The Perfect Holiday Treat!

What do you get when you mixed Rolos, pretzels, and glazed pecans? Rolo pretzel delights! These delicious bite-sized treats are as easy as 1, 2, 3. I stumbled across this mini treat and I just had to see if it was that quick and simple to bake. Below are the steps I took to make these sweet treats, perfect for your next holiday party!

Ingredients

1 bag of pretzels
1 bag of Rolos
1 bag of glazed pecans

 Materials

Aluminum foil or parchment paper




Step 1: Preheat oven to Bake, 350 degrees. 

Step 2: Place the pretzels on a pan covered with aluminum foil. Top each pretzel with one Rolo and when complete, place the pan in the oven for 3-5 minutes or until chocolate has completely melted.



Step 3: After you take the pretzel out of the oven, quickly top it with a glazed pecan or whatever topping you would like.

Bon appétit!

Recipe of the Day: Victory Obama Cake!

This picture and recipe is taken from Simmer Down Food

 Victory Cake for Barack Obama

Ingredients

• 1 box of chocolate cake mix; make two separate cakes to layer

• 4 cups vanilla butter cream frosting

• 2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes

• red & blue food coloring

• pastry bags for decorating

How to make the cake:

Bake two layers of the chocolate cake mix. After you let it cool, invert one cake layer onto a cake plate or platter and frost the top.  Sprinkle with coconut.  Lightly frost the top of the other layer and then invert that onto the first layer (this is so you have a nice flat surface on top.)  Frost the top and sides.  You don’t need to frost the top very heavily since it will get another layer when you decorate it.  Try to make sure it’s as smooth and even as possible to give yourself a good surface to work on.  Press the remaining coconut onto the sides of the cake.  Take about 2/3 cup frosting and color it blue; color another 2/3 cup red. For better results, place the frosting in a pastry bag so you can squeeze the frosting better when decorating.  Center a jar lid or other circular lid of the appropriate size onto the top middle part of your cake and press lightly; this will be your guide to outlining the blue arch of the campaign symbol as seen above. Using your red, blue, and white frosting, proceed to design the Barack Obama campaign logo. 

GOD BLESS AMERICA!! 

Recipe of the Day: Ice Cream Cakes!

I love the 4th of July and it is just so fun to decorate..the colors are easy and simple: red, white, and blue! However, one thing that I couldn't believe was so simple was a dessert that has become my favorite thing to make: ICE CREAM CAKES!

Ingredients:

• Cake Mix (any flavor, for this example I used Funfetti)
• Ice Cream cones
• Frosting (buttercream is my fave!)
• Cream cheese
• Optional: sprinkles and other cake decorations!

How to Make Ice Cream Cakes:

Step 1: Grab your favorite store bought cake mix and bake it. Let cool

Step 2: In a large bowl, proceed to mush the cake mix adding in spoonfuls of cream cheese until the texture is moldable.

Step 3: Place the bowl in the freezer for 2 hours to let the mixture firm up.

Step 4: Form about two golf ball sizes of the mixture together and press it into the ice cream cone. Frost and decorate accordingly! 

A simple treat that will NOT melt ;-)

xoxo!

Dessert Table by: Party with a K

Recipe of the Day: Mmm Martinis!

Last night I hosted my first Mary Kay party and themed it "Makeovers & Martinis"! As such, I had to have a signature martini to be served for the night so I made a concoction which I named "Mmm!" Read below to see how you can make this amazing martini - ENJOY!

Ingredients

• Triple Sec Orange Liqueur
• Gordon's Vodka (750mL bottle)
• Premium Grenadine syrup
• Orange Juice
• Granulated sugar
• Ice

*Makes one drink

Step 1: On a cutting board, pour out 2 cups of granulated sugar in a smooth, flat layer

Step 2: Get a small bowl and fill it with water.

Step 3: Take a martini glass upside down and dab the rim of the glass into the bowl of water.

Step 4: With the martini rim wet and upside down, dab it into the sugar proceeding to twist the glass to get as much sugar on the rim.

Step 5: In the cocktail shaker, proceed to pour in the following ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of ice
• 1/4 cup of orange juice
• 1/8 cup of Triple Sec Orange Liqueur
• 1/8 cup of Gordon's Vodka
• 1/8 cup of Premium Grenadine syrup

Step 6: Shake up the ingredients in the cocktail shaker and pour into sugar-rimmed martini glass.....drink complete!

