Concetta's Cafe: March 2010

Monday, March 29, 2010

Blueberry Delight Dessert

Blueberry Delight Dessert & Tea

I made this very special dessert

for a very special lady ~

My Mama

She requested something with blueberries...

In honor of her birthday...February 9
The day the most beautiful Mom that ever lived was born!

Blueberry Delight Dessert

1st Layer

1 stick butter, melted

1 c flour

1 c pecans, crushed

Mix together and pat into a 9x13" glass pan.

Bake @ 350 for 10 minutes and let cool.

2nd Layer

8 oz. cream cheese, soft

1 c powdered sugar

1 c whipped topping

Beat together cream cheese and sugar until blended well and fluffy - fold in whipped topping.

Spread on cooled crust.

Freeze for 1 hour.

3rd Layer

Blueberry Pie Filling - spread over creamy layer.

4th Layer

Top dessert with whipped topping and additional crushed pecans.

Chill until ready to serve!

I will be linking this post to Tea Time Tuesday - hosted by the lovely Lady Katherine and

Foodie Friday graciously hosted by Gollum. These are two of my favorite sites - please visit their sites - you will be so glad you did!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

LIFE SCRIPTS

Philippians 4:6~8

Be anxious for nothing,

but in everything by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension,

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, whatever is true,

whatever is honorable, whatever is right,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report,

if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise,

dwell on these things!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Deluxe Crunch Cake

Heavenly Crunch Cake

Serve ala mode or with whipped cream!

Serve with coffee or with tea!

Deluxe Crunch Cake

1 pkg. yellow or white cake mix (I use super moist)

1-1/2 stick butter - sliced in thin squares

1 can crushed pineapples

1 can fruit pie filling (cherry, blueberry, strawberry or apple)

1/2 c coconut

1/2 c crushed pecans

Prepare a 9 x 13" glass baking pan with butter.

Pour pineapples with juice on bottom of pan and spread evenly.

Dollop on pie filling of choice.

Sprinkle on cake mix - be sure to cover entire cake.

Layer on pats of butter.

Finish with coconut and pecans.

Bake @ 350 for 1 hour.

Cover cake with foil for last 30 minutes to prevent coconut and pecans from browning too much.

The coconut and pecans are optional - this cake is just as delicious without them - so if you are not a fan - leave them off.

I love the version using apples - it is divine - I do not add coconut or pecans with the apple.

Monday, March 22, 2010

French Tea Muffins

Sugar & Spice
Everything Nice

Perfect for breakfast...
Lovely for brunch...
Serve with coffee...
My favorite is with tea...

French Tea Muffins

1/3 c butter, soft

1/2 c sugar

1 egg

1-1/2 c flour

1-1/2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

1/4 t nutmeg

1/2 c milk

Preheat oven to 375. Prepare muffin cups by using butter spray, paper liners or silicone cups.

Beat butter, sugar and egg until light and fluffy.

Sift together all dry ingredients. Add alternately with milk.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Melt 1/3 c butter and prepare cinnamon sugar.

Cinnamon Sugar

2 t cinnamon

1/2 c sugar

As soon as muffins come out of the oven dip in melted butter.

Roll in cinnamon sugar.

Delicious served warm.

Serving of 12 muffins.

Sweet Bites of Heaven

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Divine Dinner

A simple...deliciously divine dinner!

Roasted Chicken Legs

Baked Potato Wedges

Roasted Chicken Legs
12 legs
(allow to come to room temperature)
olive oil
kosher salt
fresh cracked black pepper

Place chicken legs on a baking sheet.
Drizzle with olive oil, coating the legs.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Bake @ 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
Juicy~Flavorful~Heavenly

Baked Potato Wedges

6 russet potatoes

(peel & cut into wedges)

olive oil

kosher salt

fresh cracked black pepper

Place peeled and cut potatoes in a large bowl

covered with cold water - let sit 30 minutes.

Drain potatoes well on paper towels -

dabbing away any water.

Mix potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Put potatoes on a baking sheet that has been

brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt & pepper.

Bake @ 475 for 25-30 minutes.

Perfect prepared potatoes!

For an extra boost of yummy flavor-

place your baked wedges on the pan

the chicken roasted on - put back in the

oven for 5 or so minutes to infuse the

delicious drippings!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Lemon Glazed Party Cake

Glazed Lemon Party Cake

Sweet & Tart all at the same time!

This is one of my favorite quick cakes to bring to picnics, potlucks or parties!

It is easy to prepare and the presentation is stunning!

Lemon Glazed Party Cake
1 box yellow cake mix

1 box lemon pudding

4 eggs

1/3 c oil

1/2 c frozen lemonade concentrate (thawed)

1/2 c water

Mix all ingredients until blended well.

Pour into a buttered round bundt or loaf pan

Bake @ 350 for 1 hour.
Remove cake from oven - poke holes all over the top of the cake.

Drizzle glaze on hot cake.

Once cake is completely cooled - drizzle on additional glaze.

Lemon Glaze

1 c powdered sugar

frozen lemonade concentrate (thawed)

Mix with small whisk until the consistency of glaze.

