Chocolate Ice Cream Cake...

What are your plans for the
New Year..?

Long time friends are coming to my home

to help bring in 2011 ...

They are bring a Bottle of Wine 

and

A Dessert..

I'm not sure what I am more excited about,

a New Year

or 

the wine and dessert..?!!

Easy Chocolate Cake to make for your 

New Year's Eve Festivities...

• One box of Devil's Food Cake Mix

• 3 Large Eggs

• One cup of water

•  One Pint of Chocolate Ice Cream

This cake is very moist and very very delicious..!! 

One my Mother made often...

Mix with Mixer,

place in Angel Food Pan

Bake for Approx 30 mins at 350 degrees

cool and turn upside down onto flat plate 

and icing with your favorite icing..

I use the cooked icing of...

• 5 Tablespoons Flour

• One cup of Milk

Cook on top of stove stirring until thick,

place saran wrap on top until cool..
(this prevents a thick skin from forming on top)

Add 

• One cup of sugar to flour mixture and mix well with mixer

and 

• Two sticks of room temperature butter...

Mix until very fluffy and smooth

Keep Cake Refrigerated...

 Enjoy

Ice Cream Cake

Sealed With A Kiss..

 Last minute sweets...

Believe it or not I had a cake baked for an 

afternoon Christmas gathering...

But someone or two decided to sample it last night...

I must confess..I was one of the two

I decided I would take the cake any ways with only two small pieces 

sampled and then decided to bake some 

Chocolate Pies...

I found this recipe several weeks ago and thinking they would be so easy 

and quick to make if your in a pinch for a small dessert or appetizer..

The preparation time was about an hour,

Ingredients Needed:

One Round Pie Shell (not in pie pan if store bought)

Hershey Kisses or in my area, Wilbur Buds are a favorite 

One Egg

One Tablespoon Water

Sugar

 I wanted a sturdy surface to work from and easy clean up,

I placed the round pie dough on my very seasoned round stone..

I lined my rectangular stone with parchment paper..

I did this because my rectangular stone is only 6 months old from 

Pampered Chef and not seasoned enough...

I did not want to spray the pan with a non stick stray for this recipe..

I used a small jar to make the round circles

needed for the small pies...

It worked great!

 

I then placed a Kiss in the middle of each dough circle

 Folded the two sides into the middle and giving a pinch

 I then did the same to the other two remaining sides..

 Gently Pinching the tops closed and sealing them

One 9 inch Pie Shell gave me 15 Chocolate Pies

Egg wash the outside with the egg mixture of one egg and a Tablespoon of Water

Sprinkled on top some large Sugar Crystals I had on hand

And Baked at 350 for 20 mins...

You need to watch these closely while baking..

I started at 10 mins and then added another 10 mins..

Remember this is pie dough and not cookie dough..

so baking time will be a bit longer depending on what type of baking pan you use

and how thick your dough is..

The Chocolate Pies were a big hit..

I came home empty handed...!

Even the Cake was left behind..

what was left of it..!!

I was "told" I'll get my empty plate back...!

I love sharing my treats with those who

really appreciate them and the sincere
 thankfulness I receive for sharing, 
they truly are Dear Friends and a Blessing..!

Winding Down..

What a week it's been...

Thank Goodness Christmas ONLY comes once a year,

Although I have scaled down,

way down in the gift purchasing department...

This year has been a busy one.!

I only have one package to wrap and ship..

It will be a bit late,

but will be a nice surprise between the 

Christmas and New Year Celebrations..!

Christmas Dinner Menu is planned

and all the food is purchased...

I think I'm ready..!!

Now I am able to enjoy the Reason for the Season..

I am thinking of maybe attending two Christmas Eve Services..

My church has early services which I attend when home,

and a beautiful old church in the City where the services start at 11pm...

 

It's been years since I attended this service,

I have family and friends who attend this late service

and will be more than surprised to see me there, also...

All we need is a little bit of snow..!!

Just a little bit

 

Have A Wonderful Christmas

K

This Year's Pick....

 I always make at least one hand crafted gift for giving,

this year I decided on Mr. and Mrs Frosty..

Surprisingly, I had all the material needed on hand to 

bring Mr and Mrs to life...
(instructions below)

This years pick for Truffles....Chocolate Peanut Butter

Along with my hand crafted item,

My Truffles are a most...

I have family and friends who look for these every year...