Mmm!

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Favorite Superbowl Snack: Puppy Chow

The Superbowl usually brings out the animal in everyone, so why not snack on something fitting for the occasion: Puppy Chow!

Ingredients

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
9 cups original/plain ChexMix square cereal
2 cups powdered sugar

How to Make

Step 1 Measure the nine (9) cups of original/plain Chex Mix square cereal into a large bowl.

Step 2 Melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter or margarine in either a small saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat OR in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time stirring frequently to avoid burning. Remove the saucepan from the heat as soon as the chocolate chips are melted (remove the bowl from the microwave as soon as the chocolate chips are melted). Stir in the vanilla extract.

   

 Step 3 Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal in the large bowl. Make sure the cereal is thoroughly coated with the chocolate mixture.

Step 4 Obtain a 2-gallon resealable ziplock bag and pour the powdered sugar into it. Spoon in the coated cereal into the ziplock bag, seal the top and shake it to thoroughly coat the cereal mixture in powdered sugar.

 

YOU'RE DONE!!

For better taste, store the puppy chow in the refrigerator in a ziplock bag or an airtight container.

*All images were taken from: Savory Sweet Life

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2

Melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter or margarine in a small saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon constantly to avoid burning. Remove the saucepan from the heat as soon as the chocolate chips are melted. Stir in the vanilla extract.

3

Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal in the large bowl. Stir gently with a wooden spoon to coat.

4

Pour the powdered sugar into a large 2-gallon resealable food storage bag. Spoon in the coated cereal into the storage bag, seal the top and shake to thoroughly coat the cereal mixture in powdered sugar.

5

Spread the coated cereal on a large cookie sheet and allow to cool thoroughly. Or, place the cookie sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes for a cooler, crunchier variation. Store the people puppy chow in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Read more: How to Make Puppy Chow for People | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2187125_puppy-chow-people.html#ixzz1lTvhs0Bh

Recipe of the Day: Nutter Butter Bars

Nutter Butter Bars

*Makes one 9×13 pan*  
For the Crust:
One package of Nutter Butter cookies
6 Tbsp melted butter

• Step:1 Preheat oven to 325.  
• Step:2 Crush cookies in food processor until you have fine crumbs. 
• Step:3 Combine cookie crumbs with melted butter. 
• Step:4 Press into the bottom of a greased 9×13 pan. Bake for 6 minutes.   

Peanut butter filling:
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar
½ cup softened butter
1 tsp vanilla

• Step:1 Combine all ingredients using a hand mixer. Beat together until smooth. 
• Step:2 Layer mixture on top of cooled crust.  

Chocolate topping:

• Step:1 In your microwave melt 1 ½ cups chocolate chips and if you want even extra peanut butter flavor add a heaping spoonful of peanut butter! Melt for 30 seconds, stir and continue in 30 second intervals until smooth. 
• Step:2 Pour melted mixture on top of your peanut butter layer. Let completed bars sit for at least an hour to harden up. 

Feel free to add a few mini Nutter Butters for garnish on top.

Serve to all your peanut butter and chocolate loving friends! 
Recipe taken from Keep It Sweet blog

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Recipe of the Day: Candy Cane Cocktails

Getting ready for a Holiday Party and want to serve a great holiday drink? There is nothing that represents the holiday season more than good old candy canes...Candy Cane cocktails!

Check out this recipe for a tasty Candy Cane Cocktail courtesy of Martha Stewart!

Ingredients

* 1 candy cane, crushed, for garnish
* 2 ounces strawberry vodka
* 4 dashes white creme de menthe
* 2 1/2 ounces cranberry juice
* Ice cubes

Directions

1. Place crushed candy canes on a small plate or saucer. Wet the outside rim of a chilled martini glass with water. Holding the glass by the stem, rotate the rim to coat with candy.
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, creme de menthe, cranberry juice, and ice; shake until well combined. Strain into prepared glass; serve immediately.

Happy Holidays...
drink responsibly!

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Recipe of the Day: Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes

It's not too late to make your Thanksgiving food contribution! Below is a quick and easy recipe from Taste of Home to make the greatest Thanksgiving Turkey cupcakes!

