Saturday, September 25, 2010

Simple Sunday (9th Edition)

Welcome to our Simple Sunday Twitter Hop !!!

It's Me Melbie & Crazy Daisy.

With this week's Guest Host, 
Tazim from Being Tazim 
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Grab a cup of coffee & join us every Sunday!!!

You will gain new Twitter followers, find some great blogs & and meet fabulous bloggers in the process.

What Fun !!!

Plus every week we will draw a random guest host to fill our #5 seat :)

Here's How it Works

Follow blogs 1 -5 ( we will follow back )
Add your Twitter URL ( not your blog url or giveaways)
Snag our new button to use in a post about the Simple Sunday Twitter Hop
Follow as many people as you would like & follow everyone back that follows you :)

(This is not a giveaway linkup & anything other than your Twitter url's will be deleted )

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Monday, September 20, 2010

Pink Cinnamon Applesauce


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It's harvest time - and apples are at their peak. To celebrate the season, I thought I might share one of my favorite recipes. Just like Grandma makes.... applesauce that's good enough to eat for dessert. It's flavored with Red Hot cinnamon candy - just a few! It's amazing what a few little red candies can do! So yummy!

Pink Cinnamon Applesauce
* Recipe by Crazy Daisy
8-10 medium apples
1 cup water
*1/2 cup sugar
1/8 cup Red Hot cinnamon candy

*Note - Due the fact that apple size and number may vary, I always add half of the sugar (1/4 cup) first and go from there. Sometimes, half is plenty and sometimes I need the full amount. Same goes for the Red Hots - if you like more cinnamon taste - add more. 

Wash, peel, and slice apples. I slice them pretty thin so that they cook and mash a little easier. Place them in a  5 qt. saucepan, add water and cook over medium-low heat covered for 20 minutes or until tender. Mash apples with a  potato masher. Add sugar and candies. Cook, uncovered, until sugar and candies are dissolved. Stir occasionally. If applesauce hasn't reached desired consistency, simmer over low heat, mashing and stirring occasionally, until sauce is finished. Store in refrigerator.

If you like the idea of this applesauce, but would rather not make it homemade or just don't have time, simply buy a large jar of applesauce, pour it into your saucepan, stir in your candy, and heat until dissolved. Remember, a little of these candies go a very long ways, so start small and add as needed. I won't tell that you cheated if you don't.

And, what's more, it makes a really fun gift. Kind of a different twist on the classic teacher's apple, or homemade Christmas gift. I pour it into a mason jar tied with a ribbon...
What a fabulous gift! Just make sure to tell your friends to keep it refrigerated as it hasn't been properly canned for storing in the pantry.
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Saturday, September 18, 2010

Simple Sunday (9th Edition)

Welcome to our Simple Sunday Twitter Hop !!!

It's Me Melbie & Crazy Daisy.

With this week's Guest Host, 
Heather from Couponning 10

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Grab a cup of coffee & join us every Sunday!!!

You will gain new Twitter followers, find some great blogs & and meet fabulous bloggers in the process.

What Fun !!!

Plus every week we will draw a random guest host to fill our #5 seat :)

Here's How it Works

Follow blogs 1 -5 ( we will follow back )
Add your Twitter URL ( not your blog url or giveaways)
Snag our new button to use in a post about the Simple Sunday Twitter Hop
Follow as many people as you would like & follow everyone back that follows you :)

(This is not a giveaway linkup & anything other than your Twitter url's will be deleted )

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Shrimp Cocktail Dip


Simple and delicious - that's what this dip is! Sometimes you need a recipe that comes together in a flash, uses ingredients that are easy to keep on hand, tasty, and  totally company worthy! This dip is a favorite because it fits almost any occasion... Christmas Eve to football parties - and everyone always loves it!

Shrimp Cocktail Dip

1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese
2 cans (4 oz.) tiny shrimp, drained well
1 jar (7 oz.) cocktail sauce (we like anything zesty)
crackers for serving, choose sturdy crackers such as, Ritz, Clubhouse, Wheat Thins, or Triscuts that won't crumble when dipping

Spread cream cheese onto serving plate.

Spread cocktail sauce over the top of the cocktail sauce.

Spread shrimp over top of everything. If preparing ahead of time, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. 

Serve with crackers for dipping.

Seriously, it's that easy and super delish!

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Tuesday Tastes... Delayed

Sometimes, life happens and it's not pretty. Unfortunately, life is a little extra crazy right now and I am sorry to say that Tuesday Tastes is being delayed until I have the time and energy to make sure I can host properly - hopping around gathering inspiration from all you wonderful people and leaving the comments you deserve!!!! I hope you will come back to join the party in the future!
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Saturday, September 11, 2010

Olive Nacho Dip

I don't know about you, but I am always looking for fresh recipe ideas. Don't get me wrong, I love a good spinach dip, and if someone puts onion dip in front of me I simply cannot help myself (In fact, I have come to believe that onion dip is pure EVIL). Some recipes are classics for a reason they are just too good to let go of! But, I am always searching for new recipes that I love and know will soon be added to my collection of favorite go-tos. You know, those wonderful recipes you can rely on to be perfect every time! This is one of those recipes. While not very will known, it is soooo very yummy, quickly devoured, and often requested that I have to share it with you. I was first introduced to Olive Nacho Dip at at friends house (Thanks, Kristi) and cautiously tried it because I am not a huge fan of green olives - but they add a wonderful flavor to this dip. I was hooked - it is pure cheesy heaven! I love to serve it with corn chips, but sliced baguettes would also be tasty!

