Potato Salad Recipes

May 19, 2013 1 Comment

The warm weather has finally arrived! Do you know what that means? BBQ season! Yes, it’s time to invite your friends and family over for some delicious food, great company and maybe a water balloon fight or two. One way that I know summer is on its way is the delicious smell of the BBQ food throughout the neighbourhood. Do you make a delicious burger? Perhaps you have a recipe for a pasta salad that can’t be beat. One of my favourites is always the potato salad and with the BBQ season now here it is time to try some new potato salad recipes.

How much do I love potato salad? Well, I still have a card here from my husband wishing me a happy 30th birthday and he wrote on it “Cake is good and so is potatoe salad”. No, I’m not kidding. So he may not be the best at writing love notes but he does have excellent taste in food (and might I add an excellent choice in a wife as well!).

potato salad recipes

My favourite place to go for new recipe ideas is LifeMadeDelicious.ca. All of the recipes are easy to follow and they all include a delicious picture. So with a little search on “potato salad recipes”, I came up with two new recipes to try and I’ll share them both here with you.

Potato Salad Recipes – Loaded Potato Salad:

When you order a baked potato at a restaurant, do you ask for them to bring out the tray with all the delicious toppings? Then you’re sure to love this Loaded Potato Salad.

Potato Salad Recipes

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Loaded Potato Salad
Author: 
Recipe type: Supper
 

If you love baked potatoes with all the toppings then you are sure to love this delicious loaded potato salad!
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs new red potatoes with skins (2 lbs)
  • ⅓ cup water
  • ¼ cup fresh chives, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • ¼ cup real bacon bits
  • ¼ cup red bell pepper, chopped
  • ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions
  1. Place potatoes and water in a large microwavable bowl.
  2. Cover and microwave on High 8 to 10 minutes or just until potatoes are tender.
  3. Drain potatoes.
  4. Stir in chives, butter, salt and pepper.
  5. Refrigerate uncovered 10 minutes (cool potatoes completely).
  6. In small bowl mix sour cream, mayonnaise and milk.
  7. Stir sour cream mixture, bacon, bell pepper and cheese into potatoes.
  8. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until serving time.

 

Potato Salad Recipes – Greek Potato Salad:

I love Greek salad so I knew I’d love this potato salad version. It’s so delicious that you forget that it’s good for you too!

Potato Salad Recipes

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Greek Potato Salad
Author: 
Recipe type: Supper
 

This is a great twist on the delicious Greek salad. The feta cheese topping is my favourite part.
Ingredients
  • Salad:
  • 2 lbs unpeeled new red potatoes
  • 2 medium bell peppers, cut into small cubes
  • 2 medium tomatoes, seeded, cut into eighths
  • 1 medium cucumber, cut into small cubes
  • ½ cup medium red onion, very thinly sliced
  • ½ cup whole kalamata or ripe olives
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • Greek Lemon Dressing:
  • ½ cup olive or vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Instructions
  1. In a large pot, place steamer basket in water (water should not touch bottom of basket).
  2. Place potatoes in steamer basket.
  3. Cover tightly and heat to boiling; reduce heat.
  4. Steam 20 minutes or until tender.
  5. Cool to room temperature.
  6. In large glass or plastic bowl, beat all of the Lemon Dressing ingredients with wire whisk until blended; set aside.
  7. Add potatoes and remaining salad ingredients except cheese to dressing; toss.
  8. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
  9. Sprinkle with cheese just before serving.

 

Do you have any favourite potato salad recipes? Want to share your secret ingredient? Let us know in the comments below.

Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

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Strawberry Trifle Recipe

April 27, 2013 Leave a Comment

This Strawberry Trifle dessert is really quick & easy to make and looks delicious on a party dessert table. Your local craft store may sell the mini glass trifle bowls. If not, clear plastic cups work well too.

Strawberry Trifle Recipe

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Strawberry Trifle Recipe
Recipe type: Dessert
 

With the right ingredients, this strawberry trifle dessert takes only minutes to make!
Ingredients
  • 1 package vanilla instant pudding
  • milk (quantity depends on the instructions on the instant vanilla pudding package)
  • Small individual sized sponge cakes (if they are too wide for your dishes, cut them into cubes)
  • 1 package frozen strawberries, thawed
  • 1 container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Instructions
  1. Prepare pudding according to directions on package.
  2. Let pudding stand a few minutes (about 5) to set.
  3. In the individual trifle bowls, layer half the cake pieces then top with half the pudding, half the strawberries and half the whipped topping.
  4. Repeat layers with the remaining ingredients.
  5. Cover and store in the the refrigerator for 2 hours before serving.

 

Strawberry Trifle Alternatives:

In addition (or substitution) to the strawberries, you can also add other fruit such as raspberries, blueberries, bananas and peaches. Also, the vanilla instant pudding could be swapped for another type of instant pudding such as banana or chocolate.

