Easter Themed Cooking Club

We had an Easter themed Cooking Club at my house last Tuesday night.  There were lots of treats to be had and a few things savory.  I demonstrated a few piping techniques, but it was 80* and I don't have air conditioning.  So, the frosting was melting as we were piping, but it was still a lot of fun.  As always, please feel free to post your recipes below.

Rice Krispies Treats Bird Nests

• 6 cups Rice Krispies
  
• 10 ounces marshmallows
  
• 3 tablespoons margarine or 3 tablespoons butter
  
• 1 (10 ounce) bags shredded coconut
  
• green food coloring
  
• 48 jelly beans
  

Directions 

1. Make Rice Krispies treats as directed on box.
2. Lightly butter your hands.
3. Pinch out a handful of the prepared Rice Krispies treats, roll in a ball, and place on wax paper.
4. Form ball into a "bird nest" formation.
5. While Rice Krispies nests are cooling, dye the coconut.
6. Place coconut in a bowl and add green food color-shake until coated well.
7. Place green coconut and 3-6 jellybeans in each nest.

Twinkies Cupcakes

1 package Lemon Cake Mix

1 package Pineapple or Yellow Cake Mix (I used Pineapple)

Cream Filling:

2 c powdered sugar

1/4 c Crisco

1/4 c butter, softened

3 T milk

1 t vanilla

Dash Salt

Make cake according to package instructions.  Bake in paper liners.

For cream filling; cream shortening and butter.  Add remaining ingredients and beat until light and creamy.  From the bottom of each cupcake, scoop out the center area.  Fill each cupcake with cream filling, then plug the hole with the ball of cupcake you scooped out.

March St. Patrick's Day Themed Recipes

I am so thankful to the Noyce family for hosting in March.  It was a great night and a few of us got to knead some Irish Soda Bread.  Thanks to all that came.  If you brought a dish and didn't share the recipe, feel free to post it in the comments! 

Wood Family Aromatic Lavender-Flax Irish Soda Bread

5 c all purpose flour
1 c sugar
1 T baking powder
1 1/2 t salt
1 t baking soda
1/2 c unsalted butter, cubed, at room temp.
2 1/2 c lavender (loose)
3 T golden flax seeds
2 1/2 c evaporated milk
1 large egg

Preheat oven to 350*.

Generously butter heavy ovenproof 10-12" diameter skillet with 2-2 1/2" high sides.  Whisk first 5 ingredients in large bowl to blend.  Add butter; using fingertips, rub in until coarse crumbs form.  Stir in lavender and flax seeds.  Whisk evaporated milk and egg in medium bowl to blend.  Add to dough; using wooden spoon, stir just until well incorporated (dough will be very sticky).

Transfer dough to prepared skillet; smooth top, mounding slightly in center.

Bake until bread is cooked through and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes.  Cool bread in skillet 10 minutes.  Turn out onto rack and cool completely.  (Can be made one day ahead. Wrap tightly in foil; store at room temperature.)

Wood Family Irish Stew

*Use a stock pot*

3# Stew Meat (coated in flour, pan-fried, drained)

**Return drained meat to stock pot**

Add:

1# Carrot (1/2 in. cubed)

1# Potato (1/2 in. cubed, peeled)

1# Onion (1/4-1/2 in. chopped)

1/4 C. Allspice

Taste: Kosher Salt and Pepper

Beef Stock: Enough to Cover Contents (About 2 qts.)

Cook until vegetables are al dente. Add two pkgs. of high-end brown gravy mix and reduce to desired consistency or transfer to crockpot set on high until beef is fork tender. Serve with Irish Soda Bread. Makes approximately 18 servings.

Irish Nachos

1 package frozen waffle fries

1 can beans (black or pinto)

1 small can sliced olives

1 small jar of salsa

1 jar of cheese

Put the waffle fries on the bottom and spread the remaining ingredients on top.  Bake at 375* until cheese and salsa are warm and beginning to bubble in the middle.  Be creative and feel inspired to add and subtract your favorite nacho toppings!