Mayflower Cakes

As children, my family spent some time in Massachusetts & we would visit Plymouth, "Plimoth Plantation" & Plymouth Rock... When Thanksgiving comes around, my mind always flashes back to these trips. I cannot wait to take my son! But for now, I made these cute little Mayflower Cakes for his class:

 
Mayflower Cakes

• Cake recipe
• Frosting recipe
• Lollipop Sticks
• Paper

The cake mix I used was a gluten free box mix but you can use any recipe. I used my handy-dandy Egg Cakelet pan from Easter! I LOVE re-purposing holiday pieces. But you can also do Mayflower Cupcakes instead! What ever you do, ENJOY...

Be Thankful.

I am.

Thank you all.

<3 Lishie 
Gabriel's Mom

Apple Crisp

Hmmm... autumn arrives delivering its gorgeous selections of apples. Once trip to the orchard, so many varieties. My favorite is Honey Crisp. It's the perfect apple for me to cook, bake, munch on...

Here's a simple favorite that's a winner every time...

Apple Crisp
Apples:

• 4-5 apples, skinned, cored, sliced
• 1 lemon
• dash of nutmeg
• 2-3 TBSp sugar

Crisp:

• 1/2 c rolled oats
• 1/2 c packed, brown sugar
• 1/4 c ap flour
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 c butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Mix the first 4 items together (apples) & pour into a 2qt baking dish; set aside.

 

For the crisp, using a pastry blender (see picture) or a fork/knife, blend together the 5 crisp ingredients; Sprinkle them over the apple slices in the baking dish. 

Bake for 30-35 minutes. Serve warm or room temperature alone or over vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!
<3 Lishie

Kale Chips

Happy National Kale Day!
Here's a quick, & addicting snack plentiful in vitamins & nutrients! 
Enjoy!
<3 Lishie

Kale Chips

• 1 head kale, washed & dried
• 2 TBSp olive oil
• Sea salt

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
Remove the ribs from the kale & cut into small pieces. Lay on a baking sheet & toss with the olive oil & salt. Bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, about 20 minutes. 

Pumpkin Brownies

Fall is in the air, nipping at my tights-less, ankles & pumpkin is everywhere. Well, we have our pumpkin spice coffee in house!!! I’ve been sick so I remembered an easy recipe I had spied somewhere… It called for two ingredients! So I added some spice. And frosting. And more spice on top ;)
It was just what I needed.
Enjoy!

<3 

Lishie

Pumpkin Brownies

• 1 Box Brownie Mix (I used Ghirardelli)
• 1, 15 oz can Pumpkin
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• ¼ tsp Nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8”x8”, 9”x9” or 13”x9” pan.
Combine all of the ingredients above. The batter will be thick! Pour into prepped pan. Bake for:

8”x8”: 45-50 minutes
9”x9”: 40-45 minutes
13”x9”: 30-35 minutes

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 2 c powdered sugar
• 6 oz cream cheese, room temp
• ½ stick butter, room temp

Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top of the finished brownies.

The batter will be thick:

Apple Cinnamon Iced Water

My hubby saw this on Facebook & suggested we try it. It's refreshing & we love cinnamon. I don't prescribe to use it as a detox or "Metabolism Boosting Drink" but a lovely alternative to plain water.

Longer the apples & cinnamon seep, the deeper the flavor.

<3 Lishie

The Original Day Spa Apple Cinnamon Water Recipe:

• 1 Apple thinly sliced, I like Fuji but pick your favorite 

• 1 Cinnamon Stick

Drop apple slices in the bottom of the pitcher (save a few to drop in your glass later) & then the cinnamon stick, cover with ice water. Place in the fridge for 1 hour before serving.
LASTS FOR 24 HOURS IN THE FRIDGE.

Crispy Parmesan Zucchini Sticks

I ventured to turn on my oven over the weekend after having been on an oven strike most of the summer. I am very happy I did! I love zucchini & think of these as zucchini fries... To me, it seemed like I was eating mozzarella sticks made of veggies. Crispy outside & gooey inside, give them a try! Your non-veggie eater may surprise you & love them.