What types of trifle have you tried?

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No Bake Mini Cheesecake In a Jar

April 27, 2013 1 Comment

This delicious No Bake Mini Cheesecake In a Jar is a perfect party dessert! Here I’ll provide the recipe for the Cookies ‘n Cream version although there are many ways to mix this up a bit for different flavors. Below the recipe I’ll provide some ideas for alternatives.

No Bake Mini Cheesecake In A Jar

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No Bake Mini Cheesecake in A Jar (Cookies ‘n Cream)
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 4
 

This No Bake Mini Cheesecake is a perfect party dessert! You can substitute the cookies for fruit, crushed chocolate bars or any other type of cheesecake filling you’d like.
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • ½ cup butter, melted
  • ¼ cup granulated white sugar
  • 4 canning jars with lids
  • 1 (8 ounce) cream cheese package, softened
  • 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • ⅔ cup granulated white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 10 chocolate wafer cookies, crushed

Instructions
  1. Mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and ¼ cup sugar together in a bowl.
  2. Press ¼ of the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of each jar.
  3. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, whipped topping, ⅔ cup sugar and vanilla until smooth and fluffy.
  4. Add crushed cookies (save 4 cookies for toppings) and beat until well mixed.
  5. Spoon ¼ of the cream cheese mixture into each jar.
  6. Top each with one crushed cookie.
  7. Seal jars with lids and refrigerate until serving time.

 

No Bake Mini Cheesecake In a Jar Alternatives:

You can omit the crushed cookies in this recipe for a few different flavor combinations. Here are some delicious ideas:

  • Swap the vanilla extract with almond extract and add 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut. Instead of graham cracker crumbs, use crushed chocolate wafer cookies for a chocolate crust.
  • Use sliced fruit like strawberries or raspberries along with a chopped chocolate bar.
  • Toffee chips, mini chocolate chips and chopped pecans can be used along with a caramel ice cream topping for a “Turtle” flavor.

What is your favorite type of cheesecake?

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Party Tip Tuesday with Pint Sized Baker

April 23, 2013 Leave a Comment

Welcome to Party Tip Tuesday! Today we’re featuring the creative Karyn of Pint Sized Baker. I came across some of her cake pop creations as few months ago and I was amazed at her talent! Not only does she share photos of her adorable creations but she provides step-by-step instructions to help guide you through making your own. Today she’ll tell us a bit more about herself and how she got started plus she’ll share delicious recipes and tips for making your own special food creations.  I’ll now pass it over to Karyn!

What is Pint Sized Baker?

Pint Sized Baker is more of a Who…I’m Karyn of Pint Sized Baker and this adventure has taken off in a direction I could never have imagined. I started baking after I was laid off and decided to do more for my daughter’s pre-school class. I brought in cookies and cupcakes and one day I made cake pops and I was hooked!

I bought “Cake Pops” by Bakerella and started making them for EVERYTHING! My husband encouraged me to join the local Farmer’s Market and sell them online and start a business, but I had no idea what I was doing! It’s almost comical looking back now. I never did join the Farmer’s Market, instead I finally got on Facebook and shared my cake pops and cupcake photos with the Bakerella community and people actually liked what I was doing. They wanted to see more of my stuff! Complete strangers LIKED me on FB and I was amazed!  I reluctantly started my blog, wondering why anybody would care about me or my life, but it turns out that doing so was the best thing to come my way in a long time.

Pint Sized Baker

I also have a second blog that I stared April 1, 2013. Dieter’s Downfall is a blog that is geared to busy people who want to make a larger complicated dessert but who lack the time. I take those recipes and break them down into smaller three days’ worth of baking so that they don’t seem so overwhelming. Everything is homemade and the results are amazing! Take a look!

Pint Sized Baker

My family includes me, Mr. Quart and my Little Cup. We live in a small town in West Virginia about a 90 minute drive outside of D.C.  We also have some cute, furry critters that run around the house.

Where are your favorite places to go for inspiration?

My daughter inspires a lot of the treats. I’ve made sugar cookies based on her Lalaloopsy Doll House. She loves chocolate chip cookies, so I have done my best to try a few different cookie recipes. Obviously, the seasons also serve as inspiration, but the trick is to make something that you hope no one else will make. For example, at Halloween, I found “Booger Gummies” and made some Booger Pop Tarts. I had never seen that on a blog before. Sometimes my old cookbooks spark an idea that I haven’t seen in a while or the simple substitution of a seasonal ingredient makes a huge change.

What is the most unique cake pop creation you’ve made?

I have made so many cake pops… I think my Little Vampires for Halloween were pretty unique. I used a heart shape mold and then decorated the face.Pint Sized Baker

I also really liked my LEGO Men. They turned out GREAT!

