Cheesecake Pansy Cookies

Start with some clean pansy blooms.

Clean pansies by rinsing and drying carefully. Trim as much as green leaves and stem as possible, being careful, if you remove stem too close the pansy will fall apart.

Cream 1 c butter

1 package cream cheese (8oz)

2 c sugar

Add 2 c flour.

Form into small balls, about 1 -1 1/2 tsp each

lightly press with glass dipped in sugar.

Bake at 350 for 4 min, remove from oven and lightly baste each cookie with egg white, affix pansies and apply another light coat of egg white. 

Return to oven and bake another 4 min or until edges just begin to turn gold. 

Remove and cool on racks.

Variation, add chopped nuts to tops or mix into dough.

One thing I have found about these cookies is little boys love them more than little girls. I thought the dainty cookies would really appeal to the girls, but the boys gobble them up. I think it is because when they realize they are actually eating a flower...they might be doing something ever so naughty ; ).  One such lad wanted to see the flowers in the garden, as we stood in the pansy patch he wanted to know if he could just pick it and eat it. Wow! when I said yes he was amazed, and kept doing it until his mom said no more. Of course we then had to discuss not just picking any old flower and eating it.

Contest Winner Cottage Giveaway

And the winner of the North Dakota Kitchen cottage giveaway is.................
Marilyn ,The Lone Doiller. Congratulations!!! Please contact me with your mailing information.
A big thank you to all who participated, and a huge thank you to new followers. I hope you will continue to follow and  check back often, Leave comments and do a little baking!! 

Fudge Caramel Kisses

Easy Breezy and chewy oooey, shown in the middle.
Melt 12 oz chocolate chips
1/4 c butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Pour into bowl
add
1tsp vanilla
2 c flour
Mix. will be thick like fudge.

Wrap caramel kisses with heaping tablespoons of dough, and bake at 350 for 8-10 min. You will know cookies are done when they loose the sheen and turn dull in color.

Melt white chocolate and drizzle on top.

Goat Cheese and Pepperoni salad

Boil 1 pound of pasta until done, rinse and cool.
Stir in 1 c mini pepperoni or diced pepperoni
Add 1/2 c chopped black olives
1/4 c diced onion
4-6 oz crumbled goat cheese
salt and pepper to taste.
Toss with a good olive oil and balsamic vinegar or use a ready made pasta/bread dip as seen below.

If your dip has herbs that will be sufficient, if not add in dried or fresh basil, garlic and oregano to taste.

Toffee Mocha Cake

Cake
1 c butter, softened
2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 -1/2 tsp vanilla
2 -2/3 c flour
3/4 c baking cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 c half and half
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp instant coffee
1 c boiling water

Cream Topping
1/2 tsp instant coffee
1 tsp hot water
2 c heavy whipping cream
3 Tbs brown sugar
2   14.5 oz Symphony toffee almond bars
1 can ready made chocolate frosting


Place lemon juice in half and half and let stand 3-5 min to sour, meanwhile,
In mixing bowl cream butter and sugar, beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine in another bowl, flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt, add to creamed mixture alternately with half and half.. Dissolve coffee in water and add to batter. Beat 2 min.

Pour into 3 greased 9 in. round cake pans and bake at 350 for 16-20 min or until cake tests done in center. cool 15 min, remove from pans and finish cooling completely on  racks.

Topping
Chop candy bars into small pieces. Set aside.
Dissolve coffee in water, add cream and brown sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

Place one layer of cake on serving dish and spread 1/3 of ready made frosting , then 1/3 of cream and 1/3 of chocolate bars.

repeat with 2 more layers. Chill until serving.

layers of yum!

Strawberry Cheese cake

Crust

  1 1/4 c flour

  1 Tbs sugar

  1/2 c cold butter

Mix flour and sugar and cut in butter until coarse crumbs form. Pat into bottom and up 1 inch of sides on 9in greased spring form pan. Place pan on baking sheet and  bake at 325 for 15-20 min. 

Filling

 4 (8oz)  packages cream cheese softened (I used 1 regular and 3 reduced fat, no fat free)

1 1/3 c sugar

2 Tbs flour

2 Tbs heavy whipping cream

4 eggs lightly beaten

1 Tbs lemon juice

2 tsp vanilla

1 c pureed strawberries, divided

red or pink food coloring, opt.

In large bowl mix cream cheese, sugar,  flour and cream until smooth. Add eggs and beat on low until combined, add lemon juice and vanilla just until mixed in.

Pour 2 1/2 c into another bowl and set aside.

Mix into large bowl, 3/4 c strawberry puree and 4 or 5 drops of food coloring.

To puree strawberries just blend in blender.

 Seal pan bottom with a double layer of aluminum foil, place in large pan and add 1 inch of water. 

Pour strawberry mixture over crust and bake at 325 for 35 min.

Carefully spoon remaining white plain batter over and place small drops of remaining puree of strawberries on top and swirl with a knife.

Bake for an additional 40-50 min or until middle is almost set. Remove pan from water bath and cool on wire rack. After 10-20 min carefully run a wet knife around outside rim, let set another hour. Loosen rim of pan and refrigerate until completely cool.

Serve with additional strawberry puree if you like.

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

2 c crushed hulled strawberries

2 c chopped rhubarb

4 Tbsp lemon juice

1 package regular powdered pectin

5 1/2 c sugar

Prepare jars and lids. 

