Poinsettias for Sale

One of the many blogs I visit (virtually) is A Cozy Life. In her posting a few days ago, I came across this gorgeous 5" x 7" watercolor, an original. It is so lovely that I decided to bring out my watercolors and also paint some seasonal poinsettias for our home decorations.

This is Irina Akimova's rendition of a poinsetta. You can buy it from her Etsy shop for only $6. She says it is an original and signed; a bargain of a price!

Other handmade poinsettia items can be found at the Etsy Poinsettia Place. Take a virtual visit and see the lovely items for sale at reasonable prices.

If you need help in caring for a living poinsettia plant, go here for a link.

Recipe Exchange: It Worked!

Usually, I ignore emails about "do this and you will receive (fill in the blank)". But last week, an email came through that was too, too easy for a quick reply, so I responded with a recipe within a minute. Wow! The response to that email request was almost overwhelming in the number of reciprocated recipes, so I was really pleased that I had emailed out that quick reply recipe (it was already on a saved word processing document, anyway). Some of the recipes that came back to me are printed at the end of this post.

Let me share what the email said, and you might want to start your own recipe exchange, using or modifying this wording:

You have been invited to be a part of a recipe exchange. Please send a recipe to the (2 emails you list) 2 people whose names are listed below (even if you don't know the person in the first space, I do...) and it should preferably be something quick, easy and without rare ingredients. Actually, the best one is one you know in your head and can type out and send right now.Then, copy this letter into a new e-mail, move my name to the number 1 position and put your name in the number 2 position. Only my name and your name should show when you send your email. Send to 20 friends. Seldom does anyone drop out because we can all use new recipes.

The turnaround is fast because only 2 names are on the list. THANKS!

Here are some of the recipes I received:

Jello dessert

Stir 1 1/2 cups boiling water into 2 packages (3 oz. size) Orange Jell-O gelatin in large bowl until completely dissolved. Add enough ice cubes to 1 cups cold orange or cranberry juice to make 2 cups. Add to gelatin, stirring until partially melted. Blend mixture in blender on medium speed for 30 seconds. Spoon 1 can (11 or 15oz. dole mandarin oranges, drained) into large glass bowl or 10 dessert glasses. Slowly pour blended gelatin mixture on top of fruit. Refrigerate 45 minutes or until set. The mixture sets with a frothy layer on top and a clear layer on bottom. Makes 10 servings. Can be made up to 1 day ahead.

Cherry Cheesecake

1 LG. PKG. CREAM CHEESE (AT ROOM TEMP): BEAT WITH ELECTRIC MIXER..SLOWLY ADD 1/2 CUP MILK - CONTINUE BEATING, SLOWLY ADDING ANOTHER 2 1/2 CUP MILK - BEAT UNTIL ALL LUMPS ARE GONE. ADD 1 LARGE INSTANT VANILLA PUDDING, BEAT UNTIL THICKENED. POUR INTO BAKED GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST. TOP WITH CANNED CHERRY PIE FILLING.

Carolina Barbecue (From my South Carolina Son-in-Law)

Take a good hunk'a pork like a butt er' a shoulder.
Rub it with salt brown sugar papriker and black pepper
Stick it in the oven at about 250 degrees for a good long time, 'bout 5 hours.
Make a sauce outta 'bout a half cup o' mustard, about that much ketchup, too , brown sugar bout half cup o that, clove a' garlic an' a cup a' vinegar.
When yer pork comes out, shred it off the bone with forks or meat cleavers. Put on about half the sauce save the rest for adding later if'n ye want. Let it marinate couple 'a hours. Reheat by the serving in the micro, serve on buns with slaw on the bun and hushpuppies.

Dangerous Chocolate Mug Cake
In a coffee mug mix:
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 T baking cocoa
1 egg
3 T milk
3 T oil
3 T chocolate chips
a splash of vanilla
nuts (optional)

Mix well and place in microwave. Cook 3 minutes on high. Cake will rise over top of mug, so don't be alarmed. Allow to cool. Eat, serves two or three if you want to share.

