Pretzel Recipe

I was looking for a fun thing to do now that the kids are at home. I decided soft pretzels would keep us busy for awhile. You can be as creative as you want or as simple as you want with the shapes. These taste great warm out of the oven. Enjoy.

SOFT PRETZEL RECIPE

1 1/3 cups warm water (110 degrees) (see note)
2 tablespoons warm water (110 degrees) (see note)
1 (1/4 ounce) packet dry yeast
1/3 cup brown sugar
5 cups flour (may only need 4cups)
1/2 cup baking soda (DO NOT ADD TO THE PRETZEL MIXTURE THIS IS FOR THE WATER POT TO BOIL PRETZELS)
KOSHER SALT (see note)
Directions:

In a large bowl for your mixer, mix 2 Tablespoons warm water with yeast to dissolve.
Stir in remaining warm water and brown sugar.
Using the dough hook, gradually add the flour until it forms a ball.
Turn out onto a work surface and knead until smooth.
Preheat your oven to 475 degrees
Spray 2 baking sheets with non-stick spray.
Bring 2 quarts water and the baking soda to a boil.
Cut dough into golf ball-size pieces, then roll into ½” thick “worms”.
Boil for 30 seconds, then drain and place on baking sheet.
Sprinkle with kosher salt.
Bake for 8 minutes or until golden brown.
TIPS: after making this recipe many times. I found I like to put an egg wash on the pretzels for a better color.

* I also take 2 TBSP. of butter melt it and add about ½ tsp. table salt mix and put on pretzels with a pastry brush after they come out of the oven. I don’t keep kosher salt on hand so this works fine as a substitute.

* water temp needs to be 110 for the yeast, it can’t be too cold or too hot, 110 degrees is just right.

* last tip of the day. If you love cinnamon and sugar on your pretzels, make a cinnamon/sugar mix put in large Ziploc bag. Add buttered pretzels shake and enjoy. They taste just like the ones you get at the mall.

 

Chocolate Dipped Peeps

I love Easter candy! I’m a big fan of Peeps and I even enjoy them stale, but my favorite way to eat them is dipped in chocolate.  There is just something about the combination of the crusty sugar and chocolate that makes this a delicious treat.

CHOCOLATE DIPPED PEEPS

8 pack Peeps

1/2 cup milk chocolate morsels

Easter sprinkles

Directions:

place milk chocolate in a microwave safe small bowl, microwave 30 seconds then mix. continue every 30 seconds until completely melted.

Now dip the bottom of Peeps into chocolate, place on a foil lined cookie sheet, add sprinkles, let sit about 1 hour to completely harden.  If you have a craving for these right away, put them in fridge to harden.

Enjoy!!

 

How to help The Easter Bunny

I love to over prepare and before the stay in orders came about, I made sure to help The Easter Bunny make a list for my kids.  If you are one of the many that might not have been so lucky I have a few ideas to help you help The Easter Bunny.

I have a recipe for Peanut Butter Eggs that would look great in any basket.  Don’t have sprinkles that’s okay, just be creative with the chocolate drizzle.

I also have a Manna Cookie recipe that you may enjoy.  This cookie is easy to make and it is good if your trying to get a religion class in while kids can’t make it to class.

This may be a difficult time, but try and put a positive spin on things and enjoy the time with the people you are with.

Wishing you all a Happy, Healthy Spring!!

Healing Hearts by CB Clark

Title: Healing Hearts

Author: C.B. Clark

• Print Length: 258 pages
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc (March 23, 2020)
• Publication Date: March 23, 2020
• Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
• ASIN: B084FW1VTV

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Source: I received a copy of this book from the author, for the purpose of an honest review.

BOOK DESCRIPTION, FROM AMAZON

Reeling from loss and heartbreak, Stella King is desperate to escape painful memories. The position of nanny on an isolated ranch in British Columbia’s rugged Chilcotin Plateau seems the answer to her prayers.

Cattle rancher, Dawson Wheeler, has worked hard to overcome grief and build a predictable world for his young daughter. The last thing he needs is the all-too-attractive Stella disrupting the smooth running of his ranch, especially now that disturbing incidents are happening on his property.

Defending his land against those who want to gut it will be a challenge, but the biggest threat of all may be to his heart.

MY THOUGHTS

After suffering a tragic loss, Stella King uprooted her life to move to a secluded and work as a nanny.  Dawson Wheeler was in need of a nanny for his daughter while he worked his cattle ranch.

Along with a new employee Stella, Dawson also had a trespasser on his land and he was not at all happy about it.  As more criminal acts were happening Dawson was trying to figure out who was trespassing on his land and also figure out how the very attractive Stella would fit into his and his daughters life.