Pint Sized Baker

There are so many wonderful cake pops out there. Just Google it and see what you find. Chances are, someone had made it. Just add a little twist to it and make it better!

For those of us who think we aren’t skilled enough to make adorable cake pop creations, what advice do you have?

Take it slow. Don’t try to make an entire cakes worth of cake pops on the first try. Start with a quarter of a sheet cake and a tablespoon of frosting and go from there. Watch the consistency of the cake pop batter to be like play doh. You can always add more cake or frosting as needed.

Melt your candy melts at 70% power in the microwave. The candy melts will soften at 100 degrees F, once they start to soften, you need to be patient and continue to stir the candy. If the candy gets too hot, it’ll only get thicker! Everyone thinks that when it’s thick, it’s not hot enough, but in fact the candy is slowly burning. If it gets thick, test the temperature. It should not be much more than body temperature. If it’s hot, you just need to set it aside for 30 minutes and wait for it to cool. Then try to re-melt SLOWLY!

Messes happen. Pops fall off the stick. Sprinkles end up on the floor. Chocolate gets dripped. Just accept it and clean up later.

What is your favorite treat to make for a potluck party?

Simple recipes are the best. No stress. No muss, no fuss. That’s my motto when it comes to larger desserts.

I’ve made an easy Cherry Cobbler with a cake box mix that everyone loved.

Pint Sized Baker

And I LOVE to take Fun-Da-Middle cupcake mix and dressing it up. Here are a few easy additions to the cupcakes that were amazing!

Pint Sized Baker

Raspberry Lemon, Pineapple coconut, Cinnamon, and Nutter Butters. I also have Candy Cane and Guinness and 4th of July Fun-da-Middles on the blog!

Photos courtesy of Pint Sized Baker.

We’d like to send a big Thank You to Karyn for being featured in this Party Tip Tuesday! Be sure to check out the links to her social media accounts to keep updated on all of the fabulous ideas (links to these can be found on the top right hand side of  Pint Sized Baker) . She’s always adding new & incredibly cute food ideas so you’ll want to be sure to follow along on Pinterest.

Do you have party related questions that you’d like me to ask an expert? Do you have a favorite expert that you’d love to see featured? Please contact me to let me know!

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Mini Pie Recipes

April 15, 2013 3 Comments

This weekend we made a few mini pies and they were delicious! I love pizza pockets but I haven’t had one in years (we try not to buy a lot of processed frozen food) but the new 175 Best Mini Pie Recipes by Julie Anne Hession book provides many ideas for making your own type of pizza pockets. The book also shares mini pie ideas for breakfast, sweets, fruit and more. Here I’ll share recipes for the two types that we tried this weekend.

Chicken, Brie & Apple Turnovers:

For these Chicken, Brie and Apple Turnovers, I cheated a little and purchased a tube of flaky rolls to use as dough. The flaky rolls worked great but the baking time was about 10 minutes less than the time needed to cook the homemade dough. Below the recipe for the delicious filling, I’ll share the homemade dough recipe as well.

Mini Pie Recipes

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Chicken, Brie & Apple Turnovers
Author: 
Recipe type: Supper
 

You can substitute the homemade dough recipe with store-bought flaky pastry dough (500 g).
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 large shallot, minced
  • 1 tart apple, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
  • ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
  • salt & ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup apple cider
  • 1 tbsp brandy, optional
  • 2 cups shredded roasted chicken
  • ½ recipe Shortcut Puff pastry (recipe included below)
  • 1 large egg, lighten beaten with 1 tbsp water
  • 8 oz soft Brie, sliced

Instructions
  1. Filling: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat.
  2. Add shallot and apple.
  3. Saute until softened, 4 to 5 minutes.
  4. Stir in sage and nutmeg.
  5. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  6. Sprinkle flour over mixture, stirring to coat.
  7. Add cider and reduce heat to simmer until thickened.
  8. Stir in brandy (if using).
  9. Stir in chicken and simmer for 2 minutes.
  10. Remove from heat and set aside to cool completely.
  11. Divide puff pastry in half.
  12. On a lightly floured surface, roll one half into a 15 by 10 inch rectangle.
  13. Using pizza cutter or a sharp knife, cut rectangle into six 5-inch squares.
  14. Repeat with remaining dough.
  15. Brush edges of squares with egg mixture.
  16. Place about ¼ cup chicken mixture in center of each square.
  17. Top with 1 slice Brie.
  18. Fold squares in half diagonally, enclosing filling.
  19. Pinch together edges to seal and crimp with the tines of a fork.
  20. Brush tops with egg mixture.
  21. Place pies, on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, in freezer for 30 minutes or until firm.
  22. Meanwhile, position oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 375F.
  23. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, switching positions of baking sheets halfway through, until puffed and golden brown.
  24. Let pies cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes prior to serving.

