EASTER TREATS………………..

JELLY BEAN BARK

1 tablespoon butter (no substitutes), melted
1-1/4 pounds white candy coating
2 cups miniature jelly beans

Line a 15-in. x 10-in x 1-in. pan with foil.  Brush with butter; set aside.  Place the candy coating in a microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave, uncovered, at 70% power for 3-4 minutes; stir until smooth.  Spread into prepared pan.  Sprinkle with Jelly beans.  Let stand until set before breaking into pieces.  YIELD: 2 Pounds

QUICK COOKING – March/April 2004

COCONUT EGG NESTS

6 ounces white candy coating, coarsely shopped
6 drops green food coloring
1 drop yellow food coloring
1 cup flaked coconut
36 Jelly Beans

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt candy coating; stir in food coloring until blended.  Add Coconut.  Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper into 12 mounds. Make an indention in the center of each with the end of a wooden spoon handle.  Fill each with three jelly beans.  Let stand to set.  YIELD:  1 dozen.

QUICK COOKING – March/April 2004

BUNNY CUPCAKES

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix
1 can (16 ounces) cream cheese frosting, divided
8 drops green food coloring
12 large marshmallows
¾ cup flaked coconut, chopped
24 miniature pink jelly beans
12 miniature red jelly beans
24 miniature white Kelly beans
Red Shoestring licorice
 1 to 2 drops red food coloring
48 small oval sugar cookies

Prepare and bake cupcakes according to package directions.  Cool on wire racks.  In a bowl, combine 1 cup frosting and green food coloring; frost cupcakes.  Set remaining frosting aside.  Cut marshmallows in half; immediately dip cut ends into coconut.  Place coconut side up on cupcakes to form heads. 

Cut pink and red jelly beans in half widthwise.  Cut white jelly beans in half lengthwise.  With a toothpick, dab reserved frosting onto cut side of pink jelly bean halves; attach to marshmallows for eyes.  Attach red jelly beans for noses and white jelly beans for teeth. 

For whiskers, cut licorice into 1-in. pieces; attach four pieces to each cupcake.  Tint remaining frosting pink.  Cut a small hole in a corner of a resealable plastic bag; add pink frosting.  For ears, pipe an oval outline toward center of each cookie; insert two ears into each cupcake. 

YIELD:  2 Dozen

Recipe tested with Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies.

QUICK COOKING – March/April 2004

More to come tomorrow……………………

I had to locate this recipe today.  I was craving it!   We make this frosting and dip graham cracker sticks in it as a snack………YUMMY!!!

Jen’ s Favorite Frosting

¾ cup butter or margarine, softened
2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups confectioner’s sugar

In a small mixing bowl, beat butter, cream cheese and vanilla until smooth.  Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar.

TASTE OF HOME – April/May 2003

I had to locate this recipe today.  I was craving it!   We make this frosting and dip graham cracker sticks in it as a snack………YUMMY!!!

Jen’ s Favorite Frosting

¾ cup butter or margarine, softened
2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups confectioner’s sugar

In a small mixing bowl, beat butter, cream cheese and vanilla until smooth.  Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar.

TASTE OF HOME – April/May 2003

Had for supper tonight………….

CREAMY HAM & RICE

½ cup chopped green pepper
¼ cup butter or margarine
¼ cup all-pupose flour
1-1/2 cup cups milk
½ cup mayonnaise
2 cups cooked rice
2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 jar (2 ounces) diced pimientos, drained
½ teaspoon salt

In a large skillet, sauté green pepper in butter until tender.  Stir in flour until blended; gradually add the milk.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Reduce heat to low; stir in mayonnaise until blended.  Stir in remaining ingredients; heat through.  Yield: 4 servings.

Quick Cooking – March/ April 2004

Had for supper tonight………….

