Joel's "Beary" First Birthday

This post isn't a recipe but we did bake and decorate this and wanted to share.

I (Heather) haven't decorated a cake in years and have never used fondant so I was a bit apprehensive about tackling this.
I found the 3D cake pan this summer and bought it for Joel as his birthday present and then I found the pattern for the clothes on line and temporary tattoos to use for the decal. It took about 3 1/2 hours for us to decorate the cake with the help of Kandy's cousin Theresa. With a couple of drinks in our hands it was a fun evening.

If anyone wants to borrow the pan, just let us know!

FRONT

BACK

Joel with his cake!

Cookies for everyone to take home!

How to Cut a Pineapple Part 2

I have heard the saying "there is more than one way to skin a cat" (I am not sure where this would have originated or why).

As it turns out there is more than one way to cut a pineapple.

This is how Kandy cuts her pineapple.

Step 1: Select a good pineapple. "Gold" is great.





















Step 2: Cut the top and bottom off the pineapple

Step 3: Place the Pampered Chef pineapple cutter on top of the pineapple and push down.

Step 4: (This is an important one) you need to have good leverage. So if you are short you need a stool.

Step 5: Enjoy fresh pineapple
















Notes: This pineapple cutter works ok. You need to have the right size pineapple, too big and you waste a lot of pineapple, too small and it doesn't remove the skin.

Friday Afternoon by Heather and Kandice

Kandice and I have been cooking side by side since we lived together about 3 years ago. We are completely comfortable in each others kitchens and make a very effective team. Yesterday afternoon we hung out and I made supper while Kandy baked some cookies for dessert.

Warm Thai Chicken Salad

My sister was the one who originally found this recipe in a magazine while sitting in a waiting room (how ironic) and scribbled it down.

For dressing mix together

Juice of 2 large limes (or use bottled about 6 tbsp)

3 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp grated fresh ginger (I keep PC frozen ginger just in case)

2 tsp fish sauce

1/2-1 tsp chili flakes (I use less, I am a wimp)

2 cloves garlic, minced

The veggies

1 red pepper, thinly sliced

1/2 cucumber, halved & thinly sliced

1/4 green cabbage, sliced

1/3 cup chopped cilantro

4 cups baby spinach

The meat

3 chicken breasts, sliced into bite sized pieces

Cook over medium-high heat until just cooked through. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour in dressing and cook 3 minutes more.

Pour over vegetables and toss.

As an option you can top with chopped peanuts and mango. I highly recommend using both.

Rating

Brad - 10 - "We have to eat this often during the summer"

Heather - 10 - "I love how fresh this salad is"

Kandice - 10 - "I don't like cilantro but I like this salad"

Home Made Oreo Cookies

This is a recipe from my childhood. I have no idea where mom got it from. I found it in a box of stuff the other day and thought that I would try it again. Kandy said that it is super easy to make.

1 box Swiss Chocolate cake mix

1 box Devil's Food cake mix

4 eggs

2/3 cup oil

Mix and make into walnut size balls
(the Pampered Chef small scoop was perfect for this).

Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

Cool and fill.

2 tbsp margarine

4 oz cream cheese

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 cups icing sugar

Rating

Everyone - 10 - "MMMMMMM"

Warm and Yummy...get in my Tummy

Hello Everyone! Thank you very much for letting me join your food blog! Right from the very first time Heather had shown me this blog I have been very excited about it. I am not a chef extraordanaire like Heather but she has shown me some tricks of the trade and I now love to experiment in the kitchen.

For my first blog post I have chosen one of my favorite recipes.

Italian Potpie

The recipe can be found in Martha Stewart's Everyday Food magazine issue 58 on pg 89. You can also get this recipe from her website here is a link.

This meal looks really cute served in ramekins as shown on the website but I don't have these yet so I just used an oval corningware baking dish.



The ingredients are items that are always on hand in my house so if I am low on groceries this recipe is usually one that I can make and not have to run to the store.

My favorite part of this dish is the biscuits that are baked on top. They have crushed rosemary in them and the rosemary with the tomatoe sauce ground beef mixture is a fantastic flavour combo.

Prep time is about 35 minutes!




Enjoy!