Cashew Brittle
1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup water

2 ½ cups sugar

3 cups cashews

3 cups ribbon coconut

½ teaspoon salt

Set aside a Silpat mat. In a heavy 4-quart saucepan, combine syrup, water and sugar. Place over high heat and stir occasionally until mixture comes to a boil. Wash down sides of pan if sugar crystals are present. Cook syrup to 232⁰F (this temperature is at sea level. I cook mine 12 degrees less). Add nuts and stir constantly until syrup turns a light-brown color and the temperature reaches 287⁰F (at sea level). Remove from heat and stir in coconut and salt. Mix until coconut is well-coated with syrup and mixture is golden-brown. Pour onto mat. Immediately use two forks (careful not to scratch sil pat mat) to separate brittle into fairly large pieces. This candy improves with aging.

Homemade Biscuts & Gravy. . . YUM!!

   
Ultimate Breakfast Casserole

12 slices white bread, crusts removed

2 – 3 tablespoons softened butter

½ cup butter

½ lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced

2 cups thinly sliced onions

Salt and pepper to taste

1 ½ lb mild sausage

1 lb. cheddar cheese, grated

2 ½ cups milk

3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tsp. dry mustard

½ tsp. nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

    Butter slices of bread with softened butter and set aside. In skillet melt ½ cup butter and brown mushrooms and onions. Season with salt& pepper to taste and set aside. Cook sausage until brown. In a greased 9 x 13 pan, layer ½ bread, ½ mushroom mixture, ½ sausage and ½ cheese. Repeat layers, starting with bread and ending with cheese.

    Mix eggs, milk, mustards, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Pour over casserole. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Heat oven to 350⁰. Sprinkle casserole with parsley and bake, uncovered for 1 hour or until bubbly.

Crème Brulee French Toast

1 cube butter

1 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons corn syrup

12 slices bread (I used Granny Sycamore's)

In a large bowl mix the following ingredients:

6 eggs

1 ½ cups half and half

¼ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon vanilla

Cut bread into cubes and add to the egg mixture. Stir to combine. Pour over the caramel sauce. Cover with tinfoil and let sit for at least 30 minutes but preferably overnight. Take out and let sit while the oven is preheating. Bake at 350⁰ for 30 minutes. Immediately invert onto a platter (use extra sugar and a torch at this point, if desired, to make caramel crunchy). You can serve this with syrup, ice cream or just plain is good too.

Dutch Honey Syrup
1 cup maple syrup

1 cup sugar

1 cup cream

Combine ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. This is also good on pancakes, waffles, and French toast.

Angel Biscuits
5 cups flour

½ cups shortening

¼ cup cold butter

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon soda

3 teaspoons baking powder

3 tablespoons sugar

2 cups buttermilk

1 tablespoon dry instant yeast


Dissolve yeast in ½ cup water. Mix dry ingredients, cut in shortening and butter. Add yeast and buttermilk. Roll to 3/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutter. (You can use a heart for Valentine's day) Brush tops with egg whites. Bake at 400⁰ for 15 – 20 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter (if desired) before serving.

Homemade Sausage Gravy
8 ounces sausage

¼ cup butter

1/3 cup flour

2 cups milk

1 cup water

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

Cook and crumble sausage until brown. Drain fat if necessary. Set aside. Melt butter and stir in flour, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Cook for a minute to cook out the "flour" taste. Slowly wisk in milk, water, salt and pepper. Continue stirring until the gravy thickens and comes to a simmer. Stir in the sausage. Serve and enjoy!!

Super easy 7-up biscuits
2 cups Bisquick

½ cup sour cream

½ cup 7-up

¼ cup melted butter


Place bisquick into a bowl. Cut in sour cream. Add 7-up. Stir until combined. Melt butter and pour into a pan. Put dough on a floured surface. Cut biscuits and put on top of butter. Bake at 450 for 12- 15 minutes.

Bran Muffins
(These are really good for you, and they taste great too!)

Mix Together:        2 tablespoons olive or canola oil

                2/3 cup applesauce

                4 eggs

                1 ¼ cups sugar (or use part honey or agave nectar)

Dissolve:            5 teaspoons soda in 2 cups boiling water

Add:                1 quart buttermilk

Dry Ingredients:        2 cups wheat bran flakes

                4 cups all bran cereal

                5 cups wheat/spelt flour

                1 tablespoon salt

When mixing, add dry and liquid alternately. Store covered in refrigerator. Use with 10 days. Bake at 425⁰ for 12 – 15 minutes. These don't rise much so you can fill them fairly full. Make sure to spray the inside of the cupcake liner so they don't stick. (or you don't even have to use the liners)

You can also add raisins, dates, nuts, dried cranberries, white or milk chocolate, or whatever you like. Makes 3 – 4 dozen muffins.

