Heart Cake

Tomorrow is the Feast Day of Saint Catherine of Sienna so I made a vanilla cake with cherry frosting, and Alchemes, fresh strawberries and cherry jam in the middle. I used these simple instructions to make the layered circle cake into a heart.

Pepperoncini Beef

3 pounds beef chuck roast

4 cloves garlic, sliced

1 jar (16 oz. size) pepperoncini

Directions:
Make small cuts in the roast, and insert garlic slices in cuts. Place roast in the slow cooker and pour the entire contents of the jar of pepperoncini, including the liquid, over the meat. Cover, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Breakfast Sausage Bread

Take 1 loaf of Italian bread and hollow out the center leaving just a shell. Reserve bread. Brush the inside of the bread shell with olive oil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. Meanwhile beat 6 eggs, 1 C milk, 1 C shredded cheddar cheese, 1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, 1 C crumbled breakfast sausage, cooked and drained. , 1 C reserved bread cut in cubes, you will not need the remaining bread. Pour into the bread shell , dot with butter, and bake in the oven for 45- 60 minutes or until golden brown on top and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean when

Lion Cake

Tomorrow is the Feast Day of Saint Mark the Evangelist(†63):
Saint Mark was converted to the Faith by the Prince of the Apostles, whom he later accompanied to Rome, acting there as his secretary or interpreter. When Saint Peter wrote his First Epistle to the churches of Asia, he affectionately joined to his own salutation that of his faithful companion, whom he calls “my son Mark.” The Roman people entreated Saint Mark to put in writing for them the substance of Saint Peter’s frequent discourses on Our Lord’s life. This the Evangelist did under the eye and with the express sanction of the Apostle, and every page of his brief but graphic Gospel so bore the impress of Saint Peter’s character, that the Fathers used to name it “Peter’s Gospel.”

For the cake you need 1 Betty Crocker pound cake; mix according to the directions on the box. Make 18 mini cupcakes( each takes about 1 T of the cake mix) the remainder of the cake mix place in a 9" round cake pan, that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake the cake for 25 minutes and the cupcakes for 10 minutes. Cool completely. Place the cake in the center of a cake platter and arrange the cupcakes all around the cake. In a mixer place 2 containers of vanilla frosting, tint orange. Frost cake and cupcakes, reserve a few tablespoons of the frosting to adhere the candies. For the mane cut orange, yellow, red and black licorice into 1 1/2" pieces, press into cupcakes. For the ears I used half of an Oreo cookie and 1 large marshmallow per ear. For the eybrows i split an Oreo in half and I used a large marshmallow with a dab of black frosting and an M&M for the eyes.For the nose i used 2 long pieces of chocolate , 3 cake oreos( 1 cut into a triangle) and a piece of the red licorice for the lions mouth. For the whiskers I used black licorice cut into thin strips.

I saw this idea in Woman's World magazine. The kids were happy with the results.

Homemade Bubbles

4C water

1 C dish detergent( I used Dawn)

1/2 C corn syrup

This resipe is from Make and Takes.

Peanut Butter Candy Cookies

An easy idea for using up some of the Easter candy, make peanut butter cookies and add about 2 C of Reese peanut butter cups( I chopped them in the food processor). Mix the candy pieces just before you are finished mixing.

Gelatin Oranges

Tonight's dessert was a big hit.

Chocolate Lover's Pizza

Another recipe from the months Taste of Home magazine. I made a few changes:1. I used Hershey kisses and Hershey Hugs 2. for the nuts I used macadamia nuts. Great, easy recipe.

Chicken Potpie

This recipe was in Taste of home this month. I substituted my whole wheat drop biscuits for the biscuit recipe. The flavor of the potpie was delicious.

Edible Noah's Ark

I saw this cute idea online and today I made if for breakfast. I used peanut butter to "glue" all the pieces together.

Cappy Bread

Take 1 loaf of Italian bread and hollow out the center leaving just a shell. Reserve bread. Brush the inside of the bread shell with olive oil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. Meanwhile beat 6 eggs, 1 C milk,1 C bread cubes from reserved bread, 1 C shredded cheddar cheese, 1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, dried oregano and 1 lb. hot ham cut thin and cubed. Pour into the bread shell , dot with butter, and bake in the oven for 45- 60 minutes or until golden brown on top and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean when you test it.

Crockpot Pork and Sweet Potatoes

In a crockpot, place a 2lb. pork tenderloin. Around the pork tenderloin arrange sweet potatoes( I used 2 large cans of drained sweet potatoes). In a skillet melt 2 T butter. Saute 2 medium onions, coarsely chopped and 3 medium apples, coarsely chopped. saute briefly and add to the crockpot. Season with salt, pepper and thyme. Add 1 cup of chicken broth, cover and cook on high for 6 hours. Serve with cracked wheat bread.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal

2 packets chocolate carnation instant breakfast
4T creamy peanut butter
2 C dry instant oatmeal
2T sugar

2C milk

On the stove top mix all ingredients and cook until oatmeal is tender. You may need more milk for each serving.

