Dora and Diego Cupcakes!

My daughter just turned 5 and she has been talking about wanting Dora cupcakes for school since last summer! The day finally came and she still asked for me to make them. So I had to break down and go for it. I made Dora and Diego since there are boys and girls in her class. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be so I thought I'd share.

Bake cupcakes according to package directions.

Mix red, blue and yellow food coloring into white icing to get a tan color.
I think I did about 2 red drops, 1 or 2 blue drops and 3 or 4 yellow drops approx.
Add more yellow than the rest.
I had instructions to mix colors on the back of my gel food coloring box.

Print the pattern and lay on cookie sheet under wax paper.
Templates for: DORA and DIEGO
Melt chocolate and place it in a zip lock bag and make a tiny cut out of the corner.
Fill in each pattern with the chocolate.
I used Kroger brand chocolate that you can put the tray in the microwave and melt. EASY!
Refrigerate tray for just about 5 minutes to set (no longer or chocolate may turn white later).
Finish cooling chocolate on the counter until your ready to use them.

Get cupcakes and chocolate ready to assemble.

Ice cupcakes and add chocolate hair to top.

Gather your red gel icing for the mouth (or fruit candy if desired per NickJr. website), white icing and chocolate chips for the eyes.

Make blobs of white icing for the eyes and put a chocolate chips (pointy side down) in the center for an eyeball. Add a small white dot of icing to the chocolate chip for a "sparkle".

Add red gel icing for a mouth and VOILA!

Not masterpieces....but the kids were happy!

You can find the instructions for the cupcakes on Nick Jr. here. Mine don't look exactly like the ones they make on the website, theirs are more detailed and I improvised some to fit my needs, but they did great for preschool and the kids loved them.


Enjoy being a Mom All Day!

Chicken and Veggie Skillet dish!

Saw this and wanted to share! Can't wait to try it! I'm not usually a veggie person, but this looks and sounds so good I have to try, and I love Italian dressing. I may use a low fat one and see how that goes.

Chicken and Veggie Skillet dish from Stockpiling Moms

Enjoy being a Mom All Day!

Cookies and Cream Ice cream cake

My stepson wanted a Cookies and Cream ice cream cake for his Birthday this year (Which is on the 4th of July). He does not like chocolate cake and every place I called had pre-made Cookies and Cream cakes with either NO cake in them, or Chocolate cake. Plus they were $25 or more! I figured I'd make my own using the cake he liked for a fraction of the cost!
I spent less than $8 on the ingredients.

(1) Gallon of Cookies & Cream Ice cream (Softened)
(1) Pint of Cookies & Cream Ice Cream *
(1) Container of Oreo Cookies
(1) Large container of Whipped Cream
(1) Box of Cake Mix (Baked two cakes but only used 1 in this recipe...just iced the other for a basic cake)
(1) Spring Form Pan

Bake cake as directed on box.

Place cookies in a bag and crumble with your hands or a rolling pin. Reserve 12 or so to use for decorating your cake later.

Place crumbled cookies in a bowl and add about 1/4 cup of melted butter and mix with your hands.

Press cookie mixture into the bottom of a spring form pan.
Freeze for 15 minutes to let set.

Smooth 1/2 of the softened ice cream evenly on top of cookie crumbs.

Slice top of cake off to allow a flattened layer for the next step.

Place bottom half of cake on top of ice cream layer.

Smooth remaining softened ice cream on top of cake layer.
Press it down between the pan and cake sides to fill it in.
* NOTE: I did go get another 1/2 pint of ice cream to smooth it all out nicely.

Cover pan with foil and freeze overnight.

Run a knife or spatula around sides of the cake to help release it from the pan.
Then open the spring form pan and remove.
Leave bottom of pan in place.

Open refrigerated Whipped Cream and begin to "ice" the cake.
I had to return it in the freezer for a few minutes because it was getting too soft, then began icing it again.

Decorate remaining cake with icing and return to freezer until ready to serve.

Let me tell you it was a HUGE hit at the 4th of July/Birthday party!
Imagine the ice cream and cake combinations you can do!

Enjoy being a Mom All Day!

White Chocolate and M&M Pretzels

Look at this cute idea! You may have seen it, but I never have. After I saw a friend make them, I had to rush home and make my own. YUM! What a great filler in your home made Holiday cookie mix or even an entire tin full for a friend or office worker!


What you need:
(1) 16oz bag of white chocolate (Toll House for example).
(1) TBSP shortening
Bag of M&Ms
Bag of round pretzels

Line a baking sheet with wax paper and cover it in a single layer of pretzels. Put the chocolate and shortening in a microwave dish. Heat and stir until melted. I start with about 45 seconds and then stir, then put back in for a bit longer if needed. Use a spoon to put the white chocolate into the circles and add an M&M. After all the pretzels are filled, put the baking sheet into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to set. Let sit at room temperature for about an hour after that before enclosing them in any bags or tins to avoid any condensation.
Enjoy!






