Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Creamy Tortellini Soup with Spinach & Mushrooms




Old man winter just isn't giving up so warm hearty meals are still on our weekly menu. This Creamy Tortellini Soup with Spinach & Mushrooms makes it to our table quite often. Even in the spring and summer months because it is made in the slow cooker and can be left to cook until the last hour when you need to add the tortellini.  Serve with warm crusty bread to make a prefect easy week night meal for your family.


 

Creamy Tortellini Soup with Spinach & Mushrooms ...

Ingredients:

1  1.8- ounce envelope white sauce mix (I made my own - see recipe below)
4  cups water (If making your own white sauce, use only 2 cups)
14 ounces vegetable or chicken broth
1-1/2  cups sliced mushrooms
1/2  cup chopped onion
3  cloves garlic, minced 
1  tsp. dried basil
1/4  tsp. salt
1/8  tsp. cayenne pepper
1  7- to 8-ounce package dried cheese tortellini (may use 20oz of frozen)
1  12- ounce can evaporated milk 
6  cups fresh baby spinach leaves or torn spinach
Ground black pepper (optional)
Finely shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:

Place dry white sauce mix in a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker. Gradually add the water to the white sauce mix ** (Note: if making your own white sauce, add only 2 cups of water to your slow cooker), stirring until smooth.. Stir in broth, mushrooms, onion, garlic, basil, salt, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 2-1/2 to 3 hours.

Stir in dried tortellini. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 1 hour more or high-heat setting for 45 minutes more. Watch to make sure the tortellini do not over cook.

Stir in evaporated milk and fresh spinach. If desired, sprinkle individual servings with black pepper and Parmesan cheese. Makes 4 servings.

White Sauce: 

  1. In a small, heavy saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over low heat.
  2. Blend 4 tablespoons of flour into the melted butter.
  3. Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
  4. Cook over low heat, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. Slowly add 2 cups of skim milk, stirring constantly.
  6. Continue cooking slowly until smooth and thickened.




Friday, February 14, 2014

Cherry 7-Up Biscuits





Happy Valentines' Day. I love this day since I can make everything pink and nobody complains! I make these 7-up Biscuits quite often (or at least when dinner requires a good biscuit). I had a bottle of Cherry 7-Up on hand and decided to give a whirl and see if they'd turn pink. They dough wasn't quite pink enough for what I was looking for so I opened a can of beets and added a tablespoon of the juice and that did the trick. 

FYI .. these do not taste like 7-up or Cherry 7-Up - they are a delicious flaky (very) buttery bisuit. No extra butter is necessary. They are great with a bit of jam on honey drizzled on them.


 
 Bisquick, Cherry 7-Up, Sour Cream, Butter, Beet Juice
 
Mix all ingredients, except the butter


Melt the butter in x 9x9 baking dish. Drop biscuits into buttered baking dish

Bake for 12-15 minutes

Cherry 7-Up Biscuits ....

Ingredients:
  • 2 c Bisquick
  • 1/2 c sour cream
  • 1/2 c Cherry 7-up
  • 1/4 c butter, melted
  • 1 tbsp beet juice (optional to make the color more intense)

Directions:

Mix Bisquick, sour cream and 7 up. Dough will be very soft - don't worry :)  Melt butter in bottom of cookie sheet pan or 9x9 baking dish. Drop biscuits on top of melted butter and bake for 12-15 minutes or until brown at 425 degrees.


Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Red Velvet Banana Bread






I know what you are thinking .. red velvet and bananas, really, it can't be so???? I thought the same thing. I read Ashton's post about her  Red Velvet Banana Bread on her Something Swanky blog a couple times to make sure she really thought this combination tasted good. And yes, after several re-reads I still questioned the combo. So I tired it myself. Oh my goodness!! It's an amazing banana bread with a hint of red velvet. It's hard to explain. Make it and try it yourself. It's only 4 ingredients. And everyone always has leftover bananas that they don't know what to do with, right? Try it .. really, it's awesome!





