A Sweet Treat To Celebrate A Famous Pair

It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies,

but just as much to stand up to our friends.

J.K. Rowling

Jane Austin is the pinnacle

to which all authors aspire.

J.K. Rowling

How could one resist a sweet treat? Certainly not me! Recently I was gifted with a small silver box wrapped with a bright yellow bow. Inside were 4 truffles just begging to be sampled. Now these weren't just your ordinary truffles purchased from a store but ones that were homemade and made with very few ingredients one being Oreo cookies. Perhaps you will find this easy recipe just the thing to make your day much happier and brighter.

Oreo Truffles

recipe supplied by Dennie

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. cream cheese softened
• 1 lb. Oreos
• 1 lb. milk or dark chocolate
• 1/2 pound white chocolate
• Whole Almond
• 1/4 cup Amaretto liqueur

Directions:

• Grind Oreos to fine powder in food processor.
• With a mixer blend cookie powder and cream cheese till thoroughly mixed-there should be no white traces of cream cheese, add liqueur and blend
• Roll into a ball (a little less than golf ball size) and place on a wax-paper lined cookie sheet
• Chill about 45 minutes
• Line two cookie sheets with wax paper
• In double boiler melt chocolate or microwave
• Dip balls and coat thoroughly
• Using a slotted spoon lift out of chocolate and let excess drip off
• Place on cookie sheet
• Using a fork drizzle white chocolate over ball and press whole almond on top
• Let cool and keep refrigerated

Note: Optional ideas

• Melt chocolate slowly in microwave so as to prevent over melting rather than double boiler
• Add other flavorings
• Use food coloring
• Reverse white and dark chocolate
• Can use reduced fat cream cheese

___________________________________________________________________________________

I could not let this day pass by without noting that one of my favorite book series is celebrating a birthday...

Today is Harry Potter's Birthday. The boy wizard Harry James Potter was born July 31st. 1980. It is the same birthday as author J.K. Rowling born in 1965.

For trivia fans HP books have been translated into over 62 languages.

Here are three questions to think about

1. What is the name of Albus Dumbldore's phoenix?

2. Which Hogwarts house does Harry call home?

3. Who are Muggles?

What Makes You Happy?

Whoever is happy

will make others happy, too.

Mark Twain

Happy is he who forgets

what cannot be changed

Mark Twain

An article The Secret to Happiness in the current issue of Whole Living.com devoted several pages interviewing people asking "What makes you happy?" I was struck at how simplistic the responses were to the question. Some included: spending quality time with someone, finding time to finish a book with a hectic schedule, reorganizing a room, being involved in a creative project were things that made them happy.

Since we are all so different there really isn't a magic formula to what makes each of us happy. It can be said though being happy is more a state of mind. And happiness comes when we are receptive to what's good in the present moment here and now. Many of those interviewed did not feel they had to do anything extra special, reform themselves, visit an exotic place or find perfection. So The Secret to Happiness...is that there is no secret! Joy can strike at any moment, especially when its least expected.

Today that unexpected joyful moment struck me. A warm, humid summer day leaves one less than enthused to do a Outdoor Garden/Water Garden Tour. But after house #1 totally forgot the heat. Each of the homeowners had lovingly created these tranquil outdoor spaces with koi ponds, blooming lotus flowers, fountains, brooks, waterfalls and stunning flower/plant arrangement. It was like having this zen moment in the middle of a warm morning. But I would like to add maintaining these outdoor spaces seemed like a full time two person job.

I posted pictures of nature's beauty and some even spilled over to side posting!

Reruns

I am posting pictures of some recipes I recently used at a luncheon. The chicken cantaloupe recipe was featured on July 20th blog: Triple Digits. The Berry Sorbet was posted May 30th: Backyard Recipes and Black Bottom Pie has been revised and I am posting it with changes. I am also including a Caesar Salad recipe which is very easy with few ingredients.

All perfect for summer entertaining.

