Salad Toppers - The Top Healthy Toppings For Your Salad

If you are trying to eat healthy, salads are a wonderful option for you to enjoy. The problem is that many people make their salads a calorie trap by using the wrong salad toppers. However, you will find that there are plenty of healthy toppings out there that you can enjoy. Here are several top salad toppers that you can use for a healthy salad.

Topping #1 - Tomatoes

One of the healthy salad toppers you will want to add to your salad is tomatoes. Tomatoes are wonderful for you and you can use fresh or even canned tomatoes on the top of your salad. The great thing about tomatoes that they include lycopene, which is a very powerful antioxidant. It is linked to reducing certain cancers like breast and colon cancers.

Topping #2 - Various Beans

Another of the healthy salad toppers is various types of beans, such as black beans, kidney beans, and garbanzo beans. These are heart healthy toppings that add protein, complex carbs, and even iron to your healthy salad.

Topping #3 - Seeds

You will find that different types of seeds make great salad toppers as well. Some of the best seeds to add to your salad include pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds. These seeds include a lot of fiber, vitamin E, and various B vitamins. You can eat these toasted or raw on your salads for a nice crunch.

Topping #4 - Canned Fish

Canned fish can actually be a great healthy topping option that you may want to use on your salads too. This includes tuna and salmon. Fish includes omega-3s, which can help to lower your risk of developing heart disease. While it is nice to grill the fish for a salad, simply going with canned options are an easy way to top off your fish. This is a simple way that you can add healthy protein to every salad.

Topping #5 - Dried Cranberries

If you enjoy the sweet option, dried cranberries are a wonderful option. They are full of great antioxidants, they include high amounts of vitamin C, and they are very low in calories as well. This fruit is tangy and tart and they taste wonderful with pecans or walnuts. Here is a look at a great recipe that includes cranberries.

Cranberry Chicken Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups of romaine lettuce chopped1 cup of baby spinach1 cup of shredded or chopped chicken? cup of dried cranberries? cup of walnutsRaspberry vinaigrette dressing to taste

Preparation:

Cook chicken and cool. Shred or chop into smaller pieces. Chop romaine lettuce. Add to a salad bowl. Add in the baby spinach. Add the chicken and then toss. Top with walnuts and dried cranberries. Add the raspberry vinaigrette dressing to your own taste.

Serves 2 people.

Salads are a wonderful way to enjoy a healthy diet and they also go great with steak dinners as well. Find more great salad recipes and steak marinade recipe options that will make a wonderful dinner. Enjoy a flank steak marinade or other tasty marinades for a tasty steak.

Easy Steak Marinades Help Make a Truly Mouthwatering Meal - EasySteakMarinades.net

Making a Salad Fit for Caesar

You want confirmation? Hail Caesar. There are as many versions of the salad bearing his name as there are neighborhood steakhouses and suburban Olive Gardens. Caesars come with croutons and without and can come weighted down with grilled chicken, grilled steak, fried chicken, fried shrimp, roasted salmon, grilled portobellos, Grecian lamb and chickpeas, either fried or stewed. They come sometimes with bacon, with goat cheese, with yogurt. Your mother makes better, with anchovies. Or she does not, without.

What all these salads share: romaine, coated thick with emulsified oil that is bright with garlic and acidity, nutty with cheese and has some kind of salt-fish pong in it to bind the whole.

Buffs will tell you that Caesar Cardini invented this dish, whipping it up tableside at his restaurant in Tijuana in 1924, to serve Hollywood boozers come south to escape Prohibition and get something to eat. There was the requisite garlic and oil in his dressing, lemon and Worcestershire sauce, grated Parmesan and a coddled egg broken over the romaine at the end to slick the greens and coat the croutons. Anchovies did not make the cut. Though of course they were there, all the same, in the fine print on the bottle of Worcestershire sauce, a tiny ingredient that rose soon enough from the chorus to take on a starring role.

A recipe that most would recognize as a Caesar salad appears in the 1952 classic “Trader Vic’s Kitchen Kibitzer,” under the name “La Caseta Green Salad.” Victor Jules Bergeron, whose Trader Vic’s restaurants were a fixture of the Tiki-crazed 1950s and 1960s, attributed its creation to a “cleanly dressed Mexican lad, Jose,” down in “the famed Tia Juana.” As a dinner salad at La Caseta, Trader Vic wrote, Jose tossed the glistening, cheese-flecked greens “with a dozen or so anchovies and a liberal helping of croutons.”

As Julia Child told The Times in 2001, three years before her death, in a conversation about Caesar salad: “You know what happens to those recipes. People put in what they want after a while.” A Caesar is what you make of it.

So why not add smoked herring, the bacon of the sea? Hugue Dufour, who with his wife, Sarah Obraitis, runs the excellent M. Wells diner in Long Island City, steeps the fish in red-wine vinegar, both to mellow its saltiness and to calm the astringency of the vinegar, then whips the result together with more-traditional Caesar ingredients to create a loose mayonnaise. Tossed with torn romaine and fat brioche croutons glistening with butter and woodsy with thyme, then covered in a blizzard of finely grated Parmesan, this makes for an artful and pungent take on the old standard, whatever your old standard may be. It is head-shakingly delicious to boot.

Some notes on preparation. The thyme-flecked brioche is a fancy touch and a wonderful one, but if you want to ditch it in favor of the more traditional version, no one save an M. Wells maniac would disapprove.

More important: not all smoked herring is the same. Some of the tinned versions, available in many supermarkets near the canned tuna and red salmon, are watery and bland, especially in comparison with the whole kippered article you can sometimes find in delis and appetizing stores, in British-themed markets and always online. Taste what you get before you make the dish, and adjust the amount of fish you use accordingly. It is doubtful you will want to use less. Adding more may provide the smoky-sweet excellence you seek.

The same is true of the anchovies, if making a classic Caesar — which to my taste and opinion should be closer to Jose’s version than to Cardini’s, despite the name. You can, of course, omit the furry little critters entirely.

Finally, in whatever version of the salad, you will want to attend closely to the texture of the dressing. Its most important quality, whatever your ingredients, is one of smooth, thick creaminess: an emulsification of oil and acid liquids, with some of the appearance of dripping velvet. The egg yolk helps in this regard. If it does not, the mustard will. In a pinch, jammed up and scared because the guests are about to arrive, you could add a spoonful of mayonnaise to thicken things up. There is no shame in this. You render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s.

Smoked-Herring Caesar Salad

3 tablespoons smoked herring, finely chopped

A scant 1/4 cup red-wine vinegar

1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped

1/3 cup Parmesan, grated (and more for finishing)

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 egg yolk, or 1 tablespoon mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 cups brioche, cut into 1-inch cubes, approximately 3 thick slices

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

Kosher salt

2 heads romaine lettuce, roughly cut, well rinsed and dried.

Chocolate Cupcake Recipe for Children's Party

If you are planning to host a children's party, you need to think about food and fun. You can plan games and activities so that your party guests will enjoy the party. By preparing for some simple games like balloon games or activities like dancing and singing, you won't have to invite a clown to entertain the children. For food, you can prepare chocolate cupcakes since they are easy to make.

As one cupcake is meant to be served to only one person, it will be easy for you to estimate the cost. You can simply count the number of children invited and their companions like their mothers or fathers. Cupcakes are served in paper cupcake liners, so there's no need for additional eating wares such as plates and spoons. Therefore, you don't have to worry about some children dropping eating utensils while they are eating. Besides, cupcakes can be easily arranged in one table, thus giving the children more space to do their activities.

Cupcakes are easy to prepare and children will enjoy eating them. Chocolate cupcakes are popular among children. To make a dozen cupcakes, you need the following ingredients: 5 eggs, 150 grams of sugar, ? teaspoon of cake emulsifier, 140 grams of flour, 25 grams of cocoa powder, 100 grams of margarine, 200 ml of fresh milk, 100 grams of cooking chocolate and chocolate paste.

First, pre-heat oven to 175°C. Place paper cupcake liners in a muffin or cupcake pan, and keep aside. Fold eggs, then add sugar, emulsifier, flour and cocoa powder. Mix for seven minutes until fluffy. Add margarine, and mix well. Pour the batter into the paper liners and then bake for 20 minutes in the pre-heated oven. Remove the cupcakes from oven and let them cool for a while at room temperature.

For the frosting, mix cold fresh milk with chocolate paste. Put the frosting into a piping bag and decorate the top of the cupcakes. You can decorate the cakes with tiny flowers, balls, butterflies, or other attractive shapes children will like. Shave the cooking chocolate and sprinkle them on top of the frosting. Put cupcakes in refrigerator until they are ready to be served.

You can prepare this cupcakes earlier so that you will have more time to do other preparations. Since cupcakes are easy to make, you can also make some more as treats for your guests to take home. Even a small children's party can be memorable for parents and especially children.

How to Select an Extra Special Birthday Cake

The birthday cake is paraded into the room, lighted up with candles, and serenaded with the strains of "Happy Birthday to You". This moment is a party highlight, the signature event of many a birthday. If you are organizing a birthday party, selecting the cake will be one of the most important tasks on your list. Gathering ideas and knowing about current trends will be a good place to start, whether you are going to hire a custom designer or purchase one over-the-counter.

