Pie Pops- Cake Pops simple country cousin

Pie Pops-

After my last post I swore I would never make cake pops again. But, I did want to make something easy for all the little kids that will be at the Indy 500 post race party tomorrow. I love giving the triplets little treats on a stick (less chance for dirty sticky hands). So, pies on a stick it is. I have made this recipe before and there are many variation you can do to jazz these up. With Memorial day being Monday I thought it best to stick (ha ha) with good ol American apple pie.

All you need for these is Pie dough (you can make your own if you like)

Pie Filling (mine was a bit chunky so I cut the apple pieces smaller)

Cinnamon and Sugar

egg white

and some Popsicle sticks

Next you want to roll out your dough. I used a drinking glass to cut out my dough. But you could use a cookie cutter (heart shapes would be fun). Reroll any left-over scraps for maximum dough utilization.

Now, you want to set up your dough pieces with their partners -ravioli making style. Fill one side with your filling. Be careful not to overfill, you do not want leaky pies (alhough, not nearly as bad as a leaky diaper)

Now it is time for the stick. Make sure to put the sticks high enough to prevent the pies from becoming detached (physically, not emotionally) after they bake. Now put your pies together. You can use an extra stick or a fork to seal the edges. Make sure to seal in around the stick. I started with the stick and then switched to the fork because it was much faster. Once they are cooked it is hard to tell which one were sealed with a stick and which ones with the fork.

Put, them on a baking sheet. Brush with a little egg wash and then sprinkle with cinnamin and sugar. Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes.

Yum, can't beat them with a stick.

Cake-pops are the new cupcakes

Have you heard the news? Cupcakes are like so 5 minutes ago. Cake-pops are all the rage. I actually first saw these on Bakerella website. She has really good directions on how to make these and some super creative ideas. In fact, my Mom ended up seeing her book in Target and buying it for me, yeah. Oh, and also they are now selling 3 different varieties of cake-pops at Starbucks. So needless to say I had to hop on this trend and try making these little gems.

Okay, so make sure you have a lot of time and patience before attempting these. Bakerella suggests making a box cake and crumbling it to make the cake balls. I just did not have thetime to make a cake and wait for it to cool, come on now. So I bought a pre-made birthday cake at the store. I removed about half the frosting and crumbled up the cake and frosting. Btw, the cake I bought said it was chocolate, but was actually yellow cake inside, so sad. But, I just went with it, because I did not want to have to take it back, I wanted to get started. Okay, so I shaped the cake into balls and put on a foiled covered sheet. I think the key here is to keep the balls small so they are not to heavy on the stick.
Next, I put these in the freezer over night, because I was sleepy and figured it would be good to get these firmed up. Today, Baby C and I heated up some chocolate melts and stuck the sticks in. The chocolate helps the sticks adhere to the cakeballs.
Do not turn your back on these for even a moment, or baby C might just grab one.
Okay, so this is the labor intensive part. Dip in chocolate and tap tap tap off the excess. Then sprinkle with any fun jimmies you can find.
Now Bakerella suggests put these babies in styrofoam to harden up. I did not have any styrofoam so I had to get all crafty and come up with this.

Well, this was fun and I hope everyone enjoys them because I am not sure I will be taking the time to make them again soon....... I mean I am sure the ones from Starbucks are just as tasty:)

Chicken is a gateway bird

Okay, so apparently everyone but me knew about making a whole chicken in the crockpot. So, sad that I have gone all these years without know this. So, inspired by my chicken in the crock-pot I went a head and made the next logical step.... a turkey. Yes, chicken is clearly a gateway fowl.

So, this was like the easiest recipe ever.

1- bone-in Turkey breast (about 6lbs, so it will fit in the crockpot)

2. 1 Package of onion soup mix

That is it.

Just put the turkey in the crockpot, sprinkle on the soup and set to high for 6-8 hours.

Here Lila is waiting for mommy to carve up the turkey. Please notice how she is coloring in lines, who does that at 27 months old?

Okay, so here is the turkey all carved up. This made a TON of turkey. We are not used to leftovers. I am going to need ideas for left-over turkey.