Black Bottom Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 package Nabisco chocolate wafers
• 1/2 cup sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 stick melted butter
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions;

Preheat oven 375 and use a glass pie pan

Process cookies in food processor until fine, add sugar and melted butter

Pat crumbs into a pie pan

Press pecans into crumbs

Bake 12 minute-cool completely before adding filling

Filling Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 tsp. espresso powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 cups milk divided
• 2/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 TB butter
• 1 TB. vanilla
• 2 TB. Kahlua

Directions:

• Combine 1 cup sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, espresso, and salt in a saucepan
• Whisk in 2 cups of milk (I did put this mixture in a blender and then back into a saucepan)
• Cook over medium heat till thick about 6 minutes be sure to stir constantly with a wooden spoon
• Remove heat add chips
• Whisk yolks and remaining 1 cup of milk and blend into chocolate mixture
• Bring to boil and simmer 3 minutes
• Off heat stir in 1 TB butter, vanilla and Kahlua
• Cool and pour into crust and cover with wax paper
• Needs to be chilled overnight to set for easier cutting

Topping

• 1-1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1/8 cup powdered sugar
• Chill beaters for a few hours then beat cream and sugar when stiff add 1 TB. Kahlua
• Add topping to each pie slice garnish with chocolate shavings

Caesar Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of prepared creamy Caesar salad dressing mix
• 1 small package of mixed greens or baby spinach leaves with trimmed stems
• Parmesan cheese
• toasted pine nuts about 1/2 cup
• 4 cups cooked chicken
• 2 cups cooked drained pasta shells

Directions:

• Mix 1/2 package of greens, chicken, cooked pasta and enough dressing just to moisten ingredients
• Add I cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Mix in toasted pine nuts
• Chill for several hours

Door Conversations

If your house is really a mess

and a stranger comes to your door

greet him with "Who could have done this?

We have no enemies."

Phyllis Diller

Trouble knocked on the door,

but hearing laughter,

hurried away.

Benjamin Franklin

Yesterday's blog got me thinking about doors and I do not mean the rock group from the 60's and 70's. Do you know what three doors are considered the most famous in the world? One is the called The Columbus Door. The door is the main entrance to the Nation's Capitol Rotunda. The doors are almost 17 feet high and weigh 20,000 lbs. The door depicts the life of Christopher Columbus. Another famous door is Number 10 Downing Street in London. It is the headquarters of the Prime Minister and Office of the Lord of Treasury. The third famous door is Florence Baptistry one of the oldest buildings in Florence. It is a gilded bronze door that shows 28 different biblical scenes. It is also called The Gates of Paradise.

Doors were first invented for protecting one's privacy as well as making the outside entrance beautiful. Doors can be welcoming, some breathtaking and some unforgettable. I have posted several pictures of doors to the right of the blog rather than in the blog. Thanks to my brother- in-law for supplying me with some of his Italy pictures. Many European doors are quite ornate. Take some time and notice the doors around you. Do you have a favorite?

Come Right In-enjoy a drink with some appetizers

Louise May Alcott once said:

"Stay" is a charming word in a friend's vocabulary.

So with keeping that quote in mind invite some friends over to enjoy conversation, drinks and appetizers.

Peach-Riesling Sangria

serves 8 note that this is a light refreshing summer drink

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of dry Riesling wine
• 1-1/2 cups white cranberry peach drink
• 1/2 cup peach schnapps
• 3 TB. fresh lemon juice
• 2 TB. sugar
• 1/2 vanilla bean split lengthwise
• 2 thick lemon slices
• 2 thick orange slices
• 2 peaches cut into large chunks
• 10 raspberries
• about 3 cups ice cubes

Directions:

• Mix first 5 ingredients in a large pitcher
• Scrape seeds from vanilla bean
• Add bean and stir well
• Mix in fruit
• Cover and chill overnight or can make early in day to serve later in the day
• Serve drink over ice cubes

Florentine Artichoke Dip

serve with garlic bagel chips or pita bread triangles

Ingredients:

• 1/2 package frozen chopped spinach, thawed use several paper towels to squeeze out moisture
• 1- 6 oz. jar marinated artichoke hearts drained and chopped
• 1- 8 oz. package of softened cream cheese
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup finely chopped onions
• 2 large garlic cloves chopped finely or 1/2 tsp.prepared garlic from a jar
• 1-1/2 TB. fresh lemon juice
• grated provolone cheese
• 1-1/2 cups bread crumbs (using whole wheat bread crumbs is a good alternative to French baguette crumbs)
• 2 TB. parsley flakes
• 2 TB. melted butter

Directions:

• Combine spinach, artichoke hearts and rest of ingredients except butter, parsley flakes provolone cheese and bread crumbs
• Stir well
• Spoon into a lightly greased 9 inch square or pie pan
• Grate provolone cheese over top of this mixture
• Mix bread crumbs, parsley flakes and butter-sprinkle on top of grated cheese
• Bake uncovered 375 for 25 minutes

