French Fruit Creme!

• INGREDIENTS

• 1 package of cream cheese softened
• 1 jar of marshmallow creme
• 1 tablespoon of milk
• 1 zest of lime,lemon or orange

DIRECTIONS

In medium bowl beat up all ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Dip different kinds of fruit.

Well good morning my sweets!!!!

Guess who is back!?!?! You got it. SIMPLY DELISH!
I have missed blogging so much. I really enjoy sharing my family recipes with all of you. It has been a whirl wind year and one that was full of awesome yet busy projects. So grab your coffee, tea or soda and let's catch up!

If you have been following us on facebook at Simply Delish you will know that I have been spending my days and more often than not, my nights in the kitchen. It's where I long to be. Mixing, sifting, measuring, pouring, cracking, baking and tending over the goodies which fill my oven.

Some of you know that I have just finished my second cookbook. I started making my own cookbooks a couple of years ago. You see, when I was little I spent a lot of time with my mom and my grandmother. If you have read past blogs you will have already met my grandmother throughout my stories. If you haven't yet heard about these amazing women, I will share with you a little bit.

My grandmother owned and operated her own cafe (but it was a full blown restaurant  for most of her adult life. Her and my grandfather Paul used to work side by side, and when I say this, I mean grandpa was at grandma's beck and call) for years and years. And she continued to run it long after he passed away from Alzheimer's.

 Anywho..My mom and dad used to spend many weekends up there refurbishing old homes and spending time with grandma. Sometimes I would go with my parents and help with the construction...but I loved it when they left me with grandma. She always put me to work and I used to dream that this was my very own cafe. I learned a lot from her. My mom was an avid baker. She too, taught me so much about cooking and baking.

My mom passed away when I had just turned 16. I found myself growing up wondering how to make the recipes that she had yet to teach me. I read cookbooks, watched cooking shows, took a couple cooking courses and slowly over time, taught myself more. Still to this day, I am learning more, practicing new techniques, trying new recipes and inventing my own.

This is where my cookbooks come in!

Both of my boys love to eat. And they love to cook! I love that they are always asking me to show them how to cook something or calling asking me how to make this or that. They grew up in the kitchen with me. I always included them in whatever I was baking or cooking. Steven, enjoyed it so much, when he was little we got him one of those fisher price kitchens. And it was so much fun watching him "cook" things for us to sample :)

 I remember thinking.. I wish my mom had made a cookbook! Or even my grandmother! I mean I have a box of old recipes but that isn't no cookbook! Its an OCD nightmare is what it is! And some of the recipe cards are more like notes. With no real measurements just a list of ingredients and a couple lines of reminders.

So I took to making a cookbook. Mass produced? No. But several family members have a copy of it. And my boys are always saying "This is so good mom, this recipe is in my cook book yes?" So ...Simply Delish (Cookbook #1) was created.

It features 100 recipes that my boys love and have grown up enjoying. Ok..there is some fish recipes in there that are not on their top 100 list :) but hey.. their future wife might like fish!

Cookbook #2 should be here any day. It's called Simply Scrumptious and features another 100 recipes. I have a third book that I am working on.. and a fourth already named and waiting patiently for me to hustle up. As long as new recipes come to me, recipe books will still be made!

I've had many friends who have asked me for a copy. Just because the name is called Simply Delish, doesn't mean that all 100 recipes are Simply Delish Bakery recipes. (However, there are some of those in the ones for my kids)

Since I own and operate Simply Delish Bakery as a business  selling yummy bakery items to my sweet clients, I would not include those recipes in a cookbook for my friends and clients to buy. :(  That would be like handing out the combination to the vault! :)

Those who know me know that I don't just bake sweets. I'm a savory lover too! Rarely do I cook from a box. And those recipes....I am willing to share with anyone who wants them! I'd be happy to make a cookbook for you out of those recipes. But then you would have to purchase the cookbook at $35.00. (Which is still a great price considering that they are hard cover and include photos of the dishes) or I can post in my blog all of the savory (and some sweets) here for you for free. All you have to do is copy/ paste and print them out for your recipe. I will never remove this blog so feel free to come on back as often as you'd like!
Share with your family! Share with your friends!
Now... let's get started!

Fritolicious!

I got this recipe from the "Crock Pot Girls" but did some editing on the recipe. Yummy!!

