Friday, July 1, 2011

Strawberry Ice Cream Pie


2 pints vanilla ice cream


20 small strawberries, hulled and cut into small pieces (2 1/2 cups)

1/2 cup heavy cream

Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper or foil. Place the pan in freezer to chill, about 10 minutes. Scoop the ice cream into the bowl of an electric mixer and beat with a paddle attachment until it's soft but still holds its shape, about 2 minutes. Add the strawberries and beat until the ice cream is pink and the berries start to break down, about 1 more minute. Transfer to the chilled pan and spread to smooth the surface. Freeze until firm, 2 hours or overnight (if overnight, wrap in plastic to prevent freezer burn). Whip the heavy cream in a clean bowl to form soft peaks. Remove the cake from the springform ring, running a knife around the edge, if necessary. Spread the cream over the cake. Use a hot chef's knife to slice the cake into wedges

recipe source : Real Simple










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Grill Care

Summer is here and many of us will be grilling Taking care of the grill is very important and should be done before and after using the grill.

Seasoning the Grill:
This is a needed step whether it is a new grill or it is the first time to use the grill after a long winter. To season a grill:
•Build a large/hot fire in the bottom of your grill

•Wrap your grill grate with foil. (Remember to punch a few vents allow the edges.)

•Place the grill grate over the fire and allow it to cook for 15 minutes.

•Remove the foil and then use a grill brush to brush the burnt residue from the surface. (This would include any manufacturing residue on a new grill grate.)

•After brushing thoroughly, wipe the grate down with a lightly oiled paper towel.

Before you use the grill make sure that the grates are prepared properly. You should preheat the grate as well as brushing the grate to remove any residue left from the last time the grill was used and be sure to wipe the grill grate down with an oiled towel.


After grilling the best thing to do is to prepare the grill for the next time you will use it. That way the mess that you found it in this time will not be the way you find it next time. A few things to remember when you are done using the grill is to

•Let the grill cook for an additional 15 minutes on high heat. (This will burn off anything leftover.)

•Once the grill has cooled, clean the grill with warm, soapy water. Make sure grill parts are completely dry to avoid rust.

•Brush the grill with baking soda to help keep the grill looking its best. (Baking soda is a great natural cleaner and polishing agent).

•If your grill is outside, make sure you protect your grill against the elements with an appropriate grill cover.




information source: Johnsonville

Grilled Smoke Sausage Kabobs


•8 long kabob skewers


•1 (10-oz.) pkg. Farmland® ALL NATURAL* Smoked Sausage Rope cut into 1-inch slices

•2 larg bell pepper(s) cut into 1-inch pieces

•1 small yellow summer squash cut into 1/2-inch slices

•1 small zucchini squash cut into 1/2-inch slices

•4 green onion(s) cut into 2-inch pieces

•olive oil

Heat gas or charcoal grill to medium. Soak kabob skewers in water for at least 30 minutes. Alternately thread sausage and vegetables onto wooden skewers. Brush olive oil onto skewers. Cook on grill until sausage reaches 160°F., turning every 5 minutes
 
recipe source: Farmland

 picnics mean many different things to individuals some cook at the picnic site and others take all the food with them all ready prepared. We have did a bit of both in our time this recipe is one that would be great if we were to spend the day and cook while we were there.

Corn Salad with Cheese and Nuts

1 cup walnuts


4 cups fresh corn kernels (from 4 ears), raw or cooked

2 jalapenos, seeded and thinly sliced

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

kosher salt and black pepper

1/2 cup crumbled Feta (2 ounces)

Heat oven to 400° F. Spread the walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and toast until fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Let cool and roughly chop. In a large bowl, combine the corn, jalapeños, lime juice, oil, walnuts, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Sprinkle with the Feta before serving.

recipe source: Real Simple

Whatever Goes Wednesday

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Watermellon Rind Relish


3 quarts water
6 cups shredded watermelon rind
 1 cup sugar
1 cup cider vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds


Bring 3 quarts water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add rind; cook 3 minutes. Drain well.

Combine sugar and remaining ingredients in pan; bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 2 minutes. Stir in watermelon rind; simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes or until most of liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently. Cool; pour relish into airtight containers.

