Fall Giveaway!

How about this for spreading a little Fall love in the form of ... A GIVEAWAY!

When I think of Fall, I think of hearty home cooked meals. I will be giving away this brand new handbook for slow cooking. The New Creative Crock Pot Cookbook features tons of recipes from around the world including low-fat recipes. This book is paperback and has 224 pages.

Please go to my other blog at SleeplessInWisc for details.

Baguette/Foccacia Tea Sandwiches

1 of each red and yellow bell peppers
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1-1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 small clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
4 oz goat or feta cheese, crumbled
1-1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh basil (or 1 tsp. dried)
1 round (8-10 inches) foccacia bread or onion foccacia bread, or a French bread baguette
1 cup packed, shredded romaine lettuce

Set oven to broil. Quarter bell peppers lengthwise; discard stems and seeds. Flatten with palm of hand. Place skin side up on foil-lined baking sheet. Broil 3-4” from heat until skin is evenly blackened, 8-12 minutes. Wrap peppers in boil from pan; let stand 15 minutes. In a small bowl, mix oil, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. Peel off and discard skin from peppers. Cut into uniform pieces; arrange in shallow dish. Pour dressing over peppers. Cover; chill at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. In small bowl, combine cheese and basil; mix well. Drain peppers; add marinade from peppers to cheese mixture; mix well. Using a long serrated knife, split bread in half horizontally. Spread cheese mixture over cut sides of bread. Arrange romaine lettuce and marinated peppers over bottom half of bread; close sandwich with top of bread. Cut into wedges to serve. Makes about 16.

Molokai Pie

Easy to prepare, this pie is light and creamy, perfect to go with your favorite cup of tea.

1 1/4 cups sweetened crushed pineapple
3 ounces powdered lemon flavored gelatin
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup whipped cream
1 9-inch graham cracker pie shell
1/2 cup of coconut, toasted lightly, if desired

Bring pineapple to a boil in saucepan. add jello, stir until dissolved. mix in sugar and lemon juice. cool until almost stiff. Fold into whipped cream and pour into graham cracker pie shell.

(I sprinkled the top with about a 1/2 cup of toasted coconut)

Chill about 1 hour. 8 servings

A Tea Set For Cat Lovers

This would be a perfect gift for a catlover. I found it at http://www.theteapotshoppe.com/.

The set is called "Cats with Attitude" teaset for two. The site has gorgeous teapots, if you haven't browsed there, go have a look.

Note: I am not promoting the site, just sharing a find with friends.

Long Island Iced Tea (woot!)

Tea for the not-so-faint-of-heart :-)

INGREDIENTS
One shot = 1.5 fluid ounce

shot and 1/2 vodka
shot and 1/2 gin
shot and 1/2 rum
shot and 1/2 triple sec liqueur
1 teaspoon tequila
2 teaspoons orange juice
2 fluid ounces Coke
1 wedge lemon

DIRECTIONS
In a shaker full of ice, combine vodka, gin, rum, triple sec and tequila. Add orange juice and cola. Shake vigorously until frothy. Strain into a tall thin glass filled with ice, and garnish with wedge of lemon.

A Simple Slush Tea Recipe

INGREDIENTS
2 cups sugar or Splenda
7 cups water
4 tea bags
2 cups boiling water
1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate
2 cups gin or vodka
Diet Seven up or Sprite

DIRECTIONS
Put 7 cups water in large saucepan, and heat on high until boiling. Add sugar and stir until dissolved; set aside to cool. Place teabags in 2 cups boiling water, and let steep for 25 minutes.
In a large bowl, mix together sugar water, tea, lemonade concentrate and orange juice concentrate. Stir in gin or vodka. Place in freezer container and freeze overnight.
To serve, Place several scoops into a tall glass, and fill with any clear carbonated beverage. Yum. Serve in a pretty cocktail glass or disguise it in a tea cup.

http://roses-and-teacups.com/index.php

Cute

Isn't it too cute! I ran into this browsing. This lamp would be perfect in the right spot. A guest room, bedroom, little girls room, or just a cozy spot to read and have a cup of tea. JUST TOO CUTE Info(972) 247-2927Fax (775) 667-2075 justtoocutedallas@hotmail.com

Mini Oreo Cheesecakes

Ingredients

12 oreo cookies
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
2 teaspoons shortening
Strawberries

Directions

Split cookies, keeping filling on one cookie. Line muffin pans with foil bake cups. Place filling-covered cookie in bake cups, filling side up. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. Beat in eggs just until well mixed. Spoon cream cheese mixture into bake cups.
Crush remaining cookies and sprinkle over cream cheese mixture. Bake, uncovered, in a 325 degree F oven for about 25 minutes or until set. Cool.
In a small saucepan, melt chocolate pieces with shortening over low heat, stirring frequently. Drizzle over baked cheesecakes. Cover and chill. Top with 2 slices of strawberries before serving.

White Is The Winter Night

Enya has released a new CD. Here are the lyrics of one of my favorite songs on her new CD. Have a listen if you can. It is a light and peaceful song.

