Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken

Here is another easy crock pot recipe for busy days.

10-12 chicken tenders (or 5-6 breasts)
3/4 c. soy sauce
1 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 c. water
1 can crushed pineapple (undrained)
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c. finely chopped green onions
1 Tbs. grated ginger
*If you don't have (or don't like) ginger, leave it out. It is good either way.

Combine all ingredients except chicken in large bowl then pour over chicken in a ziplock bag. Marinate overnight. In the morning simply pour into the crock pot and cook on low 6-8 hours. Shred chicken and serve over rice.  Easy as that! 

Oatmeal Chipper Cookies

This is a recipe that my mom got from a friend of hers while our family was living in Michigan. We decided that it has been in the family since about 1982. That may sound like forever ago to some of you, but the recipe is fabulous and has survived through the years and continues to be a favorite at our house. These are my husbands second favorite cookie, rivaled only by a good chewy oatmeal raisin. Happy baking!

1 1/4 cup oats

1 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup coconut flakes

3/4 cup chocolate chips (again... I prefer semi-sweet)

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 Tbs. milk

Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined. In a small bowl, wisk together the oil, egg, and vanilla. When your wet ingredients are mixed, pour them into the large bowl and continue to stir until mixed. Use a cookie scoop to drop dough onto a well greased cookie sheet. This dough is a little dry and you will need to use your fingers to form the dough into tablespoon sized balls. Bake at 325 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cookies are just starting to brown on the edges.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Let's face it... I like to cook, but I LOVE to bake! Mostly just because I love eating baked goods. In all my years of baking, I have tried a hundred different chocolate chip cookie recipes. Some are too cakey. Some are too flat. Some are too crispy. And one that I tried was just plain salty! I discovered this recipe over at www.ourbestbites.com and think that I have finally found that perfect combination of gooey, chewy, goodness.

½ c. butter
½ c. high-quality margarine
¾ c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3 c. flour
¾ tsp. salt
¾ tsp. baking soda
1 12-oz. bag chocolate chips (I prefer semi-sweet)

Cream together butter, margarine, and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Add flour, salt, and soda and stir just until combined, then stir in the chocolate chips. Scoop onto a well greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Pull them out of the oven when they are just barely golden on the edges. Makes approximately 5 dozen cookies (depending on how much dough you eat!!!).

Just a couple hints...

• Don't scoop your flour with your measuring cup. It will get packed in and you will end up adding too much. Instead, scoop the flour into your measuring cup with a spoon and then gently level it off with the flat edge of a knife.
• Your butter and margarine should be room temperature. Never melt it or try to use it straight from the fridge.
• When you get to the dry ingredients, stir them in by hand. It may seem like a lot of work, but that way you will avoid over-developing the gluten in the flour and your cookies will turn out silky smooth. Plus, as my good friend Adrianne once said, "the arm workout will justify all those calories that you are going to consume!"

Summer Delight

This is a super easy, make-ahead dessert that is fabulous for those hot summer months and prefect for serving a crowd. I doubled this recipe to serve to my husband's family this weekend and they ate every last bit!

1 carton pineapple sherbet

1 small carton (approx. 12 oz.) frozen strawberries

2 ripe bananas

Soften the ice cream and strawberries and then pour into a large mixing bowl. Coarsely mash the bananas and add as well. Use a large spoon to mix it all together and then place in the freezer for at least 4 hours before serving. If you double the recipe, it will fill one 9x13 pan to the brim.

Homemade Freezer Jam

Strawberries are in season here and I just brought home a huge container of huge, juicy strawberries from Costco. We eat them like candy, but also love them on top of pancakes or waffles. When fresh fruit is in season, I love to make homemade freezer jam. My Mom and Nana always made it too and my husband refuses to eat store-bought jam now! It's so simple to make and the jam lasts for about a year in the freezer, actually tastes like fresh fruit and has no preservatives. I'm writing this post to encourage those of you who have never made freezer jam to give it a try! 

Start with a box of pectin. You can find it with the canning supplies at the grocery store. I prefer Sure Jel For Less Sugar Recipes (in a pink box, pictured below), because it uses more fruit than sugar and we think the jam is still plenty sweet. Inside the box of pectin will be several different recipes for whichever type of fruit you are using. I usually make strawberry and raspberry, but have also had good results with fruit blends, such as Strawberry-Blueberry and the Strawberry-Raspberry that I made this year. Last summer I made a batch of Strawberry-Citrus Jam that was divine!

