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Sweet Little Lamb Cupcakes

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Spring has exploded in the Midwest and painted the country side with vibrant colors and new life. I was just not content to let Mother Nature have all of the fun—and had to get in the kitchen and bake up some sweet creations of my own. Cupcakes and Cake Pops from the Babycakes appliances hatched these darling little lambs. I missed having some little hands in the kitchen to help out—and I think children would be delighted with the little lambs–but even without kids around they are just so fun to make and serve. They are perfect for Easter or any springtime event and they will bring lots of smiles and fun to the table.

Bake your favorite flavor of cupcakes and cake pops using your Babycakes Cake Pop and Cupcake Makers, then follow these easy directions to make your own basketful of lambs, using the cupcake for the body and the cake pop for the head. You might find a fun new flavor of cupcake and cake pop in either of our two new books. The directions to assemble these cute little guys are below, but the photos and how-to information in 175 Best Babycakes Cake Pop Maker Recipes would make these especially easy to make. (You will find all kinds of tips on dipping the cake pops and painting faces in that book, plus other fun, creative suggestions for decorating cake pops.)

The appliances are just so fun to use we can’t stop using them and are always baking up something new! Now bake some of your own—then tell us about them, or even share a picture of your little lambs . We would love to hear about your fun. [Read more…]

Tortellini Soup

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It’s funny how we get “hungry” for a specific food.  Why does a salad sound great one night and the next you must have a juicy burger? This week, I was hungry for Tortellini Soup. Why, I don’t know, except I hadn’t made it in several weeks. It’s easy and really is one of those soups that tastes like it simmered all day, but is done in about an hour or less. Best of all, it tastes fresh and fills the house with mouth-watering aromas.

I think I like it because the vegetables taste fresh, so it is a great transition from winter to spring. Roxanne would tell you that  I like the vegetables nearly raw. That’s probably true and this is one soup that I can cook quickly enough the vegetables keep all of their bright colors and a hint of that crisp texture I love. If you like them more done, just simmer a bit longer. The only trick is to add the tortellini during the last 7 to 9 minutes so they don’t overcook.

It is also just a bit different from our typical dinner and that makes it special. Enjoy!

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Asian Sesame Pork Tenderloin with Napa Cabbage Slaw

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My taste buds are fickle and get bored easily. I love to cook with the seasons as the weather changes—a salad and fresh corn in the summer, a soup or stew when it snows. Yet, this time of year, I tire of winter fare and long for fresh—especially this winter with the weather so oddly warm. So I hunger for fresh and different, yet in reality, it must be simple and quick.

This week, the answer to my dinnertime dilemma was this Asian Sesame Pork Tenderloin with Napa Cabbage Slaw. I really do mean quick and easy as it uses a bottled salad dressing for the marinade and dressing. Pork tenderloin is at the top of the scale for effortless—pop in the oven and roast! Best of the, the aroma of the glazed, roasting pork fills the kitchen like only a very special dish can and the flavor is bright, fresh, crisp and wonderful. It transcends the seasons and broke my dinnertime boredom.

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Spanish-Style Chicken in Garlic-Tomato Sauce Recipe

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Tastes change. It’s sad, but true. A couple weeks ago I remembered an old recipe that I had made, and loved, years ago. I was longing for it— chicken, simmered in tomatoes, onions, and peas. Warm, comforting, easy to prepare and as I recall, very good. It was one of the first meals I made when I was out on my own and newly married and I made it often. I could not erase the cravings and knew I had to make it again.
The tattered and stained recipe confirmed that it was the one, yet I was stumped. Something was very wrong. This recipe was so plain. Where were the seasonings? Surely this was not THAT recipe. I had made it in my dreams so many times last week—and it was thick and rich and packed with flavor. Cruel trick! Not all recipes withstand the test of time.
I was still craving chicken in tomatoes. So, out with the old – and in with the new. This version is the comforting, easy dish I was longing for. It is a recipe that you can easily adapt to your own tastes. I love baked dishes, because it seems I always have things to do while dinner bakes. I love recipes that I can add more zip and flavor to—when I am longing for spiciness. I love dishes that I can add peas to—just because I love peas.
This time, I split the whole chicken—which is surprising easy to do and makes for a fun presentation—but the dish would be really good with any of your favorite, bone-in chicken pieces. I served it on rice, but next time, I just may serve it with mashed potatoes, cooked pasta or just, as is. I will have to see what I am longing for that night.
So, here is my new version of that chicken recipe. Give it a try, as it just might be the perfect dish for your family tonight.

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175 Best Babycakes Cake Pops Recipes

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It’s here! Our newest book, 175 Best Babycakes Cake Pops Recipes is out and we are thrilled.

Packed inside the new cookbook are recipes for cake pops of all kinds and flavors, plus muffins, biscuits, meatballs, appetizers, ebelskivers, doughnuts, scones, bread bites and more. You will find recipes that will inspire you to use your Babycakes Cake Pop maker every day—from morning to night. Most of all, when cake pops are just the right treat, you will discover the perfect flavor, plus awesome decorating and gift suggestions so your cake pops will steal the show. Weddings, showers, holidays, teacher gifts, thank you gifts, elegant affairs, simple gestures, big graduation parties, and even a dog treat are just a few of the special occasions that are described in detail so you can easily make and serve fantastic cake pops.

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