7 UP BISCUITS

Yesterday I saw this 7 Up Biscuit recipe that Arlana posted on Facebook. 

Needless to say, I was tempted to make them....So quick and easy....just four ingredients. 

This is a photo of my biscuits.  

Usually biscuits are a little dried out the second day 

but they were still very moist.  

I microwaved each biscuit for 10 seconds and

 they were just like they came fresh out of the oven.  

FYI:  I made half a recipe which made 9 rolls. 

I sprinkled Bisquick on my cutting board and 

then a little on top of the dough before 

I gently patted the dough and then cut out the biscuits.

Place in an 8X8 Pyrex dish.

 12 minutes in the oven was perfect!

The rolls are baked in the butter.  Oh, they were yummy but I am wondering if they will be just as moist without the butter.  Well, we didn't have to butter the roll before we ate it. I may try the recipe without butter and also with just half the amount of butter and then decide between the three variations.

My boys are always teasing me because I alter recipes...half the fat, etc. until they say there is nothing left of the recipe!!!!  

Well, I am just trying to be more healthy!

But honestly this recipe is wonderful...just as it is and 

I'm sure I will get the same response from my boys if I change it!

~~ 7 UP BISCUITS ~~

INGREDIENTS:
4 cups Bisquick
1 cup sour cream
1 cup 7-up
1/2 cup melted butter

DIRECTIONS:
Mix Bisquick, sour cream and 7 up. Dough will be very soft - don't worry. Knead and fold dough until coated with your baking mix. Pat dough out and cut biscuits using a round biscuit / cookie cutter. Melt butter in bottom of cookie sheet pan or 9x13 casserole dish. Place biscuits on top of melted butter and bake @ 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until brown.

Let me know if you try this recipe!

Enjoy!

Judi

Happy Easter

Bird's Nest Cupcakes

and 

Rice Krispy Treats

Just wanted to share my Easter Bird's Nest Cupcakes with you.  I spent the afternoon making these for our Easter family dinner.  

I'm sorry I haven't done many posts lately.  I have been busy with coordinating the the Sweet Sketch Wednesday sponsorships and trying to catch up on things on the homestead.  I've also been enjoying my grand daughter and new grand son.  Now I have five little munchkins to enjoy!  Each one is so fun!  Hoping they will enjoy the cupcakes tomorrow.  I still need to make some rice krispy bird's nest for one of my grand son as he is allergic to dairy, nuts and gluten.  I will make those this evening and add the picture below!

Well, here are the Rice Krispy treats for my grandson who has allergies.  I made the treats with 

10 oz of marshmellows

3 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil

Microwave for 2 plus minutes depending on your microwave wattage

Then add 6 cups Rice Krispy cereal

Mix together and spoon into paper muffin cups in a muffin pan.  I added coconut to a few of them but decided that I almost liked them better without the coconut.

If you are wanting to make a more defined shape, you almost need someone to help you as the treat begins to cool too quickly.  Enjoy!

Happy Easter to all!

Hugs, Judi

Googly Eyed Bats

Yesterday in my email I received a tutorial on how to make these cute bats. 

 Click on the picture above

 and it will take you to the video.  

Right away I went to Krispy Kreme to get the chocolate donut holes but no luck.  They only carry the glazed  donut holes.  I thought I could make albino bats but chose to stick with the black bat.  I came across the Hostess Mini Cakes and thought they might do in a pinch!  So here is my version.

Happy Halloween!

Princess Castle

Just wanted to share with you my very first attempt at a detailed fancy cake.  My sister, Nancy is the cake decorator in the family.  You have probably seen some of her cakes on her blog at mulberrystation.blogspot.com.

A few years ago she posted her version of this cake and I knew that I wanted to attempt to make it for my grand daughter.  Well, now I have two grand daughters so I may be trying my hand at it a few more times. 