1. First, wash your canning jars and lids. I like to run mine through the dishwasher. As for size, I like the 1/2 pint (1 cup, or 8 ounce) Ball mason jars for jam.
2. Wash your fruit and measure it. Some fruit needs to be chopped or crushed before measuring. When I use raspberries, I just wash and measure them. They tend to get obliterated when your stir the jam, so I don't crush them first. As for strawberries, blueberries or peaches, I like to coarsely chop them with my Pampered Chef food chopper or pulse them with a food processor. You don't want to overdo it though. Pureeing your fruit too much can prevent your jam from setting.
3. Next, you'll measure your sugar into a saucepan, add the pectin and water and bring to a boil (pictured below). *BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE RECIPE IN YOUR BOX OF PECTIN; SOME RECIPES MAY VARY.*

  4.   Typically, the next step is to pour the hot pectin into the prepared fruit and stir.

 5.   Spoon the jam into clean jars, screw on the lids and let sit for up to 24 hours to set the jam. Store in the freezer until ready to use.

 Freezer jam makes a wonderful gift! I love to give jam with a fresh loaf of homemade bread... Yum! We also like jam spread on toast, crepes or in these Berry Oat Bars.

I hope this has helped inspire those who have never made jam before to give it a try! 

Happy summer!!!

Digital strawberry from "Juicy" kit by Pamela Donnis.

Easy Coleslaw

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1/2 tsp salt

4 tsp sugar

1 Tb. vinegar

Stir together.

Then stir in:

1 pkg coleslaw mix

Chill.

Serves 6

Chicken Burritos (or tostadas)

We love Mexican at our house (my husbands fav) so I am always looking for new Mexican dishes. I originally found this recipe at your home based mom then tweaked it slightly.  The original recipe was for tostadas but we like it for burritos. Eiher way they are yummy. The chicken would be great in a salad or just grilled too.

chicken marinade:  (enough for 6 chicken breasts)
6 Tbsp. olive oil
1/4 c. apple cider vinegar
juice from 1 large lemon
3 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 c. brown sugar
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp. salt

combine together and add chicken. marinate several hours (I do it overnight)

Bake or grill chicken. While chicken is cooking bake some refried beans topped with cheese for 10-15 minutes at 350 until cheese starts to bubble.

 Shred or slice chicken. Spread bean mixture and chicken onto tortilla then top with your favorite burrito toppings. I like them with salsa, lettuce and avocado if I have any.

Grandma Em's Spice Cake Frosting

**This dreamy panoche frosting is another favorite recipe from Jules. This was her Grandma Emma Rae Ashton's signature dessert, and I get rave reviews every time I serve it.

1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 3/4- 2 cups powdered sugar

Melt butter & add brown sugar in medium saucepan. Boil over medium heat for two minutes, stirring constantly. Add milk and stir until mixture returns to a full boil. Cool to lukewarm. Add powdered sugar gradually until frosting is desired consistency. If frosting becomes too stiff, add a few drops of milk to thin.

Pour or spread over spice cake (baked according to package directions and cooled) while frosting is still fresh.

Coconut syrup

**Recipe from my dear friend Jules, whose hand is scooping up this yumminess in photo above!


1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
3/4 c. buttermilk
1 cup sugar (I usually put in 3/4 c. to make me feel better)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. coconut extract

Place first three ingredients in a saucepan on medium heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly, then remove from heat and add soda and flavoring. It will fizz, so give it a few minutes to settle down--the foam eventually settles. Store in the fridge--I usually heat it up a little in the microwave before using. YUM!

Bajio's Copycat Pineapple Shrimp

This is my version of a favorite salad from Bajio's. I served this to my kids over Orzo pasta and my husband and I had a salad, but next time, I think we'll all have tacos. This shrimp is SO good!

1 1/2 pounds raw shrimp, partially frozen

2 Tbs. butter

1/2 cup honey

1 cup pineapple cubes, completely drained and chopped

Salt and pepper, to taste

1. Place shrimp in a bowl of ice water and shell and devein the shrimp. HERE's a great video, if you've never done this (like I hadn't). 
2. Dry the shrimp with a paper towel and set them aside. 
3. Place the butter and honey in a saute pan and heat over medium heat until bubbly. Add the shrimp and cook for about 5 minutes, or until shrimp is pink and cooked through. Stir in pineapple and season with salt and pepper.

Serves 5-6.

