Mother Goose Popcorn

This is a childhood favorite, introduced to me by my grandmother.  She made this popcorn every Christmas.  Soon we made it throughout the year, changing the color and flavors for different holidays.  I changed it up by drizzling chocolate (milk and white) over the top.  It tasted great!


RECIPE

1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp water
2 Tbsp butter
dash salt
1 1/2 tsp desired flavoring
Food coloring
Popcorn

Ingredients

Mix sugar, water, butter & salt.

Bring ingredients to a boil.

When it reaches the soft ball stage, remove from heat.

Add flavoring and a few drops of desired food coloring.

Pour over popcorn and stir until it becomes sugary and cold.

Drizzle with chocolate (if desired).

Voilà!  Yummy popcorn, great for gift-giving! 

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Black Bean -n- Pumpkin Chili

I found this recipe in my latest Taste of Home magazine. The original recipe is listed on their web site, you can find it here:  Taste of Home Black Bean-n-Pumpkin Chili recipe

I changed it up a little.  This is my "veggie" version.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium sweet yellow pepper, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups veggie broth
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
•  vegetarian chicken
• 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes with chiles, undrained
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 1 can corn, drained
• 2 jalapeno peppers seeded and chopped, optional

 Directions:

In a large skillet, saute the onion, yellow pepper in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.

Transfer to a 5-quart slow cooker; stir in the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until heated through.

Enjoy! Excellent chili, very healthy and you don't taste the pumpkin in it at all.  A new favorite at our house!

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Chocolate Mayonnaise Cupcakes

Recipe:
2 cups sifted flour
2/3 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
3 large eggs
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup reduced- calorie mayonnaise
1 1/3 cups cold water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Ready your cupcake pans with liners.  Onto a piece of wax paper, sift the flour cocoa baking soda, and baking powder.

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on high, beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla for 3 minutes or until fluffy.  Reduce the speed to low and blend in the mayonnaise.

Using a wooden spoon, stir in the flour mixture into the egg mixture, 1/3 at a time, alternating with the water and beginning and ending with the flour.

Fill your cupcake pans 2/3 full

and bake approx. 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs.

I made a chocolate cream cheese frosting.

8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup unsalted butter
4 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 to 2 Tbsp. sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
(and then I added 4 squares unsweetened melted chocolate)

With a electric mixer, beat on high cream cheese and butter until creamy.  Gradually beat in sugar.  Stir in sour cream, vanilla and chocolate.

Next I drizzled the tops with some melted Peanut Butter chips sprinkled them with crushed chocolate cookies.

My daughter was a little freaked out when she found out these cupcakes had mayonnaise in them, but it made them very moist.  :)

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Parmesan Cheese Pizza Dog Biscuits--RIP Dexter

I haven't made any dog biscuits for a while, because we found out one of my dogs (my 13 year-old senior dog) was diabetic.  We had a very difficult time getting his glucose regulated.  While his sugar was registering so high, I didn't want to give him anything his Vet had not authorized or suggested (even though my dog biscuits have no sugar or salt).  Unfortunately, we lost Dexter last week due to the diabetes.  He was a big, lovable part of our family since he was 8 weeks old and he is missed terribly.

Over the weekend, I decided my two little dogs had gone long enough without their homemade treats.  I made some Parmesan Cheese Pizza dog biscuits.  I hope your dogs enjoy them as much as mine do.

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered dry milk
1/2 tsp garlic powder
3/4 cup water
1 egg beaten
tomato paste
Italian seasoning
Parmesan cheese topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or light oil.  Combine flour, dry milk, garlic powder.   Mix in egg.  Add water (a little at time) so that mixture forms a ball.

Roll out dough 1/4" thick. 

Cut out with a cookie cutter.

Mix tomato paste with water.  Add tomato topping and Italian seasoning.

Add Parmesan cheese topping.

Wait patiently while baking 17 to 20 minutes or until golden on bottom.  Remove from cookie sheet and cool on rack.

Store in an airtight container.  You can also freeze them for a longer shelf life.

RIP Poochie!

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Caramel Crunch Bars

I found this recipe on the back of the bag of Kraft Caramel Bits.  They are tiny caramel balls ready for melting in any recipe.  No more unwrapping caramels!  This recipe is super easy and very yummy.  I have made it a few times now and the only thing I changed was the graham cracker layer.  The recipe called for a layer of graham crackers lining the bottom of the pan, but the first time I made it I didn't like the way the crackers cut.  So after that I made a graham cracker crust layer first and then followed the recipe exactly.

Ingredients:
4 1/2 honey graham crackers
1 pkg. (11 oz.) Kraft caramel bits
 2 Tbsp. milk
 1/2 cup Cocktail peanuts
1/2  cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 coarsely crushed pretzels
 4 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate melted


Line 8-inch square pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides.  grease the foil.  Place grahams on bottom of pan cutting to fit if necessary.

(Like I said above, I made a graham cracker crust instead of the graham crackers along the bottom.)

Microwave caramel bits and milk in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2minutes or until caramel bits are completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring every 30 seconds.  Pour over graham layer.

Top with peanuts.

Then add the marshmallows and pretzels.

Drizzle with melted chocolate.  Refrigerate 1 hour.  Use foil handles to remove from pan before cutting into bars to serve.

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Rice Pudding

One of my husband's favorite desserts is rice pudding. It doesn't really do much for me, but he loves it, so occasionally I will make it for him. I found this recipe in the Martha Stewart magazine. I think she also has it posted on her web site. It's quick and easy.

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Easy Homemade Lollipops

Easy homemade lollipops

Before my daughter was born (she is 27 years old) my grandmother gave all her daughters and granddaughters a wooden lollipop tree.  Unfortunately, mine is packed away with our holiday items and my husband did not have time to find the box it was buried in for this blog post.  I remember my grandmother was always cooking, baking, quilting, crocheting--generally doing "crafty" things.  She was always busy with some activity and enjoyed seeing her grandchildren stay active also.  I was still living at home, when she gave me my lollipop tree.  My mom went out and bought the round lollipop mold and supplies and we went to work on our first batch of lollipops.  It was so much fun, I made lollipops and decorated my tree for every holiday.  I seldom decorate it anymore, but occasionally I still make homemade lollipops.  They are very easy and fun.

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Spring Treats--Banana Dog Cookies

I love to experiment while I'm cooking and baking. So who better to bake for than a group that doesn't care what the cookies look like or how they taste when they are done? My poochies!  For the most part, they're not a very discerning group.  :)

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Spicy Pumpkin Bundt Cake

I made this pumpkin bundt cake over the weekend for our Mother's Day lunch celebration.  It's one of my favorites.

SPICY PUMPKIN BUNDT CAKE RECIPE

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Taco Soup

I first tried this "soup" years ago at a family gathering.  My Aunt made it.  It was one of several soups brought to our annual family Christmas party and I think the only one that was completely devoured.  It was a hit with everyone, very delicious.

Unfortunately, I can't post the picture (my desktop computer is down), but it's much thicker than a soup consistency.  Over the years I have switched some of the things in the recipe to my family's liking, making it vegetarian. But it's a family favorite.  A lot of friends have asked for the recipe and told me how much their families have enjoyed it.

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Gourmet Apple Cinnamon Biscotti Dog Treats

The first time I was involved in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life I made my Gourmet Dog Treats.  Our team took them to our neighborhood dog park and sold them as a fundraiser.  Even people who told me their dogs were finicky and never ate treats came back around for more because their dog(s) loved them.  Even the finickiest dog will gobble these up!

Meet my best taste-testers.

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