Easter candy & Saving money!

Hello! Easter is on it's way! Easter is my husbands favorite Holiday!

My son and I make a special caramel candy together every Easter. It is easy and fun to make with your children!

Easter candy:

http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d29-Easter-candy

I am one who likes to save money where I can. I try to be a good steward over the things we have. Here is an article about how to save money on your groceries!

http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d29-Save-money-on-groceries

Enjoy!

Free Recipe Books!

Hello! I have found some free recipe books that you can take advantage of!

Some are downloadable and some will be sent through snail mail.

Free Eagle Brand recipe book (download) http://freebies.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=freebies&cdn=hobbies&tm=32&gps=148_1561_1089_623&f=00&tt=14&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.eaglebrand.com/contactUs.asp

Sun-Maid Fruit and sunshine book (snail mail) http://www.sunmaid.com/fruitsunshine/intro.html

Sun-Maid Taste of tradition book (snail mail) http://www.sunmaid.com/newtraditions/intro.html

Sun-Maid Healthy living book (snail mail)

http://www.sunmaid.com/freebooklet/intro.html

Cookie Exchange!

Ever hosted a cookie exchange? Let me tell you, it is fun! Its a fun time with your friends and family and you get to bring home tons of cookies!

How to host your own cookie exchange:


http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d28-Cookie-exchange





Coconut macaroons:


http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d26-Coconut-macaroon-recipe





Chocolate chip cookies:


http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d21-Easy-chololate-chip-cookie-recipe





Peanut butter cookies:


http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d21-Easy-peanut-butter-cookie-recipe





Molasses cookies:


http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d20-Molasses-cookie-recipe





Making cookies:


http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d13-What-happened-to-my-cookies

Cinnamon and Corn Salad

OK, so did the title get your attention? Are you wondering how cinnamon and corn salad can possibly go together?

Well, they don't!

However, I have one article about uses for cinnamon, aside from cooking and baking and another article with a recipe for corn salad.

I hope you enjoy them both!

Cinnamon: http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d25-Cinnamon

Corn Salad: http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d25-Corn-salad-recipe

Apple cinnamon cheesecake

Does anything scream "autumn" more than ripe, red apples?

How about an apple cinnamon cheesecake?

Here is a great recipe for you and as it bakes it will transform your home into a mini bakery!

http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d24-Apple-cinnamon-cheesecake-recipe

Cookie Madness!

Cookies, cookies and more cookies! We all like cookies :-)

Here are some soft and chewy cookies recipes for you to check out.

Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies: http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d21-Easy-peanut-butter-cookie-recipe

Chocolate Chip Cookies: http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d21-Easy-chololate-chip-cookie-recipe

Chewy Molasses Cookies: http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d20-Molasses-cookie-recipe

What happened to My Cookies: http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Charlotte-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d13-What-happened-to-my-cookies

Pancake Recipes & Molasses Cookies!

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend! Hopefully, these recipes will make it even better :)

The banana, strawberry pancakes are out of this world! We all enjoyed them when I made them. And the Molasses Cookies are super soft and perfect to satisfy the sweet tooth!

I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Pancakes: http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d20-Banana-strawberry-pancake-recipe

Molasses Cookies: http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d20-Molasses-cookie-recipe

Keep your eyes peeled for more delicious cookie recipes!

Recipes!

Ready for some new recipes? Do you like muffins? How about quick and easy recipes? Did you say, "yes"? Great! I have new recipes you will enjoy!

Crockpot (slow cooker) Beef Casserole: http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d19-Crockpot-beef-casserole

Easy dinner and dessert recipes: http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d19-Easy-dinner-recipes

Muffin recipe and ideas: http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Raleigh-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d18-Muffins

Happy eatings!

Cheesecake!

Cheesecake!

If you know me or have followed my blog for any amount of time, you know I am very fond of cheesecakes!

As a child, it was one of my families specialties! I have been raised making cheesecakes. I liked them back then and I still enjoy them today. I have written 3 articles about these tasty treats.

Please check out these recipe and tips:

Chocolate Cheesecake:

http://http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Charlotte-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d17-Deannas-Double-Chocolate-Cheesecake

Mascarpone cheesecake:

http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Charlotte-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d15-Mascarpone-Cheesecake

Cheesecake tips:

http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Charlotte-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d15-Successful-cheesecake-tips-and-tricks

Keep your eyes peeled for more cheesecake recipes :-)

Examiner.com

Hi! I want to share with you a way you can make some extra money.

I signed up at http://www.examiner.com/Charlotte/

It is a website where you can post articles and the more people view them, the more money you make.