The juices made delious gravy, yum

The turkey was a hit with the triplets. They keep calling it chicken, but that is okay. Also, corn on the cob was winner. Especially, with baby B
So, any suggestion for the extra Turkey? I know there are lots of recipes for left-over turkey? I have never had to use them, because Uncle Brad is a turkey eating machine and we never have leftover turkey at Thanksgiving :)

Whole Chicken in the Crockpot

I know exactly 142 different ways to prepare boneless, skinless, chicken breast. Sadly, the triplets will only eat boneless skinless chicken breast exactly 1 way, smothered with cheese. They are so onto the fact that boneless and skinless, no mater what it is marinated in, is rather dull and dry. They do however LOVE a rotisserie chicken from Kroger. It is a really easy and inexpensive dinner. But, ever time I buy one I cannot help to think

1. What do they inject these chickens with make them so juicy

2. They are most likely factory farmed chickens

3. Why does my Kroger have these in plastic bags baking under bright light. I don't go to the tanning booth and prefer things I eat not to be sitting under hot lights leeching chemicals out of a plastic bag.

So, I decided it was time to tackle the whole chicken. I can't believe how cheap a whole chicken is. I bought a 4.5 lb locally produced Amish whole chicken for $6.98. That is what 3 breast of the Purdue would have cost me. Since, I don't have one of those handy Ronco Showtime rotisserie things (although, I have been tempted by many a late night info-mercial before), I went to my ever reliable and energy efficient slow-cooker. I love not have to turn on a hot oven with 3 toddlers running around.

So, I have made this twice and both times a big hit.

I had plans for the left-over chicken, but this family of 5 ate the WHOLE bird. I even caught the hubby back at the slow-cooker looking for any forgotten pieces.

O.K. This is so easy it as a joke.

All you need is a Chicken, some garlic, a pat of butter and what ever spices sound good.

Put the chicken in the slow-cooker and shove some garlic under the skin, and around the Chicken. Sprinkle with spices. I used pepper, onion powder, and rosemary. Then, stick the pat of butter on top.

Set, on low. Now, go run after that toddler with a crayon, and come back 7 to 8 hours later.
I love the way it browns up, even in the slow-cooker I got crispy skin.

Feed to pickiest of toddlers and be amazed when baby "A" asks for seconds.

Enjoy.

Valentine's Day Heart Shaped Hot Cocoa on a Stick

Well, a few reasons for making up this recipe.

1. I bought the heart shaped molds for the fruit snacks and really wanted to make sure they did not become as Alton Brown say's "a uni-tasker"

2. The triplets are really into anything they can eat on a stick. Recently I have been putting a stick in their morning yogurt and freezing it and it has been a big hit.

3. The triplets also really like coffee. What?! Let me explain. The only way I have been able to make it through the last 2 years with out falling asleep on the spot has been mommy's little helper: caffeine. So, every morning during breakfast when the kids eat, Mommy has her coffee. Well, the triplets started asking/demanding coffee of their own. So, on occasional morning I make one cup of warm cocoa and split into 3 mugs. They love to have there morning "coffee" with mama.

4. I was looking for cute valentine's day gifts for friends and family

5. I needed something chocolate ASAP.

Hot Chocolate on a stick-

- 8 ounces of chocolate (any kind, I used Lindt 80% cocoa)

- 7 Ounces (half a can) of sweetened condensed milk

- molds or ice cube trays

- sticks

Heat the condensed milk in a saucepan over low heat - do not boil. Add the chocolate and let melt. Stir gently. Take of heat and carefully put into piping bag or spoon into molds. Add sticks.

I put into the fridge overnight to let set. Below is the finished product. They have a kind of matte finish and I would have liked them a bit shinier. Maybe a different kind of chocolate or a heating it over a double boiler would have helped? These tasted great, and melt smoothly into a glass of warm milk. Just need to work on shiny and I will probably try these again because they have been a big hit.
Baby A loved swirling his into warm milk and then eating the melted chocolate. Please note that is frozen yogurt in his other hand not a giant Marshmallow. Although, a Marshmallow on a stick would be a great addition to this recipe, hum, please see my marshmallow post for ideas. Also, please don't call Joan River about my lovely non match sleep-wear. What, you thought I did all this in heels and an apron? ha.
In fact this little guy loved these so much, I even let him have a second one.

Yum.