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

My family LOVES pancakes, but we usually only get to make them on the weekends when we're not rushing out the door to school. This weekend I made these fluffy, light, lemony pancakes. Like our favorite Cottage Cheese Pancakes, they have more protein and fewer carbohydrates than most pancakes, which works well for this diabetic:)

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt 

1 1/2 cups low-fat milk

1 (15 oz.) carton low-fat or non-fat ricotta cheese

5 eggs, divided

1 tsp. vanilla

3 Tbs. fresh lemon zest

1/2 cup lemon juice (juice from 2-3 lemons)

1. Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Set aside. 
2. Crack the egg whites into a small bowl and place the egg yolks in a separate bowl. Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Set aside. 
3. Add the milk, ricotta cheese, vanilla, lemon zest and lemon juice to the egg yolks and mix well.
4. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and stir until smooth. Fold in the beaten egg whites. 
5. Heat a non-stick griddle or pan to about 325° F. (medium heat). Spray with cooking spray, then drop pancake batter by 1/4 cups onto hot griddle. Flip when bubbles form around the edges and cook on the other side.
6. Serve hot with maple or berry syrup or fresh berries. This raspberry sauce would be divine too! 

Makes about 30 pancakes.

*Nutritional info (per pancake): Calories: 53, Fat: 0.9 g., Carbohydrates: 8.3 g., Dietary fiber: 0.2 g., Protein: 3.1 g. 

...OR TRY THESE OTHER YUMMY PANCAKE RECIPES:

Best Breakfast Crepes

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

German Pancakes

Swedish Pancakes 

Whole Wheat Pancakes

Peanut Butter & Honey Cookies

Yesterday I ground up some wheat to make my Mom's Wheat Bread and I had some flour left over. I had also just bought a big jug of honey from Costco, so I experimented and created this recipe for peanut butter cookies that is a keeper! These are light (even with the wheat flour) and a little different, due to the sweetness from honey. I hope you'll enjoy them!

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening*
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
1 cup peanut butter
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. Mix butter, shortening and sugars in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer. Add honey, eggs, peanut butter and vanilla and mix until fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl to incorporate. 
3. In a medium bowl, stir together the baking soda, salt and flours, then add to wet ingredients. Mix well, scraping the sides and the bottom of the bowl until well-mixed.
4. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and drop cookie dough 2 inches apart with a cookie scoop.
5. Bake for 6-8 minutes. These should be a tiny bit undercooked when you remove them from the oven. Let sit on the cookie sheet for 1-2 minutes, then remove to cool completely. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

* Okay, shortening no longer contains trans-fats. It does keep cookies softer for longer. You can substitute the butter for the shortening, if you'd rather:)

Lemon Meringue Dessert

6 egg whites

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

1 1/2 cup sugar

Beat egg whites until frothy then add cream of tartar and gradually beat in sugar while beating. Beat until stiff. Pour into a buttered 9x13 glass pan.

Bake 275 degrees for 20 minutes then 300 degrees for 40 minutes.

Let cool then gently push down edges.

Filling:

6 egg yolks

1 1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp lemon extract

7 1/2 Tbs. lemon juice

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it thickens.

Beat 1 pint whipping cream then add 2 tsp sugar.

Spread 1/2 of the cream over the meringue, then pour lemon mixture over cream.

Finish with the remaining cream.

Refrigerate overnight.

Serves 12-15

Succotash

1 can corn (drained)

1 can black beans (drained)

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped cucumber

1/2 cup chopped green pepper (or a combination of red, yellow and green)

2 chopped Roma tomatoes

Dressing

1/4 cup sour cream (I use Lite)

2 Tbs mayonnaise

2 Tbs vinegar

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp celery seed

1/8 tsp pepper

Stir together and mix into vegetables. Chill and serve with crackers.

(adapted from Ruthanne Jackson's recipe)

Grilled mushrooms

My Grammy says that when I was just a few years old, we came over for dinner and I stepped in the door and exclaimed, "Mmmmmm..... I smell mushrooms!" This is an easy and delicious side dish, just the way my Grammy and my Mom prepare them...

Mushrooms
Olive oil
Beef bouillon granules

Wash and slice mushrooms. Add about 1 Tbs. olive oil to a sauté pan and heat over medium heat. Add some beef bouillon granules (1 tsp.- 1 Tbs.) and the sliced mushrooms.  Cook a few minutes, stirring often, until mushrooms are tender. Also great on top of grilled burgers or steak!

Spring berry salad

Spring mix greens

Blueberries

Blackberries

sliced strawberries

Mandarin oranges

pineapple tidbits

(may add feta cheese, sliced almonds, dried cherries, Craisins)

Dressing:

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp dry mustard

1 tsp salt

1/3 cup vinegar

1 cup canola oil

Combine all but oil in blender and mix until well blended.