Unique Birthday Cake Designs

The standard flowered birthday cake, inscribed with "Happy Birthday Jack!" or "Happy 60th Gwen" will always be acceptable, especially if it is made with attractive colors and favorite flavors. However decorators can offer more personal and imaginative designs. Four formats are often seen these days. Consider one of these for your next celebration:

A theme tableau created out of icing and non-edible figurines-for example, for a hockey fan, the surface depicts a hockey rink, complete with hockey players and hockey net.A cake made in a molded pan shaped like a flower, heart, Mickey Mouse head, or other popular shape.A three-dimensional sculpture-for example, the cake is a train; or a princess, made with a Barbie doll in an ornately decorated cake gown.Multi-cakes tiered vertically or in a lopsided whimsical way-for example, a stack of multi-colored, fondant-wrapped gift boxes, with colorful ribbons and other decorations.

Kids Birthday Cakes

Planning a child's party and wanting to serve a thrilling cake that she or he remembers for years to come? Order a design that reflects hobbies, favorite toys, pets, fantasy figures, or cartoon characters. Here are some ideas:

A puppy shape;A jungle scene with jungle vegetation and animals, such as monkeys, giraffes, and tigers;A tableau based on a favorite TV show, such as Sesame Street, featuring figurines for Bert, Ernie, and the Cookie Monster. Birthday cake toppers can double up as party favors. With a Sesame Street design, each child can take home a Sesame Street figurine;A crown decorated with jewels;A football or ballet slippers to reflect the child's interests.

As you can see, the possibilities are endless. The only "problem" is that your child may never again be satisfied with an ''ordinary'' cake after having had a theme design.

Adult Birthday Cakes

Adults enjoy imaginative cakes as well. While children often will be happy with chocolate, vanilla, or marble flavors, adults will be attracted to variations such as:

Mocha,Lemon,Carrot,Red velvet,Strawberry, orStrawberry shortcake.

Fillings can also have different flavors, such as cherry, chocolate mousse, traditional butter cream, raspberry gel, cream cheese icing, and lemon. Some people are particular about flavors so you will want to be sure that the selected ones will be appreciated by the guest of honor.

Many adults will be quite happy if you don't display their age. An advantage of tableaus and sculptures is that numbers don't need to be displayed. On the other hand, it is possible and sometimes desirable to record a special year such as 30, 50, or 65. The special number can be part of the trim garland instead of on top of the cake.

Adults enjoy sculptures and cake top pictures. For example, birthday cake decorations for adults could be:

A farm scene with fields, sky, and toppers for farmer and farm equipment;A cake shaped like a music symbol such as a guitar, treble clef, or drum set; or a stage tableau with a figurine of a favorite music star; orA hobby theme reflecting a favorite sport or pastime, such as an animal sculpture for a pet lover or a tool box for a handy person.

How to Find More Birthday Cake Ideas

To research further in your quest to develop the best birthday cake design, you can:

Look for pictures posted on the internet by professional and amateur bakers,Browse current magazines and books,Visit a few bakery counters to view cakes on display,Take pictures and ideas to a meeting with a designer who will create a custom cake.

Browse, research, and then make a decision-with a delicious cake and original decorations, your thoughtful effort will be appreciated by all.

Discover the beautiful selection of birthday cakes available in your local area. Custom designed birthday cakes will match your celebration and recipient, forming a delicious centerpiece.

How To Make A Greek Appetizer Salad Recipe To Impress Everyone You Know

With the warmer weather moving on in, many people will be doing some party planning whether they are planning to entertain a small intimate group or a very large crowd. If you are searching for a delicious appetizer, you can learn how to make a Greek appetizer salad recipe to impress everyone you know, whether in a large group setting or a small intimate family setting. It may sound intimidating, but this is an easy to make recipe and you may already have everything you need to prepare it for family, friends, or party guests.

Recipe for Greek Appetizer Salad

What You Need
1 can drained green beans 8 ounce3 small sliced zucchini1 small separated cauliflower? cup olive oil? cup lemon juice1 teaspoon salt? teaspoon sugar? teaspoon oregano1 minced garlic clove1 small sliced onionRipe olivesLettuce leavesCherry tomato halves

How to Make It

Rinse and drain the water from all the fresh vegetables and then cut, slice or mince the vegetables accordingly into separate bowls. You will need to slice the zucchini and the onion into thin slices and thin rings. Cut the cherry tomatoes into halves. Cut off any undesirable parts of the cauliflower and then separate the cauliflower into small bite size pieces. Set the vegetables aside until needed.

Drained the liquid off the can of green beans and then add the beans to a large saucepan over a medium high heat with about 1 inch of salted water. Bring to the salt water to a boil and then add the can of green beans. Cover with a lid and reduce the heat to the lowest temperature setting. Cook the beans for about 5 minutes, or until the green beans are tender.

Add the sliced zucchini and separated cauliflower and return the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and then cover with a lid. Cook the vegetables for about 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Drain the liquid off the vegetables while discarding the liquid. After draining the vegetables place them in a shallow serving dish.

Using a small mixing bowl you will add the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, sugar, oregano and minced garlic clove. Mix well to blend the flavors and then pour this salad dressing mixture over the cooked vegetables in the serving tray. Cover with the lid, aluminum foil or clear plastic food wrap. Place the dish in the refrigerator to chill overnight, or for at least 2 or 3 hours. Remember to spoon some of the dressing marinade over the cooked vegetables occasionally so that all the vegetables are coated and absorbing the marinade.

After marinating the vegetables for the desired amount of time you will place a lettuce leaf into a serving bowl and then spoon the cooked vegetables into the middle of the lettuce. Garnish with the thinly sliced onion rings and then top with the ripe olives and cherry tomatoes before serving.

If you are planning a large or small get together you might like to make some easy party appetizers. Then again, you might enjoy making and serving a delicious cold appetizer recipe. The good news is we have lots of great tasting ideas to share with you. Visit our website today to find them.

EasyAppetizerRecipes.net - You Make the Appetizers, We Help You Make Them Delicious

Make The Most Of Salads - Making Healthy Choices

Whether you are eating out and hitting up the salad bar or you are trying to create your own salads for a nice dinner party, you want to make sure that you only go with healthy choices. Even though you are eating a salad, it does not mean that it is healthy for you. It is important to learn which options are the best when it comes to salad bars. This way you get the best nutrient punch while enjoy a crisp and delicious salad.

Go with the Darker Greens

To make the most of a salad, start out by going with the darker greens. The dark leafy greens, such as romaine or spinach are going to be packed with great nutrients. Just one cup is going to offer you vitamin K and vitamin A, which are important to a healthy diet. They also provide plenty of fiber, folate, and even vitamin C. You will not get these benefits from the lighter greens that often end up in salads.

Add Veggies in Plenty of Colors

Make your salad as colorful as possible by adding veggies in all different colors. Choose veggies that are bright and attractive. This can include green peppers, red peppers, red tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, beets, and more. These veggies are packed with great nutrients as well, making the most of the salad that you are going to eat.

Lean Proteins

Instead of going with high fat proteins, choose lean proteins for your salad. One great way to get plenty of protein is to add in kidney beans and chickpeas. A half cup of beans will provide plenty of fiber and a lot of protein too. Both tuna and grilled chicken make great protein additions to a salad. Even lean cuts of grilled steak can make a wonderful protein addition to your salad. Other ways to add protein include adding hard cooked eggs, some cottage cheese, or just a bit of low fat cheeses. Avoid ham or anything that is oil or mayonnaise based.

Have Fun with Some Crunch

It is always nice to have some crunch in a good salad. You can get more crunch by adding in sunflower seeds, walnuts, or even some sesame seeds. These are better options than Asian noodles or croutons. Jazz up a salad with a bit of Parmesan cheese as well, which adds a nice tang to the salad you are creating.

Don't Forget to Garnish

As you are creating salads, do not forget to garnish your salad as well. One option is to add a sweet garnish by adding in some fresh fruit. Avoid going with fruits that are canned in a thick, sugar filled syrup. Grapes, watermelon, fresh berries, peaches, or even oranges make great garnishes to add a hint of sweet.

Be Careful with Dressings

Last, you do not want to ruin your entire salad by choosing the wrong dressing. Avoid the high fat, creamy dressings unless they are specifically low fat options. The best options are to make your own dressings or to simply add some vinegar and olive oil with a bit of pepper to your salad.

Salads are a healthy choice as long as you carefully choose the ingredients. Consider serving as a nice side with lean steaks. Look for a flank steak marinade recipe you like or find another great steak marinade to use for a nice dinner of steak and salad.

Easy Steak Marinades Help Make a Truly Mouthwatering Meal - EasySteakMarinades.net

The History of the Potato and Its Many Varieties

Domesticated several thousands of years ago, potatoes are native to the southern areas of Peru. This South American country is located on the western coast of the continent, and is home to over 5,000 varieties of potatoes. Also known as a tuber, this starchy food was once considered to be eaten solely by Incan gods. For this reason, the potato was an integral part of the Incan Empire's diet. The rest of the world did not become aware of this Peruvian delicacy until the Spanish arrived and conquered the Incan Indians.

The potato was introduced to Europe in the late 1500s, but it was not initially embraced. Once European farmers learned how to propagate the potato, it soon became a very important part of their cuisine. Although the potato was largely responsible for the European population boom in the 19th century, no one could have imagined that it would also be the reason for a country's famine and near destruction. Due to the limited varieties, potatoes became vulnerable to disease. In 1845, late blight, a plant disease, attacked crops across Ireland. Quickly spreading, late blight killed crops and was blamed for the Great Potato Famine.

Fast forward to today, and potatoes are one of the largest crops produced in the world. With thousands of varieties still growing in the Andes of Peru and all over the world, the potato is still an essential food eaten in many households. Over the past decade China has become known as the largest potato growing country. More than 300 million tons of potatoes are harvested worldwide each year, and almost one-third of them come from Asia.

