjoy them with the people they love and that it makes their lives a little bit better.  So THANKS to all of you for your visits and comments and followings.  

     To let you know how much I appreciate you all I am giving away this Taste of Home 5 Ingredient Cookbook.  It has so many delicious and easy recipes that I know you will love it.  So what are you waiting for?  Go ahead enter. The winner may be you!!! Please be sure to leave an email address in your comment so I can contact you if you win!!   -- a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure to leave your comment THEN go back to the contest box click on the +1 button and it will come down to a box that says I commented.  Click that to be entered!   
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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Four Seasons Blog Hop - Easy Life Meal & Party PlanningWelcome to the Four Seasons Blog Hop
A party where we can celebrate the greatness that each season brings to our lives.
So Let's Get This Party Started!!Let's Get this Party Started Share your  food creations, gardening, clever projects, tablescapes, decorations, party themes, and inspirational knowledge ... Ok, you get the point.  Join us every Thursday (opens Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm). Please stay for awhile and show some love to the guests, join us in the fun and grab a button. 
Four Seasons Blog Button
We will share your posts in a variety of ways on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus.  We will also have features of the week! Be sure to follow our Four Seasons Board on Pinterest!  By participating in this linky party, you agree to have your posts shared on social media and Pinterest and to receive email and Google notifications for reminders about the party. If you don't want to receive notifications, please let us know.

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Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Ultimate Grasshopper Cookies!

Mint Chocolate Cookies
     Can you even look at that without your mouth watering?  If you look closely you will see chocolate chips in the deep chocolate cookie and you might also notice that the chocolate on top is melted semi-sweet chocolate with butter added to give it creamy soft melt in your mouth goodness!  Then the mint...oh the mint!  This really is the Ultimate!

     You don't have to wait any longer because I will give you the recipe right now.  And you can rest easy because these are very easy to make in fact they start with a shhhhhh!  (Cake mix).  We don't have to let that little secret out now do we?  

       I have to say that when I found these cookies on Your Cup of Cake I had reason to celebrate.  I was looking for a cookie that would be fancy enough for a friends wedding. We  also needed one that had  mint color in it because that is one of the wedding colors.  This cookie fit the bill and is one of my new favorite cookies too! The flavor is amazing! Thanks Lizzy from Your Cup of Cake!  I did make a couple of changes in the frosting and adapted the recipe somewhat so here it is!

Ultimate Grasshopper Cookies

1 box Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix (16.5 oz).
2 eggs (room temperature- set in a cup of warm water for 5 minutes)
1/2 cup real butter - melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup milk chocolate chips

      Mix all ingredient together in a bowl with a spoon.  Use a medium cookie scoop to form dough and place 2" apart on a silpat mat or parchment paper placed on a cookie sheet.  Cook 9 to10 minutes and remove promptly.  Cool until firm enough to move to a cooling rack.  This will produce a cookie that is firm and slightly flat.  I like this because it makes a good surface
to put all the layers of icing and chocolate topping and mints.


*** If you like a rounder, softer cookie do not melt the butter but instead bring it to room temperature and add it that way.  Also do not add the brown sugar, it makes the cookie spread more and the cookie will be more rounded if you leave it out. I made this recipe both ways doing everything else exactly the same.  Here are the results:
Easy chocolate cookies 




American Buttercream Frosting

2/3 cup Crisco shortening
1/3 cup butter (room temperature)
1 lb. powdered sugar (approx. 4 cups)
1 teaspoon vanilla (good quality)
1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
2 to 3 Tablespoons milk
green food coloring (I used Wilton leaf green paste) 

     Whip butter and shortening with a wisk attachment until smooth and light yellow.  (about 1 minute).  Change to paddle attachment. 

Add 1 cup pdr. sugar and mix it in.  Add another cup pdr sugar and mix it in. 
Add vanilla and peppermint.  
Add 1 Tablespoon milk and mix. 
Add 2 more cups pdr. sugar beating each in separately.  
Add one more Tablespoon milk and mix. 
Add amount of food coloring desired and mix. 
Add remaining milk if you want your icing to be thinner.  (I only add 2 total Tablespoons of milk).   
Cover icing bowl with a damp towel until ready to use.  Recipe from Glorious Treats.