They pay better than any other site I have looked into. I joined as the Charlotte, NC examiner, but you can sign up as an examiner near where you live.

I applied and they hired me! I was so excited!I have written about 6 articles so far. I have already generated some money! If you would like to, take a look!

And if you decide to apply, please put down that I referred you. You will have to put my name and my number... Deanna Polito-Laughinghouse #5523.

For each person we refer, we get $50! So, if you apply, you can refer people and make money too! No pressure! I just wanted to share this with you!

Here is a link to one of my articles. From there, you can view my other ones by clicking on the arrow...

http://www.examiner.com/x-5523-Charlotte-Cooking-Examiner~y2009m3d14-Southern-food-in-North-Carolina

I signed up as a cooking examiner. However, there are many, many other options to choose from and they are not all food related!

Happy writing!

Chocolate Malt Cake with Cherry Vanilla Frosting

As you recall, I gave up sweets for 6 months beginning on January 1st of 2009. Well, from the beginning of my endeavor, I stated I would be having cake for my Birthday.

About 1-2 months ago, my husband and I were watching "Te Ultimate Recipe Showdown" on The Food Network. A woman, and new friend of mine named, Julie Hession, won with her Double chocolate malt shop cupcakes with cherry vanilla buttercream! They looked so good to me, I decided I wanted to make them for my Birthday!

So, I did! However, I altered the recipe a bit and made a cake instead of cupcakes! I asked Julie if I could post the recipes and she said, "Yes!"

Here is a link to Julie's original recipe that won the contest.... http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/double-chocolate-malt-shop-cupcakes-with-cherry-vanilla-buttercream-recipe/index.html

Here is my recipe:

Chocolate Malt Cake with Cherry Vanilla Frosting

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/3 cup sugar (or a bit more)

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cup 2% milk

3/4 cup crushed whopper candies, crush in food processor

2 tbsp chocolate Ovaltine

1/2 tsp instant coffee powder

2/3 cup oil

2 large eggs

2/3 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup chocolate shavings, shaved from a 10 lb. chocolate bar (or mini chocolate chips)

Icing

1 cup shortening

2 tsp vanilla

4 cups powdered sugar

4 tbsp milk

2/3 cup cherry preserves

Preheat oven to 350*.

Line 8x8 square pan with no-stick foil.

In large bowl mix flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda and powder and salt.

Whisk until blended.

In mixer mix milk, whoppers, Ovaltine and instant coffee. Add oil and eggs. Add flour mixture to milk mixture. Add sour cream and vanilla. Add in chocolate shavings.

Pour mix into pan. About 3/4 full. You may have a little left in the bowl.

Bake for 40-46 minutes or until center springs back when touched or toothpick in inserted and comes out clean.

Cool

Beat shortening and vanilla. Add 2 cups powdered sugar. Add 2 tbsp milk. Add remaining sugar and remaining milk. Add preserves.

If it is too thin, add more sugar. If it is too thick, add a bit of milk.

Spread frosting over cake when it is cool

Top with remaining whole whoppers to decorate!

Minty Brownie Squares

Chocolate and mint... Peanut butter and chocolate... Cheese and crackers... These things just go together! I have found a recipe for mint brownies with mint icing! Yum-O!






Minty Brownie Squares



1 box or package of fudge brownie mix (prepared according to package directions for chewy brownies)

1 Tsp. mint extract

1 cup mini M&M mini baking bites



1 container of white cake frosting

1 Tsp. mint extract

green food coloring



Preheat oven to 325*.

Line a 9x13 pan with no-stick foil.

Prepare brownie mix and add mint extract and M&M's.

Spread mixture in pan.

Bake according to the package directions.



Cool.



Remove frosting from container.

I like to beat the frosting in my mixer to make it lighter.

Add mint extract and food coloring.

Spread over brownies and cut.

Top with mini M&M's.



Enjoy :-)

Fruity Oat Cobbler

Cobbler is such a great treat, specially on a cold day!

I have an excellent recipe for a Fruity Oat Cobbler.

You can also make this as a gift, as a "recipe in a jar". Just layer the dry ingredients in a large mason jar and attach a tag with the wet ingredients that need to be added and preparation and baking directions.

Fruity Oat Cobbler

2 1/4 cups uncooked quick oats
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup cutter, softened
1 can fruit pie filling (your choice)
3/4 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 375*.
Beat butter until smooth. Add 1st 6 ingredients to butter and beat until blended and crumbly.
Press 2/3 of crumb mix into a no-stick foil lined, 9x13 pan.
Bake for 15 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes.
Stir vanilla into pie filling.
Pour filling over crust.
Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over filling.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Serve warm or cool, with or without vanilla ice cream over the top!