Panko Breaded Brie

recipe from Lake Elmo Inn, Lake Elmo, MN

Ingredients:

• Brie
• Croutons
• Eggs
• Flour
• Panko bread Crumbs
• Butter

Directions:

• Make large homemade croutons from baguette. Brush slices with olive oil toast in oven for 5 minutes @ 350
• Set aside
• Cut Brie into bite sized pieces (a little smaller that crouton size)dip in flour, then into egg-then into bread crumbs
• Preheat a saute pan with some butter when hot add brie pieces brown and flip and brown other side(caution-do not cook too long or will fall apart)
• Place brie on crouton, add very small amount of honey on top of cheese, add one toasted almond and a very light sprinkle of thyme

Note:They are quite addictive and you can not eat just one

Beat The Heat

Well we only missed scoring the triple digits by 1 degree recently. Fortunately for us the weather pattern has settled down a bit more into normal summer temperatures. My garden is flourishing despite the sizzling heat. I have been on the hunt for recipes that could use up a crop of tomatoes, cucumbers and basil. The following stuffed tomato recipe was quite good for a light summer meal and even healthy. Tomorrow will be posting some light summer drinks and appetizers for outdoor entertaining. Click on right photo of dog for full view.

Stuffed Tomato

adapted from MarthaStewart.com

serves 8

I added 2 cups combination wild rice/white rice but could use brown rice or couscous

also added dressing instead of the 6 TB. olive oil suggested in original recipe

Ingredients:

8 large beefsteak tomatoes-slice top off and scoop out inside-set aside

2 cups of chopped peaches

1-1/2 cup chopped cucumbers

kernels from 2 ears of corn that have been cooked

1/2 cup prepared dressing- Ken's Steak House Lite Vidalia Onion(could use poppyseed dressing or a vinaigrette)

1 TB. lemon juice

1 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/2 cup shredded chopped basil

2 cups rice

Directions:

Add all ingredients in a bowl and let sit 15 minutes then taste test to see if ingredients need adjustment for acidity or seasoning

Chill mixture for 1 hour and then divide among 8 tomatoes

Triple Digits-Stay Cool

As the temperatures soar today toward triple digits its time to get more serious on keeping cooking simple. If you have had enough of take out foods consider some of these easy make ahead recipes below. Also check out this link to Southern Living Summer Salad recipes. Lots of good ideas!

http://www.southernliving.com/food/entertaining/cool-summer-salads-00400000046866/page38.html

Twist on Coleslaw

Ingredients;

• prepared dressing (I used Marzetti Original Slaw)
• 1- 16 oz. bag coleslaw (try the tri color)
• 2 granny smith apples-sliced thinly
• 1 cup chopped broccoli florets
• 1 cup finely chopped carrots
• red or green onion
• 1 package 3.75 oz. Honey Roasted Almonds (in the deli aisle)
• optional crumbled bacon about 1/2 cup

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients except almonds
• Chill several hours just before serving add almonds and crumbled bacon on top

Chicken-Cantaloupe Salad

serves 4

note this salad looks quite festive-invite some friends over for a meal

Ingredients:

• 1 package chicken flavor rice mix(Rice-A-Roni) do not substitute or use a product similar to this one-following cooking directions on box
• 4 cantaloupes
• 4 cups cut up chicken (could buy a roasted chicken from deli)
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1-2 tsp. curry powder
• cantaloupe pieces
• optional 1/2 cup dried cherries
• Miracle Whip (do not substitute)

Directions:

• Cut each cantaloupe in half-place one half face down on cutting board-with a sharp paring knife cut a saw tooth edge going all around the cantaloupe-set aside the triangle shaped pieces-repeat this three times with other cantaloupe halves
• Cut rind off triangle pieces left and place in bowl-add chicken, curry, cherries if using them and cooked rice Note: you will only use 2 cups cooked rice so save rice for another meal
• Add only enough Miracle Whip to moisten all ingredients
• Cover and refrigerate till chilled
• Wrap 4 saw toothed cantaloupe pieces till serving and refrigerate
• To serve divide chicken mixture among cantaloupe pieces and sprinkle with almonds

Note: My original recipe called for 1 TB. curry powder-curry is a strong spice so I would suggest starting with 1 tsp. and taste till you get the flavor strength you want