Luminaria for Relay for Life

     I have been busy busy trying to get myself and my team prepared for Relay for Life. If you aren't familiar with Relay, it is a event in which teams walk for 12 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. It is an overnight event and it is LOADS of fun. It raises money for an amazing cause.
     New to our event this year, we are able to decorate our luminary bags. Luminary bags are bought and represent our loved ones who have cancer, who have beat cancer, and who have passed from cancer. I have been very excited about being able to decorate the bags. I think it really adds a personal touch and shows a little about the person that the bag represents. The bags line our walking path and are lit during a very emotional and moving luminary ceremony.
     I had run across an idea the other day on Pinterest that a person had used for a party. They used real cloth doilies and glued them to the inside of their paper bags for their fancy schmancy party. I thought it would be an amazing idea to make for RELAY!! The light that passed through the doilies was just awesome. So I had to make some for some of the luminary that had been purchased through our team.
     I thought that the cost of cloth doilies would be a little much, and would make the bags too heavy. I opted to use the paper doilies that are often used under cakes and such or at Valentines day to make pretty Valentines. All I needed for my little project was the white bags that are provided to us through Relay for Life, glue, paper doilies, scissors and sticky letters.

I got small doilies, cut some into pieces and some I left whole. I glued them into place on the white bag.

I glued the doilies down in different patterns and let the glue fully dry.

Once they were dry I added the names to the bags using adhesive letters.

I think that they turned out really beautiful. I can't wait to see them lining the walking path at our Relay for Life event.

-Jessica

Filling A Pastry/Frosting Bag....easy peasy way

     Filling up a frosting/pastry bag can be messy. However this simple idea will save you a mess!

Put the bag down into the cup, fold the sides of the bag over the edge of the cup to secure it.

Fill the bag with the frosting. Remove the bag and you are ready to decorate!

Decorate!!

Cream Filled Evil Chocolate Cuppeycakes and creating awareness!

     May is National Celiac Disease Awareness Month. The American Celiac Disease Alliance is helping to promote awareness and support changes in labeling laws through their "Cake for One" contest. They are inviting all people with celiac to make cupcakes, one cupcake for each year you have been gluten free. Then they would like you to take a picture of the cuppeycakes and share them on their facebook page. Then ask your friends to go and "like" your picture and of course that counts as a "vote" for your picture. They are being judged on presentation, most years gluten free, most unique decoration, and "kids corner".
     I thought this sounded like a fun way to create awareness, so I decided to participate. I have been gluten free for 9 years and 5 months. SO my photos have 9 cuppeycakes and one cuppeycake that has been partially eaten (to represent the 5 months).
     I made devils food chocolate cuppeycakes using Betty Crocker's Mix. I also used cheated and used Milk Chocolate canned frosting. HOWEVER, I totally amped them up because I made a cream filling and pumped them full of yummy cream filling (Think snack cakes of your gluten filled days). They are to die for. These cupcakes are EVIL!! *drool*

Cream Filled Evil Chocolate Cuppeycakes

1 Box of Betty Crocker Devils Food Gluten Free Cake Mix
*I followed the instructions on the box with the exception of : Cut the amount of butter in half and added a small single serving container of plain applesauce to make the cuppeycakes more moist

1 Tub of Prepared Gluten Free Milk Chocolate Frosting
1 Recipe of the Cream Filling

Bake cupcakes according to the instructions on the box and following my adaptations. Allow the cupcakes to completely cool.

Use a pastry bag to pipe the cream filling down into the cupcake. OR you can cut a small hole in the top of the cupcake, fill with cream filling and replace the piece of cupcake that you cut out. You want to pipe about 1 tablespoon of filling into the cupcake.

Frost the cupcakes and decorate if you wish.

Cream Filling   
Enough to fill and decorate 24 cupcakes

2 tsp very hot water
1/4 tsp salt
1 (7 oz) jar marshmallow cream
1/2 cup shortening
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

Dissolve the salt in the hot water and allow to cool.

Whip the marshmallow cream, shortening, powdered sugar, and vanilla until it begins to get fluffy. Add the water and whip.

Yummy creamy filling

A great way to fill a pastry bag is to set it down inside a cup!

I used a plain open tip to pipe the creamy filling into the cuppeycakes.

I filled each cuppeycake until I could tell it was "full". I got a couple of them too full and they cracked. OH well, I bet those will be the best ones! :)

Frost with the milk chocolate frosting.

9 years and 5 months gluten free for me!

I hope you enjoy these yummy cupcakes. Also don't forget to make your cuppeycakes for the contest!! Get out there and help create awareness.