Note: Refrigerate Watermelon Rind Relish in airtight containers up to two months
 
Recipe Source: My Recipes

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Frozen Strawberry Yogurt Pie


Buttery Pie Pastry

3 cups vanilla frozen yogurt, softened until easily spoonable
 3/4 cup best-quality strawberry preserves (preferably whole berries)
 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
About 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, halved and/or quartered (leave small ones whole)

Press cold pastry over bottom and up sides of a 9-in. tart pan with a removable rim and trim edges even with top of pan. Chill 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°. Bake pastry on bottom rack of oven until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely. Stir frozen yogurt until smooth, then stir in preserves. Spoon into tart pan, set on a plate, and freeze at least 5 hours. Simmer balsamic vinegar, sugar, and 1 tbsp. water in a small saucepan over medium heat (do not let boil) until it coats a spoon, about 10 minutes. Let cool. Top pie with strawberries. Thin syrup with water if necessary and drizzle onto each wedge of pie.

Recipe Source: My Recipes
My mother always served tuna salad and chicken salad for easy to serve meals. SO super yummy and easy to serve. Slice a tomato up with a sandwich and there you had lunch or a light supper This meal or snack idea from real simple sounds just as good

1/2 cup mayonnaise


kosher salt and black pepper

1 2- to 2 1/2-pound rotisserie chicken, meat chopped

1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered or halved

1 small red onion, chopped

6 cups mixed greens

In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Toss with the chicken, tomatoes, and onion and serve over the greens.

Beef and Sugar Free


3 tablespoons rice vinegar, divided
 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, divided
1 (1-pound) flank steak, trimmed and thinly sliced across grain
 2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, divided
1 cup chopped onion
 1 teaspoon bottled minced ginger
 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup matchstick-cut carrot
1 (8-ounce) package fresh sugar snap peas
 1/3 cup chopped green onions


Combine 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and beef in a large bowl. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar, remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sugar, hoisin, salt, and crushed red pepper in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add beef mixture to pan; stir-fry 2 minutes or until done. Place beef mixture in a bowl. Heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add onion to pan; sauté 1 minute. Add ginger and garlic; sauté 15 seconds. Stir in bell pepper, carrot, and peas; sauté 3 minutes. Add vinegar mixture and beef mixture to pan; cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat; stir in green onions. Steamed rice with green onions: Cook 1 cup white rice according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Remove from heat; stir in 3/4 cup chopped green onions and 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds.

Recipe Source: my recipes

Frugal Ideas for the 4th of July

Wanting to do something special but don't have a lot of money? There are many ways that you can find frugal entertainment for the 4th

Many areas the entertainment may be free in the form of fireworks


If fireworks are not for you or if you don't care for the crowd then stay at home and plan a patriotic movie night. Here are a few movie titles you may want to check out

  • Rocky
  • Independence Day
  • Apollo 13
Bar BQs and picnics are also wonderful ideas that often don't cost a lot to do but are nice as well. What will you be doing on your holiday?

Rocky Road Whoppers


1/3 cup all-purpose flour


1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips, divided in half

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon instant coffee powder dissolved in 1 teaspoon water

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

60 (about 2/3 cup) miniature marshmallows

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Stir flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl to blend. Set aside. Stir 1 cup chocolate chips and butter in medium bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Transfer chocolate mixture to large bowl. Set aside. Whisk sugar, egg, coffee mixture and vanilla in medium bowl until blended. Stir egg mixture into reserved chocolate mixture. Mix in flour mixture just until blended. Add nuts and remaining 1 cup chocolate chips. For each cookie, drop 1 rounded tablespoon dough onto prepared baking sheet, spacing 3 inch apart. Gently press 5 marshmallows into center of each. Gently press 1 rounded tablespoon of dough atop each to cover marshmallows and form 2-inch-high mounds. Bake cookies until top is dull and feels crusty when touched gently, rotating baking sheets front to back and top to bottom halfway through baking to ensure even browning, about 14 minutes.Cool cookies on baking sheet 15 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool completely.

