Desserts Snacks and Treats

A Basket Full of Flipz Pretzels

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read881 views

I love Chocolate and I love Pretzels. Now put those two together … hmm, delicious!

Ever since I got hooked on Flipz Milk Chocolate Covered Pretzels, I have been on a hunt. I purchased my first from Bed Bath and Beyond and then I found out that Target sells them as well. Target has an area in the store called The One Spot where items range in price between $1 and $3. Sometimes I get lucky and find a few Chocolate Covered Pretzels and sometimes am just out of luck!

Target Basket Full of Flipz Pretzels.
Target Basket Full of Flipz Pretzels.

Today I scored big time! For $1 each, I bought all of the Flipz Milk Chocolate Covered Pretzels in the store and a few Flipz White Fudge Covered Pretzels for my boys who seem to enjoy this flavor more. I will be checking again later as I am hoping to have enough to stuff my baskets for Easter.

Besides snacks, there are other things you can find and purchase from the Target’s One Spot. From school supplies, home decor items, craft supplies, gardening supplies, toys, household items and so much more.
I highly recommend checking The One Spot if you shop at Target.

Our Gingerbread House

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read1.1K views

“The way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much.” – Henry David Thoreau

Together with the kids, we’ve decided to do something fun while waiting for midnight and the opening of the gifts. We decorated the Gingerbread House (Pepparkaka Hus) we bought at Ikea a couple of weeks ago. I am sure it would have been so much fun making one from scratch.

Plain Gingerbread House.
Plain Gingerbread House.

We used caramel syrup to glue the pieces together and everyone pitched in with the decorations.

Gingerbread House Decorated.
Gingerbread House Decorated.
Gingerbread House Decorated.
Gingerbread House Decorated.

Merry Christmas!

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.” – Roy L. Smith

Fun Edible Spookiness

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read984 views

Halloween is just around the corner and this year my kids are looking forward to it with excitement.  They love their costumes which they will be sporting for Howl Fest on Friday at my Son’s school. In the interim, we are still figuring out what to do for Halloween; especially treats we can make at home.

Be it food, drawings, movies or costumes, my kids have no interest in anything scary. I am sharing with you a few edible ideas that are kid-friendly, spooky and fun. When it comes to Halloween and food, creativity is endless. You can imagine and make something fun or you can find ideas on Pinterest.

Mummy Cupcake. Source.
Mummy Cupcake.
Source.
Mummy Pizzas. Source.
Mummy Pizzas.
Source.
Melting Witch Cookies
Melting Witch Cookies.
Source.
Ghoulish Breadsticks. Source.
Ghoulish Breadsticks.
Source.
Broomstick Pretzel Treats. Source.
Broomstick Pretzel Treats.
Source.
Spider Deviled Eggs.
Albino Black Widow Spider Deviled Eggs.
Source.
Eyeball Caprese. Source.
Eyeball Caprese.
Source.
Witch Hat Cookies. Source.
Witch Hat Cookies.
Source.
Oreo Pudding Graveyard.
Oreo Pudding Graveyard.
Source.
Cheesy "Ham-witch." Source.
Cheesy “Ham-witch.”
Source.
Frankenstein Baked Pepper. Source.
Frankenstein Baked Pepper.
Source.
Sweet Ghost Crisps. Source.
Sweet Ghost Crisps.
Source.
Rat Meatballs. Source.
Rat Meatballs.
Source.
Freakish Frog with Fly. Source.
Freakish Frog with Fly.
Source.
Tentacle Pot Pie. Source.
Tentacle Pot Pie.
Source.
Frankenstein Kiwi. Source.
Frankenstein Kiwi.
Source.
Frankenstein Cupcakes. Source.
Frankenstein Cupcakes.
Source.
Zombie Pinapple. Source.
Zombie Pineapple.
Source.

Have a fun and safe Halloween!

Madeleines & a Cup of Coffee

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read583 views

I have loved Madeleines for as long as I can remember. They are one of my favorite comfort treats followed by Chocolate and I enjoy having them with a cup of coffee. Last night finally, after weeks of promises to my family, I got to use the Madeleines mold set I bought a couple of years ago from Bed Bath & Beyond. The air is still filled with the smell of freshly baked Madeleines, taking me back to my childhood. Another favorite food smell of mine are Crepes, Croissants, Empanadas as they remind me of my Mother.

Buttered & Floured Pan.
Buttered & Floured Pan.
Madeleines in Pan.
Madeleines in Pan.
Madeleines in Pan, out of the oven.
Madeleines in Pan, out of the oven.

My Madeleines are a little ‘dorées’, just the way I like them. They were very soft inside as I let the butter melt substantially before adding it to the rest of the ingredients and blending it all together.

Madeleines.
Freshly baked Madeleines.

Ingredients:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, cooled slightly

Preparation Method:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Generously butter and flour pan for large Madeleines (about 3 x 1 1/4 inches).
Using electric mixer, beat eggs and 2/3 cup sugar in large bowl just to blend. Beat in vanilla, lemon peel and salt. Add flour; beat just until blended. Gradually add cooled melted butter in a steady stream, beating just until blended. Spoon 1 tablespoon batter into each indentation in the pan. Bake until puffed and brown, about 16 minutes.
Cool 5 minutes. Gently remove from pan. Repeat process, buttering and flouring pan before each batch.

Click here to learn how to soften butter in the microwave oven and here for other methods to soften butter.

Cup of Coffee.
Cup of Coffee. Royal Cup Coffee.