Try-it Tuesdays on Wed. - Fruity Pasta Salad

This is a great recipe for kids and a wonderful potluck pleaser! I always double or even triple this recipe-it's gone before you know it. You can substitute other fruits as well.

1 1/2 c. cooked spiral pasta
1 c. fresh strawberries quartered
1 c. pineapple tidbits
1 c. seedless red grapes, halved
2 kiwi fruit, peeled, quartered lengthwise and cut into slices

Combine together in bowl and pour dressing over salad. Gently mix and enjoy.

Dressing
1/2 c. low-fat vanilla yogurt (yoplait is good)
1/2 tsp. grated lime peel
1 Tbls. lime juice
2 Tbls. honey

Monday Gratitudes

I am Grateful for all the fun things that my kids find in our yard each day.
We found this huge Imperial Moth the other day while we were eating breakfast. It measured about 5 inches across. Huge!
My oldest son found a large toad living in one of the railroad ties right next to the house and seems to find little toads all over the yard.
We have several variety of birds: Robins, Cardinals, Hummingbirds, Woodpeckers, Mourning Doves, Finches, Wrens, and of course lots of Sparrows. We seem to find a new birds nest everyday.
We also have lots of very interesting insects.
We found a huge Wolf Spider carrying a large blue egg sack under it's belly. I think it was at least 3+ inches big. I wished I had taken a picture before it expired.
I found this picture that's pretty close to what we saw.
We usually find all the strange spiders and insects when we are cutting back the overgrowth and I never have my camera with me because it's such a dirty job.
I love our yard and am grateful to explore all the fun things it has to offer. It's wonderful to have a piece of earth that I can call mine. I love that my children can explore to their hearts content without mom having to watch over their shoulders.

Try-it Tuesdays Petits Fours

Most everyone knows that I do like a few of the finer things in life. Doesn't everyone? Well this is a great recipe and so so pretty especially for a Wedding/Baby Shower or a fine luncheon. Follow this recipe in exactness and it should turn out okay. If you have any problems, just call me and I'll try to help.

Cake:
3 1/4 c. sifted cake flour
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
1 c. unsalted butter
8 egg whites
2 c. sugar
2 tsp. almond extract
1 c. whole milk

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In mixing bowl, whip egg whites until foamy, then add 2 Tbls. sugar. Whip until nearly stiff but not dry. In another bowl, beat butter and remaining sugar until light colored. Stir in almond extract. Alternately beat in dry ingredients. Gently fold in egg whites and pour into buttered and floured 9x13 inch cake pan. Bake at 350 fro about 20 min. Cake is done when a toothpick comes out clean. Remove cake from oven, cool and cut into 1 1/2" squares or other shapes with cookie cutters. Place shapes on wire rack with tray underneath to catch dripping fondant. Spoon fondant over petit fours. Let air-dry.

Fondant Icing:
2 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. corn syrup
1/4 tsp. almond extract

Combine sugar, water and corn syrup in heavy 2 quart saucepan. Bring to boil stirring constantly. Stop stirring and bring mixture to soft ball stage (238 on candy thermometer). Immediately pour mixture into kitchen-aid mixer. Allow to cool, to exactly 140 degrees. Add almond extract and mix until opaque, about 2-3 minutes. If you don't use this immediately, just reheat slightly until you get a pouring consistency. You can add color to this-start with very tiny amounts.

Royal Icing:
3 Tbls. meringue powder
1/3 c. water
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 lb. powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients on med-high speed until fluffy. Keep the bowl covered. Place icing in pastry bag and pipe flowers or designs on the petit fours or you can garnish them with tiny edible sugar flowers and leaves.

Monday Gratitudes

Well I'm a day late again. I was in Chicago at a Scrapbook Convention with my sister for the past several days and didn't have time to post anything. My gratitudes are all over the place today.

I am thankful for my own bed! What a blessing it is to be sleeping on my very own pillow. I used to take it (my pillow) with me when I travelled, but after losing it - I decided to never take it with me again. A very good pillow is not that easy to come by when your on a budget.

I am thankful for my good homemade pizza. My sister and I bought some authentic Chicago Styled Pizza -which came highly recommended while in Chicago and were sorely disappointed. It was yucky!
Okay, I've had some great Chicago pizza on the west side of Cleveland (go figure) so I think I know what a good Chicago style pizza should taste like?! The Cleveland pizza owners used to be from Chicago but decided that Cleveland was better and opened up shop. For you Clevelanders you really should take a drive to the west side and try it.

I am thankful that my hubby was able to get his first official paycheck this past week. What an exciting thing for us. Now we are finally able to start paying off our school debt and all the interest it has collected over the years. Yeah!

Try-it Tuesdays Divinity

I absolutely love Divinity. I make it every Christmas for my family and our neighbors. I have tried several recipes and found this one to be the most fool-proof. I usually double or triple the recipe. Oh, I also add a little bit of a cool-aid packet of my favorite flavor to give it a little color and special taste. Black Cherry is pretty good with the walnuts. You can even add some cut up pieces of dried fruit as well. Experiment - you'll like it.

