Saturday, December 28, 2013

Ramen Noodle Salad

For all of you who have asked for the recipe:

1 med. size cabbage, chopped
8 green onions, chopped
1/2 c. sesame seeds, oven toasted
1/2 c. almonds, slivered or sliced
2 pkg. Ramen noodles (omit seasoning)
1 c. salad oil
2 tbsp. vinegar, white or rice
4 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. accent
2 tsp. salt

Brown sesame seeds and almonds in 350 degree oven. Cool and combine cabbage and onions in large bowl. Add seeds and almonds, mix well. Break up Ramen noodles and toss with cabbage mixture. Whisk oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and accent in small bowl. Add to coleslaw just before serving.


Thursday, December 26, 2013

Merry Christmas 2013 and Happy New Year


Wishing all our family and friends a Merry Little Christmas and Happy New Year!

Monday, December 23, 2013

Chocolate Turtle Cookies

Chocolate Turtle Cookies

2 1/2 dozen cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg, separated, plus 1 egg white
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups pecans, chopped fine
  • 14 soft caramel candies
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Combine flour, cocoa, and salt in bowl. With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 2 minutes. Add egg yolk, milk, and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture until just combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour.
  2. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk egg whites in bowl until frothy. Place pecans in another bowl. Roll dough into 1-inch balls, dip in egg whites, then roll in pecans. Place balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Using 1/2-teaspoon measure, make indentation in center of each ball. Bake until set, about 12 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking.
  3. Microwave caramels and cream in bowl, stirring occasionally, until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Once cookies are removed from oven, gently re-press existing indentations. Fill each with 1/2 teaspoon caramel mixture. Cool 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Try not to devour them all at once.

Baking with my mom is an annual event at Christmas time! We usually make enough different ones to make really pretty cookie plates with a nice assortment! Today we made Milky Way Rice Crispy Balls, the Ultimate Cookie Cup, Chocolate Turtle cookies and Peanut butter cups!  The best part is spending time with Mimi!  Love her so much!

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

  • Prep Time 20 min 
  • Total Time 1 hr 40 min
  • Servings 

Ingredients

Filling

1/2
cup packed brown sugar
1/2
cup chopped pecans
1 1/2
teaspoons ground cinnamon

Coffee Cake

3
cups Gold Medal® all-purpose or whole wheat flour
1 1/2
teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2
teaspoons baking soda
3/4
teaspoon salt
1 1/2
cups granulated sugar
3/4
cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2
teaspoons vanilla
3
eggs
1 1/2
cups sour cream

Light Brown Glaze

1/4
cup butter
2
cups powdered sugar
1
teaspoon vanilla
1
to 2 tablespoons milk

Directions

  • 1Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease 12-cup fluted tube cake pan or 10-inch angel food (tube) cake pan.
  • 2In small bowl, mix all Filling ingredients; set aside.
  • 3In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat granulated sugar, 3/4 cup butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and the eggs with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in flour mixture alternately with sour cream on low speed.
  • 4Spread 1/3 of the batter (about 2 cups) in pan; sprinkle with 1/3 of the Filling (about 6 tablespoons). Repeat twice.
  • 5Bake about 1 hour or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool 10 minutes.
  • 6Meanwhile, in 1 1/2-quart saucepan, heat 1/4 cup butter over medium heat until very light brown; remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until glaze is smooth and thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle cake with glaze.

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    Friday, December 20, 2013

    NW Expressway Home Depot Christmas Party - 12.15.2013 -Walnut Creek Chapel and Event Center

     NW Expressway Home Depot
    Staff Christmas Party
     Packages for games

     Assorted sugar cookies and chocolate chips
     Ej

     Christy thank you for choosing us to host your party.
     Eric (A Spot For Tea) and Jerry
     Playing games
     Employees doing the Wobble

     Walnut Creek Employees Blake, Cierra and Dana
     Lite Hor D'oeuvres - Dollar Ham/Cheese/Turkey/Cheese Sandwiches, Croissant Chicken Salad, Cubed Cheese/Crackers, Fruit w/Dip, Vegetables w/Ranch Dip, Fiesta Cheeseball


    Facebook collage by Tammy of Home Depot Christmas Party.
    Merry Christmas.

