My Recipe Confessions

where I confess all my recipe secrets

St. Patrick’s Day Edible Gift

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I just got back from filming a cooking segment for Studio 5. I had so much fun meeting the friendly staff and getting a closer look behind the scenes of the show. Stephanie and Tiffany were so great to work with and made me feel right at home on the set. The host, Brooke Walker is such a sweetheart and is even prettier in person. It was a great experience and I hope to be able to return sometime soon!

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This picture isn’t the best. It was taken with my phone and we had to rush because it was between breaks. Brooke Walker, the host of Studio 5 is on the left and that’s me on the right.

On the show, I demonstrated how to make chocolate pots of gold with butterscotch mousse. You can go here to view the instructions and recipe for the Chocolate Pot of Gold.

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How To Create Your Own Chocolate Pot Of Gold

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I created these Chocolate Pots Of Gold for a demonstration I am doing on Studio 5 (a local talk show). They are so fun to make and would be such a great dessert to share with your family and friends on Saint Patrick’s Day.

The chocolate bowls can be made a few days ahead of time. You can also make the butterscotch mousse and the whipped cream a day ahead of time. Just cover and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. Make sure to use a gel food coloring in the butterscotch mousse.

The food coloring you buy at the grocery store will not work very well. You can find the gels at Walmart, Hobby Lobby, and some JoAnn’s in the cake decorating section. The only place I was able to find the Airhead Rainbow Berry Xtreme Sour Belts (boy, that is a mouthful) was at a gas station.

I don’t recommend using chocolate chips for the bowls. They take longer to set up and they are not as smooth as the almond bark is. Sometimes in the process of making the chocolate bowls, some of them will break. You might want to make a few extras in case this happens. I like to use water balloons because they smaller and thinner so they are easier to peel away from the chocolate.

*Update: I found that if you spray a little bit of cooking spray(not baking spray) in your hands and then rub it  on the balloon before you dip it in the chocolate. Once the chocolate sets up, the balloon will come out of the chocolate bowl a lot easier.

*Some people are highly allergic to latex, make sure to wash and dry the balloons well before you dip them in chocolate and inform your guests that they were made with balloons.

I hope you have a great weekend and I will see you back here on Monday.

Until next time,

Carrie

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Rainbow Sugar Cookies

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I put a new spin on my favorite sugar cookie recipe. These cookies are perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. While you are at it, let the kids join in the fun and start a new family tradition. Watch my first ever YouTube video (it is a work in progress) to see a step by step tutorial.

Until next time,

Carrie

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Crockpot Swiss Steaks

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A crock pot is a moms best friend, right? A unbelievable meal cooked in a crock pot is a mom’s saving grace!

Well look no further ladies, because my Crock Pot Swiss Steaks is exactly that! In fact, my extremely picky three year old had THREE, yes THREE servings of this stuff. I wanted to cry  each time he asked me for more, but I didn’t want to make any sudden movements in fear he would snap out of his abnormal behavior.

If my extremely picky three year old will eat three servings of this, I think it is a pretty safe bet that your family will love it too!

Do you have any picky eaters at your house?

Until next time,

Carrie

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How to give a drab $2 yardsale lamp a unbelievable make-over.

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I started my project out with a drab hum drum $2 yard sale lamp. I painted the lamp base red and used them in my room for awhile.

I soon got sick of it ( you will find I do this quite often) and put it downstairs in my project waiting room.

A year or so went by and I decided to give the sad little lamp a much needed make-over and put it in my daughters room.

And that is where this little journey began. I am very pleased with how it turned out. It looks perfect in its new home, don’t you think?

What projects are you working on?

Until next time,

Carrie

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Carrot Orange Cookies With Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

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“You are my Sunshine my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray”. We have had an out of the norm few weeks of sunny weather. My kids have been playing outside as soon as they get home from school and don’t come back in until we finally threaten an early bed time. With them outside playing, it means I can get more things done inside and my house will stay cleaner for longer than five minutes.

Sadly, it rained all day yesterday and it is a cold gloomy day today. So, if Mother Nature is going deny us of our beloved sunshine, I am going to make some of my own. How am I going to make my own sunshine you ask? Well, with just one bite of my Carrot Orange Cookies With Citrus Cream Cheese Frosting and you too will be singing ” You are my sunshine“. You can’t help but smile when you have a plate of these cookies sitting on your kitchen counter. In fact why not spread a little good cheer and take some to your neighbors as well. If you are in need of a little “Sunshine In Your Soul Today” whip up a batch of these cookies and you will be in your happy place in no time!

What are some other ways you bring more sunshine into your day?

Until next time,

Carrie

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Valentine’s Day Treat Bag

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I know it is only a few days away from Valentine’s Day, but these treat bags are so adorable you have to make them! Yes, there is a little bit of sewing involved. Don’t worry, I have very basic sewing skills and I was able to do it with out any problems. I used the upholstery webbing again in this project and I couldn’t be happier with it! Okay, enough of the chit chat, lets get down to business.

Until next time my friends,

Carrie

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Raspberry Hot Cocoa Bomb

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I don’t know about you, but it is still really cold where I am at. So yesterday I came up with this heavenly recipe. It is just in time for Valentines Day. This is the perfect cup of cocoa to sip while you cuddle with your special someone! The velvety smooth texture and the creamy raspberry flavor cannot be matched by any pre-made store bought mix. As if this hot cocoa is not heavenly enough on its own, I added two scoops of French vanilla ice cream to the steamy cup of cocoa. The ice cream reminded me of a bomb being dropped into the cocoa. The creaminess of the ice cream takes this recipe to the next level by blowing all the other hot cocoa’s out of the water (no pun intended)! I guess you could say that the Raspberry Hot Cocoa Bomb is the “Bomb”!

Until next time,

Carrie

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Crockpot Beef And Broccoli

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I have made this recipe twice in the past few months. Trust me, it is that good! I love that I can throw all the ingredients in the crockpot and then forget about it until dinner time. Life gets so crazy around my house sometimes that if I don’t have something all ready prepared, we end up just getting pizza. This is the perfect solution to those kind of nights. I found this recipe on a blog called Table For Two. The original recipe serves 4 so I double it, so I can feed my family of 7. This recipe is a real gem and will it will be one that I will hold onto for years to come.

Until next time,

Carrie

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