The recipe below is for Fluffy Blueberry Pie and couldn’t be easier to make – this I promise. I also promise that it is so delicious, you’ll fight for the last bite. You can substitute peeled, sliced peaches for the blueberries and the pie will be just as remarkable. Either fruit would make an ideal Easter Pie recipe or a simple dessert for warm summer nights.
Fluffy Blueberry Pie Recipe
20 large marshmallows
1/4 cup whole milk
4 cups fresh blueberries (divided)
1 (8 oz) carton frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 pastry shell (9 inches), baked
In a heavy saucepan, combine marshmallows and milk. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium-low heat until marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth.
Allow to cool for about 10 minutes, stirring several times.
Stir in 3-1/2 cups of the blueberries (or peaches, if you go that route). Take out and set aside 1/2 cup of the whipped topping. Fold remaining topping into blueberry mixture.
Pour into crust. refrigerate for at lease 2 hours. Top off with the remaining blueberries and reserved whipped topping.
Once your familiar with the recipe, you’ll want to try out different fruit. I would imagine that raspberries would be amazing and blackberries would probably have your family throwing themselves at your feet. Note to self: Put blackberries on the grocery list….
Yield: One 9″ Pie or about 8 servings.
Coca-Cola, more than just about any logo or brand you can think of, symbolizes true Americana. That’s why (along with the upbeat attitude and great taste) so many people are drawn to Coca-Cola collector’s items. My mom collected Coca-Cola metal trays, bottles, and a whole host of other products and when she suddenly and unexpectedly decided to move on to Heaven, I gave all of her beloved Coca-Cola products a place to call home.
I’ve fallen in love with the logo and collector’s items, myself, and now consider myself a collector of all things Coca-Cola. I think it’s a great image, a great logo, and a big, beautiful slice of American history.
What’s not to love about that?
Red ‘Enjoy’ Pot Holder
Good with Food Replica Metal Coca-Cola Sign
Sign Of Good Taste Placemat
Retro Coke Napkin Dispenser
Click through any of the links for LOTS more. You’ll find vintage metal signs, tumblers, towels, and things you never even thought of. The website also features Sprite, Diet Coke (a personal favorite!) and Fanta.
By the way, speaking of Coca-Cola, have you ever tried Coke Zero? In my opinion, it tastes just like regular Coca-Cola… fantastic! For some reason (probably has a lot to do with baseball games and picnics), Coke tastes like summer to me. A hot dog and an ice cold Coca-Cola… it’s always the right time for that combination.
For a great Coca-Cola Cake Recipe, click the link!
Buy at AllPosters.com
Fast and Easy Broccoli Casserole
2 (10 oz) packages chopped broccoli
1/2 lb Velveeta cheese
1/2 stick margarine
TOPPING:
1/2 stick margarine
25 Ritz crackers
Cook broccoli according to the directions on the package. In microwave, melt margarine and cheese together. Mix with broccoli. Pour into a greased casserole dish.
Mix together TOPPING ingredients and pour over broccoli mixture. Cook at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Could it possibly get any easier than that?!
I’m a Starbucks fanatic and a green tea addict – so it’s only logical that I’d be a Starbucks Green Tea Frappuccino fanaddict. When the weather’s cold, I almost always go with Chai Tea Lattes, Skinny Caramel or Mocha Lattes, or hot tea – but when the weather begins to warm up, they know what I’m there for.
My youngest daughter, Stephany, and I are completely hooked on the Green Tea Frappuccinos made with whipped topping on top and drizzled with raspberry syrup. Some people like the syrup mixed in with the green tea, itself – but it’s much prettier and much tastier if they just drizzle some on top. We both threw ourselves into one yesterday while out enjoying every single digit of the 49 degrees. That may not sound too warm, but it is when your weather’s been in the 20’s longer than my aunt was. She outsmarts the rest of us. She spends about 20 years in each decade.
While driving along slurpping, ooohing, and ahhhing, I thought how outstanding Starbucks Raspberry Syrup
would be on smoothies, ice cream, pound cake, white cake with white icing, cool whip covering strawberries or hot green tea, my hand… This stuff is that good.
I jumped online and found that you can order some of your very own. In fact, you can order any of their remarkable syrups and get all kinds of remarkable in your kitchen. Think about the possibilities with each of these:
Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Syrup
Starbucks Caramel Syrup
Starbucks Hazelnut Syrup
Starbucks Vanilla Syrup
Click through any of the flavors listed for more information – there are also Sugar Free versions available. My mind just doesn’t spend much time with the words sugar free. Sometimes when I’m huffing and puffing on the treadmill I wish it did. But, there you have it.