With the average of 70 pounds eaten annually by the global citizen, potatoes are unlikely to fade from the culinary spotlight. Potatoes are full of nutrients like Vitamin B1, B6, C, and minerals like potassium and magnesium. Compared to other tubers and root vegetables, potatoes actually have substantial protein content. Depending on how the potato is prepared, it can be a healthy carbohydrate choice.

Potatoes are popular around the globe for their versatility, flavor, nutrition and cost. Most supermarkets offer several varieties of potatoes that are perfect for preparing appetizers, salads, soups, side dishes, and main courses. There are tens of thousands of recipes available for using potatoes and an infinite number of ways to prepare them. Potatoes are and will continue to be a prominent staple food for many, no matter where they live.

Potato salad is a favorite dish found in cuisines around the world. Hot or cold, mellow or tangy, creamy or chunky, it is the perfect dish for picnics, patio parties, and potlucks. Browse and select a traditional or contemporary potato salad recipe and find a delicious accompaniment to your favorite entrees.

Scrumptious Salads With Halloumi Cheese

Halloumi cheese was first created back during the times of the middle ages in Cyprus from the unpasteurized milk of goats and sheep. The cheese was then wrapped in mint leaves as a preservative which also added to its unique flavor.

Today, most commercial varieties of the cheese is made from cows' milk as it is less expensive and you can find ordinary halloumi and a version with tiny bits of fresh mint leaves inside. Authentic halloumi cheese is made in small batches in individual molds and the curds are heated and placed in brine which creatures a firm texture. A sprinkling of mint is also added to the half moon shaped batches of cheese.

Authentic halloumi cheese is excellent for grilling as it does not melt the way other cheeses would but simply hardens more instead. Some other cheeses ideal for grilling and eating plain or adding to salads include the Mexican queso blanco and the Indian paneer.

High in protein but low in fat, halloumi cheese is rich with calcium and offers a rather distinctive taste. Serve grilled halloumi as an appetizer or along with honey and fresh fruits as a deliciously sweet dessert.

Halloumi cheese will keep for quite a while in the refrigerator or freezer if it is wrapped tightly and not allowed to dry out.

Grilled Shrimp, Cheese, and Watermelon Salad Recipe

What You Need

1 pound extra large shrimp, cleaned2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided2 lemons, juiced, dividedSalt and ground black pepper to taste1/4 cup fresh oregano, chopped, divided1/2 cup fresh mint, chopped, divided4 wooden skewers soaked in water for 1/2 hour1 cup canned chickpeas8 ounces halloumi cheese, sliced thick4 large 1 inch thick watermelon slices12 ounces salad greens16 Kalamata olives, pitted

How to Make It

In a large bowl, combine the cleaned shrimp with half of the olive oil, the juice from 1 lemon, salt and black pepper to taste, and half of the oregano and half of the mint. Mix well and allow it to marinate for a half hour.

While the shrimp is marinating, soak the wooden skewers in water for the same amount of time.
Preheat the grill to medium high heat.

Skewer the shrimp onto the 4 skewers and grill for about 2 minutes per side or until cooked through.

Line a pan with foil and place the chickpeas inside then grill for 5 to 7 minutes.

With a pastry brush, brush the rest of the olive oil onto the slices of halloumi cheese and watermelon. Grill the cheese and the watermelon for 2 minutes per side.

Cut the grilled watermelon into cubes and set aside.

Distribute the mixed greens amongst 4 plates and sprinkle the remaining seasonings on top with additional salt and black pepper if desired. Drizzle the rest of the olive oil on the salads and top each with the grilled chickpeas followed by the watermelon, cheese, and Kalamata olives.

Place a shrimp skewer on each plate then squeeze the juice from the remaining lemon on top of each plate.

Serve the grilled shrimp, cheese, and watermelon salad immediately.

Serves 4.

Make your favorite crab salad recipe and serve along with pasta for a filling meal. Use fresh seasonings like black pepper, celery salt, and red pepper flakes to add flavor and interest to any ordinary crab meat salad.

Why be Crabby When You can be a Salad - CrabSalads.com

5 Decorated Cupcake Ideas for Girls

Cupcakes are really flexible and you don't need a special occasion to make them. Recently, I've been more inspired than usual so I decided to try quite a few decorated cupcake ideas. I must say, they turned out pretty great! They're perfect for mums who want to surprise her kids with extra-specials treats in an ordinary day. You can make the cupcakes themselves in advance and the decorations can be put in place a couple of hours before you serve them.

Here are few decorated cupcake ideas you may want to try for yourself:

Fruit - Fresh fruit have been used to decorate cakes before, but you can also do the same to cupcakes. Pick your child's favorite fruit. Berries and even mangoes are a great choice, but whatever's in season will also work. To balance the taste, prepare your buttercream icing with cream cheese; smooth out a thick dollop with a spatula on top of the cupcake. Simply position your fruit choices on top of the icing so that it won't fall off.

Gummy Drops - You don't have to make everything from scratch when you are decorating your cupcakes. If you don't want to use too much icing but would still like to make it pop, you can use gummy drops instead. There's an assortment of designs and flavors to choose from. Don't forget to put a thin layer of buttercream icing at the bottom to hold them in place.

Glamorous Stars - Little girls need to feel like stars sometimes, and a star-designed personal cupcake may just do the job. Bake her favorite flavor using a foil liner. With a 1M decorating bag tip, pipe an icing swirl on top using buttercream icing in her favorite color. Sprinkle it with dark silver stars and 2mm cachous.

Cookie Flowers - Flowers are very basic among decorated cupcake ideas, but you may not want to use sugar flowers. Women and girls alike would enjoy a flower made from cookies. Just roll out a premade cookie dough and cut flower petals using a flower-shaped cookie cutter. After you've baked it well, outline and fill the top of the cookies using a thinned color flow icing. This would take hours to dry so you should make this a day in advance. Brush the surface with some pearl dust to make it shine.

Fairy Cakes - One of the things every mum should know is how to make fairy cupcakes for her girls. When making your cupcake base, be sure to fill only half of your baking mold with the batter. After it has thoroughly cooled off, ice the top with a fondant-style glaze. Before it could dry, put a small icing crown at the center. You can also put miniature edible flowers if you want.

These are only five of the many decorated cupcake ideas you can apply. There are many other ways to decorate a cupcake from simple icing sugar sprinkles to the most exotic intricate fondant models. A quick search through the internet will give you a heap more ideas. Good luck and have fun making your cupcakes!

Michelle Bloom is a writer for Cupcake City an Australian online e-store that sells a variety of cupcake products such as cupcake carriers and lovely cupcake liners, cupcake decorations and cupcake stands.

Tasty Cookie Recipes: Coconut Macaroons and Blissfully Good Cookies

Make up a batch of fresh homemade cookies for your family cookie jar. If you have children at home, one of the fun things to do with them is to bake cookies. And kids love eating something they helped to make. The recipes below are easy and tasty. There's sure to be at least one your family would love. Personally, I love macaroons and this recipe is delicious. However, I do have a granddaughter and a son who hate coconut so we need a variety. Perhaps it is that way in your family too. These are not your everyday cookie recipes but isn't it time to venture out a little and try something new?

YUM-YUM COCONUT MACAROONS
3 large egg whites, room temperature
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup sugar
2 2/3 cups shredded coconut
2 tsp vanilla extract

Heat oven to 300 degrees.

Spray two large cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray. In a mixing bowl, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar on high speed of electric mixer until foamy. Beat in the sugar slowly, one tablespoon at a time, and continue beating until egg whites are stiff and glossy. Fold in the shredded coconut and the vanilla extract.

Drop the batter onto the prepared baking sheets by teaspoonfuls approximately 1-inch apart. Bake until the macaroons are golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Yield: approximately 65-70 macaroons

BLISSFULLY GOOD COOKIES
8 squares semisweet baking chocolate
3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chunks
2 cups chopped pecans

In a medium mixing bowl, melt the chocolate squares in the microwave on high for a couple of minutes. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Using a wooden or large heavy-duty plastic spoon, stir in the brown sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until well blended. Mix the baking powder into the flour; stir into the chocolate mixture. Stir in the chocolate chunks and chopped pecans. Drop by 1/4 cupfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 13 to 15 minutes or until puffed up and they feel set to the touch. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet then cool completely on wire racks.

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen large cookies.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/
For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/

How to Get More Healthy Walnuts Into Your Diet? Delicious Salad Recipes With Walnuts

Walnuts are small nutritional gems and doctors and nutritionists say we don't eat enough of them. Many times people stay away from them because of the fat content. The problem is, they provide the healthy fats that our bodies need to function properly. A cup of raw walnuts contains 18 grams of fat. However, that number contains no trans (bad) fats and only 2 grams of saturated fat. So 16 of those grams are healthy fats. The amount of saturated fat you would get in a serving of either of these salads wouldn't even be enough to count and these nuts have no cholesterol.

Walnuts are equal in carbohydrates and protein and very low in sugar with less than a gram of sugar per cup, making them perfect for diabetics. They also provide iron, calcium, vitamins C and E in small amounts. Everyone should include walnuts in their diet and adding them to salads is a good way to do that. This article has recipes for a Chicken, Peach, and Walnut Salad as well as well as an Apple Walnut Salad. If you aren't fond enough of walnuts to eat them raw, this is a great way to get them into your diet. For this article, I have included the nutritional information.

CHICKEN, PEACH, AND WALNUT SALAD
This recipe works for diabetics because of the carb to protein ratio and the 3 grams of fiber per serving. Remember there is basically no nutritional value in iceberg lettuce so it is best not to use it as a substitute for the mixed spring greens.

