Strawberry Shortcake

Happy Easter!!! For Easter desert I made strawberry shortcake. Its super easy and I made it the night before. For this cake I did cheat and use a box cake mix but everything else I made for scratch. 

You will need a white cake mix either from a box or a homemade favorite from scratch. I used two 9in cake pans. 

I slices up 4 cups of strawberrys and added 1/4 cup of sugar and put them in the fridge to set for a while, and let the juices come out. Mine stayed in the fridge for a few hours before I used them. 

(My brand new cutting board now has a big red spot that won't come off.) The next thing is to make your cool whip, and yes you can buy it in a tub at the grocery store, but this is much better. First make sure your heavy whipping cream is really cold the best thing is to leave it in the fridge until right before you need it. Place your metal mixing bowl along with your metal mixer attachments in the freezer for 15 minutes. Also have a 1/4 cup of sugar ready to use. After your 15 minutes are up measure out 1 cup of heavy whipping cream, and combine that with your 1/4 cup of sugar in your chilled mixing bowl. My hand mixer has seven speed settings I set mine to 5 and let it go. 

You will mix this until it forms soft peaks, you will notice after several minutes when it starts to go from a liquid to a soft fluffy texture. Once your done with your whipped cream you can start the assembly of your cake. Also very important made sure your cake is completely cooled. Place your cake on the cake stand and then half your strawberries and there juices over that. Add your layer of whipped cream and do the same for the next layer. Now I made two batches of the whipped cream I used a good bit if it on the middle, and top. You can use just one batch but if your like me the whipped cream is my favorite part of the cake. So with the second batch I coated the sides and the rest of the top I didn't get the first time. 

Things you will need for this will be 

- box cake mix (white)  plus anything that recipe calls for (or your recipe for homemade cake batter) 

- 4 cups of strawberries 

-1/4 cup sugar 

Whipped Cream Icing 

-1/4 cup sugar 

-1 cup heavy whipping cream 

*once your done assembling the cake make sure to store it cover in the fridge until your ready to serve it. 

This looks messy but it was a wonderful and easy cake to make. 

Peanut Cake

Another year and another loss. For the past three years I've entered a cake in cake decorating contest at the National Peanut Festival and I've yet to win anything but oh well I've enjoyed making the cake. The first year I made my cake with real cake but last year and this year I've used styrofoam or whatever you call the stuff they make fake cakes out of. So yes this cake is fake its not edible well I could eat the fondant and icing. 

Ghost Cookies

These cookies are really simple and fast to do all you need is a package of NutterButter cookies, 1 package of white almond bark, and semi sweet chocolate chips. 

Melt your chocolate in the microwave. Break up your squares then use a knife or fork to break those squares into smaller pieces. I started by microwaving them for 20 seconds at a time and stirring between each 20 seconds. Of course depending on your microwave you might have to adjust this. Once the chocolate is melted start by dipping your nutter butter cookies in the chocolate. I used a fork so that the excess chocolate would drain off and I wouldn't have a huge glob of chocolate on the bottom of me cookies.

Then lay them on your wax paper and add your two chocolate chips for eyes. 

Then you have your ghost cookies. 

Let them set till dry. The drying time can vary depending on how much chocolate you have on your cookies I let mine set for about 30 minutes. These would be great if you have kids that want to make some Halloween treats.

Birthdays and Vacation

Well my October so far has been packed with birthdays and a vacation to DisneyWorld. October 1st was Zack's 27th birthday. 

(Red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing and chocolate mustaches)

The one semi smile I got out of him. 

My birthday banner that I worked on all day and dried just in time for it to be used. Then on Saturday we made our way to Orlando FL to start our vacation. We first hit up the shopping outlets soon as we got there of course out first stop was BassPro. Then Sunday we started our official Disney vacation at Hollywood Studios.

My favorite show from here is Indiana Jones I even remember watching it as a kid and I still love it. 

Me with a replica of Scarlet Ohara's dress from Gone with the Wind which is one of my all time favorite movies. Sorry picture is a little blurry. 

(Yeah Zack doesnt like taking photos as you can tell.) Then the next day we went to the Magic Kingdom which I had a total blast but my feet and legs were killing me by then. My feet have never hurt so bad that was the worst part of the trip but of course I wouldn't have this problem if I was in shape. 