I am watching my two oldest grandchildren this week while their mother is providing some extra TLC to their newest little one.  My grandchildren always love to work on projects at Grandma's house so I thought this cake woud be a fun project.  They loved it.  My grand daughter loved putting on the little flowers and lining them up around the lazy susan.   I have a lot to learn in the cake decorating arena!  But I had a good time...just wished I had had Nancy or Arlana by my side to give immediate instruction.  But since they weren't close by mostly Nancy but even Arlana received a few phone calls about the procedure.  The proper consistency of the frosting is a very important detail...one that I need to work on. 

Anyway, this is a Wilton Castle Cake Set in case you are interested in purchasing your own kit.

You probably can't tell from my photo...but this is a huge cake made with four cake mixes.  We will be inviting a few people over to eat it.

Enjoy!

Birthday Dinner

This was last night's dinner for my son's birthday.  I always ask what the birthday person wants me to make for their special dinner.   My son asked for lasagna and salad.  It was an easy request for me.  I know my provencal vegetable gratin dish is also one of his favorites.  My DH won't eat squash so that is why there is also corn.

This is such an easy veggie dish and so colorful! 

Ingredients:

Stove Top Version:

Saute:

Onions and garlic in Olive Oil

Add and Saute:

Zucchini

Yellow summer squash

Add and warm:

Tomatoes.  

Season with Basil and Thyme, Garlic Salt and Sea Salt

Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese

I've even used mushrooms before!

Another Version:

You can make it look even more spectacular by layering the yellow, green and red veggies 

on their side in a pryex dish. Saute onions and garlic first and then arrange uncooked veggies in rows on top of onions and garlic.

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

It's quick and easy. Choose what you like and be creative with it! 

I also added a Cesear Salad and Garlic French Bread!

I have to add that the Brownie Trifle was a hit!

I personally am not a chocolate lover but of course, I tried it and it was pretty amazing!

I thought that maybe it had too much of the pudding mixture but it was perfect even for the first time try!

Easy Brownie Trifle

Tomorrow is my oldest son's birthday and he didn't tell me what dessert he wanted for his birthday.  I know he loves chocolate so I decided to make a Brownie Trifle.  I have never made this before so tomorrow will be a taste test.

I baked two boxes of brownie in a 9X13 dish.  Cooled and cut into 1" squares. 

The first layer is brownie and the second layer is layer is 2 packages Sugar Free Instant White Chocolate Pudding and 1 package of Sugar Free Cheesecake Pudding blended with 3 3/4 cup milk.  Then fold in 1 1/2 tubs of Cool Whip.   The pudding mixture will be used for three layers plus a little left over. 

Crush one Heath Bar and sprinkle over Cool Whip and Pudding Mixture.  Then lightly drizzle with Carmel topping.  Repeat layers two more times.  (3 Heath Bars total)

This is what it looks like after two layers.

I had about 9 brownie squares left so I made three little brownie trifle desserts in my one cup pyrex dishes.  I would show them to you but somehow they disappeared after dinner tonight!

Wonder if it will be a hit!  My family loves chocolate!

Cheese Bread

While I was in Utah last week, Arlana and Randy, made some wonderful Stuffed Philly Sandwiches. 

Yum, yum!

Well, I loved the recipe so much, I will be making it for my family in the coming weeks or days!

For Sunday dinner today, we had Rib Eye Steak so I decided to use the dough from Arlana's recipe and make a braided cheese loaf.  I was making salads so the bread browned a little darker than I like but it was still very soft and oh so yummy inside.

Very easy to make...you don't need a bread mixer...just a large mixing bowl.

Cheese Bread

3 1/4 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 pkg yeast

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 T wheat gluten

2 T Mrs. Dash 

(I didn't have Mrs. Dash so I used 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp basil, 1/2 tsp rosemary, 1/2 tsps garlic salt)

1/4 cup butter

3/4 cup water

1/4 milk

2 eggs, beaten

In a bowl, mix 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, wheat gluten, and Mrs. Dash together.  Set aside.  Heat butter, water and milk just until the butter is melter.  Remove from heat, cool slightly.  Add eggs and liquid mixture together. 