<3 Lishie

Crispy Parmesan Zucchini Sticks
by Patsy Jamieson via Cooking Club

• 1/2 c all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp salt, divided
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 c panko*
• 1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/8 to 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 12 oz. zucchini (1 medium-large or 2 medium-small), halved crosswise, each half cut into ½” sticks

Heat oven to 450˚F. Spray large rimmed baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray. Combine flour, 1/4 tsp of the salt, garlic powder & black pepper in shallow dish.

Place eggs in shallow bowl. Combine panko, cheese, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt & cayenne pepper in shallow dish. Dip zucchini in flour mixture, shaking off excess. Dip in egg, letting excess drip off. Roll in panko mixture, turning to coat all sides. Arrange in single layer on baking sheet; spray with olive oil cooking spray.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown & tender. Serve immediately.

Gooey Orange Bars

I think it is safe to say these were a hit for a summery bbq. They were sweet & tasty & the citrus flavor always reminds me of the sun. This Floridian girl loves oranges & what's better than orange in the form of a cookie bar?

<3 Lishie

GOOEY ORANGE BARS  adapted from Mom's Test Kitchen

Crust Ingredients:

• 1/2 c butter, room temp
• 1 c all-purpose flour
• 1 c sugar 

Filling Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• 1 & 1/2 c sugar
• 2 navel oranges
• 2 TBSp concentrated, frozen country (w/pulp) orange juice 
• 1/2 c all-purpose flour
• powdered sugar for dusting {optional}

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8x8 pan with cooking spray.
Mix together the butter, sugar & flour for the crust in a medium bowl until well combined ~ I used my hands to mix. Spread the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until the crust is set & just beginning to golden.

 

While the crust is baking, prepare the filling: in a small bowl, zest 1 of your oranges. In another small bowl, juice both oranges & concentratedm frozen orange juice. Using a mixer at medium speed, mix together the eggs, sugar, orange zest from 1 orange, orange juice from 2 oranges, and flour. 

Pour the orange mix over the baked crust and bake for an additional 30-35 minutes or until light golden brown. 

Let it cool completely. Cut into 16 bars & sift the powdered sugar over the top if desired.

 

Mike Wazowski / Monsters University Treats

 

 It is the last day of my son's extended school year (ESY) *I cannot believe it! Summer's going so fast!!!* & I always like to make treats for the kiddies. It's been really hot so I have been on strike lately & I had bought this Limited Edition Monsters University Cereal. So since one of my little G's favorite things so far this this summer was the Monsters University movie, I thought hmmm fun marshmallow treats! They came about in the form of the movie's one-eyed, co-star, Mike Wazowski.Hope the kids like them!

<3 Lishie
G' mommy

Mike Wazowski / Monsters University Treats

• 1 - 10oz bag marshmallows
• 3 TBSp butter
• 1 tsp green food coloring
• 1 box of Monster's University cereal Kelloggs (or Rice Krispies)
• Candy eyes (from Wilton)

Microwave melt the marshmallows & butter in a large bowl- 1-1 & 1/2 minutes, high... Sprinkle in the green food coloring & fold the marshmallows in onto the green until combined. Add the cereal then flatten the mixture onto a sprayed pan or sprayed parchment paper on the counter. Allow to set & cut out the shapes (the heads) with a round cookie cutter or empty, clean tin can... Wedge a candy eye into the middle in a glop of marshmallow. 

*Lishie tip- I find it easiest to spray the bowl before using & to spray a nice sized spatula too before using with melted marshmallows.

Grilled Steak & Veggie Pesto Pasta

This was a fun & yummy recipe. I created shish kabobs for my hubby to grill... as he grilled them, I prepped the pesto & the pasta... Then we merged our separate pieces together & had a delish dinner!

