Oreo Truffle Balls

These are THE yummiest treat I have maybe EVER tasted.  So I wanted to share!  They only take about 20 minutes (if you soften your cream cheese beforehand) to make and then an hour to chill in the fridge.  Anyhow... here is the recipe.

These are perfect to take or make for a party - they look & taste so gourmet. For Valentines, it would be darling to add a drizzle of red or pink chocolate on top... don't you think??!

Ham Recipes Baked & Much More

An Obsession with Ham The Hindquarter is one of the best ham cookbooks available on Amazon and it is packed with more than 100 recipes from around the world including baked ham recipes.  Written by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough and photographed by Marcus Nilsson, it promises to help you find a few more ways to cook your ham.

I agree with Amazon when they say ham is delicious from the very beginning. Simply prepared, ham melts in your mouth so add a special recipe like my The Best-Ever Glazed Baked Ham and well, it can be like a slice of heaven.

With this book, you will literally travel the world of ham including the Philippines, Spain, the Caribbean, the American South, Conneticut and more.  Enjoy the authors' stories and (to quote Amazon) pig out on the recipes.

Faturing 224 pages of stories and recipes, this book is a fairly recent publication, from March 1, 2010 and has already garnered some interesting 'HAm'azon customer reviews, including:

'Eat Before Reading' and '...delicious from cover to cover.' ~~ S. Rogers

'HAM, The new cookbook by Weinstein and Scarbrough is outstanding in every way. It has given me insights into preparing AND enjoying wonderful ham.' ~~ Joan Lewis

'This is a feast of a book. More delicious recipes for ham than I could have imagined, punctuated by a hilarious narrative of the authors' adventures during their year of ham.' ~~ Wren

With those reviews and the fact that Amazon has it nicely discounted at 30 percent off, this is a cookbook that I need to add to my collection.  It would also make an amazing gift for any of the cooks on your list.  Mother's Day immediately comes to my mind.



The Best-Ever Glazed Baked Ham
Order your copy of An Obsession with Ham The Hindquarter from Amazon.

Recipes For Asparagus

Asparagus lovers rejoice; it is almost asparagus season. If you are looking for some fantastic recipes for asparagus, check out this cookbook, The Asparagus Festival Cookbook, which was written by Jan Moore, Barbara Hafly and Glenda Hushaw and which promises many wonderful, top-rated recipes.

This asparagus cookbook was written after the first hugely successful three-day Asparagus Festival in Stockton, California in 1986.

The festival attracts a huge crowd of asparagus lovers every year in April where the highlight no doubt is ‘Asparagus Alley.’ Under the big tent, cooks prepare this delicious, nutritious vegetable for the crowds.

The Asparagus Festival Cookbook shares many of the prize-winning recipes from the cook-offs over the years. It would make a wonderful Easter time or springtime gift for the cook in your life.



Quick Links:

Find more ideas for your Easter dinner at A Tasty and Traditional Easter Dinner Menu.
Buy this collection of recipes for asparagus from Amazon for just $5.95.

RECIPES

I get lots of emails requesting recipes that I mention on this blog. Instead of having to email them out to several people or retype them on this blog {here} is a link to my recipe blog where I post almost all of my favorite recipes. I'm in the process of transferring all the recipes from my private blog so it will take a few days before they are all up.

There is also a link on the sidebar.

Sugar Cookie Recipe

I spent 3 HOURS making sugar cookies last night!

But...it was worth it - the dough tasting, the frosting sampling, 

and the fun with my 4 year old!

So here is the recipe for YOU!

OLD FASHIONED SOFT SUGAR COOKIES
3 1/2 C. sifted flour         1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. soda                      1 square butter
1/2 tsp. salt                     1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup sugar                     1 egg

Sift together flour, soda & salt.  In another bowl, combine remaining ingredients and beat 2 minutes.  Add flour mixture and stir well.  Roll out 1/4" to 1/2" thick (the thicker the better, I think!).  Cut into cookies and place on greased sheet.  Bake at 400 for 8-10 minutes.  (DO NOT wait for cookies to brown before taking out.  This will make them too dry/hard.  My oven runs a little hot, so I baked them at 380 for only 7 minutes and they are perfect.  Just a side note!)

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

1 tsp. vanilla
1 (3 oz) cream cheese
2 C. powdered sugar
1/4 C. butter

(add a little milk if you want to thin the frosting out)

Enjoy! 

Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizzas

I found this idea the other day

and wanted to share it with you.

I have seen the big sugar cookie pizza recipes that you cook on a pizza pan, but I like how these are miniature.

Anything mini is just cute!

So here are the instructions for the easiest version:

Bake or buy your sugar cookies.

Spread strawberry cream cheese on top.

Slice strawberries, kiwi, grapes, etc., and decorate each cookie. Keep it simple.

Arrange your mini fruit pizzas on a pretty platter and there you have it.

Done.

Here is a recipe I found on another site that has a variation of the cream cheese topping. It sounds good, too.

INGREDIENTS

1 (18-oz.) pkg. (20 cookies) Pillsbury® Ready to Bake!™ Refrigerated Sugar Cookies
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup powdered sugar
10 fresh strawberries, quartered
1 kiwi fruit, peeled, cut in half lengthwise and cut into 10 slices
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup fresh raspberries

DIRECTIONS

1. Bake cookies as directed on package. Cool 10 minutes or until completely cooled.
2. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, combine cream cheese, limeade concentrate and powdered sugar; beat until smooth.
3. Spread each cooled cookie with 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture. Arrange fruit on top of each. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 2 hours.

I think these would be so cute for a bridal or baby shower, your next girls night out, a little girl tea party, or just for a fun dessert for your family.

Happy End of Summer Party-ing!

Easy Appetizer Idea

Need a cute, easy, and YUMMY appetizer idea? 

Well here you go!

You will need graham crackers, strawberries, cream cheese and chocolate. Break the graham cracker into two pieces and spread cream cheese evenly over the surface. Cut up strawberries and place them on top of the cream cheese and then drizzle chocolate on top of them. Serve chilled and enjoy!

These would be fun to do for all you who are hosting or going to a party! Of course, you should come and grab some colored napkins from us to add a splash of color!