L is for Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

Cupcakes
1 Betty Crocker Lemon Cake Mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream

Bake according to box directions.  Let cool.

Filling
1 box cooked lemon meringue pudding/pie filling prepared per box instructions; cool.

Topping
6 egg whites
1 Tablespoon granulated sugar

Mix egg whites until frothy and starts holding form.  Add sugar and beat until holds form well. Don't over beat.

Assembly
To fill:  place pudding into a decorating bag with a large filling tip.  Push tip through top of cupcake and fill with pudding.  Do not over fill. You will know it is too full if it starts pushing up through the cupcake.

To top:  place meringue in a decorating bag with desired tip.  Swirl around top of cupcakes.  Place into a 350 degree preheated oven.  Leave in until meringue starts to brown. Watch Carefully!!!

P is for Pork Roast (in gravy)

1 frozen pork roast (I get Costco's)
Salt
Pepper
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 can of French Fried Onions
2 cups water
2 chicken boullion cubes

Cook in crock pot on high for 6 - 8 hours.  I love this recipe because when its finished cooking this is what it looks like; shredded pork in its own gravy.  I serve it with skin in mashed red potatoes.  YUM!

H for Hearty, Healthy, Hot Granola

The perfect breakfast for these cold winter mornings.

1 cup steamed wheat berries (1 cup wheat berries and 2 cups boiling water; steam for 1 1/2 - 2 hours)
2 cups oatmeal; (old fashioned; cooked per box directions)

add to oatmeal:
1 diced apple
1/2 cup almonds; chopped
1/2 cup pecans; chopped (I roast both nuts in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes)
1/2 cup craisens
1/2 cup white raisens
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup brown sugar
add salt to taste if desired

stir in wheat berries

This can stay in the fridge for at least a week.  Just heat it up in the microwave when you want some, add milk if desired.

S is for Strawberry Smoothie!

It would be nice to be here right now, drinking this, but alas, we are not! But here's the recipe -

Strawberry Smoothie

1 1/2 cups ice

7 strawberries

1/2 cup pineapple

1 banana

1/4 cup of sugar free mango syrup

Blend well! and enjoy!

E is for Egg Crazy! - Again

We were cracking eggs for breakfast this morning from our little silky / frizzle mix and - voila - 3 sets of twinners!  Amazing!

C is for Cupcakes

Last week my kids had a fireside with the temple presidency and we were asked to make refreshments for it.  We made my favorite  mini french vanilla cupcakes, vanilla butter cream frosting, and topped with a non-peril silver bead and these cupcake toppers.  We weren't asked until about 3 hours before the meeting - so we worked fast.  It was fun, and they turned out pretty good!

French Vanilla Cupcakes

1 Betty Crocker French Vanilla Cake Mix

1/3 cup melted butter

4 eggs

1 cup milk

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp. real vanilla

Mix for 3 minutes and bake according to box directions. (If cake mix is more than 3 months old, add 1 tsp. baking powder).

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

3/4 cup butter (room temp.)

1/2 cup shortening

1 tsp. salt

2 - 2 1/2 lbs. powdered sugar

1/4 - 1/3 cup milk (warmed)

2 tsp. real vanilla

food coloring

Mix butter, shortening and salt until smooth.  Add powdered sugar and milk in small amounts alternately until you reach desired consistency.  {If you are piping the frosting you will want it on the thick side.}  You may not use all of the milk.  Add vanilla and food coloring; mix well.  Frost on cooled cupcakes. 

M is for Marshmallows

I made these yesterday for my daughter's Valentine's Day Party at school - they were a BIG hit!  Here's what you need.

I pkg Strawberry Marshmallows
1 pkg white Sucker Sticks
1 pkg Vanilla Chips plus 1 tbls. Shortening
Valentine Sprinkles

Put sucker sticks in marshmallows, making sure that the marshmallows stand up right (some were squished and I couldn't get to stand up).

Melt the chips and the shortening together in the microwave for about 1 minute.  Stir and put back in for 30 seconds.  Continue stirring until smooth.

Dip bottom half of marshmallow into the melted vanilla chips, swirling along the side of the bowl to remove excess.  Dip directly into sprinkles.  Place on silpat or wax paper to set ( I left them for about 20 minutes, but 10 would probably do).

Enjoy!

E is for Eggs; Farm Fresh Style

I love having chickens! I love getting fresh eggs everyday! If you can, get chickens. They are an easy backyard farm animal to have. The eggs taste great, and you know where they came from and what the chickens have been fed. No recipe today, but some great egg recipes will come! I'm off. To gather eggs...