I have been enjoying the works of C.B. Clark because I enjoy a little mystery wrapped into my romance books.  The characters are so well written and I find while I read I am absorbing so much detail that when I stop for a break I feel like I paused a movie.  I find it amazing that the pages of the book seem to come to life with every word.  I feel this book is great for a person that enjoys romance or mystery and I would definitely give this author a try.  I think you will also enjoy the read!

 

 

Lemon Bars

I enjoy a good lemon bar.  I found this recipe to be a perfect blend of sweet and tart.  A perfect pot luck recipe.

Lemon Bars

Ingredients:

For the crust:

• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

 

For the filling:

• 6 large eggs
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• Powdered Sugar, for dusting

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Spray a 9×13 cake dish with non stick cooking spray

Cream together the butter and sugar. Mix in the flour and salt until dough forms.

Press the dough into the pan, building up 1/2 inch crust on all sides.

Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Let cool until cool to the touch.

Whisk together all of the remaining ingredients (except the powdered sugar), and pour into the cooled crust. Bake for 30-35 minutes until filling is set. Let cool to room temperature or chill overnight.

Dust with powdered sugar before cutting and serving.

 

 

Southwest Pasta Skillet

This recipe was a go to of mine years ago but one of the ingredients was no longer made, so I had to tweak it a bit to mimic the flavor.  Its a tasty dish and something different to use up your chicken.

SOUTHWEST PASTA SKILLET

YOU WILL NEED:

1 lb.      boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

1/2 cup  chopped green peppers

1 can     (14.5 oz.) no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained

1 pkg.    (10 oz.) frozen corn

1 package  (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup salsa, any brand will do, picante sauce will work

2 cups     hot cooked rotini pasta  (I used medium shells)

1 cup   Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese, divided

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook and stir chicken and peppers in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat 7 to 8 min. or until chicken is done, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes, corn cream cheese and salsa cook and stir 3 min.
2. Add pasta and 1/2 cup shredded cheese; cook and stir 1 to 2 min. or until cheese is melted.
3. Top with remaining shredded cheese. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand until cheese is melted.

Lucky Treats

As you may have figured out by now I love all holidays.  I decorate inside and outside of my home and make coordinating treats for all holidays.  I love cereal with marshmallows so I decided to use my box of lucky charms to make this sweet treat.  Super easy to make.  Hope you give them a try.

LUCKY TREATS

2 tablespoons butter

1 bag marshmallows, large or small

7 cups Lucky Charms Cereal

rainbow sprinkles

DIRECTIONS:

in a large microwave safe bowl, melt butter 45 seconds.

add marshmallows to bowl, mix to coat the marshmallows with the butter.

Place in microwave and cook for 1 1/2 minutes

Add cereal to bowl, mix well to fully coat all cereal, be sure to fold it all in so they are coated well.

pour cereal into a 9×13 pan.  sprinkle rainbow sprinkles on top.

Let sit about 30 minutes before cutting, I find you get better squares if you let them sit.

slice into squares and enjoy!!

Pot Of Gold Cupcakes

Pot Of Gold Cupcakes

 

This is not a recipe as much as it is a decorating suggestion for Saint Patrick’s Day cupcakes.  Although I do have a recipe at the end of the post for Butter Cream Frosting if you need a suggestion for the frosting.  This is nice to make for kids at school or a St.  Pat’s Day Party!!

 

You need:

 

Cupcakes, I make 24 with a boxed mix.  Frosted

24 gold wrapped chocolate coins

Rainbow sprinkles

 

Place the coin in the middle of the frosted cupcake, add rainbow sprinkles.  Just be sure the kiddos know to remove the foil from the coin before eating. 

If you need a recipe for frosting here is a great Butter Cream Frosting recipe.

 

From the photo you see my cupcakes are green, all you need to do is add a few drops of food color to the cake mix before baking to make them green.

 

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

INGREDIENTS: 

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3-4 cups confectioner sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Up to 4 tablespoons milk

 

DIRECTIONS:

Beat the softened butter for 2 minutes with the whisk attachment of a stand mixer. 

Turn the mixer on lowest speed and add 3 cups of confectioner sugar

When the mix is blended, turn to medium speed,  add vanilla, salt and 2 tablespoons milk, beat for 3 minutes

Add the remaining sugar or milk as needed.  I did add all the sugar and milk to my mix.

 

Tips- do not microwave your butter, soften to room temperature. 

You may want to beat the mix for a few minutes until it incorporates.  I mixed it for about 3-4 extra minutes just to get the perfect taste and texture