Cam's Goody Korner

FROSTY DONUTS

2009-12-15T20:45:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure who deserves credit for this idea, but I saw it online and thought it looked too cute to pass up.

During this time of year things can get pretty crazy and there isn't always a whole lot of time to spend making fun Christmas treats with your kids. However, it isn't Christmas unless we make some kind of fun Christmas treat, right? Here is the perfect treat to make without having to spend hours baking something. I know my kids sure had fun!

Items needed:
one package of mini powdered donuts
candy corn (you can also use carrots cut to the right shape and size)
brown or black frosting

Directions:
Place a candy corn in the hole of the donut and use the frosting to make the eyes and mouth. So easy and really cute!

PUMPKIN CAKE

2009-11-25T20:29:00.000-08:00

This is a recipe that my family has been making for years, and it's one that I look forward to around this time of year. My husband on the other hand, likes this recipe enough that he will sometimes ask me to make this cake for him for his birthday... in JULY! It really is so yummy, and it's great for those who don't like pumpkin pie because it still has that yummy pumpkin taste without the slimy texture.

CAKE WET INGREDIENTS:
4 eggs
1 2/3 c. sugar
1 c. oil
2 c. canned pumpkin

CAKE DRY INGREDIENTS:
2 c. flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 t salt
1 t baking soda

DIRECTIONS:
Mix wet ingredients together and set aside. Mix dry ingredients together and add to the other pumpkin mixture ingredients. Lightly spray bottom of cookie sheet. Spread mixture into pan and bake at 350 degrees for 28-34 minutes. Cake is done when toothpick inserted comes out clean.

FROSTING INGREDIENTS:

8 oz cream cheese

1 cube butter or margarine

2 tsp vanilla

4 c. powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:
Soften cream cheese and butter. Beat all ingredients together and spread on cooled cake.
NOTE: I feel that the cake tastes better if you let it sit in the fridge for several hours before serving.

This is a cake that you just can't get enough of!

TURKEY COOKIES

2009-11-24T09:45:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine makes these every year with her family. These are the cutest little turkeys, and they're such a fun thing for kids to make to help them get excited for Thanksgiving. Aren't they just so cute?

Items needed:

fudge swirl cookies (the kind without the hole in the middle look better)

chocolate kisses

candy corn

caramel candies

mini chocolate chips

Directions:
Unwrap the candy and cookies so that they are all ready to go before your warm the caramels. Set 2-3 caramels on a piece of wax paper and warm them in the microwave for about 10 seconds. You don't want them to melt, so be sure to watch them. Make sure you don't warm too many at once, otherwise you won't have enough time to put them together before they cool. Place a caramel on a chocolate kiss, place the bottom of the cookie firmly against the caramel, add the candy corn for the beak, and then add the mini chocolate chips for the eyes. Voila... you have the perfect little turkey cookie! Let them cool completely before you move them around too much.

You can also wrap them up cute and give them to a friend or neighbor.

CREEPY CRUNCH

2009-10-19T16:31:00.000-07:00

I love making this recipe and changing it up a little as seasons change. It's super easy and it's done within a matter of moments. All it requires is popcorn, white chocolate, and your favorite candies. Some candies I use for Halloween are peanut butter M&M's(really any kind of M&M's) Reese's Pieces, peanuts, candy corn, etc. Then for Christmas and Valentines day I will add small, red gummy candies.
This is another great treat to give to your friends or neighbors, especially for BOOING your neighbors(when you leave a yummy treat and a paper ghost on your neighbors doorstep and run).

INGREDIENTS:
bag of microwave popcorn(popped)
small package Reese's Pieces
1/2 cup peanuts
1 pkg white chocolate chips or 12 oz white almond bark

DIRECTIONS:
Melt white chocolate in sauce pan on low to medium heat. Make sure you constantly stir it while it is melting so that it doesn't burn. In a large bowl, combine popped popcorn, candy, and peanuts(Note: some candies may melt when the hot, melted chocolate is added. You may want to add the candy after you have stirred everything else together and the chocolate has had a moment to cool slightly). After white chocolate is completely melted, pour over popcorn mixture and stir until completely coated. Spread it out on a piece of wax paper and let cool completely. I put my wax paper on a cookie sheet so that I can put it in the fridge to let it cool faster. Once it is completely dry, break it up into pieces and it's ready to eat!
Put it in a cute cellophane bag or a fun and festive bowl. You can even add your friends favorite 2 liter of pop with a cute, little saying such as, I think you're "SODA" great. Leave it on their doorstep and RUN!

KREATIVE KITCHEN KRAFT-Witches Shoes

2009-10-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

This is a fun and creative way to give a little Halloween treat to your friend or neighbor. These are the cutest little witches shoes that I found at Skip to my Lou, and they're super easy to make! Click here to get the outside template of the shoe, and click here to get the inside template of the shoe.

