Apples and Peanut Butter

I use to hate apples. Then as I got older, the only way I'd eat them or any fruit was if someone cut them up for me. Now that I'm a mom, I'm kind of the one stuck having to do the cutting.  Apples have since totally grown on me, my preferred ones being the green ones. 


Here's a simple and tasty idea.... you really can't get a bad snack out of apples, peanut butter, granola and raisins.


Turn the apple on its side and slice even pieces.
Cut the core out (this apple barely had much to cut), and then spreading peanut butter on each slice. Follow it with granola (I used Kashi Cereal) and raisins.  Yum!

Let me not even pretend that it stayed put in this leaning tower pose. It was the most non-cooperative apple ever and the whole thing toppled over a second after this photo was shot. And no it didn't topple over like you see here.  That would be too fancy.

Tuna and Corn Cakes

In my mind I think I'm really not a fan of tuna, but thats purely some kind of mental glitch because I actually do enjoy it every time I've eaten it. But for whatever reason it is that I think I don't like it, it results in me rarely making, buying, or eating it.  I should change this...and this sandwich may be the key!  Again the photo does the dish no justice, but take my word its really good, its good for you, and especially tasty with the added Thai sweet chili sauce!


What You Need:
1- 2 cans of tuna in spring water (425g can approx).  Drain out all the water.
3 eggs, beaten
1 can of sweet corn
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 onion - diced
2 - 3 scallions - thinly sliced.
Salt and Pepper


Directions:

In a bowl, mix together the tuna, onion, scallion, corn, salt and pepper. 


Next, add the beaten egg and breadcrumbs and continue to mix until its all blended.


Form patties in whatever size you want. I opted for burger sized ones.  


Heat some olive oil in a pan over medium heat and slowly place the patties in the pan. 


The patties may start to fall apart, so handle with care and resist the urge to move them or flip them for awhile until the first side starts to cook.


Fry until both sides are a golden.


Put it on a bun, pour some Thai sweet chili sauce on it, add some mozzarella, lettuce and tomato and you've got yourself a tuna burger!

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Cookies. Ice Cream. Sprinkles. Three things that go well together.
I don't have a big sweet tooth, but everyone in this house does and I enjoy making these things. So here we have a quick and easy ice-cream sandwich.


You will need:


Cookies!  - I used store bought oatmeal and chocolate chip.
Ice Cream - I used vanilla
Sprinkles


Its as easy as spreading the ice cream between two cookies, dipping the edges in sprinkles, freezing it for a bit to harden and eating.


I will say that I thought I could use frozen yogurt the first go around, but between the heat outside and the heat in my kitchen that turned into an instant melted pile of disaster.  I'm not kidding when I say instant either.  


Never fear though, that cookie yogurty mess was saved with sprinkles, cinnamon powder and a cherry on top. I crumbled the cookies up in the melted mess, added a little more and served it up. The kids were eagerly pleased and none the wiser.

Mothers Day - Homemade Edible Arrangement

Check it, check it out! 

Edible arrangements from the store - $80.  

Homemade, under $20.

And you certainly can't put a price on something homemade, especially by a little five year old boy and given to his grandmother for Mothers Day!

  Thats made with love!

What I used:
Skewers
Fruit - grapes, strawberries, pineapple, melon, blueberries. 
Clay Pot - I got mine from Michaels for around a dollar.
Foam piece - to hold the skewers in place.
Paint markers - easier for my little man to decorate with.
Cookie Cutter
Wiltons Chocolate Melts - to dip the strawberries.

Grandma was extremely pleased!

Happy Mothers Day!

Rum Balls

These rum balls are simply another variation of the Basic Babycakes Cake Pops minus the lollipop stick.


What You Will Need:
Fudge Brownie Mix - 1 box.
Wiltons Candy Melts - Dark and White Chocolate.
Sprinkles - Cookies and Cream, Chocolate, and Confectioners Sugar
Rum - 1/2 Cup.


Directions:
Follow the exact directions used for the Basic Babycakes Cake Pops but also include 1/2 cup of rum to the mix.

Here's everything you need and here's how the cake balls came out. They don't look very promising but don't worry, because once you cover them in chocolate, they will look quite nice.

I'm not very neat in the kitchen.

