STRAWBERRY & CHOCOLATE NACHOS

STRAWBERRY & CHOCOLATE NACHOS

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/06/strawberry-chocolate-nachos/

This was so yummy! It was a fun one for the kids to help with. Was pretty messy though. We used the strawberries we had gone and picked from Herricks - yum!!!

CHIPS:

Flour or Wheat Tortillas

Melted Butter

Cinnamon/Sugar (I used Splenda)

Butter one side of the tortilla then sprinkle with cinnamon /sugar. Cut with a pizza cutter into desired size. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

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STRAWBERRIES, cut up and put a little bit of sugar (used Splenda) and let sit to get a light syrup. I think it would be fine just plain strawberries too.

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GUITTARD EXTRA DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPS, melt (they suggest adding a little bit of shortening or canola oil - I tried olive oil and it made it lumpy)

On a plate put the chips - top with strawberries and drizzle chocolate.

CUCUMBERS

CUCUMBERS

Judi fixed these one time and I just loved them! I like making 1/2 a batch for our family.

1 cup of either sour cream or plain yogurt

1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar (splenda works too)

1/4 - 1/2 cup vinegar (I like rice the best)

pepper

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4 cucumbers, peeled and cut up

1/2 - 1 onion, cut up into thin strips (optional)

Mix wet ingredients and then add cucumbers and onion. Refrigerate.

RASPBERRY APPLE DANISH SPREAD

RASPBERRY APPLE DANISH SPREAD

I got this from the box of Ritz brown sugar & cinnamon. I took it to the 5th ward luncheon at the park. I really liked it and everyone else seemed to like it as well. I saw someone putting it on a piece of bread, which I thought was a good idea too. You could use any kind of jam or crackers.

1 8 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened

1 apple, chopped

2 T seedless raspberry jam

1/3 cup granola

RITZ brown sugar cinnamon crackers

Heat oven to 350. Spread cream cheese onto bottom of 9" pie plate or 1 qt. casserole.

Combine apples and jam and spread over cream cheese. Top with granola.

Bake 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve with crackers.

STRAWBERRY CAKE & FROSTING

FRESH STRAWBERRY CAKE
We loved!  Next time try in a 9x13 or sheet cake.  Jackson wants for his birthday.  Could try blackberry too.  Frosting turned out runny for me (but just reread recipe and noticed I was suppose to put in fridge for 30 min or so before frosting - did original frosting).  We froze the leftover frosting.  UPDATE: was awesome frozen!!  Yum!  This would be a good cake to cut up into single serving pieces and freeze and eat frozen.
http://spicedblog.com/fresh-strawberry-cake.html

• 3 cups cake flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• ½ cup sour cream
• 2 Tbsp vanilla extract
• ¾ cup milk

1. Grease and flour 2 9” round cake pans; set aside. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir until well combined; set aside.
3. Using a countertop mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
4. Add about ½ of the flour mixture to the bowl; mix on low speed until well combined.
5. Add the sour cream, vanilla, and approximately half of the milk to the bowl. Mix on low until well combined.
6. Add the remaining flour mixture; mix on low until well combined.
7. Add the remaining milk; mix on low until well combined. (Tip: Don’t forget to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure all ingredients are fully mixed.)
8. Divide the batter evenly between the 2 cake pans. Bake at 325°F for 34-36 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

ORIGINAL STRAWBERRY FROSTING

See above note -turned out runny.  We froze leftovers.  Just noticed I was suppose to put in fridge for 30 minutes before decorating.

• 3 cups heavy cream (did 2 cups)
• 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 3 pints (~2 pounds) strawberries, stems and hulls removed

1. In a medium bowl, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form; set aside. (See note below.)
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese on high speed until light and fluffy. (Tip: Stop and scrape the sides of the bowl once or twice during this step.)
3. Add the sugar and vanilla; beat on medium speed until fully combined.
4. Meanwhile, slice ⅓ of the strawberries into thin slices; set aside. Dice the remaining strawberries into smaller pieces.
5. Add the diced strawberries to the bowl and mix until fully combined. (Note: The frosting will turn pink; mix until frosting is uniform in color.)
6. Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the whipped cream with a large spoon or spatula.
7. Finally, fold in the sliced strawberries.

STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Looks yummy - want to try.

• 12 Tbsp (6 oz.) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 12 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
• 1½ Tbsp vanilla extract
• 5½-6 cups powdered sugar
• 3 cups strawberries, diced

1. Using an electric mixer, cream together butter and cream cheese until smooth.
2. Add vanilla extract and powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition.
3. Using a spatula or large spoon, stir in diced strawberries.

GRANDMA'S STRAWBERRY CAKE (but not my Grandma)

Found this recipe in Homemaking Blueprints (pg. 32) - a free book I got at Church once. My family just loves it. I have also made it using raspberry juice and some blackberries. I brought this to Lisa's one night we were playing games. She took the leftovers and froze them. She individual pieces wrapped each individually and froze. They said they are really good (Kambria especially liked).

Mix:

1 box white cake mix

1 box (3 oz) strawberry gelatin (I think any flavor would work)

1 T flour

Add and mix:

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup oil (I did 1/2 applesauce)

Then add 4 eggs one at a time beating well after each egg. (I did 2 of the eggs with flaxmeal (1 T to 3 T water, sit 2 min.)

Add and mix well:

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 box undrained frozen strawberries (about 1/2 cup) I usually thaw a little

Pour into 2 9" pans or a 9x13 that have been well greased and floured if you are going to remove from pans. Bake at 325 for 25-30 minutes. Cool and remove from pans. When completely cooled, frost with Strawberry Frosting.

STRAWBERRY FROSTING

If doing a 9x13 half of the recipe is just right.

UPDATE: Twice this frosting has failed for me.  But it tastes good.  Maybe next time look on pinterest first and get a different recipe.

Using a mixer, mix really well 16 oz powdered sugar with 1/2 cup (2 cubes) softened butter or margarine. 
Add 1/2 cup undrained (slightly softened) frozen strawberries and 1 tsp vanilla. Blend well.

WILD WEST SIZZLIN' CHICKEN TACOS

WILD WEST SIZZLIN' CHICKEN TACOS

This recipe came from a Betty Crocker calendar. It was really good and easy to make. Great recipe for the kids to help with.

UPDATE: made it with baked beans (hickory).  We liked it but couldn't taste the bacon.  Next time if I do baked beans I won't add the bacon.

2 cups cooked chicken strips

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. paprika

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1 medium red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1 cup barbecue baked beans (I used black beans and then had bbq beans as a side)

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

4 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled (only do if using plain beans - see note above)

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4 Stand 'N Stuff taco shells

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diced tomatoes

lettuce or spinach

Heat oven to 400. In small bowl, toss chicken strips with cumin and paprika to coat. In a 8" glass baking dish, stand taco shells side by side.

Fill each shell evenly with chicken, peppers, beans, bacon and cheese.

Bake 8 minutes or until heated.