Estonian Kringel (Cinnamon Braid Bread)

This recipe is from a Romanian food blog. Then it was translated and posted on a U.S. cooking site called 'Totally Love It'. That's where I found it.


Cinnamon Braid Bread

Just the unique look of this bread alone, made me want to try it! Then when I saw the simple ingredients I knew I had to try it! I'm not much of a baker so I wasn't sure if I could get this bread to work for me...but I did! It was very easy! I love that the dough has an egg yolk and milk in it. I never made a bread with those ingredients before!

Chicken Enchilada Pasta

Chicken Enchilada Pasta
**Click Here For Recipe**

Do you ever try a recipe and love it so much that you don't even bother to add the suggested toppings? That's why my pic shown above looks so plain. But it doesn't taste plain at all! I took a little taste ( or maybe a big taste) before I plated it for that photo and I said to myself, 'Why put anything ontop of this when it tastes so flavorful already?'...plus I couldn't stop eating it long enough to get the toppings out of the fridge! This tastes exactly like a chicken enchilada, except there's no tortilla! The pasta becomes the tortilla!

This was so easy to make...about 40 minutes from start to finish! I didn't bother to pre-cook the chicken and then shred it. I just cut the chicken cutlets into tiny bite sized pieces and sauteed it in the same skillet that I used to saute the veggies. I like to make things as easy as possible.

I love creamy cheesy pasta. And I love chicken. And I love Mexican food. So this was a win, win recipe in my eyes! So, if you want to try this creamy, cheesy and oh so delicious chicken enchilada pasta for yourself, just go to the Pearls, Handcuffs & Happy Hour Blog

Banana Split Mini Bites!

Aren't these just the CUTEST little desserts you've ever seen?

Well take it from me...don't try these unless your making them for no more than 2 people! What a huge pain in the neck these were to make! Here is a list of problems...

Caramel Covered Grapes!

These caramel covered green grapes tastes ALOT like caramel apples! I saw this on...

Red White and Blue Drink!

Yes, this is another one that I found on Pinterest...I know, I stalk that site way too much! I just love finding these kinds of fun recipes! This drink is so easy to make!

Cute Lady Bug Crackers!

I'm really loving the recipes I find on Pinterest these days! There are some very unique and fun ways to play with food on that site...which is my favorite thing to do!

Here is an example of what I'm talking about!



Cheesy Cauliflower Tater Tots!

Did you ever find a recipe that sounds really tasty but has an ingredient and recipe instructions that just doesn't appeal to you? That's what I saw with this recipe, but I didn't let it stop me because I just loved everything else about the recipe!

This recipe called for 4 egg whites...and the whipping of egg whites into stiff peaks! I do not like either of those things because I don't want to waste the egg yolks and I'm not that experienced at the stiff peaks egg white whipping thing! It also called for the use of a pasrty bag and star pastry bag tip...I don't own either of those! Plus that's just too much work for making tater tots!

So I used 1 large egg (including the yolk) and just beat it into the cauliflower mixture! Guess what? It worked perfectly! And I used a 10 oz. box of frozen cauliflower florets instead of fresh, to make it even easier! Just thaw and squeeze the heck out of the cauliflower to drain all the excess liquid!

Instead of the pastry bag I just plopped it onto a parchment lined cookie sheet using two spoons. Again, it worked perfectly!

These cauliflower tater tots were delicious! Especially if you're a fan of cauliflower like I am! They have a nice strong cauliflower flavor but are light,fluffy and cheesy! This is a low carb recipe!

Here is the link to the original recipe...'Cheesy Cauliflower Tater Tots'...and below is my photo of how mine turned out! And I included my easy version of this recipe!


Cheesy Cauliflower Tater Tots

INGREDIENTS;
1 Medium head of cauliflower - I used 10 oz. frozen thawed and squeezed dry
2 Tbls. heavy cream - I used light cream
2 Tbls. butter
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 egg whites - I used 1 large egg with yolk
salt and pepper to taste - I used 1/4 tsp. of each
garlic powder to sprinkle ontop after baked - my idea

 MY EASY DIRECTIONS;
In a microwave safe bowl add cauliflower, light cream and butter. Microwave on high for 5 minutes.
Transfer cauliflower mixture to a food processor with cheese and pulse slightly until it's the texture of oatmeal. Add salt and pepper. Place back into bowl. Then add in egg and beat until fully combined.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Drop cauliflower mixture by the spoonful onto parchment paper...you should get about 14 tater tots.
Bake on center rack, uncovered, for about 18 minutes or until nicely browned.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with garlic powder.
Serve warm or room temp.

