Cranberry Salad

This is my mom's cranberry salad that she makes every year for the holidays. I love it and she does, too. But that's about it. The rest of the family really isn't into cranberries--canned or otherwise. Last year she decided not to go to the trouble of fixing it for just 2 people so she picked up a pre-made cranberry salad at the grocery store. Big mistake. Nothing could top her version so this year it made it back on the table for Thanksgiving. And I can't wait for her to fix it again for Christmas.

Cranberry Salad

3 oz box raspberry jello

1 cup hot water

1/2 orange, ground (rind, too)

juice of 1 orange

1 cup sugar

1 pkg raw cranberries, ground

1 can crushed pineapple, drained

1/4 cup chopped nuts

Dissolve jello in hot water. Process 1/2 an orange and cranberries in a food processor. Add juice from 1 orange, sugar, pineapple, nuts and mix well. Add mixture to jello, stir, pour into serving bowl and chill.

Blondies. Fully Loaded.

Remember when Chili's used to serve their Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie in a sizzling skillet of melted butter? Mmm...those were the days. I miss that pool of cinnamon butter but yeah, I guess a scorching hunk of metal could pose some problems.

I've tried recreating my own using different copycat recipes but they were all too complicated. (Layers were involved. Sigh.) Then I found a basic blondie recipe while perusing Smitten Kitchen's vast and delicious archives. I added walnuts, chocolate chips and coconut and voila: Chili's Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie!

Blondies (recipe from Smitten Kitchen)

8 TBS salted butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, plus more for topping
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup coconut
vanilla ice cream
chocolate syrup
caramel syrup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare an 8 x 8 baking dish.
Combine melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Mix in egg and vanilla. Stir in flour, then walnuts, chocolate chips and coconut.
Pour into baking dish and bake 20-25 minutes.
Cut into squares and top with ice cream,chocolate and caramel syrup and walnuts.

P.S. If you want to replicate Chili's CCPP, just add a TBS of cinnamon butter (1/2 cup butter, 3 TBS sugar, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon) to a small, hot cast iron skillet.

Just A Swangin'

We Have A Winner!

I've pulled myself away from the table long enough to announce the winner of Miss In The Kitchen's flour sack towels. Using the random number generator, the winner is...

...Laura (Small Town Girl)! Congratulations! Thank you Miss and everyone who entered!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Ha! Awww! And Ewww!

These 2 little cuties showed up at my grandma's house several weeks ago and I fell in love. I wasn't the only one, either. My oldest son is a sucker for itty bitty puppies, too. I always wondered if he would turn out like my husband who likes dogs in a very logical, practical kind of way OR like me who likes to spoil dogs with birthday parties, homemade treats and heated dog beds.

I think I got my answer when he turned to me while petting one of the pups and said, "Mommy, I just want to crack her open and kiss her little heart."

It's Been Over A Year--Time For Another Giveaway!

Look what I got! My friend Missy over at Miss in the Kitchen sent me some flour sack towels and I love them! I've never used flour sack towels before even though I always drool over them whenever I'm at kitchen specialty shops. They're so pretty and soft.

Now that I have my own I realize just how versatile a flour sack towel can be. In addition to wiping down counters and drying dishes, I've also used them to cover dough while it rises and to keep rolls warm in a bread basket. Since they're so soft I have no worries about them scratching my ceramic stove top and they don't leave that 'paper towel lint' while cleaning mirrors and glass.

I want you to have a set of these flour sack towels. Missy wants you to have a set of these flour towels. Just tell me which set you want!

Visit Miss in the Kitchen Designs to see all the designs--the rooster/strawberry is my favorite. Sadly, there are none with alligators. Get to work on that Miss! I'll announce the winner on Thanksgiving!

Wordless Wednesday: "Loving Would Be Easy If Your Colors Were Like My Dreams..."