Pina Colada Breakfast Smoothie
1 ½ cups Vanilla Yogurt

1 ½ cups pineapple juice

1 ½ cups pina colada drink mix (by soda and specialty drink mixes in grocery story)

1 ½ cup ice

Mix the first 3 ingredients in the blender. Add ice and mix again.






 

Basic White Cupcakes

¾ pound (3 sticks) butter, room temperature

2 cups sugar

5 large eggs at room temperature

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

3 ¼ cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

Cream butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low, add the eggs 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla and mix well.

In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In 3 parts, alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined.

Line a muffin pan with liners. Fill each liner ¾ full. Bake at 400⁰ F for 20 - 30 minutes or until the tops are slightly brown and a toothpick comes out clean. (Makes 3 dozen)

Basic Chocolate Cupcakes

3 egg whites

¾ cup sugar

Whip egg whites until stiff peaks form. Add sugar. Mix together & set aside.

½ cup butter

3 egg yolks

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon salt

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

½ cup cocoa powder

2 ½ cups flour

1 cup milk (Makes 3 dozen)

½ cup water
Mix together butter, egg yolks and sugar. Add vanilla. In separate bowl mix dry ingredients. Add together milk and water. Alternate adding dry and wet ingredients. Mix well after each addition. Fold in egg whites. Bake at 375⁰ F 15 – 20 minutes.

Coconut Cupcakes

Use basic White Cupcakes but add the following:

1 ½ teaspoons pure almond extract

14 ounces coconut, divided.

Follow directions above, adding almond extract with vanilla. Fold in 7 ounces coconut just before you put the batter in the liners.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 pound (16 oz) cream cheese at room temperature

¾ pound (3 sticks) butter, at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)

1 ½ pounds powdered sugar

Cream together cream cheese & butter. Add vanilla and almond extracts. Add powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with the remaining coconut.

Penuche Frosting

½ cup butter

¾ cup brown sugar

¾ cup cream

Bring to a boil. Simmer 1 minute, stirring constantly. Cool slightly and add:

4 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Pinch of salt

Mix well – until smooth. If using on cupcakes, cool, stirring occasionally. If it's too hot, it will run off when you frost them.
My Secret Ingredient Frosting (everyone will rave about)
1 8 oz package cream cheese – softened

2 tablespoons butter – softened

¼ teaspoon salt (optional; not kosher salt)

1 envelope Dream Whip

½ teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon clear butter flavoring

About 3 cups powdered sugar

Beat softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and blended. Add extracts to a small bowl, mix in the salt to dissolve then add mixture to cream cheese. Add Dream Whip and mix well. Add the powdered sugar until the frosting is the desired thickness – remember that it will stiffen up once you refrigerate it. My goal is always add the least amount of powdered sugar so it's not too sweet. Chill for at least an hour. It's best to chill the frosting overnight so it's not grainy.

Ganache Frosting

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

¾ cup heavy whipping cream

Bring cream to a boil and pour over chocolate chips. Let sit for 5 minutes – do not stir. Stir together until smooth. Let cool 15 minutes. Dip cupcake tops into Ganache.

Lemon Meringue Pie Cupcakes
4 eggs, divided – room temperature

½ cup butter – room temperature

1 ½ cups flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

2/3 cup milk

¼ cup purchased lemon curd

Zest of 1 lemon

¾ cup sugar

1 ½ teaspoon vanilla


Additional lemon curd for filling

Separate eggs. Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a small bowl wisk together milk and the ¼ cup lemon curd until nearly smooth. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 400⁰ F. In a large mixing bowl beat butter for 30 seconds. Add sugar. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Add egg yolks and vanilla; beat until combined. Alternately add flour mixture and milk mixture to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake about 15 minutes or until golden and tops spring back when lightly touched. (Makes about 15)

Meringue

4 egg whites

¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

2/3 cup sugar

Combine egg whites and cream of tartar. Beat until soft peaks form (tips curl). Gradually add sugar one tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight)

Remove cupcakes from oven. Pipe a small amount of the lemon curd into the center of the cupcake. Pipe meringue on top. Bake about 7 minutes more or until meringue is lightly browned. Cook cupcakes in muffin cups on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin cups. Cook for 30 – 45 minutes before serving, or cover loosely and chill in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

