Yowza!

I entered a recipe contest a week or two ago at http://startcooking.com/ and just found out that I won! They called tonight and I was so excited! They're making a video of my recipe and are sending me a free Wii fit! HOORAY!!! Thank you! If you haven't been to startcooking.com, they have an AMAZING collection of recipes, tips, etc., and fantastic videos.

Zoo in a Blanket

We had a busy day today and when dinner time came, I didn't feel like anything extravagant. However, we're always up for having fun! So, I whipped out two cans of crescent rolls, some hot dogs, and we all had fun creating "zoo animals!".

Our house turned into quite the jungle complete with:
An Elephant and a Sheep (in honor of Uncle D returning from Iraq!;))

a Mouse on a Log:
a coiled-up Snake:

a Caterpillar:

We took the extra dough, pressed it in a pan, sprinkled cinnamon and sugar on it, and baked it for dessert!

Zoo in a Blanket:

2 cans Crescent Rolls

Hot Dogs

Cinnamon & Sugar (if you want to use some of the dough for dessert)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut hot dogs in half and let everyone use a hot dog as the base for their dough animal creations. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for about 10 minutes and serve.

Eating Out--at home

We love to eat out, but:
A) we're cheap
B) it's hard to take three kids to a restaurant.

So, we love to Eat IN!! Those of you who know me are well-aware that I'm a big "pasta bar" fan. I started it a year or two ago and it's a regular favorite around here. You can prepare everything ahead of time, so I love to serve it for a crowd since everyone can have what they want. It's also a great way to clean out the fridge.:) I also have a fabulous no-fail breadstick recipe. I put checkered tablecloths on the table, play some italian music, and we practice our best manners.

Here's one of our favorite "menus" that I made, just print them out and you're ready to go (click image to enlarge). There are some "learn Italian" words on there as well. Email me if you want an editable version (I used Microsoft Publisher).

note: I had someone ask me how you get "pink sauce". That's a secret anyone with little girls MUST KNOW. Just pour a little red and a little white sauce in and voila! It's pink.:)

Pasta Bar
Pasta, any kind
1 jar red sauce (I like Barilla)
1 jar white sauce (I like Classico three cheese alfredo)
Any "toppings" you want (chicken, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, etc...)

Directions:
Ahead of time: Cook pasta according to package. Drain, rinse, and put in gallon ziploc bags. Chop (and cook if necessary) all topping ingredients and put in bowls or baggies.
At dinner: Take everyone's completed "menus". Drizzle a small amount of olive oil in a pan over medium/high heat (I get two pans going at once) and add desired amount of cooked pasta. Add sauce and toppings and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Serve and Mangiamo (let's eat)!

No Fail Pizza Hut Style Breadsticks (from my friend Ruth!)
1 ½ cup hot water
2 Tb sugar
½ tsp salt
½ cup non fat dry milk
1 Tb yeast
~ 3 cup flour ( I often use ½ whole wheat flour)
1/3 cup melted butter

Dissolve sugar, salt and dry milk in hot water. Add enough flour (~1 cup) to make a soupy mixture. When the mixture is no longer hot but still warm add the yeast and stir well. Then add the rest of the flour, enough to form a moderately stiff dough. Knead the dough until smooth. Roll dough into a rectangular shape the size of your baking pan. Spread half of the butter onto the baking pan, then place your dough into the pan and spread the remaining butter on top of the dough. Top the breadsticks with garlic salt, parmesan cheese, salad seasoning salt, or whatever you want. Cut the dough into breadsticks with a pizza cutter and let raise for 10-15 min. Bake at 350 degrees for 20- 25 min. Yum!

Most of you already know I'm a professional opera singer, we listen to a lot of music around here! I don't know why I haven't included a "playlist" before, but here's one for your Eating In Night. Enjoy having fun with the fam!

Pasta Bar Playlist (you can get these all on iTunes):
*Puccini--Musetta's Waltz (Quando m'en vo') from La Boheme
*Anette Funicello- That's Amore

*Verdi-- La Traviata Act 1 Prelude

*Lady and the Tramp--Bella Notte
*The Three Tenors--Encore: O Sole Mio (any version of O Sole Mio is good, but this one is a favorite. They're pretty funny going all "diva" on this song.:))

*Dean Martin-- come back to Sorrento

*Pavarotti--Mattinata (get the Dean Martin version "you're breaking my heart" if you're not that into opera).

*Andrea Bocelli--La Donna e Mobile
*Anthony de Pippa--Funiculi, Funicula

Magnolia Bakery Cupcakes

First of all, I love the Magnolia Bakery in NYC. It's a short walk from the Metropolitian Opera. Fabulous singing and sugar, two of my favorite things! However, I have a hard time paying $3 for a cupcake when I have the recipe. Here it is for you to enjoy, too!!

This is my favorite basic cupcake recipe, I made these little cuties yesterday for a girlfriend's baby shower..."Frogs, Snails, & Puppy Dog tails...that's what little boys are made of!"

