Don't Eat Before Swimming

My mother wsa always an awesome fan of Elvis Presley and I believe that this cool sided pie would have been something he may have loved on the beach or poolside.

2 cups cinnamon graham cracker crumbs (about 15 sheets)
1/2 cup finely chopped honey-roasted peanuts
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 (4-oz.) semisweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
2 cups whipping cream, divided
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large bananas, sliced
Toppings: sweetened whipped cream, chocolate syrup, chopped honey-roasted peanuts

 Preheat oven to 350°. Stir together first 3 ingredients; firmly press on bottom, up sides, and onto lip of a lightly greased 9-inch pie plate. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven to a wire rack, and cool completely (about 30 minutes). Microwave chocolate and 1/2 cup whipping cream in a small microwave-safe bowl at MEDIUM (50% power) 1 1/2 minutes or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring at 30-second intervals. Whisk until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. (Do not overheat.) Spoon chocolate mixture into prepared crust. Beat cream cheese, next 2 ingredients, and 1/4 cup whipping cream at medium speed with an electric mixer until mixture is light and fluffy. Beat vanilla and remaining 1 1/4 cups whipping cream at high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold one-third whipped cream mixture into peanut butter mixture to loosen; fold in remaining whipped cream mixture. Arrange banana slices over chocolate mixture in crust. Spread peanut butter mixture over bananas. Cover and chill 8 hours. Serve pie with desired toppings.

recipe source: here

Perfect Dessert for July 4th

I just love fresh strawberries and these come dressed up for the party. To find out how they were made check out this blog post

I love this dessert so easy to make and so pretty perfect for fathers day. Yummy, smooth delicious and yes even daddies will like it

7 1/2 HONEY MAID Honey Grahams, broken in half (15 squares)

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

2 cups cold milk

1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

1 cup quartered strawberries

4 kiwis, chopped

1/3 cup BAKER'S ANGEL FLAKE Coconut, toasted

COVER bottom of 13- x 9-inch pan with grahams. BEAT cream cheese in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Gradually add milk, mixing until well blended after each addition. Add dry pudding mix; beat 1 min. Gently stir in half the COOL WHIP; spread over grahams. Cover with remaining COOL WHIP and fruit. REFRIGERATE several hours. Top with coconut just before serving.

recipe source : here

An Important Message for Fathers Every Where

Nickelodeon Gak And Floam and Lots of Fun

 

Ready for summertime fun? Well we were and we decided to celebrate the warm weather with some fun from Nickelodeon. My children grew up watching fun shows on the channel for kids and now my grandchildren, nieces and nephews were ready to join the fun ranks as well. The surprise for them was that they were going to be able to have a great time being creative with textures that were smooshy gooshy fun.  The same sort of fun that we had when we were teenagers. With younger brothers and sisters I was able to have fun with them and still continue with my teenage attitude. Two of the greatest things back then that we had fun with was gak and floam.

We were able to have a good time reviewing the Gak and Floam from Nickelodeon. The fun products retail for around $6.99 each and are available in a few different colors. Not only are Gak and Floam fun but also have been reformulated to make playtime and cleanup a cinch for a new generation of families. Age recommendation is above 6 years old and let me tell you everyone from the little ones that we played with to the teens who helped them and yes even myself had a bit of fun. Floam is a textured molding compound and Gak is a stretchy and squishy goo that is fun to play with as it feels very slimy as well.

Floam is a fun product that is made up of what seems to be tiny balls that feel funky when played with but are a lot of fun. Simply mold, fold and roll floam into any creation that you can possibly think up. Here you go a great tool to use up your child's creativity and curiosity. Floam can be used to make sculptures or molded onto common household items to help create a new look. A great idea would be to use floam and decorate a clay flowerpot to give it a new updated spin. Available in Rockin' Red, Blazin' Blue, Electric Yellow, Glimmer Green, Posh Pink and Purple Power, Nickelodeon Floam can be used for hours of fun of squeezing, squashing, and molding. When creativity time is over clean up is easy and the floam can be squished back into its airtight container for reuse or if you want to keep your creation simply let it dry and harden overnight. Floam will not stain but it is recommended to use it on a clean, dry surface and away from carpet, fabric and hair.