Pour oil in slowly while blender is on "stir" position. When all oil is in, blend at high speed for 30 seconds.

Stir in 1 tsp. celery seeds

Quick Yeast Rolls

I've tried 3 different kinds of quick yeast rolls this month and these get my vote for the best! They take about an hour and a half from start to finish. This recipe only makes 8 rolls, but it would be simple to double. My kids love these for lunch sandwiches! Recipe from allrecipes.com

2 Tbs. shortening (I used butter flavored Crisco)

3 Tbs. white sugar

1 cup hot water

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast (or 2 1/2 tsp.)

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp. salt

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1. Grease 8 muffin cups and set aside.
2. In a glass measuring cup, mix the shortening, sugar and hot water. (I heat for about 35-40 seconds in the microwave). Add yeast to the liquid, mix thoroughly and let stand for about 5 minutes. 
3. Pour liquid into the bowl of a stand mixer and add the beaten egg, salt and flour. Mix until dough begins to pull away from the side of the bowl. Dough should still be slightly sticky.
4. Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and scrape the dough into the bowl. Cover and let sit for about 40 minutes, or until doubled in size.
5. Punch dough down and divide the dough into 8 balls and place in greased muffin cups. Allow to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. 
6. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Bake rolls for 8-10 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center of a roll comes out clean. 

Makes 8 rolls.

Split Pea and Ham Soup

My kids call this "UGLY SOUP," but we all like it:) It's a great way to finish a ham roast.

1 1/2 pounds ham bone with meat

2 quarts (8 cups) water

2 cups dried split peas

1 large onion, diced

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1 pinch dried marjoram

3 stalks celery, chopped

3 carrots, chopped

1 potato, peeled and diced (optional)

In a large stockpot, add ham bone to 2 quarts water, cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Pour resulting broth through a strainer and return the liquid to the stockpot. Place ham bone on a cutting board, dice ham and return meat to the broth. Discard the bone.

Add the dried split peas to the broth and heat to a gentle boil for 2 minutes, then turn off the heat, cover and soak for 1 hour.

After an hour, add remaining ingredients (onion, salt, pepper, marjoram, celery, carrots and potatoes). Cook slowly, uncovered for 30-40 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Serves 8-10.

I love this soup with Quick Yeast Rolls...

Malted Milk Cookies

When I need a chocolate fix, these unique cookies do the trick every time!

2 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, melted and cooled

1 cup butter

3/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 tsp. baking soda

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 3/4 cups flour

1/2 cup instant Malted Milk powder

1 1/2 cup malted milk balls, such as Whoppers, cut in half

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Melt unsweetened chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir and heat for 30 seconds more, or until chocolate is melted. Set aside to cool.

Cream together butter, sugars and baking soda. Beat in the melted chocolate, eggs and vanilla. Scrape the sides of the bowl to mix completely. Add the malted milk powder and flour gradually, beating slowly. Stir in the malted milk balls.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons (or use cookie scoop) onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. *These cookies are best a bit undercooked and left to cool on the cookie sheet for about 2 minutes before cooling on a rack. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Grandma Whitmores Country Pork Ribs

These sweet and tangy ribs are one of my mother-in-laws specialties and are probably my husbands very favorite childhood meal. The sauce is divine and the long cooking time leads to "fall-off-the-bone" tender meat. I like using country style ribs because there is more meat and they are a little easier for the kids to eat. I also used this same sauce and put it over a pork roast in the crock-pot and then shredded the meat for pulled pork sandwiches...YUM! Either way, I am sure that these will be a crowd pleaser.

3-4 lbs. country style pork ribs

flour

1 1/2 cups ketchup

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 cups sugar

Dredge ribs in flour and place in a large roasting pan. Combine remaining ingredients in a medium saucepan and heat just until boiling. Pour sauce over the ribs and cover with a lid or foil. Bake at 325 degrees for 2 1/2 hours. Uncover and cook for another 20-30 minutes.

Pineapple Ice Box Cake

So easy. So delicious.