I’d recommend each one of these perfect syrups for flavoring coffee and/or using in the seductive manners I described. Whatever you do, you MUST grab a bottle of the Starbucks Raspberry Syrup and a bottle of the Starbucks Caramel Syrup.
You can have a lot of success making Starbucks-like drinks at home, but having great coffee, great tea bags, and these flavored syrups are essential. And delicious!
The vegetarian recipe below is from the wonderful cookbook you see pictured above – The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Being Vegetarian. I’ve already reviewed this book on Get Cooking, so I’ll spare you the details about how much you need your own copy (which you do!). You can find my review linked below the recipe. I’m even more impressed with this cookbook now that I’ve re-read it and tried out more of the recipes. There are more than just recipes, of course, there is a wealth of information for everyone – whether you are…
- A vegetarian who hasn’t touched meat in years.
- A new vegetarian.
- A semi-vegetarian.
- A fish, and chicken-lover who is trying to eat more vegetables and more vegetarian meals.
- Eating a burger right this minute and wish I’d shut-up about veggies.
No matter what category you’re in, you’ll love this book. Personally, I’m a 4… a very happy 4 who is about to eat a fish sandwich for lunch. 
Vegetarian Recipe: Raw Hummus Romaine Roll-Ups
Serves 4 | Prep Time: 15 Minutes | Serving Size: 1 Roll-up
1 cup sprouted garbanzo beans (or steamed)
1/2 cup tahini
1 cup olive oil
2 TBS fresh parsley
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 TBS tamari
Salt
Pinch cayenne
Water
Large romaine lettuce leaves (washed, patted dry)
Feta cheese, crumbled
1 tomato, chopped
1 cucumber, chopped
Place the garbanzo beans in a blender or a food processor. Add tahini, olive oil, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, tamari, salt, and cayenne, and blend until creamy.
Spread several tablespoons hummus onto 1 romaine leaf, and top with crumbled feta cheese, chopped tomato, and chopped cucumber. Roll and eat.
This makes an outstanding hummus – whether you bring the romaine lettuce to the party or not. I love this hummus served with raw vegetables and/or crackers.
From my own experience (this isn’t from the book), you can substitute creamy peanut butter for tahini and soy sauce for the tamari. Tahini can be pretty costly. It depends on the mood I’m in at the grocery store whether I buy it or just use peanut butter. I’m familiar with both and, honestly, can’t tell a discernible enough difference to recommend one over the other.
The wonderful recipe above is from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Being Vegetarian by Frankie Avalon Wolfe, M.H., Ph.D. You can read my review of the cookbook and see if you’d be interested in a copy of your own. Whether you are a vegetarian or not, this really is an outstanding book.
by Joi on February 23, 2010
Basset Hound Cookie Jar
Amish Orange Juice Cookies
2/3 cup shortening
3/4 cups sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup orange juice
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Cream shortening and sugar together. Add the egg and blend well. Add the orange juice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat well. Add the flour.
Bake at 400 degrees until set and golden brown – between 7 and 9 minutes, depending upon the size of the cookies. (Check at 7!)
Orange Butter Icing
2 cups powdered sugar
2 TBS butter
2 TBS orange juice
Blend together and spread onto cooled cookies. The quality and brand of your orange juice will affect the intensity of the orange flavor. Even the cookies with the least “orange” flavor are still outstanding, though. And when I say outstanding, I mean can’t eat just one delectable!
******* The gorgeous cookie jar at the top of the post is just one of an entire collection of dog and cat cookie jars available. I chose the beautiful Basset Hound in honor of one of my favorite dogs we’ve ever had – Honey. She was, undoubtedly, one of the sweetest, most warm-hearted animals to ever live and I simply adored her. If you click through the link, you can find your own dog or cat’s breed.
by Joi on February 20, 2010
You knew it was just a matter of time before my inner cookie monster started talking about Easter cookies. I swear, I could bake and eat cookies all day, every day. The cookie cutters below are beyond adorable and would create some real works of art. I can’t figure out which one I want most, so you know what that means! I think I just heard my husband groan…
These premium cookie cutters are made of copper, meaning they’ll be around for years and years and years. As a matter of fact, copper cookie cutters make gorgeous, thoughtful heirlooms to be passed from generation to generation – along with the memories of using them. But we’re getting way ahead of ourselves, let’s focus on this Easter and spring! I’m from the school of living out loud and making every moment count double – maybe even more so on holidays. Taking extra special time in the kitchen to create beautiful treats for your family makes every holiday extra, extra special and memorable.