 

Mini Pie Recipes – Shortcut Puff Pastry:

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Shortcut Puff Pastry
Author: 
Recipe type: Supper
 

Makes about 2 lbs (1 kg) of dough.
Ingredients
  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup cake flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 lb very cold, unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes
  • ¾ cup ice water

Instructions
  1. Fit the paddle attachment on your electric stand mixer.
  2. In the bowl of the stand mixer, beat all-purpose flour, cake flour and salt until combined.
  3. Scatter butter over and mix at a low speed until butter is the size of lima beans.
  4. Add water and mix at low speed just until dough starts to come together (10 to 15 seconds).
  5. Transfer to a floured work surface and gently shape into an 8-inch square.
  6. Using a rolling pin, roll out into a 10 by 18 inch rectangle.
  7. Using a knife, lightly score dough lengthwise to make three 10 by 6 inch sections.
  8. Using a flat cookie sheet or large spatula, carefully lift right third of dough and flip it over onto center section.
  9. Repeat with left third of the dough, as if folding a business letter.
  10. Rotate dough 90 degrees so that the long (10 inch) side is facing you.
  11. You have now completed one turn of the dough.
  12. Lightly flour work surface to prevent sticking and reroll dough into a 10 by 18 inch rectangle.
  13. Give the dough a second turn by scoring into thirds and flipping over the right and left thirds as you did in the above step.
  14. Rotate dough 90 degrees so the long (10 inch) side is facing you.
  15. Repeat the above steps to make a total of four complete turns.
  16. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  17. Transfer chilled dough to a lightly floured surface with the long side facing you. Give the dough two more turns.
  18. Rewrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 more hour.

 

Frozen Chocolate Mint Grasshopper Pies:

We added a bit of green food coloring to our mix so it’s a little more green than yours will turn out to be. This dessert isn’t too sweet but has a nice mint-chocolate flavor. The recipe for the Dark Chocolate Pie Dough has been included below.

Mini Pie Recipes

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Frozen Chocolate Mint Grasshopper Pies
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
 

A slightly sweet taste with added mint-chocolate flavor (makes 24 treats). The recipe for the dough can be found in the printable recipe below.
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups crushed chocolate wafer cookies
  • 1 recipe Dark Chocolate Pie Dough
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 2½ tbsp cornstarch
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup whole milk, divided
  • ¾ cup heavy or whipping cream (35%)
  • ⅔ cup chopped white chocolate
  • ¼ cup creme de menthe liqueur
  • 2 tbsp white creme de cacao liqueur
  • ½ cup finely chopped bittersweet chocolate

Instructions
  1. On a lightly floured work surface, scatter ½ cup cookie crumbs.
  2. Place dough on surface and roll out to ⅛ inch thickness, embedding cookie crumbs into dough.
  3. Using cutter (3.5 to 4 inch in size), cut into rounds and carefully fit into muffin cups (overlaps are okay).
  4. Reroll scraps, scattering additional cookie crumbs on surface as needed.
  5. Place tins in freezer for 30 minutes.
  6. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350F.
  7. Remove tins from freezer and place a square of parchment paper in each and place a handful of dried beans in each cup.
  8. Bake shells for 12 minutes.
  9. Carefully remove parchment paper and beans and continue to bake for 6 to 9 more minutes (until shells are browned and set).
  10. Let cool completely in pans.
  11. Filling: In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks, cornstarch, sugar and ¼ cup milk.
  12. In a medium saucepan, bring remaining milk and cream to a simmer.
  13. Whisking constantly, slowly add hot milk mixture to egg mixture and whisk until smooth.
  14. Return to saucepan and whisk constantly over medium-low heat until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes.
  15. Add white chocolate and whisk until melted.
  16. Remove from heat.
  17. Whisk in creme de menthe and creme de cacao.
  18. Cool completely, then whisk in bittersweet chocolate.
  19. Spoon about 2 tbsp filling into each shell and smooth tops.
  20. Freeze pies for at least 4 hours or until very firm.
  21. Carefully unmold and serve.