Easy Chocolate Pie
1 Large Hershey bar + 1 smaller Hershey bar
15 Marshmallows
1/2 cup milk

Heat the above in a double boiler or in the microwave until melted. Mix and let cool,
Then add 1 cup whipped cream (I use whipped topping.) Fold in the whipped cream or topping and pile into a baked crust. Top with whipped cream and shave chocolate over the top. Refrigerate.

Cranberry Nut Bread

2 cups plain flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 egg, well beaten
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons shortening

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium mixing bowl. Stir in orange juice, orange peel, shortening and egg. Mix until well blended. Stir in cranberries and nuts. Spread evenly in loaf pan. Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely. Wrap and store overnight. Makes 1 loaf.

Ultimate Party Meatballs
1 - 16 oz can Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce
1 - 12 oz bottle Heinz Chili Sauce
1 - 2 pound bag frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs (Beef or Turkey)
Place meatballs in a Crock-Pot slow cooker. Combine sauces and pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH. Makes 30 appetizer servings.

Tip: For additional spice, add 1 teaspoon of cumin and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
Enjoy!!!

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons butter (can be saved and mixed with 2 TBSP. flour in last 60 min. to thicken the liquid)
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 14 oz can of chicken broth
1 onion, finely diced OR Onion Powder
Celery, 2 stalks, whole or diced, if desired
2 (10 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough, torn into pieces
Salt and Pepper, poultry seasoning or paprika, to taste
Vegetables can be added in last hour if you’d like, frozen or canned; drained

DIRECTIONS
Place the chicken, butter, soup, and onion in a slow cooker, and fill with enough water to cover. Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on High. About 90 minutes before serving, place the torn biscuit dough in the slow cooker. Push down into liquid so the tops get cooked too. (OR, roll the biscuit dough out and cut into strips) Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center.
SERVES: 4-5

This was a fun way to share quick recipes. Thanks, Ronda!

How to Make Chocolate Dipped Spoons

Isn't it odd that we often do not take our own advice? Case in point: my motto (sorta) is to "Make it Yourself", yet when it came to finding some chocolate covered spoons to give with my coffee mocha unique-edible-gifts-in-jar, I had a dickens of a time finding any.

Why did I not think of making them myself? When I did not find any readily available through my usual grocery and online sources, I found a website that explained how to make the chocolate spoons. It was quick and easy, and will be fun to give with the gifts.

Here are a few spoons with colored sugar atop the chocolate. One cup of chocolate chips covered about 25 spoons, whereas the directions below said it covered 40 spoons.

Just go to chocolate-covered-spoons for their easy instructions, copied here:

SUPPLIES NEEDED
12 ounce package of chocolate chips. You may use semi-sweet, white chocolate, raspberry flavored, or any other kind of baking chip of your choice.
40 heavy plastic spoons
Shortening
Deep glass measuring cup
Colored cellophane or Saran Wrap
Waxed paper
Thin Ribbon

Pour the chips into a heatproof container, such as a measuring cup. A deep cup is the best for this project.

Microwave the cup of chips at half power for one minute. Stir. Repeat in 30 second bursts until chocolate is smooth and fully melted, but do NOT over cook.

Add to the melted chocolate one teaspoon of shortening for each cup of chips. Stir lightly until just blended.

Dip plastic spoons into the chocolate to coat the bowl and about one inch of the handle. If the chocolate starts to harden, microwave 30 seconds at half power.

Lay spoons on wax paper to set. When chocolate spoons have set, put them in the freezer for 15 minutes. This makes them easier to handle when you start to wrap them.

Take squares of colored cellophane and wrap the coated spoons. Tie with a pretty ribbon.

Once you have mastered the basic technique, you can experiment! Try drizzling streaks of white chocolate over dipped spoons to create a design. Sprinkle colored sugar on chocolate before it sets for a holiday look.

A bundle of chocolate spoons set in a coffee mug makes a nice gift.

Tie a few spoons to a bag of gourmet coffee beans for a coffee loving friend.

Keep spoons on hand during the holidays to use when serving drinks to your visitors.