2 cups cubed or shredded cooked chicken breast
2 fresh peaches (medium sized), peeled and chopped coarse
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup mayonnaise (fat-free preferred)
1 tsp curry powder
8 cups packaged spring salad greens

In a medium mixing bowl combine the chicken, peaches, raisins, walnuts, mayonnaise, and curry powder. Gently toss to combine ingredients until coated.

Place salad greens on salad plates and top with the chicken mixture.

Yield: 4 servings

HEALTHY APPLE WALNUT SALAD

1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons canola or olive oil
1 1/2 tsp honey
1/4 tsp salt, optional
dash of fresh ground black pepper
2 tbsp crumbled blue cheese
1 head of Bibb lettuce, separate into leaves
1 red apple, thinly sliced
1 Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced

In a small bowl,using a wire whisk, combine the vinegar, oil, honey, salt, and black pepper. Whisk together well. Stir in the cheese.

On four salad plates evenly divide the Bibb lettuce leaves. Divide the apple slices evenly and arrange over the lettuce leaves. Drizzle the dressing over the four salads and sprinkle the toasted chopped walnuts over the top.

Nutritional information per salad: Approximately 147 calories, 8 g (2 sat.)fat, 3 g protein, 18 g carbohydrates, 3 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 207 mg sodium

Per serving with 1/2 cup chicken mixture and 2 cups salad greens: 277 calories, 19 g carbs, 26 g protein, 3 g fiber, 12 g (1 g sat)fat, 57 mg cholesterol, 295 mg sodium Note: This analysis figured using fat-free mayonnaise!

Diabetic exchanges: 3 lean meats, 1 1/2 fat, 1 starch

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's recipes visit her blog at http://grandmasquickfixrecipes.blogspot.com/
For her diabetic information and recipes visit http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/

Chicken Salad Recipes: Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad

Do you enjoy the refreshing sweet and tangy flavor of eating mandarin oranges? Have you ever had them in a salad made with grilled chicken and fresh vegetables? If not, you may be missing out on a real treat, because mandarin oranges are not just for desserts and cake decorations. They taste great when you mix them up in a mouthwatering salad with dressing as well.

Mandarin oranges are a citrus fruit that is kin to the family of oranges. They may go by different names. For instance, a Satsuma, Clementine, or tangerine may be a mandarin orange. They grow in tropical and sub-tropical climates. They are conveniently easy to peel while using your fingers. However, most often you may see mandarin oranges to use in various types of recipes come in a can.

Mandarin orange essential oils are useful for flavoring such products as bakery goods, ice cream, hard candy, gelatins, and chewing gum formulas. However, the orange segments are often found for decorating cakes, fruit salads and other desserts as well as in puddings and gelatins. You can use them to make this delicious mandarin oranges salad with grilled chicken and a sweet tangy raspberry yogurt dressing recipe.

So, anytime you are ready to start planning to bring out the grill to make grilled chicken you might want to consider making this salad to serve along with all the other great tasting foods and beverages you will be preparing for family and friends.

Recipe for Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad

What You Need

? cup olive oil? cup tarragon vinegar1 cup plain yogurt1 cup raspberry jam1 cup Thousand Island dressing4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves2 heads green bibbed lettuce2 heads red bibbed lettuce2 heads iceberg lettuce2 large cans mandarin orange segments4 sliced carrots? cup chopped pecans or walnuts

How to Make It

Add the olive oil and tarragon vinegar into a large size zip lock food bag and shake well. Set aside until needed.

Combine the plain yogurt, raspberry jam, and Thousand Island dressing in a large mixing bowl and mix until well blended. Chill this dressing mixture in the refrigerator until needed.

Rinse and drain the green bibbed lettuce, red bibbed lettuce, and iceberg lettuce. Leave whole leaves or cut and shred the lettuce for the salad. Toss into a large serving bowl. Place in the refrigerator to chill until needed.

Place the chicken strips into the bag of marinade. Seal and shake. Place in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 3 to 4 hours to marinade before grilling. After marinating the meat cook it over hot coals on the grill until done.

Cut the grilled chicken breast halves into 1 ? to 2 inch wide strips. Arrange the grilled chicken strips, mandarin orange segments and sliced carrots on top of the lettuce in the serving bowl. Spoon the raspberry yogurt dressing over the top of the entire salad and then top with chopped pecans or walnuts.

Do you enjoy making different types of chicken salad recipes? Perhaps you have a hankering for a delicious serving of chicken cordon bleu. If you do, be sure to visit us on our website today, we have so many more great tasting ideas to share with you.

BonelessChickenRecipe.com - Chicken so delightfully moist, you can almost smell it through your monitor.

How to Choose Eye-Catching Cake Toppers

Whether you're an avid baker or a connoisseur of fine baking, you'll know that the right cake topper makes the cake. Cake toppers are available in a wide range of designs to suit every occasion and taste. When planning an important wedding or birthday, consider the following tips for choosing perfect toppers.

Match the Style or Tone of the Celebration

The style of a celebration depends on who is invited and the preferences of the guests of honor. Cake toppers for wedding cakes, for example, may be formal-- or the couple may prefer a contemporary, even humorous style. Birthdays are usually fun and festive, but for the cake, some people choose a classic, elegant look, with ribbons, fresh flowers, and fine porcelain.

For traditional marriages, vintage wedding cake toppers are an option. Did you know that a wedding cake topper from the 1930's or even 20's can be purchased online? A classic cake might be crowned with fresh flowers, porcelain intertwined hearts, an elegant monogram, or kissing doves. A contemporary original art piece, made by a skilled crafts person, creates beauty and elegance. A metal or acrylic shape displaying the names of bride and groom; or engraved with words such as "Love" or "Bliss", create a romantic tone.

For a lighthearted celebration, look for funny wedding cake toppers, such as figurines of a married couple having fun on the beach in Hawaii, hiking in the mountains, riding a motorcycle, horseback riding, or golfing. Other options depict the "war" between the sexes-there are figurines that show a bride lassoing the groom, a bride holding the belt of a kneeling groom, and bride dragging the groom by the leg.

Birthday cake toppers also reflect different styles. For elegance or simplicity, aim for one single topper that is either attractive or informative. An attractive birthday cake topper might be a bouquet of flowers, a silk butterfly, or a satin bow. An informative topper might be the birthday year, the person's name, a framed photo, or a birthday greeting. A topper made of a good quality metal, glass, or acrylic, with a touch of color or jewels can be quite elegant.

For a fun or more personalized birthday cake, consider toppers that create a story. The cake may display a special interest or hobby or show characters from a favorite cartoon or movie. A theme cake is colorful, detailed, and an entertaining conversation piece.

Get to Know the Guests of Honor

Knowing something about the wedding couple, birthday "girl", or birthday "boy" can be quite helpful when selecting cake toppers. Beyond color and material preferences, it helps to know hobbies, interests, favorite animals, and favorite flowers, etc. when the cake is being personalized.

You may already know enough about the honored person(s). If not, interview a few family members or friends to discover the right theme. There is probably no sport, hobby, or taste that cannot be depicted with cake toppers, for example, picture a golf green with golfers, a scary scene with bats and vampires, or Pokemon figures in action on a birthday cake. A wedding cake may display many personal motifs or a single crowning figurine showing a couple engaging in an activity they enjoy.

Know Your Budget

As nice as it is to splurge for a special occasion, most of us have a budget. Fortunately, selections are available for every budget. For a wedding, consider rental as an alternative to purchasing. Look for edible and inedible toppers at bulk food stores, baking shops, and crafts stores. Browse the internet for catalogue items and custom order selections.

Order on Time

Shopping in advance is the best way to ensure that you come up with an exciting idea and get what you want. When ordering a custom made item for a wedding, keep peak wedding seasons in mind and order many months in advance. Internet shopping will yield many figurines that are unavailable in local shops, but remember to allow sufficient time for shipping.

Use Toppers as Party Souvenirs

Toppers on wedding cakes are often treasured for years as family heirlooms. When used on wedding cupcakes, toppers double as decorations and as party favors for each guest. A single monogram or figurine on a birthday cake can be an additional birthday gift; and multiple figurines on a birthday cake or on cupcakes can be souvenirs for party guests.

Consult with Others

Some people enjoy the surprise factor and choose to keep cake decorations a secret until the special day. This works for birthdays, as they come up every year. A wedding, on the other hand, occurs much less frequently--so getting one or more second opinions may not be a bad idea. Before purchasing or placing an order, get the input of one or more important people involved with the celebration. This last step will ensure that you have done all that is possible to select a fabulous cake topper.

Discover the amazing selection of cake toppers available in your local area. Custom designed cake toppers will bring your celebration cake to life and form part of your delicious centerpiece.

Grow Your Own Greens for a Tasty Salad

If you enjoy eating salad on a regular basis, why keeping purchasing various greens from the store? Many salad greens are actually very easy to grow at home, in a small greenhouse, on your back porch, or even in your windowsill. Start by planting it during the fall and grow in some containers that provide about 9-12 inches of soil depth. Remember, lettuce thrives under cooler weather. If you are going to grow your greens, you will find that there are several different options to choose from. Here are a few that you may want to add to your own salad kit so you can enjoy tasty dishes all year long.

