Easter Dinner: Strawberry Shortcake with Homemade Whip Cream

So thankful to my sister Maria for sharing her beautiful food (beautiful can totally apply to the word food in this case..) recipes with us and also sharing the cuteness of my adorable goddaughter here..;)

This recipe is one that beats all! View Easter Dinner Part 1 Here and Part 2 Here..

This is my all time favorite dessert and it wouldn't be Easter without strawberries making an appearance. This is another great Kraft spinoff, but with my own homemade whipped cream.

Homemade whipped cream is super easy and it will be hard to go back to the store bought stuff again!

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups milk, divided
1/4 cup Sour cream
3 Tbs. Sugar
2 1/4 cups all purpose baking mix
1 pkg. (3.4oz) Vanilla Instant Pudding
8 oz Whipped Cream (recipe as follows)
4 cups Sliced fresh strawberries
1/4 cup sugar

Whipped Cream
1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
2 Tbs. Powdered Sugar
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
Beat all ingredients in a chilled small bowl until stiff.

Preheat Oven to 425 degrees.

Beat 1/2 cup of milk, sour cream, and sugar together until well blended. Stir in baking mix JUST until moistened. You don't want to overstir as it will be too tough.  Spray 9 inch round baking pan with cooking spray. With a spatula, spread mixture into the pan. Bake about 12-15 minutes or until goldne brown. Cool 10 mintues and then cool on a wire rack completely.

Meanwhile...
Beat pudding mix and 1/2 cup of milk with wisk for 2 minutes. Stir in 4 oz of whipped cream. Set aside. Toss strawberries with sugar in a separate bowl.

Cut cake horizontally. I use a really sharp long bread knife to get a good clean cut. Place half the stawberries on bottom of cake and top with pudding mixure. Layer the other cake half on top, like a big sandwhich. With a spoon or spatula, spread remaining whipped cream over top of cake and add strawberries for final touch.

This dessert is best when served immediately or keep chilled if making ahead. I usually do everything but the final assembly when making ahead, as the strawberries tend to drizzle and absorb into cake.

It is truly delish!

This is an easy given for the Little Kids...Easter Jello Shapes!

You can find an Easter Jello Mold for fun shapes (found mine at Target). Our mom would make these Jello Easter Egg's each year so of course now I am making them for my own kids. Christiana loved picking out different kinds of colored jello and she helped to make a different color each day.

My Food Philosophy: Because the effort to make good food is a gift to those around me, it's happy memories, togetherness, the living part of life.

Easter Dinner Series: Spring Salad + Twice Baked Potatos

Post by my talented sister Maria, see the rest of her posts here.

Well...it's hard to narrow down which sides to share! Our Easter dinner spread usually includes deviled eggs, rolls, cheeses, dips, etc. There is always a salad dish and potato dish to accompany the meal and these two pair well with the Spice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin.

Spring Salad
A little more fancy than a normal every day sald this recipe includes:

1 Bag of Spinach, rinsed and dried
1 handful of Dried Cranberries (or more to taste)
2-3 Tbs. Toasted Slivered Almonds
1 Orange cut into sections
4 slices Cook Crumbled Bacon
Cheese of Choice (Motzerella, or Crumbled Feta)
Balsamic Vinegarette Dressing

Twice Baked Potatoes
These will be gone in minutes!

4 Large Baking Potatoes
 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Milk (I usually use whole)
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/4 cup of Butter
3 Slices of Bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 Cup of Sharp Cheddar Cheese, plus more for garnish
1 Tbs. Green Onions

Preheat Oven to 375.
Wash Potatoes, puncture each potatoe with fork a few times to release steam.

Bake potatoes at 375 degrees for about 1 hour or when tender when poked through with a fork.  Carefully slice potatoes in half lengthwise and let cool. Turn oven up to 400 degrees.

When cool enough, spoon out center and place in a large bowl. Leave a little potatoe around the rim so that the skins don't sink and fall inwarrd.

Add softened butter, milk, and salt. Beat with electric mixer until whipped and potatoes are creamy and smooth. I love my Kitchen Aid mixure for this! Stir in green onions, cheese, and bacon.  With a large spoon, fill potatoe skins really full.

Place potatoes on a shallow baking tray and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Place in oven and heat for another 15-20 mintues until heated through and cheese has melted.

Stay tuned for Part three of this Easter Dinner Spread - Dessert!

My Food Philosophy: Because the effort to make good food is a gift to those around me, it's happy memories, togetherness, the living part of life.

P.S. Mosie Posies giveaway winner announced in the rafflecopter widget here!

Easter Dinner Series: Spice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin

The Easter Holiday is an extraordinary occasion to celebrate. Since we come from a big Catholic family, its one of the most significant days we celebrate out of the year, so it entails a big feast :) So I thought I would post on my Easter dinner menu and hope you can try some or all of these out for friends and family. We will start with the main dish....

Easter Main Dish: Spice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin

It is a special occasion meal that looks beautiful every time. Not only that, it is really simple and I always have all the ingredients on hand.  This can be used for any occasion...

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2 lbs. pork tenderloin

1/2 cup of Catlina or French Dressing, divided

2 tsp. chili powder

2 tsp. garlic powder
1tsp. dry mustard

1tsp. paprika

1/2tsp. dried thyme leaves

2Tbsp. honey

Place pork tenderloin in a baking dish. (I usually put mine on a baking mat and on a baking sheet because it is 10times easier to clean)

Spread about 4 Tbs. of dressing over pork. Combine all spices and rub over the meat on both sides. Place in oven and bake for about 12 minutes. Meanwhile combine the 4Tbs. of dressing and 2Tbs. of honey. Brush over meat after 12 minutes and place back into oven for another 10 minutes or until interal temp is 145degrees. 

