Bliss for your coffee

Indulge in one of these rich and soothing treats for your coffee without the big price of syrups and liquid creamers.  Only four ingredients or less and with the help of your food processor they are very quick too!  You can use Splenda or another sugar substitute if you prefer a sugar-free creamer. 

Directions are the same for all flavors and are at the end.  

Vanilla
3/4 cup powdered coffee creamer
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon real vanilla extract
Amaretto
3/4 cup powdered coffee creamer
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
Peppermint Mocha
3/4 cup powdered coffee creamer
1/2 cup cocoa
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract 

DIRECTIONS:  Blend ingredients well in a food processor.  Store in a glass jar or other airtight container.  Add 1-2 tablespoons of creamer to 6 ounces of coffee. 

Thanks Tasty Tuesday and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!

Snow Bunny

Have you noticed I haven’t been blogging much?  Well, this pink snow bunny is 1/2 of my excuse…

For a very short season my 2 grandbabies are living in the same city.  Right here.  In the same city.  I KNOW.  It’s all so very fun and exciting.  There has been quite a lot some dropping of everything to  spend a few minutes with them while they are here.  And one of those things being dropped is blogging.  But I’m still here and I haven’t forgotten you!

Here are some pictures of lil’ miss  experiencing her first big snow.  You see, she spent her whole life, all 17 months of it in a magical place called North Carolina.  Where it doesn’t really snow.  And clearly there is no need for layers and layers of winter finery.  Which was the way she liked things, thank you. 

Because how do people walk with all this stuff on, anyway?

 

Okay, I’ll try a few steps.  But that is all.  I mean it.

 

This is all way too much work.  I believe I’ll just sit a spell and….. 

 

eat snow. 

If it’s pink, red or has a heart…..

it’s now part of the ♥SWEETHEART SALE♥ at Prairie Cottage Rose!

There are lots more of the pink, red and hearts at the Cottage!

Bavarian Torte

I might have mentioned approximately 22 a few times that we aren’t big fans of the cake family in general. Especially, the frosting that comes slathered all over the cake. Poor cake.

Chocolate Bavarian Torte is one of the lucky few to make the cut. The frosting. It’s all whip creamy and just a little sweet. Perfect.

So simple to make, it’s not even much of a recipe. Just instructions on how to fancy up an ordinary cake mix and make it purdy-like.

I feel like a baking genius every time I make it. Which is only reinforced by all the oohs, ahs, and wows. Just don’t tell them how easy it is!

Chocolate Bavarian Torte

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) German chocolate cake mix

1 package (8 ounces) Cream Cheese softened

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped

2 tablespoons grated or shaved semisweet chocolate

Directions

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two 9-in. round baking pans. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth. Fold in cream.
• Using a long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally into two layers. (You need four layers total). Place bottom layer on a serving plate; top with a fourth of the cream mixture. Sprinkle with a fourth of the chocolate. Repeat layers three times.
• Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Makes 12 servings.

Oohs and ahs. Never fails.

Visit Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday for more great recipes!

Treasuries

Just look at the pretty treasury I found myself in: 

And this one too!

Treasuries are an interesting part of having an Etsy shop.  They help a shop owner gain exposure for their products.  Each treasury also has the potential to make it to the “front page” of Etsy.  Which is cause for much elation and happy dancing.  Front page shops have an exponentially increased amount of traffic and sales! 

When a treasury becomes “hot” it has a much better shot at the front page.  Hotness happens in 3 ways: Views, clicks, and comments.  I’m sure there is a top secret formula for figuring it all out, but basically the more unique views and comments a treasury has, the hotter it becomes.  Also very important is clicking on each item picture in the treasury.

So if you have time, please go give them some click and comment love here and here.  Maybe one of these will be my first front page treasury :)

Happy New Year!!

Well, hello everyone!  I am finally back!  December was a month of viruses at the cottage.  And not only for us people-types, but also for all three computers!  We finally seem to be on the road to recovery and have one precious computer back.  So the year is already off to a grand start!

I pray for a year of tremendous blessings in 2010 for each and every one of you! May we experience Jesus in new and fresh ways each day and if you do not know Him, I pray that you will this year. #

Happy and blessed New Year, my friends. 

Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart.  Psalm 27:14

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Train Wreck

You may call this dish Cincinnati Chili or Skyline chili,  but the family we got the recipe from called it Train Wreck.  For reasons that will soon become apparent, it just seems more fitting. 

You can make enough for 2 or feed a very large and hungry crowd.  It’s really fun to see all the different topping combinations people come up with… so go on, be adventurous! 

YOUR BASIC HOW TO MAKE A TRAIN WRECK: 

1.  Whip up your favorite chili
2.  Boil spaghetti and drain
3.  Assemble toppings while spaghetti is cooking

Serve chili on spaghetti and pile on your favorite toppings.  

Toppings may include, but are not limited to: cheese, onions, green pepper, lettuce, tomato, salsa, sour cream, avocado, olives, Fritos, crushed tortilla chips.  If you remotely think it could go with a train wreck, chop it up and call it a topping.   Trust me. Someone will try it.

A few examples: 

 

A purist. Cheese and only cheese.  Please.

An almost purist who added some onion to their cheese.   Just a smidge.

Lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese with sour cream on top. My, aren’t you venturesome? 

Have fun trying new combinations of toppings and let me know your favorites and your fails.  I’ve seen a few freaky-deaky train wrecks in my time.  The weirdest topping ever?  Coconut.  Um, ewww. 

Posted to Day 4 of the  Second Annual Bloggy Progressive Dinner, hosted by Cooking During Stolen Moments.