<3 Lishie

Grilled Steak & Veggie Pesto Pasta

• 1 lb chuck eye steak, cubed into 2" pieces
• 1 large onion, diced into 1-2" pieces
• 1 red bell pepper, diced into 1-2" pieces
• 1 medium zucchini, diced into 1-2" pieces
• S & P
• 1 bag of noodles
• 1/4 C pesto (I made fresh)

BBQ skewers- soaked in water for 30 minutes prior to grilling

Create bbq shish kebobs placing 
steak/onion/pepper/zucchini. 
Again, steak/onion/pepper/zucchini...
Sprinkle well w/ S & P... Grill... till the meat is cooked well, turning the kabobs... about 8 minutes on each side.

While the kebobs are cooking... cook the noodles. When kebobs are finished, take steak & veg off of the skewers & toss steak, veg, pesto & pasta together. Serve w/ fresh shredded parmesan.

Homemade "Brown" Play-Dough

Got toilet paper?

R2D2 poops too

Poop play-dough you say? Yes, yes, I do! It's brown & actually smells delish because it is made with ... COFFEE!!! My son & I visited one of our favorite places on Saturday- Liberty Science Center. Amongst all of the great displays & fun things to do was a new exhibit called "Grossology": The Impolite Science of the Human Body.

Well, stationed right at the entrance to this wonder was a table set up to make... Poop Play-dough!!! How FUN! How gross! How alluring for the little ones! Nothing makes children laugh like poop jokes.

So my little G & I concocted & mixed... poo- ummm- Brown play-dough. And we got to bring some home!

Make it- a great rainy day (or any day in the DeMaria house) activity!!!

<3 Lishie

a little pooping fun play ;)

G's mom

Homemade Brown, "Poop" Play-Dough

• 4 c flour 
• 1 c salt 
• 4 TBSp oil 1 
• 1/2 c water
• 1/4 c instant coffee (add more for darker)

Mix flour & salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk oil, water & dissolve the instant coffee into the liquid. Add to coffee mix to dry mixture & mix until pliable. 

Honey S'mores Treats!

Oh it is hot. But I am not complaining; I just do not want to turn on my oven. Even with the a/c on it is just too hot. So what to do when my most requested item is, well, requested? Improvise with a no-bake alternative!!! Today is another birthday celebration at work & someone suggested I bring in my original Lishie's S'mores Bars.

So I thought hard & came up with these Honey S'mores Treats. All of the flavors, no baking. Sweet. & Delish. I think they may become a new favorite!

<3 Lishie

Honey S'mores Treats 

• 3 TBSp butter
•  1, 10 oz package marshmallows
• 1/4 c chocolate (I used Hershey's Kisses)
• 6 c Quaker Honey Graham Oh's Cereal

Melt the marshmallows & butter together either in the microwave or on the stove top... Fold in the chocolate & keep "folding" until it melts in. Add the cereal, gently mix. Scoop the ingredients onto a surface to cool & cut.

Root Beer Floats

It's summer. Take a deep breath & enjoy the easy things in life, like root beer floats. So refreshing, tasty, summery & easy.

Cute note- I've recently joined a Mommy & Me Yoga class with my 4 year old... What did he learn the first session? Star Catcher &... DEEP breaths... OR raspberry noises he thinks are deep breaths. It is very cute, very funny & not very calming ;)

ENJOY. RELAX. Have a root beer float.
<3 Lishie

2 Scoops Vanilla Ice Cream + 
root beer (foamy goodness) = 
a Root Beer Float

Homemade Slushees

Who needs the ice cream man?! Not us. This recipe is so easy & versatile!!! You can switch up the extract flavors, along with the color & make numerous types of slushees for very low cost. This makes a slew of cupfuls! The little ice treats were certainly a hit at our home & the blue color of these make them perfect little BBQ additions for Independence Day celebrations!!!

Happy birthday USA!
<3 Lishie
Gabriel's mommy


Homemade Raspberry Slushees
adapted from Love from the Oven

• 4 c of very cold water
• 1 c of sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp Raspberry Extract
• 4-6 drops of Blue Food Coloring (or any color of your choice) optional

In a large bowl, combine water & sugar & stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Add in  Raspberry Extract & stir well. Follow with 4-6 drops of the food coloring to achieve your desired color. Whisk well. Pour into your ice cream maker (this recipe was tested in a 1 & 1/2 quart ice cream maker) & & run according to ice cream maker directions. Run for approximately 20 minutes or until desired consistency is reached. Serve immediately.