Leaf Lettuce

First, leaf lettuce is one of the greens you will definitely want to try growing. It comes in many different varieties and it is very easy to grow as well. Instead of getting a head of lettuce, you will get bunches of leaves instead. You will find that there are many textures and colors that are available as well. When you are ready to harvest, make sure that you cut leaves about an inch from the soil. Do this and you will probably get another crop of this lettuce. Some of the options to try include Early Curled Simpson, Prize Head, Black Seeded Simpson, and Oak Leaf.

Romaine

Yet another option to consider growing for a nice salad is romaine lettuce, which is also known as Cos. You will get clusters of large leaves that are very crunchy. These greens are known for being crisp and full of flavor. It will take about 70 days or a bit longer to mature. Paris White Cos is a wonderful option to try planting yourself.

Butterhead Lettuce

Another of the greens that will definitely help you build a tasty salad is known as butterhead lettuce. The small open heads are tender and their center is very creamy, which is where it gets its name. While it takes a bit longer to mature, the mild flavor is amazing if you want a bit of variety when creating nice salad dishes. A few types to try include Tom Thumb, White Boston, Little Gem, and Buttercrunch.

Mixed Greens Salad Recipe

To use up the greens that you have made on your own, here is a wonderful recipe to make for a nice side salad. Find a tasty light dressing to add to the greens and enjoy eating something you have grown yourself.

What You'll Need:
2 cups of spinach1 cup of romaine lettuce, torn into small pieces1 cup of butterhead lettuces, torn into pieces1 radish, thinly sliced1 tomato, diced? cup red onion, chopped? cucumber, thinly sliced? cup of mozzarella cheese, shredded? cup of sunflower seeds

How to Make It:

In a bowl, mix together all the greens. Add vegetables. Toss the salad. Sprinkle with cheese and sunflower seeds. Serve into 6 bowls. Top with dressing of choice.

One you have your own greens, why not enjoy a nice dinner of steak in salad. Spend some time looking for the best steak marinade. Try a nice flank steak marinade or other marinades to infuse flavor and compliment your meal.

Easy Steak Marinades Help Make a Truly Mouthwatering Meal - EasySteakMarinades.net

The Best Vanilla Ice Cream

Summertime is one of my favorite times of the year to go out and find the best Vanilla Ice Cream. I love all flavors of ice cream, but a scoop of true pure vanilla is the ultimate sophisticated dessert. Vanilla ice cream is available everywhere, so how do you decide which one is right for you?

I started my quest for the best by strolling down the frozen food aisle in my local grocery store. The cartons claimed "creamiest", "old fashion", "slow churn", "natural", "fat free" and much more. I have no idea what most of those statements mean. I do know that low fat ice cream sounds to good to be true so I skipped right over it. I would rather eat a little less of the good stuff then load up on inferior ice cream.

In order to determine what all those claims meant on the cartons, I turned them over to the list of ingredients. Typically, ice cream is made from: milk, cream, sugar, eggs and flavoring (like vanilla, chocolate or fruit). I was amazed to see a list of ingredients on the side. Most commercial brands had high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavorings and a whole list of chemicals most individuals can not pronounce or know what they mean. I decided to give up on the grocery store and head to the local parlors.

Luckily, I live in a populated area that has many local and chain outlets. The chain outlets offer several variations ranging from frozen custard, frozen yogurt, soft serve and hard ice cream. Most of these are mass produced and no different from the grocery store offerings.

I did enjoy sampling several different varieties from the local parlors but even those ranged in quality. The smaller parlors served locally made ice cream made with all natural ingredients and milk from cows not given the bovine growth hormone (rBGH). These stores did provide the best store bought product available. Unfortunately, they did carry a hefty price for a scoop.

So my next choice was to see if I could make a healthy, rich creamy vanilla ice cream at home. I knew I only needed a few ingredients so it couldn't be that hard. I found the most important part of the process was having good quality ingredients and the right tools.

To get the best vanilla flavor, I opted for whole vanilla beans and fresh milk and cream from a local dairy. When they dairy found out what I was up to, they gave me great advice and I toured their facility. It was quite a process and started wondering if I could handle all the steps needed to produce the ultimate vanilla ice cream that I dream about daily.

My next step was to find a good quality ice cream maker. I did find an old fashion maker at a local antique store. I was quite intrigued by it but knew it would be a lot of work and time to churn it by hand. I decided an electric machine would serve my purpose and I found the right machine at my favorite on- line cooking store, Chef Depot.

When I received my new machine I was so excited to get started. I carefully measured all the ingredients and scrapped the vanilla beans out of the pod and mixed them in thoroughly. The whole house filled with the aroma from the beans. I was so anxious to taste my creation; I couldn't even wait until after dinner.

I was truly surprised how creamy and delicious it was and that I made it. I decided I needed to make a larger batch next time and share it at my next family gathering. Vanilla ice cream is one of the true pleasures in life!

Recipes for Yummy Cherry Desserts: Cherry and Cream Parfait, Cherry Fantasy, Cherry Cream Dessert

Cherries not only make pretty desserts they make tasty ones. Try these delicious desserts to please your family and friends. Cherry and Cream Parfaits are very easy to make and they are pretty enough to serve guests. And the little ones will love having their own individual dessert along with the adults. Cherry Fantasy is a delicious cherry dessert atop a brown sugar nut crust. Yummy! The Cherry Cream Dessert is a gelatin dessert with cream cheese and sour cream. It is a perfect summertime dessert!

CHERRY & CREAM PARFAITS

1 cup whipping cream
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
dash of salt
1 cup sour cream
1 can (21-oz) cherry pie filling

In a mixing bowl, whip the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, vanilla and salt continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Fold in the sour cream. Take six cherries from the pie filling and set aside. Spoon half of the pie filling into the bottoms of six parfait glasses; top with half the whipped cream mixture. Repeat the layers. Add one of the reserved cherries to the top of each parfait. Add a mint sprig to each of the parfaits, if desired.

Note for Diabetics: This recipe can be made for diabetics by making the following substitutions: Splenda Granula instead of sugar and lite cherry pie filling made with Splenda instead of regular pie filling.

CHERRY FANTASY CRUST:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts

In a medium mixing bowl, blend the above ingredients by mixing the brown sugar and flour together. Add the butter and cut in as though making pastry dough. Add the chopped nuts and press the mixture onto the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Allow crust to cool. Crumble and spread evenly in the pan.

FILLING:

2 cups whipping cream
1 pkg (8-oz) cream cheese, softened
2 cans cherry pie filling
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla*

Whip the cream and set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla together until well blended. Fold in the whipped cream and the cherry pie filling. Pour filling over the crust. Refrigerate overnight before cutting to serve.

*To change the flavor slightly, use 1/2 tsp vanilla flavoring and 1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring.

CHERRY CREAM DESSERT

2 pkgs (3-oz) black cherry flavored gelatin*
2 cups boiling water
1 pkg (8-oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar*
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 can crushed pineapple, drained
1 can cherry pie filling*

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water and pour into a 9 x 13-inch dish or pan; refrigerate until slightly firm.

Combine cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla, sugar, and chopped pecans; stir in pineapple. Spread mixture over set gelatin. Chill. Top with pie filling before serving.

*You can easily turn this into a diabetic or low-sugar dessert by using sugar-free gelatin,Splenda granular instead of sugar, and no-sugar added Splenda sweetened pie filling!

Enjoy.

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/. For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/

Four Ideas for Cinnamon Cookies

Cinnamon cookies are very handy: they are easy to make and are a hit in any occasion. The cinnamon flavour is delectable to any palate, and the taste is flexible enough to be combined with other delightful baking ingredients!

Making basic cinnamon cookie dough is quite easy. You need 3 parts flour, 2 parts sugar, 2 sticks of butter, 2 large eggs, 2 teaspoons of vanilla, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 3 tablespoons of ground cinnamon, and half a teaspoon of salt.

1) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees;
2) cream the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla together.
3) Mix flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder in a separate bowl and then add it to the first mixture.
4) Bake for 10 minutes.

A variation of the recipe would be setting aside the cinnamon and mixing it with pecans or almonds. Roll about a teaspoon-size of the cookie dough into the mixture and bake as directed.

You can use the cookie dough as a canvas to cinnamon and other sweet or crunchy baking staples. So, take out your cookie cutters and creativity; here are four ideas for an entertaining cinnamon cookie party!

1. Cinnamon Pinwheels - Divide the cookie dough in half and roll into an 8 x 12 inch rectangle. Sprinkle with a mixture of ? cup sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (you can add more for great flavour). Roll each rectangle into a log starting from the long side. Refrigerate for about thirty minutes. Slice off about ? inch thick and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 to 18 minutes. Cool before serving. Cinnamon Pinwheels recipe makes about 50 pieces.

2. Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookie - You will need, one and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups of oats, a large egg, 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, a cup of granulated sugar, 1/4 cup of milk, two sticks of softened butter, 1 teaspoon dark molasses and 2/3 cup chopped pecans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees while combining the flour, oats, cinnamon, and baking soda in a bowl. On a separate container, mix egg and sugar then cream with butter. Add molasses and milk until completely folded. Combine with oat mixture and pecans. Roll dough and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. The Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookie recipe serves 14 cookies.

3. Almond Cinnamon Cookies - Follow the basic cinnamon cookie recipe, adding ? cup blanched almonds on step 3. Drizzle with browned butter sauce by heating 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat, stirring consistently until light brown in colour. Remove from heat and slowly add in 1 and a half cup of powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and about 2 tablespoons of milk.

4. Cinnamon Almond Coffee Cookies - Using the basic cinnamon cookie recipe, add 4 tablespoons of Amaretto on step 2 and 1 ? tablespoons of instant coffee on step 3. Roll the dough into a mixture of 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Bake for about 6-8 minutes or until light brown. Cool before serving or storing.

