Whenever we have friends over, I like to enjoy the company and not be standing in the kitchen watching over pots of food, etc. The more I can do ahead, the better my own evening will go as I can enjoy the company. I have found that when I put out a substantial table of main course food, people tend to appreciate a lighter dessert. Besides having a batch of two of cookies to nibble on, something cold and creamy served in little dessert cups is always welcome.
Here is another recipe idea that lends itself to your personal tastes. Hey, there is more than one way to freeze a dessert!
Quick Time-Saving Dessert
8 ounces of cream cheese, softened (you can also use the low-fat or fat free versions.)
1 cup confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar)
1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries, thawed (get the sliced ones)
1 can (usually 15-ounce size) crushed pineapple - the naturally sweetened type
1/2 cup blueberries, thawed or used fresh ones if they are available
8 ounces whipped topping* (found in the refrigerator section of the market)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
Whip together the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl. Fold in the rest of the ingredients and gently mix to keep the colors sort of bright and individual.
Line an approximately 9x9-inch pan with foil so that it goes up the sides. Pour in your dessert mixture and freeze.
When you are ready to serve, it should be relatively simple to remove it from the pan with the aid of the foil lining. Remove the foil and cut into serving pieces. Wouldn't hurt to put a spritz of whipped cream on each serving.
Ideas . . .
Before freezing, top with some candied nuts.
*For a richer dessert, whip up a cup or so of heavy cream with a bit of sugar, and three tablespoons of sour cream until stiff and use that instead of the store-bought topping.
Toasted coconut either on top or blended in take it on a different level.
Monday, August 1, 2011
More than meets the eye . . . for California residents.
Many of you living in California have probably heard the recent radio ads about the possibility of identity theft if you sign petitions for various bills, etc. that are looking for a place on the next voting ballot. Seems there is more to it than just worry about our safety but a means to cut down the amount of signatures needed to get items on the budget - items we may be in favor of being put into law. Passing along some links regarding this.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/29/radio-ad-warns-petition-gatherers-draws-critics/
http://www.redstate.com/laborunionreport/2011/07/29/who-is-behind-scaring-californians-away-from-signing-petitions-for-ballot-initiatives/
http://townhall.com/columnists/pauljacob/2011/07/31/crying_fire_in_a_crowded_democracy
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43953966/ns/local_news-los_angeles_ca/
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/29/radio-ad-warns-petition-gatherers-draws-critics/
http://www.redstate.com/laborunionreport/2011/07/29/who-is-behind-scaring-californians-away-from-signing-petitions-for-ballot-initiatives/
http://townhall.com/columnists/pauljacob/2011/07/31/crying_fire_in_a_crowded_democracy
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43953966/ns/local_news-los_angeles_ca/
Monday Wake-Up Quotes . . .
"The way to write American music is simple. All you have to do is be an American and then write any kind of music you wish."
-- Virgil Thomson
"He talked with more claret than clarity."
-- Susan Ertz
"I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible."
-- Oscar Wilde
"After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one."
-- Cato the Elder
-- Virgil Thomson
"He talked with more claret than clarity."
-- Susan Ertz
"I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible."
-- Oscar Wilde
"After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one."
-- Cato the Elder
Worth consideration?
Gems from the Internet. At the end of a busy day of being a mother, some of these ideas start to sound reasonable!
A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen and this kitchen is delirious.
No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.
Housework done properly can kill you.
Countless numbers of people have eaten in this kitchen and gone on to lead normal lives.
My next house will have no kitchen . . . just vending machines.
A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen and this kitchen is delirious.
No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.
Housework done properly can kill you.
Countless numbers of people have eaten in this kitchen and gone on to lead normal lives.
My next house will have no kitchen . . . just vending machines.
Amusing but worth pondering . . .
On a very cold, snowy Sunday in February, the pastor and only one farmer arrived at the village church. The pastor said, “Well, I guess we won’t have a service today.” The farmer replied, “Heck, if even only one sheep shows up at feeding time, I feed it.”
My Version of Biscotti . . .
Biscotti seems to be the elegant cookie of choice these days. I notice that just a small package of these Italian cookie treats costs a lot more than the actual ingredients. When we were first married, my husband purchased an Italian baking book for the bread recipes in it. I discovered a Biscotti recipe in the back of the book and, with minor changes over the years, this has become a regular part of my Christmas cookie plates every year.
Biscotti
3¾ cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
5 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cups toasted almonds, roughly chopped*
Place flour, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl. Mix. Add the rest of the ingredients, mixing thoroughly. Depending on how dry your flour is, you may either need an extra egg or more flour. The dough should hold it’s shape and you may find mixing and kneading it with your hands easier than with a spoon.
Grease two baking sheets. Divide the dough into quarters. Shape each piece of dough into a long, somewhat flattened loaf. The dough will spread in baking so keep some space between the loaves. Shaping the dough directly onto the baking sheets is easier than trying to move it from the board. The dough is sticky and spraying your hands with vegetable spray helps a lot. There will be two loaves on each baking sheet.
Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for approximately 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and reduce the temperature to 325. Cool the loaves slightly and cut diagonally into 3/4-inch slices and lay them cut side up on the sheets. Return to the oven for another 15 minutes. Cool on racks.
*Toast whole, shelled almonds on a baking sheet for about 15 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool before chopping and adding to your dough. Do not blanch the almonds.
