Chocolaholic!

Yummmmm!!

Northerly Nosh

Meal Planning Mondays are an experiment to see what works for my family. I like trying new recipes. I have too many pins on Pinterest that are not being utilized. This week I committ to making these recipes…Braised Short Ribs and Sour Cream & Chive Mashed Potatoes. These recipes will continue to be made ahead time and frozen. This also in honor of our church’s youth fundraiser dinner that I help cook for.

Braised Short Ribs

Adapted from Onceamonthmom.com

Servings: 8

4 pounds beef short ribs (or 2 pounds short ribs and 2 pounds chuck roast, cut into chunks)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 large onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup red wine
1/3 cup ketchup
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 sprigs fresh thyme

Prep Day: Sprinkle salt and pepper over ribs. In…

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The World’s Top 10 Best Ever Cakes Made With Flakes

I love these. Im going to say the chocolate frangelico caramel mouse cake may be my favorite!

How to make perfect cake pops.

When I set my mind to do something I work at it until I have perfected it in a way that works best for me. I love to do this is my crafts and in my baking. The prettiest cake pops I have ever made were for my son’s birthday party. I made almond, lemon, strawberry, and funfetti flavored cake pops. I used the chocolate melts that coordinated with the flavor and decorated the foam I stuck the sticks in. I used the strawberry cake mix for the strawberry flavored cake and almond flavoring in a plain cake mix for the almond. The lemon flavoring can be used but if you find a lemon flavored cake mix that can be used as well. Its your personal preference. I served them frozen. The kids loved them!

I have to admit it was time-consuming but I had a lot of fun making them with my daughter’s help. My most important thing to know when making cake pops is to keep the chocolate for dipping at a perfect consistency. If you add the right amount of oil (a very small amount, and depends on the amount of chocolate) the cake pops are easy to cover. The frosting coats the cake pop with a smooth layer of frosting and it looks yummy! Good luck and enjoy!

 

Bake one confetti cake mix. Let it cool and crumble the cake mix. Add one container of Pillsbury frosting to the crumbled cake mix. If you wish to add flavoring add it in the cake mixture now. This is optional. I added a few drops of almond flavoring to mine. Be careful not to add too much if you are using the oil. It only takes a couple drops for the whole cake mix and can be overpowering. Let this combination cool in the refrigerator for an hour or until it is easy to form cake balls.

Melt one to two bags of candy melts (found at Hobby Lobby or JoAnns Fabrics) until creamy. I add about a teaspoon of oil (corn, vegetable, or peanut; it doesn’t matter). This makes the chocolate a smoother consistency and easier to dip the cake pops. Dip each stick into the melted chocolate and stick half way down inside the cake balls. This helps the stick stay inserted into the cake pop. Place them on a flat tray with wax paper beneath. I freeze the cake pops after all the sticks are inserted. This allows the chocolate to stick better for the next step.

Once frozen (you may have to melt the chocolate again) dip the cake balls into the chocolate. Make sure the cake pops have a good layer of chocolate around the whole cake pop. Use a foam wreath or a large foam rectangle (also found in a hobby store) to stick the cake pop sticks in for cooling. If you desire to add sprinkles add them now before your chocolate hardens or becomes cool. Once cool wrap in individual wrappers. I freeze my cake pops until I am ready to serve them. You may choose to place in your the refrigerator. This is optional.

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I must try these!

Thing-a-Day Forever

Had a couple of bananas in the “brown and squishy” state, which means baking time. I only had two left though, so the muffins are slightly less banana-ish than usual. But still pretty tasty. For those interested, recipe is here http://www.bakingdom.com/2010/09/chocolate-banana-swirl-muffins.html

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Best Sugar Cookies Ever! Cinnamon flavored and almond flavored!

I made these for my husband for Valentines Day. They were awesome!

2 drops almond flavored oil (If making cinnamon flavored icing eliminate the almond flavor from the cookie recipe.)

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup butter or shortening (I used stick butter)

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup milk

3 cups flour

Combine all dry ingredients. Mix. In a separate bowl combine all liquid ingredients. Mix. Mix dry and liquid ingredients. I love to make thick cookies so I double my recipe. Bake 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Icing

Add icing when the cookies have cooled.