CREAMY HAM & RICE

½ cup chopped green pepper
¼ cup butter or margarine
¼ cup all-pupose flour
1-1/2 cup cups milk
½ cup mayonnaise
2 cups cooked rice
2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 jar (2 ounces) diced pimientos, drained
½ teaspoon salt

In a large skillet, sauté green pepper in butter until tender.  Stir in flour until blended; gradually add the milk.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Reduce heat to low; stir in mayonnaise until blended.  Stir in remaining ingredients; heat through.  Yield: 4 servings.

Quick Cooking – March/ April 2004

SYD’S APPLE TORTE

1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 egg
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. Cinnamon

½ tsp. nutmeg

¼ cup butter

½ chopped walnuts (optional)
2-1/2 cup sliced apples

Mix all together and pour into a greased 8 x 8 pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes.   (I double this recipe and bake in 9×13 pan)

FROSTING:

¼ cup butter
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup cream

Mix all frosting ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a boil, stirring for 5 minutes.   The frosting makes enough for a 9×13 pan in my opinion as I don’t like so much frosting. 

SYD’S APPLE TORTE

1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 egg
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. Cinnamon

½ tsp. nutmeg

¼ cup butter

½ chopped walnuts (optional)
2-1/2 cup sliced apples

Mix all together and pour into a greased 8 x 8 pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes.   (I double this recipe and bake in 9×13 pan)

FROSTING:

¼ cup butter
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup cream

Mix all frosting ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a boil, stirring for 5 minutes.   The frosting makes enough for a 9×13 pan in my opinion as I don’t like so much frosting. 

I have been taking it easy all day.  I must say I am a bit bored.  I plan on writing some more household articles.  I did my one about grocery shopping today.   So maybe tomorrow I will be writing about budgeting.  Something to do………

Hubby did wonderful getting groceries.  He bought everything on my list and a few things he wanted and only spent 95.00 for two weeks of food.   I am going to use the money saved to pay extra towards our debts.   I was able to pay off one credit card with the savings.   I now only have one credit card with any balance on it.  It currently has only my laptop on it.   It has been so great that my hubby has been so committed to paying off all our debts.   After this last credit card we will only have major loans left to chip away at.  They will take years to pay off, but we are committed to continue paying extra. 

Our expenses greatly increase in the summer.  Since my stepson lives with us in the summer we incur an additional $400.00 a month in daycare expenses for him.  It is worth it to make sure he has appropriate supervision.   So obviously over the summer months we have no extra money to do much or pay extra on our debts.  It is sort of odd that we pay child support all school year and he has little to no daycare expense.  Once summer comes he needs full time daycare and it falls on us with no assistance.  

I have been taking it easy all day.  I must say I am a bit bored.  I plan on writing some more household articles.  I did my one about grocery shopping today.   So maybe tomorrow I will be writing about budgeting.  Something to do………

Hubby did wonderful getting groceries.  He bought everything on my list and a few things he wanted and only spent 95.00 for two weeks of food.   I am going to use the money saved to pay extra towards our debts.   I was able to pay off one credit card with the savings.   I now only have one credit card with any balance on it.  It currently has only my laptop on it.   It has been so great that my hubby has been so committed to paying off all our debts.   After this last credit card we will only have major loans left to chip away at.  They will take years to pay off, but we are committed to continue paying extra. 

Our expenses greatly increase in the summer.  Since my stepson lives with us in the summer we incur an additional $400.00 a month in daycare expenses for him.  It is worth it to make sure he has appropriate supervision.   So obviously over the summer months we have no extra money to do much or pay extra on our debts.  It is sort of odd that we pay child support all school year and he has little to no daycare expense.  Once summer comes he needs full time daycare and it falls on us with no assistance.  

Many people are amazed when I share that my budget for groceries each pay period is $150.00 for my family of 5.   My hubby also really has no idea how I menu plan or run the household.  This came to my attention since I have been unable to a lot of things.  I need to get my household routine, tips and processes online so he will have access to them.  So I thought I would share with all of you as well. 

I have my Menu Planing/ Grocery Tips partially done.  I hope you will find it helpful.