Culinary Favorites From A to Z, The Blog

If you are aware at all of the new Easter Bunny movie, Hop (2011), you love to cook and you love candy, I have just discovered what sounds like an exciting television program.

The Food Network has given four cake artists just eight hours in which to make cakes themed on the HOP 2011 movie. These cakes will feature animated characters, candy (naturally) and scenes from the live-action movie in which the Easter Bunny’s son goes on an adventure.

The winner of the cake challenge takes home a prize of ten thousand dollars and while viewers like you and I are unlikely to recreate any of these cakes we may come away with an idea or two…and enjoy some scenes from the movie at the same time.

Watch the Food Network March 27 at 8:00 PM ET/PT, March 28 at 3:00 AM ET/PT and March 29 at 11:00 PM ET/PT.  If you are like me and do not receive the Food Network, keep your eyes open in case they run this Hop cake making special somewhere else.

Brenda

Culinary Favorites From A to Z

Quick Link:

Read more about the Hop 2011 A Funny New Easter Bunny Movie.

You can never have too many over-ripe bananas, at least not in my family for the presence of over-ripe bananas means they will make their way into the freezer to be frozen and later emerge to become the ’secret’ ingredient in the best banana bread recipe ever.

The Best Banana Bread Recipe.

Believe it or not, spring is on its way and with thoughts of spring my mind automatically turns to…carrot cake?!? 

Yes, you read that right and I am not sure why carrot cake is a springtime dessert for me, but it is. Maybe it is because my recipe for carrot cake from Fulton’s Pancake House uses REAL maple syrup but no matter why…it is delicious and even manages to be nutritious.

While I was considering my carrot cake, I discovered this new cookbook, Carrots’N'Cake, which sounds intriguing particularly with its ‘Healthy Living One Carrot and Cupcake at a Time’ tagline and the promise of Cookie Friday.  Author Christina (Tina) Haupert promises to help you figure out how to have a good time on Friday night, how to visit buffet tables and how to handle holidays without adding pounds.

I feel that if you are going to have a treat, you should make it a good one and that usually is a homemade one made with quality ingredients. The best carrot cake recipe is definitely a good choice from that perspective! We eat it but once or twice a year and, when we do, we thoroughly enjoy it.  I hope you will, too!

Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

Quick Links:

The Best-Ever Carrot Cake Recipe.
Order your copy of Carrots’N'Cake from Amazon.

If you are looking for the facts about mushrooms, you will want to be checking out the page, Mushrooms, Mushrooms and Mushrooms by writer Kathy. (Kathy writes under the name awelldressedbullet.) Find the rest of this story on my new blog at Mushroom Facts.

Who doesn’t love nacho chips? We sure do at my house although I have to say I don’t make the best nachos so today I was pleased to discover a great nacho chips recipe or rather a page dedicated to making the ultimate nachos. 

On her page, writer jackiebolen gives a myriad of ideas to help you make nachos for your family and friends. She starts with a basic recipe and goes on to discuss many of the ingredients including the chips, cheese and vegetable choices. She even recommends adding grilled chicken or steak.  She shares her secret ingredients for a couple of side dishes including salsa and refried beans.  You can see more of Jackie’s ideas by clicking right here.

And when it comes to grating cheese, I am happy to be able to recommend the Presto Salad Shooter.  It will make grating the cheese for your nachos a snap.  (It will also prepare the cheese for your homemade pizza and macaroni and cheese as well as slice vegetables.)

How about nacho chips for supper tonight? The picture of these amazing nachos is courtesy of JeffryW on Flickr.

Brenda
Culinary Favorites From A to Z

Quick Links:

Making The Ultimate Nachos.
The Presto Electric Saladshooter Slicer Shredder Review.
Buy your own Presto Saladshooter from Amazon.

If you are looking for a delicious recipe for scalloped potatoes, you might consider my best-ever scalloped potato recipe.

‘Tis the season for turkey leftovers at least it is if you live in the United States!

See the rest of this post at Turkey Leftovers.

How about this fantastic new Jessie Steele Christmas apron?  Not only is it full of Christmas spirit, it doubles as a Christmas costume! Don this apron and you instantly become Mrs. Santa Claus! What fun to put this apron on when you are sharing the Christmas cookies with your children or your grandchildren!  I think it is a fantastic apron and I just discovered it in time for Christmas 2010.

If you are looking for a Christmas apron but don’t want to become Mrs. Claus, check out the large collection at my page,  Cooking For Christmas? Tie On A Holiday Apron!

Or if you want a Jessie Steele apron that is NOT a Christmas paron, visit my page, Where Can I Buy The Best Jessie Steele Apron?

Quick Link:

Order your Mrs. Claus Jessie Steele Christmas apron.

Fans of Martha Stewart’s recipes will enjoy the Halloween recipes included in Martha Stewart’s Halloween Handbook for 2010.  

It is a ‘best of’ compilation which means that if you already own all of the magazines, you do not need to own this book. However, if you do not have a pile of Martha’s Halloween magazines, you might want to check this one out.

The cooking chapter is called ‘SERVING UNSAVORIES’ and is packed with food ideas to tempt ‘a ghoul’s cravings.’  Read more about Martha Stewart’s 2010 Halloween Handbook by clicking right here.

You will also find all of the information about the 2011 issue of Martha’s Halloween magazine there, too.

Happy Hauntings!

Boo-Brenda

Check out more than a A Decade Of Martha Stewart Halloween Magazines.

Seems I have been doing a bit of Harry Potter reading and writing lately and I was very excited when I stumbled across this cookbook, The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook by Dinah Bucholz. As someone who has spent years looking for Harry Potter recipes, I am excited about this cookbook.

The book is not actually published yet but you can pre-order it from Amazon (where it is already deeply discounted) by clicking right here. The publication date is September 18, 2010 and, if you order it now, Amazon will protect you with their pre-order price guarantee. If you would just like to read a bit more about the cookbook you can visit my page about The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook by clicking right here.

It it is butterbeer your after, you might check What Is The Best Recipe For Harry Potter Butterbeer and if you want a Wizarding World of Harry Potter butterbeer stein, you’ll want to visit Serve Your Butterbeer At Home In A Wizarding World of Harry Potter Stein or Cup .

Finally if it is a new wand you be needing, check out where Wizards Can Buy Their Wizarding World of Harry Potter Wands or the collector’s edition Noble Harry Potter Wands.

Brenda
A Harry Potter Fan