Homemade cherry limeade

Every Saturday our DVR records The Pioneer Woman's cooking show and when Kenzie and I are both available we snuggle down on the couch and watch it.  This week Ree made some cherry limeade that looked so delicious and we just happened to have all the ingredients on hand.  So what's a girl to do? Kenzie and I jumped up off the couch and made it.

It's so much better then Sonic. I'm sure there are skeptics out there but it's true!

 Pioneer woman drinks out of jars so according to Kenzie we had to also.

Cherry Limeade 

Ingredients

• 2-liter bottle lemon-lime soda
• 1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
• 1 cup sugar
• One 10-ounce jar maraschino cherries, with juice
• Thin lime slices

Directions

Chill all ingredients before mixing.

When cold, combine the lemon-lime soda, lime juice, sugar, cherries with their juice

 and lime slices in a large pitcher and stir. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Serve with a ladle, getting cherries and limes in each serving.

Corn dog muffins

Sometimes lunch can be boring at our house it's either sandwiches, leftovers or kimchi noodles.  I was inspired by a rainy, nasty day to do a little bit of cooking with the kids and we made corn dog muffins.  I was reading Michele's blog My Blessing from Above and found this fun twist.  I've kept it in the back of my mind just thinking I would make it someday soon, well today just happened to be that day.  It was super easy and so YUMMY, much better then a normal corn dog and the kids approved and said they now prefer these over a store bought corn dog.  What you need is a box of corn muffin mix (if you want the easy version), some hotdogs, muffin/cupcake liners and some big smiles from your kiddos.

I didn't have a box of corm muffin mix so I just made this homemade version, it's quick and simple.  Then, we just cut a hot dog in thirds and plopped it in the middle of the corn muffin mix and baked them....easy peasy!

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 cup milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin pan or line with paper muffin liners.
2. In a large bowl, mix together corn meal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add egg, oil and milk; stir gently to combine. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean.

An April Fools Day surprise-Cooking with Kenzie

Makenzie asked for cake decorating supplies for Christmas and ever since has been making cakes, cookies and cupcakes.  She's becoming quite the decorator.  We were headed over to my in laws for dinner on April 1st and Kenzie thought it would be perfect to make a "special" dinner just in time for April Fools Day, she actually made dessert...cupcakes that look like spaghetti!  I think she did a great job.  Did you do anything fun for April Fools Day?

 First she baked the cupcakes and let them cool, while they were cooling she made the Parmesan cheese out of white bakers chocolate that she grated on my microplaner.

 It looks pretty real to me!

 Next she iced all the cupcakes with white frosting that she added 2 or 3 drops of yellow food coloring.

 Next the she started making the crazy looking noodles.

Now she got malted milk balls and coated them with strawberry jam and placed on the cupcakes then she added the "cheese"

Pumpkin pancakes

It's Fall Y'all and Kenzie and I thought it was thatt time of year for Pumpkin Pancakes....ohhhhhh awwwww and my kids are doing the happy dance!

Ingredients:
2 cups of dry pancake mix (we used a wheat one)
3tbsp dark brown sugar
2 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 cups of milk (or water)
1 cup canned pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
1 egg beaten
1 tsp vanilla

In a large bowl combine pancake mix, brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice. In another bowl mix milk, pumpkin, egg, and vanilla. add the pumpkin mixture to the dry mix and stir.

I spray Pam (or similar spray) on griddle (med. high).  Pour your pancakes out and wait until bubbles form then flip.  Serve with homemade pancake syrup.  ENJOY~~

Also, don't forget Tasty Tuesdays so head over to Alicia at A Beautiful Mess, she made some yummy Healthier Halloween ideas and not only are they healthy but they are FUN!

Then, cruise over to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday with Lisa, she made a delicous Taco Soup.

Cooking with Kenzie-Triple chocolate cake

This is actually super easy because it's made from a box of Duncan Hines Decadent Triple Chocolate Cake.  This was Kenzie's choice for this week though so I'm going with it!  It's REALLY DECADENT, they aren't kidding!!!

Please go check out what Alicia is cookin at A Beautiful Mess for her Tasty Tuesday blog hop and then head on over to Lisa's Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace, both of these ladies have been whipping up some yummy goodness in the kitchen!

Meringue Cookies-Cooking with Kenzie

I'm still trying to keep up with Tasty Tuesdays but with everything going on in our life it's been a little hectic, if you want to join Tasty Tuesday you can join at A Beautiful Mess, she ALWAYS has the yummiest recipes or you can join Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace and I describe her recipes as scrumdiddlyumpsciousness...just means I REALLY love them too!


Most of you know that Makenzie(10 yrs old) has been laid up with a hurt ankle but she's still trying to cook as much as possible.  She was bored the other day, it's hard work laying on the couch with your leg propped up!  So, we decided to make Meringue Cookies.  I've made them before but she never had.  We are also going through the Future Christian Homemakers book (which you can download for free right now) and this weeks chapter was on eggs.  Plus it's a great add on to our homeschool curriculum and wonderful mommy/daughter time!

Makenzie learned how to separate eggs, she kinda liked and thought it was fun but she wasn't sure the egg whites were ever going to turn into meringue because it took a long time to beat them!

Heat the oven to 225 degrees

Beat 3 egg whites at high speed with a mixer
Add 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Add 3/4 cup of sugar 2 tablespoons at a time
beat until still peaks (this took her a long time and she didn't like it)

Place spoonfulls on a cookie sheet (we lined it with parchment paper)
Bake for 1 1/2 hrs then turn off the oven and leave the meringues inside to cool until they are dry and crisp (about another hour).

Here's a pic of Kenzie waiting for the Dr to look at her ankle

Cooking with Kenzie-Sausage Quiche

Over the past year Kenzie has really been into cooking and learning how to do different techniques in the kitchen so we chose Thursday as her night to help in the kitchen.  She can help any night but this is our special time to make something that she has chosen for the week.  Every 2 weeks she plans the menu for the next 2 Thursday night dinners and she's come up with some great ideas!  This past week it was a recipe she chose from Paula Deen's My First Cookbook. 

                      Whipping the eggs

Grating the sharp cheddar

She browned the sausage and then put it into a rolled out pie crust

Adding 1/2 and 1/2 to the eggs

Sharp cheddar goes on top of the sausage

Next you pour the egg mixture on top

 Then you bake and enjoy!  It was really good and Kenzie did a great job, she chose fresh fruits to go with it and it made a delicious meal!

Great job Kenzie!

So my friend Dawn started doing Tasty Tuesdays so I decided to join her and I've found some yummy recipes.  If I can remember I'll post a new recipe every Tuesday....hmm, Dawn you may have to remind me!  LOL!