Ok… so I bought a couple of cans of artichoke hearts a while back. At my favorite Italian restaurant, I love the Mista salad they serve with artichoke hearts, so it was my intention to add them to my own salads I made at home.

A few weeks ago, I delightedly added part of the first can to a salad for my lunch that day.

Uhm… yeah… mushy much? And the heck who stole the flavor???

Soooo… here I sat with that extra can and wondering what to do with it.

I finally grabbed it off the shelf today and read the label, which had a few serving suggestions. No recipes, but one of the suggestions was to sauté them with paprika and lemon juice.

Ok… I’m game… ANYTHING would HAVE to be better than my last round with them… so let’s see what I came up with…

Lemon & Garlic Artichoke Hearts Recipe: Step by Step

Throw the butter and garlic into a pan. *whispers* Yes... yes... I cheated... I used the jarred minced garlic... I haz an aversion to mincing garlic... I have better things to do with my time... like painting my toenails...

After the butter has melted, dump in the drained artichoke hearts. Add the lemon juice and salt, then sprinkle well with paprika.

Stir the little suckers around until heated through.

And here they are... Lemon & Garlic Artichoke Hearts... not too bad... more flavor than they had on the salads... so if you have a can of artichoke hearts and you're not sure what to do with the bland little things, you might give this recipe a whirl.

Lemon & Garlic Artichoke Hearts Recipe: Video

Lemon & Garlic Artichoke Hearts Recipe: Printable

Landon and his friends are in the kitchen and he’s coordinating the gang in making chili dogs. They get to the end and start to put everything together on their plates… one problem… he forgot to get someone to cook the hot dogs!!! LOL

Somebody Has Upset The Chef!

I’ve been a very good girl today.

*shuffles feet uncomfortably*

I have… I swearz…

*glances Heavenwards*

*sigh*

Ok… fine… I haz been a wee bit naughty…. but… but.. but…

I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF! THEY JUST THREW THEMSELVES AT ME! THEY'RE EVILLLLLLL!

See?!? See?!? It's sneaking outta this post to come after me again!!! I haz a stalker cookie!!! *whine*

Oh, Crudnuggets! They went and got their friends! I'm doomed... DOOMED I TELL YA! *runs to hide*

It’s that time of the year…. everyone’s sick! *groan* We’ve been talking about the benefits of hot toddies over on Facebook and someone wanted to know what it was.

A hot toddy (or hot totty) is a warm cocktail. People seem to love them on cold nights, to drink them before bedtime, or use them to fight colds. A variety of liquors can be used, with brandy, whiskey and rum being the most popular.

Personally, I can’t stand the thought of drinking one, but a lot of people swear by them for colds, so I did some research and came up with a hot toddy recipe for my minions.

Irish Claddagh Coffee Mugs

Why these ingredients? The hot tea and lemon help your congestion while the cloves and honey soothe a sore throat. Nutmeg and cinnamon help fight the coughing. Cinnamon is also a known antibacterial and has anti-inflammatory properties. The liquor helps you to rest a little better. Sip your hot toddy very slowly to allow it to soothe your sore throat, clear your nose and relax your aching muscles.

If you have a sick child that you’d like to make one for, simply leave out the liquor.

Remember, I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on tv.

Enjoy!

Shops		Product	Price
		10 oz. 10 oz. Irish Coffee Mug Glass, Case of 24, Clear	$10.84	Go to Store
The Pfaltzgraff Co.		Glass Irish Coffee Mug	$14.99	Go to Store
The Pfaltzgraff Co.		Glass Irish Coffee Mug	$14.99	Go to Store
		Irish Claddagh Coffee Mug	$154.00	Go to Store

Printable Recipe –> Chocolate Apple Dumplings

I have a confession to make… I’ve been cheating on Facebook with Pinterest. *sigh* If you love crafts or recipes and haven’t been to Pinterest yet, take my advice… stay away! Stay far, far away!

*pause* You looked, didn’t you?

So anyway… I was trolling along and came across this pin: Apple Dumplings. I drooled… I hemmed… I hawed… I had no Mountain Dew BUT I had a mother who was threatening to throw out the apples that were beginning to fill the house with an overripe smell.

