I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream!

My continuing adventure in Ice Cream making!

Milky Way Chocolate

Mocha

Alton Brown's "Serious Vanilla"

If you're interested in a recipe, drop me a note!

"Strawberry Soda" Ice Cream

Found this recipe in

"Food Network Magazine"

STRAWBERRY-SODA ICE CREAM

recipe by: Laura Ducksworkth

Makes 1 quart

1     14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

11/2   cups half and half

3/4   cup red cream soda (Big Red) or regular cream soda

1/2   cup whipping cream

1      cup frozen strawberries, thawed and mashed

Whisk the condensed milk, half-and-half, red cream soda, cream and strawberries in a medium bowl. Churn in an ice cream maker (about 30 minutes). Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours.

This is as simple to make as it sounds and it tastes wonderful!!! 

Thanks Doug and Lex for the Ice Cream Maker!

"HaPpY BiRThDaY"

Newest Birthday Design

Sympathy Card

for a very dear friend

"Anne & Jim's Wedding"

 
   I thought I had posted the invitation's for Anne and Jim's Wedding... but alas I had not!



 Instead of a folded card, we put the separate cards for Direction, Accommodations, Reception and Reply Response in a pocket on the back.

The place cards for the Bride & Groom and the head table were held in champagne corks, while the rest of the guest's cards were held in assorted wine corks - from bottles the family had consumed since the engagement.

Ben's 1st Birthday Mini Album

The number on the tail is the date of the Party!

Added a different shaped page for variety.

Magic Double Sliding Panel - on right

Waterfall Technique - on right.

Wedding Shower: Advice / Comment Book

Mini Album

This was a "Mini" Album I made for one of my friends in Tennessee!

"HoPpY EaSTeR"

Easter was a very creative time!

The Jello

one inspired by my Mom,

the other by Pinterest!

Carrots and Card

just love working with paper!

"Balloon Birthday"

"Simple and fun!"

"Salted Pretzel Rolls"

Got sucked in to "Pinterest" and found some amazing recipes and crafts. Saw these rolls and knew I had to try them. They are truly wonderful and not hard to do.....

Salted Pretzel Rolls

Yield: 8 large rolls

Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 1 1/2 hours rise time)

Cook Time: 15-20 minutes

Make the rolls smaller if you just want to use them as small dinner rolls.

ingredients:

1 ½ cup warm water (110°F)
1 package active dry yeast (not instant rise yeast)
2 teaspoons sugar
4-½ cups unbleached all-purpose Flour
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
4 tablespoons unsalted Butter, melted
¼ cups baking soda
1 whole egg, lightly beaten
Pretzel Salt, for sprinkling

directions:

In the bowl of your stand mixer (fitted with the dough hook attachment), add the water, yeast, and sugar. Stir and let rest 5-10 minutes until foamy (mine didn't look all that foamy but still turned out).

Add the flour, salt, and melted butter and mix using the dough hook until combined well. Cover with a plastic wrap (or a towel) and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in bulk (again, mine didn't look like it rose all that much, but turned out amazingly). Punch the dough down and turn it onto a lightly floured clean surface.

Line 1 large sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside. Cut the dough into 8 pieces (4 1/2 - 5 ounces each). To shape the dough "take a piece of dough and start forming a round, smooth ball by pulling the sides to the center and pinching to seal. Place, pinched side down, on a counter and lightly cupping your hand around the dough ball, rotate your hand in small circles lightly rolling the ball around the palm of your hand."

Place the ball on the prepared baking sheet pinched seam side down, with at least 1” between each roll. I like to stagger mine: 2 rolls side by side, then one down one row but between the two in the top row... Then 2 more side by side, followed by one down a row but between the 2 in the top row... etc (this will fit all 8 on one cookie sheet). Cover with a towel and allow to rest in a warm place for 30 minutes until they rise & double (mine didn't rise a whole lot).

Preheat oven to 425°F and place oven rack in the middle position. In a large saucepan, bring 2 quarts of water to a low boil. Remove from heat and slowly add the baking soda, place back on heat and lower to a simmer.

Place 2-3 of the rolls at a time into the poaching liquid, seam side down. Poach for 30 seconds and then carefully turn the roll over and poach for another 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon to the same prepared sheet pan, seam side down. Repeat with the remaining rolls.

Using a pastry brush, brush each roll with the beaten egg, making sure to coat all sides completely & then prinkle each roll with a little pretzel salt. Using a sharp straight edged knife, cut a slash (or 2) -or- an “X” shape in the top of each roll. Bake the rolls in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. Serve hot!

Adapted from: Tasty Kitchen

Valentine Treats

"Chocolate Pots de Creme andNoBake Nutella Cheesecake"

These were both made for a Valentine Craft Party.

"Double Chocolate Brownies with Grand Marnier Ganache" and"Chambord Truffles"

For work and family!

HaPpY, hApPY BiRtHdaY!

my newest birthday card!

continuing cookings adventures....

Made a Vodka Pasta sauce and need a garlic bread... so "Bread Sticks".

For dessert a "Chocolate Pots de Creme", easy and unbelievably delicious!

Italian Cooking Adventure

The Focaccia Bread was delicious ! The crust was full of wonderful herbs and the topping was caramelized onions with mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

The Italian Chicken & Veggy Soup was almost like a stew, chucks of chicken, zucchini and tomatoes. I added small noodles for Bob.

January Birthdays.....

For our niece, Dawn Marie and our grandniece, Isabella...

Catching Up......Birthday Cards

Catching Up Two....Christmas Cards

The snowman in the 2011 card was stamped, scanned and then hand painted in Photoshop. Punched out with 1 3/4 inch circle and adhered with pop dots for dimension. The "Merry Christmas" was embossed with Stampendous' Red Tinsel embossing powder.

Catching Up!!!!

With my nephew's wedding and then the holidays I got a little behind with my post. It a new year and I am going to try to be more timely:-) Today's pictures are a "New Puppy" card for my grandpuppy - Indy!! A "Sympathy" card for my husband's Aunt Norma and a "Christmas Gift Bag" for my crafty friend Margie.