Oooh Ahhh, don't they look good?

As good as an iPhone picture can make something look... but really, they really taste good!!

Basic Babycakes Cake Pops

Cake pops are everywhere these days. I have to admit I have never tried one from the store or one that anyone else has made, but I'd like to assume that the ones I make taste as they should.  I'm definitely not good enough at making them yet to make fancy designs on the outside, but I can toss on some sprinkles and that works just as well for me.  All this work to have these yummy little cake bites gone in a flash. You really can't eat just one!


I found the Babycakes Cake Pops maker at the craft store for $29.  There are little slots for a dozen cake balls.  I should have picked up the model that came with the stand because after just my first run with this model here, I quickly came to learn that it is important to have something sturdy to hold the pops up while they cool.   I did end up using the styrofoam inserts that where in the box holding the maker steady, but thats only because I didn't have anything else in the house and had no intentions of leaving the house.  From what I can tell though, using a solid rectangular foam piece should work fine.  So if you happen to get the model I got, make sure you grab a block of styrofoam too.  Your other option is to just set them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.  The only problem then would be a flat dent at the top of your pop.  

What You'll Need:

• 1 Box of your favorite cake mix and everything in its instructions that you need (eggs, etc)
• 1 bag Wiltons Candy Melts - flavor is your choice.
• Sprinkles, crushed graham crackers - whatever you'd like to decorate with.
• Lollipop Sticks - I got mine at Michaels.
• Parchment Paper

Directions:

• Make the cake mix according to the directions on the package.
• Plug in the Babycakes maker and when the light is green, slowly pour batter into each of the 12 wells - approximately 1 tablespoon of batter.  
• Close the lid and let it bake for about 4-6 minutes. Once thoroughly baked, remove and set aside. A box of cake mix should get you about 3 dozen cake balls.
• I used Wiltons Candy Melts for my outer coating after trying Hersheys white chocolate chips, which I found took a lot longer to melt and I had to add vegetable oil to thin it out.  Wiltons melted fairly quickly and tastes just as good.  Follow the directions on the package to melt the chocolate. 

• Once melted, dip one end of a lollipop stick into the chocolate and then into a cake ball.  This will help the ball stick to the stick better when you dip the entire ball into the chocolate.  

• Next, dip the chocolate. I found it works best if you dip and roll the ball.  Tap it slightly not he side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate.  
• Sprinkle with your favorite sprinkle and then if you have the stand or styrofoam, prop each cake pop up. If you don't have either, you can lay them head down on some parchment paper on a baking tray - reminder, this will cause the chocolate to harden with a flat surface at the top of the pop.  
• Place in the fridge for a few hours or the freezer for 10-15m (this is what I did). The chocolate will set and then are considered ready to eat! Michaels has these little treat bags you can use (they are right by the lollipop sticks) if you plan on making them for a special occasion.  

** If you don't have a Babycakes maker, you can make the cake balls by hand. There are countless recipes online for cake that you can follow.  Or here is a very basic cake from scratch recipe:


1 1/3 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup margarine or butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar and baking powder. Add milk, margarine or butter, egg and vanilla. Beat on low speed until combined. Beat on medium speed 1 minute. Bake as directed and then follow the same steps with the chocolate melt.

Kit Kat M&M Cake

Totally pretty and colorful, and kinda of impressive if you ask me... but most importantly, EASY to make.  


You Will Need:


2 boxes of cake mix.  I used Yellow Cake - you can use whatever your heart desires.
36 Kit Kat sticks (the regular sized ones, not the snack size).
12.6oz bag of M&M's - any color.  
2 tubs of icing - your choice - vanilla, buttercream, chocolate, etc...


Instructions:


Follow the instructions on the box to make two 8inch round cakes.


When the cakes are cooled, ice between, around and on top.


Next place all 36 Kit Kats in a ring around the cake. They will stick to the icing.


And finally, pour your bag of M&M's in and you are done!


You can change up the colors for whatever holiday, celebration or taste you'd like. 
Red for Valentines, green for St. Patricks Day, etc.. 
Most recipes i've seen online for this cake have a pretty matching ribbon tied around the Kit Kat part. I had no ribbon today. It would have just come off anyways.
The cake was absolutely fancy with total non fancy effort!