Happy Groundhog Day!

It's February 2nd and that could mean only 1 thing-it's Groundhog's Day. Groundhog's Day is a Pennsylvania German tradition that is observed in the US and Canada. A groundhog emerging from his burrow and not seeing his shadow is said to signal the end of winter If the groundhog sees his shadow, he will retreat back into his burrow and winter will continue for 6 more weeks.
This year's groundhog predictions are in and these are the results:

• Jimmy the Groundhog of Sun Prairie WI predicted an early spring
• General Beauregard Lee of Snellville GA predicted an early spring
• Malverne Mel of Malverne NY predicted 6 more weeks of winter
• Staten Island Chuck of New York NY predicted early spring
• Woodstock Willie of Woodstock IL predicted early spring
• Wiarton Willie of Wiarton Ontario predicted 6 more weeks of winter
• Punxsutawney Phil of Punxsutawney PA predicted 6 more weeks of winter (he is the most famous of the groundhog meteorologists)
• Spanish Joe of Spanish Ontario predicted 6 more weeks of winter
• Dunkirk Dave of Dunkirk NY predicted early spring
• Buckeye Chuck of Marion OH predicted early spring
• Shubenacadie Sam of Shubenacadie Nova Scotia predicted 6 more weeks of winter

No matter where you live and what your prediction is (Ohio is predicted to have an early spring!), a fun way to celebrate is with these cute cupcakes.

GROUNDHOG CUPCAKES

• chocolate cake mix
• chocolate frosting
• blue or green M&Ms
• brown M&Ms
• mini marshmallows
• vanilla wafers

Bake cupcakes as directed on the box. Allow to cool then frost. Use 2 vanilla wafers to make the groundhog's ears, 2 blue or green M&Ms for his eyes (make sure the M's are facing into the frosting) and 1 brown for his nose. The 2 marshmallows are his teeth.

Photo Credit Aaron Silvers-Punxsutawney PA

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Strawberry Pecan Bread Recipe

I was recently asked if there was such a thing as a strawberry sweet bread, my reply was "Yes, but a good recipe is hard to come by". I have researched and tested and tweaked until I came up with a recipe that I feel is just right. I would have provided pictures, but it didn't last long enough with my hungry tribe.

• 3 cups strawberries
  
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
  
•  1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/4 cups chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter and flour two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Slice strawberries and sprinkle with sugar. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugars, cinnamon, salt & baking soda. Add vanilla, oil, eggs, berries and pecans. Stir until just moistened. Divide between pans and bake 45-50 minutes. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn out of pans to cool completely.

Makes 2 loaves.

Cook's Notes-frozen berries work well in this recipe, too. Add chocolate chips for a delicious flavor twist.

Photo Credit MVI

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Veggie Delight Pizza Recipe

If you have a picky eater in your home who doesn't want to eat veggies, this recipe might do the trick! You can add or remove toppings as you like, cut back on the amount of cheese, etc-this is what works best in my home. To get your kids involved with making dinner, allow them to sprinkle the crust with the cheese and veggies.

• 1 unbaked pizza crust
• 1 1/2 cups low fat ranch dressing
  
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained
  
• 1 pound mozzarella cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place crust on pizza pan and spread with dressing. Sprinkle with cheddar
Place pizza crust on a pizza pan or baking sheet, and spread dressing evenly over the top. Sprinkle with cheddar. Add carrots, pepper and mushrooms. Mix together spinach and mozzarella and top pizza. Bake 15-20 minutes. Vegetables should be tender, cheese melted and lightly browned along edges.

Photo Credit Masahiro Ihara

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It's Time To Get Serious About Making Candy

All About Candy Making by Autumn Carpenter

Whether you are a beginning candy maker or an experienced chocolatier, All About Candy Making by Autumn Carpenter, is a must have for your kitchen. The author, Autumn Carpenter is a skilled sugar artist, demonstrator, teacher and author. Judging by this book, she excels at every endeavor! This book is published by Country Kitchen SweetArt, Inc and retails for $10.95.

