Crazy stuff!!!!

I have heard recently that you can take a regular box of cake mix (any flavor) and bake it with a can of SODA (instead of the eggs and oil). The result is a lower fat cake option that doesn't need frosting. I was curious.... so I googled it. Turns out, it's TRUE!!!

Click here for a more detailed description.

CRAZY stuff, eh?

Gone Fishin' Trail Mix

Super cute for kid parties or playdates!!!!!

2 cups Pepperidge Farm® Goldfish Colors
1 cup Pepperidge Farm® Baby Cheddar Goldfish®
1 cup Pepperidge Farm® Pretzel Goldfish®
1 package (7 ounces) mixed dried fruit bits
1 cups dry roasted peanuts
1 cup white chocolate pieces

Stir the ingredients in a large bowl or a resealable container"

Super Bowl party food!!

Beer Cheese Triangles with zesty cheese sauce

2cups Original Bisquick® mix
1/2cup shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)
1/2cup beer or apple sauce
2tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1/4cup sesame or poppy seed
1loaf (8 oz) prepared cheese product, cut into cubes
1/4cup salsa
1/4cup refried beans



1.Line cookie sheets with waxed paper. In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, Cheddar cheese and beer until soft dough forms; beat vigorously 20 strokes. On surface sprinkled with Bisquick mix, roll dough in Bisquick mix to coat. Shape into a ball; knead 5 times.
2.Press or roll dough into 16x10-inch rectangle. Cut rectangle into 2-inch squares (do not separate); cut squares diagonally in half. Spread with melted butter; sprinkle with sesame seed. Separate triangles and place on cookie sheet. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Place frozen triangles in airtight container. Freeze up to 1 month.
3.Heat oven to 450°F. Spray large cookie sheets with cooking spray. Place triangles on cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.
4.To make sauce, in 1 1/2-quart saucepan, heat cheese product, salsa and beans over low heat, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted and sauce is hot. Serve triangles with sauce.


NOT REALLY A BIG PRE-PLANNER???? No problem, you can skip the freezer step and go directly to the oven for gameday prep! GO COLTS!!!

Roasted Garlic.

To roast garlic, sprinkle the bulb with a little olive oil and white wine, salt and pepper, wrap it in tin foil and roast in a 350 degree oven for approximately one hour.

Serve with toasted bread and WINE!!!! SINFULLY good.... and it will keep the vampires away!

Good to know.

General Shelf Lives For Common Items:
Flour unopened: up to 12 months. Opened: 6-8 months.
Sugar unopened: 2 years. Sugars do not spoil but eventually
may change flavor.
Brown sugar unopened: 4 months.
Confectioners sugar unopened: 18 months.
Solid shortening unopened: 8 months. Opened: 3 months.
Cocoa unopened: indefinitely. opened: 1 year.
Whole spices: 2-4 years. Whether or not opened.
Ground spices: 2-3 years. Whether or not opened.
Paprika, red pepper and chili powder: 2 years
Baking soda unopened: 18 months. Opened: 6 months.
Baking powder unopened: 6 months. Opened: 3 months.
Cornstarch: 18 months. Whether or not opened.
Dry pasta made without eggs unopened: 2 years.
Opened: 1 year.
Dry egg noodles unopened: 2 years.
Opened: 1-2 months.
Salad dressing unopened: 10-12 months.
Opened: 3 months if refrigerated.
Honey: 1 year. Whether or not opened.
Ground, canned coffee unopened: 2 years.
Opened: 2 weeks, if refrigerated.
Jams, jellies and preserves unopened: 1 year.
Opened: 6 months if refrigerated.
Peanut butter unopened: 6-9 months

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

This recipe is from my arsenal of deliciousness.... I cannot remember where I found it originally. I have made modifications along the way and think that it is simply perfect now! Sometimes I bake it in a bread bowl for party presentation. It is down right yummy in any vessel. ENJOY!

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

½ cup grated parmesan or romano cheese

1 large garlic clove, chopped

1 10oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed

{squeeze out moisture with cheese cloth}

1 can artichoke hearts, drained and patted dry

8 oz cream cheese, softened

2 eggs

1 cup shredded mozzarella

* Blend all ingredients together using hand mixer or food processor. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips.

twister anyone?

it really happened. we have sleet falling as i type. other people in the area have had the real white stuff, but not at my house. floridians don't know what to do in this climate.... so we hunker down and surf the internet. while doing this.... i found a great party tip from the realsimple website. twister anyone??

A Twister game mat makes a spot-on tablecloth for a child’s birthday party: Sticky spills and icing wash right off