Baby Shower Lucky Duck Punch

Ingredients

• 1 packet blue, unsweetened Kool-Aid
• 1 (2 liter) bottle Ginger Ale
• 1 (64 oz) bottle White Grape Juice
• 1 cup sugar
• 8 scoops pineapple sherbet
• 2-3 Rubber Duckies
• maraschino cherries (optional for garnish)
• orange slices (optional for garnish)

Instructions

1. Chill ginger ale and grape juice over night
2. Remove sherbet from freezer about 1/2 hour before serving punch to soften
3. In a large bowl, combine Kool-Aid packet, sugar and chilled juice. Stir to blend.
4. Slowly add chilled ginger ale.
5. Float 8 scoops of softened sherbet on top
6. Add Rubber Duckies (don’t forget to wash before using)
7. garnish cups with cherries and orange slices

Baby Shower Ideas

So I found this recipe on Pinterest a few weeks ago and it looked so cute I just had to give it a try today for the baby shower, everybody loved it and it also tasted great! This recipe is definitely a keeper and would work great for birthday parties for kids as well, lot's of different ways you could be creative with the punch, enjoy!

Pumpkin Fluff Dip

Best Pumpkin Fluff Dip

1 (16 oz.) Whip Cream
1 Small Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 (15 oz.) Pumpkin, Cleaned Out

Mix together whip cream, pudding, and pumpkin pie spice. Place mixture in pumpkin to serve & serve with Cinnamon graham crackers or vanilla wafers. 

We made this for Lindsey's baby shower today and it was so good, super easy to make and so good, everyone really enjoyed it, I know I ate way too much of it! 

Pumpkin Seeds

So for years every Halloween we have tried different methods to make pumpkin seeds and I think we finally got it this year. So here is to writing it down in order to remember for next year. Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Seeds
1 Stick Butter
Season Salt

Wash seeds thoroughly in colander and rinse off pumpkin goo. Melt butter in saucepan and place seeds in, add season salt to taste and simmer in butter for about 5 to 10 minutes not to long but long enough to soak in butter. Place on greased cookie sheet in 300 degree oven for 45 minutes. They should come out nice and crispy!

Jalapeno Cheesy Cornbread

Just found this recipe on Pinterest today, made it tonight and then made some modifications to the original recipe. Very light, not spicy, and a quick way to change up cornbread I think it would be fabulous served with beer cheese soup. Enjoy!

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 cups milk
• 3 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 8 ounces aged extra-sharp Cheddar, grated
• 1/3 cup chopped green onions
• 3 tablespoons seeded and minced fresh jalapeno peppers

Combine the flour cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the milk, eggs, and butter. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry until most of the lumps are dissolved. Don't over mix! Mix in the grated cheddar, the green onions and jalapenos, and allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking pan. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool and cut into large squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Strawberry Daiquiri Cake

I just found this recipe online, I was looking for something to spice up a strawberry cake mix since I already had one in cupboard. This was really easy, I actually made it in two round pans instead of a 13x9 and it is a little too ooey gooey with all the frosting and strawberries on it.  I think fresh strawberries would be fantastic in this recipe. And doesn't sweetened condensed milk make everything taste better? I know I am a fan.

Strawberry Daiquiri Cake

1 box strawberry cake mix
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 oz.) container of Cool Whip
1 can frozen strawberry daiquiri mix, thawed
1 small container of frozen strawberries, thawed

Bake cake according to the box. Let cool 10 minutes. Turn cake out onto a wire rack and allow to cool completely.

Split cake in half with dental floss. Place the strawberries on bottom half then place top cake over the strawberries.

Stir the sweetened condensed milk and daiquiri mix together and then fold in the Cool Whip. A drop of red food coloring may be added, if desired.

Spread cool whip frosting on and refrigerate.

Garnish with additional strawberries.

Happy Birthday Grandma Shirley, hope you enjoy your cake!

Homemade Soft Pretzels

Brent just posted this recipe that he tried from the Food Network and said "Oh ya awesome, Pretzlemaker who?" I have been looking for a good pretzel recipe too, can't wait to give it a try!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water
• 1 tablespoon sugar 
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 package active dry yeast 
• 22 ounces flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups
• 2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
• Vegetable oil, for pan
• 10 cups water
• 2/3 cup baking soda
• 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• Pretzel salt

Directions

Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside. Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart sauce pan or roasting pan.

In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan. Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rackfor at least 5 minutes before serving.

Spicy Cheesy Meatloaf

So I was told if I don't start blogging I will be disowned..Here I go.

2 Pounds Ground Beef

2 Pounds :) Grated Cheese

1 1/2 Cup Italian Bread Crumbs

2 Eggs

1 Medium Onion Diced

About 1/4 Cup Jalapeños More or Less Depending on how tough you are :)

1 Can Tomato Paste

Preheat oven to 350