Peanut Butter Kiss Blossoms

I got this recipe from my beautiful, talented and sweet sister-in-law, Amber.. She made these cookies for my Grandparents 60th Wedding Anniversary celebration picnic this past weekend. They are truly so yummy and I love this recipe because they are so easy to make. I even love the fact that it has just 5 ingredients. The ingredients are staples in anyone's pantry which is also a huge plus! These cookies would be great for a summer picnic/BBQ, baby shower or even a birthday party. Try making them for your next get together or just make them for a Friday night dessert to celebrate the weekend! They are great with milk!

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Ingredients:1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
3/4 c. creamy peanut butter
2 cups Original Bisquick mix
1 teaspoon Vanilla
White Sugar
about 36 Hershey kisses or heart shaped chocolates

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, stir sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter until smooth. Stir in Bisquick mix and vanilla.
3. Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls. Roll tops in sugar. Place sugar side up 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet.
4. Bake 8-10 minutes or until the bottoms of cookies just begin to brown. Immediately press a chocolate kiss or heart into the top of each cookie. Remover from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Enjoy!

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Ashlee, The Culinary Queen

Independence Day Maddy Dress

Go here to see one of my favorite blogs that I like to visit. I love Ashley Johnston. Maybe it is because we have the same first name or maybe it is because she is so seriously talented at coming up with her own tutorials/patterns and crafty ideas. I think it is both. I have really grown fond of this pattern that Ashley has designed and I have thoroughly enjoyed making this pattern for my little girl. My little girl has four of these cute little sundresses hanging in her closet. What is also nice about this pattern, is that you can make them a size smaller (don't sew on bottom ruffle) and use this pattern for a little top as well. The possibilities are endless!! Truly though, I am in love with this pattern... Oh, and did I mention that it is so easy to sew. I am not a seamstress, nor do I profess to be but this pattern is seriously so simple and the instructions are so easy to follow. If I can do it, any aspiring seamstress can make this cute little dress for the little dear in their life. Ok, so there is my plug for Ashley Johnston patterns. (This past week, I just bought 4 more patterns from her. I am excited to start sewing something new!)

I made this cute little Independence Day dress for my cute little 6- month-old niece, Kenley. Her daddy is just getting out of the Army and I wanted to make something for her to wear to not only meet her daddy in (he has seen her once at birth but has spent the rest of her life serving our country in Afghanistan) but also so she would have something patriotic to wear for this years up coming holiday (Independence day). I also got ambitious too and made her a cute little hair bow to match. I am excited to get this cute little ensemble off in the mail and surprise my cute little niece.

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Ashlee, The Culinary Queen

Sopaipilla's

I know that Cinco De Mayo has come and gone but this dessert would be a great finale to any Cinco De Mayo party!! A good friend of mine recently brought these yummy desserts over for our little family to enjoy. I had never heard of Sopaipillas before and I did a little research about them. For those of you that don't know what a Sopaipilla is, it is a fried pastry and a type of quick fry bread that is served in New Mexico, Chile and other South American countries. After the pastry is fried it is served with a generous amount of cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top. It can also be served with honey drizzled on top. This particular Sopaipilla recipe of course isn't fried and has been "Americanized." This Sopaipilla recipe calls for crescent rolls that are layered between a cream cheese mixture. It may sound hard to make but they are actually very easy to make and are so delicious. Naturally after trying these little pieces of heaven, I had to have the recipe for my own. I can guarantee that this delicious recipe will become a regular dessert at our home! Enjoy!

Sopaipillas

from the kitchen of Carlynn Payne

2 cans crescent rolls 1- 8 oz. bar of cream cheese
1 c. Sugar
1 stick of butter melted
1/2 c. of cinnamon and sugar mixture

In a 9X13 pan, roll out the crescent rolls. Pinch the perforations together. Then mix the cream cheese and sugar together and then spread the mixture over the crescent rolls. Next, top with the second can of crescent rolls and pinch perforations together. Drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

* These are the best when they are served warm but are also good when served cold. Enjoy!

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Ashlee, The Culinary Queen

Chinese Coconut Shrimp

When I came upon this recipe, I just had to try it. One of my favorite things to get when I visit Red Lobster is the coconut shrimp. I am in love with it! When I found this recipe I was hoping this recipe would be similar and become a family favorite. This is all that and more!! It turns out, I have again stumbled across another very delicious recipe. If you love seafood and love shrimp this recipe is worth a try! This is a little different from the traditional deep fried coconut shrimp that you would usually find in a Seafood Restaurant. This shrimp dish is sauteed rather than fried version that is served with a coconut flavored sauce! The shrimp in this dish is very flavorful and when you take that first bite it is like having a party in your mouth! This dish has a sweet flavor, so it may not be for everyone but if you do enjoy the Deep Fried Shrimp and dipping sauces you will most likely enjoy this recipe. Go on and give this one a try, I promise that your taste buds will thank you for making this dish! If you try this dish, I would love to hear from you and get your feedback!