Add liquid to the flour mixture and stir together.  Add another cup of flour and mix together.  Then add just a little more flour until it is no longer too sticky.  Then sprinkle olive oil on your dough and a little around the bowl. Cover with a light weight dish towel.  Let dough rise double in size in a warm location or in a 100 degree oven or less.  Punch down and roll out into a retangle. Sprinkle grated cheese lengthwise down the middle of the dough.  Cut slits on both sides of the cheese for braiding.

I should have taken pictures of this....sorry!

Bake 375 degree for 17-21 minutes.  Enjoy!

Well, I surprised my men as they are always asking me lately to try new recipes...Well, I not only tried a new recipe but I altered it and made it  my own.  Hopefully, that will keep them satisfied for a few weeks. 



Valentine Apple Pie

My mother was absolutely the best pie maker in the world....apple, rhubarb, raisin, peach, lemon, cherry, coconut cream, banana cream...well, I don't think I can name all of them.

My husband has been wanting my apple pie for some time now. So I finally decided to make it for him for Valentine's Day! Well, it was a big hit.

I always make my pie in a 9X13 pyrex dish. Then I decorate it according to the holiday. Thanksgiving is a turkey...Christmas is usually holly and berries.....just whatever I decide to try.

This time I added a little cinnamon and sugar on the heart.

My mom had a wonderful crust recipe that she made by feel...I use to know how to make it the way she did...However, I found that if I wasn't making it on a consistent basis, my crust was not flaky like hers. So I finally resolved myself to using the following pie crust. It is a winner and works every time.
Never Fail Pie Crust
Mix together with pastry blender: 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup shortening, 1 teaspoon salt.
Add to first mixture: 1 beaten egg, 1/4 cup water, 1 Tablespoon vinegar
Mix together with fork.
This recipe is perfect for a 9X13 dish or three 9" rounds. If rolled very thin you may get four rounds. Sometimes I just make a baby pie for the kids! They love it!
My favorite tool for making apple pie is the Apple Corer Slicer Peeler by Pampered Chef. A real time saver....you just have to remember to buy firm apples. When buying golden delicious apples, I look for the greenest apples I can find. If they are yellow, they are too soft for this tool and you will have to peel, core and slice by hand.
Judi's Apple Pie Filling
10-12 golden delicious apples....sometimes I throw in an apple or two that is getting too soft to eat...any variety.
1 cup brown sugar
3-4 Tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon plus of cinnamon
1 teaspoon plus of nutmeg
2-3 Tablespoons of melted butter
Mix together and pour into 9X13 dish prepared with bottom crust. Cover with top crust. Bake for 1 hour at 400 degrees.
Enjoy!

Grandma's Sleep Over

What a fun weekend I had with my grand daughter. I always try to do something fun and different with her. At four I can already tell she has some spectacular creative genes!

Two months ago my older son, Derek, told me about Wilton Food Writers. So I was on the hunt for them. I couldn't find them in Tacoma but on my last trip to Utah I found the gold mine at Michael's! They offer Primary, Neon and I think pastels... Then I found the Christmas display and located the Christmas Green and Red pen. When I returned home, Michael's also had the Christmas display.

As you can see, she was quite occupied with the Food Writers. Yesterday she asked to decorate some cookies for Derek's birthday present!

If you have any fun creative ideas to do with children, I would love to have you leave me a comment and share your ideas! This is a monthly event with my grand daughter and future grand children so I can use lots of ideas! Just trying to create memories and traditions with them!

What's for Dinner tonight?

With Parmesan Cheese

I just made my favorite soup that I discovered last spring in the February 23, 2009 Women's World Magazine. I love the freshness of this soup with the fresh tomatoes, carrots, spinach, garlic and jalapeno...which gives just a hint of spice...But this soup is not spicy hot!!!