Do-AHEAD TIP: Cookies can be made up to 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

recipe source: http://www.cooking.com/Recipes-and-More/




http://www.momnivores-dilemma.com/
 

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Bright Starts Review


Our Prince Charming was born just a few months ago but as time passes quickly he has started to change all ready. His world has changed quickly and bright starts has helped to make his world a bit more exciting. With toys such as the BrightStart barbell rattle. We recieved a different colored rattle than the one showed here but I wanted to share this one because a portion of each sold goes to the breast cancer fund. The clear rattle with colorful beads enhances auditory and visual development. Our little prince enjoys the sound of the beads as we rattle it and is quickly learning to move the beads insid the rattle himself. Not only the sound but because the rattle allows the eye to see the beads move quickly inside. Little hands need time to learn to grasp objects and the textured handle helps them to learn to do this.  Our little prince loves the light that is reflected from the mirror and colorful beads inside the rattle.

Little Green Books Review and Giveaway

One thing that my little princess loves and I am sure that the prince will love as well are books. I for one love the fact that she loves books but I also want her to grow up knowing what is going on in her world and one thing that I can do is to make sure that she has things in her world that will make a difference. The Little Green Books belong in that list of things in her life that make a difference. "Little Green Books" are the creation of Simon and Schuster's Publishing that makes children's books out of recycled materials and are written on the subject matter of recycling, eco-friendly products and to teach our kids about the benefits of being green.

It is important to tell our little ones about the Earth and how important it is to do our share to keep it clean. This little book will help us to share that because it shows children how they can pitch in. By pitching in they can help keep the air clean, reduce pollution, recycle and more. This is not only a book but also a puzzle with oversized pieces so that children can spend time putting the puzzles together. The board book is printed on 70% postconsumer-waste recycled material.


Another board book Don't Throw That Away opens the door to another world for a child where items that we think of simply being trashed can be reused. The super hero of the story helps to teach kids how to recycle and reuse common household items. By lifting flaps children can see how items from old clothes to old boxes can be reused. The hope is that children like my princess and prince will learn that reusing items is super cool and they can become heros by taking care of our Earth.


What Do You See allows kids to walk through a book of flaps and read the clever rhymes of Stephen Krenskys. The book allows the young reader to guess which endangered species is hiding beneth each flap. From Panda Bears to a Butterfly children will have fun learning about endangered animals. The book is composed of 100% recycled material


We come from a long list of gardeners my father, his father and mother as well as my mother an her family. It is important to teach our grands about gardening and how good it is for us, the Earth and everyone around us. This little book allows the young reader to watch as a young mother and daughter dig up the soil, plant a flower bed, and water the seeds to make their very first garden. Soon a garden appears and grows and grows. This book also has an educational goal as colors can easily be taught through it. The book is easy to go where ever they go because it has a handle to easily carry it.


Little Green Books have been created to help get little ones excited about going green. Everything to young children is new so the concepts of recycling, replanting, creating an awareness of endangered animals and many more eco-friendly themes are concepts that may be new to them. By reading books in this environmentally friendly line allows them to see a different side of the world as well as see what recycled materials look like Characters in these books help to keep the childs attention while serious subjects suchs as the dnagers of global warming, benefits of recycling, as well as knowledge of endangered animals are shared. These books not only contain green information but are manufactured using environmentally friendly source. Books are printed on recycled materials using vegetable or soy inks. 
 
Whether it is Earth Day, Summer, Spring, Winter or Fall taking care of our Earth is something that all of us should do. Little Green Books website offers tips, a glossary to help you and your child understand green tips,  share in some games and check out the blog where you will find even more including recipes.

Great news!!! Five (5) of Annies Home readers will be able to win the same books that we reviewed. To win these books YOu must visit the Little Green Books Website and share with me what your favorite book is and why you must also be a follower of this blog

Extra Entries:
  • Share with me one way that you and your family participate to keep the Earth green
  • Follow my blog on twitter and tweet
  • tweet about this giveaway
  • share this giveaway on facebook, your blog or giveaway site (5 entries each) please let me know the link of what you do
Giveaway starts now and ends July 13, 2011 Good Luck Email must be in comment or on blog profile.

We would love to thank Little Green Books for sending us the great books to review The thoughts I shared in this review post were those of mine alone and besides the books to review we did not recieve any thing.

Welcome Wednesday

Welcome to my blog Annies Home where i love to visit and leave comments and would love for my visitors to leave a comment as well. Thanks for stopping by take a break check out the tips, recipes and fun here and please leave a comment letting me know you were here.