Nickelodeon Gak is one of those childhood things that none of us wants to grow out of. Kids will love it and never want to put it down. Gak is a bit rubbery but so much more slimy and fun. It can be squished, stretched, squeezed, and twisted. It is so fun to simply handle and when you start hearing the wacky sounds it makes the fun gets any better. Gak comes in an iconic splat-shaped, airtight container and is available in Rebel Red, You Blue It, Yakkity Yellow, Goo Green, Tickled Pink and Purple Panic. Once playtime is over, put Gak back into its container to keep it fresh.

at first we were just not quite sure what to think but then we got to having a bit more fun

Pretty soon we were having so much fun that we were wondering what we could make and do with the floam with those little balls that ran between our fingers and the gak that was slippery and slimy and if you played with it just right made some funny sounds as well.

our Little diva got in the act as well stretching the gak to see how far it would go. I love this because it builds their creativity, and wonderment of curiosity to check out new items and have fun. They must take a bit off of their aunt as well.

Flag Day 2012

STAND BY THE FLAG.

Stand by the flag! on land and ocean billow;
By it your fathers stood, unmoved and true;
Living, defended; lying, from their pillow,
With their last blessing, passed it on to you.
The lines that divide us are written in water.
The love that unites us is cut deep as rock.

Thus by friendship’s ties united,
We will change the bloody past
Into golden links of union,
Blending all in love at last.
Thus beneath the one broad banner,
Flag of the true, the brave and free,
We will build anew the Union,
Fortress of our Liberty.

Bayard Advocate (Bayard, Iowa) Jun 29, 1916

Giveaway For All The Dads : Teleflora Giveaway

Father’s Day is June 17^th. This year treat dad with gifts that are as special as he is.

Bath & Body Works® Signature Collection Men's Shower Gel Sampler

Every man needs options! This Shower Gel Sampler includes three full-size Signature Shower Gels in Ocean, Noir and Twilight Woods, 10 oz. each, perfectly packaged in a Dopp case. Dopp case is easily wiped clean.

Price: $5.50

Where to buy: Bath & Body Works and www.bathandbodyworks.com

C.O. Bigelow Men's Trio Gift Pack

This gift pack contains three of our hottest products for men: Bay Rum Hair & Body Wash, Bay Rum Aftershave and a 1.7 oz tube of our famous Premium Shave Cream.

Price: $35

Where to buy: C.O. Bigelow & www.bigelowchemists.com

Jeep® Wrangler King Of The Road By Teleflora

Put the petal to the metal for Dad on his special day with bright flowers in a ceramic replica of the classic Jeep® Wrangler. He’ll get a kick out of this delightful keepsake and keep it on his desk to give his spirits a lift all year long.

Price: $46.95

Where to buy: www.Teleflora.com

Ham and Potato Casserole

This recipe is one that many like to bring to church picnics. While many like to bring desserts, fresh produce and salads the ones that bring recipes like this with mear are among my favorites. This recipe was located in an old church cookbook.

• 1 lb ham, sliced 1/2 inch thick
• 1 tablespoon bacon fat
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• salt
• pepper
• 6 -8 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced thin

Pan fry ham in bacon fat until brown. Place in well buttered casserole dish. Melt butter in a sauce pan, remove from heat and blend in flour. Return to heat and add milk. Stir over direct heat until sauce boils and thickens. Arrange potatoes over ham and pour hot sauce over them. Bake in slow oven (325 degrees) until potatoes are tender, about 1 hour. Cover for first 1/2 hour then remove cover.


shared on
Tasty Tuesday
Thursday Treasures
Catch A Glimpse

Chicken Salad with fruit

1/3 cup plain fat-free yogurt

2 tablespoons mayonnaise or salad dressing

1 cup cubed cooked chicken

2/3 cup seedless green grapes

1 large fresh peach, chopped (3/4 cup)