    Lauren Carr and Colin Higbee Walnut Creek Chapel Wedding/Reception on 12.14.2013 - Dr. Gene Nease - WCChapel Minister

     Lauren Carr and Colin Higbee
    Congratulations and Best Wishes
    Mrs. and Mr. Colin Higbee
     Colin proposed in Central Park
     Pictures of Lauren in the chapel before the ceremony

     Lauren and her bridal party
     Engagement pictures of their travels

     Beautiful winter greens on the pews
     Lauren wanted a candlelight ceremony at Christmas

     Candlelighters
     Lauren & Colin's Programs
     Rececessional
     Lauren's parents
     Bridemaids smiling
     Flower girls dressed in white
     Wedding party
     Instagram #walnutcreekchapel Lauren with her girls
     Hors D'oeuvres - Fruit and veggie cascade before buffet was opened.
    Buffet Menu: Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast, Smoked Beef Brisket, Golden Scolloped Potatoes, Fresh Asparagus, Crisp Green Salad w/Dressings, Fresh Cut Broccoli Salad, Warm Croissants with Butter
    - A Spot for Tea - Caterer
     Bridal cake by Sweete Connections
     Ice Sculpture punch bowl with snowflakes
     Red Chargers with fold pocket napkin and menus with snowflake ornaments as party favors.
     Menu card
     Joenuts replaced groom's cake by Good Egg
     Instagram #walnutcreekchapel

     Couple departed in antique groom's car and then finished the trip in Integrity's stretch white limo
     Facebook collage by Tammy of Lauren & Colin Higbee's wedding.
    Thank you so much for choosing us to host your special day.
    Sweet thank you note I received the bride and her mom with special tea.
     
    Venders: Tammy Seibert - Coordinator at WCChapel, David Briscoe - WCCChapel Musician, Integrity - Limo, Sweete Connection - Bride's Cake- Susan Taunton, Ideas in Ice - Snowflake Sulptured Ice Punch Bowl, A Spot for Tea - Appetizer and Buffet- Tammy and Eric Seibert - Owners, Susie Lopez - Bar Service- Jenn Walsh - Bartender, Conventions and More - Black/Black Stripe Floor Length Tablecloths, Black Satin Chair Ties, Superior Linens- Black Napkins. A+ Entertainment - Chris Cox - Owner and DJ. Other Venders: Scott Laske Images - Photography - Robert Posar - Photographer, Digital Video Productions - Rand Poff - Owner, JoeNuts - Joe Williams - Favorite of Groom (a cross between a croissant/doughnut). 405-922-1722. Flowers by Pat - Florist

    Access Financial Christmas Party at Walnut Creek Chapel on 12/3/2013

     Snowman Ice Sculpture (Ideas In Ice) with chilled shrimp
     Celeste and John Gillespie -
    Owners of Access Financial Group, Inc
     Beautiful December Night for their Clients Christmas Party



     Several Food Stations were placed around the room.
     A Spot for Tea - Caterer Positioned Stations of Food around the Reception Room.

    -Carving Beef Tenderloin, Dollar Rolls, Au Jus, Horseradish Sauce, Little Smokies, Buffalo Boneless Wings, and Stuffed Mushrooms
    - Three Different Pastas (Penne, Tortellini, Fettuccini) with Alfredo, Marinara Sauce and Italian Bread Sticks
    -Mashed Potato Bar (Bacon Bits, Shredded Cheese and Brown Gravy)
    -Fresh Fruit w/Fruit Dip, Tortilla Cream Cheese Wraps (with Picante Sauce )
    -Fresh Garden Salad (with Poppysed Dressing and Ranch Dressing and Pasta Salad
    -Snowman Ice Sculpture with Fresh Shrimp (Cocktail Sauce/Sliced Lemons)
    -Chocolate Fountain with Fresh Fruit, Cookies, Creme Puffs, Cheesecake with (Cherry and Carmel Topping), and Warm Bread Pudding (with White Chocolate Sauce



     Chocolate Fountain
    with Fresh Fruit, Assorted Cookies, Pretzels, Marshmallows and Creme Puffs

     Pasta Bar
     Guests selecting food from Pasta Bar
     Eric Seibert - Chef and Owner of "A Spot for Tea"- Caterer

     Salad Bar with Green Salad and Pasta Salad
     Fruit and cheese and crackers and Tortilla cream cheese rollups
     Guests enjoying the Christmas Party
     Kip Curtis Combo Band - Great Music and Dancing
    #walnutcreekchapel on instagram

     Lisa and Cierra -- Staff - Assisting Guest with Potato Bar
    Facebook collage of Access Financial Christmas Party by Tammy
     Venders: A Spot for Tea - Caterers, Ideas in Ice - Ice Snowman Sculpture, Conventions and More - Red Satin Sashes, Susie Lopez - Bar Service, Kip Curtis - Kip Combo Band provided Music