Shirley J Giveaway

Dee-Dee over at whateverdeedeewants.com is having a Shirley J giveaway.  She's giving away 1 bottle BBQ sauce mix, 1 bottle pizza and pasta seasoning mix and 1 bottle of onion seasoning.  I've tried them all and they are very good.  And easy to use. 

Get yourself over there and enter for the giveaway.  Hurry it ends Wednesday, June 23rd at midnight. 

Good luck! 

Requested Recipe - Caramels

I've had a few requests for my caramel recipe.  Caramels are just about my favorite food.  Can you consider caramels food?  If not, they are my favorite treat.  They are definately a treat.  I've tried several recipes, but this one is my favorite.  It is a recipe from my husbands Aunt Marie.  She introduced me to these little goodies more than 25 years ago and it's the recipe I keep coming back to.  I've adjusted the recipe a little, but it's nearly the same. 

Aunt Marie's Caramels

2 cups sugar

1 cup white karo syrup

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups whipping cream

1/2 cup butter

2 tsp vanilla

Mix together sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 of the cream in a heavy saucepan.  Cover and bring to a boil at medium heat.  Remove lid. Add remaining cream gradually, slow enough that it never stops boiling.  Allow it to thicken after each addition.  When all of the cream has been added, use a candy thermometer and cook to 234 degrees. Aunt Marie says you must continuelly stir during this stage but I have found that occasionally stirring works just fine.  Just don't scrape the edges of the pan while stirring.  Once it reaches 234 degrees add butter and vanilla.  Stir quickly to melt butter and bring back to 234 degrees.  Immediately pour into a buttered 9x9 inch pan without scraping the cooking pan.

Cool completely and cut into 1 inch squares.  Wrap and enjoy!  Yum!

Shirley J Universal Sauce

I am loving Shirley J's Universal Sauce! 

This product has been around for over 30 years.  But until recently it has been only used in commercial kitchens.  The company is now bringing their products to the home.  Shirley J has many products but the company's flagship product is called Universal Sauce.  It has so many uses.  It can take the place of any type of white or cream sauce.  It makes wonderful soups, sauces, casseroles and much more. The possibilites are endless.  

The universal sauce is a mix with water product.  It is foolproof.  It is easy.  It is economical.  Not to mention it's about 1/4 of the calories of a regular white sauce.  I could go on and on. 

So far I have made macaroni and cheese (about 5 times), fettucine alfredo, creamy tomato basil pasta, chicken enchiladas, baked potato cheese soup and chicken alfredo pizza.  All that starting with Shirley J's Universal Sauce.

I will be trying out and posting a new Shirley J's recipe each week.  If you are interested in finding out more about ShirleyJ, email me or check out the Shirely J website. 

Cinnamon Roll Class

A few weeks ago I was asked to teach some girls from the neighborhood a cooking class.  I thought they would enjoy learning how to make cinnamon rolls.  They did really well and we had a fun time.  Not to mention that we ate a bunch of cinnamon rolls too.

First I taught them about proofing the yeast.

When the dough was made, they wanted to touch it.  Just to see what it was like.

Then I showed them how to roll out the dough.

Next comes the melted butter.

Then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture and the brown sugar.

I then showed them how to roll them up.  I aslo showed them how I like to cut the rolls, with thread.  Wrap the thread around the roll.  Then cross the thread and pull.  It makes a clean cut every time.

The girls each made a pan to take home. 

We had a great time.

Thanks Dee-Dee for asking me and thanks

Qing

Claire

Madi and Sydney. 

It was a fun afternoon.  Now go make some for yourself!

Cinnamon Rolls
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1 T. or 1 package yeast
1/4 cup warm water, 105 to 115 degrees
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
3 1/2 to 4 cups flour
1 tsp. salt

melted butter
cinnamon sugar mixture
brown sugar
white frosting

Scald milk, add butter to melt and set aside to cool. Soften yeast in warm water, can add part of the sugar to speed to growth of the yeast. Let stand for 5 minutes. In a large bowl or mixer with dough attachment add yeast, milk and butter, egg, remaining sugar, salt and 3 cups of flour. Mix well. Work in more flour as needed. Knead until smooth. Put in greased bowl and cover. Let rise until double in bulk (about 1 hour). Punch down. Put on lightly floured surface. Roll out to rectangle. Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture and brown sugar. Starting with long end, roll up. Cut into 1 inch sections and place on greased pan. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until they start to brown. Let cool for 5 minutes and then frost.


White Frosting
1/4 cup softened butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
3-4 T. milk
Mix butter, vanilla, powdered sugar and half of the milk together. Slowly add remaining milk depending on the desired consistency.

Shirley J and a giveaway

I am soo excited about a company that's new to me, ShirleyJ.  I have been experimenting with several of their products.  I will be showing you in posts soon.  But you can check out their website HERE.  Also check it out on Dee-Dee's website.  She is having a giveaway of the Universal Sauce.  It is ShirleyJ's flagship product.  I LOVE it!  Check out the giveaway HERE.

Watch for upcoming recipes and maybe a giveaway or two from me.

Recipe Roundup

I was featured on Dee-Dee's Recipe Roundup with my easy homemade oreo's.  Make some today! 

There have been some other great recipes this week. 

 Click on the image below and check it out.

Cream Cheese Frosting

I've previously posted my Homemade Oreo recipe HERE.  I needed some cookies quick for a church event.  So I made some more.  This time they look a little more like oreo's.  The dark cookie and white frosting help with the look.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/4 cup butter, softened

4 oz cream cheese, softened

1 tsp vanilla

4 cups powdered sugar

5-6 T. milk

Mix butter, cream cheese, vanilla together until smooth.  Add powdered sugar and half of the milk and mix until smooth.  Slowly add remaining milk until it is the desired consistency.

I also made some chocolate frosting.  They were delicious too!