Magnolia Bakery Cupcake Recipe
Cupcakes:
1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened.
1½ c. all-purpose flour
2 c. sugar
1 c. whole milk
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1½ c. self-rising flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Whip butter until very smooth. Add sugar 1 cup at a time, beating until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating very well between each one. In separate bowl, mix the 2 flours together. In separate bowl, mix milk and vanilla. Add flour mixture and milk mixture 1 cup at a time to butter mixture. Beating very well between each addition. Spoon into lined cupcake pan (approx. ¼ c batter per cupcake). Bake for 20-22 minutes in pre heated over (350 degrees F). Cool cupcakes before frosting (or else the frosting will fall off). You can also make 3 – 9” rounds with cupcake batter. Just make sure you grease and flour each pan.

Icing:
1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
½ c. whole milk
8 c. confectionary sugar (powdered sugar)
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Whip butter until smooth. Add ½ of sugar (4 cups), 1 cup at a time. Beating well between each addition. Add milk and vanilla . Add remaining sugar,1 cup at a time. Beating well between each addition. Add a few drops of food coloring to icing. Beat icing well, until good spreading consistency. Over-beating is hard to do with this icing. Frost the cupcakes and then sprinkle them with sprinkles.
TIPS: Using whole milk makes the taste of the cupcakes and icing much smoother. I tried using skim milk and whipping cream just to test it out and whole milk makes a much better flavor.

Frogs inspired by sugarcoatedlove.com

Snails inspired by the Whimsical Bakehouse

Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Besides being uber-fabulous, my friend, Missy, is a professional baker. She wouldn't give up her secret cookie recipes, but she did provide a great recipe for her chocolate chip cookie bars. These are so easy to make and are so good (crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside)!! I made some for a ladies night out yesterday and I think the extra sugar definitely helped us in playing Rock Band on Wii. ;) Thanks, Annie, for all the fun!

Missy’s Chocolate Chip Bars
¾ c. butter, melted
1 c. white and
1 c. brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. salt
2 c. flour (or 9 oz.)
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla
1 (12 oz.) bag semi sweet chocolate chips

Mix the butter and brown sugar and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir in 2/3 of the chocolate chips. Press dough into a greased 10” square or 9x13 pan & sprinkle the rest of chocolate chips on the top. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes (until lightly golden on top).

The little flowers on the top look fancy, but they are SO EASY to make. I used a technique called chocolate transfer that I read about in my Whimsical Bakehouse book. (BTW, in my opinion the book is ok but the chocolate techniques in it are GREAT!). If you want to see an easy way to make cute chocolate daisies, check it out here from Bakerella. Inspiration for these particular flowers came from sugar coated love. She makes such cute stuff!!

I need help!!

I've been on a brownie kick lately. I've tried lots of recipes, but can't seem to find one for the PERFECT brownie. It's driving me crazy, I'd love to have a really good go-to recipe for brownies. Do you have one that you like? I'd love to try it!!! Please email me or post it in the comments! mandyheaston@gmail.com. I'll keep you posted on my brownie quest.:)


Here's one from my friend Erin that's pretty darn good:
Hershey's Double Chocolate Mint Brownies
1 c. flour 4 eggs
1 c. sugar 16 oz. can of chocolate syrup
½ c. butter

Mix all ingredients together. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely and then spread with mint layer. Then chill again before putting the chocolate layer on top. Cover and chill again before serving.

Mint Layer:
Beat until smooth.
2 c. powdered sugar
½ c. butter
1 Tbsp. water
½ tsp. mint extract
few drops of green food coloring

Chocolate Layer:
Microwave for 1 to 1½ min & Stir until smooth
6 Tbsp. butter
1 c. milk chocolate chips

Blueberry Muffins w/ Cream Cheese Icing

Our little cutie-patootie friend, Bennett, came to visit today. I asked him before they came what he'd like for a special treat. He replied, "Blueberry Cupcakes?". Well, I happen to be in the middle of 30 lbs. of blueberries (I'm canning blueberry sauce for waffles, etc., for my hubby) so I was happy to oblige! These muffins are to die for with any kind of berry. Try them once and I'm sure it will be your favorite muffin recipe!!

Blueberry Muffins
3 C. flour
1 1/2 C. white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
4 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 ¼ c. buttermilk
2 cups fresh blueberries
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Mix in oil, eggs, and buttermilk. (TIP: if you don’t have buttermilk on hand, add about 1 T. lemon juice to a cup of milk and let sit for about 5 minutes). Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake for 18 minutes. Frost with Cream Cheese Icing. Makes 24 muffins.

Easy Cream Cheese Icing
8 oz. cold cream cheese
5 Tbsp. softened butter
2 tsp. vanilla.
3 c. powdered sugar (or to taste)
Beat cold cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together until well blended. Slowly add powdered sugar, adding more depending on the thickness of frosting you want. Enjoy!

NOTES: I made the little "blueberry" garnishes out of chocolate. Just draw some circles with brown candy melts on wax paper, add a green stem. When dry, drop in a little purple. If you're feeling artsy, add a little drop of white in the circle for a highlight first. Let cool completely and peel off wax paper.