Apple Streusel Bars

*Recipe by Our Best Bites

I have a confession to make. I'm almost afraid to admit it because it might just sound un-American. Well, here goes, I really don't like apple pie!!!! I know, how can someone not like one of America's most classic desserts and still love the red, white, and blue? I thought it had to do with the texture of the baked apples until I tried this recipe for Apple Streusel Bars.... A-MAZ-ING!!! Our Best Bites has done it again! I may not be the genius behind this recipe, but I am smart enough to know it is worth passing on! We're talking the kind of good that I not only eat one, or two, or may be even three... I eat enough of them to figure out I that I have no self-control and have to pack them up and unload on some poor unsuspecting soul (better on their hips then mine!) I feel so relieved now that that is off of my chest... I feel all-American now that I can say I adore Apple Streusel and I have this fabulous recipe (that I make a little more than I should) to share with you. And just in the nick of time for flag day!

Apple Streusel Bars
* Recipe by Our Best Bites

Sweet Pastry:

2 c. flour

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. real butter, softened (no substitutions!)

1 egg, beaten

Apple Filling:

1/2 c. white sugar

1/4 c. flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

4 c. (about 3 medium) sliced, peeled baking apples (I've used Granny Smith in the past, although this time around I used Gala and they were fabulous)

Glaze:

2 c. powdered sugar

About 3 Tbsp. milk (whole milk is best)

1 tsp. almond extract


Method:

To prepare crust, mix flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. 

Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives until you have pea-sized crumbles. Gently mix in beaten egg.

Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Gently pat about 2/3 of the crumb mixture onto the bottom of the dish. Preheat oven to 350 and set aside.

To prepare apple filling, combine flour, sugar, and cinnamon and toss with apples.

Spread apples out on prepared crust. Sprinkle reserved crust mixture over apples evenly and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes.

When finished, allow to cool completely.

To prepare glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, almond extract, and enough milk to achieve desired consistency.

Place glaze in a Ziploc bag and cut off a very small portion of one of the corners. (Or just use a fork). Drizzle glaze over cooled pastry and allow to harden (you can place it in the freezer to hurry things along). Cut into bars and serve.

Enjoy! Have a good 4th of July everyone!

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Tuesday Tastes Party (14)

Welcome to our Tuesday Tastes Party! I couldn't believe how amazing all the recipes were last week! It looked as if everyone was in the mood for sweet things! I know I was... still am. Ok, so when aren't I?!? I can't wait  get this party started! I know we are in for a treat! Let's get linking!

Don't forget to come back Thursday after noon to vote for your favorite! Polls are open until midnight Sunday! Winners will be announced Monday, receive and award button AND this exclusive printable recipe kit designed by BirdCrafts!!!

**Please note, this party is reserved for recipes - if I can't make it in my kitchen, please save it for a different party. Also, please grab a button or link back to this post. If you aren't linked back to the party, your recipe will be disqualified for the People's Choice Award and/or deleted.

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People's Choice Award (13)

Woah!  Last week's Tuesday Taste Party was amazing! There were nearly forty recipes linked up! They were all so tempting...Mock Orange Julius, Lemon-Blueberry Biscuits, Peanut Butter Chocolate Dip, Gooey German Chocolate Cake, Grilled Shrimp Tacos... I could go on and on! If you want to check them all out click here! Votes are in and the People's Choice Award goes to

The Squeaky Grocery Cart's 

Maple Banana Bread

Congratulations! What a fun twist to your average everyday banana bread! Make sure to grab the recipe! It's almost time to start this week's party. You should be able to start linking up around 5 o'clock tonight! Can't wait to get that party started! See you later!

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Oreo Creme Cake

* Recipe adapted from Kraft Philadelphia

I don't even know where to begin with this recipe! My son fell in love with it and wanted to make it for Father's Day since my hubby likes Oreos. I am not in the habit of sharing recipes that are not tried and true, much less that I haven't even tasted (... I know!) but that is the case with this cake. We made it for a Father's Day barbecue and then my son ended up sick and we couldn't go. I dropped the cake off because I said I would bring dessert and went home to my poor little guy! NO CAKE FOR ME! I can tell you that everyone was oohing and ahhhing  just at the sight of it (someone even asked if I hire out)! Momma Daisy returned my plate and said it was devoured and there wasn't even a crumb left to bring back. For now, I guess we will have to take their word for it - at least until I have another excuse to make it.