Have you seen the mistletoe, it fills the night with kisses
Have you seen the bright blue star, it fills your heart with wishes
Have you seen the candlelight, it shines from every window
Have you seen the moon above, it lights the sky in silver

Chorus:
Green is in the mistletoe but red is in the holly
Silver in the stars above that shine on everybody
Gold is in the candlelight and crimson in the embers
White is in the winter night that everyone remembers

Have you heard the boys all sigh, when all the girls are skating
Have you heard their sweet hearts cry for all this time they're waiting

Have you seen the children playing, tiny hands are frozen
Have you seen them hurry home, when suddenly it´s snowing

Have you heard that bells are ringing, ringing out their story
Have you heard the choir singing, Glory, Glory Glory

Apple Butter Scones

Makes 12 scones.

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cups butter
1/2 cups golden raisins
1-1/2 cup apple butter
1 egg; slightly beaten
vegetable cooking spray

Additional apple butter; for accompaniment

Preheat oven to 425°F. In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powderand baking soda. Cut in butter with pastry cutter or forkuntil mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add raisins. In a separate bowl combine apple butter and egg. Add flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Spray 2 1/2 inch muffin tins with vegetable cooking spray. Fill almost full with batter. Bake at 425°F for 14 to 16minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly. Serve warm with additional apple butter.

Adapted from recipe by: Knouse Foods Website Posted to MC-Recipe Digest V1 #678

Potato Chip Cookies

1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 egg
1/4 c. chopped nuts
1 c. crushed potato chips
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Beat butter, sugar and egg until well blended. Stir in remainder of ingredients. Shape into 3/4 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Cool for 1/2 minute on cookie sheet. Then remove to wire rack and cool completely. Store in airtight container.

Variation: add 3 oz. (1/2 c.) chocolate chips

Angel Flans

Non stick vegetable spray
Salt
3 oz. angel hair pasta
3 lg. eggs1 c. whipping cream
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Black pepper
1 c. grated imported Parmesan

Set oven at 350 degrees. Spray mini muffin tins with vegetable cooking spray. Cook pasta according to pkg. directions. Drain and pat dry. divide pasta evenly among the mini muffin tins. Set aside. In mixing bowl, place eggs, cream, nutmeg and salt, pepper and 2/3 cup of the Parmesan cheese.

Mix well to blend. Pour the mixture into the molds, dividing it evenly. Sprinkle tops of flans with remaining Parmesan cheese. Place molds in oven. Bake until flams are set, puffed and lightly browned about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes.

* Flans can be prepared ahead of time, thaw in refriderator, bake 15 mins, serve.

Beautiful Tea Tags

Tales from the OC Cottage has made the most darling tea tags. You can see these pink wonders at http://talesfromanoccottage.blogspot.com/2008/12/pink-saturdaytag-your-it.html

Cranberry-Vanilla Cake

I will be making this cake for my holiday tea. Check out this delicious Cranberry-Vanilla Cake recipe at http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/12/cranberry-vanilla-coffee-cake/

Jam Bars and Tea

Susanne at Recipe Corner has posted a fabulous Jam Bar recipe that would be a great addition to a tea table. See Susanne's recipe at http://recipecorner-susanne.blogspot.com/2008/12/in-jam.html.

Tortilla Pinwheels

3 (4 oz.) cans chopped green chile (drained)
3 (8 oz.) pkgs. pineapple cream cheese, softened
1-1/2 tsp. Mexican seasoning
salt
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 sm. onion, finely minced
1 dozen flour tortillas

Combine the first 5 ingredients. Spread over tortillas until 1/8-inch thick. Roll each tortilla and secure with a toothpick; chill. Cut into 1/2-inch widths. One dozen tortillas will make approximately 120 pinwheels.

WFMW - A Giveaway! There Really IS A Santa Claus!

Here's a HINT. Have you seen this? I love this product! It is so special and will be treasured by your family in years to come. Give your child the chance to still believe. Place Santa in your living room, delivering presents to your children. Create living proof there IS a Santa - and he was in your home. Go here to read more. http://www.icaughtsanta.com/ Now for the great news .. be one of the first 25 customers to receive a free photo from icaughtsanta.com. All you need to do is submit your iCaughtSanta photo by 12-20-08 and include “sleeplessinwisc” in the subject line. Pass this along to all the Mom's you know. Hurry - its almost Christmas!

For more helpful ideas, please visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer - http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/

Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze

I wanted to share with you a recipe for one of the most outstanding scones, by Tyler Florence of the Food Network. These scones have always been a hit with my guests and family. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/blueberry-scones-with-lemon-glaze-recipe/index.html

Try them without the lemon glaze or use a simple glaze. They are so good.

Book Resources for Teas

Here are some great book resources for your teas:

- Tea Party: 20 Themed Tea Parties with Recipes for Every Occasion, from Fabulous Showers to Intimate Gatherings by Tracy Stern
- Tea with Friends by Elizabeth Knight
- The London Ritz Book of Afternoon Tea by Helen Simpson
- Country Tea Parties by Maggie Stuckey
- Afternoon Tea by Susannah Blake
- Taking Time for Tea: 15 Seasonal Tea Parties to Soothe the Soul and Celebrate the Spirit by Diana Rosen
All of the above books can be found on Amazon.com. Add them to your Chrsitmas wishlist. Enjoy!