Black Friday Black Bean Taquitos

I was catching up over at Mentoring Moments for Christian Women and ran across this recipe.  We don't observe Black Friday shopping here, I've done it a couple of time and decided it really wasn't worth investing my time into the effort it took.

I did, however, like this quick recipe and wanted to share the link with you.

Original post over at MMCW
http://mentoringmoments.org/black-bean-taquitos/

Valerie's note: you could also substitute greek yogurt instead of sour cream, or mix half sour cream with half greek yougurt.  Another option is to use greek yogurt instead of sour cream in your guacamole. 

Make Ahead Chicken Piccata from Make-Ahead Meals

Jane Doiron over at Make-Ahead-Meals (click on the button above) shared this recipe on her blog.  I cannot wait to try this!!!  Right now though I am headed on over to Great Blog Giveaways to try to win a copy of her book, you should too!!!

Basic Cake Decorating

My friend Kathy Brodrock has a great how to video on Basic Cake Decorating. This would make a GREAT Christmas gift. If this is something you wanted to do for yourself or a young (or older) lady in your circle of family or friends but classes don't fit into your time or you budget, then this is the perfect solution. Watch the preview and then head on over and pick it up, order before December 24th and you get a free book to go with it!!!


Click here to view more details

My Favorite Sugar Cookie And Glaze Recipies

Here is my recipe for the Christmas Cookie Exchange from Susanne Myers - The Hillbilly Housewife and her friends Bridgett from http://www.SpectacularEats.com , Tracy from http://www.MomsInABlog.com and Loretta from http://www.JustNotMartha.com

Rich Rolled Sugar Cookies
I retrieved this from a forum, the person who posted it said it was from the original "Joy of Cooking". This makes soft cookies, we are not fans of "crunchy" cookies here. I also use this with GREAT success when making cookie bouquets which require thicker cookies, and make great gifts for about $5 your cost.

Using an electric mixer, beat until very fluffy and well blended:
1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup (4.75 ounces) sugar

Add and beat in until evenly incorporated:
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
(Make sure you scrape down the sides of the bowl during this step to get a totally homogenized mixture before going on to the next step)

Stir in until well blended and smooth (I just use the mixer to mix it in; no need to hand stir):
2 1/3 cups (11.75 ounces) all-purpose flour

You will end up with between 24-26 ounces of dough. Divide the dough in half (12-13 ounce pieces) and roll flat (about a 12 inch circle) between two pieces of wax paper.

Now, here's my two cents: before I cut out my cookies, I put the rolled-out dough in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. I then immediately cut out my cookies (believe me, this dough softens quickly) and pop them in the oven for 12-14 minutes at 350 degrees. EVERY cookie I have ever made keeps a perfect shape. I swear. If you adhere to the recipe and use the freezer trick, you will get perfect results every time. Happy baking!

Glaze
6 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup warm water
2 tbsp corn syrup
2 tsp flavoring of your choice

In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine ingredients in order given, using a spoon to stir until well incorporated. The glaze may be lumpy rather than smooth at this point, let the glaze sit for one hour to give the lumps of sugar time enough to dissolve and any air bubbles to rise to the surface. If it appears too thin, add a little (2 tbsp) extra powdered sugar, if it’s too thick, add a little (1 tbsp at a time) extra warm water.

After 1 hour, stir.

I thin a small amount a bit and brush on cookies that are warm to the touch. I did this a while back with a batch of cookies, and then placed them in a container and hid them. I found them 2 months later and tried one, it was as fresh as the day I made it.

To color the glaze, spoon some of the glaze into a container (such as a disposable cup) and add a few drops of food coloring. For red, black or any other dark colored icing, use gel paste.

Use either decorator bags to decorate or parchment bags with small bit of tip cut off.

You can also use this for bunt cakes or cinnamon rolls, just heat a few seconds in the microwave, stir and pour. It does keep in the refrigerator for a few weeks, if you can keep the kids out of it, that is.

NOT your usual cookie exchange

Susanne Myers - The Hillbilly Housewife, is putting together a Christmas Cookie Exchange 2009. This is not going to be just your usual cookie exchange, those don't really get me stoked, but this one does!!! Hillbilly Housewife has become my go to place for quick, simple, inexpensive, & simple, (did I say simple?), recipes. For more information on the cookie exchange, which starts Tuesday December 15th 2009, click on the picture or go HERE.

Product Review Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.

