Eagle Brand Pineapple and Chipolte Ice Pops

I've been scouring the web for tasty summer treats lately.  In South Texas, one of our favorite things to eat in the summer is fruit cups with lime and chili.  You can get these cups at the local La Paleteras where it sounds like the workers are chiming in a chorus, "Salt, Lime, Chili? Salt, Lime, Chili?"  If you've never had chili on fruit, please do not be put off by it.  I know it sounds odd, but the combination of sweet fruits, lime juice, and chili is fantastic.  Our local grocer sells a brand of fruit seasoning (chili flavored powder with lime and other spices) and so we make our own fruit cups often.  We like grapes, cantaloupe, watermelon, apples, and pineapple, but you can add any kind of fruits you like.  In looking for summer treats, I found an ice pop recipe that sounds like it combines all the flavors of a fruit cup in one neat pop.  I've got to try this out soon, but I wanted to share it in the mean time, mostly so that I'd have it in a place to reference soon.  I hope you'll try it, too!

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 0 Minutes

Ingredients

1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple in pineapple juice, undrained
1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
3/4 cup pineapple juice
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon chipotle chile powder

Place pineapple in food processor. Cover and process until pureed. Combine pureed pineapple, sweetened condensed milk, pineapple juice, lime juice and chile powder in large bowl; mix well.


Spoon into 8 (4 oz.) plastic ice pop molds or 10 (3-ounce) wax-coated paper cups. If using paper cups, insert wooden craft stick into the center of each cup. Freeze until firm, about 4 hours.

Great Balls of Fire!

They've gone and done it!

You may recall from an earlier post that the Ransom Center was taking donations to preserve gowns worn by Vevien Leigh in Gone with the Wind.  Well, the center has raised enough money to preserve them and is now taking donations for their Gone with the Wind exhibit set to debut in 2014 to mark the films 75th anniversary!  If you are interested in donating for this awesome cause, visit them at:
http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/contribute/endowments/opportunities/costumes/. 

Here are some images of my favorite dresses...

http://sunnysideofthesunporch.blogspot.com/2009/09/gone-with-wind-party.html

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bonzasheila.com/

Of couse, they were all beautiful...so glad they are being saved.

HEY, YOU!

Enjoy your weekend!

Here's a sweet 'lil pic of mon petit bebe w/her Grandma who just so happens to responsible for knitting that darlin' dress she's wearing. 

Slice-O'-Pie

image from:  http://shop.prettylittlestudio.com/

     It's Foodie Friday and I've been thinking about what recipe to share for a few minutes (I know; don't  bust a vein, right?!).  Spring seems to have sprung in good old South Texas.  Today reached 82 degrees.  Since we don't have groundhogs around these parts, nobody bothered to tell Spring to wait 'til the end of March.  No matter.  I've got cool, refreshing foods on the brain to beat the summer spring heat.  I'm thinking salads, sorbet, refrigerator pies...

     Mmm, refrigerator pies.  Here's one called a Millionaire Pie.  Maybe you've heard of it...so yummy : )

What you will need:

2 prepared graham cracker crusts
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (8 oz.) container sour cream
1 (9 oz.) carton Cool Whip (I prefer to whip heavy cream with powdered sugar to make my own whipped cream)
2-3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 cup finely chopped pecans

Mix lemon juice and sweetened condensed milk until lemon juice is fully incorporated. Add Whipped Cream and blend thoroughly. Add sour cream until completely blended. Add pineapple and pecans to the cream mixture. Stir well and pour into prepared graham crusts. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of two hours and preferably overnight. Bon appetit!



P.S.  You can share on Foodie Fridays, too, at Designs by Gollum.

Singing in the Rain

Who wouldn't be singing in the rain with one of these cuties in tow?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Galleria-Palm-Tree-Stick-Umbrella/13037602



http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=820454002&userSearchText=umbrella&searchCID=26519&vid=1



http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=17474461&itemdescription=true&navAction=jump&search=true&isProduct=true&parentid=SEARCH+RESULTS





http://www.luluguinness.com/ProductPage.aspx?productId=UMBR-720-073-010#



In Recent News (desserts)

The weight's down and I started working out.  And folks, it has gone in that order.  The weight went down...someone commented and I didn't believe them because we've been making desserts almost daily so I checked and it had by like 4 lbs.!  Then, I started working out.  This hasn't been some sort of New Year resolution, either.  I started working out two weeks ago because I figure if I'm paying so much for gym access in University fees, I might as well pop in every now and again.  My body is sore, but I feel good.  I know that doesn't make much sense.  I guess it's a mind thing...not sure if I'll keep it up.  It's nice to imagine that if I do keep it up, I may someday look like this...

I know.  I know.  I said someday, people.  Don't scoff. ; )

So, now that you know my life goal.  I'll share with you some of the desserts that have made the pounds just melt off  lately (In case you're unaware, this is me using sarcasm.  Loading up on desserts may not = you losing weight. God has just dealt me an ace this month.)

Dessert # 1- Pecan Pie
1 cup Karo® Light OR Dark Corn Syrup
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Pure Vanilla Extract
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) pecans
1 (9-inch) unbaked or frozen deep-dish pie crust

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix corn syrup, eggs, sugar, butter and vanilla using a spoon. Stir in pecans. Pour filling into pie crust.
Bake on center rack of oven for 60 to 70 minutes (see tips for doneness, below). Cool for 2 hours on wire rack before serving.
Recipe provided by:  http://www.karosyrup.com/recipe_details.asp?id=485

*Note to folks:  I've tried a variety of pecan pie recipes and the one that never fails is this one from the Karo Syrup bottle; go figure.  Sometimes it's best to just go with what you know and not try to church things up.  The lesson I've learned from trying the various pecan pie recipes- If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Dessert #2-Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating well. Add egg and vanilla, beating well. Combine flour and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Divide dough in half. Cover; chill 1 hour.
2. Roll each portion of dough to 1⁄4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut with desired cookie cutters. (We used flower and starfish cutters.) Place on lightly greased baking sheets.
3. Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are lightly browned. Cool cookies 1 minute on baking sheets, and remove to wire racks to cool completely.
4. Dip cookies in Glaze and sprinkle, while wet, with sparkling sugar (I pressed mine with a little heart shaped cutter and sprinkled cinnamon and sugar on them for VD).

Recipe courtesy of  Southern Livings' book: Best Kept Secrets of the South's Best Cooks

Dessert #3- Creamy Lemon Pie

3 egg yolks

1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 (8- or 9-inch) baked pie crust or graham cracker crumb crust

Topping:

1/2 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

1/4 cup or more to taste of Powdered Sugar

8 oz. Mascarpone Cheese

Blend yolks, lemon juice, and sweetened cond. milk.  Pour into crust and bake for 35 minutes in a 325 degree Fahrenheit oven.  Chill for at least 3 hours before serving.  Top with whipped cream topping.

For topping blend all ingredients just until they all come together and cream begins to set up.

There you have it folks.  Note: I'm not including the recipe for Chocolate Chip cookies because I use the Nestle Toll house recipe, and I'm not adding in the Neapolitan Ice cream that we've had on nights when no baking was involved.  Seriously, folks.  It has been dessert heaven, lately.  I hope you find something to try and sweeten up your week!  And, I think the key to weight loss is to lose the stress, not the sweets :)


I'm sharing on Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum, by the way~

Tootles,

The Kitchen Witch

Cooking for Kids

If you were like me as a child, you loved to cook.  My daughter has expressed interest, but she doesn't take charge like I used to do.  I would rummage through recipe books or see something on T.V., ask my mom if we had the ingredients, and I'd get to work.  Big Sissy needs an initiation and an invitation to get involved, but I'm glad when she does.  She's in 6th grade now, by that age I was fully independent in the kitchen.  I'd make simple things, of course, and since she's expressed some interest I've been thinking back to what those simple things were.

One of the things I recall making often was Tuna Mac or Tuna Noodle Casserole as some may call it.  If you've got kids that love macaroni AND tuna, this may be a good starter recipe.

All you need is a box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, a can of Cream of Mushroom soup, a can of Peas, and a can of Tuna (or a pkg. as they come in nowadays).

Prepare the macaroni as directed on the box,  Once you've mixed in the butter, milk, and cheese packet, add in your Cream of Mushroom soup, drained can of peas, and drained can of Tuna.  You can add a little black pepper if you like.  It's as simple as that.  Stir everything together and viola.  Your child has made lunch : )  Of course, you know your child best...supervise them as you deem necessary.  With my daughter, for instance, I'll have to help her all the way through, especially when it comes time to drain the pasta.

I'll share some more of my favorite childhood recipes in the near future.  In the mean time, if you've got any recipes that your child loves to do, please share.  Teaching your child how to cook is instilling a great life skill and it really creates an awareness of what goes into the food they eat (time, energy, and ingredients).

I hope you're having a blessed week.  Be sure to check in on Friday.  I'll be sharing a recipe on the Foodie Friday swap at Designs by Gollum.

The Kitchen Witch

Happy VD!

     This post may be out of the ordinary in terms of post content, but special occasions seem to call for the extraordinary, don't they?

This Valentine's Day, I'm going to give you the gift of feeling "Geez, I'm glad I'm not her" and lets face it, who couldn't use that little pick-me-up every now and again? ; )

First, I'm going to give you a little background info.  Then, I'm going to tell you a warning tale of falling victim to VD (and get your mind out of the gutter-this ain't Yo Mamma's blog).  The VD to which I refer is that illusive romantic day in which rose petal paths lead to earth shattering love, and chocolate, and fountains of Champagne.  Well, maybe not in that particular order.  And maybe only one out of those three things mentioned above; I did tell you it's illusive so I'm just guessing at what all is entailed in a successful Valentine's Day.

So on to the background detail- You may or may not know that the hubs and I share a beautiful 9 month old.  Also, you may or may not know that we have not been out on an official date since our sweet little babe was born (see following post).  Sure, there have been family dinners out together, and I've shared a few girl's nights, but ALONE, folks!  We have not been alone in quite a while.

We thought the weekend before Valentine's Day would be a fitting time for a romantic date.  We were wrong.  First, the 9 o'clock movie we went to catch was sold out.  No biggy.  We expected as much and were prepared to stay up for the 10:30 p. m. showing.  (I know- we were like a couple of kiddies staying up past bedtime).  Catching a later showing worked out well.  We bought tickets, then went to kill some time at a very adult lounge and shared a glass of wine on a big comfy sofa.  No kids. Anywhere.  It was very nice.  So we killed the hour, made it back to the theater to get great seats, stuffed our faces with popcorn, and laughed ourselves silly at the movie, "Just Go With It" which was sooo good, by the way. 

Sounds great, right?  Right?! Panicky eye twitch ensuing

Here's how the rest of the weekend went down:

Me: Man, that was such a good movie...perfect for tonight.  I've had so much fun.
Hubs:  Yeah.  Good times.  Do you want to go get another drink?
Me: Uhh, not really.  My head still kinda hurts and it's been perfect so far.  Let's just end it on a high note.
Hubs:  It has been perfect...sooo perfect that I don't want it to end yet.
Me:  Really?  Wouldn't it be great just to go home?  The movie ended really late (12:30 ayem) and if we go home now we could still have fun (wink, wink), pour a glass of wine...still get enough sleep to play with the girls in the morning...
Hubs: Yeah, but it is really late.  By the time we got somewhere we would only have time for one drink anyway and then we'd go home.
Me:  I guess.

and this folks is that pivitol moment in the movie when you're screaming at the characters, "DON'T DO IT.  JUST GO HOME, but they get in their car and go anyway.

Hubs: Where do you want to go?
Me: I don't know.  I hate this town.  There's no place worth going.
Hubs: Weren't your friends still out?  Where are they?
Me: Yeah.  Let me txt and see if they're done with the concert.
Me (five minutes later):  They're at Mulligan's.
Hubs:  Wanna go there?
Me: Not really, but whatev.  They're already wasted, I bet.
Hubs:  It's okay.  It's late. Remember?  Only one drink and we're out.
Me: How in the hell do we get to that place again? Ugh, I hate downtown.
Hubs:   There it is.  Oh. This is a one-way.
Me:  Please do not get a ticket before we even go in.  You so need to get your eyes checked.
Hubs:  L:ike you should be talking.  Where in the bleep do we park?
Me:  I have no frickin' idea and I DO have glasses...I just still can't see in the dark.  Drive up two blocks and circle back down the street.
Hubs:  Ooh.  Here's one!
Me:  We're still like two blocks away.  AND IT'S COLD.  I'm so not walking all the way over there
Hubs: silent cursing and glares
Me:  Oooh. Look!  There's a parking lot right next to the building AND there's some spaces available in it.

Mind you, by the time we parked we only had 30 minutes of hang time so we thought we were doing pretty good.  We ordered a beer and visited and parted ways with our friends.  No harm. No foul.  Husband was right.  This wasn't so bad. Right?!  Right?!?!?!?  Panicky eye twitch is at it's peak, now, and bulgy vein thing on the side of forehead is in full effect.

Approximately 2 seconds after we parted ways.
Me:  Hey!
Hubs: Where's our car?  Are we in the right parking lot?
Me: YES!  YES!  We parked right here and walked in right there!!!! pointing and walking back from where I just came as if backtracking will make the car reappear.
Hubs:  walking toward another lot, voice trailing off   Maybe it's just over here.
Me:  OH. MY. GOD. We've been towed!!!
Hubs: What? No. What?
Me: violently pointing at the tiny-ass sign between the entrance & exit of the lot.  WE'VE BEEN TOWED!!!  OHMYGAAA HOW IN THE bleep DOES THIS bleep HAPPEN TO US? SERIOUSLY OUR FIRST bleepin' DATE NIGHT?  bleep bleep bleep TOWING IN DOWNTOWN CORPUS CHRISTI?  SINCE WHEN IN THE bleep DOES CORPUS HAVE bleep DOWNTOWN bleeeeeeppppppppp

And scene.

     Well, I'd like to say that it ended there.  We were lucky that one friend hadn't left and we were able to get a ride home with her. And we were lucky that her cousin's husband is a cop so we called her to ask what we should expect to pay.  I asked, "So what are we talking?  Like $200 or $700?" To which she thought more like $200-$400. TWO. TO. FOUR. HUNDRED. PEOPLE.  HOLY CRAP SO MUCH FOR TRYING TO SAVE MONEY AND NOT GETTING CAUGHT FALLING FOR ALL THAT VD MARKETING AND SPENDING HOOPLA.

Yeah.  Why spend $150 for a purse I've secretly been wanting, but know I can live without when I can spend it getting my car out of hoc?!  I was really upset, as you can imagine, but the hubs was all super romantic and all "we're going to look back at this Valentine's date and have good memories and money comes and money goes and blah blah blah." And I was a total brat, bawling and all "I don't wanna pay crap and I want my money back, and I told you we should end it on a high note! END IT ON A HIGH NOTE!!!"  Not my proudest moment.

The next morning we got up early to call for the cost, directions, etc. On the way out the door the hubs reminded me to grab the title which I did.  Once we arrived and handed the crackhead  lady our title she asked for our insurance.  Hubs opened his glove box to which he fumbled around in while the woman shifted weight from foot to foot and I huffed and puffed. 

Me:  Here.  Let me look.
Hubs:  I'm looking.  This is expired.
Me: Why on Earth wouldn't you have a current copy?  Ugh.  I'll go to the truck and get my copy. stomping off with hubs close behind
Me:  fumbling through my glove box.
Hubs: What's the matter?  Don't have the current copy? smirking
Me:  Don't even start.  I know where my copy is.  It's in my backpack so that I could make a copy of it to mail off for a new registration sticker.
Hubs:  Where's your backpack?
Me:.... silence

So on our way home to get our insurance card so that we could drive all the way back to town to get our car out of impound:

Me: I smell dog bleep.
Hubs: Maybe you stepped in some.
Me: OH MY GOD  Maybe YOU stepped in some.  I SAW where the dog bleep was while you just go tromping through it!!!!!!!   PULL OVER. OHMYGAWD!!!!!!
Hubs:  Oh.   You're right.  There it is.  smiling crazily

At this point, we just both double over laughing.  I mean, what the hell else could we do? 

See.  You're thinking it aren't you?  Glad you're not me?! ; )

Happy VD, y'all!  Hope your day doesn't smell like poo poo : )

Love,

The Kitchen Witch

p.s. Y'all should totally check out Miss Yvonne over at Yo Mamma's Blog because she's a really funny lady.

A Week of Firsts

Well, this week I made bread and it turned out great so I decided to try my hand at homemade jelly and...well, not so great.  The taste is perfect.  It's the consistency that's not as jellied as I'd like.

I found this recipe on the web for Blueberry-Strawberry Jam.  It's just a little runny, but that's okay.  I'll give myself leeway for my first attempt.  If anyone has a sure-fire recipe for a jelly , let me know.  I think I'll be trying jams and jellies throughout the year : )

The Kitchen Witch

Meatball Soup and Homemade Bread

Last night my mother-in-law made Meatball Soup which was great for a cold day.  I decided to try my hand at a bread recipe I'd found on a fellow blogger's page.

I've got some pictures of our progress on the meal.

Here are the meatballs

The beginning of the bread

I've not made bread in soooo long, but this recipe sounded so simple.  Now, I wonder why I don't try my hand at it more often.

Resting in Peace

Roll 'em up, roll 'em up

Throw 'em in the pan

They're not the most beautiful loaves, but I like them just the same...rustic bread : )

Meatball Soup
4 cups water, slightly salted
1 medium onion, rough chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
4 stalks of celery, diced
1 lb. ground meat (we used pork)
3 Tbsp. medium grain white rice
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 can diced tomatoes
1 small can tomato sauce
2 tsp. Thyme
Salt and Black Pepper to taste
1 Tbsp. Sherry Vinegar
1 Bay leaf
Handful of Italian Parsley, rough chopped for garnish

Simmer onion, celery, and carrots until vegetables are tender.  Add Bay leaf.  While vegetables are simmering, roll meatballs.  Be sure to season the ground meat, to taste, with salt & pepper, and Thyme.  Add the eggs and rice to the meat mixture and form into balls.  Add these to the soup along with tomatoes and sauce.  Continue to simmer until meat is cooked through and rice is tender.  Add sherry vinegar and additional seasoning to adjust taste, approximately 15 minutes.  Garnish with parsley and serve with warm bread.  You may need to adjust water, seasonings, etc. as we did the soup off the cuff and I'm only trying to recall what exactly went in.  *Feel free to use stock instead of water, season the meat with Worcestershire, etc.  It's soup so just about anything goes.

I'm sharing in Foodie Friday over @ Designs by Gollum

They Sat and They Sat

The sun did not shine.

It was too wet to play.

So we sat in the house

All that cold, cold, wet day. 

 

~Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat, 1957~

Dreaming of a Spring Day

How cute would this be on a spring day?

take me away floral dress - $37.99 : ShopRuche.com, Vintage Inspired Clothing, Affordable Clothes, Eco friendly Fashion

THAT JUST HAPPENED

So scrolling through the old blog roll this evening and happened upon this commercial that Kristine over at Wait in the Van shared on a post:


Yeah, folks.  That. Just. Happened.