Happy Birthday to Me...

My first taste of birthday cake 19 years ago.

It was a yellow cake, with white frosting and tart cherry topping.

I still adore anything cake related and I love cherries.

I haven't made a cake for today, of all things for me to do.

I will have to make some cake soon.

Black Bean Chicken Chili

Black Bean Chicken Chili

I brought this to our soup supper that we had after our annual traditional Christmas Caroling.
Here it is Aunt Cindy, I'm very glad you liked it. :)

Combine in a large soup pot:
1 lb dried black beans, cooked according to the package directions,
OR 4 small cans black beans, don't drain them
6 T. chili powder
2 T. onion powder
1/2 t. garlic powder
1 t. cayenne powder
4 c. diced tomatoes
4 c. tomato sauce
1 t. dried basil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, thawed and cut into slices

Simmer together for 2-3 hours, till thickened and chicken is cooked through.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Chocolate Birthday Cake

A cake I made for our Family party, in honor of my sister Sarah's 17th birthday.
It is chocolate with large chunks of dark chocolate and marshmallows, iced over with chocolate frosting. The candles were a gift from my sister Shaina, they are 6-7 in? tall.

Gingerbread Bars

I love gingerbread too.

Gingerbread Bars

Butter an 8 by 12 by 2 in. pan, then line with parchment.

In a mixing bowl combine:
2 ¼ c. whole-wheat flour
2 t. baking soda
1 ¼ t. ground cinnamon
1 ¼ t. ground cloves
1 t. ground ginger

Combine in separate bowl:
1 c. honey
½ c. melted butter
¼ dark molasses
1 egg

Combine wet and dry ingredients.
Pour into prepared pan,
Bake at 350 for 25-30 min.
or till toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

I iced these with one batch of the Almond Cream Cheese Frosting.

Swedish Kringle

I love this stuff, I can hardly keep my hands out of it. It's a holiday/event treat for me.

Swedish Kringle

I used salted butter in this recipe, therefore I didn’t add any extra salt.
If you use unsalted butter, add ½ t. salt into the mix.

In mixing bowl:
With a pastry cutter:
Cut ½ c. butter+1 T. cold water into 1 c. flour
Till mixture resembles large crumbs.

On a parchment lined baking sheet,
Pat pastry out into two strips, 3 in. wide.

In saucepan combine:
½ c. butter
1 c. water
Bring to a boil.
Add: 1 c. flour
Stir till smooth.
Add:
3 eggs, one at a time
and ½ t. almond extract

Spread dough evenly over pastry strips.
Bake at 350 for 40 min.

I iced these with one batch of the Almond Cream Cheese Frosting.

Almond Cream Cheese Frosting

Almond Cream Cheese Frosting

1 T. butter
2 oz cream cheese
¼ c. honey
1 t. almond extract
Using a mixer, whip all ingredients until combined.

White Grape, Red Pepper, and Red Pear Salad

White Grape, Red Pepper and Red Pear Salad

Combine in bowl:
¾ c. white grapes
¼ c. red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
1 red pear, sliced

For the vinaigrette:
Whisk together:
2 t. white wine vinegar
1 t. lemon juice
1 t. honey
pinch salt

Pour over/toss with fruit.