Copycat Pink Angel Food Cake (Short Cut)

I continue to find recipes in People Magazine that really catch my eye and I immediately want to try the recipe. So since this recipe was pretty involved making the Angel Food cake I decided to use a simple but good Angel Food Cake mix as a substitute..

1 - Angel Food Cake mix. Prepared according to directions on box
8 drops red food coloring

Using an electric mixer beat according to directions. Place in Angel Food Cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 43 to 45 minutes. Read box directions and follow them. 
 Cool completely and remove from pan.

Strawberries, sliced or chopped
Approximately 2 cups
3 T sugar

Mix and set aside or refrigerate until ready to use

Sweetened sour cream

This is a new taste to me and although it was good I much prefer real whipped cream.
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
3 T powdered sugar
Mix well
Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use

Once cake is completely cooled slice cake with a serrated knife gently as it is very soft and spongy.  Garnish with strawberries and either sweetened sour cream or whipped cream.

Enjoy!

God created me but I became the person I am today because of ME

Hi everyone:

I'm up early.  Daylight savings time changes my sleep pattern so I'll be up my usual time for a while.  The clock says 7:30 a.m. but my body says an hour earlier and I will be tired earlier as well.  It's funny how the body takes time to adjust to new things that happen.  The standing joke for the day in our home  has been as the day goes on someone will  say "well it's only such and such" a time with a chuckle.

 We all have to make adjustments daily.  I think you would agree.  Life is beautiful and we all should be grateful for it but at times things happen, your world turns upside down and it seems you don't know how to handle what is going on.

Over the last years I have been challenged in a lot of ways. Both physically and emotionally.  Moving on and getting going on with your life is difficult at times but we have to!  

We all have to!!! It takes some inner strength I never knew I had.  It is hard to explain in actual words.  My faith helped.  Talking to my friends helped.  Talking to myself lol helped.  I had to take extra steps to help myself. It really takes every ounce of you to make and create the you that you want to be. 

The reason I started writing today was because of this little clip I saw today on Facebook.  I'm sharing it below.

Let me try to explain to you how after so many years of trying to find myself how I finally did find my passion and my purpose. I stepped out of my safe box!  Yes that box that was filled with fear of not succeeding or better yet failure. I thought I was courageous dealing with everyday life, raising children, working, juggling life to make it balance the way it should but I never worked at creating me so here is what I did for ME.

I didn't read any self help books although it might have helped.  I wrote down on a sheet of paper the things I liked to do.  Listing the most liked to the least.  I tried coming up with five things but it was difficult.  I don't read very much or do crossword puzzles so that didn't help at all.  So I eliminated keeping myself busy while doing those were not an option in that regard. I needed to move. I don't sit still much..lol   Sitting was not an option for me at that moment.

Here is my list.


Baking
Cooking
Gardening
Photography
Drawing and Coloring(recent)

I capitalized on the first two at first then went on to the other two possibly three.

Now how do I create myself?  How do I get my word across to others?  

Here's where the tough part came.  I did not know if I could write let alone write in a way to come across to others in a way they would be able to understand what I was saying so I just started typing(cause I can type much faster than write) hoping how I felt would just sound like me.  I wanted to explain the best I could my recipes and how to have those who read them be able to relate to my words.  No huge words to confuse but photos yes photos (HANDY CAMERA)with some step by step pictures on explanation of how to duplicate the recipe.  ( I have no high tech camera).

That's how it all started,  now I had to develop a Facebook page and a Blog.  That was a HUGE step but not as difficult as I thought it would be.  That's where I needed some help and my grandson and niece helped me there.  No professional developer needed.  Kids these days know so much and usually just a few questions and they'll like helping you.  FYI:  There might be some teasing LOL.  See I'm not too proud to say I needed some help in that area and I've learned so much along the way with some friends I've met along this adventure too.

I've been blogging since 2011 and "facebooking" since then too!  Hmmm "facebooking"??? is that even a word?  See I really don't mind being not the perfect person in grammar sometimes although that is really important.  Sometimes you just have to go with the flow or go Google it.  Yes what a tool that has become! 

So last but least I want to say to you CREATE YOU.  Write down your interests and capitalize on those that stand out and GO FOR IT! Continue adding to that list and you'll never be bored or feel alone.  Take it from me helping others is wonderful and rewarding but helping yourself can be your best gift to you!

It is never too late and you will be proud of yourself for accomplishing a goal that maybe you didn't even know you had.  I was never a person who set goals but at my job it was required so maybe in back of my mind I did use that tool.

I wanted my family, yes my family, especially to know who I was.  They knew I loved them and cared for them and helped them but they probably never really new the part of me that wanted to tell the world I am so much more.  

