Snow Ice Cream

recipe from allrecipes.com

1 gallon snow
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups milk

When it starts to snow, place a large, clean bowl outside to collect the flakes. When full, stir in sugar and vanilla to taste, then stir in just enough milk for the desired consistency. Serve at once.


Here's one from Paula Deen
8 cups snow, or shaved ice
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Place snow or shaved ice into a large bowl. Pour condensed milk over and add vanilla. Mix to combine. Serve immediately in bowls

Starbuck's Cranberry Bliss Bars

•2 sticks margarine (or butter if you want to indulge) -- softened
•1 and 1/4 cups brown sugar-- packed
•3 large eggs
•1 teaspoon ground ginger
•1 teaspoon vanilla
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•1 and 1/2 cups flour
•1/4 cup minced dried cranberries
•1/4 cup Lindt or Perugina or other quality white chocolate -- coarsely chopped
•1/4 cup minced candied ginger


•For Frosting:
•4 ounce cream cheese -- softened
•1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar
•2 Tablespoons butter -- softened
•1 teaspoon vanilla


•For Garnish:
•2 Tablespoons minced dried cranberries
•1/3 cup white chocolate chips (e.g. Ghiradelli or Guittard) -- melted
Preheat oven to 350 and lightly grease a 9x13 pan.

1. Beat butter and sugar together for the cake base, and add eggs/vanilla beating until fluffy. Sift together flour, ginger, and salt and then add to the butter/sugar mixture beating well. Fold in the cranberries, chocolate and ginger. Spread thick batter in pan and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden.

2. When cake is cooled, mix all frosting ingredients together and spread a thin layer over the cake. Immediately sprinkle with the minced cranberries. Then use a cake decorating bag of melted white chocolate with a tiny decorating tip (like the size used for writing on cakes) and drizzle the chocolate over the cake.

3. Cut this into bars immediately because the white chocolate hardens pretty fast and makes cake cutting messy

In my opinion: These bars are GREAT! I have never had them at Starbuck's so I don't know how they compare, but I loved making them myself. My husband does not like chocolate so I am always looking for white chocolate recipes and this is one we'll make again and again.

St. Patrick's Day

Cupid's cups made with lime jello-"Leprechaun's ..."
Dipped marshmallows
Dipped pretzels
Bailey's Irish Cream Cake
TONS of yummy dessert (Bailey's Irish Creme and Creme de Menthe) recipes here.
Irish Coffee Brownies
Irish Cream Bread Pudding
Shamrock Milkshake
Irish Cream Cheesecake
Iced Irish Cream Coffee



Leprechaun Fizz-
Ingredients: • lime sherbert • ginger ale or spriteDirections: 1. One recipe I do every year with my kids, is what I call the "Leprechaun fizz". I just use clear plastic cups, put a scoop of Lime sherbert in each cup, and fill with ginger ale or sprite. It's sickenly sweet to me, but the kids sure love it! The love to watch the green fizz.

St. Patrick's Day

I can't believe St. Patrick's Day is in 9 days. I'm a little late in my planning for fun things to do with my kids. Here are some ideas so far:

Grasshopper Pie (not for the kids)

Leprechaun's Kiss (like Cupid's Cups but using green Jell-O)

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Easy 1-2-3 Shamrock Milkshake

Grand Champion Cow Patty Pie

Marshmallows on a stick dipped in melted green candy (Wilton) and with sprinkles added

Green tinted white chocolate covered pretzels with sprinkles

More to come....

The MOST amazing banana cake ever!

A co-worker made this banana cake today for another co-worker's birthday. It came from this blog, Sweet Blessings, and I would have to say it might be the best cake I have ever had. Plus, it has bananas in it so you KNOW it's a healthy cake ;)

Cake:
3/4 cup butter
2 1/8 cup sugar
3 large eggs
2 t vanilla
3 cups flour
1 1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1 1/2 cup buttermilk
2 t lemon juice
1 1/2cups mashed ripe bananas


Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
1 box powdered sugar
1 t vanilla


Cake:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with cooking spray. In a small bowl, mix mashed bananas with lemon juice and set aside. In another bowl, mix flour, soda, and salt. In mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time and then add vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture along with buttermilk- alternating between the two. Stir in banana mixture. Pour into prepared pan and bake for between one hour and one hour 15 minutes. Remove from oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 minutes.


Frosting:
Cream butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add in vanilla and then powdered sugar. Mix on high speed until smooth. Spread on cooled cake.


TIP OF THE DAY: Do NOT skip the freezer step! It sounds strange but is what makes this cake so yummy and moist! I was skeptical at first but promise, you will be amazed!

Facebook!

I just made a group Aggieland Mommy Cooks on Facebook. For now it is open to the public so feel free to join!

Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork by McCormick

3 lbs boneless pork shoulder roast, well-trimmed (or pork Boston butt roast)
6 oz pkg McCormick BBQ Pulled Pork Seasoning (I couldn't find at HEB)
1/2 c ketchup
1/2 c firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 c cider vinegar
...pickles
...buns
...Texas Country Potato Salad by Paula Deen

1. Place pork in slow cooker.
2. Mix seasoning packet, ketchup, brown sugar, and vinegar until blended. Pour over pork. Cover.
3. Cook 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. remove pork from S.C.
4. Shred pork, using 2 forks. Return to S.C.; mix and heat with sauce before serving.

10 servings

In my opinion: This was fabulous! I am drooling just thinking about it. I was amazed at the flavor and tenderness. Think of the possibilities for left-overs: fajitas/tacos, pulled pork sandwiches, etc....

Crock Pot Aloha Chicken

from Gooseberry Patch's Slow Cooker Recipes

4 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
20 oz pineapple chunks
11 oz mandarin oranges, drained
1 green or red pepper, chopped
1/4 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 T soy sauce
1 t fresh ginger, peeled and grated

1. Arrange chicken in slow cooker; set aside.
2. COmbine remaining ingredients; pour over chicken.
3. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours.
Serves 8-10.

In my opinion: I don't remember when I made this recipe. All I wrote on the recipe card was, "interesting."