Without Parmesan Cheese

I make the soup as the recipes instructs except I put the spinach in the hot bowls of soup that I am serving at the moment. Save the rest of the soup for another day....or for lunch and just add the spinach to your individual hot soup bowls each time you serve it. Stir the spinach a few times and it slightly cooks or wilts. Add as much spinach as you like. I like alot. The spinach is so fresh and bright green! If you do as the recipe says, and put all the spinach in the pan and bring it to a boil and then happen to have it sit for five or ten minutes, the spinach turns a ickky green!

Click here to check out my tutorial on how to make this soup.

Tonight we had this soup with French dip Roast Beef Sandwiches....made with Pillsbury Crusty French Loaf in the refrigerator section of the grocery store where the Grands and Cresent rolls are displayed. I make my dip from instant bouillon...a quick a easy trick! If you don't want sandwiches with your soup, this French bread is so delicious to eat straight from the oven. Before baking, I cut slits on the top of the loaf with a knife and sprinkle generously with Garlic Salt. The first few times I used the Pillsbury French Loaf my family thought it was my own recipe...it is that good without the mess in the kitchen! I also use it in the summer time to make cold turkey and roast beef sandwiches. Wow, what an advertisement for Pillsbury! I should be working for them! I should have taken a picture of the bread too! Maybe next time!

Anyway, I hope you will try this soup and let me know how you like it.

Rice Krispie Flower Finally Sets























After covering the rice krispie cookies and leaving them in the pan over night, the cookies are set and will hold to the stick.

The rice krispie cookie would be darling without the M&M's but decorated with frosting to look like a flower. But Ellie loves M&M's and I was into quick!

Just wanted to let you know that the Krispie treats do work...but you just need to be patient for them to set....just like a gardener!

Wilton Blossom Cookie Pan

Rice Krispie Flower Cookies






















As you can see.....this was not Grandma's idea of a successful cookie project. Oh yes, Ellie still loved the Rice Krispie Treat but we couldn't even take a picture before the cookie fell off the stick!

The treats set for two hours before the photo shot took place!

Now if you are a lover of rock hard rice krispie treats....then this project may work for you.

I assume in order to make the original rice krispie recipe rock hard, you would have to carmelize the butter and marshmellows or allow the treats to sit out for a week or two before eating......not my idea of a tasty treat.
























The blossom pan is adorable and would work well with a sugar cookie recipe or even the chocolate chip recipe. I just used my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe last night.























This project was a lot more work to make sure that the stick was covered with rice krispies on both sides of the cookie and then it still didn't hold the cookie. These cookies are also a little thicker than the Chocolate Chip Flower cookies that we made last night.

This idea looks fun for a birthday party or special celebration. Just make sure you do a practice run before hand.....as I thought the rice krispie flowers would be super easy and perfectly set, etc......But it didn't happen.....oh well!!

My favorite is still the Chocolate Chip Flower cookie for a quick gift idea. It would frost well as shown on the pan label.

It would also work well in the Blossom Pan.

A sugar cookie recipe would also work well and would be easy to decorate.

It was still a fun project to do with Ellie and we will continue to try different recipes in the future.

If you try this project, let me know your secrets!!!

Have fun with your new pans!!!!

Wilton Chocolate Chip Flower Cookies



Tonight Ellie and I made Chocolate Chip Flower Cookies on a stick. I was at Michael's last week and a friend shared with me that she had made them and was purchasing another pan. So I decided that would be a fun activity with my grand daughter as she has a sleep over at Grandma's once a month. We used the Wilton Round Cookie Pan this time and tomorrow or Saturday we will make Rice Krispy Flower Cookies with the Wilton Blossom Cookie Pan. Fun and sooooo easy. Last week Michael's had 50% off coupon so the pans were only $4.50 each. The coupons for next week are also for 50% off.











Instead of filling the pan 1/8 " thick, I filled it almost to the top. Place the stick 2" into the cookie making sure it is covered with dough.