1 package yellow cake mix

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

1 large can crushed pineapple

1 carton Cool whip or 1-2 pints whipped cream

Bake cake according to package directions, using a 9x13 pan. After removing the cake from the oven, immediately poke the cake all over with a fork. Pour condensed milk over the cake and spread evenly. Allow to absorbed for 3-5 minutes and then pour pineapple and juice over the cake and spread out to cover completely. Allow the cake to cool and then refrigerate until chilled completely, approximately 2-3 hours. Whip up the cream and sweeten to taste with a little powdered sugar. Spread the whipped cream evenly over the cake and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Hot Chicken Salad Casserole

Are you inundated with hard-boiled eggs after the Easter weekend? We are swimming in them at my house and I have been trying to come up with ways to use them for good. We had egg salad sandwiches for lunch, and ate eggs straight out of the shell for an afternoon snack. Tonight for dinner we are having this yummy casserole. The recipe comes from my fabulous mother-in-law and is one of my kids' favorites. Hope you enjoy!

2 cups chicken- cooked and cubed

2 cans Cream of Chicken soup

2 Tbs. dried minced onion

3 cups cooked rice (about 1 cup uncooked)

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cup mayo

1 cup slivered almonds

6 hard-boiled eggs- chopped

2 cups diced celery

1/3 cup lemon juice

1 cup Rice Crispies cereal (or corn flakes)

2 Tbs. butter

Combine all ingredients except cereal and butter in a large mixing bowl and stir gently until just combined. Pour into a 9x13 baking dish and smooth out using the back of a spoon. Crush up the cereal and combine with melted better. Top the casserole with crushed cereal mixture and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

Candy Bar Bunnies

I made these wrapped candy bars for the kids in my Primary class for Easter Sunday. I'm sure they'll arrive at church all hopped up on candy already, but I thought these were really cute. Idea from Martha Stewart's website...

You'll need:

• Full-size candy bar(s)
• 8 1/2 x 11" white paper
• Clear tape, scissors
• Acrylic paint or ink pads
• Permanent black marker

Cut paper in half to make a 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" sheet. Wrap the candy bar like a present using clear tape. Cut out bunny ears out of white paper and tape to the back of the wrapped candy bar. Press your pinky finger into a little acrylic paint or an ink pad and make circular eyes and nose on the front of the wrapped candy bar. Let the paint or ink dry completely, then draw on pupils, mouth and whiskers to complete the bunny face! 

"Better than sex cake"

Is it or isn't it... I will let you decide :)

1 pkg. Devil's food or German Chocolate cake mix
1 can sweetened condensed milk
6 oz. caramel topping
1 8 oz. container whipped topping
Heath toffee bits or crushed Heath bar

Bake cake according to package directions. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes in the cake. Pour the condensed milk and caramel over the top of cake. Allow cake to cool completely then top with whipped topping and Heath bits. I like to refrigerate the cake a couple hours before serving but you can eat it right away too. 

Coconut Mahi Mahi

All you landlubbers... We're havin' fish tonight! Recipe adapted from Fish Ex...

Hot cooked Orzo pasta or rice

4 Mahi Mahi fillets

1 (14 oz.) can light coconut milk (reserve 2 Tbs. for rice or pasta)

1 small onion, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

1 Tbs. butter, melted

1 Tbs. flour

1 tomato, diced

salt, to taste

black or cayenne pepper, to taste

1/3 cup flaked coconut

1. Cook Orzo pasta or rice according to package directions. Reserve 2 Tbs. coconut milk to stir into the rice or pasta and stir in after it is cooked and drained.
2. Meanwhile, add remaining coconut milk to a deep sauté pan. Add onions and bell pepper and bring to a gentle boil, stirring frequently. Add mahi mahi fillets and poach fish until cooked through, about 5-6 minutes per side. Fish should be firm and should flake easily with a fork. Remove fish and place on a serving dish.
3. Keep the coconut milk simmering over medium heat. Mix melted butter with flour and add to the coconut milk, stirring immediately with a whisk to prevent lumps.
4. Add tomatoes, salt and pepper and flaked coconut and top with the fish fillets. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
5. Serve fish fillets over hot pasta or rice and spoon coconut sauce over the top. Serves 4.

Spring Candy Topiary Craft!

I made these fun Spring Candy Topiaries this week at a monthly craft group I attend. I was so happy with them, I thought I'd share them with you! They are made with food, after all, so I guess they're appropriate for our recipe blog:)

Idea from Crafty Sisters...