It will have a slightly charred look, but the meat will be very moist with incredible flavor, serves 8.
Recipe adapted from Kraft.

Stay tuned for Easter Sides and Desserts!

  

My Food Philosophy: Because the effort to make good food is a gift to those around me, it's happy memories, togetherness, the living part of life.

*Post by my sister, Maria. You can find the rest of her beautiful eats here.

Dinner Series: Chicago Style Italian Beef

It is so good you will be thinking about it the next day.....5 ingredients, easy to make, and its cheaper than flying to Chicago. :)

Be prepared, this Italian Beef will KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF. I made it over the weekend for a dinner party and it was a huge hit.

The taste is memorable...

Here is what you will need:
2lb. Beef Roast (I used Rump Roast but you can use Arm or Chuck Roast too)
2 packets of Italian Seasoning
2 beef boullion cubes (1 per pound of meat)
1 cup water (or a 1/2 cup per pound of meat)
1 small jar banana peppers (undrained)
Half Green and Red Pepper chopped (optional)

Throw the roast into your crockpot. Wix the Italian Seasonings into the water and pour over roast. Toss in banana peppers and green and red peppers if using. Turn on High for the first hour and then low for 4 hours. The meat will be extremely tender and juicy.

Watch as strangers and friends start flocking to your kitchen wanting to know what smells so amazing.

On a cutting board or platter, thinly slice meat and pour some of juice over.
Place on chibata or french bread for sandwiches or just serve alone.
Serves 12 (Dinner party size)
Half the recipe for a family!

It is a dinner that will bring many to your table so....Eat SLOW, take your time so as to SAVOUR every bite, and ENJOY the dinner that brings you together. :)

My Food Philosophy: Because the effort to make good food is a gift to those around me, it's happy memories, togetherness, the living part of life.

**Maria is my sister and long time best friend. Check out the rest of her posts here.

Edible Valentines: Package and Present

Written and created by my sister, Maria.

If I had the gift of a beautiful voice, I would deliver musical telegrams to my friends. Well, maybe. I wish I had the gift of music to be able to play an instrument for my kids, but I don't have that either. Sometimes I wish I had the gift of touch to give stellar massages to my husband. Negative. I peeter out for lack of hand muscles and attetion span.

However....

I can make treats and sweets and wrap them up pretty. MyValentine gifts to my husband, my kids, and my friends are usually edible. So, here are a few simple heart themed delights, that are spruced up and ready to be delivered to a doorstep, desk, or date.

FOR FRIENDS, SISTERS, TEACHERS, AND 
CO-WORKERS:

OREO CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

36 oreo cookies, finely crushed (approx. 3 cups)

16 oz. Baker's semi-sweet chocolate, melted

Red sprinkles (I found candy confetti lips and hearts.)

Directions:

Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs until blended.

Shape into 48 (1-inch) balls. Freeze 10 min. Dip balls in melted chocolate, top with candy confetti, and place in shallow waxed paper-lined pan.

Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. 

They are divine!

(Adapted from this recipe.)

Package: Cellophane treat bags, Raffia(Red or Chocolate), Heart Punch, Tag Punch, Stamps and Cardstock: Stampin Up

FOR PLAY DATES AND CLASSMATES:

"A Little Yummy For Your Tummy" Treat Bags

I hosted a Valentine Playdate (which was really an excuse to bake and do valentine crafts and pretend my kids wanted to do them). These are simple sugar cookies with pink icing and sprinkles. (Must give credit to my daughter, Christiana, for the decorating.) Add a simple tag and ribbon with the phrase: "A little yummy for your tummy."

What you need: Decorated sugar cookies, cellophane treat bags, cardstock, ribbon, and stamps (via Stampin Up or Etsy)

FOR YOUR LOVE:

Make: Make a batch of the last recipe I shared, Go Go Granola and get ready to gift. Maybe unconventional and unromantic, but every guy loves homemade treats....so I take that back, it is romantic...

Package: Cellophane gift bags, Raffia 

gift box (Re-used Christmas gift from Anna ;)

I think I love Valentine's becuase it's a great excuse to package and bake and add some color and life into the dead of winter. Gifting, giving and sharing always makes my heart a little happier.

Happy hearts ♥ Maria

My Food Philosophy: Because the effort to make good food is a gift to those around me, it's happy memories, togetherness, the living part of life.

1 Minute Frozen Yogurt: Strawberry-Blueberry

We have been playing around with our Yonanas gift I mentioned in yesterday's post, and this is one of my favorite combinations so far. Very simple, and takes all of 60 seconds to make, so I can't use that excuse of not having time to make a healthy breakfast anymore...darn it.

This would be simple to blend in a blender as well! 

My children think its ice cream so we fool them with this surprise treat on occasion.

Green smoothies in the blender are also ideal for serving up multiple vegetable servings for breakfast with a sweet disguise. 

*Tip: Let your frozen fruit sit out until it perspires-makes for easier blending! Also, freeze your fresh fruit when its over ripe. Its perfect for frozen yogurt:)

Will share more of these soon, and can't wait to introduce you to my new food columnist!