Oh & don't forget to enter my SWEET HERSHEY GIVEAWAY!!!

Hershey Giveaway

Hershey was so much fun. "The Sweetest Place On Earth" indeed. I cannot express the fun that can be had especially with a willing & wonderful four year old. I don't want to mention that this four year old won't eat chocolate but... there's everything else at Hershey too. The people are sweet, kind & caring. There's the Park, the ZooAmerica, the Lodge, the Gardens... the other food. And it is so good. Well, our little four year old skipped happily to each ride. What memories we made.

Which leads me to past memories... my hubby proposed to me in Mrs. Hershey's Rose Garden by the fountain. The Gardens are gorgeous, calm & huge... It was extremely romantic. And we shared the Gardens with our son again... This is my favorite picture from the trip- Gabriel holding the little girl statue's hand in the Children's Garden:

We stayed at the Hershey Lodge & we visited Hershey's Chocolate World & Hershey Park / ZooAmerica & Hershey Gardens. We ate very little chocolate (that's usually what happens) but the savory food is delish as well. We had delicious paninis, pulled pork sliders (infused with chocolate), homemade chips & fries... And I had the best caesar salads! The bagels were bakery fresh & the milk is just delicious. Chocolate milk every morning.

I wanted to share a little of Hershey with my readers & Gabriel helped choose this GIVEAWAY (he got a blue bear too!):

~A Hershey Kisses Bear w/ a large chocolate Hershey Kiss
~A 12oz miniature assortment FRESH from the Factory...
Reese's/Kisses/Krackel/Hershey's Dark/Mr. Goodbar/Hershey Milk Chocolate
~A postcard "With Love, DeLish DeMaria"

PRIZE Totals about $20.00.
If you have never had Hershey's FRESH from the Factory, OMGoodnes, it is so DELISH!! Truly there's a difference. That first bite you can tell.

Prize is open to DeLish fans in the Continental United States. Please COMMENT below that you shared & maybe state your favorite Hershey item!!!

Those who shared yesterday will have an extra entry :)

Hershey did not put me up to this- I willingly want to share :)!!!Just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below, which ends on Friday July 5th at 12AM!

Sweet entering!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Ice Cream" Cookies

 

This was super easy & super fun for the kiddos. And of course, it is not really a recipe except for the frosting. I didn't want to put my oven on- it was hot. And my hubby was bbq-ing our dinner outside. I had spied an idea like this on pinterest... So this made for a cute snack for my little G's last day of pre-k 3.

So you can use any oval cookie (I used Vienna Fingers) or Nutter Butters.

You can use any frosting flavor since ice cream come sin many flavors & colors (I used chocolate, recipe below).

The "sprinkles" are rainbow non-pareils.

The "cherry" is a red m&m but you can use red skittles, red hots, red Trix, etc.

<3 Lishie

Gabriel's mom

"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING

from Hershey's
https://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipe-details.aspx?id=184

• 1/2 c butter
• 2/3 c Cocoa
• 3 c powdered sugar
• 1/3 c milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar & milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars

Another day, another birthday... I saw a big 'ol jar of peanut butter on my coworker's desk the other day & it inspired me... to make these for her celebration! I used Jif of course!!! It is one thing I won't budge on. These were super easy to make & delish! :)
<3 Lishie


Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars
slightly adapted from Julie's Eats & Treats 

• 1 c butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 c sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 c creamy (or chunky) peanut butter
• 3 c all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 c jelly (I went with traditional grape :) )*you can use jam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13"x9" baking pan.
Cream together butter & sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, vanilla & peanut butter. Mix until combined.
Add flour & baking powder. Mix until well combined.
Spread 2/3 of the batter mixture onto the bottom of the pan. Spread jam over the batter. Leave about 1/2" around the sides without jam. Drop the remaining dough over the jam, in about teaspoon size drops.
Bake for about 25-30 minutes until the edges start to brown. Remove from from oven.