 

Mini Pie Recipes – Dark Chocolate Pie Dough:

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Dark Chocolate Pie Dough
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
 

Perfect shells for ice cream sundaes!
Ingredients
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 6 tbsp granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 8 oz cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • ½ cup cold buttermilk
  • 1 large egg yolk

Instructions
  1. In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, pulse flour, cocoa powder, sugar and salt to combine.
  2. Scatter butter over the top and pulse several times until pieces are the size of peas.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg yolk.
  4. Drizzle half the buttermilk mixture over flour mixture and pulse 4 to 5 times to combine.
  5. Add more of the mixture, 1 tbsp at a time, pulsing after each addition just until dough begins to hold together in moist clumps (you might not need all of the buttermilk mixture).
  6. Transfer to a large piece of plastic wrap or a large bowl and shape into a ball. Flatten into a disk and wrap tightly in plastic.
  7. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

 

175 Best Mini Pie Recipes:

There are so many recipes in here that would be perfect for parties for kids. Move over cake pops and make room for the mini pies! What kid wouldn’t love a buffet of homemade pizza pockets and bite-sized pies? To purchase your own copy of 175 Best Mini Pie Recipes, visit RobertRose.ca.

Mini Pie Recipes

For more delicious recipe ideas, visit our special Recipes page.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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Cinco de Mayo Recipes

April 13, 2013 1 Comment

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “fifth of May”) is the perfect time to try out some new Mexican recipes. I had the opportunity to try out some Cinco de Mayo recipes in the new 200 Easy Mexican Recipes cookbook by Kelley Cleary Coffeen. We love Mexican food but I wanted the opportunity to try something more creative than takeout from a Mexican restaurant! From the recipes we tried in this book, I can now say that I am a fan of authentic Mexican dishes! Here I’ll share two recipes with you that are both easy to make and sure to impress your Cinco de Mayo party guests.

Cinco de Mayo Recipes – Chicken & Lime Soup:

This creative mixture of ingredients creates a light tasting soup perfect as an appetizer or a main dish.

Cinco de Mayo Recipes

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Chicken and Lime Soup
Author: 
Recipe type: Appetizer
 

A light tasting soup that’s filling enough to be the main dish.
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 4 chicken breasts (boneless & skinless)
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tomatoes, seeded & chopped
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • ½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (4 to 5 limes)
  • 2 cups broken corn tortilla chips
  • 2 avocados, diced
  • 4 green onions (green part only), minced

Instructions
  1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat.
  2. Add chicken and cook, turning once, until no longer pink inside (6 to 8 minutes per side).
  3. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let cool.
  4. In a large pot, heat remaining oil over medium heat.
  5. Add onion, garlic and tomatoes.
  6. Cover and cook until onion is softened (4 to 6 minutes).
  7. Add chicken broth and lime juice.
  8. Dice chicken and add to pot.
  9. Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat.
  10. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
  11. Serve in individual bowls and garnish with equal amounts of tortilla chips, avocado and green onion.

 

Cinco de Mayo Recipes – Grilled Shrimp with Avocado Butter:

We loved the flavor in the Avocado Butter! I think it would also taste great as a unique topping on burgers if some of your party guests don’t like shrimp.

Cinco de Mayo Recipes

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Grilled Shrimp with Avocado Butter
Author: 
Recipe type: Supper
 

Quick to prepare and your guests will love all the flavor on both the shrimp and in the avocado butter.
Ingredients
  • Avocado Butter:
  • 3 avocados cut in quarters or into chunks
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Kosher or sea salt to taste
  • Shrimp Marinade:
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp Creole seasoning
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 16 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

Instructions
  1. Avocado Butter: In a food processor, combine avocados, garlic, lime juice and olive oil and process until smooth.
  2. Add salt to taste.
  3. Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or for up to 2 hours.
  4. Shrimp Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk lime juice, garlic, Creole seasoning, cayenne and oil until well blended.
  5. Add shrimp and toss gently.
  6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or for up to 2 hours.
  7. Meanwhile, preheat barbeque grill to medium-high.
  8. Remove shrimp from marinade and discard marinade.
  9. Thread 4 shrimp on each skewer.
  10. Grill shrimp, turning once, until shrimp are pink and opaque (3 to 4 minutes per side).
  11. Transfer to a platter.
  12. Gently remove skewers and serve with Avocado Butter.

 

200 Easy Mexican Recipes:

This cookbook is filled with delicious & easy to prepare Mexican recipes. Inside the book you’ll also find explanations of some of the commonly used kitchen tools and ingredients used in Mexican dishes. As for recipes, they have everything from appetizers and sauces to delicious traditional desserts. To purchase your own book, visit RobertRose.ca.

Cinco de Mayo Recipes

For more delicious recipes, visit our Recipes page.

For Cinco de Mayo activity ideas, visit our special Holiday Fun page and scroll down to the May holidays.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this cookbook for review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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Bake Sale Ideas & Tips

April 13, 2013 Leave a Comment

There are a lot of items to consider when planning a bake sale. Where will it be held? What treats will you sell? How will it be organized? Below is a list of bake sale ideas and items to consider when planning a sale. At the bottom of this post, you’ll also find links to plenty of delicious recipe ideas perfect for a bake sale.