 You will need:

  • Ripened Bananas
  • 1 box of Red Velvet Cake Mix
  • Eggs
  • Oil 


You can find the Red Velvet Banana Bread Recipe over at Something Swanky Dessert & Design.

Enjoy!

Monday, February 10, 2014

Heart Shaped Cherry Pie Pops





How cute are these heart shaped mini cherry pie pops?? They make a perfect treat for Valentine's Day or any day of the week! These are made with cherry pie filling, frozen pie crust, and lollipop sticks - easy as pie as the say! Here's what you need to do:


You will need: Premade Pie Dough, Lollipop Sticks, Cherry Pie Filling, Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter


Light flour your work surface. Slightly roll out the premade pie dough


Cut out an even number of heart shaped pie pieces with your heart-shaped cookie cutter


Layout the cut out heart-shaped pie pieces. Next place a lollipop stick in the center of each heart.


Place a small amount of cherry pie filling on each heart shaped pie piece. Not too much or else the pie filling will squeeze out.


Place a heart-shaped pie piece on top of each cherry filled heart. Then close and crimp the edges with a fork. At this point you can egg wash the top of each pie pop and sprinkle with sugar or cinnamon sugar (sorry no photos for these two steps). Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Cherry Pie Pops ...

Ingredients

  • 1 box refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box (such as Pillsbury)
  • About 1/2 cup cherry pie filling (from 21-oz can)
  • 12 to 14lollipop sticks
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 tablespoons decorating sugar
  • flour for rolling dough

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray cookie sheets with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper
  2. Sprinkle flour on work surface and unroll pie crusts onto surface. Roll out slightly (optional). Using a 3-inch heart shaped cookie cutter, cut out an even number of hearts from the crust. Place cut out hearts onto cookie sheet.
  3. To make each pie pop, lightly press lollipop stick into crust heart so that it is in the center. Top each heart with 1 heaping teaspoon pie filling; cover with second heart-shaped crust. Press edges with a fork to seal. 
  4. Brush tops of heart pops with beaten egg and then sprinkle with sugar.
  5. Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheets; cool and enjoy!


XOXO 
Enjoy!



Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Hearts of Love - Etsy Treasury

Sharing some love with Etsy friends for Valentine's Day. Check out these shops listed in the treasuy and Favorite your favorites. And while your their shop and mabye you'll find that perfect gift for your sweetheart or loved on.
♥♥♥          

'Hearts of Love' by PunkiePies

Hearts of love for Valentine's Day. There's something for everyone to heart.

Conversation Heart Sugar Cookies Iced Pink Red Heart Decorated Cookies Valentines - SugarMeDesserterie
Conversation Heart Suga...
$28.95
Happy Valentines Day Terrarium ~ Pink Hearts and Rose ~ Glass Hanging Terrarium Kit with Air Plant ~ Gift Idea ~ For Her ~ Valentine Decor - BeachCottageBoutique
Happy Valentines Day Te...
$24
Valentine Soap Hearts in Graduated Shades Select Your Own Color and Fragrance - SoapRhapsody
Valentine Soap Hearts i...
$11
heart tea strainer with rest - hand cast pewter - beehivekitchenware
heart tea strainer with...
$68
BLISS. Hand-Stamped Sterling Silver chunky Heart Bracelet, forged links, hammered, Oxidized, modern rustic, personalized, stamped jewelry - deborahmcgovern
BLISS. Hand-Stamped Ste...
$74
9 Heart Sugar Cookie Sandwiches with Raspberry Jam Filling.  Linzer Tarts.  Valentine's Day Gift. Skinny Sweet Treats. - BikiniFriendlyBakery
9 Heart Sugar Cookie Sa...
$12.99
Valentines Day Sale Red earrings, Czech picasso glass dangle oxidized black wire wrapped glass teardrop briolettes - Gendrea
Valentines Day Sale Red...
$17.85
Red Valentine's Day Gift - Valentine Card - Flower Heart - Original Drawing - Handmade Card - Paper Cut Out Heart - Michelebuttons
Red Valentine's Day...
$12
Riley Blake Designs Holiday Banners - Valentines Red (P560-Red) - 1 panel - stitchesngiggles4U
Riley Blake Designs Hol...
$5.7
Valentines Day Red Hearts Decorative Throw Pillows 12" x 22" - JacqueAnnDecor
Valentines Day Red Hear...
$34
Valentines Day Red and Pink Paper Stripey Straws  12pk & Digital Flags - Party - Birthday - Baby Shower - Wedding - LittleFreeRadical
Valentines Day Red and ...
$3
ON SALE Pleated Hostess Apron - Pink Andalucia - Great for Valentine's Day, Spring and Summer, Hearts, Diamonds, Flowers - PunkiePies
ON SALE Pleated Hostess...
$20
Valentines Day Hershey Kiss Stickers - DIY Printable Candy Stickers Party Favors - Red and Pink Hearts - INSTANT DOWNLOAD - digitalartstar
Valentines Day Hershey ...
$6
Valentine's Day Garland Playing Card and Knotted Fabric Garland - CountryChiq
Valentine's Day Gar...
$20
Beautiful  Valentine's Wreath, Spring Wreath, Holiday Wreath, Red Wreath, Gingham Wreath - SomethingWhimdesigns
Beautiful  Valentine&#3...
$45
12 Valentine Favor Tags - Valentine's Day Birthday Party - February Birthday - Heart Birthday Decorations - sosweetpartyshop
12 Valentine Favor Tags...
$10
 

