Cake Pops

Everybody is doing it - making Cake Pops!
I have seen these little cake bites on so
many different food blogs and knew that it
was time to give them a try.
I started by calling my friend C from Mele Cotte
because I knew she would know how to make these
little bites of goodness.
She was so gracious to spend the day with me
while we made Cake Pops.

We made Dutch Chocolate Cake with chocolate chips.
Then we used the cake to make cake pops.







Cake Pops are GREAT! I was surprised how good they taste!
They are like little bites of heaven! You get a little bit of
cake goodness plus the sugar coating. MMM!

Now, this was my first time so we made pretty basic Cake Pops.
If you do a computer search for "Cake Pops" you will see that you can
make almost any flavor, shape and color.
So, have fun ~ make some Cake Pops and your family and friends will
love them!

Rosemary Skewers with Good Stuff

I saw these beautiful Rosemary Skewers with Mozzarella Cheese, Tomato and Salami on Pioneer Women's Blog. As soon as I glanced at them I knew I had to make them. I have a Rosemary Bush in the front of my house that grows despite the lack of water it receives from us. What a perfect way to use some of the branches of our plant. Besides that, the skewers have all of my favorite things: Mozzarella Cheese, Tomato, Salami, Artichokes, Black Olives and a sprinkle of Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar.

Aren't they gorgeous!


You just use the rosemary branches as skewers and slide your items on. Right before serving I sprinkled them with Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, fresh thyme, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Fruit Pasta

A few weeks ago we went to Piedmont Park for their fresh market.
There is a company,Pappardelle's Pasta, that sells over 100 flavors
of dried pasta and fresh-frozen ravioli, sauces and pestos.




I was so impressed with the variety of flavors and choices that
it took awhile to make a decision about what kind to buy.
I selected the Southwestern Orzo and the Fanciful Fruit Pasta Blend.


The next decision was what to do with the beautiful fruit pasta.



I sliced kiwi, mango and blueberries.
In a small bowl I whisked together some orange juice,
honey, a tablespoon of lemon juice, fresh mint and
a little water from the pasta. When the pasta
was ready I drained the noodles and added the fruit and juice
mixture to the pasta. I place the pasta in the refrigerator to
chill for a few minutes before eating.



Wow! what a unique, fruity flavor.

BBQ Chicken Legs and Lemon, Thyme Potatoes

Time to fire up the grill and make some BBQ Chicken Legs!

These chicken legs have a dry rub and then a BBQ Sauce
which is what keeps them moist as they cook.



I made Lemon, Thyme Potatoes to go with the BBQ Chicken Legs.
I cut some fresh Thyme, added some oil, pinch of lemon juice, teaspoon of lemon zest, salt and pepper. The potatoes turned out excellent.

Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip Cookies

Everybody should have a good recipe
for Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.
These cookies go so great with a tall glass of milk.

This recipe came from Southern Food.
It is very good!


Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup chunky or smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 375°.
Cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars until light. Add the egg and mix until fluffy.

Blend the flour, baking powder, soda and salt together well. Add these dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Add the chocolate chips.

Drop cookie dough by teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375°.

I did have to add the criss/cross pattern on top because it just seemed like the right thing to do.

You can't eat just one so....


here are some more......


Can't you almost taste them?

Lantana Plants

We have a Lantana Plant that is blooming right now
and the flowers are so delicate and pretty.

I love the little flowers all gathered together to create the big flower bundle.



I also like that the colors are so vibrant.



Such a pretty flower!

Fish Tacos with Avacado, Corn Salsa

Summer has arrived!
I am looking forward to the break.
It will give me some time to hang out with
friends and family, catch up on some things
around the house and try out some new recipes.



Fish Tacos with Avacado, Corn Salsa

The fish:
I used tilapia. I cooked the tilapia in Cajun
spices in my skilled so I could turn the heat
up high and get a nice crispy coating on the
outside of the fish.

For the salsa:
1/2 cup corn ( can be defrosted from the freezer)
1 -2 avacados peeled and cut
1/4 cup onion (red or white)
1/4 cup chopped tomato
fresh lime juce
cilantro, chopped

*The tacos were served with the salsa and a
little sour cream on top.




YUM!