Chinese Coconut Shrimp

Recipe and Photo courtesy of blog chef.com

1 lb. jumbo shrimp (peeled and deveined with tails off)
Salt and Pepper
1 T. Olive Oil
4 Green Onions, chopped
1 T. Amaretto Liquor *(You will have to make a trip to the state liquor store for this. I bought the Amaretto Silk DeKuyper Brand.)
1/2 c. coconut milk
1/4 c. Heavy cream
2 T. Sugar
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* If you are worried about cooking with alcohol, do not fret, the alcohol cooks out! :)

Step 1: In a wok or large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium- high heat. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Add shrimp and saute' for 2-3 minutes. Add green onion and amaretto liquor. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until the shrimp begins to caramelize.
Step 2: Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside. Add to the wok or saucepan- coconut milk, heavy cream and sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer (stirring occasionally ) until the sauce is reduced by half (about 6 minutes).
Step 3: Add shrimp back into the wok or saucepan and add vanilla and coconut extracts. Simmer for another 1-2 minutes and serve over rice.
(Makes 4 servings)

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Ashlee, The Culinary Queen

Soft Peanut Butter Cookies

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to get together with some friends and make this darling Mother's Day picture holder. While we were crafting, I snuck on over to the refreshments and found these incredible soft peanut butter cookies staring at me in the face. Let me tell you, It was love at first bite! I think I ate my weight in cookies that night. I know, I have no shame!! Since my love affair with those cookies that night, I have been craving them ever since and I am ashamed to admit that I have since made several batches for my family. I promise these cookies are that delicious and so incredible soft! I adore cookies that are soft and not crunchy. I have to thank my friend Becca for sharing this mouth watering cookie recipe with me. May all of you cookie lovers out there enjoy this recipe just as much as I do!

Super Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
Recipe Courtesy of Becca Hyer

3/4 c. Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 c. Butter Crisco
1 1/4 c. Brown Sugar
1 egg
3 Tbsp. Milk
1 1/4 tsp. Vanilla
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Soda
Peanut Butter Chips (optional, but I would highly recommend adding them)

Blend peanut butter, butter Crisco and brown sugar. Slowly add egg and milk. Add remaining ingredients. This is a very soft dough. Place spoonfuls on tinfoil line cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

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Ashlee, The Culinary Queen

Mothers Day Craft Tutorial

A couple of days ago, I was invited to a friends home to make these darling crafts for Mother's and Father's day! It was nice to get a jump start on gifts for these holidays because it is so hard for me to think of things to give these special people in my life. Especially, those that seem to already have everything they want/need. I loved this craft idea. It is very simple to make and only took me several hours to complete. I made these for my hubby, my mom and my mother in law for their special days. I thought they could place these on their desks at work to help remind them of our little family.

Tutorial

Step 1: Using a 2x4 cut 2- 12 inch pieces of wood. Sand edges and all over wood to make smooth to the touch.
Step 2: Stain wood to the color of your liking or if you don't have stain on hand you can use Acrylic paint and water it down a little. Let Dry.
Step 3: Using modge podge, paint the wide flat side and place a 3 inch x 12 inch piece of your choice of scrapbook paper onto the wood. Modge Podge to secure paper. Once secure, Modge Podge over the entire paper to secure.
Step 4: Using modge podge again, paint the thin side of 2x4. Then adhere a 1 inch x 12 inch piece of your choice scrapbook paper onto the wood. Modge Podge on back of scrapbook paper to secure paper to wood. Once secured, modge podge over the entire paper to secure.
Step 5: Once Modge podge is dry, drill three holes at the top of your widest piece of wood at 2 inch, 6 inch and 10 inches. Make sure you drill all the way through!!
Step 6: Pull ribbon through the holes and attach a cute clamp of your choice. Tie a bow. Add a picture.
Step 7: On your thin piece of scrapbook paper, rub on your choice of saying printed in Vinyl Lettering. Some sayings that you could use: Best Friends Forever, We love Grandma, We love Daddy, We love You!
Step 8: Secure the two piece of wood together by using Elmers Wood Glue or Elmers white glue.
Step 9: Viola, you have a cute gift to give away.

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Ashlee, The Culinary Queen

Shrimp Scampi

I Love Seafood and One of my favorite things to order at any well known Seafood Restaurant is the shrimp scampi. Usually when my order comes to the table I find that the shrimp scampi is served piping hot soaking in a rich parsley, garlic and butter sauce. Yum! Who can resist that? When I came across this recipe that has the shrimp scampi served with angel hair or linguine pasta, I jumped at the chance to make this for my family. The shrimp really pops with flavor and the noodles are a yummy compliment. My husband adored this dish and my kids actually dove into it. I was surprised but they(my kiddos) actually enjoyed the noodles and shrimp. What makes this recipe really good is that it is easy to prepare and you could whip it up quickly on a weekday night. It is also fancy enough to make for that special occasion, impressing a date or for a holiday dinner like Valentines Day! Give this recipe a try it is truly a winner!

Shrimp Scampi

recipe adapted from blog chef and photo courtesy of blog chef

2 lbs. raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)
1 lb. angel hair or linguine pasta
1 c. butter
2 shallots(minced)
8 cloves of garlic (minced)
1/3 c. white wine *
3 T. Lemon Juice
1/4 c. fresh parsley (chopped)
1/4 c. teaspoon salt
1/8 teas. Black pepper
*Note: You can find a variety of cooking wines and cooking sherries at your local Harmon's. Harmon's seems to have the best variety and selection of "exotic" if you will cooking supplies. If any of you are worried about cooking with alcohol, know that it cooks out!

Step 1: Cook angel hair or linguine pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, melt 1 cup of butter in a skillet. Add in the shallots and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes stirring constantly (you don't wan them to burn).
Step 2: Add shrimp and cook over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink. Make sure you flip them over so they are cooked on both sides.
Step 3: Add wine, lemon juice, parsley and salt and pepper. Cook for another minute or two and pour shrimp over pasta and serve.

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Ashlee, The Culinary Queen