Ideas . . .
1. Instead of almonds, use chopped walnuts or pecans with a tablespoon of grated orange rind.
2. In place of any type of nut, add powdered ginger, cloves, cinnamon and lemon rind according to taste.
3. Use chopped walnuts and ¼ cup cocoa powder.
4. Mini chocolate chips and raisins
5. Form your cookie loaf on parchment paper for easy removal after baking.
6. Dip one end of the cookie into either dark or white chocolate.
Biscotti
3¾ cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
5 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cups toasted almonds, roughly chopped*
Place flour, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl. Mix. Add the rest of the ingredients, mixing thoroughly. Depending on how dry your flour is, you may either need an extra egg or more flour. The dough should hold it’s shape and you may find mixing and kneading it with your hands easier than with a spoon.
Grease two baking sheets. Divide the dough into quarters. Shape each piece of dough into a long, somewhat flattened loaf. The dough will spread in baking so keep some space between the loaves. Shaping the dough directly onto the baking sheets is easier than trying to move it from the board. The dough is sticky and spraying your hands with vegetable spray helps a lot. There will be two loaves on each baking sheet.
Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for approximately 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and reduce the temperature to 325. Cool the loaves slightly and cut diagonally into 3/4-inch slices and lay them cut side up on the sheets. Return to the oven for another 15 minutes. Cool on racks.
*Toast whole, shelled almonds on a baking sheet for about 15 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool before chopping and adding to your dough. Do not blanch the almonds.
Ideas . . .
1. Instead of almonds, use chopped walnuts or pecans with a tablespoon of grated orange rind.
2. In place of any type of nut, add powdered ginger, cloves, cinnamon and lemon rind according to taste.
3. Use chopped walnuts and ¼ cup cocoa powder.
4. Mini chocolate chips and raisins
5. Form your cookie loaf on parchment paper for easy removal after baking.
6. Dip one end of the cookie into either dark or white chocolate.
Only a mild gambling addiction . . .!
Although I truly try to be frugal in my spending and stretch each penny until it is unrecognizable, I do have one weakness---I enter contests. At least once a month, you can find me busily filling out 3 by 5 index cards and addressing envelopes to carry what I hope is my big win! I figure I spend a few dollars a month in this extravagance but justify it by telling myself that when my ship comes in, it will all be worth it. So far, I haven't even found the harbor yet.
And, before you begin to think I have been blindly throwing carefully addressed envelopes into the mail box without any return on my time, you should know that I have won prizes in a few contests. When you consider that these are national contests and my entry is probably one of more than a million, I think I'm doing well for a hobby.
My first big win happened about a year after I started entering. I won a food processor. I calculated my postage and envelope expenditure against the value of the prize and I pretty much came out even. Of course, it would have been easier to just go out and buy a food processor but where's the suspense and excitement in that? Over the years I have received various rewards for my efforts. I remember winning a Cabbage Patch Doll, a tee shirt, mixer, electric can opener, a case of bubble gum. twin baby dolls, a big Lego set, six passes to Universal Studios, a bicycle, an audio tape, a Game Gear and lots of coupons for just entering the contests.
Before I had children, these were relatively satisfying wins. As the family increased and the income seemed to get spent more quickly each month, I concentrated my efforts on the cash win contests. Every payday after paying the bills, I would treat myself to maybe ten stamps and envelopes for contest entries.
I have learned to pray for a lot of intentions over the years but I never pray to win contests. I am saving my heaven-bound pleas for items of great need or importance. One day, however, after working long and carefully on my bills and budget for the month, I tossed down my pencil and muttered, "God, we really could use a little extra money this month. It sure would be nice if I could win one of those cash contests." As if on cue, the door bell rang. It was the mailman, not Ed McMahan. I opened my mail and discovered a cash win from one of my contests---for five dollars! God has a sense of humor and He certainly gave me exactly what I requested.
And, before you begin to think I have been blindly throwing carefully addressed envelopes into the mail box without any return on my time, you should know that I have won prizes in a few contests. When you consider that these are national contests and my entry is probably one of more than a million, I think I'm doing well for a hobby.
My first big win happened about a year after I started entering. I won a food processor. I calculated my postage and envelope expenditure against the value of the prize and I pretty much came out even. Of course, it would have been easier to just go out and buy a food processor but where's the suspense and excitement in that? Over the years I have received various rewards for my efforts. I remember winning a Cabbage Patch Doll, a tee shirt, mixer, electric can opener, a case of bubble gum. twin baby dolls, a big Lego set, six passes to Universal Studios, a bicycle, an audio tape, a Game Gear and lots of coupons for just entering the contests.
Before I had children, these were relatively satisfying wins. As the family increased and the income seemed to get spent more quickly each month, I concentrated my efforts on the cash win contests. Every payday after paying the bills, I would treat myself to maybe ten stamps and envelopes for contest entries.
I have learned to pray for a lot of intentions over the years but I never pray to win contests. I am saving my heaven-bound pleas for items of great need or importance. One day, however, after working long and carefully on my bills and budget for the month, I tossed down my pencil and muttered, "God, we really could use a little extra money this month. It sure would be nice if I could win one of those cash contests." As if on cue, the door bell rang. It was the mailman, not Ed McMahan. I opened my mail and discovered a cash win from one of my contests---for five dollars! God has a sense of humor and He certainly gave me exactly what I requested.
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