In large pot combine berries, rhubarb and lemon juice. Whisk in pectin until dissolved. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Add sugar and return to full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil 1 min.  Skim off any foam and ladle into hot jars, wipe rim and place lid and ring, finger tight. Process in boiling water canner with lid on 10 min. be sure jars are completely covered. Remove lid turn off heat and let sit another 5 min. Remove from water and let cool. From Balls Complete Book of Home Preserving
Makes about 6  8oz jars.

Home Canning Book

If you can or have ever thought about it, I highly recommend this book. Great variety of recipes with instructions in the back.  Covers all the basics for water bath canning and pressure cooking.

All the  traditional recipes and some less common too 400 in all!

Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving

leave a comment.

Do you can? Any tips?

chicken Salsa Verde

Soooo easy and sooo good. My friend Deb just shared this with me and I must say I will make it often.

In a large crock pot place one 3 lb package frozen, boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Add one   14-16 oz jar of green chili salsa. I used Salsa verde by Pace.

Next add 1 tsp. heaping with minced garlic. 

Now turn on med. and let cook until chicken is done and tender. Shred chicken breasts and serve over rice or pasta. Serve on a roll or in a tortilla. It is a great base for many things. Enjoy!!

Peanut Butter Chocolate cake

2 c flour

2 c sugar

2/3 c baking cocoa

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 c milk

2/3 c oil

1 tsp vanilla

1 c brewed coffee,at room temp

Mix dry  ingredients, Add eggs, milk and oil and vanilla, Beat 2 min, add coffee, mixture will be thin. Pour into greased 9x13  pan. Bake at 350, 35-40 min. cool.

Frosting

3 oz softened cream cheese

1/4 c peanut butter

2 c powdered sugar

2 Tbs milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix and frost, top with chocolate chips.

Grandma Dorthy's Potato Salad Dressing

Another recipe from Brownie! She says, "I want to share my grandma Dorthy's potato salad dressing. She was full German and I'm wondering if this came from that background. I love this recipe and I'm the only one in my family that has made it since grandma died. I even like it when it is still warm after you mix it in."

I, myself, can't wait to try it.
Mix
1 c white sugar
1 tsp salt
pepper
1 tsp dry mustard
3 Tbs flour

add
3 beaten eggs
1 c vinegar
1 c water
hunk of butter
Cook up real good. (That is what grandma used to say.)

I love old recipes!

Face book Giveaway Winner

And the winner is.......this is for the Face book giveaway, the 4th annual cottage giveaway is still going on until May 29th. 

So who won?

Kay Brown!!!

yeah Kay. Congratulations.

  To everyone else thanks so much for your participation and if you haven't already, go ahead and enter the regular blog giveaway. There is a link at the top of the side bar to your right, looks a lot like this contest giveaway.

Brownie's White Wheat Flax Bread

Brownie is back with a couple great recipes, here is her bread she makes in a bread machine. She also has Spamwhiches you can check out here.

In a bread maker on wheat setting, with light crust.

9 oz warm water

3 Tbs honey or brown sugar (or half and half)

1 1/2 tsp salt

2 Tbs Vital wheat gluten (opt. but helps bread rise)

1 1/2 Tbs dry milk

1/2 c ground flax meal

1 c wheat flour

1 1/2 c white flour

2 Tbs olive oil

2 tsp yeast

Mix according to your bread machines directions.

Nothing better than fresh baked bread.

Eklectic Style

 starting with a great "vase" of mums

        And a little melamine........ no china needed

                                A little chocolate

                                     Cheese tray

Olives, and in case it was a little to Italian throw  in an English tea pot

                                               filled with corn relish

                                  some good friends

and a 25 cent bear from a garage sale to go with the mums when it is all done.

Who said table scape had to be perfect, sometimes it is just fun and it is more important to have friends over, never let the lack of great dishes prevent good ole' hospitality.

Pasta Crab Salad

1/2 c light mayo or Miracle whip

1/2 c light sour cream

1 Tbs lemon juice

1 Tbs honey

1 Tbs mustard

1 tsp dill

salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

12 oz shell pasta

1 lb crab meat, I used imitation frozen

1/2 c chopped green and any other color peppers

1/2 c chopped onion

Cook pasta according to package directions,  drain and cool

Mix mayo, sour cream, honey, mustard and lemon juice.

Mix pasta, crab, peppers and onions, toss with dressing and seasonings.

Give Away

I am  linking to The Twice Remembered Cottage for a month long cottage style giveaway! Be sure and stop by and check it out.

Here is what I am giving away.

2 Rachel Ray dvds

 6 melamine plates, a package of napkins, coasters, recipe cards, a magnetic grocery list and coupon holder

Here are the rules:

  Shipping in United States and Canada only, sorry.

To Enter

1- leave a comment on this blog entry, this is the only place to leave comments for this contest. Note this is NOT the facebook giveaway.  This is one entry for the drawing

2- Become a follower, after following, leave a comment to let me know you are a new follower, this is your second chance entry for the drawing

3- Take my button, for at least 30 days on your blog,(however I would love to be there longer!!) leave another comment stating what blog you have posted the button on. This is your third chance entry for the drawing.

 so enter once or twice or even three times. 

Drawing will be held on May 29th. Be sure and check back to see if you have won. Please be sure your profile has your correct and current email address on it so I can notify you for shipping information, or leave it here with your post, if I don't have your email I will not be able to contact you and I will have to pick another winner. so...don't forget!!