1 cup confectioners sugar

2 tbsp milk (or until desired thickness)

Food Coloring (optional)

1 drop almond or cinnamon oil for flavor (also optional)

**Tip** The cinnamon flavored icing had a real similar taste to the Brock’s jelly cinnamon hearts that can only be found for Valentines day. They were amazing!

Crockpot Bean Soup Recipe

It has been rainy and I was looking for a good warm rainy day recipe. I went through my pantry and found the following ingredients made a perfect bean soup. It had great flavor and was a simple comfort food for our rainy day. It is packed with protein and super good for you!

Bean Soup Recipe

1/2 bag of mixed soup beans (rinsed and drained)
1/4 bag black eye peas (rinsed and drained)
1/2 bag of 16 oz mixed vegetables

* salt and pepper to taste and one stick of butter (optional)

Soak the mixed beans and black eye peas in water over night (salted). Add frozen vegetables. In crock pot cook on low for 8 hours. Serve with homemade fresh bread or rolls.

Four Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge

I love love love simple recipes!

1/2 cup milk
2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup Jif
1 tsp. vanilla

In medium pan mix milk and sugar. Heat on medium heat until it boils. Boil until it reaches soft ball candy stage or just over two minutes. Stir the whole time. Take off burner and add peanut butter and vanilla. Stir and put in desired pan. The thicher the better. I suggest using a small glass baking dish.

 

Any successful business sets goals (ETSY)

I made 8 loaves of homemade banana bread. I worked on my newest project, my patchwork afghan. And, finished laundry and dirtied a whole sink of dishes while making banana bread. I have several new pieces of jewelry to list on etsy and a new children’s afghan. This weekend I found myself going in ten different directions. I always feel more productive when I begin my monday morning with a list of goals for the day and the week. Monday, today I decided I still have ten things to begin, wrap up, or work on because I have no general direction. It is important if you are running any business to set goals. I find this particularly important in my etsy business but also to accomplish regular daily life challenges.

I find it helpful to accomplish tasks by setting short-term and long-term goals. Two lists and both include everything in order from most important to least important. The short-term goals include a list of daily tasks for that day. Short term may include dishes, wash rugs and curtains, bake a cake, finish gift cards, and work on my large afghan for one hour. The long-term goals may include a list of tasks a month in advance. This list may contain a list of items I’d like to complete for my month of etsy listings or a dollar amount I would like to meet by the end of the month. Another long-term list may include a year in advance. These can include a list of bills I would like to pay off or a certain dollar amount I would like to accomplish selling on etsy.

It is important to set goals to keep from running circles on a daily basis. Also, it helps one obtain a higher standard for one’s business, and daily, monthly, or yearly accomplishments. Keep from running circles like I did this weekend because I have found I rarely get anywhere fast if I am not completing anything. I feel like I am endlessly wondering. It’s important to run any successful business by setting goals. Good luck!

Comfort Food

I was looking for something new and fun to bake last night. This is what I came up with. It was simple but my husband loved it.

2 large chicken breasts
1 small bag frozen mixed vegetables
1/2 (8 oz. pkg.) cream cheese
1 cup fresh parmesan cheese (shredded)
1 can cressent rolls
4 (or desired amount) long green onions (sauteed)

All seperately; warm vegetables, combine cream cheese and parmesan cheese and warm, cook chicken and shred, saute green onions. Combine all ingredients. Place the cressent rolls in a circle with the large end of the triangles to the middle and the point facing out. Add the mixed ingredients in a circle on the cressent rolls. Pull the corners over the mixture and stick the points to the inner part of the circle. The cressent rolls should encircle the mixture and look similar to the picture. Bake 350 for 15-20 minutes until the top is golden brown.

Brats and Sauerkraut

My husband loves this anytime. It is perfect for football parties, a pot luck, or any gathering of family and friends.
1 can or bag of sauerkraut
1 kielbasa sausage
1 bottle or can of beer (optional and flavor your choice)

Slice the kielbasa sausage. Add the sausage, sauerkraut, and beer (optional) to your crock pot. Cook in the crock pot on high for four hours.
Note: I used one bottle of Shiner Prickly Pear. It adds a sweet flavor to the brats and sauerkraut. It was available per bottle in Hy Vee grocery store. That way you don’t have the purchase a whole 6 pack of beer if you don’t want to.