I love watching their face when the container is found at the bottom of the Gift Bag

filled to brim with the rich savory chocolate melt in your mouth o so good delectables...

  Mr and Mrs Frosty are made from a clear glass Christmas ball ornament,

I hand painted a face with acrylic paint directly onto the glass surface....

Hand Painted Face on Glass Ornament Ball

Using some bright red yarn I knitted a scarf and hat to match,

the set was hot glued directly onto the ball,

gluing small sections at a time....

Each ornament is a bit different,

with either the color of  yarn I used and/or placement of the scarf and hat...

You can either tie a pretty ribbon onto the top of the ball for hanging on your tree,

or use the conventional ornament hooks...

I chose the hooks

Completed Mr and Mrs Frosty...Packaged all snug for Gift Giving

Single Mr Frosty...He needs a mate

Homemade Gingerbread Cookies are always a
Must for those good little Boys and Girls

and a few Big Boys and Girls, too:)

Home made Gingerbread Cookies...

I decided to dress up the candy bars  I usually add to some gift bags...

I took a piece of regular print/copy paper and folded in half,

wrapped the paper around the candy bar as I would wrap a gift,

hand painted a face on the front side with acrylic paint,

took some yarn and wrapped it several times around the outside for a scarf,

and wrote a personal message on the bottom...

This is Amy:)

I received this absolutely beautiful Christmas Sleigh from My BFF

for Christmas...She knows I love Ice Skates and found a Glass Pair she added to the

front of the Sleigh....

I LOVE IT...!

And it adds a Beautiful Sight to my Hearth..!

Christmas with Kathy...

Merry Christmas.... From My Home To Yours

K

What's That Vegetable....??!

Marinated Artichokes....

I must confess....

I have not really been a big fan of the Artichoke

Over the years I have had several dips with this unusual  vegetable..

and to my surprise do enjoy a good Artichoke dip.

I came across this recipe while getting a menu together for a Pool Party

and Cook Out this past Summer

I am all about easy, simple and good tasting...!!

And this recipe passed the requirements...

Artichoke Dip with Garlic:

• 2 8-oz. packages cream cheese (light works great), softened

 

• 1 c. mayonnaise (no Miracle Whip or fat free mayonnaise, although low-fat mayo also works great)

 

• 1 c. (packed) shredded Parmesan cheese..Use Fresh Parmesan Cheese that comes shredded and sealed or a block of fresh and shred yourself...

(do not use the fine grated you sprinkle on top of pasta..)

 

• 1 12-oz. jar MARINATED artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

 

• 6-7 cloves garlic, minced

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with the mayonnaise and shredded Parmesan cheese. Gently add in the chopped artichoke hearts and minced garlic. Place the mixture into a 9" pie plate (or divided evenly among smaller dishes) and bake for 25-30 minutes or until it's lightly browned and bubbly on top. Serve hot with slices of bread, crackers and/or tortilla chips.

 

This dip has become a favorite of mine and others to which I can confess I have 

made several times since that first time enjoying the company of good friends and many laughs...

 

It was also  a big hit this past Thanksgiving...

After our belly busting dinner,

time was spent with family and friends with this dip in tow..!

I keep the ingredients on hand for a quick grab when I need something to serve 

or take along in a short days notice.....

 

 

Contact From The North Pole....

This is the coolest...EVER!

O..why do I not have Grandchildren ...??!

Here is a Link to create a Personal Video Message from Santa

You have three different Scenarios to choose from..

 

http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home

What fun I had creating a personal message for my Nephews and Niece...

I just had to share this with...EVERYONE!

Happy Holidays and Be Safe while Christmas Shopping.

A Little On The Top.....

I am Totally in Love with
"Five Guys"..!

Best Burger I have eaten in a very long time...

Mine included!

To know me, I usually eat the boring Chicken, Turkey, Seafood or Salad when I order out..

Rarely do I order a burger or even "Red" meat...

unless dinning at a favorite restaurant that serves a great steak.

NOW that has all changed

Yes...I have found my Favorite Burger Joint...

And the guilt is NO where near that place..!

And the Fries Cooked in Peanut Oil aren't too bad, either!

Lets just say, I forced them...

ONLY because I couldn't stay away from them...!

I was so impressed with the selection of toppings that are FREE..

the size of the burger and the total cost for two,

which was under 20.00..

Life is so good....