Red Velvet Cake Balls

Welcome Bakerella readers!! If you like to cook, maybe you like cute aprons, too?? Feel free to check out my Flirty Apron Swap; new swap sign ups end soon!

If you also like the Cupcake Bites, check out this post.



This is the picture that caused our fun at work to begin at www.bakerella.blogspot.com:Our co-worker, Vicki, turned 50 this weekend, so Sarah and I decided to whip up these little goodies. She made 25 dipped in white chocolate, I made 25 in pink.

Shawnee's Messy In-Progress Photos:

Mine were made from Red Velvet Cake dipped in pink Candy Melts (2 bags).

Shawnee's Easy Red Velvet Cake

1 box French Vanilla cake mix 1 box instant chocolate instant pudding 4 eggs 1 C. milk 1/2 C. oil 2 oz. red food coloring PREPARATION: Mix the above ingredients for 4 minutes on medium speed. Grease and flour 3 cakes pans. Bake at 350° for 20 - 25 minutes or until done. (I baked mine in a 9x13 equivalent for 45 minutes.) When cool, crumble in mixer bowl and add in one can Cream Cheese Frosting. Mix well and form into balls (about 50) on Silpat-lined baking sheets. Insert lollipop sticks; freeze for four hours or more. Melt chocolate bark/candy topping according to directions, roll cake balls covering completely and push into Styrofoam form to dry. Drizzle with remaining chocolate.

More tips from the Bakerella website:
I also only melt a few pieces of chocolate bark at a time because it starts to cool and thicken. It's easier to work with when it's hot.

Try cooling completely next time. The texture, should be very moist, but I wouldn't say gooey. I'm glad they still tasted good.

I finally made these this past weekend and all I can say is YUM!! Everyone loved them! The only trouble I had was getting them to roll into balls, it was messy but in the end definitely worth it!

The cake balls can start to fall apart a little in the chocolate. It helps to put them in the fridge for several hours before dipping. Or I'll put them in the freezer if I'm in a hurry.

- first, I have the best results with chocolate bark, (Kroger brand) It comes packaged in blocks. So I will put three blocks in a bowl at a time and melt in the microwave at 30 second intervals until melted. Then I will drop one ball in at a time and spoon chocolate over the ball . Then with the spoon, I lift the ball out of the chocolate and tap the edge of the spoon against the side of the bowl. Then I will let it slide off the spoon onto the wax paper covered cookie sheet.

. If you are making the lollipops, make sure the chocolate covers the entire ball - all the way to the base of the stick to help secure. Also, if they are too heavy, you might try rolling your balls a little smaller. And you can also try holding/shifting their weight perpendicular for a few minutes until it starts to set before you place them right-side up in the Styrofoam.

One can of ready-made cream cheese frosting is:
16 oz. / (1 lb) / 453 g or 2 cups

DIY Yarn Store

I am excited to say I've found my yarn for the Garden Party Wrap CAL --- I made it myself! Last night, I found a new LYS on Ravelry called Yarnia in SE Portland, OR (you must read their "About the Store" info on their site). It's a do-it-yourself yarn store; the only one in the northwest, maybe even this country! At this store, the owner has a special machine that combines and winds fibers of your choice into your unique skein of yarn. Here's a picture of my skein that I created on my lunch hour. It is hot pink bamboo with a thin strand of orange mohair along with a white silk-blend filament. It's a bit heavier than a fingerweight so I'll need to swatch and probably skip a repeat or two, but I'm so excited!

Menu Plan Monday 3/24/08

Monday - Sloppy Joes, asparagus, strawberries
Tuesday (Mikey cooks) - Ham slices with buttered noodles, fresh green beans, cornbread
Wednesday (Mikey cooks) - Chicken, baked butternut squash, spinach salad
Thursday - Cheddar Ham Soup (potatoes and carrots inside)
Friday - Pecan crusted Tilapia, frozen veggies, rice
Saturday - Soup, leftovers
Sunday - Cranberry studded pork roast, baked potatoes, green salad

Happy Easter

Here are a few shots from this lovely day:

Trevor came with Tatum and I to church. She loves seeing her big brother and isn't her dress adorable?