   Cream Cheese Vanilla Cupcakes

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 egg whites

¼ cup oil

1 box white cake mix

1 cup milk or water

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350⁰ F. Line two 12 count muffin tins with paper liners. In a large bowl combine the cream cheese, egg whites, and vegetable oil. Using hand mixer, beat until combined and creamy. Add the cake mix, milk (or water) and vanilla. Mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Divide batter between bowls (up to 6) and add (Wilton paste) food coloring to each bowl. Stir until well combined. Starting with one color, divide between 24 muffin cups. Spread out. Repeat layers until you've used all the batter. (This takes a long time – about 45 minutes if you use 6 colors). Bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool slightly. Transfer to a wire rack. (Makes 24)



For Rainbow Cupcakes: Divide batter into bowls. Add desired food coloring. (Make sure you're using paste food coloring – the gel or liquid fades during baking)


Optional frosting Idea:
Paint the inside of a pastry bag with stripes of food coloring going up the bag from the tip and carefully spoon the frosting into the bag. When you pipe it on, it looks like a rainbow.

Peanut Butter – Chocolate Twist Cupcakes
¾ cup butter – softened

3 eggs – room temperature

2 ½ cups flour

2 ½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt 

1/3 – 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup sugar

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

1 cup milk

4 ounces milk chocolate, melted


In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Preheat oven to 375⁰ F. Beat butter for about 30 seconds. Add peanut butter; beat until combined. Gradually add brown sugar and granulated sugar about ¼ cup at a time, beating until combined. Scrape sides of bowl; beat about 2 minutes until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and milk mixture to butter mixture, beating on low after each addition just until combined. Place half the batter into a separate mixing bowl; add melted chocolate. Beat with electric mixer on low just until combined. Fill prepared muffin cups by alternating spoonfuls of peanut butter and chocolate batter, filling each cup about two-thirds full. DON'T OVERFILL. Use a butter knife or a skewer to swirl batter in each cup. Bake 15 – 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. (Makes 34 – 36)


Peanut Butter Frosting
8 ounces cream cheese – room temperature

½ cup creamy peanut butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

6 cups powdered sugar

Milk

Beat cream cheese and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar. Add milk 1 teaspoon at a time, until frosting reaches piping consistency. Divide frosting into two portions. Set one portion aside for Chocolate Frosting.


Chocolate Frosting

Combine one portion Peanut Butter Frosting with 4 ounces milk chocolate, melted and cooled. Beat with an electric mixer until combined. If necessary, beat in additional powdered sugar or milk until frosting reaches piping consistency.

In a pastry bag, spoon Peanut Butter Frosting along one side of the bag and Chocolate Frosting along the other side of the bag (frostings will be side by side in the bag). Pipe frostings in swirls onto cupcakes.


Chocolate Whoopie Pies
½ cup butter or shortening

1 cup sugar

2 egg yolks

2 cups flour

5 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350⁰. Cream together shortening, sugar and egg yolks. In a separate bowl sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt and soda. Add to shortening/sugar mixture alternately with milk, beating well. Add vanilla. Grease pan well. Drop onto cookie sheets by tablespoons, or put into baggie and cut off corner and push a small amount through. (You can use a whoopie pan too). Bake for 12 minutes. Remove from wire rack and cool. (Makes 14 – 18 double layer pies)

Marshmallow Crème Filling
½ cup butter – softened

2 cups powdered sugar

2 cups marshmallow fluff

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix together. Spread on one cookie and top with a second – bottoms together. Makes 14 – 18 double layer cookies


Peanut Butter Filling
2 tablespoons butter

¾ cup creamy peanut butter

3 oz. Cream Cheese, softened

2 ½ cups powdered sugar

3 tablespoons milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

12 miniature peanut butter cups, chopped

Beat butter, peanut butter and cream cheese in a small bowl until fluffy. Add the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Spread on bottoms of half the cookies; sprinkle with chopped peanut butter cups. Top with remaining cookies. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Cream Filling
2 teaspoons hot water

¼ teaspoon salt

1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow crème

½ cup shortening

1/3 cup powdered sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

In a small bowl combine water and salt until dissolved. Cool. In a small bowl, beat the marshmallow crème, shortening, powdered sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the salt mixture. Using a pastry bag insert tip halfway into center of each cupcake. Fill.

Basic Vanilla Butter cream Frosting
1 cup butter, softened

2 pounds powdered sugar

¼ cup milk (more or less)

2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix and frost cupcakes.

Add 1/3 cup cocoa to powdered sugar to make chocolate buttercream frosting.


 

Emily’s 12th Birthday Party

 

Emily loves soccer right now, so we decided to get her a “soccer” cake too.  Happy 12th birthday.

The Joke’s on you!!

Happy Birthday to Savannah.  Here's the saddle she got. 