1 medium celery stalk, diced (1/2 cup)

1 teaspoon chopped fresh mint leaves or 1/2 teaspoon

dried mint leaves

Mix yogurt and mayonnaise in medium bowl until smooth. Stir in

remaining ingredients. cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes until chilled.


recipe courtesy of

you can find other great recipes at their website because they care

shared at
Tackle It Tuesday

German Potato and Rutabagas Casserole

This recipe uses both potatoes and rutabagas and is a tasty and healthy side dish that goe with most entrees. Serve this up with some summer time barbq or take along with you on the next potluck or family reunion


5 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
2 small rutabagas, peeled and diced
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk, warmed
1/8 tspn white pepper
1/4 tspn salt
1/8 tspn nutmeg
6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Grease a 2-quart casserole.
3. In a stockpot of boiling, salted water, cook the potatoes and rutabagas until tender, but not mushy (they should hold their shape).
4. Drain well and set the vegetables aside in the pot to keep warm.
5. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and stir constantly until bubbly and well blended. Add the warm milk slowly and continue stirring until the sauce comes to a boil. Add the pepper, salt, and nutmeg and stir to blend.
6. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the sauce over the potatoes and rutabagas.
7. Transfer the mixture into the prepared casserole.
8. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon on top and cover.
9. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the cover and bake for 15 minutes more, or until golden.

Makes 8 servings.

Recipe courtesy of The Old Farmer's Almanac Garden-Fresh Cookbook.

shared at
Tuesday At the Table 
 foodie friday

Cherry Twinkie Dessert

 I love desserts that are easy to put together and give you a head start. This dessert builds off those little cakes known as twinkies. At our house we enjoy twinkies as a snack straight out of the box and even better made into desserts

• 14 Hostess Twinkies 
• 2 pkgs of cherry gelatin
• 2 cups hot water
• 2 pkgs instant vanilla pudding
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 container of whipped topping
• 1 jar maraschino cherries

• Place 14 Twinkie in a 9x 13 pan.
• Dissolve the cherry gelatin in the hot water and pour evenly over the Twinkies.
• Sprinkle on some chopped cherries.
• Mix the milk with the pudding.
• The mixture will be thick.
• Carefully spread pudding over the Twinkies.
• Spread the whipped topping over the pudding.
• Garnish with more chopped cherries. Chill overnight then cut into pieces.

recipe source here

shared at
 Trick or Treat Tuesday

Caprese Skewers

Want to give a bit of elegance to your summer time barbq? Add these Caprese Skewers that are easy enough to make and perfect to give an Italian twist to your next barbq.





15 Cherry Tomatoes, Organic; rinsed and dried with clean cloth
15 Fresh Mozzarella Balls, Pearl Sized (Found at Fresh Markets/Whole Foods)
15 Fresh Basil Leaves
15 Elegant Toothpicks (They’re a little bigger than normal toothpicks)
1/8 Cup

- Place one mozzarella ball on a skewer two-thirds of the way up, followed by one basil leaf then one cherry tomato. Be careful not to put the toothpick all the way through the tomato.
- Slice a very small piece off the bottom of the tomato to allow the skewer to stand-up straight on a serving plate.
- Place skewer on serving platter and repeat steps for remaining skewers.
- Once all the skewers are done, you can chill the appetizer at this point until you are ready to serve.

:)

Tortilla Chips with Grilled Corn and Cheddar

2 ears of corn, husked
Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 to 2 jalapeno chiles
1 scallion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro, plus sprigs for garnish
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
4 ounces cheddar cheese, grated (1 3/4 cups)
24 tortilla chips, preferably lime-chili flavor

1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. (If you are using a charcoal grill, coals are ready when you can hold your hand 5 inches above grill for 3 to 4 seconds.)
2. Brush corn with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Grill corn and chiles, turning occasionally, until grill marks appear and both are tender, about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
3. Cut kernels off cobs, and transfer to a medium bowl. Peel, stem, and seed jalapenos. Cut into 1/8-inch dice, and add to corn.
4. Add scallion, cilantro, lime juice, and 1 1/4 cups cheese to corn mixture. Toss until well combined.
5. Preheat broiler. Arrange chips in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Top each chip with a tablespoon of corn mixture. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheese over chips. Broil until cheese is bubbly, about 30 seconds. Garnish with cilantro sprigs, and serve immediately.

