Olympic Torch Cupcakes: Recipe

Olympic Torch Cake Pops

You will need:

1 packages (16oz) Vanilla CandiQuik Coating

1 box cake mix (your choice of flavor, plus ingredients for cake mix)

8 oz. cake frosting

Orange (oil or powder based) food coloring

Waffle ice cream cones

8 Fruit-flavored rolls (cherry or strawberry)

Directions:

1. Prepare and bake cake mix as directed on box; cool.

2. Crumble cooled cake into a large bowl. Mix thoroughly with frosting (it may be easier to use fingers to mix together).

3. Chill for approximately 2 hours in refrigerator (or place in the freezer to shorten time).

4. Chop the top of the waffle cones off, so the cones measure approximately 2 ½ inches tall.

5. Roll cake mixture into medium sized balls and chill briefly in refrigerator until somewhat firm (about 30 minutes).

6. Melt Vanilla CandiQuik according to package directions. Stir in orange food coloring until desired color is established.

7. Press a cake ball on top of the mini waffle cone. Dip the top of the cake ball into the CandiQuik by holding the end of the cone. Allow the excess coating to drip off.

8. Quickly apply the flame-shaped fruit pieces, beginning at the base and working towards the top of the cone. If the coating dries before all the flames are attached, use a toothpick to add more coating to the cone.

9. Stick cones into a Styrofoam block to set completely.

Recipe

Lavender Blackberry Scones

Lavender Blackberry Scones

Makes 10 to 12 scones

Ingredients: 

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon dried lavender

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

1 large egg, lightly beaten

3/4 cup cold buttermilk

1 cup fresh blackberries(you can used thawed and drained berries from the freezer although the scones will have a more purple color)

Directions:

1 beaten egg and granulated sugar for sprinkling on top before baking

Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, sugar, lavender, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Cut in butter (using your fingers or a pastry cutter) until mixture resembles a coarse meal.  Work the butter into the dry ingredients until some of the butter flakes are the size of peas and some are the size of oat flakes.    In another bowl, combine egg and buttermilk and beat lightly with a fork.  Add to flour mixture all at once, stirring enough to make a soft dough.  Fold in the blackberries.

Turn out onto a floured board and knead about 15 times.  Roll or pat out into a 1-inch thickness.  Cut into 2-inch rounds using a round cutter or cut into 2×2-inch squares.  Reshape and roll dough to create more scones with excess scraps.  Place on an ungreased baking sheet.  Brush lightly with beaten egg and sprinkle with granulated sugar.   Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown on top.  Serve warm.  Scones are best the day they’re made, and though they can be frozen and lightly reheated in the oven if you need a future treat.

    Recipe and Photographs are from: Joy the Baker

A Hint of Lavender for a Upcoming Post!

What is Paleo?

Ok so I started seeing the term "Paleo" around every place I looked!

 Pretty much anytime I go to research a new recipe or go on blogs, Pinterest, or any other type of social media. 

Soooo when I don't know what something is I "Google" it! Google has directed me to let you guys know that Paleo is diet. No one likes the term being on a diet, but the Paleolithic diet seems kinda interesting.

"The Paleolithic diet consists mainly of fish, grass-fed pasture raised meats, eggs, vegetables, fruit, fungi, roots, and nuts, and excludes grains, legumes, dairy products, potatoes, refined salt, refined sugar, and processed oils"

Sounds like my diet pretty much already besides the fungi, and roots part. 

Although I am Irish and love potatoes (its my weakness).

Now that I have an idea of what Paleo means I feel like I understand what other bloggers are talking about!

Here are some pretty awesome and serious Paleo Bloggers: 

Nom Nom Paleo

Everyday Paleo 

Paleo Girl's Kitchen

Taylor Made It Paleo

Who Doesn't Love an Appetizer?

The big Super Bowl XLVIII game is coming up pretty soon and you know what that means?

Commercials and appetizers! 

So I've been on the lookout for a new appetizer to try and look where Pinterest has taken me. 

Tea Smoked Chicken, Red Pepper Jelly-Brie Bites, Asparagus and Ham, 

Bruschetta, Tomato-Baby Bell Pepper Tartlets, Pizza Potato Skins

Stay tuned to see which one I make for the big game!

Who is ready to see this commercial? 

Lemon Bars: Recipe

My wedding is about eight months away so of course its time to start baking! I want to find the perfect lemon bars to have at our reception. I have time to try out a few recipes in order to select the best one. Here is the first lemon bar recipe I am going to try!

The recipe must:
   - Be Simple (Especially if I end up needing 12 dozen!)
   - Taste Delicious
   - Freeze Well

Lemon Bars 

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1⁄2 cup white sugar

2 cup all-purpose flour

4 egg

1 1⁄2 cup white sugar

1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour

    2 lemons, juiced

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.
4. Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the preheated oven. The bars will firm up as they cool. For a festive tray, make another pan using limes instead of lemons and adding a drop of green food coloring to give a very pale green. After both pans have cooled, cut into uniform 2 inch squares and arrange in a checker board fashion.

Recipe and Photo From: KitchMe

Peanut Butter Oreo Cookie Balls: Recipes

I was doing some "researching" on Pinterest for what to bake for Christmas presents and came across peanut butter Oreo cookie balls. What doesn't sound better than peanut butter and Oreo? I'm very excited to try out this recipe I found on Miss In The Kitchen blog. 

Peanut Butter Oreo Cookie Balls

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (8 oz.) brick cream cheese, softened

36 OREO Cookies, finely crushed (about 3 cups)

1/2 cup peanut butter (I used crunchy but smooth works just fine)

1 package white almond bark melted

1/3 cup chocolate jimmies or sprinkles

Instructions:

MIX cream cheese, peanut butter and cookie crumbs until blended.

SHAPE into 48 (1-inch) balls. Freeze 10 min.

Dip balls in melted almond bark; place in single layer in shallow waxed paper-lined pan.

Sprinkle with chocolate jimmies or sprinkles.

REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm.

Photo Credit: Recipe