New Products On The Market

Thought I would share some of the new products I have found. Start looking in your grocery aisles.

Wheat Thin Sticks from Nabisco – comes in three flavors and I am partial to the Chipotle Pepper

Thomas  prez-a-bagels, option to sprinkle salt or not.

Lean Pockets with Pretzel Bread

Hostess Chocolate Crème & Strawberry Twinkies

Popcorners

Orange Shebert Cake

Perfect ending to a wonderful meal

Orange Sherbert Cake
What You Need	Directions
1 (18.25 ounce) package Orange Cake Mix 2 (3 ounce) box orange-flavored gelatin 2 eggs 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 cup water 1 (9 ounce) pkg coconut 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream 2 cups sugar 1/4 cup frozen orange juice 1 (12 ounce) thawed container of whipped topping	Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour 9x13” pan. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, gelatin, eggs, oil, and water. Beat well with an electric mixer. While the cake is baking, prepare the remaining package of orange gelatin using half the amount of water. When the cake is done, remove from oven and  let cool in the pans for 10 minutes. With a wooden skewer or fork poke holes in the cake  Pour gelatin over the layers into the holes.  Refrigerate  for about 45 minutes to allow gelatin to set. In a medium bowl, combine the coconut (reserving about 1/2 a cup), sour cream, sugar, and orange juice concentrate for the topping. Stir well.  Spread the filling over the  cake.  At this point you can refrigerate it till the next day. When ready to serve spread the whipped topping on top and sprinkle with reserved coconut.

Q&E Freezer Desserts Part 2

One of my best strategies for easy hassle-free entertaining is to make a few desserts and freeze them. To serve a great frozen dessert try not to keep them more then a  month give or take. Give them a thaw and you are on your way to a perfect ending to your meal.

Remember cakes are better frozen unfrosted. Frost them when you remove them from the freezer.

How about making crepes? These can be made ahead and frozen with wax paper between them.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for sweet crepes)
  

Directions

Whisk together the flour and the eggs in a large bowl. Slowly add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth.  Add vanilla if using. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.

Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot.

Chocolate Crepes
Variation: 1/4 cup cocoa powder added to the basic recipe for chocolate crepes.

Fillings:

2  pkg 8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup mashed fresh strawberries

Whole strawberries for garnish

In bowl of mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sour cream, sugar, strawberries and vanilla. Beat until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Put about 1/3 cup filling in each crepe and fold. Garnish with whipped topping and whole strawberries.

Filling: Soften Ice Cream

Hazelnut Filling:

• 1 jar of Nutella
• 5 bananas, sliced
• 1 tub of whipped topping

Spread Nutella on crepe top add banana slices and a dollop of toping.

This is a crepe cake from Martha Stewart’s website. Try it, it isn’t as hard as it looks.

Q&E Freezer Sides and ETC

Here are some Q&E items to keep on hand for unexpected guests or to incorporate in to company dinners. In the coming weeks I will be posting frozen menus for your convenience with recipes.  Be sure to watch for the Easter entertaining ideas.

C=cooked		R=raw
Asst Potatoes		Pound Cake
Asst Veggies		Puff Pastry*
Pizza Ready Made		Fruit
Peppers, Green*		Ice Cream*
Onions		Waffles*
Onions, Chopped		Whipped Topping
Pasta Sauce		Pie Crust
Butter/Margarine		Bread/Rolls
Ravioli*		Mini Puff Pastry Shells.
Coconut, Flaked		Egg Roll Wrappers
Nuts

*Peppers and onions added to Italian sausage and pasta sauce served on hoagie rolls. Add a relish tray and chips or fries for a quick menu to serve friends over to watch the game.



*Puff pastry can be baked early or even just before serving and topped with ice cream or fruit for a quick dessert.


Sherbet Parfaits
Ingredients:
2 pint s different flavor sherbets, slightly softened
1 cup Whipping cream  or topping
cookies (vanilla wafers or shortbread) crumbled

Preparation:
In 8 parfait or tall glasses, layer sherbet alternating flavors sorbet and cookie crumbles. Refreeze until firm. When ready to serve, When ready to serve top with whipped topping on each parfait. Serves 8

*Ravioli can be deep fried for a quick appetizer and served with jazzed up pasta sauce or served the traditional way with pasta sauce.

* Waffles aren’t just for breakfast. serve them hot with fruit or top them with a big scoop of ice cream.

Football Field Cake

Have a sheet cake pan? Here are a few websites that can make a field Q&E for the party.

This is a cake from cakecentral