apple octopus

This is a fun snack for kids, and easy for them to  help with. 

Ingredients:

• Granny smith apple
• 16 green grapes (halved lengthwise)
• frosting
• raisins or chocolate chips

Assembly:

1. Slice apple in half and remove core
2. Lay cut side down on plate
3. Put on dots of frosting for eyes and mouth
4. Stick raisins or chocolate chips on frosting
5. Place halved grapes in rows to create arms
6. Serve to kids and watch their eyes light up with joy

Creamy rosemary mashed potatoes

These taste as heavenly as they look.

Begin by boiling 7 medium russet potatoes until soft.

Mash with a hand masher while adding 3 Tbsp. butter,
 3 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream, 3/4 cup milk, and 1 tsp. salt.

Chop some fresh rosemary straight from your herb garden
(or grocery store) and mix into the potatoes.

Serve with the perfect roast beef.
Prepare yourself for praises.



Flat iron steaks topped with arugula

This recipe is so simple and delicious.  Best of all, it is cooked on the grill, so as not to heat your house with the oven on a hot summer day.  Serve with Bacon ranch wedge salad for the perfect summer dish.

Ingredients:

4 flat iron steaks

1 package arugula

Salt, pepper

Directions:

1. Season flat iron steaks with salt and pepper

2. Grill over high heat for 4 minutes on each side

3. Top with a handful of arugula.

4. Wasn't that easy?

Bacon ranch wedge salad



This salad looks, tastes, and feels like summer!


Ingredients:
 one head of iceburg lettuce
1/2 cup bottled ranch dressing
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill
5 strips cooked, chopped bacon





1. Wash lettuce and place on cutting board

2. Cut into wedges



3. Place 1/2 cup dressing in bowl



4. Chop some fresh dill (or use dried dill)



5.  Mix dill into dressing




Place wedge on a plate, top with dressing and bacon pieces.
Eat, Eat, Eat



Care a lot candy

Anyone remember a place called the land of Care a Lot?  I have fond childhood memories of making recipes from this cute little Care Bears' Party Cookbook.  It is perfect for kids because the recipes don't require any cooking.  My mom was nice enough to keep it in good condition and pass it down to me, and on one summer day, we decided to make the Care a lot Candy.  It was a huge hit!

 Here is how it's done:

1. Mix 2 Tbsp softened butter with 1 Tbsp honey or maple syrup

   
      2.  Add 1 cup powdered sugar and mix (feel free to use your hands)

       3.  Add 1 cup granola and mix some more

 

        4.  Roll into balls, place on a cookie sheet, and refrigerate for 1 hour (ours were so yummy, they didn't make it to the refrigerator)

Strawberry spinach salad

 

          Spring is here, and with spring comes strawberries.  Big, glorious, bright red, beautiful Strawberries!  They are so beautiful that they beg to jump in my shopping cart at the grocery store, and I can't resist.  So, yesterday, I found myself with three cases of Strawberries sitting
on my kitchen counter.  Lucky for me, my kids prefer them to candy.  Tonight,  I came up with a delicious and easy strawberry spinach salad that I would like to share with you. 

                     Salad:

1. Start with a bed of 3-4 cups baby spinach
2. Add 1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
3. Add 1/2 cup walnut pieces
4. Add 6  sliced strawberries

                   Dressing:

1. Mix 1/8 cup canola oil, 1/8 cup sugar, 1/4 tsp celery salt and 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
2. Pour over salad

Enjoy!

Mini apple pies

Is your mouth watering yet?

When Matt and I were dating, we made an apple pie almost every Sunday.  He would make the filling, and I would make the crust. Then, we would feed it to his hungry parents and siblings who oohed and ahhed over it all night.  Today,  I can whip up a pie crust without even thinking about it, but I have to have him there to make the filling. 

We still love to make apple pie together and, on our last date, we decided to make mini apple pies in ramekins.  I love ramekins!  They are so cute, they make perfect individual portions, and it's like it a dollop of ice cream was just meant to sit right on top.   Have I mentioned that I love ramekins?!

Amaze yourself and make them right now

Start with 3-4 granny smith apples

Peel the apples (see if you can do it in one piece- it's just fun). 

Core and slice the apples, then place them in a saucepan.  Add 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp lemon juice, pinch of salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, 2 Tbsp butter and 2 Tbsp flour.  Stir constantly over medium heat until thickened (5-7 minutes).  Set aside while you make the crust.

 smile- pie crust isn't hard, it's fun. This is my pie crust extraordinaire in training.  She is mixing 2/3 cup shortening into 2 cups all purpose flour and 1 tsp salt.  Use a fork or pastry cutter.  When it looks like coarse meal, add 6-7 Tbsp cold water one Tbsp at a time.  Form into a ball with your hands.  Now, divide that ball into 8 equally sized balls.  With a rolling pin, roll each ball into a 7" circle.  Put 4 crusts into the ramekins and set the other 4 aside.



Ladle the filling into the crusts.  Make sure to take a whiff of the delicious apples.

Next, place the top crust on each pie and crimp the edges. 

Make a few slits in the top with a knife.  

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until browned and bubbly.

 Top with ice cream and enjoy!