Cake Pops

I love cake pops they are cute and yummy and everyone is very impressed by them. That being said they do take a bit of time to make but are very worth it. If you need a pick me up, try making these and giving them away, they will be oooh'd and aaah'd over and you will feel so good about your new found talents. If you google cake pops you will be amazed at how many designs people make. Make them plain or with sprinkles or puppies or whatever your excellent mind can think of and they will be wonderful!

1 Box of Cake Mix any flavor, make according to the directions on the box

1 can of frosting, whatever you like

1 pkg Chocolate or Vanilla Almond Bark

Sucker Sticks

No more than 1/8 C Crisco

Decorating items, like sprinkles or whatever

Piece of foam, I use a large white rectangle shaped piece I found by the fake flower section at wal-mart, Cover this in Saran wrap in case your pops drip

1. Bake cake according to directions. Cut out the center of the cake, leaving the crunchy edges. Break them up and put them in a bowl to cool down. Cover it with Saran wrap so it doesn't dry out.
2. Once it's cool add about 1/2 can or frosting. Mush together. If you try to make a ball and it falls apart then add a little more frosting until you can make a ball that will stay together. Be careful to not add to much if you do it will be really smooshy and they won't work so BE CAREFUL.
3. Roll all that cake and frosting into little balls, you can also use a cookie scoop, small ice cream scoop or your hands.
4. Put them on a plate or tray or whatever will fit in your freeze. Freeze them for about 15 minutes and no longer than 25 minutes. I guess if they get too cold then after you dip them in chocolate the chocolate will crack while cooling (some of mine always crack, I give those to my kids)
5. While cake balls are cooling, melt your chocolate in a tallish but narrow cup, (I usually use a plastic cup) because you want the chocolate to be deep enough to cover your cake. I usually microwave it a minute at a time then stir, until melted. For every square of chocolate you melt add 1 t. of Crisco, it helps thin it out and makes the chocolate not so crunchy when you bite into it.
6. Get a nice clean working space and  set out your melted chocolate, your sticks, and your decorating items. Put your Saran wrap covered foam in the fridge with plenty of space so  the pops will not touch anything.
7. OK now your set, cooling cake balls in the freezer, melted chocolate. Lets make some cake pops
8. Take out 1 cake ball at a time. Dip you stick in the chocolate then into the cake ball, this will help the cake ball stay on the stick (hopefully)
9. Dip the cake into the chocolate all the way it needs to be covered completely! Now here is where it gets tricky. Take it out of the chocolate and swirl it around and tap it lightly on the side of the cup so all that chocolate covers it nice and flawlessly wait for it to set a bit but not all the way  then quickly add sprinkles or whatever before it cools and they won't stick.
10. Then once the chocolate  is no longer drippy, put it in the fridge to finish setting. 
11. Viola you have made you first cake pop, good for you.
12. Now repeat steps 8-10 until they are all done. Plan on at least 1/4 of them cracking, they still taste Delicious even if they are a little flawed.

**Flavors I have tried that I liked are Spice Cake with Cream Cheese frosting, and Chocolate Cake with German Chocolate frosting you know the kind with coconut and nuts. I would like to try lemon with cream cheese frosting or lemon frosting and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. I like cream cheese frosting a lot.
** To make the dog pop above I used edible zebra print paper from wal-mart and cut them into ears and attached them with a little frosting. I used frosting for the nose and outer eyes, I put hard ball candies for inner eyes and I drew the eye balls, mouth, and whiskers with a black sharpie.Good Luck

Mouth Watering Quesadilla

These came about because I was starving and these ingredients were in my fridge. They are now my new favorite!! They were very very delicious. If you don't have all the ingredients try using what is in your fridge.

Flour Tortilla shells

Cheddar or Muenster Cheese or whatever you like, grated or sliced

Green Bell Pepper, chopped

Green Onions, chopped

Mushrooms, sliced

Butter

Tomatoes, chopped

Cilantro, finely chopped

Sour Cream

Cholula

1. In a pan saute with butter, mushrooms, green onions, and peppers.
2. Remove from pan.
3. Lightly butter one side of tortillas.
4. Heat pan to medium.
5. Place tortillas on pan. Add on half of shell, cheese, sauteed veggies, cilantro, tomatoes, and about 6 shakes of Cholula then add some more cheese on top (you want cheese on both sides so the quesadilla will stick together).
6. Fold tortilla over cook until tortilla is brown on one side
7. Flip it over by putting spatula on the open side of tortilla and gently flip over. Brown other side.
8. Top with sour cream and enjoy!!!

Here is a picture of Cholula, Yummy!

Brownies with Cream and Strawberries

These little delicious bites are one of my favorite desserts!!! And I do love my desserts. I think this came from pampered chef but I'm not sure. I had them when a neighbor made them. Try serving these anywhere and you will not come home with any so you better save some at home for later.

1 pkg Brownie Mix

2 Squares White Chocolate or 1/4c white chocolate chips

8oz Cream Cheese, room temperature

1/4c powdered sugar

1c Cool Whip, thawed

1 carton strawberries, thickly sliced

Tiny Muffin Tin

1. Make brownie mix as directed.
2. Thoroughly spray each hole with non-stick spray .
3. Fill each tiny muffin hole 3/4 full.
4. Bake at 325 for 14 minutes.
5. Right when you take them out use a spoon or something to push down the middle of each brownie. You are making room for the filling.
6. Remove brownies onto a plate, be careful they like to fall apart. If they do just squish them back together.
7. While the brownies are baking melt the white chocolate in a medium size mixing bowl.
8. Once melted mix in cream cheese and powdered sugar.
9. Fold in cool whip.
10. Put "frosting" in a piping bag or you can use a Ziploc bag with a hole cut in corner
11. Pipe frosting into each brownie.
12. Slice up strawberries and place one slice on top of the frosting.  Viola you have a beautiful delicious dessert fit to serve Queen Elizabeth.

Wallabys Copycat Smashers

These are my rendition of Wallaby's Smashers. They are very very close to theirs. I love Smashers from Wallaby's they are sooo delicious so I made up my own. I hope you love them as much as I do.

1 lb Red Potatoes

1/2 c Milk

1/2 c Sour Cream

1 Stick Butter or Margarine

3-4 Green Onions, chopped

Salt/ Pepper to taste

1 t Garlic Powder

3 T Bacon, crumbled 

1c Cheese, grated or more if you like

1. Cut potatoes into 1/4ths boil potatoes with skins on , for 20 minutes.
2. Drain water.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients.
4. Smash with a hand smasher, you want to have chunky bits left in there.
5. Once its all smashed serve with cheese on to. YUM YUM YUM!

 This will serve about 6 people.