http://meandmycanvas.blogspot.com/~ Kellie Montana

A lot of "blogs" have "giveaways".  They are fun to enter to try to win things that you like.  Well, a very talented painter that I have met, had a "giveaway".  I entered, then forgot that I entered.  Well...I WON!  I love all her paintings.  Her specialty is painting on canvas She is beautiful too!  Kellie Montana ~ .http://meandmycanvas.blogspot.com/

This is the painting that I am SO excited about!  By the way, I never win anything! Isn't it Beautiful?

Strawberry Puffcakes | The Girl Who Ate Everything

Strawberry Puffcakes | The Girl Who Ate Everything  http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/

These I have to try~~

Strawberry Puffcakes

1 box chocolate cake mix (and eggs and oil package calls for)

Frosting:

½ cup fresh strawberries, hulled

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened but still slightly cold

3 ½ cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

Chocolate Topping:

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

3 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:

For the Cupcakes:

Line your cupcake pan with cupcake liners and bake cupcakes according to package directions. Let cupcakes cool

For the Frosting:

Place 1/2 cup of strawberries in a food processor or blender and process until pureed into liquid.

Beat butter and salt until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar slowly until combined. It will be dry but be patient...it will come together.

Add vanilla extract, and 4 Tablespoons of pureed strawberries. Mix until just blended.

Frost cooled cupcakes using the tip below.

Chill cupcakes in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to harden the frosting so that they are easier to dip. Sometimes in stick mine in the freezer to speed up the process.

Decorating Tip: An easy way to pipe frosting without using fancy decorating tips is to fill a Ziploc bag with some of the frosting and cut off one of the corners on the bottom of the bag to about the size of a nickel. Begin piping your frosting. I like to make a cone shape.

For the chocolate topping:

Place chocolate chips and oil in a microwave safe boil and microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted. Let cool slightly before dipping your cupcakes. You don't want to melt the frosting right off!

Carefully dip the chilled cupcakes in the melted chocolate just once. At this point you can garnish with strawberry fans if desired. To make a strawberry fan just cut the stem off then make vertical slices starting from the bottom of the strawberry to the top, but not slicing all the way through. Then "fan" your strawberry and place on the cupcake.

Once dipped, place the cupcakes in the refrigerator so that the chocolate can set up. Your pan of finished cupcakes will weigh about 20 pounds. Just warning you. Consider this your work out for the day.

Serve chilled or pull them out of the fridge for about 15 minutes before serving (that's how I like them).

CORN SALSA ~

 Finally ~ The last of the Produce!

I've made Black Bean Salsa with corn in it, but, I've never made just "Corn" Salsa.  I tried it and it tasted very refreshing and clean. I am happy once again! I used lime juice which helps it taste fresh.  I roasted the corn on top of the stove in a pot with some Olive Oil.  I added some chipotle peppers.  I cut up the rest of the mini plum tomatoes that Regina gave me, added diced red onion, jalapenos, cilantro, cumin, diced red pepper, a touch of red wine vinegar, kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper.  Yummy~  I made homemade pizza tonight too.  I used my fresh red plum tomato sauce, put the salsa on it and then some good white cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.  It was very good too.
                                                      Corn to Shuck

Corn to clean and cut off the cobb....lots of it !!

An entire garbage full of it !  My compost is going to be so happy !!

Ready to put in canning jars!  Yummy and Fresh !

Canned....I am done for the night !!

More canning ~

So I continue through the night working with my produce from Hendersonville Produce.  I have to work fast, meaning "now" or it will go bad quick!  My feet hurt from standing so long, but, the good thing is, that, I LOVE the out come....just love it

                          So I start with these beautiful Blackberries and try to savor from them what I can.

Then I boil them down with sugar and lemon and put them in a food mill so that I don't have any seeds and pulp.

This is what I get.  I heat it again and let it rumble until it thickens.

I can it and now have some fresh homemade Blackberry Syrup to enjoy!

Tomatoes ~ Again!

My sweet friend, Regina, from Hendersonville Produce, "like" her on facebook, once again, gave me some produce that was not good enough to sell.  She is so sweet to think of me!  Here is what I did with what I got.
                                      
                                                    Heirloom Organic Grape Tomatoes

Cooking those beautiful tomatoes with a bit of garlic and fresh basil.

Then we have some beautiful mini plum tomatoes.

Cooked those down with red onion, basil, garlic.

Are these Yellow Tomates just beautiful!  Never made Yellow Tomato sauce, but, It was my challenge.  Made it a bit different. Added some red onion, oregano, touch of vinegar, red pepper flakes and blended it smooth, then finished it off with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and fresh chopped basil from the garden.  Regina will critic this one for me!

My Three finished, canned, tomato sauces.

1. Yellow  2.  Red Plum  3.  Heirloom

I never made "Heirloom" tomato sauce before.  To my pleasant surprise, it was so creamy and a darkish orange in color.  I am very pleased with these!

Pumpkin ~ ~

Do you believe that school is starting and that fall will soon be here!  It's right around the corner and before you know it, the pumpkins will be out and all the fall decorations.....  I am looking forward to the pumpkin sweets!  Some pictures that I found:

                                                              PUMPKIN BUTTER

PUMPKIN FUDGE

PUMPKIN DONUTS

PUMPKIN PANCAKES, MOUSSE, PIE

PUMPKIN CUPCAKES

MORE PUMPKIN PANCAKES

PUMPKIN FRITTERS

PUMPKIN BAGELS

PUMPKIN BISCOTTI

PUMPKIN MACROONS

PUMPKIN S'MORES....MARSHMELLOWS

PUMPKIN OREO CHEESECAKE

Kids Sushi ~

Isn't this a really good idea for kids?

Ice cream Sundaes

A couple of years ago I would go to antique stores and such with a friend of mine, Belinda.  She would be looking for "Sundae" cups and glasses.  She would make up a "Sundae" gift for people. I thought it was a cool idea, something a family with children would love, some adults too! I never got to do it myself, but, now I see it being done.  I guess she was ahead of the game.  I saw this on a blog http://mixingbowlkids.typepad.com/family_bites/ and thought of her.  When ever I see these Sundae glasses I think of my good friend and those days we spent together. I copied some glasses just for ideas if you wanted to include them in the gift.  Oooops!  Don't forget short or long spoons!

Fruit Flies ~

How to get rid of fruit flies. Place a glass of cider vinegar with several drops of dish soap out on the counter and viola, No more fruit flies...didn't know this, will have to try it, glad that I do now! ~

M & M CAKES~ ~

This surprised me, but, then again, it didn't.  If you really really think and use your imagination, you'd be amazed with what you can come up with..."Why didn't I think of that"?

 http://swanky-chic-fete.blogspot.com/

Beautiful Laundry ~

This was on a blog that I follow.  I would wear this dress in a heart beat..if I was...well...when I lose weight ~  It would be a favorite of mine.  http://warrengrovegarden.blogspot.com/2011/07/laundry-day.html