Artichoke Potato Gratin

While perusing the cheeses at the supermarket, I decided I really wanted some good provolone. So I got some yummy, fresh, full of taste provolone cheese sliced at the deli for sandwiches & at the same time, some extra for a gratin. I had these gorgeous baby yukon potatoes at home... And felt that artichokes would complete the flavor profile I wanted. I was right... so delish...

<3 Lishie
Artichoke Potato Gratin

• 1 lb baby yukon potatoes, washed, skin on
• 14 oz artichoke hearts, chopped
• S & P
• 1/4 lb provolone, thinly sliced
• 1/2 c chicken stock (or veggie stock)
• grated parmesan cheese to top
• 1-2 pats of butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Oil or butter a baking ramekin (I used a 3 Qt size)
Slice the potatoes thinly or use a mandoline (I used the latter). Place 1 layer of potato slices on the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle half the artichoke pieces over the potato layer. Add salt & pepper. Layer more potato slices. Top with provolone cheese... Another layer of potato slices, 2nd half of artichoke pieces, salt & pepper... Top & last layer of potato slices... Pour in the chicken stock.
Top off with a little grated parmesan cheese & butter pats.
Bake, covered with aluminum foil for 40 minutes. Take off foil, bake another 15 minutes till browned.Allow to cool for 15-20 minutes before cutting & serving.

Sour Cream Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Strawberries are in season!!! YUM. And boy are they gorgeous. I played around with a recipe/thought in my head & came up with this delish-iousness... It is light & perfect to take to a BBQ.

<3 Lishie

Cake:

• 1/2 c (4 ounces) butter
• 1 c (7 ounces) sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 c All-Purpose Flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 c sour cream 

Cream together the butter, sugar, & eggs. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately with the sour cream, stirring after each addition.

Grease & flour 2, 9" circle cake pans. Spread half the batter in each pan

Bake the coffee in a preheated 350°F oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cake tests done. Cool it for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove it from the pan. 

Strawberry Cream Cheese Glaze/Frosting

• 1 package cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 c butter, room temperature
• 2 c powdered sugar (1 c less, thinner Glaze/1 c more, thicker Frosting! Your choice!)
• 2 c strawberries, fresh, hulled & diced

Combine all ingredients together until smooth. Refrigerate. Frost the cakes when they are cooled. 

School Bus Cake

Happy birthday Teacher!

On the teacher's birthday, what to do?

Create a School Bus Cake!!!

See, there she is, next to the bus driver^^^

See, there she is, next to the bus driver^^^

Divided Oreos for the faces...

See, there my son is^^^, in the middle^^^

And a TEACHER birthday card.

Thanks for looking!

<3 Lishie

Gabriel's Mom

Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Boneless Pork Loin Ribs

I was super excited for these. The house smelled gorgeously of bbq & honey... Mmmmm... 8 simmering hours. I made these on a day when we were home, in advance because I'm a bit freaked out by leaving something plugged in on all day. Anyone else? So at the end of the cook-time, I tasted the melt-in-your-mouth pork... it was absolutely delicious. Then I did something really stupid. I dished the steaming hot contents into a bowl, topped it with tinfoil for the cool down process. And.left.it.OUT.on.the.counter. OVERNIGHT. (Anyone else?) Bye bye pork ribs :(

I shall be making these again, very very soon! This is the perfect dish if you want BBQ or it you want something delicious without turning on the oven. 

<3 Lishie


Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Boneless Pork loin Ribs

End Product

• 3 to 4 lbs boneless pork loin ribs
•  S&P
• 1/4 c light brown sugar, packed
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 c honey
• 1 bottle barbecue sauce

Spray the insert of a 5 to 6-quart slow cooker. Place pork, fattier side down into the pot. Sprinkle pork with s & p, brown sugar, & minced garlic; turn the pork ribs to coat all pieces. Pour honey & BBQ Sauce evenly over the pork. Cover & cook on LOW for 8 hours. Serve w/ more BBQ sauce on the side.