Bake Sale Ideas

Bake Sale Ideas – Tips:

  • Include copies of ingredient list for those customers who require it (or print it on a label right on the package). With so many different types of allergies, ingredient lists are becoming more important at bake sales.
  • Package your items in small quantities (6 items or less per package) so that customers can buy a wider variety of treats.
  • You could also set out open trays of food with empty containers that people could fill with a variety of treats. Customers then weigh their container at the end and pay by the pound. You’ll also need to supply the empty containers and plastic wrap if you are going with this option.
  • Have one small group of people assigned to price the items so that the prices are similar for the various types of treats. If everyone is left to price their own items, the prices may not be consistent across the sale.
  • Be sure to have plenty of change on hand.
  • Have at least 2 people assigned to the cash register. One person to collect the money and another person to bag the items.
  • Make a plan for what to do with the leftovers (like delivering them to a local shelter). If the leftovers will be delivered to another location, who will be responsible for the delivery?
  • Collect bake sale packages the night before the sale so you have time to price and arrange the items before the sale begins.
  • Group similar items together (cookies, breads, muffins, cupcakes, etc.). Make it easy for people to find what they want.
  • Unless you have coolers and fridge available, request that bakers don’t make items that require refrigeration. Keep in mind that if items are hidden away in coolers, they will be more difficult to sell because people want to be able to see what they are buying.
  • If your space permits, set up an area to sell coffee & tea where guests can sit down to visit with friends and enjoy some of their purchases.
  • Make sure that your bakers & customers know where the bake sale money is being donated. People are more likely to participate if they know where the funds are going.
  • Have at least 1 person assigned to watch over every 2 tables. For a busy sale, you’ll want one person per table. This person will be responsible for answering questions about the items, refilling the table and keeping the table organized.
  • Decide what will happen if you sell out of items before the bake sale is over.
  • Decide where to host your event. Will there be a fee to use the facility?
  • When will you have the sale (date & time)?
  • How will you advertise the event? Some bake sale ideas include at the facility where the event will be held, on a community bulletin board or in a community newsletter, word of mouth, on a website that advertises local events and a poster in the place that you are fundraising for.
  • Who will calculate the donation and how will it be delivered to the charity? Will you deposit the money in the bank and issue a cheque? Will you require a tax receipt? Who will be responsible for giving the money to the charity?

Bake Sale Ideas – Recipes:

When it comes to bake sale ideas, nothing is more fun than deciding what to make…except maybe the part where you get to sample the delicious creations! Here are a few ideas for recipes:

For more delicious recipe ideas, visit our Recipe page.

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Chocolate Marshmallow Recipes

April 13, 2013 2 Comments

These chocolate marshmallow recipes are perfect for a family treat or as delicious additions to a bake sale or potluck dinner. Both of these recipes are easy to make and use prepared cookie mixes as bases. At the end of this post, I’ll also link up a few other recipes that you may want to try (the Warm Toasted Marshmallow S’Mores Bars have received rave reviews).

Gooey Chocolate Cookie Bars:

These bars are a little messy to eat but getting a little marshmallow on your fingers is so worth it once you taste these bars!

Chocolate Marshmallow Recipes

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Gooey Chocolate Cookie Bars
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
 

These may be a little messy to eat but so worth it!
Ingredients
  • 1 pouch Betty Crocker Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix plus the vegetable oil, water and egg called for on the package.
  • 1 jar (198 ml) marshmallow creme
  • 8 creme-filled chocolate sandwiches coarsely chopped (1 cup)
  • ⅓ cup miniature candy-coated chocolate candies

Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 350F.
  2. Make cookie mix as directed on the package using the oil, water and egg.
  3. Spread dough in ungreased 13×9 inch pan.
  4. Bake 10 minutes just until dough is set.
  5. Heat marshmallow creme in microwave on low for 30 seconds (Please note – the marshmallow will heat & rise quickly. To avoid a marshmallow explosion in the microwave and a melted jar, put the creme in a microwave safe bowl before heating and only heat for 30 seconds).
  6. Spread marshmallow creme evenly over crust.
  7. Sprinkle with chopped cookies and chocolate candies.
  8. Bake for another 12 to 14 minutes until marshmallows begin to brown.
  9. Cool completely (about 1 hour) before cutting.