Then, I made some Peanut Butter Truffles from a recipe I found on Bakerella - yummo! The last shot are from the rejects (which are still mighty tasty). I found these cute boxes at Target on clearance after Valentines and had no idea what I'd do with them. They are perfect! I'm going to send a box with Tara on her Vietnam trip for a taste of home.







I made a second dessert, of birds nests that I found on a blog (which I'll have to find again and link to). These are so sweet but fun to look at. I can barely choke one down but T loves them. =)






I did make a dinner to go with all these desserts; we ate early and everyone ran off to work so T and I have had a slow day at home. I wanted to sew but ended up napping trying to get rid of a headache (probably sugar induced). For our supper, I took the ham and added asparagus/cheese for a delicious quiche plus some salad.




And, lastly, check out my adorable Easter apron. This same apron is being given away at my Flirty Apron Swap to one lucky participant who mails her package on time. You can buy your own from Vicky at her Etsy shop .. go see her other sweet aprons, too!!

I've been sick, too....

While Tatum was sick all the weekend before, this last weekend was all about me. Different ailment, same time waster! I ended up at urgent care on Saturday because there were no same-day appointments on Friday and came home after a few hours with six new prescriptions - inhalers, antibiotics, steriods, codeine cough medicine and more, oh my.

I hobbled into church and was late getting my team started in the nursery so my BFF Kathy (Nursery Director) got them rolling, then my co-Community Builder Michelle was able to get to church earlier than she thought after finished the Shamrock Run so I headed home. I made us some chicken and Chinese dumplings soup yesterday and spent most of my time in bed.

I'm home from work today with more of the same ... medicating, light meals (to help my tummy stay calm with all the meds) and sleeping. And there's so much more I want/need to do. Well, tomorrow's a new day.

Menu Plan Monday 3/17/08

Monday (17)ST PATRICK'S DAY:
Corned Beef, Cabbage and Red Potatoes (in honor of hubby's Irish heritage)
Tuesday (18):
Asparagus and Bacon Quiches with Hash Brown Crust, and Corned Beef Sandwiches (because "quiche isn't filling enough for growing 'boys'")
Wednesday (19):
Dinner out for Gramma K's Birthday
Thursday (20):
Pomegranate Pork Tenderloin and Couscous
Friday (21) GOOD FRIDAY:
Seafood Gumbo
Saturday (22) TARA GOODBYE - Vietnam Trip:
Ham and Scalloped Potatoes (reverse Easter leftovers), Steamed Broccoli, Tiramisu
Sunday (23) EASTER:
Baked Ham, Butternut Squash, Green Bean Casserole, Cheesy Cornbread, Chocolate Cheesecake

T4's sick again

Poor little squeaker is sick AGAIN. This time, she has been in and out of the restroom all day with some horrible stomach bug. She's finally sleeping but I had to change plans that I had made to attend the Crochet Guild meeting. Our president, Sherry, arranged with the Tigard library to set up a display in recognition of National Crochet Month and I have several articles that are to be displayed. Hopefully I can get everything to Sherry tomorrow even though they put most of it out today after the meeting.

On an up note, I was able to work on my C'ville partner's gift in between cleaning up Tatum and rubbing her back, etc. I decided to go with the sophisticated Chanson En Crochet in a delicious peacock blue angora that I purchased when The Cozy Ewe went out of business last year. I hope she LOVES it --- I'm about 75% done and just started it yesterday. I can't wait to post pictures, 'cause it's gorgeous. Luckily my partner's in Australia and they're heading into Fall so the Angora should be nice and cozy.

The only thing I didn't get to do is sew ... I'm having apron-itis and really want to get some cuties made!

Help -- Need Ideas!

As I've admitted before, I'm in a crochet slump. Well, I'm also in the C'ville Spring Swap and really need to make something adorable for my partner ... who lives all the way around the world, so it can't be too heavy or my pocketbook (and marriage) might not survive. I'm hoping for two kinds of ideas: cute and unique shawl or scarf crochet patterns (her request; they're headed into fall now), and a list of lightweight gifts I can tuck in. I usually love to send books, candles, chocolates and lots of those get quite heavy. So, HELP!!

Adorable Apron Giveaway!