Oreo Creme Cake

*Recipe adapted from Kraft Philadelphia

1 pkg (2-layer size) devils' food chocolate cake mix (I prefer Duncan Hines) AND according ingredients

4 oz semi-sweet chocolate (Use a good baking chocolate bar! I used Ghiradelli)

1/4 cup butter

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups thawed Cool Whip

12 Oreo cookies, crushed

Bake cakes, as directed on package in 2 (9-inch) round pans. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes and invert onto wire racks. Gently remove pans. Cool cakes completely.

Microwave chocolate and butter in a small microwave-safe bowl on HIGH for 2 minutes or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is melted. Cool 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and sugar until blended. Gently stir in thawed  Cool Whip and crushed cookies. Stack cake layers on plate, spreading cream cheese mixture between layers. Spread top with chocolate glaze. If glaze becomes too thick, microwave on high 20-30 seconds or until desired consistency. Let stand until firm. Keep refrigerated. 


If you are lucky enough to get a taste of this cake, would you please let me know what you think?!?!


If you are looking for a fabulous cake, you just might like this Chocolate Mousse Crunch Cake!!!

I am sharing this recipe with Tasty Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table

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Tuesday Tastes Party (13)

Welcome to another Tuesday Tastes Party! Are you ready for some fun? I can't wait to see what you've made this week! It's getting hot - maybe we'll see some amazing grill, ice cream, or salad recipes... or maybe some recipes from your Father's Day barbeque's!?!?!  You all never fail to amaze me! Let's get this party started!



Don't forget to come back Thursday after noon to vote for your favorite! Polls are open until midnight Sunday! Winners will be announced Monday, receive and award button AND this exclusive printable recipe kit designed by Birdcrafts!!!

**Please note, this party is reserved for recipes - if I can't make it in my kitchen, please save it for a different party. Also, please grab a button or link back to this post. If you aren't linked back to the party, your recipe will be disqualified for the People's Choice Award and/or deleted.

People's Choice Award (12)

Welcome! What a party! Thank you everyone who joined us! So much fun and so many great recipes! Votes are in and we have three winners! They are:

Making Memories Candy Sushi

Simply Sweet Home's Mahi Mahi

Secret of a Southern Kitchen's Blackberry Freezer Jam

Congrats! I will get your printable recipe kits out to you ASAP!

Make sure to stop by and check out those recipes! 

I hope to see everyone later at this weeks party!

Beautiful Blogger Award

Woah! Seriously? Kel from, Between the Lines nominated me for the Beautiful Blogger Award - Wow! Thank you Kel, and thank you to everyone who is a part of Crazy Daisy! I am constantly amazed and in awe that you are all interested in what this Wyoming girl has to say. You are all blessings! Stop by Between the Lines when you have a chance, Kel has created a really fun little place!

The rules for this award are:

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.

2. Share 10 things about yourself.

3. Pass the award along to 10 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic!

4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.When

Ten Things about Me

1. Every night, I thank God for my husband, children, and the gift of motherhood.

2. I have always wanted to run a marathon or participate in a triathlon.

3. I work hard to make my home a happy place to be (that means it is not always clean)

4. I sunburn in the time it takes to walk around the block

5. I volunteer for the MS Society in honor of my uncle

6. I love to run in the rain

7. I led my 5 year to an addiction with Marshmallow Creme

8. I just might share that same addiction

9. I celebrate each day - there is always something wonderful out there!  I would rather devote my energy and time to happy things because the rest simply is not worth it!

10. I randomly shout "I love you" across my house - just because I want someone to know it that very moment!

10 Fantastic and Beautiful Blogger Deserving Blogs 

1. Oopsey Daisy

2. Debbi Does Dinner Healthy

3. Making Memories

4. BirdCrafts

5. Ain't She Crazy

6. My Sweet and Savory

7. Santa's Gift Shoppe and Ideas

8. Tidymom

9. Family, Stamping, and Food

10. The Domestic Engineer

Be sure to hop over to these fantabulous blogs and say hello! 