♥♥♥

Valentine's Day Cherry Pastries with Vanilla Glaze




I love super easy recipes that result in an impressive  yummy treat! This semi-homemade Cherry Pastries with Vanilla Glaze recipe uses store bought frozen puff pasty and canned cherry pie filling. It can't get any easier! Don't be intimated .. I truly believe you can all make this one for Valentine's Day or anytime you crave a cherry filled pastry.

Cherry Pastries

Ingredients:

  • 2 Puff Pastry sheets (such as Pepperidge Farm)
  • 1 can of cherry pie filling
  • Milk 
  • Sugar to sprinkle

Directions:

  1. Take pastry sheets out of freezer, and let thaw for about 40 mins. Preheat oven to 375° degrees F.
  2. Unfold one of the squares of puff pastry dough. Cut down the fold lines to make three strips with a pizza cutter or knife. Next cut each strip into thirds. You should have nine squares from one sheet of puff pastry.
  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place nine squares of dough on the parchment, top each square with 1 tablespoon of cherry pie filling. For each square, pull up the corners of the dough and pinch together at the top. It's OK if the filling is still showing on the sides. Brush the tops with milk, and then sprinkle with sugar.
  4. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until pastry is golden-brown.
  5. Repeat the process for the second sheet of puff pastry.
  6. After the turnovers have cooled slightly, drizzle with Vanilla Glaze.


Vanilla Glaze

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1-1/4 teaspoons milk
  • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon butter

Directions:

Melt the butter and add to rest of ingredients. Mix until creamy.


♥  Enjoy !  ♥




Sunday, February 2, 2014

Super Bowl Hot Crab Dip with Football Chips








Super Bowl Hot Crab Dip

Ingredients:
2(8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. mayo
1 packages (14 oz.) imitation crab meat
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
2 T dry sherry
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. dried parsley

Directions:
Preheat oven 325 degrees
Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl. 
Place crab mixture into a 1-quart baking dish. Bake for 40 minutes or until heated and just starting to bubble.
Serve with chips or crackers

Football Chips

  • 1 pkg Soft Flour Tortillas
  • Football Cookie Cutter
  • Cooking Spray
  • Salt
  • Paprika

 Cut Football Shapes from each soft flour tortilla
 Place on foil or parchment
 Lightly spray each football chip with cooking spray
 Sprinkle with salt
Using the football cookie cutter as a template,make the laces on each football chip by carefully sprinkling paprika onto the cookie cutter.


 Place on a baking sheet
 Bake for 7 minutes at 400 degrees (keep on eye them so they don't over brown)
  


Go .... Bruncos !!