The Apronista: Marie Madeline Giveaway - *UPDATED*

You simply must RUN over the Apronista and see the beautiful apron by Marie-Madeline that is being given away. WOW!

TFF Tues 3/4

We have been so blessed to have started our little freezer cooking home party business at a perfect time for our family, in late 2003 right before my husband got laid off. He was out of work for 2.5 years and we were able to earn enough to keep our heads just above water, even though we had to sell our home before he found his current position as a city bus operator in 2006. This business is getting more difficult to run with our combined schedules and having a 9yo DD plus not having a garage in the rental place we're at (in addition to all it's other problems). I've been able to change the business in response to the local demand for organic and natural ingredients but don't have the ability and/or energy to really expand. So, I only have one or two sessions a month, again just enough to help us stay up with our regular bills but not get ahead.

Also, coordinating the sessions is physically demanding, hauling around almost 200 pounds of meat plus the other ingredients and supplies, and I'm not getting any younger at age 42. I've had lots of physical ailments manifest themselves in the past couple of months; mostly I think my body is finally reacting to almost four years non-stop stress and not taking care of myself. So, while this business helps other take care of their families, I feel like I'm slipping a bit more behind every day on our home front and personally.

This is not how this post had started out ... TFF Tuesdays were meant as a way to help me focus on staying on top of the business but just writing this has also provided me personal perspective. I don't know what it all means, but I do know I won't get my e-newsletter written and sent out to clients tonight! LOL!

The one thing I DO know -- I know who holds me in the palm of His hand. This may be my time to tested through the furnace of affliction in order to refined (Isaiah 48:10). But, I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever (Psalm 52:8)
Amen!

Menu Plan Monday 3/3/08

Monday: Beef and Rice Skillet
Tuesday: Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu
Wednesday: CP Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Thursday: Taco Salad
Friday: Garlic Salmon Fillets

Enter the ICHC online Poker Cats Contest!

Nursery Worker Treats - Recipe

I serve in the church nursery, month on/month off, coordinating the volunteer leaders in four nursery rooms. My "kids" are birth through age 2 and are so sweet, as are the great volunteers who care for them so mom and dad can pay attention in big church. I got up early this morning to make this treat and it got rave reviews. I, of course, forgot to take a picture until only a few pieces were left! This is a great sized recipe for a large group. Directions at the end for family portion.

Fruit Swirl Coffee Cake
Betty Crocker's Best of Baking 18 servings
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1/2 cup shortening (I used 1 cup butter-flavor Crisco and no butter)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder (I ran out so used half baking soda/half cream of tartar)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
4 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 21-oz can pie filling (it didn't look like much so I used 1 can apple and 1 can peach)
Glaze (recipe to follow)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease jelly roll pan, 15.5 x 10.5 x 1 inch. (I lined my pan with a SilPat instead and spray coated the edges of the pan). Beat sugar, margarine, shortening, baking powder, vanilla, almond extract and eggs in large bowl on low, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed three minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in flour. (I used my KitchenAid for the entire process. Batter is VERY stiff.) Spread 2/3 of the batter in pan. Spread pie filling over batter. Drop remaining batter by tablespoonfuls onto pie filling.

Bake about 45 minutes. Drizzle Glaze over warm coffee cake (not hot-out-of-the-oven or it will just melt .. ask how I know.). Serve warm or let stand until cool

Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons milk

Mix ingredients until smooth and of drizzling consistency.
For a smaller coffee cake, substitute 1 jar any flavor fruit preserves for the pie filling (I say use one can) and cut the remaining ingredients in half. Grease a 9x9x2-inch pan instead of the jelly roll pan, and prepare as directed.

Not Sewing Much This Saturday

Today is supposed to be my day to share about the sewing I'm working on, crocheting projects and swaps I'm participating in. However, I spent most of the day on normal household chores in addition to one more girl scout cookie sales event and then lots of behind the scenes stuff with the Flirty Apron Swap.

I have found some beautiful fabrics for the apron swaps I've joined and am just itching to start cutting and sewing. I love novelty fabrics and I've found several with cupcakes on them,









some Havana-themed for Tie One On









and some funky roosters on lime green background that will be so fun! And check out the aqua and brown!