                                                       

Apple Pancake Rings and Mini Pancake Stacks

This is another recipe that I found on Pinterest! I thought it looked like a great idea for a breakfast recipe! It tasted very good but it was a pain to make! I tried to make it as easy as possible by using my 'go to' pancake batter recipe. But there were other problems that I did not for see!

Problem #1

Red, White and Blue Strawberries!

I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought it was so cute for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend! This would also be perfect for the 4th of July...or Veteran's Day...or Election Day...or...well you get the idea!

I don't think I have to write the directions for this, but just in case...this is strawberries dipped in melted white chocolate then dipped in blue colored sugar. The colored sugar can be found in the cake decorating section of most grocery stores!

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And this is another fun thing to do with fruit!

White chocolate chips stuffed into blackberries!

This gives the fruit a nice balance of tart and sweet!

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

I've been loving cajun recipes lately! Probably because I discovered this easy and perfect cajun spice mix recipe...*click here* I love making my own spice mixes especially when I can't find the ones I need in the grocery store! That's what happened the day I found that recipe! I wanted to make some jambalaya and it worked so well that I decided to try other cajun recipes!

This 'Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta' was so delicious and so easy! I've always loved creamy pasta recipes, but I never tried one with a cajun flare! The leftovers even tasted great cold! Here is the blog post where I found this recipe...*click here* This recipe will be made often in my house!



Don't Believe Everything You See On Pinterest!!!

I saw this recipe for 'Strawberry Smores' on Pinterest! It was one of those recipes that was 'Re-Pinned' a lot!!! The photo looked soooo inviting and delicious! It also sounded VERY easy to make! WRONG!!!!

A Cool Way to Make Baked Potatoes!

The recipe caught my eye because of the photo! I love to find new ways to make potatoes and this definitely looked like something new! The recipe is called

Peanut Butter and Jelly Banana Burritos!

I found this recipe idea on the Internet! It was so easy and very good!

Crab and Spinach Souffle's

I love to figure out ways to use up leftover stuff that I have in my freezer! I had some leftover imitation crab meat and some leftover frozen chopped spinach that was just sitting there begging to be used!

Iced Chai Tea

I love all things Chai! I've tried many Chai flavored teas and the brand that I think has the most flavor is Good Earth...I always buy the decaf version! I love the strong spices that this tea has. Many tea brands are weak and bland. But I never let those other brands go to waste! That's where my Iced Chai Tea idea came from!

Antipasto Salad Bowl

When I have large family dinners (20-24 guests) for the holidays I always make my antipasto platter! Everyone looks forward to it! I serve this before the main dish.

Sauerkraut Balls!

Ohio is well known for their Sauerkraut Balls and now so am I because my guests loved this! This tastes like a cheese dog with sauerkraut! I served this with yellow mustard for dipping. This was a unique and very flavorful appetizer/snack! Perfect for any get-together! These can very easily be made a day ahead and then baked when needed!

Flower Power Eggs!

I saw this recipe idea posted on Pinterest! I thought it was cute! I love the creative food on that site!

I just had to try it!  I love peppers and eggs, so I knew this would taste great!

It's Time For Another McCormick Spice Giveaway!

This is what you will receive in the giveaway!

Do you remember this post...A Great Giveaway...well it's time to do another one!

Basil Infused Olive Oil in 10 Minutes!

I received some basil infused olive oil as a gift and loved it! When the oil was all gone I missed having it around! So I decided to make some myself. It's very easy to do! Two ingredients and three simple steps and you'll have this delicious infused olive oil!

I love to dip Italian bread into the oil and eat it with a piece of hard cheese. And a glass of wine goes nicely with that too! It's also delicious drizzled over pasta! Infused oils can be very expensive to buy! So making it yourself is a great way to save money and have the satisfaction of knowing that you can do it!



Basil Infused Olive Oil