Option:

Mix 2-3 T dry cake mix with one cup of fresh blueberries - then fold into cake batter for a delicious lemon-blueberry treat!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

LIFE SCRIPTS

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

Chocolate Coca Cola Cake

This is the perfect party cake...rich and chocolaty beyond reason!
The cola add a wonderful depth of flavor that everyone will love!
Make the frosting while the cake is baking in the oven ~ then pour on top of the hot cake for fabulous results! Yum!

Chocolate Coca Cola Cake
2 cups sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup oil
3 T unsweetened cocoa
1 cup Coca-Cola
1 t baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 t vanilla extract

In a bowl sift together sugar and flour. Add marshmallows.
In saucepan, mix butter, oil, cocoa and cola.
Bring to a boil and pour over dry ingredients; blend well.
Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk just before adding to cake batter.
Mix buttermilk, eggs and vanilla into batter.
Pour into well greased 9×13 inch pan and bake @ 350 degrees for 25-40 minutes.
(OR … until toothpick comes out clean. DO NOT OVER BAKE!)
Remove & frost immediately…

Frosting
1/2 cup butter
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
6 T cola
1 (16 oz.) box powdered sugar
1 t vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
Combine butter, cocoa and cola in saucepan.
Bring to a boil and pour over sugar, blending well.
Add vanilla extract and pecans.
Spread over hot cake.
Cut into small squares to serve.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Swinging in the Sun

Gabriella Grace Young

We had a glorious day on our little farm...

I spent the afternoon with my darling little baby - and what a fun time we had!

Gabriella has a lovely tree swing that my husband put up just for her - my husband is making quite the play area for our children - it includes a huge trampoline, a large wooden swing set with slide and play tower, plus the babe's tree swing. I am so impressed with his progress on this project. He is surrounding the big swing set with wooden beams and will be filling it all in with mulch. By the way, this adventurous girl can go down the ginormous slide all by herself!!!

Gabriella loves to be outside! It is heaven to her and I believe she would live out there if we would allow it! Today it is raining - so we are all cozy and warm inside our home.

Sunshiny Days Swinging

Fun in the Sun

Look at me Mama!

I love my swing!

Thank you Daddy!

Days spent on Forever Young Farm...

Quiet moments outside...

What a glorious day!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Banana Bread

Banana Bread

2 c flour
1 c sugar
1/4 c brown sugar
1/2 c butter, soft
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c sour cream
1 T vanilla
1/4 salt
1 t baking soda
2-1/2 c mashed bananas

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt.
In a separate cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, sour cream and vanilla.
Stir in bananas until well blended.
Mix batter into dry ingredients and stir until just moistened.
Pour batter into a 9x5" loaf pan.
Bake @ 350 for 1 hour.

Cool on wire rack and remove from pan.
Top with glaze.

Vanilla Glaze
1/2 c powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
1 T milk

Mix until well blended

Monday, March 8, 2010

Drop Delicious Brownies

A rich decadent chocolaty treat!

This is one of the recipes made by the Kitchenettes for the tea party. They are so delicious ! They live up to their name! You will love them!

Drop Delicious Brownies

2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 c butter

1 c flour

Combine the first 3 ingredients in a saucepan and cook over low heat until melted.

Stir in flour.

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake @ 350 for 7 minutes.

Cool for 2 minutes and then place on a wire rack.

Cookies will be soft - do not over bake.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

LIFE SCRIPTS

Colossians 3:12

As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness

humility, gentleness and patience.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Kitchenettes' Tea Table

exquisite tea cup...

I set a beautiful tea-time table with collections and treasures from around my home!

The Kitchenettes were pampered and felt like queens sipping tea from real china cups and eating sumptious treats from glass pedestals. The candlelight and floating flowers were the finishing touches to our elegant tea party!

English Rose China ...

floating flowers centerpiece...

flowers floating in glass...

floral display...

tea table...

place setting...

dainty cup...

time for tea...

Kitchenettes' Tea Party

The Kitchenettes have 2 new girls who have joined our hospitality club!
Welcome Morgan and Mariah!

The theme for February Kitchenettes was LOVE.
What better way to love someone than to serve them with hospitality- spending quality time pouring yourself out to honor and make another person feel special. The Kitchenettes have an awesome opportunity to do this in March for the senior ladies of our church. We have been asked to host and serve an Easter Tea Party!

In preparation for the big event we had our own tea party. The girls were each given recipes to make at their own homes with their moms and bring them to the party. They will make these same recipes again for the Easter Tea. We also made 2 recipes together in my kitchen. The girls learned different table design ideas, made favors for each of the ladies and how to create beautiful floral centerpieces in tea cups and other dainty containers.

We have begun a series of "Life Script Lessons" emphasizing the "The Fruits of the Spirit" from God's Word. I started the day out by giving each girl a Valentine Goody Bag and speaking on "LOVE". Next month, we will focus on "KINDNESS" as we pour out on our senior ladies.

Galatians 5:22
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Translation from the Message Bible:
Galatians 5:22
What happens when we live God's way? he brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard ~ things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.