Are you looking for more information regarding Cinnamon Cookies? Visit http://cinnamoncookies.org/ today!

How to Make Pies That Are Delicious Yet Quick and Easy! Oatmeal, Peanut Butter, Strawberry Parfait

Pies do not have to scare beginning or busy cooks off. Yes, it is possible to make pies quickly and easily. The recipes in this article are out to prove to you just how easy it can be to make a delicious pie. So head to the kitchen, whip up a pie in no time and surprise your family and friends with a delicious dessert. The Oatmeal Pie goes together quickly and only bakes 30 minutes. And you will be surprised just how delicious it is! The Peanut Butter & Cream Cheese Pie goes together quickly and needs to chill in the freezer for only 15 minutes before being ready to serve. Likewise, the Strawberry Ice Cream Parfait Pie is quick, easy, and oh so yummy.

OATMEAL PIE

Buy a ready made piecrust and this pie is so easy.

3 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup milk
2 tsps melted butter
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup quick cooking rolled oats
2/3 cup flaked coconut
9-inch unbaked pie shell

Beat eggs until lemon colored. Gradually add both sugars, beating well. Blend in the milk, butter, salt, and vanilla. Stir in the oats and coconut. Pour mixture into the pie shell. Bake until set around the edges, approximately 30 minutes. The center will be soft. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.

PEANUT BUTTER & CREAM CHEESE PIE

1 pkg (8-oz) cream cheese, cut-up
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
1 carton (4-oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 chocolate crumb pie shell
coarsely chopped peanuts, optional
chocolate shavings for garnish, optional

In a large mixer bowl, combine cream cheese and peanut butter; beat with an electric mixer till combined. Add the powdered sugar and milk to the cream cheese mixture; beat until combined. Fold in the whipped topping. Spoon the filling into the pie shell. Sprinkle with the chopped peanuts and/or shaved chocolate, if desired. Cover and chill in the freezer for 15 minutes before serving.

STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM PARFAIT PIE
1 baked pastry crust or graham cracker crust
1 pkg (4-serving size) strawberry gelatin
1 1/4 cup boiling water
1 pint vanilla ice cream
1 cup strawberries, halved or sliced
Whipped cream for garnish
Whole strawberries for garnish, if desired.

Mix the gelatin and boiling water. Spoon in the ice cream, stirring until melted. Place in the refrigerator until thickened but not set (15 to 20 minutes). Remove from the refrigerator and stir in the strawberries. Pour mixture into the pastry shell or graham cracker crust. Before serving pipe a decorative border of whipped cream around the outer edge of the pie. Top whipped cream with whole strawberries, if desired.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/.

For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/.

Perfect Cupcake Ideas

Want that perfect cupcake for your perfect party? Don't want to pay big bucks for them either? Make them yourself while saving money and getting the cupcake you want. You can use the whole cupcake as part of the decorations. Everything from the batter to the icing on top can match your theme.

To start you can color the batter before it's baked to match you party theme with food coloring. Light colored batters can be changed into almost any color. For a baby shower you could color the batter pink or blue. That would just be cute. You can even just swirl chocolate and white cake batter together to get a beautifully yummy cupcake that everyone would love.

The key to a perfect cupcake is the icing. It can be as simple as just the perfect color and cute sprinkles that matches your theme. If you want to get brave and use two colors of icings, it's very easy. You will need 3 piping bags and tips. Two of the bags will hold each color, one in each bag. Then the third to hold the two bags with color together to be used like it is just one bag. It makes a cute swirl pattern in the icing. Blue and white make a great cupcake for a water theme party; beach theme, pool party or ocean theme.

If you want to add more than just color to your cupcakes, you have many different decorating options. Fondant, candies, prints your own toppers, and even just the right icing tip can make some beautiful cupcakes.

Just about any cookie cutter can be used to cut shapes out of rolled out fondant. Hearts, stars, or just shapes make very beautiful cupcakes. If you are brave enough, fondant can even be molded into 3d shapes to match your theme. They also make all kinds of candies in cute fun shapes that could be added to the top of cupcakes. Gummy hamburgers are great for a barbecue party or gummy pizzas for a sleepover party. Take a quick walk down the candy isle at the grocery store to get lots of ideas. Many online sites offer a print your own cupcake toppers to match your theme. They can even personalize them with names or dates. There are sites that will do the design work for you for a fee and ones that offer you the free template you can design yourself.

Cute cupcakes can be made with the right icing tip. Wilton tip number 333 with multiple holes makes great grass. Wilton tip number 48 is a great tip to make the basket weave pattern. Wilton tip number 352 is perfect for leaves and flower petals. Layers of petals with tip number 352 would make a great cupcake flower.

Your next themed party can be perfect with a great cupcake you made. You can use a combination of ideas to make an outstanding cupcake. Colored batter, colored icing and the decoration on top will make your cupcakes a star of the party.

Find many more cupcake and cake tutorials on The Cake Class. They are sure to make your next party a hit, like these high heel cupcakes.

Lemon Rosemary Zucchini Bread

3 cups (390 grams) flour2 teaspoons baking soda1/2 teaspoon baking powder2 Tbsp minced fresh rosemary2 eggs1/2 cup melted unsalted butter1/4 cup olive oil1/2 teaspoons salt (omit if using salted butter)1 1/4 cup sugar1 Tbsp lemon zest3 cups grated zucchini (from about 1 pound of zucchini)

1 Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare two 4x9-inch loaf pans, either coating with butter or spraying with baking spray.

2 In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and rosemary.

3 Beat the eggs in a mixer (or by hand) until frothy. Beat in the sugar. Beat in the melted butter and olive oil. Stir in the lemon zest and grated zucchini.

4 Add the dry ingredients to the wet, a third at a time, stirring after each incorporation.

5 Divide batter/dough into two loaf pans. Bake in a 350?F oven for 45 to 50 minutes. Test after 40 minutes. If you gently press down on the surface of the loaf, it should bounce back, and a bamboo skewer inserted into the center should come out clean.

6 Remove from the oven. Let cool for a few minutes and then remove the loaves from their pans to cool on a rack.

Yield: Makes two loaves.

Marshmallow Fluff Recipes: Chocolate Cheesecake

Marshmallow Fluff is a hugely popular ingredient (or stand alone dessert for some!) in America. Despite its incredibly sweet taste and sticky consistency Marshmallow Fluff contains no artificial preservatives, stabilisers or emulsifiers - very important in today's health conscious world.

"What does it taste like?" is a very common question and the simplest answer is that it tastes like very sweet melted marshmallow! The real beauty of Marshmallow Fluff, however, is that it is incredibly versatile, suitable for making all kinds of treats, both sweet and, surprisingly, savoury.

Of course it lends itself to cake making very well. Here is a great recipe for a fantastic chocolate cheesecake.

What you'll need:

1 x 12oz semi-sweet chocolate pieces

24oz cream cheese, softened

1 x 7 1/2 jar of Marshmallow Fluff

2 x eggs

1 x 80z sour cream

1 x Chocolate Crumb Crust or 1 x 9oz ready made pie crust

How to make it:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Over hot (not boiling) water melt the chocolate and set aside.

3. Mix the cream cheese and Marshmallow Fluff in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth.

4. Add the eggs and the sour cream and mix until blended.

5. Beat in the chocolate.

6. Pour into the pie crust and bake for 45 minutes or until the edges start to turn brown.

7. Turn the oven off and let the cheesecake cool in the oven with the door open for about an hour.

8. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely on a rack.

9. Cover and refrigerate the cheesecake for at least four hours before you serve it.

If you want to make the crust yourself rather than using a ready made one then here's how you go about that:

20 x Oreos

6 tablespoons of butter or margarine, melted

1. Crush the cookies into fine crumbs.

2. Stir into the melted butter.

3. Pour into an 8 or 9 inch springform pan.

4. Press onto the bottom and the sides of the pan up to one inch from the top using the back of a spoon.

5. To pre-bake the crust, put in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.

And that's it. A very simple cake to make to which the Marshmallow Fluff adds that something special, that little bit extra.

In addition to chocolate cheesecake Marshmallow Fluff can be used to make a variety of cheesecakes, pies such as lemon meringue and rocky road, tortes, shakes, and a host of other desserts.

These ingredients are readily available from supermarkets in the US. If you are outside of the US then American food of a wide variety, including the Fluff, can be bought from specialist suppliers.

In addition to vanilla Marshmallow Fluff, the product is available in strawberry and raspberry flavours, increasing the number and types of recipes it can be used in. Don't forget that as well as sweet dishes it can be used in savoury dishes like a sweet potato souffle or holiday sweet potatoes.

Of course, you could also spread it on toast or eat it straight from the jar with a spoon - it is really that good!

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of American Soda, suppliers of American Food to the UK, including Marshmallow Fluff.

Yummy! Easy to Make Summer Desserts: Homemade Ice Cream, Cherry and Banana Cream Pie

Summer is the perfect time for get togethers with family and friends. Whether picnicking, beside the pool, camping, or just relaxing, we love desserts that are cool, refreshing, and easy to make. But of course we want them to be delicious and something our family and friends will remember. This article has recipes to make your summertime delicious. Lemon Ice Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream, and Cherry and Banana Cream Pie will bring you rave reviews.

NO ICE CREAM FREEZER NEEDED LEMON ICE CREAM

2 lemons
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup sugar

Finely grate 1 tablespoon of the lemon rind and put into a large mixing bowl. Squeeze lemons for 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice. Add juice to the bowl with the grated rind. Add the whipping cream and the sugar to the bowl.