The next day we went to Epcot and went on my favorite ride out of all the parks Test Track!!!! We rode it three times and I would have rode it all day if I could and the best part is at the end of the ride when u get off u can see the new cars for Chevrolet they had the Corvette, Camaro, and Suburban that I would love to have. 

The last day was at the Animal Kindgom where we rode the Everest rollar coaster and for anyone who knows me I hate rollar coasters and being up high. The entire ride I closed my eyes which was a real shock when the thing stopped and then went backwards, but I survived and in the end it wasnt that bad. Then came Saturday which was MY BIRTHDAY!!!! I make sure that everyone knows its my birthday for a like a week before well really probably before that. So Saturday my parents, Zack and me spent our morning at an estate sale were me and my mom racked up on some great deals. Then for dinner we had Olive Graden which I love there soups they have there and breadsticks!! My parents got me a delicious ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. It was a pretty great birthday I just can't believe I'm 25.

Selfie with my cake. 

Pretty Little Liars Cake

I'm a huge fan of Pretty Little Liars this is the first show that I haven't started at like season 3 and had to go back and buy the first two season just to see it all up to date. I'm one of those people that if I'm a big fan of the show you can't call during my show because I won't answer and don't u dare get in front of the TV. So for the summer premiere I made a PLL themed cake. It was super easy and fun to make. I made a chocolate cake with chocolate icing which got all over my board as u can tell from my picture but I love chocolate so that's what I made. 

I rolled out my black fondant 

I measured the cake around and how high it was. That's not how u are suppose to do it but I was feeling like trying something different. Then I took my  cake pan and traced the bottom onto the fondant and it fit perfectly on top. 

I piped on my boarder and today I found a cute cookie cutter of a dress so I cut the dresses out of the black and traced it with white icing so they would stand out. And of course the cake wouldn't be complete without without the -A . 

Cheese Ravioli and Pizza Bread

Ingredients for Cheese Ravioli

-1 package of frozen cheese ravioli 

-1 jar of tomato and basil red sauce 

-1 jar of Alfredo sauce 

-1 tablespoon of pesto 

Ingredients for Pizza Bread

-1 tube of ready pizza dough

-1 small package of mozzarella cheese 

-1 package of pepperonis 

-2 tablespoons of melted butter 

*and anything else u would like on your pizza bread like olives 

Instructions for cheese ravioli 

Follow the instructions on package for cooking the ravioli. ( most of the ravioli I've used only takes 5 to 10 minutes to cook) Once the ravioli is done drain and put back on stove eye on low heat. Then add your red sauce, Alfredo sauce and pesto.( You can use less of the sauces as long as they are in equal amounts. I personally like my ravioli covered but not swimming in sauce.) Leave on the eye a few minutes stirring it until the sauce is nice and warm. 

Instructions for Pizza Bread

Roll out your pizza dough onto a cookie sheet. Make sure to preheat your oven as  your package says mine said 400 degrees. Then add your topping like pepperonis and cheese.(or whatever your like on your pizza the sky is the limit). Then roll it up and cut a few slits in the top so that you can tell when your cheese has melted. Then take your melted butter and rub it all over the outside. Then I popped it in the over for about 15 to 20minutes or until its starting to brown and the cheese is bubbling. Slice it and its ready to serve. 

This is a quick and easy dish for those nights u don't want takeout but don't want to cook something that will take a long time. 

Apple Crisp

For Easter on Sunday I cooked dinner. We had ham, scolloped potatoes, yeast rolls and deviled eggs. And for desert apple crisp which was a hit and was the first time I've ever cooked it Zack especially loved the crust. 

I finally tried a project that I pinned off Pintrest, so I colored my eggs my favorite is the pink of course. 

Apple Crisp 

-6 cups thinly sliced and peeled apples

-1/3 cup sugar 

-1 tsp cinnamon 

-1/2 tsp salt

-2Tbsp butter melted

For crust 

-3/4 cup sugar

-1/2 cup all purpose flour

-1/3 cup butter

Directions

Mix together apples, cup sugar, cinnamon, salt and melted butter. Place in a 8 inch square baking dish and set aside. For crust mix together 3/4 cup sugar and the 1/2 cup of flour. And cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Bake at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes or until apples are tender. 

Before everyone dug in.