The book features 46 pages of amazing candy related information and recipes. Carpenter spells everything out in plain, easy to understand English. Not sure of the difference between confectionery coating and real chocolate? Ever wonder why you have to temper chocolate and how to do it? Do you want to mold your own chocolates but have no clue where to begin? This book will become your candy making bible. You will learn the ins and outs of basic candy making-the tools of the trade, tips and tricks and delicious recipes. Several of the recipes featured in this book have become the basis for the candies I sell in my own business. Learn how to make:

• Chocolate Barks
• Cherry Cordials
• Truffles
• Fondants
• Caramels
• Fudges
• Mints
• Marshmallows

And much, much more.

Ms. Carpenter will also introduce you to chocolate decorations, presentation tips and an idea gallery of some of the most creative seasonal candies you will ever come across. Be the hit of your office Christmas party when you bring in a white fudge Christmas tree decorated with pearlized blue chocolate snowflakes. Earn the adoration of the neighborhood kids when you hand out black cat, Frankenstein and jack-o-lantern decorated dipped cookies at Halloween. The possibilities are endless with this creative, easy to understand book.

 This post was originally written for Examiner.com and was published on July 7, 2009 

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Have It Sweet's Fleur de Sel Caramels Review

Fleur de Sel Caramel

I came across a delicious looking shop on the internet and immediately knew I would be making a purchase. It was just a matter of deciding which yummy looking treat to indulge in. When you are faced with such decisions as organic blueberry pie swirl marshmallows (picture below), heavenly vanilla caramels, pumpkin pie marshmallows, Belgian dark chocolate (see below) and fleur de sel caramels (see side), you know you have stepped in confection heaven. Have It Sweet is certainly heavenly!

Organic Blueberry Pie Swirl Marshmallow

After looking through the Have It Sweet site a few times, I decided on a familiar favorite with a new twist-sea salt caramels (fleur de sel caramels). I love caramels and I love sea salt, so it was a natural decision to indulge in them. I placed my order and waited for my goodies to arrive.

Today was the day-my fleur de sel caramels arrived safe and sound from California. I literally tore into the box (darn packing tape) and proceeded to unwrap what is probably the tastiest caramel I have ever indulged in. If you enjoy a sweet/salty flavor combination, these caramels will certainly hit the spot. Imagine the rich, buttery taste of homemade caramels with a sprinkling of sea salt across the top. This is how the confectioners at Have It Sweet describe these morsels"

"This is not like traditional caramel and is very different from our other flavors. It is sweet yet slightly salty. This is truly an amazing caramel and our signature flavor. Our Fleur de Sel (French Sea Salt) is hand harvested and unrefined. We use truly the best ingredients and we take our Fleur de Sel Caramel very seriously. You will never look at caramel the same way after you savor one of these amazing golden sweets. "

I coudn't agree more! The flavor is quite unique for a caramel and I have become an instant addict.

Begian Dark Chocolate

Have It Sweet is located in Glendale, California. The owners, Vincent and Bethany, have a love for confections that shines through in their finished product. Every item is made fresh to order in small batches to ensure every bite is delicious. Their kitchen is state licensed and the pair are both "Serv-Safe Certified".
Many of the Have It Sweet offerings are organic and they are always all natural, gluten and preservative free. Their packaging is recyclable and biodegradable. This is definitely one company that truly cares about their customers and the environment.
My experience with Have It Sweet was flawless. Easy ordering, fast shipping and delicious products make this a must visit shop if you are a candy aficionado. I can safely say that I will be a repeat customer-there are many more sweets I want to indulge in. The organic blueberry pie swirl marshmallows are at the top of my list.

For more info: visit Have It Sweet on the internet at www.HaveItSweet.com

All photos courtesy of Have It Sweet

 This post was originally written for Examiner.com and was published on July 18, 2009

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