Giveaways I Entered

WhoNu the cookies that are nutritionally rich and taste good as well. I first saw these on a blog giveaway and was suprised to find them in our local Wal-Mart and decided to pick them up to try. They are rather good if I say so myself. Want to win some as well as a gc to Wal-Mart then hea over to the blog Thanks Mail Carrier and enter the giveaway there Giveaway ends July 20, 2011

Grilling season calls for some thing tasty to grill. The blog Grinning Cheek To Cheek is hosting a giveaway where the prize is some thing very tasty. The Tender Filet is sponsoring a giveaway where the winner will get  2 – 18oz Porterhouse Steaks Enter the giveaway before July 11, 2011

Shrimp and Pasta


1 pound dry linguine


1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp (fresh or frozen)

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 1/2 tablespoons capers, roughly chopped

3/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted and roughly chopped

2 anchovy fillets, finely chopped (optional)

1 26- to 32-ounce jar marinara sauce

Cook the linguine according to the package directions. Drain. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the shrimp with the pepper and cook until they begin to turn pink, about 2 minutes. Turn the shrimp, add the capers, olives, and anchovies (if desired), and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the marinara sauce and cook until heated through, about 4 minutes. Divide the pasta among bowls and spoon the shrimp and puttanesca sauce over the top.

recipe source: Real Simple

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Tomato Pie


8 cups thinly sliced sweet onions


2 tablespoons butter

12 slices bacon, cooked and drained

2 cups soft bread crumbs

2 (14.5 ounce) cans Red Gold® Petite Diced Tomatoes with Onion, Celery & Green Pepper, drained

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

3 eggs

Salt and black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350. In a large skillet Sauté onions in butter, until tender,. Crumble nine bacon strips into a bowl. Place bread crumbs in a greased 9 inch deep-dish pie plate. Layer with 1 can of RED GOLD®PETITE DICED TOMATOES with ONION, CELERY & GREEN PEPPER, half of onions, crumbled bacon and cheese. Top with second can of RED GOLD®PETITE DICED TOMATOES with ONION, CELERY & GREEN PEPPER and remaining onions and bacon. In a bowl, beat eggs, salt and black pepper; pour over the top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting. Garnish top with remaining bacon slices and a sprig of parsley. Refrigerate leftovers.


Recipe Source : Red Gold and get a printable coupon here as well

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Crafting for a Cause Whats Cooking Wednesday

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Gardening Tuesday : Weeding

photo credit here
The garden is coming along quite well and the tomato plants actually have little yellow blooms on them we all know what that means. Soon we will hopefully see proof of our hard work. We weed our garden the old fashioned way just me and hoe and a bit of hard work. I use no chemicals on my garden and I am very proud of that fact.


In the front yard you will see beautiful Petunias lining the yard. These hardy flowers have hues of purple and pink and are starting to vine out beyond the original point. The beauty of these flowers is simple and elegant but also remind me of my mother who always had these in her flower garden. What a precious memory.

What is growing in your garden this wee?

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4th of July Recipe: Cute Cut Out Treats

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows

-or-

4 cups miniature marshmallows

6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal

-or-

6 cups Kellogg's® Cocoa Krispies® cereal

Assorted sprinkles

12 wooden ice cream sticks


In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan coated with cooking spray. While warm decorate with alternating rows of red, white and blue sprinkles. Cool slightly. Using cookie cutters coated with cooking spray cut into star shapes. Insert wooden stick into each, if desired. Best if served the same day.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:

In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary
 
recipe source: Snack Picks

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What A Burger


1 King's Hawaiian Sandwich Roll


1 (8 oz.) Angus hamburger

shichimi aioli (recipe below)

your favorite teriyaki sauce

1 slice American cheese

2 oz. thinly sliced Maui or Vidalia onion

2 slices tomato

1 leaf lettuce

pickles and olives to garnish

Preparation

Place hamburger patty on grill to desired doneness.

Toast King's Hawaiian Sandwich Roll on grill.

To assemble burger, spread shichimi aioli on each slice of roll; between bread slices, place hamburger, which has been brushed with teriyaki sauce, then add cheese, tomato slices, lettuce and onion.

Serve with pickles and olives.

Shichimi Aioli



2 tbsp. mayonnaise

1/4 tsp. shichimi togarashi (Japanese red pepper condiment, available in Asian grocery stores)

Makes 1 serving.
 
recipe source: http://www.kingshawaiian.com/recipes/

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