Being the sweet daughter that I am (y’all can stop laughing now) I drove to the store to fetch some Mountain Dew. While I was there, I also fetched a couple of Snickers candy bars… you know… just in case the recipe needed a bit of sprucing up or something… not that I’d EVER deviate from a recipe or anything… *smiles sweetly*

Ingredients for Chocolate Apple Dumplings

You can tell this is gonna be a low-cal recipe… right? *rolls eyes*

The premise is simple… slice the apples up, wrap them in the crescent rolls, top with the remaining ingredients and bake.

*falls to knees* YES! I CONFESS! I TAMPERED WITH THE RECIPE! I ADDED A BIT OF A SNICKERS CANDY BAR TO EACH APPLE SLICE!

Meh… I iz evil but it was heavenly. *grin*

Please note: I photographed one Snickers bar, but I wound up using both the ones I bought… I had a little left over, but I did some quick thinking and saved the day by eating the leftover piece… *puts away Super Hero cape*

Here’s another look at the sinful little things:

Chocolate Apple Dumplings

The next time, I’ll definitely use the Granny Smith apples that the original recipe called for, but these were oh, so good! And ice cream!!!! I really needed vanilla ice cream to go with these, but I got sidetracked by those wicked, mind-controlling Snickers bars at the store.

Mom and Vallory both agreed that they like them better than apple pie.

I’d show more pictures, but uhm… yeah… we’ll blame Vallory for their demise… yeah… definitely Vallory… it’s all her fault… (What? She’s little and can’t fight back!)

If you want the printable recipe, here ya go –> Chocolate Apple Dumplings

*scurries off to lick the bottom of the pan*

Quick and Creepy Halloween Punch

Easy Recipe for Halloween

Looking for a quick and easy Halloween punch recipe? I’m loving this creepy rotten apple punch that I found from Disney.com.

Don’t worry! This Halloween punch may look like a rotten, nasty mess, but it’s actually a tasty sweetened cider. Your guests are sure to howl with delight!

Scroll down to watch the Halloween How To video to see how to make this delicious punch for your next Halloween party. Want to print the recipe to add to your Halloween recipe collection? KayeCee has you covered! Just CLICK HERE –> Rotten Apple Halloween Punch

Rotten Apple Punch for Halloween

First, gather your supplies: sparkling apple cider, red and green food coloring, a punch bowl, five 1/2 cup containers, and gummy worms.

Make the rotten, wormy apples by pouring apple cider into 5-6 small dishes. Stop 1/2 inch from the top and add 1 drop of green and 2 drops of red food coloring to each dish. Stir well, then drape 3 gummy worms around the top edge of each dish. Place dishes in the freezer and freeze until solid.

Fill a punch bowl with sparkling apple cider. Take the frozen rotten apples out of the freezer and slip them out of their dishes by setting them in a few inches of warm water to loosen them.

Float the rotten apples in the punch bowl filled with sparkling apple cider.

Drape additional gummy worms along the top edge of the punch bowl and serve!

« Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »

More Info Reed amp; Barton 5200231400 Holloware Classic Punch Bowl $390.00  $300.00 Store: UnbeatableSale.com Brand: Reed & Barton   More Info EMI Yoshi EMISPB12 12 Qt Squares Clear Punch Bowl Pack of 6 $93.49  $71.92 Store: UnbeatableSale.com Brand: EMI Yoshi   More Info Fineline Settings 3512 Platter Pleasers 12 Qt. Punch Bowl $57.90  $44.54 Store: UnbeatableSale.com Brand: Fineline Settings

« Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »

Chicken Recipe: KayeCee's Tater Bowls

KayeCee Haz A Lazy & Cooked A Quick Chicken Recipe!

Yeah… I was lazy today, so I grabbed a favorite “Quickie From The Kitchen” chicken recipe to make! Easy! Easy! Easy! *ahem* The chicken recipe… not me…

Anywho… first things first… figure out how many potatoes you need to make. I added this chicken recipe to Recipes With Friends and it only makes one, but it’s easy to make as many as you need at one time. (KayeCee’s Tater Bowls Recipe) Throw the appropriate number of potatoes in the microwave and nuke those babies.