Ingredients

* 1 can (16 ounces) caramel frosting or frosting of your choice
* Cupcakes of your choice
* Caramels
* Dots candies, candy-coated sunflower kernels and Sixlets candies
* Wax paper

Directions

* Frost cupcakes. For each turkey, unwrap three caramels; place on a small piece of waxed paper. Microwave on high for 5-7 seconds or until softened. Break off desired amount for the body; roll into an egg shape. Roll two smaller pieces into wings and two pieces into legs. Press onto body to attach.

* For leaves, roll out Dots candies to 1/8-in. thickness; cut leaf shapes. Place a turkey on top of each cupcake; arrange leaves, sunflower kernels and Sixlets around turkeys.

Prep time: 2 hours Servings: 24


Enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving!

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Recipe of the Day: Smiling Scarecrow Cupcakes

I absolutely love watching the leaves change into beautiful red,orange,and yellow Fall colors! When I think of Fall I think of pumpkins, apple pie, hot chocolate, and scarecrows....smiling scarecrows ;-)

Smiling Scarecrow Cupcakes Recipe (courtesy of Land O'Lakes):

Ingredients

Cupcakes
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, softened
1 Land O Lakes® All-Natural Egg
1 1/2 cups applesauce

Frosting
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup Land O Lakes® Half & Half or whipping cream
1/4 cup Land O Lakes® Butter
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Decorations
Pretzel squares*
Cinnamon graham cracker sticks
Chow mein noodles or pretzel sticks
Mini candy-coated chocolate pieces, chocolate chips, decorator candies or decorator gels, as desired
Candy corn
Chocolate sprinkles or licorice candies

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cups into 18 muffin pan cups; set aside.

Combine flour, baking soda and cinnamon in medium bowl; set aside.

Combine sugar and 1/2 cup butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Add egg; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture and applesauce. Continue beating until well mixed.

Fill each muffin pan cup 2/3 full. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

Meanwhile, combine brown sugar, half & half and 1/4 cup butter in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a full boil (5 to 6 minutes). Cool 20 minutes; add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat at medium speed until smooth and creamy. Cool completely.

To create scarecrow face, spread 1 heaping tablespoon frosting over 1 cupcake; place pretzel square onto cupcake to make top of hat. Place small amount of frosting on back-side of graham cracker stick; place below pretzel to make hat band. Insert chow mein noodles into frosting around hat to resemble straw. Make face using assorted candies, chips or decorator gels. Repeat with remaining cupcakes and decorations.

Store in loosely covered container.

*Substitute colored marshmallows such as toasted coconut, strawberry or chocolate. Cut off 1 end of marshmallow and press sticky end to graham cracker stick and onto frosting to adhere.

Recipe Tip
- If frosting becomes too firm while decorating cupcakes, stir in additional half & half until desired consistency.

- If you are short on time, use your favorite cake mix for the cupcakes; top with frosting recipe above and decorate as directed.

Recipe of the Day: Brain Cupcakes

Need some "food for thought"? Brain cupcakes coming right up!

With Halloween around the corner, I am sure you are getting ready to bake some ghoulish treats, so this week I will feature some awesome recipes that you can make for your Halloween Party.

First up, Brain Cupcakes from Disney Family Fun!

Ingredients

-Cake Batter of your choice (for a dozen cupcakes)
-Food coloring: yellow, pink, and green
-Buttercream frosting

Baking Tools
-pastry bag (to fill the frosting with)
-#10 round tip (to place on the pastry bag)

Instructions

Step#1-Bake a batch of 1 dozen cupcakes; let cool.

Step#2-In a separate bowl, mix 2 cups of buttercream frosting with a couple drops of yellow and pink food coloring and a touch of green food coloring until you have a hue you like (light orange).

Step#3-Spread a coat of the now light orange icing onto the dozen cupcakes.

Step#4-Place remaining light orange icing into a pastry bag. Secure it with a #10 round tip to top it off.

Step#5-Using the now icing filled pastry bag, top the dozen cupcakes with fat zigzags. It works best to first pipe two zigzags down the middle and then fill in the sides.

Brain cupcakes COMPLETE!

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Recipe of the Day: Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

I came across this delicious cupcake recipe from Yum Sugar and I just had to share. Nothing like candy on top of an already sugary delight!