Summer Games “Bronze” Champions

Emily’s team took a bronze at this year’s summer games!!  We had so much fun going down there and “hanging out” for a few days.

Savannah’s 9th Birthday

Savannah decided to have a cake with horses on it this year.  We had a lot of fun.  The funniest part, though, was when she thought she was getting a saddle, but when she opened the box, she realized that she did, indeed get a saddle, but it was for her toy horse.  (She got one later that fall)

Nancy’s Party

We celebrated my mother-in-law’s 72nd birthday on the 5th of November.  It was so fun to have everyone at my house

Summer Games

We had a blast down in Cedar City this last weekend.  Emily and Savannah both participated in the soccer part of summer games.  Emily's team took a bronze metal in her division.  Savannah's little team played their hearts out, but it was not their year.  Hopefully we'll try again next season.  This is a picture of Emily's team and the opposing team.  Look how much bigger they are than our team!  Does that seem fair?  Well, we held our own.  They only beat us by 1 point - in overtime.  It was the MOST intense game ever.  They did awesome.

Variety Show "2011"

Variety Show "2011"

Variety Show "2011"

Alisha was involved in the variety show at Mountain Crest.  It's a lot like the Carol Burnett show if you remember that one.  She was Flouner in the first one, the second one was about the Emerald City, the third one was called Stepsister's Lament and the last one was her favorite called Ramma Lama.  That was her favorite one.

Our newest family member "Max"

Last Sunday (on my mom's birthday) this is what we woke up to.  He was born between 4:00 and 6:30.  He's so fun to have around and Savannah loves to be with him every minute.

Time Out for Women

I love this program!!  I actually get to be involved and help during the event. 
Click here to watch a Time out for women clip for 2011

Olivia recites the Pledge of Allegiance

Last night I was getting Olivia ready for bed and she just starts reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.  I could not believe that she knew the whole thing!!  Apparently she's been working on it in preschool.  All I can say is WOW.

Gingerbread Cookies

These were so fun to make!!  The dough was really soft and easy to work with.  Surprisingly, the royal icing I used to decorate with did not go rock hard. 

Gingerbread Men

• 1 cup butter   
• 1 cup white sugar
• ½ cup dark molasses
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1 t. nutmeg
• 1 t. cloves
• 1 t. ginger
• 2 eggs well beaten
• 1 t. white vinegar   
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda    

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. In a large saucepan, cream together the butter, sugar.
2. Add molasses and spices – mix well
3. Stirring constantly bring to a boil.
4. Remove from heat and allow let cool to a lukewarm.
5. Stir in eggs and vinegar.
6. Sift flour with baking soda into molasses mixture to form smooth dough.
7. Chill several hours or overnight.
8. When you are ready to bake roll out dough to ¼ inch thickness.  Cut with a gingerbread cookie cutter.
9. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper 
10. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until slightly brown on the edges. Do not over bake.
11. Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet before placing them on a cooling rack.  Let cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting use Royal Icing.

You can cut the recipe in half if you on outline them.

This recipe will yield approximately 3 Cups of Royal Icing.

Ingredients o    3 Tablespoons of Meringue Powder o    1/2 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract o    1/2 Teaspoon of Lemon Juice o    4 Cups of Confectioners' Sugar o    1/2 Cup of Warm Water	Equipment o    Mixer o    Pastry Bag or Plastic Bag

In the bowl of the mixer, whip together the sugar and meringue powder.

Add the vanilla extract and lemon juice.

Add the water. Beat for approximately 5 minutes or until stiff peaks begin to form.

Transfer to a pastry bag.

Savannah and Olivia both received personal messages from Santa ... check these out!!
Olivia (click her name)
Savannah (click her name)

Do you really think she knew what she looked like?

April Fools

I played the best joke on Savannah and Emily for April fools day.  Someone told me to put plastic food in their lunch so I did.  As soon as they got on the bus I ran to the school and gave their teachers their real lunches.  I put a note in their lunches that said "April fools!!  Your teacher has your lunch"  Savannah opened her lunch and started to cry because she didn't read the note first.  Emily said she was a little worried, but was immediately comforted by her teacher.  I felt bad for Savannah, but it was a hoot to hear about her reaction.  We all had a good laugh whe they got home that afternoon.  For dinner that night I served "mock" cupcakes.  I made meatloaf and topped them with mashed potatoes and put them in muffin cups.  I thought they were fun too.

Chores

This is how Alisha and Whitney think that chores are done.  They're supposed to be cleaning out the stalls and pig pen.  Do they look like they're working much?  I think they have the wrong idea.  Work does not mean "go to the barn, sit down on the chair and wait"