Chocolate Topping

1 1/2 cup Semi sweet Chocolate Chips. (I used Costco 80% Cacao semi sweet chips)
1/4 cup butter

Melt both together in the microwave in a bowl.  Start with heating on high for 30 seconds and then stir.  Continue heating and stirring every 15 seconds until smooth .
homemade mint chocolate cookie


 After cookies have completely cooled, use a decorating bag and round tip to pipe the mint icing onto the cookie leaving about 1/8 to 1/4 inch of the cookie top showing around the outside border.  Use a knife to spread the icing evenly but leave the outside ring untouched so that it is smooth and even.  When chocolate has cooled to just warm use a spoon to set a small amount on top.  Spread with a knife leaving about 1/8 inch border of green icing.  Sprinkle Andes Mints pieces on top while chocolate is still tacky but not too warm or mints will melt.
cake mix cookies
This recipe has been shared on the following sites:

Anyonita's Nibbles
Kitchen Meets Girl
The Recipe Critic
Smart School House
What's Cookin Love?
Buns in My Oven
Made in a Day
Epic Mommy Adventures
The Country Cook
Totally Tasty Tuesdays
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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Come and link up with us!

Four Seasons Blog Hop - Easy Life Meal & Party PlanningWelcome to the Four Seasons Blog Hop
A party where we can celebrate the greatness that each season brings to our lives.
So Let's Get This Party Started!!Let's Get this Party Started Share your  food creations, gardening, clever projects, tablescapes, decorations, party themes, and inspirational knowledge ... Ok, you get the point.  Join us every Thursday (opens Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm). Please stay for awhile and show some love to the guests, join us in the fun and grab a button. 
Four Seasons Blog Button
We will share your posts in a variety of ways on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus.  We will also have features of the week! Be sure to follow our Four Seasons Board on Pinterest! By participating in this linky party, you agree to have your posts shared on social media and Pinterest and to receive email and Google notifications for reminders about the party. If you don't want to receive notifications, please let us know.

FEATURED

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More Linky Parties You Might Enjoy
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Wednesday, January 8, 2014

This Year's Top Ten!!

Blog Recipes
   
  It is good to be back!  I took a couple of weeks off for the holidays.  Sometimes you just need to be with family and make that your priority don't you think?  Anyway it was a great holiday season.  My kids were all able to be here which isn't easy when they grow up and have their own lives in other cities and states.  But we were together and laughed and talked and enjoyed every minute of it.  Then they left.  I always have a hard time seeing them go back to school and jobs, but knowing they were here is the best memory and best part of Christmas to me.  

     Now it is time to get back to something else I love and that is sharing fun recipes with you!  It really makes me happy to find the next fantastic tasting item to share with you!  I have some great ones waiting in the wings but since the last year has come to an end I wanted to let you know which recipes were loved the most from last year (this was also my first year of this blog)!  Here goes!

 This year's Top Ten List of 

Most Loved Recipes

#10

                                               The Most Delicious Bread


#9

easy chicken breast

                                               Lime Butter Chicken

 

#8
                                                    Chicken Pot Pie

 

#7
                                       Tender Beef Brisket Sandwiches

 

#6
Ragu Enchiladas
                                        Italian Enchiladas No Kidding!

 

#5

                                    Southwest Avocado Ranch Dressing

 

#4
Homemade Doughnuts
                                          Light, Crispy, Glazed Donuts

 

#3
                                  Self Frosted Chocolate Zucchini Cake

 

#2
                                                Pink Ombre Cake

  And the Winner of  2013 is ..........

The recipe with the most clicks was.......

 

 

 

 

#1
 
Cherry Pie Cookies! 
Be sure to check these fabulous recipes out if you didn't during the year!
This list was shared on these wonderful sites.
Made in a Day 
What's Cooking Love? 
Pint Sized Baker 
Anyonita's Nibbles 
The Country Cook 

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