Sunflower Peeps Cake for Easter (Tasty Stuff)

Sunflower Peeps Cake for Easter

I LOVE baking with my kids because it brightens my day to see them laughing and loving the simple things in life: mixing ingredients (ie, making a huge mess), licking the bowl and spoon and of course, enjoying the fruit of their labor.

But I am NOT a baker!  I don't have the passion and patience to carefully create things of beauty from flour and faith.  I hope our FUN experience of making this unique cake for Easter will inspire you that ANYONE can do it (see the pictures below for proof and a good chuckle!)...

Ingredients:

* Yellow or white cake mix (and ingredients on the box needed to make it)

* Cake layer filling of your choice (pudding, jam, frosting, etc.)

* 2 boxes of Peeps (birds)

* Chocolate frosting 

* Chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet and milk-chocolate for differing colors)

Jude and Gabby sample the cake as they make it, yep-it's going to be yummy!

And their older brother gets in on the action when it's ready to pour into the pan.  Pour into TWO greased (I also lined with wax paper for easy removal) 9" round pans.  Bake according to the box's instructions.

Cool on wire racks then frost the top of one with whatever you desire (see ingredients above) and stack them like this.

Proof that I am NOT a baker.  The cake kind of fell apart on me when I frosted it so I put it in the freezer and said a prayer that it could be fixed!

Playing hide n' seek with EvaLee while we wait for the cake to firm up in freezer.  (Good idea: freeze the cake FIRST then frost it!)

"Mom, can I sample one...or TEN?!"

Whew, we were able to fix it up.  I also warmed the frosing for the second application and it went on much smoother.  Live and learn!

 Okay, mister--that's enough sampling the Peeps!  Save some for the cake!  Once the Peeps (we alternated the orange and yellow but do whatever you want!) are assembled around the edge (just set them on the frosting, they'll stick!) we filled the middle with chocolate chips.

I'm quite sure you and your gang could make this MUCH prettier, ha!!  I figure we had a BLAST making it and it's the thought that counts!

Happy Easter dear friends!

Chicken Pesto Panini (Tasty Stuff)

It was love at first bite when my husband and I went out to a local eatery and tasted their chicken pesto panini!  I am not a gourmet chef, but I took on the challenge of making a sandwich that would hit the spot on the days we couldn't escape for a date night and needed to have date night IN.  ThIS is the result...it's pretty easy to make and super tasty (or so me and my hubby think)!  Enjoy! 

*Note: I don't usually use EXACT measurements so add a little more/less to YOUR taste!

Chicken Pesto Panini

Ingredients:

* Chicken tenderloins, thawed (you'll need about 2 per sandwich)

* Tony's seasoning, to taste (or season salt)

* Olive oil, about 2 or 3 Tbls.

* 3 to 5 Tbls. of shredded Parmesan

* 3 to 5 Tbls. pesto sauce (I use a store bought pre-made, use whatever you like best!)

* Muenster cheese (2 slices per sandwich)

* Red onion (I use about 1/2 an onion for 2 sandwiches)

Here's the HOW:

Heat up the oil in a pan and throw those babies in the fryer!  Sprinkle liberally with Tony's (my best bud from my Louisiana days!) and flip once they have "seared" (lightly browned on each side) then cover with lid to cook through.

Meanwhile, slice up that red onion into strips....yum!  Throw them in with the chicken (on the side) when the chicken is almost cooked through.

Spread the pesto sauce on top of the chicken at the end.  Just heat it, flipping to coat both sides but be careful not to leave it in pan more than a minute or pesto will start to burn!

Meanwhile, cut up bread of YOUR choice to prep for grilling the sandwich.

Top the chicken with the shredded Parmesan at the END and remove from heat.  (mouth watering in anticipation!!)

Line up all your ingredients to ready sandwich for assembly.  You may use a George Foreman or panini press to grill it...or just make a sandwich, no grilling even required!  (we do usually like it grilled!)

Ready to grill!! (Heat up just a few minutes, check often!!)

Chicken Pesto Panini to go...or to STAY home and enjoy with your sweetie!  (Serve with a side of ranch and  sweet potato fries if desired!)

The BEST (and easiest!) Cheesy Garlic Bread EVER! (Tasty Stuff)

I stumbled upon this great idea for making yummy garlic bread at a great blog, Comfy In The Kitchen, and once my family tried it, it was truly love at first BITE!

Here's the scoop (super fun and fast to make WITH your kids too!)...

Grab these items:

* large loaf of French bread 

(any size works though, we used a half loaf for our dinner since that's all we had on hand!)

* stick of butter (may use less if you MUST)

* 1 cup (more or less) of shredded mozerella cheese

* garlic salt, to taste

* parsley, teaspoon or so (fresh or dried is good)

(Parental supervision required)

Carefully cut a cross-hatch pattern into the loaf of bread.  Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cut through the bread through about 3/4 through the loaf 

(not all the way, may sure it stays attached).

Getting excited to eat it already!

Peel open the "cuts" and stuff with the shredded cheese!

Ta-da! (Like I said, easy and fun!)

Ah, my love affair with butter!  Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl and pour on top (I did this part), taking care to evenly get it in the crevices of the bread.

Lastly, lightly sprinkle with the garlic salt and parsley.  It's now ready to put into the preheated oven.  I usually bake it about 5-10 minutes, checking it often.  The cheese should be melted and gooey and lightly browned on top.

And now for the BEST part...

LET'S EAT!

Beer Cheese Soup (Tasty Stuff)

This is a recipe I came up with when my sister asked if I could "reproduce" a beer-cheese soup they enjoyed at a restaurant, Moosejaw, in the Wisconsin Dells.  Well, I've never even eaten there so I was going off of how she described it to me (and it took me a few experiments in the kitchen!) but, when she sampled the finished product, she gave it two thumbs up!


I hope your family will love it too!

Beer Cheese Soup

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time:  25 minutes

Ingredients:

* 1 T butter

* ½ c. chopped onion and ½ t minced garlic

* 1 t Worcestershire sauce

* ½ can or bottle of light beer

* 1 can chicken broth mixed with 3 T cornstarch

* 2 c. half and half (or whole milk)

* 2 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese

* 1 lb. sausage kielbasa, cubed and pre-cooked

* 1-2 c. cubed and pre-cooked potatoes

Melt butter and add onion, garlic and Worcestershire and stir.  Add the beer and raise heat to high and boil 3 minutes to evaporate alcohol.  Add chicken broth and bring to boil.  Lower heat again and simmer.  Add half and half and cheese and sausage and potatoes.  Heat through and serve with crusty bread or croutons.  Enjoy!