Ingredients

Cupcake Batter
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
7 Tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 cup self-rising flour
2 teaspoon orange flavoring (May use 1/2 teaspoon almond extract instead of the suggested 1 tsp.vanilla extract.)
2-3 Tablespoons milk

To Make:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. (Bake them at 375* F)Line a 12 cup muffin tin with baking paper cups. Put all the ingredients except for the milk into a food processor and blend until smooth. Pulse while adding the milk down the funnel to make for a soft consistency. (Use the full 3 Tablespoons). Fill each paper cup evenly with batter. Bake for 15-20 or until they are golden on top.
Recommended to check after 12 minutes of baking.


Ingredients

Orange Cream Cheese Icing
1 stick (4 oz) unsalted butter softened
8 oz softened Cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp orange flavoring

To Make:
Combine the room temperature butter and cream cheese together in a mixer with a paddle attachment. Slowly add the sugar 1/4 cup at a time and add the orange flavoring at the end.
Recommended piping bag with choice of tip to ice the cupcakes easier.

Recipe of the Day: Patriotic Blue Cocktail

I was so proud of myself as I made this awesome blue drink from a recipe I found on SofaKingDrunk.com. The inspiration behind this drink was for the 4th of July, but really it can be made for any occasions!

Ingredients
1 1/2 ounce of vodka
1/2 ounce of triple sec
1/2 ounce sweet & sour
1/2 ounce blue curacao
1 dash grenadine

To Make
Mix all ingredients, except grenadine, in a shaker and chill. Serve in a martini glass. Add grenadine.

For more amazing cocktails/drinks to make from this site, check it out here!

Recipe of the Day: Artichoke Dip

Appetizers are great and often quick food items to have at a random function or get together. My favorite appetizer is artichoke dip! It is easy and quick to make and it can be served hot or cold with pita bread, pita chips, crackers, or french bread.

To Make Artichoke Dip you will need the following:

INGREDIENTS

1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles

TO MAKE

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Combine the artichoke hearts, mayonnaise, cheese and green chilies. Mix well and pour into a 2 quart casserole dish.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Garnish with chopped green onions and chopped tomato if desired.

Recipe Taken from: All Recipes.com

Recipe of the Day

S'mores don't only have to be at your camping trips. At your next cocktail party bring out S'MORES MARTINIS! Using the same classic ingredients as your tasty treats at the campfire, these drinks will have your guests' saying "I want some more!"

S'mores Martini Recipe:

Ingredients
-32 oz. vanilla vodka
-16 oz. white chocolate liqueur
-64-oz. pitcher
-1 graham cracker
-Plastic bag
-Small bowl
-1 jar marshmallow creme
-Martini glasses
-1 bag of marshmallows (any size)

To Make:

* Pour the vodka and white chocolate liqueur into the pitcher and stir. Refrigerate several hours until the mixture is cold.
* Crush the graham cracker in a plastic bag, then pour the crumbs into a small bowl.
* Rub marshmallow creme around the rims of the martini glasses to lightly coat.
* Dip each martini glass into the bowl of graham cracker crumbs until the marshmallow creme is covered with crumbs.
* Pour about 3 oz. of the drink mixture into each of the prepared martini glasses and serve.

Recipe by: Group Recipes

Recipe of the Day!

In honor of Memorial Day and the first entry for 'Recipe of the Day' I bring to you...

Picture courtesy of Coordinately Yours

Fruit Flag Pizza!

Ingredients:

FRUIT PIZZA
1 pkg. Pillsbury refrigerator sugar cookie dough, thinly sliced (use about 1/2 pkg. for 10" pizza pan)
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (4 1/2 oz.) frozen whipped dairy topping

FRESH FRUITS:

1 pt. strawberries (or other berries such as blueberries, raspberries, etc.)
2 bananas, sliced
2 to 3 kiwis, sliced
1 (8 oz.) can pineapple chunks, drain and SAVE juice

GLAZE:

1/2 c. sugar
1 tbsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 c. pineapple juice

Press cookie dough into pizza pan to make crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool. Whip cheese and topping and spread over cooled crust. Overlap fruit in a ring for example: First ring strawberries, then pineapple, sliced kiwis, bananas and other berries as desired.

FOR GLAZE: Boil the ingredients for one minute. Spoon over fruit, especially bananas.

Chill before serving. Makes one fruit pizza.

Recipe from Cooks.com ENJOY at your next party!!