1 large can mrs grimes chili beans

1 can drained/rinsed red kidney beans

1 pkg frozen super sweet corn

2 cans diced tomatoes with juice

1 can original rotel

1 pkg taco seasoning

1 pkg ranch seasoning

2 pounds ground beef, cooked and drained

1 medium onion diced

Toss it all together in a crock pot on high for 2 hours or low for 6

Serve with Frito chips or tortilla scoops, shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream



Cheeseburger Potato Soup

Fall is definatly here! Time to dust off those crock pots and whip up some comfort food!!!

This recipe will be a family hit!

6 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 small onion, chopped

1 small carrot, peeled and cubed (optional)

3 cups water

2 T + 2 t beef bouillon granules

1 tsp garlic minced

1/8 t pepper

Mix all of these in a stock pot and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Meanwhile, in large skillet brown and drain:

2 pounds ground beef

Add beef to the soup mixture.

Add 4 cups milk to soup.

Add one lrg block velvetta cheese cubed and stir to begin melting.

In separate bowl, add 1 cup milk and 6 T flour and whisk. Pour into soup to thicken.

Serve in bowls with sprinkled cheddar cheese and crumbled crisp bacon.

The feel of being inspired........

I love the feel of being inspired. The exciteablity, the brightness in your eyes, the sound it creates in your voice, the spring in your step, the smile it brings to your face.............. its simply magical!

I have been totally inspired by some truly amazing works of art. Not framed art. But food art. It is like scrapbooking, only you get to do it with food!

At my home, you will often find me watching some cooking show. The ever fun Top Chef? Dude... I love it! I will rapid fire off something I will make and its so funny because my son will say "MOM!! Look how close your idea was to some of theirs!" You will also find a stack of magazines, books ect beside my bed with post it notes and a pen beside it. A little light reading each night HAHAHA

One of the best gifts I got once was on a May Day years and years ago when on my door step was the traditional May Day Basket but beside it was a small stack of old old cookbooks. Wowza... do I love to read those and collect those. 

People sometimes say " Do you ever cook anything bad?" And the answer is "Um yes, I just clear the evidence out quick before anyone sees it!" :) But yes, I do make mistakes when I bake/cook. But I will say, if you are looking to improve your cooking/baking skills just educate yourself. Read, watch...and you will learn things you never thought you would.
I can't tell you how many times, I have watched something and thought "Well that's going to be too hard" or "There is no way I am going to do that" only to find myself doing just what I said I wouldn't.  And I amaze myself at the things I didn't think I would like, know how to do, and in the end accomplish and accomplish with great results. I love stepping back and saying to myself "Wow. I did that"

Don't shy away from an idea. Just try it. What is the worst thing that can happen. Who cares if you burn that cake. Try it again.
Feel that inspiration! Smile that smile! Put a little bounce in your step today... and inspire yourself!

Homemade Crab Rangoon

Yes yes, its so simple that you will wonder what you've been doing ordering it out!

Ingredients:
1 8 ounce softened cream cheese
3 finely chopped green onions (I use only the white and a slight part of the green)
2 cans geisha fancy crab meat (shredded) - drained well

Mix all of these together until blended.

Using square wonton skins (the size of your palm not the egg roll size)
spoon in a heaping tsp full of cheese mixture into the center
Using a small cup of water, dip your finger in and wet two sides of the wonton skin.
Fold wonton corner to corner to create a triangle.
Pressing down on the edges to create a seal.
Repeat until you have the desired amount your going to eat / serve filled and folded.

In a skillet add vegitable oil and over medium high heat. Slowly add wantons a few at a time and turn as they develope a nice golden brown color. Remove from oil and drain on paper towel. Serve with your favorite sauce or plain.

Bacon Cheeseburger Empandas

Ingredients:
Buttermilk Biscuits Grands
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup finely chopped onion (opt)
6 slices crisp bacon diced
8 ounces of Velveeta cubed

Brown hamburger and onion. Drain. Cook bacon to crisp and dice. Cut cheese into a dice. Add bacon and cheese into hamburger mixture and stir until melted. Roll out Biscuits one at a time to a 5 inch circle. Fill with 1/4 cup meat mixture. Fold and press edges with fork to seal. Bake at 400* for 20 minutes until golden brown. Serve with a ketchup and mustard mixture.