Choc-oat-nut Refrigerator Cookies (No Bake Cookies)

Father's Day is almost here so I thought I might share one of my dad's favorite treats (mine too, no surprise there!) Now these aren't your average no bake cookies! I know this because once upon a time, the recipe was almost lost (at least, I thought it was). I was raiding Momma Daisy's recipe cupboard searching for this very recipe and it was nowhere to be found. Immediately, I turned to the internet only to find dozens of no-bake recipes, but none like this. Such disappointment! They all had peanut butter or chow mien noodles or even used brownie mixes.  Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with any of those things, but I couldn't find our recipe, one that used semi-sweet chocolate chips, marshmallows, butter, oats, and coconut. Thankfully Momma Daisy came to the rescue and found hers. Whew - I am not sure what I would do without her! Well, I'll get along to the recipe now -

Choc-oat-nut Refrigerator Cookies (No Bake Cookies)

6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup butter

16 large marshmallows

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup coconut

2 cups rolled oats (old fashioned or quick)

Cover cookie sheet with wax paper. Set aside

Melt chocolate chips, butter, and marshmallows together (This can be done either in the microwave or on the stove top.) Remove from heat.

Stir in vanilla, oats, and coconut. 

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper and refrigerate.

Super easy and super yummy! I wish you all a very happy Father's Day!

PS - Just a little thought on the coconut.... I know coconut is one of those things people either love or hate, but in this recipe it is amazing. I have had people who despise coconut devour these cookies before I could even give warning - and love them. And what would a little coconut secret hurt anyways? I would never do a thing like that! Would I?!?

Italian Roast Beef Pasta Salad

I love this salad! In my mind it is perfect anytime - but especially for summer! Besides pasta, it's packed with a rainbow of fresh flavors like tomatoes, celery, mushrooms, and cucumbers,

yummy thin-sliced roast-beef strips

and is dressed with a light (easy) homemade red wine dressing. 

 

So good! And really very easy! Here's the recipe:
Italian Roast Beef Pasta Salad
Dressing:
1/3 cup oil, I like canola
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 drops hot pepper sauce, such as Louisiana Hot Sauce (add more if you like it spicy)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon basil leaves
1 clove garlic, minced
Salad:
6 oz. linguine - broke into thirds
2 cups thin sliced roast beef strips
1-2 celery stalks, diced (@ 1 cup)
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1 cucumber, diced
2 (2.5 oz.) jars sliced mushrooms
Here's what you'll do:
1. Cook and drain pasta as directed (al dente). Rinse with cold water to prevent sticking. 
2. Mix all dressing ingredients together. Set aside.
3. Place all veggies, roast beef, and pasta in a large baggie.

4. After stirring well, pour dressing over salad. Seal the bag and turn to coat.

5. Refrigerate several hours, or overnight.

Delish! If you're looking for other great pasta salad recipes, you may like this Greek Chicken Pasta Salad.

I am sharing this recipe with, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, Mouth Watering Mondays, Tuesdays at the Table, Tasty Tuesday

Tuesday Tastes (12)

Happy Day! I wish you all beautiful sunny days! Welcome to Tuesday Tastes! I know everyone has yummy recipes to link up - I can't wait to see what you have brought to the party! Here's a couple thoughts - I am getting this party started late (my little one is sick) so recipes are welcome until Friday at noon when People's Choice Award Polls open. You have until noon Sunday to cast your vote (winner will receive this exclusive printable recipe kit)! I thought an extra day of partying might be really fun! I hope you enjoy checking out all the recipes - don't forget to leave our amazing Tuesday Tastes friends a comment so they know you are celebrating with them! Let's get linking!

**Please note, this party is reserved for recipes - if I can't make it in my kitchen, please save it for a different party. Also, please grab a button or link back to this post. If you aren't linked back to the party, your recipe will be disqualified for the People's Choice Award and/or deleted

People's Choice Award (11)

Hooray! Votes are in and we have a winner! I just  love recipes like this - two ingredients, plus it's a crockpot recipe!!! What's not to love? The winning recipe is

Lynn's Kitchen Adventures'  Crockpot Chicken Tacos

*Image by Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

Congrats Lynn! What a fabulous recipe! Thanks to everyone who was part of last weeks's party! I can't wait to see what everyone brings to Tuesday Tastes for this week's party!!!

I'll be back later to post one of my favorite summer recipes - Italian Roast-beef  Pasta Salad!

Orange Thai Beef Skewers

* Recipe by Our Best Bites

I'm back... just as promised! I wish I could take credit for this recipe, but I must give credit where credit is due - Our Best Bites. If you haven't checked out OBB, head over when you have some time (you'll be there awhile drooling over all of their amazing recipes!) These Orange Thai Beef Skewers are really good -everyone gobbled them down (even the kiddos)! They are perfect for the warm summer grilling days, which are my very favorite kind of days! 

