apple & gumdrop turkey

My kids had a play date yesterday afternoon so we made these fun apple turkeys.  I considered using all fruit but what's the fun in that?!

apple & gumdrop turkeys
to make one:
1 apple
6 toothpicks
15 gumdrops
1 sugar gummy orange slice

Just look at the picture and take a stab at it. ;) 

 

triple layer chocolate mint brownies

My double layer mint brownies have gotten a lot of attention (with good reason).  Well today I did something I've never done before.  I think I took them up a notch by turning them into TRIPLE layer chocolate mint brownies!   It was even suggested that they might be even better than the double layer mint brownies.  

triple layer chocolate mint brownies (pass the peas please)
1 box family size brownies, baked according to directions on package
1/2 can chocolate frosting
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/4 cup butter
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Bake brownies according to directions on package.  Let cool.
Mix the chocolate frosting with the peppermint extract and spread over brownies.
In a small saucepan, heat butter on low heat, stirring constantly.  When melted stir in chocolate chips and stir until smooth.  Pour over brownies and spread evenly over the top.  Let chocolate set then cut into small pieces- they are rich!

super duper giant cupcake

If you haven't made a giant cupcake, you should- it's fun!  The last time I borrowed this Wilton cupcake pan (go here to buy one) I borrowed it from my friend Julie when we both lived in Pennsylvania for my daughter's first birthday.  Six years later I borrowed the same pan from the same friend for the same daughter only now we both live in the same town in Oregon.  Crazy.  This is what the cupcake looks undecorated.  You can use your imagination to envision what it looked like when my daughter was done with it- iced in chocolate with candy star sprinkles.

giant cupcake (cupcake pan by Wilton)
All you need is some non-stick cooking spray to spray down the pan.  Mix up two boxes of cake mix according to the package directions and pour the cake batter into the pan.  Bake, let cool and ice.  Piece of cake.

butterscotch sticky buns

Instant family favorite!  My family LOVED these little goodies.  We hold our FHEs on Sunday evenings- I prepared the lesson and my son prepared the treat- butterscotch sticky buns.  They're super easy to make and they were devoured in no time.   This would be the perfect thing to pop in the oven on Thanksgiving or Christmas morning.

butterscotch sticky buns (my friend Linsy at Recipe Picnic) 
15 frozen Rhodes rolls, cut in half (you may need to let them thaw a half hour before cutting)
1 small box cook and serve butterscotch pudding
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
cinnamon to sprinkle 
1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional (we opted not)

Spray bundt pan with cooking spray; cover bottom with nuts.  Place rolls around the pan.  Sprinkle with butterscotch pudding powder.  Combine butter, milk and brown sugar and pour over rolls and butterscotch.  Sprinkle with cinnamon to taste. Let rise overnight (or see below).  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Another baking option:  If you don't have all night to wait (I didn't read the entire recipe beforehand-oops!) then give the frozen rolls about a half hour to soften then cut them in half and place them into the bundt pan.  Follow all directions except do not bake yet.  Let the rolls sit for 2 hours while the rolls thaw and rise before baking.

chipotle pork with tomato onion relish

This dish was outstanding!  The flavors were "just right" and there certainly wasn't a lack of flavor- it was bursting!  We'll enjoy this dish again for sure. 
Note:  This dish is a good one to serve company.

chipotle pork with tomato onion relish (adapted from Your Home Based Mom) 
2 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce plus 1 tablespoon sauce
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 onion, halved and sliced
1 (14.5 ounce) can fire roasted tomatoes
1 cup chopped cilantro
1/3 cup olive oil (I omitted to make it healthier.  Next time I might use 2 tablespoons.)
4 bone-in pork loin center cut pork chops (I used boneless and suggest it!)

Combine chiles, sauce, garlic, cumin, thyme, cinnamon and 4 teaspoons salt in a food processor and pulse to make a paste.  Place mixture in a bowl and add onions, tomatoes, cilantro and 1/3 cup olive oil.  Add pork chops and marinade into a zippered plastic bag and let refrigerate for at least 4 hours.  When ready to cook, remove pork chops and put the "relish" into a saucepan with 1/4 cup water.  Cook over medium high heat until onions are soft, about 10 minutes or so.  Grill pork chops about 8-10 minutes per side.  Top with tomato onion relish and serve.

pirate party

We enjoy parties and it was time for a pirate party- AArrgg!  The cake was almost too simple to make and since this party was for kids I used a box cake mix and two tubs of blue raspberry icing (I'd say yuck! but the kids loved it so it was a good move).  My son crushed up some graham crackers for an island and loved placing the sharks in the water ever so meticulously.  It was a busy day so last minute I had the idea to make the apple sailboats with salami sails.  We threw in a tattoo parlor, pin-the-eyepatch-on-the pirate a treasure hunt and some pirate t-shirts and called it a day!

baked salmon patties

These were great- crispy on the outside and creamy in the middle.  I'll make these again for sure.

baked salmon patties (Fill Up To Slim Down by Edward B. Diethrich, M.D., and Jyl Steinback)
2 (6 ounce) cans salmon, drained
1 cup corn flake crumbs, divided (I used low fat Triscuits, broken up)
1 tablespoon nonfat sour cream
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon mustard
3/4 teaspoons garlic powder

Preheat the oven to 350.  Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.  Combine the salmon, 1/4 cup corn flake crumbs, sour cream, lemon juice, egg whites, onion powder and mustard in a medium bowl; mix until the ingredients are blended.  Shape into 4 patties.  Combine the remaining 3/4 cup of crumbs and garlic powder in a zip-lock bag; shake until mixed.  Place the crumbs on a plate.  Place one salmon patty on top of the crumbs and flip over to coat both sides.  Place breaded patties on the baking sheet.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until lightly browned and crisp.

226 calories, 5g fat, 18g carbs, 24g protein
exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch