Category: Recipes - COLORADO SPRINGS OVER 50

Patriotic Pies – Holiday Favorites for the 4th of July!

7/3/2019

What a perfect way to show your patriotism…with patriotic pies.
These are perfect for a patriotic holiday in the USA such as the 4th of July, 2018! They will, no doubt, be the hit of the party!
Here are four favorites that will make your creative juices flow. Who knows, maybe you will tweak the recipes and create your own masterpiece!

Old Glory Cherry & Blueberry Pie

A Patriotic Pie Complete with Blueberries,Strawberries and Bananas

Create a juicy cherry and blueberry pie with a U.S. flag design. Photo courtesy of Foodly
Source…

Photo courtesy of Foodly

Courtesy of Pinterest

The actual pie is a cream pie of your choice: banana or coconut works well. Use your favorite recipe or Click Here for cream pie recipes. Make the pie the night before serving to give it time to set up. Assemble the pie just before serving to keep the bananas looking fresh.

Mini Patriotic Pies Flag-designed Masterpiece

Mini bite-sized treats! Make Pampered Chef shortcake cups and fill with custard and decorate with berries to make this patriotic flag-design masterpiece!

Courtesy of Pampered Chef

Red Berry Pie Paired with Blueberry Pie – A Patriotic Slice of America

Courtesy of Pinterest

This “slice of America” pairs your choice of Strawberry Rhubarb + Blueberry OR Cherry + Blueberry pie. Use your favorite recipes or Click Here for berry pie recipes.

For More: Recipes
Enjoy these patriotic pies on this Independence Day 2018!

Cute Easter Bunny Cupcakes!

4/20/2019

These quick and oh, so easy, Easter bunny cupcakes are perfect for Easter as well as for an animal-themed birthday party.

Start with purchased cupcakes or make your own from scratch.

1. Place white decorating frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a multi-opening tip. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes.

2. Sprinkle a work surface with sugar. Use a rolling pin to flatten large white gumdrops; cut or shape long triangles for ears. Press ends of two gumdrop triangles into the frosting near top of each cupcake. Pipe pink icing for insides of ears.

3. Pipe black icing for whiskers. Add a pink jelly bean nose. Pipe white icing for eyes (or use large white round candies); pipe a pupil onto each eye with black icing.

If you prefer brown bunnies, use chocolate frosting and dark gumdrops.

Easter Bunny Cupcakes – Perfect to serve at your Easter dinner!

Source: We thank our friends at Better Homes and Gardens for this idea – BHG

Related Easter Post: Easter Cakes

Top 5 Cakes for Easter

4/13/2019

Cakes for Easter!

Here are five cake recipes to choose from that will be a hit on Easter Sunday! Growing up we always had cake for Easter dessert. Sometimes it was a layer cake and other times it was a bunny cake.

1) Easter Bunny Cake

This is a favorite of mine and is easy to make. It is definitely a topic of conversation at the dinner table. It also makes a great centerpiece!

For recipe, Click Here

2) Easy-to-make Bunny Cake!

Two layer cake rounds and a little cutting and shaping will make a Bunny Cake in no time!

For recipe, Click Here

3) Easter Egg Layered Cake

This is such a pretty cake and is easy to make. Kids love the various colors of the layers and Mom’s love the simple, easy recipe.

For recipe, Click Here

4) Peeps® Easter Garden Cake

What a fun cake for all ages…bunnies in the garden!

For recipe, Click Here

5) Tiramisu Layer Cake

If you want a more traditional cake dessert, this easy version of the wonderful Tiramisu is a perfect choice for Easter dinner.

For recipe, Click Here

Related Easter Post: EasterCenterpiece

Enjoy Making and Eating these Cakes for Easter!

Umbrella Door Decoration – Celebrate Spring and Easter in Style!

3/28/2019

Tiramisu Layer Cake

Italian dessert recipes aren’t that hard to make and especially this one.

This is an easy version of the wonderful Tiramisu that is a favorite dessert for many.

Using a box cake mix as a base makes it a real time saver and you still get the fancy taste without all the work!

Let us know how you like this yummy Italian dessert!

Yield: 1 – 3 layer 9 inch cake

Ingredients:

CAKE:

1 (18.25 ounce) package moist white cake mix
1 teaspoon instant coffee powder
1/4 cup coffee
1 tablespoon coffee flavored liqueur

FILLING:

1 (8 ounce) container mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons coffee flavored liqueur

FROSTING:

2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons coffee flavored liqueur

GARNISH:

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 (1 ounce) square semisweet chocolate

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 3 (9 inch) pans.
Prepare the cake mix according to package directions. Divide two thirds of batter between 2 pans. Stir instant coffee into remaining batter; pour into remaining pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely. In a measuring cup, combine brewed coffee and 1 tablespoon coffee liqueur; set aside.
To make the filling: In a small bowl, using an electric mixer set on low speed, combine mascarpone, 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar and 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur; beat just until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
To make the frosting: In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium-high speed, beat the cream, 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar and 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur until stiff. Fold 1/2 cup of cream mixture into filling mixture.
To assemble the cake: Place one plain cake layer on a serving plate. Using a thin skewer, poke holes in cake, about 1 inch apart. Pour one third of reserved coffee mixture over cake, then spread with half of the filling mixture. Top with coffee-flavored cake layer; poke holes in cake. Pour another third of the coffee mixture over the second layer and spread with the remaining filling. Top with remaining cake layer; poke holes in cake. Pour remaining coffee mixture on top. Spread sides and top of cake with frosting. Place cocoa in a sieve and lightly dust top of cake. Garnish with chocolate curls. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.
To make the chocolate curls, use a vegetable peeler and run it down the edge of the chocolate bar.

Enjoy this Delicious Tiramisu Layer Cake Recipe!

Another Delicious Recipe: Healthier Banana Bread

Source: AllRecipes

Healthier Banana Bread

3/19/2019

Healthier Banana Bread

Now, doesn’t this banana bread look scrumptious? And, the recipe has been modified to make it healthier.

The amount of sugar has been reduced and applesauce has been used to replace some of the oil. Personally, I would use coconut oil instead of the vegetable oil. It is healthier!

You can use coconut sugar in place of some of the brown sugar.

Ingredients

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tablespoon vegetable oil*
3 medium tired bananas (brown spotted)
2 large eggs
7 tablespoons unsweetened vanilla almond milk or nonfat milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5x3” loaf pan with cooking spray.
Stir together sugars, applesauce, and oil. Set aside.
Add bananas, eggs, milk, salt, and baking soda to a blender jar and blend until smooth.
Pour half the banana mixture into the sugar mixture with 1 cup of all purpose flour. Stir until just incorporated, then add the remaining banana mixture and 1 cup whole wheat flour. Mix until just incorporated. Stir in mini chocolate chips if using them. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake for 45-55 minutes until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs. The top will be a nice golden brown. I like mine to have an underdone river along the top, so I bake it closer to 45 minutes. If you want it to be done throughout, cook it towards the longer time.
Cool completely before removing loaf from pan, but you can cut slices from the pan after it’s cooled for about 15-20 minutes.

Recipe Source…

Another Banana Bread Recipe: Cranberry Banana Bread

Valentine Cupcakes – Quick & Easy!

2/7/2019

Short on time this Valentine’s week? These Valentine cupcakes are quick and easy.

Make your favorite cupcake recipe or buy plain cupcakes from the bakery.

Use white frosting and red hot candies to decorate them

You now have a simple, eye-catching Valentine’s Day treat.

Source…

We suggest that you use white or, even better, red velvet cupcakes.

These flavors will add a special touch to this special day.

These cupcakes are great for both young and old to craft.

This will keep the little ones occupied for quite some time by frosting and putting on the red candies!

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Another idea!

Source…

Chocolate or Red Velvet cupcake with vanilla frosting and a delicious strawberry to adorn the top!

Enjoy Valentine’s Day with these Cute and Easy-to-Make Valentine Cupcakes!

Clever Snack Ideas for Valentines Day

2/4/2019

Just in time for Valentines Day…clever snack ideas for Valentines Day are easy to make. Add a festive touch to this special day with these snack ideas for Valentines Day that even the kids and grand kids can help make.

1) Easy Marshmallow Valentine Treats

Use strawberry marshmallows, dip them in melted chocolate and sprinkle them with little nonpareils. Decorate them with heart picks. So easy and fun!

Source: Marshmallow Valentine Treats

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2) Cupid’s Arrows: candy hearts + pretzel sticks

Source: Cupid’s Arrows

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3) Heart Kabobs – Made with strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, watermelon and black olives.

Source: Via Pinterest

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4) Valentine Cinnamon Cookie Crunch Popcorn Mix

Source: Cinnamon Cookie Crunch Popcorn Mix

This is a printable and can also be used on a tin can treat…for complete instructions:

Source…

Snack Ideas for Valentines Day at Your Fingertips!

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Football-Shaped Meatloaf – Delicious!

1/31/2019

This is perfect for football season…a football-shaped meatloaf!

Use your favorite meatloaf recipe (or use the one below) and form it into a football shape with a nice ketchup-based sauce and cheese strips for the lacing.

How yummy and fun is that? Your friends and family will be impressed with your creativity. This football-shaped meatloaf is sure to please the “foodies” in the group!

Football-shaped Meatloaf
Recipe makes 8 servings

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1 egg

1 onion, chopped

1 cup milk

1 cup dried bread crumbs

salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons prepared mustard

1/3 cup ketchup

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a large bowl, combine the beef, egg, onion, milk and bread OR cracker crumbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste and place in a lightly greased 5×9 inch loaf pan, OR form into a loaf and place in a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking dish.

3. In a separate small bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard and ketchup. Mix well and pour over the meatloaf.

4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour.

5. The finishing touch is cheese strips for the lacing.

(A variation to this football-shaped meatloaf is to substitute some of the ground beef with ground turkey.)

Source…

This Football-shaped Meatloaf is sure to please your party guests!
Related Post: Crock Pot Recipes

6 Savory Crock Pot Recipes

1/28/2019

There’s no doubt that Winter is upon us, and you will love these crock pot recipes. The colder weather calls for warm, home cooked meals, doesn’t it?

These are the days when your crock pot becomes your best friend! “Throw-all-the-ingredients-in-and-walk-away” is definitely my kind of recipe!

We’ve gathered some of the best “comfort food” recipes for you to enjoy below! Just click on each title for the recipe. Enjoy!

1. Crock Pot Tater Tot Casserole

2. Crock Pot Chicken and Biscuits

3. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas

4. Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

5. Slow Cooker Lasagna

6. Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu

These Crock Pot Recipes will all be “go to” recipes for years to come!

Another Delicious Recipe: Cranberry Bread

4 Delicious Mocktail Recipes

12/30/2018

New Year’s Eve is almost here, and most of us enjoy celebrating, however, some of us prefer non-alcoholic beverage choices. These “mocktail” recipes are special enough to wow your guests on New Year’s Eve, and the best part is they’re great for any age too! Just click on the titles for the full recipe. Enjoy!!

1. Sparkling Raspberry Mocktail

Pair the grape juice with a few other ingredients and you have an elegant non alcoholic drink on your hands!
Something that makes this raspberry mocktail pretty and tasty are the ice cubes. Make them the day before or you can make them in the morning or early afternoon so that by evening they are definitely ready to go.

2. Cranberry Apple Spritzer Mocktail

3. Virgin Shirley Temple

4. Virgin Pina Colada

Enjoy These Refreshing Mocktail Recipes!

For more Recipes: Click Here