Blogging For Books: The Twinkies Cookbook

The Twinkies Cookbook

OK, I admit it...I picked this book because it was about Twinkies.
I mean, who doesn't love Twinkies?!

This book is simply fun! There are a whole bunch of different dessert options for turning the Twinkie into something different. From the more simple Twinkie Strawberry Shortcake, to the more interesting Twinkie Orange Bavarian Dream.

This definitely plays to every parent's need for "semi homemade". We can take an old fave and use it to make something totally different.

There is an entire chapter devoted to Twinkies and meat...more like a main dish section. I....just...can't. Nope. Drawing the line. Maybe it's for some, but not for me.

**Note** I was supplied with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Disney Desserts

I have some exciting news for you all! 

I have a very good friend, Ruby Anne, who is a Disney JUNKIE...she is my go-to guru for anything Disney.

Her and her sister have started their own Disney travel agency (Disney World, Disney Land, Disney Cruises and beyond!)

She has graciously decided to spend her precious time bringing us information about Disney foods!

(mmmmmmmmm)

This is the first installment of many...follow along on our foodie journey!

For any Disney needs, please contact Ruby Anne!

Click here for her website

Click here for her Facebook page

Tell her I sent ya!

So as a self-described foodie and Disney addict, I feel it is my duty to share what I consider some of the BEST food in Walt Disney World! 

Today I will share what I think are the BEST desserts….

Lets start with Dole Whips which can be found in Aloha Isle located inside the Magic Kingdom and at the Polynesian Resort’s Capt. Cook quick service restaurant.  Dole Whips are  a soft serve pineapple ice cream that is out of this world delicious.  If you are a huge fan of pineapple like I am, then you should try the Dole Whip Floats which have pineapple juice in the bottom and the soft serve pineapple ice cream on the top.  It is a very filling dessert, so make sure you have room for it before ordering or have someone else on hand to help you eat it.  Doesn’t matter if you are visiting in the middle of summer when it is 100 degrees or in the winter for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – these are a must on each and every trip!

I am not a huge ice cream fan, in fact I usually don’t eat much of it unless I am in Disney.  Which brings me to the next dessert on my list:  Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars!  This is a vanilla ice cream shaped bar that is dipped in Nestles Milk Chocolate.  This should only be eaten while you have a moment to sit.  Trust me on this one as I had to retrieve the shout stain stick from my backpack after trying to eat one of these and walk at the same time.  If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, these count as 1 Snack Credit.

Next on the list are Zebra Domes which can be located at the Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Boma Restaurant or in the Mara quick service food market.  At Boma they are part of the dessert buffet, but can be purchased separately at Maras.  Boma is a wonderful restaurant and the dessert buffet does not disappoint, however you never want to miss out on the Zebra Domes. 

Here is a description and photo I found online:  “Zebra  Domes consist of a thin layer of white cake, a dome of Amarula Liquer mousse, coated in a while chocolate ganache with a dark chocolate

Ganace drizzle.”  I have seen several recipes online, but no one yet to admit that they have mastered the dome to perfection lol.  Let me know if you try, I will volunteer to be your guinea pig.

And finally on  my list are Chocolate Chip Cookies which can be found at any restaurant or any of the bakies around Walt Disney World!!  They are my absolute favorite and I if any of my family are visiting the World while I am home, I will (not ashamed) ask them to bring me home a few!!!  No pictures are needed, just use your  imagination and think of these huge soft, chocolate chip cookies with just the right amount of gooey to make them chewey but not messy. 

I have a trip coming up in a few months and plan on trying the Bread Pudding at O’Hanas located in the Polynesian Resort AND “The Grey Stuff” which is on the dessert menu at the new Be Our Guest restaurant located in the Beast’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom.

Upcoming food confessions to include the following:  character dining,  buffets, best quick service and of course the upcoming Food & Wine Festival.  Until then, eat well and have a Magical Day!

Ruby Anne

Chicken Spaghetti

We are FINALLY on vacation this year!

Hubby and I both started new jobs this year, so getting away has been a little more difficult than in years past...but we finally managed a loooong weekend! Started Thurs, doesn't end until Monday.

It has been just so relaxing!