Divine Divinity

2 large egg whites
1/2 c. light corn syrup
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. water
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 c. walnuts or pecans if you like

Beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff. Put the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a med-sized heavy sauce pan over med-high heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar, bring to a boil and cook until the candy reaches 260 degrees on a candy thermometer (10-15 minutes).
Remove from heat. Pour in a thin steady stream in to the beaten egg whites and beat with an electric mixer on high for 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla, (this is where I add the kool-aid) still beating on high just until the candy starts to lose its gloss (5-6 minutes). Add the nuts, stir to mix, and quickly drop the mixture by tablespoons onto wax paper. Enjoy. It make about 24 pieces.

Monday Gratitudes

We had such a wonderful weekend. We drove to Historic Nauvoo Illinois to see the Nauvoo Pageant. The kids were able to play with some really fun pioneer games and were able to learn about some pioneer era crafts. We had so much fun and there was so much to do and see that we didn't have time to do it all - so we might drive back in August.

I am always astounded by the pioneers that settled this great USA. They had so many trials. I am grateful for them.

I am grateful that my children were able to learn about the past and appreciate it.

We were supposed to have terrible weather the whole day, but were truly blessed that the rain let up after we left Carthage Illinois. The Mississippi was just beautiful. I am grateful that everything turned out so well.

Try-it Tuesdays Chocolate Waffle Cookie

I absolutely love these cookies. The first time I had these was at my friend Stacy's house. Her mother made these special treats and it was so fun to watch them come out of the waffle iron. I've tried this recipe in a few different waffle irons and the classic grid is by far the best tool. The belgian waffle grid is too deep and doesn't cook the dough evenly.

Chocolate Waffle Cookies

1/2 c. Soft Butter
6 tsp. Cocoa
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
3/4 c. Sugar
1 c. Flour

Combine ingredients, Mix well. Dough will be thick. Drop by spoonfuls on waffle iron, close cover and bake for 1 minute (adjust your timing after the first batch). Lift out cookie carefully by easing it loose with a fork, then gently lifting it up and off the iron. Place on a wire rack to cool. Frost with you favorite frosting, ganache, or sprinkle with powdered sugar. Makes about 2 doz.

Trains, Planes, Automobiles

My sister and I always wonder why there are no fast trains in the USA.
Around the world many countries have high-speed train systems. Japan holds the world-record rail speed of 361 mph with France, Germany, and Italy close behind. So what is going on with us.
With gas prices as high as they are today, roadblocks, potholes and more people thinking that something has to change -maybe we should give the railways a try.
Maybe people would get out of their automobiles, get off the fuel guzzling airplane and get on a high-speed train.
I would love to travel across the USA on a high-speed train. Maybe see Boston one day and the next day be in Glacier National Park. Wouldn't it be great!
How about fast commuter trains. So from Cleveland to Columbus it would only be 30 minutes vs. 2+ hours.
I'm all for high-speed trains. I really think it should be the wave of the future for the USA.
Environmentally, rail uses the least land to move the most people, and high-speed trains have better air quality.
This is one thing that I've seen firsthand in Germany and I guess I am passionate about it.
I would love your two cents!!

Monday Gratitudes

The kids and I went to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum today and can't wait to go back again. There was so much to see that it warrants another trip or two. It definitely would be much easier without my youngest in tow. He was pretty bored with the whole thing except for Mrs. Lincoln's Attic which is a hands-on children's area.
We were able to see one of the original copies of the Gettysburg Address on display and a few other things that were owned by the Lincoln's.

I am GRATEFUL for those pioneers that changed and forged this great land into to what it is today. Going through the museum helped immerse me in Lincoln's world and time. I am in awe of what he and others like him went through - for my freedoms.

-for the beauty of the earth. As we drive around our neighborhood the kids and I are always so amazed at how the crops in this area grow about a foot each day.

-for peace and quiet. My children usually go to bed around 7:30pm on a school night and in the summer it's usually 8:30pm depending on what's going on in the week. Well last week we were so busy with the yard that my kids didn't get to bed until 10-ish. Needless to say I didn't get my little hour or two of peace and quiet - it was definitely missing.

Try-it Tuesdays Spätzle

My mother made homemade Spätzle all the time. For me this a wonderful comfort food. The dough is very forgiving and can be flavored with almost anything. It also goes great with any sauce that you want to serve with it. I usually serve it with a wonderful goulash but you can toss it with butter if your in a hurry.

Spätzle

2 beaten eggs
1/4 c. milk
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix all ingredients until smooth (batter should be thick). Spoon batter into a ricer and press batter into boiling water. Cook for 3 minutes or until the Spätzle rise to the surface. I usually quadruple this recipe. If you don't have a ricer you can shape the the dough in a number of ways. I learned to cut them by hand on a board as my mother did. This can be a bit tricky, however, so I suggest using a potato ricer.