Halloween treats!

I have a couple of Halloween treats to share!





I will have step-by-step instructions on this as well as the little box that I had shown in an earlier post in tomorrow's post. More information on the organization folder will be posted soon too for those who have been emailing me!

The second is one that you can bake and eat!

Ooey Gooey S’mores Bars
1 14oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk (I use Dulce de leche)
1 package of small marshmallows
1 package of milk chocolate chips
2 pkgs graham cracker (crush well) in a large ziplock bag
1 package graham cracker (crush well) in separate ziplock bag
1 stick sweet unsalted butter

Melt butter into 13x9 pan.


Pour ziplock bag with 2 pkgs of graham cracker crumbs over the butter. Spread well.


Next, add a layer of milk chocolate chips. Then the marshmallows.


Then the last bag of graham cracker crumbs.


Drizzle the dulche de leche all over the top.


Bake at 350 degrees for about 18 minutes.
Take care not to burn the chocolate. It is done when the marshmallows are browned.
Loosen the edges once you take it out of the oven.
Let it cool completely before cutting it into squares.
Store in airtight containers in the fridge if there are any left overs. :)

I put a copy of the recipe on some Pumpkin Pie cardstock and tied it on with some Tangerine Tango ribbon. The s'mores bars are SO ooey and gooey that I put them on a slab of graham cracker before putting into the bags.



This recipe was found on SCS, contributed by Mirabella on "Simple but yummy goodies for stamp camps".

Cheers!
Jane

Strawberry Gingerale Cupcakes!

I had such a fantastic response from my Baby Shower post and many requests for the Strawberry Gingerale Cupcakes recipe. Well.. here you go!

In case you are just joining, these are the cupcakes that I made for my sister-in-law's baby shower a month ago.

Piper was born a week ago on Sunday! She's so beautiful! I am holding off on sharing the personal information until she is out of NICU out of respect for the parents. Thank you ALL for the wonderful emails and sweet messages that you have been posting. It has been a busy week and I will start to email back everyone tonight when I get back into San Jose. I really appreciate the good thoughts and prayers that have been sent their way. Thank you very much!

Check out these lovely organic strawberries from the local Farmer's Market!





Strawberry Gingerale Cupcakes

Cupcakes:
2-3/4 cups of flour
1-1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
2 sticks of butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
6 large strawberries or 10 medium strawberries, diced
1 cup gingerale

Frosting:
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
2 Tbsp gingerale

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a small bowl - sift flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside



3. In mixer - cream butter and sugar until well mixed and airy.





4. Add eggs one at a time. Make sure each one is fully incorporated before adding the next egg.
5. Slowly add in four mixture, 1/3 at a time. Make sure each batch is fully incorporated before adding the next.
6. Stir in vanilla and gingerale.



7. Stir in strawberries.







8. Line cupcake tins with cupcake liners.
9. Scoop even amount of dough into each cup - fill 1/4" to the top. You will have enough for 24 cupcakes.



10. Bake for approximately 15 minutes, until golden brown.




Frosting:
1. In mixer, mix butter and cream cheese together.
2. Add powdered sugar and whip until smooth. Continue to add powdered sugar until you get the consistency you desire.

Remove cupcakes from the oven and leave in tins for a few minutes to set.
Transfer to cooling racks.
When cupcakes are completely ready, decorate with frosting.




At the baby shower:



Happy Baking!

Planet Hollywood's Captain Crunch Chicken

I saw this on another SBS11 sister's blog and just had to give it a try.

YUMMY!!



Stephanie, my boys LOVE it! Thank you!



Stephanie's Planet Hollywood's Captain Crunch Chicken Recipe has an option to bake in the oven instead of frying. With my little ones playing around in the kitchen, it's much safer to bake than to fry! Thank you for that! Her recipe also has an awesome sounding Honey Mustard sauce on it. I didn't get a chance to give it a try today. My boys wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. I will try it sometime soon for myself though.





PLANET HOLLYWOOD'S CAPTAIN CRUNCH CHICKEN



2-1/2 cups Captain Crunch Cereal - do not use the one with pink berries... unless you want pink chicken. LOL! "Ewww" is right, Stephanie!

1 cup corn flakes

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup flour

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 pounds chicken breast, cut in 1-oz. tenders

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees

* I think this varies from oven to oven... 350 was too hot the first time in my oven.





1. Coarsely grind or crush the two cereals and set aside.







2. Beat the egg with milk and set aside.







3.Stir together the flour, onion and garlic powders and black pepper; set aside







4. Dip the chicken: pieces in the seasoned flour and coat well; shake off the excess flour.









5. Dip in the egg wash, coating well.









6. Dip in the cereal mixture, coating well.









7. Place on lined cookie sheet. I used my Silpat mat. Stephanie's recipe mentions a sheet of foil. Whatever you normally use to bake your chicken tenders on will work.







Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes. Yield: 4 to 6 servings.





Happy cooking and bon appétit!

Jane

Apple Pie in a Bag

Here's something most of you don't know about me.
I love to bake! I bet my husband didn't know this about me! LOL!
Well, SURPRISE! He loved this apple pie and you will too!
It's super easy to whip together! All you have to do is toss the whole thing into a bag and forget about it!
Well, don't forget to turn on the timer...

Pastry:
1- 1/2 c. flour
1- 1/2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup oil
2 Tbsp. cold milk

Mix ingredients & press into 9 or 10 in. pie plate

Filling:
4 c. sliced apples (I usually do less)
1/2 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon

Combine last 3 ingredients in a large ziploc bag.
Place apples in bag, seal, & toss.
Pour apples into pie shell.




Topping:
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. chilled margarine or butter
1/2 c. sugar

Mix together with hands until crumbly.
(This is why the butter needs to be right out of the fridge).
Sprinkle mixture over the top of the pie.




PLACE YOUR PIE IN A BROWN PAPER BAG ON A COOKIE SHEET.
Fold the ends of the bag.



Bake at 350 degrees for 1 -1/2 hours!
Do NOT peek!!!! Seriously.
Serves 6-8.




This recipe originally comes from my friend, Amber.
It's a crazy thing to bake this pie in a brown paper bag, but it really works!
This pie is absolutely DELICIOUS! Give it a try and see for yourself!

Happy baking and bon appétit!

Jane

Serendipity Bake Off!

Hosted by Familia Bencomo

Contest rules can be viewed on the Familia Bencomo blog.

Now for the PRIZE!

Let me tell you something... nothing has ever worked for these chapped and cracked craftin' fingers of mine during the cold winter months except for Serendipity Bath Co. products. Seriously! When I had shingles on my face, it was this company's Whoopsie Daisy! soap that got me through one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life! By the way, it is just sheer coincidence that my blog/online name is the same as one of my favorite products ever. Serendipity! lol! OMG! The Sugar Scrub alone is to die for! I use it practically every day! Really! Don't even get me started about my favorite scent, Brazenberry. Heavenly! You simply can not go wrong with these natural, handcrafted, made with love, bars of soap and products!

Please go over to Amy's blog, leave a comment, and give the Bake Off a try!

Be sure to visit the Soapchix at Serendipity Bath Company! Tell them I sent you!