Holidays
I made this cake over memorial weekend and everyone LOVED it, this cake had rave reviews from everyone! I did make this gluten free and dairy free but it’s just as good using your favorite box cake. The cake I used was a gluten free funfetti cake mix, hence the speckles in the cake! You use what you have and what you like!
The original recipe did not have the layer of lemon pudding but for us that truly made the cake. This is one robby and Jim have asked for again !
INGREDIENTS
1 box of white cake mix and everything needed to make the cake according to the package.
3 ounce box of strawberry jell-o
1 small box of instant lemon pudding plus ingredients on the box.
1 cup of boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
1 small tub of cool whip
Fresh strawberries sliced for the top if desired
DIRECTIONS
Prepare cake according to the directions in a 9x13pan.
Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes. Poke the cake all over with a fork created lots of holes.
Combine the jello with the boiling water and stir until the sugar is dissolved then add the cold water.
Pour the jello all over the cake slowly so it’s seeps in all the holes.
Make the lemon pudding according to the directions and layer the lemon pudding over the cake completely covering it.
Add the cool whip in the same way over the lemon layer. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours before slicing. Add sliced strawberries for garnish
Keep leftovers in the fridge.
Enjoy!
Anne
Many of us have received the fruit/dipped fruit from Edible Arrangements, what’s your favorite fruit from there? For us it’s the chocolate dipped pineapple. They are so sweet and juicy! I decided to give them a try myself. I did not measure the melting chocolate and used only about 1/4 of a fresh pineapple as I was not making very many. I also added some toasted coconut to some of them along with a pipette filled with coconut rum .(I used the rest of the pineapple for a side dish at dinner.)
I made some of these for us but also shared with our neighbors who enjoyed them as much as we did! I only made about a dozen of these but will make much more next time! I put them on small skewers but that’s optional.
INGREDIENTS
1 pineapple , I used 1/4 of it to make about one dozen or so
1 bag of ghirardelli melting chips, I used the dark chocolate
1/2 cup of toasted coconut-optional
Coconut rum and pipette’s -optional
Small skewers-optional
DIRECTIONS
TO MAKE TOASTED COCONUT- add desired amount of coconut to a non stick skillet on medium low heat. Let the coconut toast and stir often as the coconut will burn. Don’t walk away from the coconut as this takes just a couple minutes. When the coconut is lightly browned remove from heat and let cool.
DIPPED PINEAPPLE-cut your pineapple into bite size chunks, I made mine on the smaller size as I wanted them to be one bite. Dry the pineapple with a paper towel, if you are using skewers add the skewers into the pineapple now as this makes it super simple to dip!
Melt the melting chips until smooth and creamy and dip each pineapple bite one at a time and dip into the tasted coconut if you are adding it. Place on a tin foil lined and greased baking sheet. Do this for all of your pineapple.
If you are adding rum, place a 1/4 cup or so into a small bowl, fill the pipette with the rum and insert into your pineapple. Do this for all of the pineapple you are adding rum to. Keep refrigerated, this is also best made and served on the same day.
Enjoy!
Anne
I don’t make lamb very often but both Jim and I enjoy lamb now and again. I love this recipe as it’s so easy and packed with flavor. I shared two lamb lollipops with my Dad and he really enjoyed this dish as much as we did. I served the lamb lollipops with mashed potatoes and a salad.
INGREDIENTS
3 Tablespoons olive oil
8 Lamb lollipops
Pinch of salt
Pinch of pepper
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
1 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, use desired amount but can also be left out.
DIRECTIONS
Add olive oil to a large pan. Heat over medium high heat. Season both sides of the lamb with salt and pepper.
Once the pan is hot, sear the chops on each side getting a nice golden brown color. Remove lamb from the heat and place on a plate to rest.
Turn the heat down to medium low. Add the minced garlic to the pan then whisk in brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to taste. Allow the sauce to thicken slightly then add the lamb back into the pan and cook until desired doneness. I only let mine continue to cook for about 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat and serve warm.
Enjoy,
Anne
What a crazy couple of months we have had! So many celebrations all at once, Jim is retired after 36 years as an Army Pilot. We had a retirement ceremony in Concord N.H. With all of our family including our Daughter Amanda and her family who live in upstate N.Y. There was so much to be thankful for on that very special day!
This was taken at the ceremony, Jim is on the far right.
This was Jim’s very last flight in the Blackhawk helicopter. He flew this for many years including flying medivac in Iraq as well as in N.H. When he landed and taxied in the Concord fire department was there with water cannon’s being sprayed as he taxied underneath. It was an incredible sight.
We came home and many of our neighbors had signs in front of their homes congratulating Jim for his service, we are so fortunate to have an amazing group of neighbors!
Our Grandkids getting ready to leave for the ceremony!
We did lots of celebrating that week including Easter with all of our family and then a couple of weeks after that we celebrated Birthdays. It has been an amazing and exhausting few weeks.
I need to move on as I can go on and on about our past couple months!
I recently came across the company Yum Crumbs that make the most delicious crumb topping. They Taste just like the ice cream bars with the strawberry crunch on them. The company makes several flavors, I purchased the strawberry shortcake, chocolate eclair and caramel apple to start. I just placed a second order for two gluten free flavors. I made these chocolate dipped strawberries a couple of times. Some I dipped in just the white chocolate but most of them got a dip in the strawberry shortcake yum crumb topping but I did not stop there, I made a few for one of our neighbors but I added a pipette filled with strawberry vodka into the dipped berries! The possibilities are endless with the various flavors. I’m seeing caramel dipped apples, cake toppings, pie topping….my mind is buzzing with so many things I can create!
INGREDIENTS
Strawberries
Ghirardelli melting chips, I used the white
Yum crumbs strawberry shortcake crumbs
DIRECTIONS
Simply melt the white chocolate chips according to package directions and dip the strawberries in the melted white chocolate then roll in the yum crumbs and place them on a foil covered baking sheet that has been sprayed with non stick spray and cool until set.
Enjoy!
Anne
I found this no bake Blueberry Lemon Dessert on Pinterest from the website sweetordeal.com and it just looked so easy with bright flavors that I have been missing through this cold winter weather. This is typically made in a 9×13 dish but I made it in 2 8×8 pans so I could share with the N.H. Army National Guard unit my husband is in. This recipe is the perfect make ahead recipe as it needs to set up in the refrigerator for 2 hours before serving. This dessert is creamy, tart and sweet all in one bite. Everyone really enjoyed this dessert. I will be making this often!
INGREDIENTS
3 cups graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup butter, melted
2 8 ounce packages of cream cheese, brought to room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
Lemon juice from 2 medium lemons
1 cup 2% or whole milk
3.4 ounce box instant lemon pudding
24 ounce can blueberry pie filling
16 ounce tub of cool whip, thawed
DIRECTIONS
Mix graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter, set aside 1/2 cup to sprinkle on top if desired. Press the crumbs into the bottom of a 9×13 dish and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl throughly mix cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the lemon juice and milk, mix well. Add the dry pudding mix and combine well. Drop by dollops over the graham cracker layer and gently spread evenly over forming the second layer.
Drop the blueberry pie filling on top of the lemon layer by spoonfuls and gently spread into an even layer.
Top with the cool whip and layer over the blueberry layer. If you reserved some of the graham cracker crumbs you can sprinkle the crumbs on top. I did not do this step I used all of the crumb for the base of the dessert.
Allow the dessert to set up for 2 hours in the refrigerator before serving.
Keep this dessert refrigerated.
Enjoy!
Anne
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