22 oz. Bag of Tyson Grilled & Ready Fully Cooked Frozen Fajita Chicken Strips

Grab a bag of frozen fajita chicken strips. Tyson happened to be in my freezer, so that’s what I used, but feel free to use your favorite. This bag was 22 ounces, so you can make 5-6 potatoes from it. Just heat what you need and throw the rest back into the freezer.

Heat the Chicken According to Directions

Toss your chicken into a skillet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and heat according to directions. I add a tiny bit of water after they thaw a bit to keep them from sticking.

KayeCee's Favorite Red Bowl

Now get your favorite bowl ready. *pause* Red? Gee! Imagine that!

Split That Tater In Half!

Fish your baked potato out of the microwave and split it in half.

Top the Baked Potato with Butter and Sour Cream

Top with a tablespoon each of butter and sour cream. *eyeballs it* That looks like a tablespoon each, right? RIGHT? Dang it y’all! Shut up!

OMG! The Chicken's Cozying Up To The Baked Potato! Is It Love At First Sight?

Pile on the heated chicken…

Sprinkle On The Cheddar Cheese!

…and cheddar cheese….

Sprinkle On the Green Onions! This Ain't Gonna Last Long!

…and green onions, salt, and pepper.

BAM! That Chicken Recipe Is Done, Baby!

Wasn’t that an easy chicken recipe?!? The best part? It only took me about 15 minutes to cook an entire meal for the family!

This chicken recipe is easy to modify. In the past, I’ve added things like caramelized onions and sauteed green peppers. Have fun and see what you can dream up! Enjoy!

How To Choose Kitchen Countertops

Updating your countertops can be one of the most eye-catching changes that you can make to your kitchen. The ideal kitchen countertop should be durable, stain and heat resistant, easy to maintain, and most of all, beautiful. Finding the perfect kitchen countertop can be a challenge. Thankfully, there are an increasing number of options to choose from.

Today’s kitchen countertops are developed of both man-made and natural materials. The sheer number of colors, textures, finishes, and edging choices mean that there’s bound to be a countertop in your near future that will satisfy both your aesthetics and wallet.

Granite Kitchen Countertops

Granite countertops seem to be the countertop of choice these days. When money is not the prevailing concern, granite brings elegance to any kitchen and will be a source of envy among family and friends.
Pros: Holds up well to heat, is scratch resistant, comes in many color choices, and will raise the value of your home.
Cons: Expensive, especially if you have a large kitchen. Needs a considerable amount of maintenance including periodic sealing to keep the surface from staining. Granite can crack if it is stressed.

Engineered Stone Countertops

Engineered stone countertop is made of quartz particles mixed with polymer resins.
Pros: Has the look and feel of granite, comes in many color choices, resists scratches, and is easier than granite to maintain because it does not need periodic sealing.
Cons: Excessive heat can damage the surface. It is expensive and labor-intensive to install.

Solid Surface Countertops

Solid surface countertops are made from acrylic, polyester, or a combination of the two. Some solid surface brands you may recognize include Avonite and Corian.
Pros: Seamless and easy to clean. They are solid through and through so scratches can be sanded out. They come in many color and pattern choices, are stain resistant, and are less costly than either granite or engineered stone.
Cons: They are not heat resistant.

Laminate Countertops

Laminates like Nevamar, Formica, and Wilsonart are made of smooth plastic-coated synthetics.
Pros: Affordable and easy to install with many choices of colors and edge designs. Laminates are easy to maintain.
Cons: Vulnerable to scratches and not heat-resistant. They have seams and are also sensitive to harsh cleaning materials.

Soapstone Countertops

Soapstone is a rock that feels soapy to the touch, hence its name. Popular as a surrounding to fireplaces and for sculptures, it is becoming a more popular kitchen countertop choice
Pros: Soapstone has a rich dark color, is heat resistant, and is somewhat stain resistant.
Cons: Soapstone requires regular applications of mineral oil for maintenance and may crack and darken with age.