Enjoy being a Mom All Day!

Bundt Shaped Pumpkin Cake

So I saw someone on television mMake a pumpkin cake out of a bundt cake. Mine by faI r does NOT compare to what I saw on TV, but I wanted to share it anyway! I have been wanting to try that new glazed icing by Duncan Hines called Amazing Glazes and thought this was perfect for it.

What you need:
Bundt Cake Pan
Two cake mixes
White Amazing Glazes by Duncan Hines
White Frosting
Food coloring
Icecream cone

I started with two bundt cakes (made from your favorite cake mix). I used chocolate and yellow mix for variety. I chose Pillsbury mix because there were baking instructions on the back for a bundt cake pan.

After cooled, turn them over and slice the bottom off of each so they are flat when they are placed together. Otherwise it will look like a snowman body instead of a pumpkin shape.

Place the two cut sides of the cake together so the cakes are on top of each other. I used the white frosting in between the layers to adhere the cakes slightly.

Take the Amazing Glazes and microwave according to instructions on back. Open and add red and yellow food coloring to obtain a desired orange glaze. I used about 3- 4 drops of red and 5-6 drops of yellow to obtain this lighter color orange. I recommend doing this on wax or parchement paper to catch all the drips, and there will be plenty.

Mix blue and yellow food coloring in the remaining white frosting to obtain a green color.

I used this for the "grass" at the bottom and the leaves and vines on the top.

Use a sandwich bag with an icing tip to draw on some grass around the bottom and the leaves and vines on the top of the pumpkin. Place a chocolate icecream cone in the center for a stem.
My grass did not turn out how I expected and next time I'll spend more time on it! I was just trying to fill in the chocolate cake on the bottom as much as I could.

Enjoy being a Mom All Day!

RECIPE - Meat Loaf Parmesan

1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup spaghetti sauce of your choice, divided
1/2 cup of dry Italian bread crumbs
1/2 cup 2 oz Kraft (or store brand) Parmesan cheese, divided
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning


MIX thoroughly (with hands) meat, 1/4 cup spaghetti sauce, bread crumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, chopped onion, beaten egg and Italian seasoning.

SHAPE into a loaf in a 12x8 baking dish. Top with remaining 1/4 cup (or more) of spaghetti sauce and 1/4 cup (or more) of cheese. NOTE: I use a spoon and spread extra sauce all over the top and let it run down the sides and sprinkle extra cheese all over the top to cover it.

BAKE at 375 for 40-45 minutes or until done to your desire.

SIDE DISH OPTIONS: Green Beans, Garlic Mashed Potatoes

IN PAN READY TO BAKE

AFTER 40-45 MINUTES IN THE OVEN
Slice and serve with green beans and garlic mashed potatoes.

Enjoy being a Mom All Day!

Tackle It Tuesday - Easy Snack

Today I'm tackling an easy snack! This can be put together in 5 or 10 minutes and only takes a few minutes to broil. A great appetizer or party food.

Wheat Bread (I used BrownBerry)
Tomato slices (Great if you have a tomato garden in the works!)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Italian Seasoning
Provolone Cheese

Take sliced bread and layer tomatoes, sprinkle of Olive Oil, sprinkle Italian Seasoning and top with provolone cheese. Put under the broiler on a bottom shelf in the oven. If you put it too close to the top or on a high broil, the bread will burn fast. You can try to cover the edges of the bread with the cheese and that will bubble nicely instead of the bread burning.

Keep an eye on it until the cheese is melted and is bubbled and brown...approx 3-5 minutes.
ENJOY!

SIDE NOTE:
You could toast the bread lightly before you put the toppings on so that the middle isn't soggy, depends on how you like your!

Enjoy being a Mom All Day!

Want to make Daddy a special gift this Fathers Day?

It's always so hard to find a great gift for dad on Fathers Day. I mean how many ties and tools can dad handle? SO, how about a cookie bouquet! Better yet, how about making one yourself and getting the kids involved! Cookie Recipes.net has a great step by step procedure to make your own. Check it out and let me know if you've had any luck or problems making your own cookie bouquets. Any tips??


Enjoy being a Mom All Day!

Chocolate Cheerios Coupon and Recipes

I discovered Chocolate Cheerios in the grocery the other day and wasn't sure about them. Then the other day I picked them up because I had to try them. I had them for breakfast this morning and they sure are good! I found a coupon for them so you can try them and maybe some of the recipes that I found.
Here is a great list of recipes from Pillsbury that uses Chocolate Cheerios.








Enjoy being a Mom All Day!