Cupid Corn

This is my go-to recipe for almost every holiday. It's something we give at Christmas time to our neighbors and friends and also something I make during Halloween and Thanksgiving. My Beehives and ladies I VT love it and look forward to it during the holidays. So, here is my M&M popcorn recipe... Valentines Day style. :) A friend of mine calls it Cupid Corn, so that is the name I will use.

*2 bags of popcorn (I use light or no butter)
*1 package of (white chocolate) Almond Bark
*1 bag of Valentine M&M's (pink, red & white)
*Pink or red chocolate disks (optional, but definitely makes the popcorn look cute) :)
*Valentine Sprinkles


1. Pop the popcorn according to directions on bag.
2. Melt the almond bark in the microwave.
3. Mix the popcorn and white chocolate together.
4. Add the M&M's and sprinkles.
5. Lay out mixture on Parchment paper.
6. Melt about 10 pink or red disks in a plastic baggie, snip the end, drizzle all over the popcorn.
7. Let it dry and break into pieces and put in baggies for a cute V-Day gift.

Easy Pie Crust

Great (and easy) pie crust for pie recipes or chicken pot pie. Thanks for the recipe, Jenn.

*1 1/2 cups flour (I used 1 cup all purpose, 1/2 cup wheat)*
*1 tsp. salt
*1/2 cup oil
*2 Tbsp. milk

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a medium bowl.

2. Using your fingers, pat crust out in a 9" pan.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

Homemade Brownies

These are the easiest brownies, in the world, to make...

*1 12-ounce bag chocolate chips (use whichever kind you prefer)
*1 cup butter (2 sticks)
*1 1/2 cups sugar
*1 teaspoon vanilla
*4 large eggs (at room temperature)
*1 1/2 cups flour
*1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter and chocolate chips.

3. Stir constantly and remove from heat when chips are fully melted.

4. In the same pot, blend in the sugar and vanilla.

5. Then add eggs, blending fully one at a time.

6. Add flour and salt and beat until air bubbles form in the batter.

7. Pour into a greased 9 X 13-inch pan & bake for 20 minutes.

8. Turn heat down to 325 degrees and bake for 10 more minutes.

**For a fun Valentine's Day presentation, stencil powdered sugar hearts on top of each brownie. To make a stencil, cut out a heart from the center of a piece of paper. Place the stencil on top of the brownie and sift powdered sugar over it. Carefully lift the paper to reveal the heart.**

Valentine Peanut Butter Blossoms

It's about that time... time to do some fun Valentine's Day baking. I LOVE holiday baking. This recipe is the original peanut blossom recipe, but instead of using a Hersey kiss, on top, use a heart chocolate. Makes a nice and festive V-Day treat.

* Heart shaped Chocolates (dove milk chocolates and Reese's peanut butter hearts)
* 1/2 cup shortening
* 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
* 1/3 cup granulated sugar
* 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
* 1 egg
* 2 tablespoons milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* granulated sugar

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Remove wrappers from chocolates.

2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl. Add 1/3 cup granulated and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into mixture.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate heart into center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. (we put them in the freezer because the chocolate hearts continue to melt)

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Chocolate-Strawberry Smoothies

2 cups light chocolate soymilk (8th Continent is my personal fav.)
1 medium banana, cut into chunks
2 cups (10 oz) bag of frozen unsweetened strawberries

Place the soymilk, banana and strawberries in a blender.
Blend until smooth.

Serves 2

Chicken Pockets

For whatever reason, I can no longer copy and past anything on my blog....?? So weird and so annoying. So, until I can resolve this problem (which will probably be never... I am so not good at computers) I have resorted to scanning recipes. :)

Click to enlarge...

(Being a family grossed out my sour cream, I don't use it). :)

Shortcut Chicken Manicotti

(click to enlarge)

I LOVE easy dinners and this one is easy-peasy... and yummy. :)

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

2 bananas, chopped and frozen (frozen bananas make the smoothie ice cold and frothy)
1/4 c peanut butter
1 c milk (can use regular milk, almond or soy... all taste great)
1/2 tsp honey
1 scoop protein powder (optional)

Combine all ingredients in blender.
Blend until smooth.
Garnish with a little chocolate syrup on top for an extra yummy treat.