Takes about 10-12 minutes to bake!

Let cool for 5 minutes!

Yum....!!!!!

Isn't she adorable!

That cookie went down fast! I was surprised she could even eat it all....it was about four cookies in one. Please don't tell her mom!

These cookies are still soft but hold their form!

This is the label for the Round Cookie Pan.

You can be as creative as you want to be or just make it simple!

Great neighbor, friend or Visiting Teaching gift or birthday party favor. Fun to make a bouquet or pot of flower! Hope you enjoy the photos! I will post the Rice Krispy Flowers when we make them so be sure to come back to see.

Great way to use ribbon that we don't want to use for cards or scrapbooking.


Enjoy!

My Nutrimill Wheat Grinder

In January I decided to purchase a wheat grinder, as the one I have had for twenty years sounds like an engine taking off in my kitchen. So I did some research and purchased the Nutrimill from Ace Hardware in North Salt Lake, Utah. If you want to do your own research, go to:

http://theacekitchen.com/products/nutrimillgrinder.php

I have made bread for years and have used many different recipes but I must say the following Whole Wheat Bread recipe from

The Ace Kitchen is the best I have every used. I use White Wheat instead of Winter Winter. White wheat makes a softer bread. The other ingredients that help to make this a soft but not heavy or dense bread is the Dough Enhancer and the Wheat Gluten and applesauce.

Ground Wheat in bowl before opening lid.

Ground Wheat for bread in large bowl.
Fine Pastry Flour is in the small cup.

Save and use this flour in your baking items.

Your family will not know you have used

whole wheat.

This is the stage when I add the salt.

Continue to add wheat flour.

Enough flour is added when the dough begins

to pull away from the bowl.

Add small amounts of flour when it looks like it is close

to pulling away from the bowl.

Too much flour will make your bread more dense.

Remember to store or save your pastry flour in a container.

This can be stored in the freezer for future use.

Or if you want, go ahead and use it in your bread.

This picture shows helpful tools in making your bread.

Always use light weight, light colored bread pans.

A dark pan will bake your bread darker.

Use a scale to weigh the amount of dough for your pans.

If the weight is the same, the baking time will be the same.

The oil dispenser is from Progressive. It is called Portion Pro.

I purchased it at The Ace Kitchen

Always use oil after the dough has been kneaded.

You do not want to add more flour.

The gluten will not be developed in the newly added flour.

This is what your bread will look like as it begins to rise.

Make your family happy by making some cinnamon rolls, pizza rolls, pizza or orange rolls.

Be creative.

Any Wheat Gluten flour can be used in your recipe. I like Bob's Red Mill products. Check out their website or check your grocery store. I know they are available at Smith or Fred Meyer which is owned by Kroger. Bob's Red Mill is in Milwaukie, Oregon. If you are ever near their store, stop by. You will not be disappointed.

Dough Enhancer is a little more difficult to locate.

I purchased this at the Ace Kitchen in North Salt Lake, Utah. Actually, you will not have any problem locating it in Utah.

This product comes from:

Kitchen Resource

Exclusive Brand Distributor

Salt Lake City, UT

801-383-1920

This item is not necessary in baking your bread. It takes the place of honey and is great for people who are watching their weight or are diabetic.

I also purchased this at the Ace Kitchen.

However, you can

Check this site to see if there is a store near you where you can purchase Xagave.

Here are the whole wheat cinnamon rolls ready to go into the oven.











Yummy Whole Wheat Bread
Hot out of the oven.....cooling

Glazed with a little butter....ready to take the first bite....

yummy all by itself or with jam or honey butter.

A perfect family treat or breakfast surprise. Go ahead and make some for your family for your dinner tonight.

It does take a little effort.

Plan to be at home for at least three hours....from first grind to hot out of the oven.

While the dough is rising, you can make a card or tag to accompany a loaf of bread

for your neighbor or friend.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!