We are spending time with some BFF's....at our fave beach...over our wedding anniversary... How much nicer can it get?

We have already watched fireworks on the beach, eaten some of our fave "bad for you" food, done a cook out, gone out to dinner, checked out some new shops, swam in the pool, spent a day on the sand, and done some touristy shopping.
In between all of that, we did a fire and smores, I have read 4 books, the guys napped some, and we have just stayed up late chit chatting and just being together.

LOVING LIFE!

What did you do this summer?

Adapted from Tasty Kitchen

Ingredients:

2 Cups Cooked chicken

3 Cups dry spaghetti (broken)

2 Cans Cream of mushroom soup

3 Cups Cheddar cheese (grated)

¼ Cup Green pepper (finely chopped)

¼ Cup Onion (finely diced)

4 oz Diced pimentos (drained)

2 Cups Chicken broth

1 Tsp Seasoned salt

⅛ Tsp Cayenne pepper

Salt and Pepper

Directions:

1. Cook spaghetti in chicken broth until al dente (do not drain)

2. Mix all ingredients, keeping 1 cup cheese separate

3. Place mixture into casserole dish

4. Top with remaining 1 cup cheddar

5. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes

Print

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Happiness is Homemade Link Party #82

Welcome to this week’s Happiness is Homemade Link Party!

The place where you can find new recipes, be inspired, motivated, and creative. We have it all and the best bloggers linking up!

You're next - join us!

We love seeing all of your links. Please remember to visit a few other links and share some love and meet some new friends!! Feel free to share the party with others.

We love new and old friends so let us hear from you!

Have a fabulous week!

Sticky Buns

We have an abnormal amount of grocery stores very close to us.
We have 2 Stop and Shop's, Market Basket, Shaw's, Price Chopper, Wegman's and two Hannaford's! On top of those we have a Super Wal Mart and a Super Target.
Not to mention the 3 BJ's in our close vicinity.

This is great for us, I am able to price compare and it really is no big deal for us to go to more than one store at a time.
I keep a running spreadsheet that shows each product and the normal price.
It does come in handy when the weekly flyers come in!

I know, I know, I over plan...but it's FUN!

Ingredients:

Dough:

6 ½ Tbsp sugar

5 ½ Tbsp shortening

1 Tsp salt

1 Egg (slightly beaten)

1 Tsp lemon extract

3 ½ Cups bread flour

2 Tsp instant yeast

1 Cup + 2 Tbsp whole milk

Cinnamon Sugar Mix:

6 ½ Tbsp sugar

1 ½ Tbsp ground cinnamon

Caramel Glaze

1 Cup unsalted butter (softened)
½ Cup granulated sugar
½ Cup light brown sugar
½ Tsp salt
½ Cup light corn syrup
1 Tsp vanilla extract
½ Cup coarsely chopped pecans

Directions:
1. Cream together the sugar, shortening, and salt
2. Whip in egg and lemon extract until smooth.
3. Add flour, yeast, and milk
4. Mix until dough forms a ball
5. Knead for 12-15 minutes
6. Lightly oil a large bowl and transfer dough, rolling it around to coat the dough
7. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 2 hours, or until dough doubles in size

8. Make caramel glaze: Combine butter, sugars, salt for 2 minutes in high
9. Add corn syrup and vanilla extract. Cream until light and fluffy.
10. Roll out dough with a rolling pin until a 14 x 12 rectangle
11. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar all over dough
12. Roll the dough, long side facing you, creating a cinnamon-sugar spiral
13. With seam side down, cut the dough into 8-12 even pieces
14. Coat the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan with the caramel glaze and pecans
15. Lay pieces of dough over caramel sauce
16. Mist dough lightly with cooking spray and cover with plastic wrap
17. Proof at room temperature for 75-90 minutes, or until doubled
NOTE: Instead of the second rise, you can place in fridge overnight and pull the pans out
3-4 hours before cooking
18. Preheat oven to 350 and adjust rack to lowest shelf
19. Bake for 30-40 minutes. Cool in pan for 5-10 minutes
20. Serve by flipping bun over and spooning warm glaze over the top

Print


Recipe adapted from Brown Eyed Baker

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Happiness is Homemade Link Party #81

Welcome to this week’s Happiness is Homemade Link Party!