Using electric mixer, beat on high speed until soft peaks (tips fold over) form when
the beaters are lifted. Transfer from the bowl to an air-tight freeze-proof container.

Freeze ice cream for at least a couple of hours or until firm. Garnish with thin strips of the lemon rind, if desired.

VANILLA ICE CREAM

4 cups whipping cream
2 cups half-and-half cream
2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla flavoring

Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat just until it bubbles around the edges. Remove from the heat and add the sugar, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Put in refrigerator to chill for at least a half hour.

Remove the chilled sugar/milk mixture from the refrigerator and add the whipping cream, half-and-half cream and vanilla flavoring. Stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the freezer can of ice cream freezer and follow the directions of your particular freezer.

CHERRY AND BANANA CREAM PIE

1 graham cracker pie crust
4-oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup thawed whipped topping
1 pkg (4-serving size) cherry gelatin
1 pkg (4-serving size) french vanilla cook and serve pudding mix
1 1/4 cups water
1 cup very well drained maraschino cherries
1 cup firm banana slices

Mix the cream cheese and powdered sugar in a large bowl until well blended. Fold in the whipped topping. Spread over the bottom of the graham cracker crust and place in refrigerator.

Mix the gelatin, pudding mix, and water in a medium saucepan until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture just starts to boil. Remove from the heat. Allow to cool for 5 minutes. Stir in the bananas and cherries. Spoon mixture over the cooled cream cheese layer.

Refrigerate pie for 4 hours or until set. Garnish with whipped topping and banana slices or cherries, if desired.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/.

For her diabetic dessert recipes and information visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/.

Using Icing Photos for Special Occasion Cakes

Icing photos are basically edible images that can be easily printed out and can be used as cake decoration. This new idea has become quite popular and is used throughout the world for birthday parties for kids, weddings, business inaugurations and even for anniversaries. For several busy moms, using these easy and fast cake decorations is a big blessing when they don't have much time to prepare for a party. You can turn an ordinary bakery cake into something very personal and specialized by using these images on them.

Save Money and Time

Using icing photos on cakes can save you a lot of money and time. Using the latest technology, these images today are available in various designs on the internet. You will be able to order them whenever you want and they will be delivered right at your doorstep. You will be able to use them for that special celebration cake. You will not have to worry about visiting several stores to find them and you will never even have to leave home. You can place your order from home and get it delivered at your doorstep without having to spend too much.

Available in Various Designs

Icing photos are available in a wide range of designs for every occasion. It can be a great option for those who don't have too much time for decorating the cake. The cake will look spectacular with just the image on it. Since theme parties have become the recent trend, you will be able to find just about any theme image you want on the internet. You can find thousands of these designs on the internet like Mickey Mouse, Ben 10, Tom and Jerry and Spiderman. With so many choices available, you will definitely find something you like.

Completely Edible

These images are completely safe to consume. Every sheet is basically a very thin sheet of white icing and is made with all edible substances like cornstarch, cellulose, water, oil, sugar, gum Arabic etc. The sheet is then fixed on a backing sheet so that it can be passed through printers and can be handled easily. When the photo has been printed and has completely dried off, it can be pulled off from its backing and can be fixed on top of the cake for a truly delightful effect.

These were all the benefits of using this amazing cake decoration. Making these cakes can be a lot of fun and would be a real treat for your kids. You can make any occasion special by the right image and then using it to decorate your cake. Icing photos are no doubt very popular today because of all of these reasons.

Please click icing photo for more information.

No Shark Cartilage? Almonds Will Do for a Salad

Then a bite of something pink and crunchy in a viscous dressing stopped me cold. The texture was somewhere between almonds and raw spaghetti. The flavor was tangy, fishy and pungent — I recognized umeboshi (pickled plums), flying-fish roe and sweet mirin (rice wine). And I couldn’t stop from devouring it.

“Shark cartilage,” my friend said with a wave of her chopsticks. “They eat it as a bar snack in Tokyo. It’s very authentic.”

Days later, still enamored with the crunchy tartness of the dish, I wanted to recreate the experience for my husband, Daniel. But given the dearth of shark cartilage at my local supermarket, faithfully reproducing it wasn’t an option.

I had to think of a substitute. Though nothing could quite compare to that singular crunch, perhaps a combination of ingredients might mimic it.

If I tossed slivered almonds, squid and juicy nuggets of cucumber with pickled plum paste and mirin, I’d be hitting the major flavor and texture notes. Hardly authentic, but it might do the trick.

An added bonus was that all of the ingredients, except the umeboshi (Japanese groceries and large health-food stores carry it), are readily available at most supermarkets.

Although the dish at Zenkichi was chilled, I decided to make a warm salad to bring out the contrast between the soft squid and crisp almonds.

I toasted the nuts in a skillet, then sauteed the squid, adding mirin and umeboshi. Then I piled it all onto the cucumbers.

The whole thing looked a little drab; it needed color. I scanned the pots on the deck and noticed some renegade purple shiso from last year’s planting, a welcome weed. I tossed it into the salad.

Then Daniel and I dug in. The salad was sweet, delicate and nuanced, a little tangy from the plum paste and herbal from the shiso, but not fishy or intense. In short, nothing like shark cartilage.

Was that a sigh of relief escaping from Daniel’s lips? (He is a little cartilage-leery.) No, it was sigh of contentment, and that was fine by me.

The Secret to a Great Salade Lyonnaise

Evan Sung for The New York Times

WHETHER Lyon ever was the gastronomic capital of France is debatable, but it sure has spawned some great dishes, including salade Lyonnaise, not the most simple salad ever made but one that approaches perfection in a way others do not. The combination of bitter greens (traditionally frisee, though escarole, dandelion, and arugula all work beautifully), crisp bacon, barely cooked eggs and warm vinaigrette is really unbeatable.

This is obviously a bit of work, but all of it is dead easy, especially once you master the egg poaching. There are a number of ways to do this, and most work as long as you don’t start with fiercely boiling water.

The water, salted, should be barely simmering. Crack the eggs individually into a small bowl before slipping them gently into the water. Let sit for three or four minutes, or until the whites barely solidify and the yolks remain as runny as possible. (Trust me on this: if you let the yolk harden even the slightest bit, you’ll be missing out on perhaps the most pleasurable aspect of the dish.)

That’s it. Fresh eggs are easier to work with — and better tasting — because the whites won’t spread out much in the water. (If they do, you can sort of gather them back toward the nucleus of each egg with a spoon, but I think this is a waste of time.) Some people think that adding vinegar to the water helps the whites coagulate, but I’ve never found that to be true.

You don’t have to eat the salad the second the eggs are done — you can reheat poached eggs in barely simmering water, or serve them at room temperature — but there’s no reason not to. Toss the greens with the warm dressing and bacon and top each serving with a well-drained egg. Break the egg immediately and mix it in with the salad; it will combine with the vinaigrette to coat everything beautifully.

The overall effect — fatty, sharp, sour, meaty and creamy — is a transporting experience, one you need not go to Lyon to enjoy.

Presto Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

The Fourth of July is just around the corner. For most of us, that means picnics, backyard barbecues and copious amounts of ice cold libations. I don’t know about you, but the last place I want to be on a holiday weekend is inside slaving over a hot stove. Rolling out the grill is a given. But, you’ve got to have something to go along with those burgers and ribs – and it better not require hours of cooking. This Presto Pesto Pasta Salad fits the bill. It’s fast. It’s ridiculously easy. And, it’s full of zesty, bold flavors.

The dressing for this salad simply a mixture of mayonnaise, lemon juice and store bought pesto sauce – the kind you find in the refrigerator section at the supermarket. If you happen to have an abundance of fresh basil in your garden, you can certainly make your own pesto sauce from scratch.? It isn’t difficult, but in this heat I’m all about the easy.?? Plus, once you doctor it up with the rest of the ingredients, I promise, no one will know the difference.?

This salad makes a great side dish on its own for whatever you’re grilling. But, you can also punch it up by mixing in some chicken, tuna or tasty little salad shrimp like I’ve done here.? Any way you serve Presto Pesto Pasta Salad, your guests will be dishing out the complements!

Presto Pesto Pasta Salad

Ingredients

1 pound short pasta like bowties or penne2-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved1 small red onion, diced1/2 each red, yellow and green bell pepper, diced1/2 cup black olives, sliced1 pound cooked salad shrimp, thawed1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces1 cup prepared refrigerated pesto sauce1/2 cup mayonnaise2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and toss in a large bowl with olive oil. Add tomatoes, onion, peppers, olives, shrimp and basil. Set aside while you make the dressing.Whisk pesto sauce, mayonnaise, lemon juice and Parmesan together in a bowl. Add to the pasta salad mixture and mix until thoroughly combined. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Serves 8-10.

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Here are a few other side dish ideas for your 4th of July celebration from the SGCC archives .? Enjoy!

Easy Italian-Style Farfalle Salad

Thai-Style Broccoli Slaw Salad

Jewels of the Earth Quinoa Salad

Edamame & Heirloom Tomato Salad with Lemon-Miso Vinaigrette

Sweet & Spicy Wickled Okra

A Salad a Day - An Important Part Of A Healthy Diet

Planning out dinners ahead of time can be a great way to ensure you keep food costs down and that you eat healthy meals. As you are planning dinner, you may want to start planning out salads for each day. After all, a healthy salad can be an important part of a healthy diet. It is important that you get plenty of vegetables each day and eating a salad is one of the best ways you can do this.