Orange Thai Beef Skewers

*Recipe by Our Best Bites

1 orange
1/4 C soy sauce
1/4 C seasoned rice wine vinegar
1 T honey
1T sesame oil
1 t ground ginger
1 t coriander
4 cloves garlic
2-4 t Sriracha chili sauce*
1 1/2 lb flank steak

*Note - Sriracha is a really great hot chili sauce. It can easily be found in most grocery stores. Look in the Asian foods section. You can't miss it -it has a rooster on the bottle. If you have to substitute, you could add cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or plain hot sauce to the marinade.

Zest your orange and add all of the it to a bowl. Cut the orange in half and add all of the juice as well. You should have at least 1/4 C orange juice and anything more than that is just fine. Add  soy sauce, vinegar, honey, sesame oil, ginger, coriander, and garlic to the orange mixture. Then add Sriracha to your liking. Keep in mind, that the spice mellows once the skewers are cooked. I don't like things really very spicy at all and 2 teaspoons Sriracha is just about perfect for me. So if you like heat, I'd do more like 3-4 teaspoons of Sriracha. Whisk the marinade so everything is combined. 

Slice your flank steak across the grain into about 1/4" slices. Sometimes it can be helpful to throw your steak in the freezer for about 30 minutes before slicing. It is way easier to slice partially frozen.

Preheat grill when your ready to start cooking. Thread the strips of meat onto your skewers, just like you're stitching (don't forget to soak your skewers in water for 30 minutes if you are using wooden ones.) Place them on the grill. They cook really fast. Overcooked flank steak is tough and chewy, so don't over do it! They should only take about 3-4 minutes on each side. You'll want to flip them half way through. 

These cool even faster than they cook, so get the rest of your meal ready and set the table before you grill these just before serving so they are hot right off the grill!

I like to serve them with these Black Beans and Rice

PS - If you like food on a stick (who doesn't?) tonight we are having Curried Beef Kabobs - I will post them soon! I can hardly wait for dinner!

Did you win the PowerCapes giveaway?

I want to thank PowerCapes for this wonderful opportunity! There was a wrinkle in the system and somehow the Crazy Daisy entries were left out of the May giveaway. Being the stand-up company they are, PowerCapes had a special drawing just for us! Working with such honest people is truly an honor! Hooray for PowerCapes! Make sure to wander over and take a look around - there are so many choices, I am sure you will be able to design the perfect cape for your kiddos! And now for the big announcement! The winner is...

Kelly, who said:

I'm a facebook fan of yours. (Kelly Deaton)

Kelly Deaton - secrets_girl23(at)yahoo(dot)com (aka) dkad23(at)gmail(dot)com

Congrats, Kelly! I am emailing the details to you! Have fun designing your very own superhero cape! 

Have you cast your vote for the People's Choice Award Yet? Just click here.... you know what to do!

Tuesday Tastes People's Choice Award Polls are Open

You've gotta check this week's recipes out - I am blown away once again! Click here! Make sure to vote for your favorite! It might be a difficult choice, but I know you can do it! All you have to do is click on the vote box located under the recipe! I will be back later to share a yummy recipe for Orange Thai Beef Skewers!

Doesn't that rice look tempting? Click here for my Black Beans and Rice recipe!

PS - I will also be checking in later to announce the winner of the PowerCapes giveaway! This is so very exciting!

Tuesday Tastes (11)

Are you ready for another party? I know it's going to be a great one! I just wonder if we can hit  35 recipes this week?!?! What do you think? I can't wait to see what spectacular dishes are in your kitchens this week. Recently, I've posted two of my fav's - Tollhouse Cookie Pie Bars and Black Beans and Rice. Check them out if you get a chance! So, what are we waiting for? Let's get this party started! I love our little party community! Don't you? Make someone's day and leave a comment letting them know how much you love partying with them at Tuesday Tastes - after all, there would be no party without all of you! THANK YOU so very much for joining us!!!

**Please note, this party is reserved for recipes - if I can't make it in my kitchen, please save it for a different party. Also, please grab a button or link back to this post. If you aren't linked back to the party, your recipe will be disqualified for the People's Choice Award and/or deleted.

PS - You know that spot for followers, over on the right side in my sidebar? It seems to be a little afraid of hitting 200! Would you mind helping it out a little bit? I would love you forever! (Ok, I already do, but I would love you even more!)

PPS - I wanted to mention that there is an easy widget to install on your blogs to make your posts print friendly. It's so nice to be able to make things simple once in a while. If you are interested in helping your readers out by making your recipes easier to print - click here.

You can even make any post you want print-friendly. All you have to do is copy/paste the URL of what you are reading. Follow this link to find out more.