Chicken and Cherry Peppers in The Oven

I saw this recipe in one of' Rachael Ray's cookbooks. I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts( If you use these be sure and place the chicken on the bottom or it will get dry like mine did!) I also placed the chicken in the oven for 2 1/2 hours at 300 degrees F. Great recipe, next time i will try it with pork.

Easy Banana Date Oatmeal

For breakfast we tried this delicious recipe for banana date oatmeal. I made 2 changes:1. I did not chop the dates( they were dried) and 2. I used maple syrup in lieu of the brown sugar.

Lamb Cake

1 Betty Crocker pound cake mix

1 can of vanilla frosting

23 large marshmallows

2 C mini marshmallows

brown sugar

black licorice

2 green spearmint leaves

1 red gumdrop

2 Lindt chocolate balls

1 bow ( made by daughter)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 2 1/2 qt. bowl with cooking spray. Prepare cake mix according to package directions, pour into bowl. Bake 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes, remove from bowl and cool completely. Cover cake with frosting. Take 2 large marshmallows and place aside. The remaining large marshmallows cut in half crosswise. Make 2 rows around the bottom of the cake. Arrange mini marshmallows in a V pattern on top of the cake. For ears take the reserved large marshmallows and flatten some with a rolling pin. Brush each lightly with water and dip into brown sugar. Place on either side of the face, for ears. Flatten gumdrops, cut green for eyebrows and red for nose. Cut black licorice for mouth and 2 Lindt balls for the eyes, assemble and place bow on.

Chicken Mole

1/2 C mole

1 1/2 c chicken broth

1 tsp. sugar

2 lb. chicken, cubed

In a pan stir in mole, chicken broth, and sugar. Stir and heat until well blended. In a separate baking dish, marinate chicken pieces for several hours or overnight. Bake at 325 degrees f for about an hour or until brown and tender. Baste frequently. Serve with rice.

Taco Sauce

I found the keys to this taco sauce were doubling the recipe and letting it cook down. Delicious.

Chicken Taco Salad with Homemade Chipotle Sauce

I saw this recipe about 2 months ago, printed it off and put it in a pile. I was so glad I tried this recipe out today. I loved the dressing.

Quick Sesame Whole Wheat Buns

This recipe is delicious and easy. A keeper recipe.

Polish Easter Meal

On Monday we had our Polish Easter meal.

Mascarpone Cheesecake

I made this wonderful cheesecake for Easter. If you like cheesecake , you will love this easy delicious recipe. The cheesecake is great with or without the caramel and topping.

Resurrection Cookies Happy Easter! He has Risen!

We made these Resurrection Cookies last night and had them for breakfast this morning. These cookies taste like a light pecan pie. Yummy.

Ingredients:
1 c. whole pecans1 tsp. vinegar3 egg whites

Pinch salt

1 c. sugar

Zipper baggy

Wooden spoon

Tape

Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F Place pecans in zipper baggy and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested the Roman soldiers beat him. Read John 19:1-3.Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1-tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1-c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read ISA.1: 18 and John 3:1-3.Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9.

Easter Nests with Jelly Bean Eggs

These little nests whip up in a jiffy and they are cute!

Lemon Ginger Dressing

1 dash granulated garlic

1 tsp. jarred, minced ginger

1 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. dried marjoram

1/2 tsp. dried basil

salt&pepper to taste

1/2 tsp. red pepper sauce

1/4 C vegetable oil

2T sesame oil

1/4 C fresh lemin juice

Mix above ingredients and chill until you are ready to serve.

Easy Hot Cross Buns

This recipe is from King Arthur Flour's website. I used cranberries for the dried fruit.

Golden Chicken Nuggets

This recipe is from Taste of home magazine. The kids really enjoyed this recipe as well as the dipping sauce. The only change I made was substituting fishy crackers for the sesame snack crackers.

For the dipping sauce: 1/2 C mayonnaise and 1/2 C salsa

Crock Pot Dulche de Leche

This recipe was even better than the stove top version and you do not need to keep adding water.

No Ordinary Tuna Casserole

1 5 oz. package egg noodles

1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 5 oz. can of evaporated milk

1 6 oz. can of solid white tuna

1 C frozen peas

1/3 C finely chopped onion

1 C cheddar cheese with porter or regular cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

1C fishy crackers

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook noodles according to package directions, drain. Stir in soup and remainder of ingredients, except crackers. Spoon into a lightly greased 8" square baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes. Top with fishy crackers and bake another 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Whole Wheat Pretzels

I wanted to make pretzels this Lent and these were great.

"the chewy pretzel became the bread and symbol of the times. They'd always been a Christian food, ever since Roman times, their very shape being the creation of monks. The three holes represent the Holy Trinity, and the twists of the dough represent the arms of someone praying. In fact, the word "pretzel" is a German word deriving ultimately from the Latin "bracellae," meaning "little arms"

Crown of Thorns

1C Salt

4C whole wheat flour( you can use all purpose)

1-1 1/2 C water

Mix up and knead until dough is similar in texture to a bread dough. When you are finished molding your desired artwork bake in a 275 degree oven for 1 hour.