 

Double-Chocolate Rocky Road Cookie Bars:

These almost taste like nanaimo bars but not as sweet. I could eat an entire pan of this! In the recipe I made, I left out the pecans because of a nut allergy in the family. Chocolate Marshmallow Recipes

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Double Chocolate Rocky Road Cookie Bars
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
 

Delicious dessert that reminds me of nanaimo bars just not as sweet.
Ingredients
  • Cookie Base:
  • 1 pouch (496 g) Betty Crocker Double Chocolate Chunk or Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 egg
  • Filling:
  • 1 pkg (250 g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup butter, softened
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup pecans, chopped
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1½ cups miniature marshmallows
  • Frosting:
  • ½ cup butter
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • 3 cups icing sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 350F.
  2. Spray bottom & sides of 9×13 baking pan with non-stick baking spray.
  3. In a large bowl, combine cookie base ingredients until well mixed.
  4. Press dough in bottom of pan and set aside.
  5. In a separate large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, ¼ cup butter, the flour, vanilla and egg with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
  6. Stir in ¼ cup pecans.
  7. Spread over cookie dough base and sprinkle with chocolate chips.
  8. Bake 26 to 28 minutes or until filling is set.
  9. Sprinkle evenly with marshmallows and bake 2 minutes longer.
  10. In a small saucepan, melt ½ cup butter over medium heat.
  11. Stir in coca and milk.
  12. Heat until boiling while stirring constantly.
  13. Remove from heat.
  14. With wire whisk, stir in icing sugar until well blended.
  15. Stir in vanilla and 1 cup pecans and immediately pour over marshmallows, spreading gently to cover.
  16. Cool 30 minutes.
  17. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until chilled.
  18. Cut into bars and store covered in the refrigerator.

 

More Chocolate Marshmallow Recipes:

Here are some additional chocolate marshmallow recipes that you may want to try:

For more delicious recipes, be sure to visit our Recipe page.

Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

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Slow Cooker Party Recipes

April 12, 2013 1 Comment

I love slow cooker meals! Most are so quick & easy to put together and by the end of the day you have a delicious, hot & flavorful meal to enjoy with your family. I received the new Triple Slow Cooker Entertaining Book by Kathy Moore & Roxanne Wyss and was excited to give some of the recipes a try. What makes this book different from other recipe books is that it combines separate slow cooker meals together to create a delicious party buffet! The book also provides party planning tips for a variety of different party themes including make ahead suggestions, decoration ideas and more. I chose to try out the Graduation Gathering slow cooker party recipes. Here I’ll give you a sneak peek into this book and share these recipes with you!

Slow Cooker Party Recipes

Slow Cooker Party Recipes – Vidalia Onion Dip:

Although this cheesy dip has a lot of onions in it, the taste of the onions is not overpowering. It is delicious on baguette bread or crackers as an appetizer.

Slow Cooker Party Recipes

4.0 from 1 reviews

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Vidalia Onion Dip
Author: 
Recipe type: Supper
 

Perfect appetizer snack before a summer BBQ. This dip makes about 4 cups.
Ingredients
  • 2 cups finely chopped Vidalia onions
  • 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
  • 1⅔ cups mayonnaise
  • ¼ tsp garlic salt

Instructions
  1. Spray one slow cooker stoneware with baking spray.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir together onions, cheese, mayonnaise and garlic salt until well combined.
  3. Transfer to prepared stoneware.
  4. Cover & cook on High for 2 to 3 hours, stirring once every hour until melted and smooth.
  5. Turn to warm for serving.

 

Slow Cooker Party Recipes – Easy BBQ Ribs:

My husband is a big fan of BBQ ribs but I rarely make them because I honestly don’t know how! This recipe is so easy to follow and only has 3 ingredients.

Slow Cooker Party Recipes

4.0 from 1 reviews

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Fav BBQ Ribs
Author: 
Recipe type: Supper
 

Super easy to make with just 3 ingredients. By the time the ribs are ready to serve, they are falling off the bone and loaded with flavor.
Ingredients
  • 3 to 4 lbs baby back pork ribs (1.5 to 2 kg)
  • ¼ to ½ tsp liquid smoke
  • 1¼ cups barbeque sauce, divided

Instructions
  1. Cut ribs into three-rib sections.
  2. Place the rib sections into the slow cooker.
  3. Drizzle ribs with liquid smoke.
  4. Drizzle ribs with barbeque sauce (using about 1 cup of the barbeque sauce).
  5. Cover and cook on Low for 7 to 9 hours or on High for 3½ to 4½ hours, until meat is tender.
  6. Preheat broiler.
  7. Using tongs, carefully remove ribs from slow cooker and arrange, meaty side up, in a single layer on prepared baking sheet (baking sheet covered with foil).
  8. Brush ribs with remaining barbeque sauce.
  9. Broil for 5 to 7 minutes or until ribs are crisp (be careful not to burn).
  10. Discard extra liquid in the slow cooker.
  11. Return ribs to the slow cooker, cover and set to warm for serving.

 

Slow Cooker Party Recipes – Tamale Meatballs:

I love a little bit of spice in my food. I like to find a happy balance between flavorful but not too spicy to make me sweat! These tamale meatballs are the perfect combination of flavor to please all your party guests.