Olive Nacho Dip

8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese 
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup REAL mayonnaise (Bestfoods or Hellmans's)
1/2 cup sliced green olives ( I pat them off so that the juice doesn't over power the dip with flavor)
1 (3.8 oz.) can sliced green olives (about 1 cup)
4 green onions, sliced and optional
1/4 cup green salsa

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all of the ingredients. Place in oven-safe dish. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Serve with corn chips or sliced baguette bread for dipping.


I'm sharing this recipe with

Join  us Saturdays at tatertotsandjello.com for the weekend wrap up          party!

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Simple Sunday (8th Edition)

Welcome to our Simple Sunday Twitter Hop !!!

It's Me Melbie & Crazy Daisy.

With this week's Guest Host, 
Kari at Shining 2 Save


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Grab a cup of coffee & join us every Sunday!!!

You will gain new Twitter followers, find some great blogs & and meet fabulous bloggers in the process.

What Fun !!!

Plus every week we will draw a random guest host to fill our #5 seat :)

Here's How it Works

Follow blogs 1 -5 ( we will follow back )
Add your Twitter URL ( not your blog url or giveaways)
Snag our new button to use in a post about the Simple Sunday Twitter Hop
Follow as many people as you would like & follow everyone back that follows you :)

(This is not a giveaway linkup & anything other than your Twitter url's will be deleted )

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Enter your email address:


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Saturday, September 4, 2010

Simple Sunday (7th Edition)

Welcome to our Simple Sunday Twitter Hop !!!

It's Me Melbie & Crazy Daisy.

With this week's Guest Host, 
Elisha from http://baybeeluv.blogspot.com




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Grab a cup of coffee & join us every Sunday!!!

You will gain new Twitter followers, find some great blogs & and meet fabulous bloggers in the process.

What Fun !!!

Plus every week we will draw a random guest host to fill our #5 seat :)

Here's How it Works

Follow blogs 1 -5 ( we will follow back )
Add your Twitter URL ( not your blog url or giveaways)
Snag our new button to use in a post about the Simple Sunday Twitter Hop
Follow as many people as you would like & follow everyone back that follows you :)

(This is not a giveaway linkup & anything other than your Twitter url's will be deleted )

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Enter your email address:


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Thursday, September 2, 2010

Lemon Sorbetto


My love affair with gelato began this summer when my parents, boys, and I were visiting my little brother in Seattle. What an amazing trip!!! My boys experienced the ocean for the first time.... we have quite the sea shell collection to show for. And I had my first encounter with gelato! My brother took us to this little place in Ballard called the Fainting Goat. AMAZING!!! The sweetest couple owns the restaurant and rotates through around 40-some spectacular homemade flavors. I was able to visit two nights in a row (and had my stay been longer, I am sure I would have squeezed in a few more visits)  and sampled more than my share as I carefully chose my selection. Some of my fav's - Toasted Almond, Wild Berry, Salted Caramel, Tiramisu, Chocolate... I could go on and on. And I cannot forget to tell you about their homemade waffle cones - icing on the cake! If you are ever near the area, the Fainting Goat is a MUST STOP! And so my addiction began! Today, my son and I took a Gelato class with our besties. We we able to make and sample, five delicious recipes: Fantastic Fantablous Sicilian Chocolate Gelato, Blueberry Gelato, Madagascar Bourban Vanilla Gelato, Pomegranate Gelato, and Lemon Sorbetto (we learned sorbetto is really just a fruit based gelato). They were all fabulous but our favorites were the Pomegranate Gelato and the Lemon Sorbetto. I was so proud of my little guy! He promised, "too blend with the adults," and he did a fabulous job.  He tried everything, just like a true gentleman and found a new favorite - not the chocolate or the vanilla. He was over-the-top excited when his name was drawn and he was able to chose his very fav sample to take home. He choose the Lemon Sorbetto!!! This recipe is definitely worth passing on. Not only is it fresh, tangy, and delicious, it's soooooo very easy! Perfection! And if you have allergies, take a look - no eggs or other dairy, soy, gluten, or nuts!

Lemon Sorbetto
Recipe from The Cia Bella Book of Gelato and Sorbetto

*1 cup fresh lemon juice (@6 large lemons), strained and chilled
2 recipes Simple Syrup (below)
1 Tbsp finely chopped grated lemon zest

* Minute Maid carries fresh lemon juice in the frozen section at grocery store . It is truly amazing!!! As fas as I am concerned, worth its weight in gold. It has no preservatives, is full of flavor, and saves so much time! Try it out and let me know what you think! You will find it with the frozen juice concentrates.

In the container of an ice cream machine, whisk together the lemon juice, simple syrup, and zest. Churn according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving (that is if you can wait). Let soften for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Simple Syrup

1 cup water
1 cup sugar

In a medium saurcepan, combine water and sugar. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, whisking often to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 4 minutes, while continuing to whisk until all the sugar is dissolved. remove from heat and let cool, the transfer to a bowl or container, cover, and refrigerate until cold, at least one hour.

Enjoy - I know we did!

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Very Good Recipe Tags: Gelato, Desserts
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