Friday, November 20, 2009

Wonderful Holiday (or anytime)Appetizer

HARVARTI CHEESE WITH CARAMEL SAUCE


1 # or larger Block of Havarti Cheese
Cut in small squares like a Blooming Onion

CARAMEL SAUCE
1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar
1/4 to 1/2 Cup Half and Half
1 1/2 Tablespoons Jack Daniels
1 Tablespoons White Corn Syrup
1 Cup Walnut Pieces (Chopped)

Cook over low heat. Stir until it reaches a boil, let sit at room temperature until it thickens. Pour over cheese 30 minutes before serving.

Serve with Water Crackers or Ginger Snaps

Wonderful, fabulous, delicious!

Sauce would be wonderful served warm over ice cream. Yum!

My family was eating the leftover sauce out of the saucepan with spoons when I left home with this.

I will be doing Thanksgiving with my family this Sunday as I am traveling to No Georgia on Thanksgiving day to visit DH side of the family.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Melinda

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Unique Gift Idea!


These would make the coolest Christmas, Birthday or wedding gift. These are made from actual photos of items taken around the world, then the artist uses them to create a name or saying.



Visit the artist at www.allisonsletters.com to create your own unique picture!

Melinda

Monday, October 5, 2009

Fabulous Fall Dessert

I don't know about you, but sometimes I like to try something new. This is an absolutely wonderful, delicious, fabulous fall dessert. I'm not kidding, this stuff is great. Try it out on your family!

Carrot Cake Cheesecake

Cheesecake

16 ounces cream cheese (at room temp)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon flour
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

CARROT CAKE

3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 dash salt
1 (8 1/2 ounce) can crushed pineapple, well drained with juice reserved
1 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

PINEAPPLE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon reserved pineapple juice


Make cheesecake,
In large bowl of electric mixer, beat together 2 pkgs cream cheese and 3/4 cup sugar until smooth.
Beat in 1 tablespoon flour, 3 eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla until smooth.
Set aside.

Meanwhile prepare Carrot Cake:
In large bowl, combine oil, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla, blending thoroughly.
Stir in 1 cup flour, baking soda, cinnamon and dash salt, mixing well.
Stir in drained pineapple, carrots, coconut and walnuts.

Spread 1 1/2 cups carrot cake batter over bottom of greased 9-or 9 1/2-inch springform pan.
Drop large spoonfuls of cream cheese batter over carrot cake batter; top with large spoonfuls of remaining carrot cake batter.
Repeat with remaining cream cheese batter, spreading evenly with a knife.
Do not marble with a knife.

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven 50 to 65 minutes or until cake is set and cooked through.
Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.

When cake is cold, prepare Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting.
In a bowl of electric mixer, combine 2 oz cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1 tablespoon reserved pineapple juice and dash of salt.
Beat until smooth and of spreading consistency.
Frost top of cheesecake.
Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours before serving

Final step, prepare for applause and cudos!!!!! That is if you decide to share it!

Enjoy!

Melinda

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Another cute Halloween Food Idea!


Halloween Hats – Witches Hats
32 Hershey's® Kisses® milk chocolates, unwrapped
1 package (11 1/2 ounces) fudge-striped shortbread cookies (32)
1 tube (4.25 ounces) orange or red decorating icing
Attach 1 chocolate candy to chocolate bottom of each cookie, using decorating icing.Pipe decorating icing around base of milk chocolate candy.
So Cute! (photo upper left hand corner)

Fun Halloween Treat!!!



I've been finding the cutest Halloween food items this year. For the next few days I'll be posting a couple of them. First up, Witches Hat!!

Witches Hat

2 ounces semisweet chocolate
Chocolate-rolled sugar ice cream cone
Candy pumpkins
Waxed paper
Purchased unfrosted plain or chocolate cake doughnut
Canned chocolate icing
Nonpareils or sprinkles
Orange, yellow, and green Starburst candy or candy-coated gum (we used mini Chiclets)
Directions
1. Melt semisweet chocolate according to the package instructions. Holding the open end of the cone, dip the bottom half at an angle into the melted chocolate. Immediately press candy pumpkins into the chocolate. Place the cone on waxed paper and let sit until the chocolate sets.
2. Frost the top and side surfaces of a doughnut with icing. Sprinkle icing with nonpareils or sprinkles. Center the open end of the cone on the frosted doughnut. Use a sharp knife to cut candies or gum pieces into quarters and adhere them around the bottom of the hat with icing.

Wouldn't this make a cute class party favor for your kids?????


Melinda

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

www.ovariancancerawareness.org



I lost my Mom to this disease and now have a friend who was just recently diagnosed, she started her chemo on Monday.





Please remind your friends to visit the ob/gyn annually, and to know the systems. bloating, constipation, frequent urgent urination, fatigue and back pain. Visit the Ovarian Cancer Awareness website for more info.


Thanks!

Melinda

Friday, July 10, 2009

15 Ways to Charm a Southern Belle

Being raised in the south used to come with "standards". Young men were taught how to be Gentleman, and I'm afraid that is falling by the wayside. It's never too soon to start teaching boys how to be gentlemen.

There's an article in this months Southern Living Magazine that tell is like it is, it's by Amy Bickers and it's titled "15 Ways to Charm Her". Here's the list.

#1 Stand up for a lady: Actually this doesn't just involve chairs!
#2 Know that the SEC has the best football teams in the nation
#3 Kill Bugs: Paraphrasing Suzanne Sugarbaker "Men use Women's Lib as an excuse not
kill bugs for you.
#4 Hold doors open: Ladies go thru first!
#5 Fix things or Build Stuff:
#6 Wear Boots Occasionally: Not the fancy ones, we're talking about mud-crusted,
I could have just come in from the field boots.
#7 TAKE OFF YOUR HAT INSIDE!!!!
#8 Grill Stuff
#9 Call us: If you want to ask us out, don't text & don't email, pick up the phone and call us.
#10 Stand when we come back to the table: Just a little half stand is enough to make a
girl melt.
#11 Pull out our chairs: Wait, that's not all, scoot them back in before we hit the floor.
#12 Pay the tab on the first few dates: If you ask me out, you pay, if I ask you out, you pay.
#13 Don't show up in a wrinkled, untucked shirt: Care about your appearance, but don't
look like you spend more time in front of the mirror than we do.
#14 Never get in bar fights: You don't look tough, you look like an idiot.
#15 Know how to mix our favorite cocktail, just the way we like it.

Guaranteed to make a Southern Belle swoon!

Melinda