-Jessica

Mac N Cheese and the Christening of my Beautiful Vintage Pink Pyrex

    I asked for some suggestions on what recipe I should make to christen my new pink Pyrex. One reader suggested some Mac N Cheese. I thought that was a GREAT idea!! So tonight I whipped up a recipe that was passed from my Dad's Mother down to My Mom and then on to ME. I grew up on this Mac N Cheese. It is pretty amazing and was easily converted to gluten free when I was diagnosed.

Macaroni and Cheese - gluten free

2 C. Gluten Free Pasta
2 C. Milk
2 Eggs
1 1/2 C Velveeta
1/4 C. Margarine
1/2 tsp. Minced Onion
1/8 tsp. Pepper
1/4 tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Parsley Flakes

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. Drain and pour into a baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. In a small sauce pan whisk the eggs into the milk. Add margarine, cheese, pepper and minced onions. Heat over low heat until cheese and butter are melted. Add paprika and parsley to the liquid mixture. Stir and then pour into the baking dish with the pasta. Toss to coat and then bake uncovered for 50 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from the oven and allow the dish to set for 5-10 min. before serving. Serve hot.

Cook your favorite gf pasta according to the package directions

Place the pasta into your baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

Whisk the milk and eggs together. Add the cheese, pepper, minced onion and butter. Heat on very low until cheese and butter are melted. Don't cook at too high of a heat or you will cook the eggs.

When the cheese and butter are melted add the parsley and paprika.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes

Yummmmmmm

Beautiful pink Pyrex and amazingly yummy Mac N Cheese. Two great things!!

I hope you enjoy my family recipe of Mac N Cheese. I happen to think it's amazing. Enjoy!

-Jessica

Meet the newest addition to my kitchen......

     I have been drooling over pink Pyrex for some time now. Today I acquired my first piece of beautiful, lovely, amazingly beautiful, vintage, pink Pyrex. She (has to be a she because it's PINK) is a lovely round 2 quart covered casserole baker. Mine actually had the lid which is rare.
     I brought my lovely piece home and decided to do some research on how much it is worth and such. I knew that I got a good deal, but I wasn't sure HOW good of a deal. Did you know that there are entire websites devoted to Pyrex? I didn't know until today.
     According to Correlle Corner my pink beauty was made somewhere between 1952 to 1957. The official color name is "Flamingo". Pretty sassy if you ask me!
     I look forward to picking up more pieces of lovely pink Pyrex in the future. I would REALLY love to have some of the pink daisy bowls.
     Now that I know a little about my beauty I need to decide what to cook in her for the first time. Any suggestions??

Cheese Enchiladas

     I LOVE recipes that are super easy to make and come out tasting like you spent hours in the kitchen. This is one of those. You can wow your family with minimal effort with these cheese enchiladas. I'm a fan of all things cheese so these are perfect for my tastes and I'm also a fan of Mexican Food. Mmmmm Two of my loves combined! Serve these with some rice and beans for a yummy dinner. If you are feeling extra fancy you can throw in a can of cooked chicken and make them Chicken Enchiladas!!

Cheese Enchiladas
4c Cheese (cheddar, Monterey jack, or a combo of both)
1 c. Sour Cream
1 small onion finely diced
¼ c. Minced Parsley
¼ tsp pepper

1 packet of McCormick enchilada seasoning, prepare as directed on the label OR 1
can Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce (read the labels because as soon as I post this the info. is out of date) OR you can even easily make your own (you will need about 2-3 Cups of sauce)

Big Package of Mission Corn Tortillas (36 at least)

Mix the first 6 ingredients in a small bowl. Warm the corn tortillas under a wet
paper towel in the microwave for about 35 seconds. Only warm 10 at a time. Place
a heaping tablespoon of filling onto the warm tortilla and roll. Put into a
greased 9x 13 pan with the seam side down. Pour enchilada sauce over the tops of
the enchiladas. Bake for about 20-30 min. at 350 deg. If you want, top with more cheese and
bake for another 5-10 min.

Optional Garnish: Lettuce, sour cream, olives

Mix the filling ingredients.

Place some filling on a warmed tortilla.

Roll the tortilla and place seam side down in a 9x13 pan sprayed with cooking spray.

Continue filling and rolling until your pan is full.

Pour the enchilada sauce over the top. Make sure that everything is coated with sauce. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.  Top with cheese and bake for another 5-10 min. or until cheese is melted.

Enjoy the cheesy yummy goodness!!

-Jessica