Hamburger Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) margarine
1 cup sugar
3 eggs (1 is for the cookie glaze)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 cup shredded coconut
Green food coloring
Red and yellow icing
12 large (1.5 ounces) or 36 medium (.6 ounce) peppermint patties

To make the cookie “hamburger buns,” heat the oven to 375°. Use an electric mixer to cream the margarine and the sugar until fluffy (about 1 to 2 minutes). Add 2 eggs and beat well. Stir in the vanilla extract. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a separate bowl. Then, add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and blend well.

 

For large “buns,” drop the dough by rounded tablespoons onto a lightly greased baking sheet at least 1 inch apart (for medium-size buns, drop the dough by rounded teaspoons). Next, use the bottom of a floured glass to lightly press the dough into a circle. Then beat the remaining egg and use a pastry brush to “paint” it on top of each cookie. Sprinkle sesame seeds on the tops. Bake the large cookies for 10 minutes and the medium ones for 8 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown.

 

While the cookies are cooling on a rack, make the “lettuce.” Place the shredded coconut into a plastic bag. Add a few drops of green food coloring, close the bag, and shake until the coconut has turned a light green.

To assemble the burgers, choose two cookies that are about the same size and shape. Spread icing ketchup or mustard on the bottom bun, add an appropriately sized peppermint patty, and sprinkle with coconut lettuce. Add a squirt of icing ketchup or mustard to hold the top bun in place. Arrange the hamburgers on a platter or wrap in foil. Makes approximately 12 large or 36 medium burgers.

Cabbage Recipe: Mexican Jumping Bean Slaw

3 cups (about 9 ounces) shredded green cabbage
1 cup (about 3 ounces) shredded purple cabbage
2 large sweet red peppers, diced
2 medium carrots, grated
4 large scallions, chopped
1 15-ounce can organic black beans, drained and rinsed
1 15-ounce can organic whole sweet corn, drained or 1-1/2 cups cooked fresh corn
2 cups shredded or diced cooked chicken (optional)
Salt to taste

2-1/2 cups High Kickin’ Creamy Tomato Dressing (see recipe below)

In a large bowl, combine green cabbage, purple cabbage, red peppers, carrots, black beans, and corn. Stir in chicken if desired. Add 2 cups dressing and mix well, adding another 1/2 cup dressing if desired. Salt to taste. Serve immediately, or for best flavor, chill for several hours or overnight. Slaw will keep in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

Check out this sweet Penguin recipe

recipe located here

No Bake Oatmeal Cookie Balls

The heat from the hot sun in summer makes us to not want to do much baking. But with great recipes like this that requires no oven makes snacktime more enjoyable


No Bake Oatmeal Cookie Balls

adapted from allrecipes.com
2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
In a large bowl, combine the oats, sugar and cocoa. With clean hands, mix in the water, vanilla, butter and peanut butter to form a dough.
Wash hands, then roll the dough into balls 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Roll balls in confectioners’ sugar until thickly coated.
Chill 20 minutes before serving.

Hamburger Month: Mexican Hamburgers

ground beef: 1 pound
ground pork: 1/4 pound
chopped fresh cilantro: 1/4 cup
garlic , minced: 2 cloves
salt: 1/2 teaspoon
pepper: 1/2 teaspoon
oregano: 1/4 teaspoon
grated cheddar cheese: 1/4 cup
canned diced green chilies, drained: 3 tablespoons
cornmeal: 1/4 cup
salsa: 1/2 cup
Mix all together in bowl, do not over handle. Shape into patties and grill or pan fry to your liking