Pizza Anyone?

Probably didn't fool any of you smart "cookies" out there with my April Fool's pizza pie, but thought I would share it anyways. :-) I'm bringing it to work in the morning. Hey, who doesn't like pizza for breakfast???

Fruit Pizza
(Not sure where this originally came from, my family has been making a version of it for years)

1 roll of sugar cookie dough
1 8 oz cream cheese
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup sugar
Fruit of choice
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup orange juice


Press dough over a pizza pan or any other shallow dish. Bake at 350° for 12-15 mins until light brown. Let cool. Beat cream cheese, vanilla and 1/3 cup sugar. Spread over cooked, cooled dough. Put fruit on top of cream cheese arrange in a pretty pattern (or spread around like pizza ingredients like mine). Mix cornstarch, 2/3 cup sugar, salt & orange juice in pan. Boil for 1 minute. Pour over fruit and let cool.

Watch out for those April Fool's jokes!

Mosaic Monday ~ Early Spring Garden Walk and Enchiladas

We had a beautiful Saturday this weekend and I spent a few hours in the yard weeding and ruffling the dirt to make it pretty. I took the opportunity to snap a few shots.



Here's the view coming into the back yard


And my mini path...


Some of my earlier tulips are open


And the daffodils are still blooming


Raindrops were still hanging on when I made my walk around


But the sun was shining


And it made for a sparkly effect


And seemed to intensify the color in these flowering pink currants


Lenten Roses still looking beautiful a week before Easter


I just love this time of the year


When so many things are happening in my flower garden


I always wonder why I don't plant more of the spring bulbs in the fall


Because color like this sure does make my day


After a little work I had a light lunch...dill rye, havarti and cucumber sandwich


But tonight (Sunday) after a cooler rainier day I was in the mood for comfort food so whipped up some enchiladas. I used a recipe I've posted about before (see it HERE), but made a few changes...using corn tortillas instead of flour, chipotles in adobe sauce instead of the green salsa (chop up the chipotles) and Chipotle cheddar cheese instead of plain cheddar. The smokiness of the chipotle was awesome. Can't wait for leftovers at lunch tomorrow!



I'm joining in on Mosaic Monday today over at Little Red House. Go check out the cool mosaics that other bloggers have shared.

Flashback and Foodie Friday ~Looking forward to April

This week I'm flashing back to April 2007 as a preview to what I can expect in a couple of weeks in my garden. Its such a beautiful time of the year!


Lilacs scenting the air


Apple blossoms promising fruit in the fall


Sweet pink flowers


In different shapes


And sizes


Pretty bulbs


And shades of baby blue


Fading into purples



And still cool enough in the kitchen to whip up a batch of cookies. Likes these unusual Chocolate Chip ones that call for cream cheese. Kind of a cakey soft texture..not chewy. Worth giving a try!


Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 tsp Baking soda
2 tsp Hot water
5 Eggs
2 C Margarine
1-1/2 C White sugar
1-1/2 C Brown sugar
2 t Vanilla
2 t Salt
4 -1/2 C Flour (more as needed to control consistency of batter)
2 pkgs. Chocolate chips
1 C Chopped walnuts
8 oz. Cream cheese, softened

Add all dry ingredients together in large mixing bowl; mix well. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add baking soda/water mixture and all other ingredients to the bowl and mix thoroughly; adjust flour as needed to bring to thick batter. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets and bake at 350° for 10 – 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit on cookie sheets for a few minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

If you've got a flashback to share just add your link below! It can be a memory, a recipe, a photo, a post...whatever!


I'm also joining in over at Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday. Go check out all of the great posts.

Flashback and Foodie Friday ~Golden Raisin Buns

I'm flashing back to November to show you a favorite recipe of mine called Golden Raisin Buns. I got the recipe from Taste of Home years ago and make them from time to time..but not too often because I can eat each and every one of them in one sitting. They are so light and fluffy they fool you into thinking your eating nothing. They are essentially a cream puff without the cream and a sweet glaze instead.


Every time I make them it reminds me of The Our Gang Little Rascals shows where they would show some of the rascals stuffing cream puffs in their mouth and the cream would be all over their faces and fingers. Funny...they looked to wonderful when they were eating them but I'm not a big fan of the cream filled ones. Now these Raisin Buns are a different story...I probably look just like one of the Little Rascals when I'm eating them. I always wanted to look like Darla...but I probably look more like Spanky!!! lol Try as hard as I might I couldn't find a pic of them eating Cream Puffs..but this is probably them washing them down with some milk!

Golden Raisin Buns
From Taste of Home April/May 1996

Ingredients

• 2 cups hot water, divided
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs

• ICING:
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 4 to 5 teaspoons half-and-half cream
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
In a small bowl, pour 1 cup of water over raisins; let stand for 5 minutes. Drain; set raisins aside. In a large saucepan, bring butter, sugar, salt and remaining water to a boil. Add flour all at once; stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; beat by hand for 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat until mixture is well blended, about 3 minutes. Stir in the raisins. Drop by tablespoons 2-in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack. For icing, melt the butter in a small saucepan; stir in the cream. Remove from the heat; add sugar, lemon juice and vanilla. Spread on buns while still warm. Serve warm if desired. Yield: 20 servings.


If you have a Flashback of any kind you'd like to share please add your link below.


I'm also joining in this week for Foodie Friday over at Designs by Gollum. Go check out all of the great posts.

Going Green!

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and I'll be wearing green....even if it is a ribbon tied on (I'm not really a green person). It's such a fun holiday and I still can't resist a pinch or two when the occasion arises. My friend Kathleen, who is of Irish heritage, is holding a virtual St. Patty's Day party over at Cuisine Kathleen and of course I'm joining in. Last year I struggled finding green for a tablesetting, so I did a little green scavenger hunt. It was so much fun..I did a repeat. I went nursery hopping with my parents this past weekend and I have to say...they were full of GREEN (and gold)!


One of the nurseries we went to has so many pretty things...we had a ball...


I would have liked to have gone home with one of these pretty green and brown purses


And I could have bought these plates for wonderful St. Patrick's day look


Along with these gorgeous glasses and little bud vase


I found the perfect plate...


There were even little magical green creatures hanging around



When I saw these pots...I imagined them all filled with gold....



I thought for a second that I actually found some to fill those pots...


Maybe not gold...but a field of sunshine! The pigeons were swooping in unison around the field. They were cute, but not as cute as this little green guy


And going green seems to be a way of life for this fellow


He gave me an Irish blessing as I passed by


And told me where to find a patch of shamrocks!


Go have a look at all of the other green filled posts at Cuisine Kathleen's St. Patty's day shindig! Have a cookie for the road....



Click on the Leprechaun to head to Kathleen's and make sure to wear your Green!


I'm also joining in over at Welcome to My World's St. Patrick's Day Bloggin Carnival. Go check out all of the neat posts!