Super Easy Owl Cupcakes

 

Ingredients

1 premade chocolate cake mix or your favorite chocolate cake recipe
12 brown cupcake liners
1 favorite chocolate frosting recipe
24 Oreo cookies, split open with creamy filling intact (you should have 12 cream-topped cookies)
24 brown M&Ms and 12 orange M&Ms

Directions

Make cake according to package instructions. Line cupcake liners and pour batter into individual cups until 2/3 full. Bake according to packaged instructions. Allow to cool completely before generously frosting top of cupcakes.

Split Oreos in half crosswise with a paring knife and retain the cookie with the cream.

Using two cream-topped cookies, gently press them (cream side up) to the frosting, butting them up next to each other.

Using some of the left over frosting, lightly dab a small amount to the backside of a brown M&M and place one to each Oreo half to form eyes.

Turning an orange M&M on it's side, gently press it down into the frosting in between the cookies eyes to form the beak.

Peak the icing a little bit to form a couple of little ears.

Repeat for remaining cupcakes.

Tea Mail (Oct 28)

 

 

Spicy Cranberry Warmer

 

Ingredients

3 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 whole allspice
4 cups apple cider
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
4 cups cranberry juice
Additional cinnamon sticks, optional

Directions

1. Place first three ingredients in a double thickness of cheesecloth.

2. Bring up corners of cloth and tie with a string.

3. Place with cider in a large saucepan. (Or, if desired, place loose spices in saucepan and strain before serving.)

4. Simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.

5. Stir in sugar and simmer for 5 minutes.

6. Add cranberry juice and heat to simmering temperature.

7. Serve hot in mugs.

8. Garnish with cinnamon sticks if desired.

Yield: 8-10 servings.

Mulled Cider

Ingredients

10 cups (2 1/2 qts) apple cider
3 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
3 strips orange peel, removed with a vegetable peeler
Garnish: orange slices and cinnamon sticks

Directions

1.  Bring cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange peel to a boil in a large pot over medium heat.
Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 25 to 35 minutes.

2.  Line a strainer with cheesecloth or a plain white paper towel. Set strainer over a large clean saucepan; strain cider mixture into pan. Ladle into mugs. (May be refrigerated up to 2 days, then reheated.)

Big Easy Brownies

Ingredients

1 cup butter
3 square unsweetened chocolate
2 cups sugar
4 eggs (slightly beaten)
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Melt butter and chocolate over low heat.

3. Stir in sugar and eggs and mix well.

4. Add sifted flour and baking powder and stir.

5. Stir in vanilla and nuts.

6. Pour batter into greased and floured 9-by-13-inch baking pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

Ava's Juju Voodoo Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 cup peanut butter (any kind)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix sugar and eggs together then add in peanut butter.

3. Form dough into 1" balls and press gently with a fork.

4. Bake on greased baking sheet for 10 to 12 minutes.

Yields 1 dozen cooks that are so easy to make!

Carmela's Quick Shrimp Etouffee

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter
1 cup onions (minced)
1 cup green pepper (diced)
6 Tbsp flour
4 tsp paprika
salt and pepper to taste
4 cups water
2 lbs. shrimp (peeled)

Directions

1.  Melt butter in heavy saucepan.

2.  Add onions and green pepper and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.

3.  Add flour and stir until well mixed.

4.  Add paprika, salt, pepper and water and simmer for 12 minutes.

5.  Add shrimp and simmer for another 15 minutes.

6.  Serve over fresh-cooked rice.

Tea Mail (Oct 14)

Apple Tea

Ingredients

1 cup water
3 whole allspice
2 individual black tea bags
1 cup unsweetened apple juice or cider
2 tablespoons honey

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, bringer water and allspice just to a boil, add tea bags. Remove from the heat, cover and steep for 3 minutes.

2. Discard allspice and tea bags.

3. Stir in apple juice and honey, heat through.

Drayton's Green Tea Tippler

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 water

1 cup brewed strong green tea, cooled
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 TBSP sugar syrup
Lemon slices, for garnish

Directions

To make sugar syrup, mix 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in saucepan over low heat and stir until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes.

For drink, combine all ingredients in a large shaker, then shake and strain into 4 tall glasses with ice,and garnish with a slice of lemon.