The place where you can find new recipes, be inspired, motivated, and creative. We have it all!

We love seeing all of your links. Please remember to visit a few other links and share some love and meet some new friends!! Feel free to share the party with others.

We love new and old friends so let us hear from you!

Have a fabulous week!

Bean and Bacon Soup

I got out of work a little on the early side today, the girl child had the day of school, and we had a few errands to run.
Sounds like a plan to me!

I went home and picked her up. Our first stop was for a slice of pizza for lunch.
Gah!
We forgot how HUGE the take-out slices are at this particular restaurant. It is the equivalent of 2 large slices.
Needless to say, we didn't finish. Got a box and brought them home.

Next stop was our local Marshall's. We have the fortune/misfortune (depending on if you are asking us or hubby) of having one right at the end of our street. We are there all the freaking time! On our list was birthday present(s) for a cute little cousin and a couple of things the girl child needed.
Score on both counts!

We did spy a really spiffy pair of boots.
Hmmm.
Debating running back over there tomorrow.
Should really try them on. I might hate them.
Only one way to find out.

Boring stops came next. Nothing you want to hear about.
Hubby was home when we got there...and was oh-so-very psyched to see left over pizza. Apparently lunch wasn't on his agenda for the day.

Moments like that, with my girl, even doing mundane tasks, makes my heart sing.

Ingredients:

2-3 Slices of bacon, fried and chopped

½ Onion, diced and cooked

1 Can butter beans

1 Can kidney beans

1 Can pinto beans

1 Can diced tomato (not drained)

2 Cans chicken broth

½ Tsp oregano

Salt/Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients

2. Season to taste

Print

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Happiness is Homemade Link Party #80

Welcome to this week’s Happiness is Homemade Link Party!

We love seeing all of your links. Please remember to visit a few other links and share some love and meet some new friends!! Feel free to share the party with others.

We love new and old friends so let us hear from you!

Have a fabulous week!

Blogging for Books: Milk Bar Life by Christina Tosi

I enjoyed flipping through this book.
Christina Tosi's writing style is very friendly, she makes you feel like you want to hang out with her and her friends because they are just having the BEST time.

This collection is more of her family/friends home recipes, not so much recipes from the store. This is OK by be as they were all approachable with ingredients that will be easy to find.
Lots of "semi homemade" items supplementing fresh ingredients with canned or pre-packaged.

Some of the recipes require a lot more time and planning, but some are classic examples of "I need something NOW" recipes. There is one for pretzels an bleu cheese....truly, those are the only ingredients!

I have tagged a bunch of the recipes in the book and will be trying them very soon!

**Note: I was provided a copy of this book to review from www.bloggingforbooks.com all opinions are my own.

Baked Potato Soup

Cats enjoy climbing on everything they possibly can...but I can't stand the thought of kitty paws, fur, germs on my counters or table!! Ew!

Mr. Sir is no different, he loves to just climb up.
We have one little end table in the living room that we allow him to be on. It's the only table in the house...and he follows the rule.

Last night, hubby and I were sitting on the couch and Mr. Sir was up on "his" table. He then started playing with something up there...pushing it towards the edge.
It was his brush.
I went over, grabbed it...and he promptly FLOPPED on the floor waiting to be groomed.

Purrrrrrrrr purrrrrrrr purrrrrrrr

He is a vain boy, he enjoys looking his finest.
Apparently he is not shy about asking for it either!

Photo from Joanne Casey

Ingredients:

5 Lbs Yukon gold potato

1 Box chicken broth

Salt and Pepper

Toppings:

Cheddar Cheese

Green Onion

Bacon

Sour Cream

Directions:

1. Bake potato and let them cool

2. Scoop out the inside of the potato

3. Blend potato with chicken broth in small batches until you get the desired creamy soup consistency

4. Season to taste

5. Top as you would a baked potato

Print

I saved all my carefully scooped skins and froze them to make 'tater skins later!

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Happiness is Homemade Link Party #79

Welcome to this week’s Happiness is Homemade Link Party! We love seeing all of your links. Please remember to visit a few other links and share some love and meet some new friends!! We love new and old friends so let us hear from you!

Enjoy your holiday weekend!