Slow Cooker Party Recipes

4.0 from 1 reviews

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Tamale Meatballs
Author: 
Recipe type: Supper
 

The perfect balance of spice and flavor makes these perfect for guests with all different types of tastes.
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • ¾ cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp dry minced (granulated) garlic
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 can (28 oz/796 ml) mild enchilada sauce, divided

Instructions
  1. Spray slow cooker with baking spray.
  2. Preheat oven to 425F.
  3. In a large bowl, combine beef, cornmeal, chili powder, cumin, garlic, egg and ⅓ cup enchilada sauce.
  4. Form into 1½ inch balls.
  5. Place at least 1 inch apart on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
  6. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until meatballs are no longer pink inside.
  7. Using tongs, carefully transfer meatballs to prepared slow cooker. Pour in remaining enchilada sauce.
  8. Cover and cook on Low for 3 to 4 hours or on High for 1½ to 2 hours until meatballs are hot and sauce is bubbly.
  9. Turn to warm for serving.

 

Triple Slow Cooker Entertaining:

Those of you who have been following Moms & Munchkins for a while now know that I love everything to do with parties…except maybe the dishes because who loves cleaning dishes, right? I love how this recipe book includes fun party tips to go along with the recipes. When cooking for a party, I often wonder what combination of food I should serve and this book make it easy by offering combination samples for different party themes.

Slow Cooker Party Recipes

To learn more about this book or to purchase your own, visit RobertRose.ca.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this recipe book in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.    
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Bread Recipes with Fruit

April 7, 2013 2 Comments

Bread recipes with fruit are a delicious breakfast treat, a mid-day snack or the perfect item for your next bake sale. The sweet taste of these breads makes them a tasty idea for your next tea party.

Bread Recipes with Fruit – Lemon Bread with Apricots:

This is one of those bread recipes with fruit that looks like you spent all day making it but it’s actually incredibly easy to make!

Bread Recipes with Fruit - Lemon

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Lemon Bread with Apricots
Author: 
Recipe type: Breakfast
 

Impress your guests with this fancy treat that is quick & easy to make.
Ingredients
  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup milk
  • ⅓ cup butter, melted
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
  • 6 ounces (about 1 cup) dried apricots, chopped
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice
  • Grated lemon peel strips

Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 350F.
  2. Grease bottom only of 9×5-inch glass loaf dish.
  3. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt.
  4. In medium bowl, beat eggs and granulated sugar with wire whisk.
  5. Stir milk, butter, 2 tsp lemon peel and apricots into egg mixture.
  6. Fold wet mixture into dry mixture just until moistened.
  7. Pour into prepared dish.
  8. Bake 1 hour or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  9. Cool for 10 minutes and them remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely for 2 hours.
  10. In a small bowl, stir powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth and thin.
  11. Drizzle glaze over bread and garnish with lemon peel strips.

 

Bread Recipes with Fruit – Apple Bread:

This Apple Bread recipe can be made into mini loaves for the perfect snack in your child’s lunch kit.

Bread Recipes with Fruit - Apple

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Apple Bread
Author: 
Recipe type: Breakfast
 

Instead of a full size loaf pan, this recipe can be made into mini loaves as a perfect lunch time snack.
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 cup finely shredded peeled apple
  • ¼ cup apple sauce (unsweetened)
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ tsp lemon zest
  • 1 cup walnuts or pecans (optional)

Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 350F.
  2. Grease bottom only of a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
  3. In a large bowl, combine first seven ingredients.
  4. In a second bowl, mix together apple, apple sauce, eggs and lemon zest.
  5. Add mixture to dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.
  6. Gently stir in nuts (optional).
  7. Bake 55 to 65 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  8. Cool 10 minutes before loosening sides and letting cool on rack.
  9. Cool completely (2 hours) before slicing.

 

Bread Recipes with Fruit – Blueberry-Banana Bread:

This delicious bread only takes 15 minutes to prepare. It freezes well so it’s a great treat to keep on hand for special guests.

Bread Recipes with Fruit - Blueberry Banana

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Blueberry-Banana Bread
Author: 
Recipe type: Breakfast
 

This bread is quick & easy to make (only takes 15 minutes to prepare) and it freezes well.
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Bisquick Mix
  • ¾ cup quick-cooking oats
  • ⅔ cup sugar
  • 1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 medium)
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) blueberries

Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 350F.
  2. Grease bottom of a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
  3. Stir Bisquick, oats, sugar, bananas, milk and eggs in a large bowl until moistened.
  4. Beat on high speed for 30 seconds.
  5. Gently stir in blueberries.
  6. Pour into prepared pan.
  7. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool 10 minutes before loosening sides and cooling directly on rack.
  9. Cool completely (about 2 hours) before slicing.

 

For more delicious recipes, be sure to visit our Recipe page.

Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: ,
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