Ice Cream Cone Cake Ball Pops

What a fun twist on the cake pop.  They look like ice cream but hide a yummy cake secret inside!!

Ice Cream Cone Cake Ball Pops

1 box cake mix and ingredients to make cake
1 container ready made frosting
1 package almond bark
Frosting color (I prefer Wilton jarred) 
Sugar cones
Chocolate chips
Sprinkles

Bake cake according to directions and let cool.  

After it is completely cooled, crumble the cake into a large mixing bowl. 

Add 3/4 of the frosting to the cake mix and mix until thoroughly combined.  They should be sticky enough to form balls but not coat your hands when pressed together.

Roll into 1-1/2 inch balls, cover with plastic wrap, and cool for several hours in the refrigerator.

Cut the tops off of the sugar cones so that the hole is about 1-1/4 inches.

Use lollipop stick, meat thermometer, or skewer to hold the pop.  Coat with melted almond bark.  I tinted mine pink.

Press into top of ice cream cone.  Don't worry about drips, they just add to the effect.  Place into drying rack or styrofoam block to set up.

 Drizzle melted chocolate chips over top for 'hot fudge.'

 Sprinkle right away before chocolate sets up.

For the dropped cone look:  Press the dipped cake ball into cone and tip upside down and place on waxed paper.

Have fun!

Tuscan Roma Pizza

This is my favorite pizza at the local pizza joint.  It's easy to make at home.  Fresh tomatoes take it over the top!

Tuscan Roma Pizza

Your favorite Pizza Crust or my grilled pizza dough that has been made ahead and frozen**
One 1/2 recipe of Garlic Cream Sauce
Fresh Spinach leaves
Thinly sliced Roma Tomatoes
Fresh mozzarella or other Italian blend cheese, shredded
Grilled chunks of chicken (optional)

Spread sauce onto pizza crust.

Place spinach leaves down, use as much or little as you like. I tore the stems off mine so they weren't chewy.

Layer sliced tomatoes

Chicken next if you are using it.  True "Tuscan Roma" does not have it but my husband likes a little meat on his pizza. I used fresh mozz here.

Bake according to your pizza crust directions until lightly brown.

** Preheat pizza stone in an oven at 450*.  Assemble pizza and slide onto hot stone.  Cook for 10 minutes.  Slide back onto flat cookie sheet.  Allow to cool a bit before cutting.  Enjoy!

Garlic Cream Sauce

Garlic Cream Sauce                                                                      Printable Recipe

Olive oil
1 T flour* 
1/2 t minced garlic
1/2 cup white wine (less if yours is strong flavored)
1/3 cup frozen chopped spinach (can omit if using for the pizza topping)
2 cups half and half (or a good whole milk)
1-1/2 cups shredded Parmesan (not the stuff in the shaker)


Drizzle a little olive oil in pan, add garlic and saute for just a moment or two so as not to burn the garlic. Add the flour, cooking for a moment.

Add the half and half, wine, and spinach to the flour mixture. Bring to a boil. Add Parmesan.

And stir until blended.

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Serve with stuffed chicken and pasta,

 primavera, 

and/or pizza. Enjoy!

* (use GF or a bit of cornstarch slurry to make it gluten free)

Thousand Island Dressing

Your reuben sandwiches and home salads will never be the same!

Thousand Island Dressing

2/3 cup salad dressing
1/3 cup sour cream (lite is ok)
1/4 cup ketchup
2 Tablespoons vinegar
3 teaspoons sugar
4 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
2 teaspoons finely minced onion
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 dashes white pepper

Add to bowl and mix!

Flavors best if let set for all day but can be enjoyed right away too.

Fruit Swirl Coffeecake

Fruit Swirl Coffeecake

1-1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 eggs

3 cups flour

1 can fruit pie filling, any flavor

1 cup powdered sugar

1-2 Tablespoons milk

Add sugar, butter, shortening, baking powder, vanilla, and eggs to medium bowl.

Mix on low until blended.

Then on high for 3 minutes.

Add flour.

Mix just until combined.

Spread 2/3 of the batter into a greased 10x15" cookie sheet that has sides (also known as a jelly roll pan)

Dump on pie filling. My mom always makes cherry but I prefer apple!

Spread as best you can.

Drop remaining batter by tablespoons over top of filling.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in cake area comes out clean.  Cake should be golden brown.  Careful not to overcook!

Mix powdered sugar and milk until smooth.  Start off with 1 tablespoon of milk and then add 1/2 tablespoon at a time until it is runny but not too runny. This particular day I only needed 1-1/2 T.

Drizzle over top of coffeecake while cake is still warm.  Cut and serve.  I prefer mine warm but it is definitely still good at room temp!

Strawberry filling is pretty delicious too!

Quick and Easy Rolls

Quick and Easy Rolls

1/2 C Sugar
1 1/4 tsp salt
5 C flour (or a mix I used 1.5 cups wheat here)
4-1/2 teaspoons instant dry yeast
1/2 C solid vegetable shortening
2 eggs
1 stick butter or margarine, melted (plus 1 T or so for brushing on rolls after they are baked)
1 1/2 C warm water

Mix together sugar, salt, yeast, and 2-1/2 cups of flour in medium bowl.

Cut in shortening with pastry blender or fork.

Beat egg in small bowl.

Add egg, water, and melted butter to flour mixture.

Mix.

Add remaining flour and incorporate until there is no dry left.  It will not look pretty and still be sticky. Cover with a dish towel and let sit in a warm place for twenty minutes. 

Remove from bowl and throw onto floured surface. Knead for about one minute.

Pat out into a rectangle about 3/4" thick, 9 x 13" size.

Using a knife or pizza cutter cut into 12 squares or smaller if you prefer.

Place in greased 9x13" pan. Squishing the ones that weren't quite square into squares.

Cover with a dish towel and let sit in a warm place for twenty minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake for 30 minutes or until tops are nice and golden.  Remove from oven and brush on butter.

Serve with honey butter or here I made sausage gravy.