In fact, when you get right down to it, taking special time and effort in the kitchen makes any day feel like a holiday. The kitchen is more than just a room, after all, it’s the heart of the home. It’s the place where we write beautiful love letters to our family – one meal and treat at a time!
Hatchling Copper Cookie Cutter
Lamb Copper Cookie Cutter
Bunny Copper Cookie Cutter
Egg Shaped Copper Cookie Cutter
by Joi on February 18, 2010
Wow, I didn’t see this one coming. As you know, I am the epitome of a coffee expert. My husband and our oldest daughter (Emily) are the same way. What can I say, we know our java. We always have a fresh pot of coffee brewing in the kitchen and we certainly know the spots around town with the best coffee when we need a quick fix away from home.
Emily and I are completely wild about Burger King’s coffee. For some reason, it is just always tastes outstanding. Apparently it’s about to get even more outstanding, if that’s possible. Starting this summer, new coffee will be served at Burger King’s nationwide.
Burger King will roll-out Starbucks Corp.’s Seattle’s Best Coffee to more than 7,000 of its restaurants in the United States. Burger King’s brand, BK Joe will be forced into retirement. Emily and I will miss it something fierce.
John Schaufelberger, senior vice president of Burger King’s global product marketing and innovation, told The Associated Press that coffee switcheroo is part of a continued effort to improve its breakfast business. He called Burger King’s morning menu one of their “top strategic priorities.”
Seattle Best Brand, which I love by the way, is one of coffee giants Starbuck’s babies. Starbuck’s acquired the Seattle’s Best brand in 2003. Seattle’s Best Brand is already served at 9,000 Subway franchises.
by Joi on February 14, 2010
One of my favorite human beings, let alone Presidents was President Ronald Reagan. He was one of a kind and I’m not sure there’ll ever be another like him. The country fell in love with him and for good reason. His charm, personality, and sense of humor made him a force to be reckoned with and they made him always appear to be larger than life.
The recipe below is reportedly a favorite of this great American and would be perfect for a President’s Day supper – or any day for that matter… it sounds delicious!
Ronald Regan’s Macaroni & Cheese Recipe
Serves 4 as an entrée, or 6 to 8 as a side dish
1/2 pound macaroni
1 tablespoon butter
1 egg beaten
3 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese
1 cup warm milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Pinch of paprika
From White House Cookbook, Revised and Updated Centennial Edition
by H. Haller and V. Aronson
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 2-quart casserole dish.
- Add macaroni to 2 quarts of boiling salted water and cook for 10 minutes.
- Drain well in a colander. Transfer to a mixing bowl.
- Stir in butter and beaten egg. Add 2-1/2 cups of the grated cheese.
- In a small bowl, combine milk with salt, mustard and Worcestershire sauce.
- Spoon macaroni and cheese into the prepared casserole. Pour milk mixture over and sprinkle top with the remaining cheese.
- Sprinkle with paprika. Bake on middle shelf of preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until macaroni is firm to the touch and the top is crusty and browned.
- Serve at once, either as a light entree accompanied by a hot green vegetable and a crisp salad, or as a side dish with Hamburgers or Meat Loaf.
by Joi on February 14, 2010
According to Monticello.org, this muffin recipe was often used, and loved, by Thomas Jefferson and his family. This would be a wonderful recipe to make tomorrow morning – very fitting for President’s Day, wouldn’t you say?
If you’re a history buff like me, you’ll definitely want to click the link above and visit this very informative and beautiful site.
Recipe for Monticello Muffins
4 cups of flour
1- 1/2 packets of yeast
1 -1/2 cups water
cast iron griddle
Silver flatware Jefferson brought from France; photograph by Edward Owen Mix flour, yeast, and water. Dough will be very sticky. Coat your hands in flour before kneading the dough. While kneading, continue to add small amounts of flour to the dough until the stickiness disappears and the dough becomes more solid. You may find you add as much as 1/2 cup more flour during this process.
Put the dough in a large bowl, cover with a towel, and leave in a warm place overnight. The dough should more than double by morning. The underside of the dough may be a bit sticky — if so, knead it a bit more. Using your hands, shape the muffins into small golf-ball sized balls. Set the muffins aside, cover with a towel, and let rise for an hour.
Preheat ungreased griddle over medium heat. Add shaped muffins to griddle and cook for about five minutes on each side.
The muffins will look like biscuits on the outside and English muffins on the inside. Serve immediately. Makes two dozen small muffins.
On Monticello.org, you can even find the Jefferson Family’s Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe!