God created me and I became the person I am because of being raised by good, decent loving parents but in order to be the person I wanted to be remembered I had to create ME by taking some risks of failure on the journey of life.  You can do it too. 

I never expected to write a long lengthy post but the words were flowing so I do hope it has helped someone who is reading this to take their step in creating themselves in a positive and rewarding way.  

Have a wonderful day!

Smiles,

original 3/13/2016

Broccoli, apple and cranberry salad

I love salads.  Any kind.....but the best ones I feel are those that are loaded with veggies. At two large bunches for $5.00 I couldn't resist buying a bunch of broccoli and a head of cauliflower.  Perfect as a side.....or more.  LOL I love this salad. YUMMY!

My perfect salad is one that has less lettuce and more of the very good veggies. This is definitely one of my favorites.

Using more yogurt than mayonnaise cuts some of the fat from this recipe but doesn't cut the flavor.  Delicious and filling served alone or along with a turkey sandwich might be my perfect lunch.  Sensible eating in moderation.

1 large bunch broccoli, cut and separated into florets
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup thinly diced red onion
2 apples diced...I used Honey crisp but they were expensive so buy a reasonable crisp apple 
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts(optional)

Salad Dressing:

1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
2 T lemon juice
1/2 tsp. sugar
pinch salt and pepper

1. In a large bowl combine broccoli, carrots, red onion, apples, pecans, and dried cranberries.  Set aside. 
2.  ****To make the dressing: Whisk together mayonnaise, greek yogurt, lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper.
3. Add the dressing to the salad and toss to coat. Note: I tossed the salad with my hands to get the salad dressing to coat the veggies well.  Chill until ready to serve.

1/24/16 

5/4/16

One, two, three Coconut Cream Pie

What do I do when I feel a little better?  I bake and cook.

Today I made meatballs and a pie.

 I am Freezing the meatballs for another time and because I wanted something sweet but easy to make I made a coconut cream as easy as one two three pie. 

Both were a breeze for me to make and I like having my own homemade meatballs handy to grab for sauces and soups.

The pie was a second thought. The other day at the grocery store I decided to pick up a graham cracker pie shell. I had  nothing in mind to make but today it hit me that I had all the ingredients to make a quick pie and also that my milk was about to expire tomorrow.  I try really hard not to waste so that's how this easy as one two three coconut cream pie came to be.

Quite honestly I try most times to make my own custard or pudding from scratch.  It really is the best but sometimes you have to go for easy and quick and this was the solution.  Enjoy!  Make a pie!!! 

I + cup coconut (oven toasted)Use a little more if you like coconut

2 pkgs. vanilla instant pudding 

3 cups whole milk 

1 - 8 oz Cool whip topping thawed

1 large graham cracker pie shell

Refrigerate several hours 

Toast coconut in oven carefully watching it as not to burn. (I've done that before so that's why I warning you)  Set it aside to cool.

Whisk together vanilla pudding with milk, add cool whip and toasted coconut making sure to blend pudding and cool whip.   Fill crust and top with extra toasted coconut.

Yummy! My first slice!  There was NO NEED for a garish of cream.

Happy Baking from my kitchen to yours,

Italian Meatloaf! Tonight's easy meal :)

 Today I am trying to be very good in my food choices again.  I know I tend to repeat myself in that area. lol.  In a effort to take off a few pounds I am trying very hard to cut back on carbohydrates.  They are my weakness!!! I am going to cut back and but not eliminate them. Makes sense to me, hopefully you too!

I added some fresh strawberries to our salad for a summer flair.

Happy Cooking!

Italian Meatloaf!

1 lb. + beef, pork, veal or meatloaf mix** (this time I used more veal and pork and a little beef)
1/2 cup Progresso Garlic and herb breadcrumbs(love them)
*note other breadcrumbs can be substituted
1 tsp. salt
pinch pepper
1 large clove garlic minced
1 egg beaten
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup good quality Italian cheese grated
2 T olive or canola oil
1/4 cup marinara sauce for topping

 

The night before why not prepare mix and wrap to be prepared for your next day lunch or dinner.

Fork in center told me my meatloaf was cooked properly.  Juices were clear.

Mix using your hands above mixture adding water as you mix to incorporate ingredients. I suggested 1/4 cup but depending on your meat you may not need as much or maybe a bit more.  Judge by how easily the ball forms.  You do not want it to be dry .  Form into a ball or loaf size.  Place in a slightly greased (canola or olive oil) baking dish and bake 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour or more.  Test center with fork to see if juices are clear. I did not cover my meatloaf and I used a convection oven so ovens vary.  My meatloaf was slightly over 1 lb.

About 15 minutes before serving meatloaf I topped the meatloaf with marinara sauce.  **Ketchup can be used as a substitute.

Serve with a tossed salad or seasonal vegetable.

8/5/13