Materials needed:

• Pots (can use terra cotta (painted or plain), painted ceramic, tin buckets, mason jars, etc...)
• Floral foam
• Ribbon
• Homemade flower (optional)
• 3 to 5" styrofoam ball(s)
• Acrylic craft paint
• Foam brush
• Wooden dowel(s)*
• Several bags of jellybeans**
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Moss

1. (Optional): Paint styrofoam ball(s) a color that matches one of your jellybeans. I painted my white styrofoam pink.
2. While your paint is drying, cut floral foam to fit snugly into your pot(s). Stuff the empty space with some paper. (pictured above, left).
3. If desired, wrap a ribbon around your pot(s) and secure the ends with a little hot glue. I also added a homemade flower. There are so many fun ways to make flowers! See HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE for tutorials.
4. *Cut wooden dowels, if necessary. (I bought a long one that was a half inch in diameter and used garden shears to cut mine.) I would suggest a thick dowel to support the weight of your candy topiary. They do get heavy! 
5. Wrap wooden dowels with ribbon: Start with a little dab of hot glue and wrap the ribbon on the diagonal all the way down until the dowel is covered. Secure end with some hot glue. Set aside.
6. When your paint is dry on your styrofoam ball(s), set them on a towel or washcloth for a workspace, so they don't roll away. With your dowel, carefully poke a hole into your styrofoam ball(s), a few inches in, then remove the dowel.  Beginning around the hole, make a small line of hot glue, then press the jellybeans slightly into your styrofoam ball. Be careful not to squish the jellybeans!
7. When your styrofoam ball(s) are completely covered with candy, squirt some hot glue into the hole you made with the dowel, then push the dowel in. Carefully push the other end of the dowel into your floral foam in your pot(s). Cover the top of your pot(s) with moss and you're done!

**My 4" styrofoam ball took 1 1/2 bags of jellybeans and my 5" ball took a little more than 2 bags of jellybeans! I promise I didn't eat that many:)

Marinated Tri-Tip Steak

This recipe is similar to my Mom's Flank Steak Marinade, but with a little kick from garlic, green onions and lemon pepper. Marinating the meat makes a juicy, flavorful steak...

1/3 cup white vinegar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 Tbs. brown sugar
3 Tbs. soy sauce
3 green onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely diced
1/2 tsp. lemon pepper
1 1/2 pounds beef loin tri-tip steak

Mix all ingredients except for beef in a large Ziploc bag. Add tri-tip steak and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, up to 2 days. Remove steak from marinade and grill over medium-high heat.

18 Minute Chocolate Cake

This is another recipe I have, written in my 5th grade handwriting, that I copied from my Mom's recipe file. I love it because it's fast, almost as easy as a boxed chocolate cake, but so much tastier!

CHOCOLATE CAKE:

1. Mix together in a large bowl:

     2 cups flour

     2 cups sugar

     4 Tbs. cocoa powder

     1 tsp. baking soda

     1/2 tsp salt

2. Mix together, then add to dry ingredients:

     1/2 cup butter, melted

     1/2 cup vegetable oil

     1 cup water

3. Beat in:

     1/2 cup buttermilk (I use almost 1/2 cup milk + 1 tsp. white vinegar)

     2 eggs

     1 tsp. vanilla

Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 13" cake pan (or jelly roll pan or 24 cupcake tins). Bake at 400° F. for 18 minutes, or until middle is set. Cupcakes take only about 12-14 minutes. Cool completely on a baking rack, then frost with chocolate frosting:

CHOCOLATE FROSTING:

     3 Tbs. cocoa powder

     1/4 cup butter, softened

     2 cups powdered sugar

     1/2 tsp. vanilla

     milk

Combine the first 4 ingredients with an electric mixer. Add milk a little at a time until the right consistency is achieved. Spread on cooled cake.

Lemony Chicken and Orzo

I was digging through my recipe box and looking for some dinner time inspiration when I discovered this recipe. I originally cut it out of a Family Circle magazine but made some significant changes and remembered that we really liked it. We had it for dinner last night and it was a hit. The best part is that I had everything to make it in my kitchen already, and you cook the whole meal in the same pot. Love that!

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

salt and pepper

1 can (14.5 oz.) chicken broth

1/3 cup lemon juice

2 tsp. honey

3 Tbs. sour cream

2 cups water

1 1/2 cups orzo

Cut chicken into 1 inch cubes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Combine chicken broth and lemon juice in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Add chicken and then cover and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, remove chicken from the pot and set aside.

Return the pot to the stove and cook over high heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and wisk in the honey and sour cream and then add the water. Bring to a boil and then add orzo pasta. Cook for 10 minutes or until pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir chicken back into the pot and serve immediately.

**For a healthy splash of color, buy some fresh green beans and cut into 1 inch pieces. Add to the pot for the last 4 minutes that the pasta is cooking. Yum!