Butcher Block Countertops

Butcher Block is, of course, assembled wood strips used primarily in cutting boards.
Pros: Butcher block brings a traditional kitchen look. They are easy to clean and can be resanded and resealed as necessary.
Cons: Can be damaged by too much water, is not heat-resistant, and will stain over time.

Concrete Countertops

Concrete is becoming a more popular material for kitchen countertops.
Pros: This environmentally friendly countertop is custom cast to any shape and size. It has a unique look with the ability to add texture or even embedded objects like shells and leaves, many colors.
Cons: Concrete can crack and it is labor intensive to install.

Decorating A Cupcake With Flowers Made Of Purple Icing- Ultimate Decorating Set Review

Buy The Wilton Ultimate Decorating Set From Barnes & Noble

My niece, Heather, loves baking cakes and cupcakes! She’s even gotten Vallory hooked on it.

Because of their fondness for cake and cupcake decorating, we’re forever trying out various products. Which products do we tend to gravitate towards? Wilton, of course! When it comes to cake decorating, I daresay we have more Wilton items than any other brand!

Since 1929, Wilton has been bringing a wide selection of baking, cake decorating, candy making, cookie making, wedding, baby, party, seasonal, and kitchen products to consumers. If there’s a novelty cake pan or decorating tip in your kitchen, chances are it was made my Wilton.

In my quest to find cuteness in cake decorating, I recently came across the Wilton Ultimate Decorating Set. Wow! What a treasure trove of cake decorating goodies! At first glance, the Ultimate Decorating Set from Wilton seems very intimidating. With a higher price tag, the pocketbook trembles in fear while the mind simply boggles at all of the delectables to be created with such a fabulous set filled with a gabillion products!

Sooooo… what does KayeCee think?

More Info Ultimate Decorating Set $202.46 Store: Barnes&Noble.com Brand: Wilton

So, after weighing the pros and cons, what rating does KayeCee give to Wilton Ultimate Decorating Set? Can KayeCee live without it for cake decorating now?

KayeCee Really, Really Likes This..... Just A Couple Of Teensy-Weensy Things Bugged The Hooters Off Her And Kept It From Getting That Fifth Shoe!

There you have it folks… KayeCee gives the Wilton Ultimate Decorating Set a 4 out of 5 shoe review! *whispers* And just in case you’re wondering what comes in the Ultimate Decorating Set, here’s a list of items. (Warning: It’s long!)

Buy A Breadmaker

Sooooo… do you really need to purchase a bread machine? The answer? It depends. Some people who own bread machines swear they couldn’t live without one. For others, a breadmaker just becomes another appliance gathering dust in a cabinet somewhere. Only you and your baking habits can determine whether or not your really “need” a breadmaker.

To help you make an informed decision and determine whether or not you should purchase a bread machine, ask yourself the following questions:

How often do you make bread? If it’s at least once a week, a bread machine can be a great appliance to own. It becomes a big time saver for bakers who indulge in making bread often. All you have to do is add the ingredients, press the start button and walk away to do other things. A few hours later, you’ll have a fresh loaf of bread with only one pan to clean.

Are you nervous about baking bread? There’s no guess work in baking bread with a breadmaker. No need to worry about mixing the dough. Just toss the ingredients in and forget the watching and waiting for it to double in size. If you crave fresh-baked bread and you’ve failed at bread making without a bread machine, a breadmaker may be your salvation.

Do you have kids that help you in the kitchen? Bread machines are very kid friendly. They’re so easy to use that your children can help by measuring and dumping the ingredients in. Older children may even be able to bake a loaf of bread on their own.

Can you afford to invest in a good bread machine? Whatever your decision, keep in mind that bread machines can vary in quality with a really good one costing around $200. If you’re going to buy a bread machine, you really need to make the financial investment because inexpensive bread machines can cause more frustration than they’re worth IF you’re going to use it quite often.

What kinds of bread are you interested in baking? Bread machines generally produce only loaf-type breads. If you love to bake mostly baguettes or rolls, a bread machine is probably not the best investment for you.

Top 10 Best Selling Bread Machines