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So, I have been stumped on this one. Before I requested the product to review, I had run across several recipes using coconut oil, now I cannot find one. I must admit I was a tad bit afraid to try it, having had problems with coconut before. The smell makes me sick to my stomach, so I thought at least my family could try it. We received our bottle, it was in solid form as it is cold out now, and I sniffed it, no odor!!! I even tasted it, yep tasted it, no problems there, dinner stayed down. Eating coconut in the past has caused things to come back up. I let it sit for a while trying to decide just what to try first, I had an idea. I had been doing dishes all day and my hands were dry and cracked, so I smeared some of the oil on my hand, WONDERFUL. I loved it, and I did not have to re-apply it again that night, or the next morning. I will be keeping some of this by my sink, and I am guessing by my bed for cold winter nights when my hands look like they belong to an 80 year old woman, not a 43 year old woman. This will come in handy in the spring and summer too as we are big time avid gardeners around here (www.rocksinmygarden.blogspot.com & www.valeriesgardenblog.com). I will be using this product and am currently looking for home made lotion recipes, as well as cooking uses for it.

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I will be posting more on this as I use it, so check back often or subscribe to my blog in email, it should automatically let you know when I update. Here is a video about the company and it's product.

For more about the company and an offer for a free book and some legal info, read on.
Tropical Traditions also has a Referral Program, so if you place an order with them as a first-time customer, please select “Referred by a friend” and in the box that says “How did you hear of us?” enter my sponsor ID number… 5723870. By telling Tropical Traditions that I referred you, you will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy with your first order! This book is filled with testimonies and research showing how healthy coconut oil is, and it also includes over 85 recipes showing how one can incorporate coconut into their diet.

Here are some easy to use directions for your referrals:

1. Add the items you would like to purchase from the order form linked to Tropical Traditions. Visit www.healthybuyersclub.com/orderform.cfm

2. You'll be directed to the Order Form at the Tropical Traditions/Healthy Buyers Club website. You do not have to be a member or purchase a membership to buy from Tropical Traditions. Membership in the Healthy Buyers Club allows you to purchase in bulk amount at club member discounts if you choose to join. If you choose not to purchase a membership to the Healthy Buyers Club please order under the heading “Retail Sale Items”. This will enable you to purchase less than case amounts of any of the individual items without a membership.

3. Select the items you would like to purchase.

4. When you are ready to check out please click on the "Continue'' link which will take you to your shopping cart.

5. Review your order and then click on the "Check Out" button from your shopping cart.

6. Fill in your account information as directed. In the box: "How did you hear of us?'' you must select: "Referred by a friend'' on the drop down arrow. When you make this selection, a box for your sponsor's User ID number should appear if you are a first time customer.

7. Enter your sponsor's User ID number 5723870.

8. To complete your order click on "Save and Proceed to Checkout" at the bottom of this page and follow the instructions through the checkout process. You will receive an order number when you have successfully placed your order.

By following these steps, you will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy. Your sponsor will receive a coupon for a complimentary gift to redeem on their next order. You may view the current complimentary gift being offered here: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com//referral_program.htm

Those with additional questions about taking advantage of the referral program when creating their new account may email us using this link: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/customerservice.cfm

Quilting , Crocheting, Gardening & Cake Decorating.

My friend Kathy Brodrock over at Teaching Good Things has some awesome instructional DVD's. If you are looking for a gift for a young (or older) lady who wants to learn any of these skills look no further!!!

Make a Patchwork Quilt.Click here to visit Teaching Good Things.


Learn to Crochet. Click here to visit Teaching Good Things.



How to Grow and Use Culinary Herbs Click here to visit Teaching Good Things.



AND

Basic Cake Decorating. Click here to visit Teaching Good Things.

Video coming soon.

Any or all of these would make GREAT gifts for someone, young or old, who wants to learn a new skill.

YOU HAVE GOT TO SEE THIS

You just absolutely have to check out Clara's blog. She is 93 years old and has videos on YouTube on Depression Cooking!!!!! Clara brought back memories of my visits to my Great-Grandmother's house. Those memories are some of the most precious memories I have. As I watched Clara I remembered standing on a chair doing dishes or cooking with Grandma Hoppy (her last name was Hopkins but I could not say it when I was little so she became Grandma Hoppy).
Get a cup of coffee (strong coffee), sit back and enjoy!!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/DepressionCooking
http://depressioncooking.blogspot.com/