One of the reasons that it is such a good idea to go with a salad a day is because of all the nutrients that can be found in salads. Many of the types of lettuce and veggies that are put in salads are full of nutrients that your body needs, which means they are a great addition to a healthy diet. Another reason that salads are a great option for dinner each night is because they will help you stop eating as much of other foods at dinner time. You will fill up on salad and eat less of the higher calorie and fat foods, which can definitely help you to lose some weight.

A Few Tips to Help

If you are going to start eating a salad a day as a part of a healthy diet, there are a few tips you can use to make it a nice event. First, make sure that you make enough salad to last for a couple of meals. This way you do not have to take the time to make a new salad every single day. Leftover salads can also be a great lunch or snack during the day as well.

Another great tip is to always make sure you have fresh veggies on hand. Keep them in the crisper so they do not wilt and so they stay fresh as long as possible. Mixing up your salads is a great way to keep them interesting as well. Throw in different veggies or vary the toppings on them from time to time. Also, do not turn your salad into a fat or calorie trap. Avoid using high fat dressings, croutons, bacon bits, or high calorie cheeses.

Large Vegetable Salad Recipe

This recipe is for a large salad that will serve several people. It is full of great veggies that will definitely help you stick to a healthy diet.

What You will Need:

1 julienned kale leaf1 head of Romaine, torn into bite size pieces1-2 cups of baby spinach leaves1 small radish, chopped into very thin slices1 carrot, grated or chopped1 cucumber, finely sliced1 big tomato, chopped4-6 leaves of sweet basil, torn into small pieces1/3 cup of Italian parsley, chopped coarselyBlack pepperSea SaltExtra virgin olive oilRed wine vinegarDried Italian seasoning or oregano

How to Make It:

Mix together kale leaf, romaine, baby spinach, radish, carrots, cucumber, tomato, basil, and parsley in a large bowl. Toss well. Add black pepper and sea salt to taste. Add the extra virgin olive oil and the red wine vinegar to taste. Mix well to distribute the oil and vinegar. Top with the Italian seasoning or Oregano.

Oven baked fish recipes, homemade tartar sauce
A salad can be a great addition to any meal. Add a salad on the side when you make oven baked fish recipes. Look for a tasty homemade tartar sauce recipe to compliment your healthy fish meal as well.

EasyFishRecipes.net - The Only Thing Better Than Our Recipes Is Catching Them Yourself!

Old-Fashion Salads to Brighten Up Your Dinner Table or Buffet Salad Selection

When we talk about salads we are not necessarily talking about a bowl full of greens! There are many types of salads including greens. But what about gelatin, and beans or other vegetables. These recipes will help you have a selection of tasty, easy salads to offer your family and friends. Mixed Vegetable Bean Salad combines healthy kidney beans with vegetables in a cooked sauce. The Cream Cheese-Lime Salad is from the community where I went to school. Notice I didn't say what type of school. That is because I went from first grade through twelfth grade in the same building! We never heard of kindergarten and pre-K back in those days. My parents went there and so did my oldest child! This tells you just how vintage this recipe is.

MIXED VEGETABLE-BEAN SALAD
1 can (15-oz) kidney beans, drained
1 can (15-oz) mixed vegetables, drained
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery

In a medium bowl, mix the kidney beans and mixed vegetables together. Add the bell pepper, onion, and celery to the mixture. Make the sauce and pour over the vegetable mixture.

SAUCE:
1/2 cup sugar (or Splenda granular for diabetics)
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 cup vinegar
1 tsp mustard

Cook the sauce ingredients together in a saucepan, stirring, until the mixture thickens. Allow to cool then add the sauce to the vegetable mixture and toss to coat well.

I like to update this salad for my meals today. I am diabetic so I substitute Splenda for the sugar in the sauce. I also like to substitute a small bag of Chinese-style frozen vegetables for the can of mixed vegetables. I buy them in the steamer pack but only cook them 3 or 4 minutes to just heat them for use in the salad.

CREAM CHEESE-LIME JELLO SALAD
This recipe is from the community where I went to school. (Yes, I didn't say what type of school and that's because I went from first grade through twelfth grade in the same building! My parents went there and so did my oldest child!)

1 regular can of milnot, chilled until ice crystals start to form
8-oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
3-oz pkg lime jello
1 cup boiling water

Add the sugar and vanilla to the softened cream cheese. Dissolve the jello in the boiling water, stirring to completely dissolve the jello. Cool until syrupy. Combined the cooled jello and the cream cheese mixture. Whip the milnot until stiff and fold into the other mixture being gentle. Pour into a jello mold that has been wiped with a vegetable oiled paper towel. Chill until firm.

Note: You can use your choice of Jello flavors.

For more of Linda's old-fashion recipe collection visit her blog at http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com/ For more of her recipes and diabetic information visit http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/

How To Design Your Very Own Unique Ice Cream Flavor

Have you ever wanted to design your own ice cream flavor? Well you are in for a real treat because the possible combinations of frozen treats are limitless. The first step is to choose the method you will use to make your frozen treat. Then you will need to choose your basic flavor for your concoction. Next you will have to decide if you want a fruity taste or your basic chocolate or vanilla. You can also make a fun combination of flavors. The choice could range from candy to cookies also cakes or pies, even nuts. Nearly anything sweet or tasty can be used. If you are designing it for yourself, be as adventurous as you please. But, if you are developing it for a crowd, you may consider a more traditional approach.

There are many different ways of making ice cream. It can be as simple as two plastic bags. This involves putting all the ingredients into a small zip lock bag then sealed into a larger bag of ice and salt. This only makes a single serving. But who wants only a single serving of the nation's most popular dessert? There is the refrigerator freezer method...still only a small amount produced and is a time consuming method with varying quality a big problem. Then there are the hand cranked or electric churns. These are the best and most popular methods of making ice cream at home. Many of the best home ice cream makers have built in compressors and can make a premium batch in as little as 20 minutes.

First choose your base ice cream flavor. Next decide if you want it to be your basic chocolate or vanilla or a fruity flavor like peach or strawberry. Be careful to squash blueberries or they will freeze like little pebbles in the mixture. You can choose a fun combination of confections. Your choice could range from candy to cookies also cakes or pies, even nuts. If you are designing it for yourself you can be as adventurous as you please when selecting your choice of ingredients. But, if you are developing it for a large group of people, you may want to stick to more common flavors.

One thing to be careful of is not over doing the additives to the base. If you aren't careful you'll lose the smooth texture. There needs to be a balance in the ratio of additives to the base ice cream.

Now that you've learned about the limitless possibilities of ice cream flavors, the methods of making the frozen dessert and the people you'll be creating your master piece for have fun and start freezing!

For best results I highly recommend using a professional level ice cream maker such as my favorite, the Whynter SNO Ice Cream Maker. You will be very pleased with the results you get from this highly rated machine. See this and more of the best ice cream makers here.

A Mexican Twist to Cinnamon Cookies

One of the most popular recipes for cinnamon cookies are actually from Mexico, where they are called polvorones de canela. The main difference between this variety of cookies and the cookies that Americans are more familiar with is that the Mexican version is more of a dessert resembling shortbread in texture and taste, only enhanced with a cinnamon flavor. On the other hand, the American equivalent would, well, just be cookies with a cinnamon flavor, meaning they're flatter and chewier in texture. Polvorones de canela is usually served and is said to be perfect with a mug of piping hot chocolate, just like the American counterpart is perfect with a glass of milk.

The word polvorones is actually Spanish, meaning "dust". This is obviously alluding to these cookies having a generous dusting of a powdered mixture of powdered or confectioner's sugar and cinnamon, which in Spanish is canela. Thus, the dessert's name, polvorones de canela, is not actually a literal translation of cinnamon cookie, but actually means "dust of cinnamon". This dessert is quite popular in Mexico, but it makes a most special appearance during weddings, where they are served in a sort of ceremonial tribute to match the dress of the bride in a traditional Mexican ceremony. These cookies are stacked to form a pyramid-like structure, and they make a spectacular centerpiece during the wedding reception.

What usually happens is that these Mexican confections are carefully piled up one on top of the other until they form a tower and reach a height that someone can still reach. With the hustle and bustle associated with Mexican weddings, this tower eventually tumbles and the cookies scatter all over the table. The wedding guests will enjoy the sweet treats with Mexican chocolate or a glass of liqueur until there wouldn't be any cookies left.

So, what are the ingredients needed to make this Mexican version of cinnamon cookies? For the cookies, one needs two sticks or a cup of softened unsalted butter, half a cup of confectioners' sugar, half a teaspoon of cinnamon, a quarter of a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and two cups of unbleached all purpose flour. For rolling the mixture, there is a need for a cup of confectioners' sugar and a teaspoon of cinnamon.

The first step to making these cookies would be to mix the confectioners; sugar and the softened butter thoroughly until a creamy and smooth mixture is made. Once the consistency is achieved, vanilla, cinnamon and salt will be added. The mixture will now then have to be folded in the flour for a firm dough to be made. Set the dough aside in the fridge for an hour or two to chill.

While waiting for the dough to be stiff, the oven should be preheated to 350 degrees F. Use parchment paper to line the cookie sheets. Once the chilled dough has become stiff, form it into flat balls measuring an inch each. Then, combine the ingredients for rolling, and roll the balls in the mixture of confectioners' sugar and cinnamon. Put the balls in the oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes until they are have a nice brown color.

The recipe given above will makes around 30 polvorones de canela. After letting them cool, these cinnamon cookies should be stored for approximately a week in an airtight container.

Are you looking for more information regarding Cinnamon Cookies? Visit http://cinnamoncookies.org/ today!