Teddy at the Beach Kit Kat Cake!

This cake is similar to an earlier cupcake version I made this Spring. However, I love the idea of a Kit Kat border surrounding the cake to offset the frosted texture. This is such a fun cake to make, and you can be extremely creative with beach toppings. On half the cake top I used whipped buttercream frosting with brown sugar and crushed graham crackers for the sand. For the ocean I used Pillsbury Aqua Blue vanilla frosting. Teddy Graham's in peach rings as floaties, and Fruit by the Foot is perfect for colorful beach towels. Cocktail umbrellas and plastic palm trees add to the tropical scene. Enjoy!:)

http://lovelypartythings.com/2012/07/09/beach-party-birthday-cake/

Lemons Pull-Apart Bread

I found this recipe in the Hy-Vee Seasons Summer edition mag, and what's fun about this recipe is its versatile enough that it would be great for Sunday brunch or a work potluck. The recipe will take a little time so I would highly advise making it during a weekend morning. It's a solid 3 hours to thaw out the bread with a 30 min prep in between. The best part is after the dough rises, and is sectioned accordingly you layer it 5 high with each strip containing zesty lemon/sugar mixture & roasted almonds. The last section is layered on top, and then the dough is cut into 6 sections, placed in sprayed loaf pans and then left to rise 30-50 mins. Once the bread is baked & cooled you can drizzle on a lemon flavored icing. It is a sweeter bread, it reminds me of a lemon monkey bread minus the cinnamon. Enjoy!

http://www.hy-vee.com/seasons/recipe.aspx?r=9266

Beef Rolls with Salad

I feel that hot summer days tend to draw a craving for salad. So, for Monday's dinner I made Beef Rolls with salad. This simple meal only took me about 20 minutes to whip up.

For this meal you will need:
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Onion, halved and sliced
2 red or orange bell peppers, ribs and seed removed, sliced 1/4 inch think
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 cup water
3/4 pound thinly sliced top round beef, cut into 4 equal pieces
2 ounces pepper jack cheese, thinly sliced.
1 package lettuce lettuce mix


1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoons oil over medium-high. Add onions and peppers; cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add the ager; cover and simmer 3 minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft and liquid has evaporated, about 2 minutes.

2. Pat meat dry with paper taels and season with salt and pepper. Place cheese and onion-pepper mixture in center of beef pieces. Beginning with narrow end of meat, roll filling and secure with toothpicks.

3. Using the same skillet over medium-high; brush with 1 teaspoon oil. Place meat rolls, seam side down, in skillet; cook, turning occasionally, until beef browns and cheese melts, about 8 minutes (reduce heat if beef is growing too quickly). Transfer beef tools to a plate.

4. Toss lettuce with your favorite dressing; season with salt and pepper. Remove toothpicks from beef tolls; serve with salad.

This great receipt cold easily be moved to the grill or you could get creative with different vegetables and cheeses. I added a little blue cheese and red bell peppers to my salad as I have some available. Please feel free to share your ideas with Angie and myself. Or if you would like us to try a dish send it our way and we will give it our best shot.

Roasted Cornish Hens, homemade biscuits and strawberry shortcakes.

One thing that I LOVE doing is cooking! For this past weekends meal I had a few friends over for Roasted Cornish Hens with Grapes. I also whipped up biscuits and shortcakes that where later covered in strawberries.

Cornish hens are nice treat and they take about half the time it takes for a whole chicken. It took me about an hour to get these little hens on the table. I encourage you to explore your cookbooks to try and find a fast recipe that will be easy and yummy.

I know its simple to crack open some biscuits in a can. However, buttermilk biscuits are simple to make and truly don't take much time at all. I love the taste of buttermilk biscuits as the buttermilk tenderizes and adds flavor. That and you can tell if the food you are consuming is real and clean or pumped full of preservatives.

Strawberry Shortcake is often cited as the single most popular dessert across the country, and for good reason. The combination of sugared fresh fruit, sweet biscuits, and whipped cream makes for a delightful jumble of contrasting taste, textures, and flavors in every spoonful. What is event better about the concept of strawberry shortcake is that it can be adapted to use any summer fruits at their glories peak.

Pork Chops with Apples and Shallots

Summer is quickly approaching and what better way to enjoy this warm weather then with this fast easy meal? This dish will take you about 30 minutes to prep and 45 minutes to complete.

You will need:
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 pound medium shallots, halved or quartered lengthwise (Pieces should be about 3/4 inch think)
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into eighths
1/2 cup white wine
4 Pork chops
Coarse salt and peper

1. Heath the broiler or grill; if you are using the broiler set a rack 4 inches from the heat. In a a large skillet, heat the butter over medium-high heat. Add the shallots; cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes. Cover the pain; reduce the heat to medium. Continue cooking until the shallots are soft, about 5 minutes more.

2. Add the apples and wine; cover, and cook until the apples are beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Uncover; cook stirring, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the apples are tender, 2 to 4 minutes more. Remove from the heat; cover to keep warm.

3. While the apples are cooking, season the port chops generously with salt and pepper; place on a rimmed baking sheet. Broil until cooked though, 3 to 5 minutes per side. To serve, spoon the warm apples mixture over the chops.

For this meal also steamed up some carrots and sugar peas.

This recipe is from the Everyday Food Great Food Fast cookbook. This fabulous text is full of 250 recopies and tricks to make every meal yummy.  I encourage you to pick up your copy and try some of these great ideas.