Lemon Blossoms

As I was looking for the cobbler recipe that keeps turning up lost I came across a recipe that I made for one of our tea parties. They are very easy and very good.

Lemon Blossoms:

18 1/2 oz. package yellow cake mix
3 1/2 oz. package instant lemon pudding
4 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray nine muffin tins with nonstick spray. Mix the ingredients and fill each tin half way. Bake for 12 minutes. Meanwhile prepare the glaze.

Glaze:
4 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 lemon, zested
3 Tbs. vegetable oil
3 Tbs. water

Sift sugar into a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients. Mix until smooth. Dip cakes into glaze while still warm. Set 1 hour.


I am still looking for the cobbler recipe. Let's just hope it isn't lost forever.

Pasta Salad with Olives--Insalata di pasta con olive

Sometimes I run out of ideas for side dishes. I get kind of tired of potatoes, rice, and corn. I have been looking for a pasta salad recipe for a long time. Tonight I found one in my Italian cookbook. The one Sarah D gave me. We loved it! As soon as I find my camera cord, I will put on a picture. This is a really pretty salad!

1 pound pasta- such as medium shells, farfalle, or penne
4 Tbs. olive oil
10 sun dried tomatoes- thinly sliced
2 Tbs. capers (rinsed)
2/3 cup black olives sliced
2 cloves garlic-finely chopped
3 Tbs. Balsamic vinegar
salt and freshly ground pepper
3 Tbs. fresh chopped parsley

Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until done. Drain and rinse with cold water.
The the water is boiling and the pasta is cooking soak the sundried tomatoes in one cup of hot water for 10 minutes. In a medium bowl combine the rinsed capers, olives, garlic, and vinegar.
After 10 minutes drain the tomatoes - reserving some of the water to add later. When the pasta has been drained and rinsed, add it to the bowl. toss the pasta with the olive oil and add to the bowl with the other ingredients. Add enough of the reserved water to moisten it. Sprinkle with salt and fresh ground pepper.
Let stand for at least 15 minutes before serving.
Serves 4 to 6

Caramel Apple Spice

Caramel Apple Spice is one of my favorite drinks from Starbucks. 

Unfortunately it's kind of expensive. 

I was really craving some this fall season 

but didn't want to spend 5 bucks on one cup. 

This recipe tastes almost exactly like the one from Starbucks 

and it's a lot cheaper too.

You will need:

Apple Cider

Meltable Caramels (6 per cup)

Cinnamon

Whipped Topping

Mix a pinch of cinnamon (per taste) into your cider.

Heat up the cider using either microwave or stove top.

Pour into individual mugs.

Using a double boiler melt your caramels over the stove. 
Follow the instructions on the caramel packet.

(Remember it's about 6 cubes per cup.)

Once the caramels are liquid begin pouring equal amounts into the mugs.

Stir well, until you can no longer scrap caramel from the bottom of the mug.

Add whipped cream on top.

Drizzle any remaining caramel on top of the whipped cream.

Enjoy... It's delicious. 

Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

I made this salad for Megan and Chris when they came to visit. They wanted to eat it everyday they were here. It is so good and fresh.

Spinach Salad

Baby spinach
sliced fresh strawberries
canned mandarin orange segments (drained)
sliced fresh avacado
sliced purple onion


Poppy Seed Dressing

1/2 small onion chopped
3/4 C sugar
1 t dry mustard
1 t salt
1/2 C white vinegar
1 C oil
1t poppy seeds

Place the onion in the blender and give it a whirl. Add the sugar, mustard salt and vinegar. Give it a whirl until everything is smoothe and pureed. Add the oil slowly while continuing to process. Add the poppy seeds but dont process anymore. Pour the desired amount over your spinach salad and toss. Refrigerate the remainder. You will want to make this again!

Halloween Dessert

When I was at Disneyland after my freshmen year of college, I got a free recipe book from the Mission Tortilla Factory. This is my favorite recipe in the book. It is fun to serve to a party because everyone gets to participate in making their dessert. I did this at BYU and everyone liked this dessert even though it is simple.

Ingredients:

Flour tortillas
1T Sugar
1T Cinnamon
Vegetable oil for frying

"Carve" each tortilla into a jack-o-lantern face with a knife. Combine cinnamon and sugar mixture and set aside. Heat oil in a pan. When hot, fry each tortilla. The tortillas will puff up. After the tortillas are a golden color, take out of the pan and put on a paper towel to drain. Sprinkle each tortilla with the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Eat while hot. This is good when served with ice cream.