BEST SUGAR COOKIES

2009-10-08T22:42:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to find a really yummy sugar cookie that stays soft and chewy and doesn't get hard and crunchy. I also hate having to let the dough chill and then having to roll it out. Well, I've FINALLY found it! I found this recipe at http://www.allrecipes.com/. I changed it up just a bit and I'm loving it! Some of the cookies I rolled in sugar and some I topped with a yummy cream cheese frosting;)

INGREDIENTS:

1 c butter

1/3 c shortening

1 1/2 c white sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 1/2 c all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, cream together the butter, shortening and sugar. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, stir into the creamed mixture until dough comes together. Roll dough into walnut size balls (if you want a sugar coated cookie, now is the time to roll the balls in sugar). Place them on an ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake cookies 10 to 12 minutes or until the bottom of the cookies are a light brown. Let cool on baking sheet for about 30 second to 1 minute before removing, and let them finish cooling wire racks.

I love not having to wait to finish the cookies while the dough chills, and I especially love not having to roll the dough out a million times when I just don't have the time.

The frosting is one I would usually use for a cake, but I thought it sounded so good on a sugar cookie. This recipe makes quite a bit of frosting (perfect if your making a couple batches of cookies). I added a little bit of whipping cream to make the frosting fluffier. Be careful when you add this to the frosting. Make sure you mix all of the other ingredients together first, then carefully fold in the whipping cream. I suggest adding a little bit at a time until you get the flavor and consistency you desire.

FROSTING:

8 oz cream cheese

1 stick butter

2 tsp vanilla

4 c powdered sugar

whipping cream to taste

Soften cream cheese and butter. Beat ingredients together and then add the whipping cream.

CINNAMON CARAMEL POPCORN

2009-09-30T13:43:00.000-07:00

I love cinnamon and this a perfect way to satisfy one of those major cinnamon cravings:) I got this recipe from a website I just discovered called http://www.ourbestbites.com/. They have some great recipes!
This popcorn is covered in a delicious caramel with cinnamon and white chocolate. It's making my mouth water right now as I am thinking about it! It's a perfect treat to share with your friends and neighbors, or to keep for YOURSELF while watching a good movie.

INGREDIENTS:
12 C popped popcorn (about 1/2 C kernels)
1 C pecan halves, roughly chopped
1 C brown sugar
3/4 t cinnamon
1/4 C Karo syrup (or honey makes a good substitution)
1 stick real butter (1/2 C)
1t vanilla
1/2 t baking soda
3 squares almond bark (about 4 oz)

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place popcorn and chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a 2 liter capacity microwave safe bowl. Mix well. Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sugar mixture. Pour corn syrup over the top of everything. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine. Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Remove and stir and then microwave for 2 minutes more. Remove from microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. Mixture will foam and rise. Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and pecans and stir very well so everything is well coated. Spread popcorn mixture onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Remove from oven and spread out on a large piece of parchment, waxed paper, or foil. Melt almond bark according to package instructions. Drizzle over popcorn mixture. When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and enjoy!

ORANGE JULIUS

2009-09-15T21:33:00.000-07:00

This is a drink that my mom would make all the time when I was kid, and it's something that I still love! It is so much better than the kind you can buy at the mall. The kind at the mall is a lot more watered down and doesn't have near the flavor... in my opinion. Plus this recipe is a lot cheaper to make, and it's really fast and easy.
I love to curl up on the couch and watch a movie with a big cold class of orange julius and a bowl of popcorn!
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups milk
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
6 oz can orange juice concentrate (I usually use half of a 12 oz. can)
6 to 16 ice cubes

DIRECTIONS:
Blend together in blender.

SNICKER COOKIES

2009-08-23T21:59:00.000-07:00

I have been making these cookies for a long time. They are definitely one of my favorite. These are a peanut butter cookie with Snickers in the middle. I love peanut butter, and Snickers are my favorite candy bar; so that's probably why I love them so much.
Ingredients:
1/2 C. sugar
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. butter, softened
1/2 C. peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg

Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 C. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

20 Snickers Minis

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, combine all of the first ingredients and beat well. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Combine mixtures and wrap 1 Tbls. of dough smoothly around each Snickers. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 13-16 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before removing from cookie sheet.
TIP: For high altitudes add a little more flour. You don't want the dough to be too sticky so that you can't roll it around in your hands.

CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES TIP

2009-08-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

Doesn't everyone love chocolate covered strawberries? Here is a tip for when you are dipping them. Insert a toothpick in the stem part of the strawberry; this will help give you a better grip for swirling the strawberry in the chocolate. Then insert the other end of the toothpick in a piece of Styrofoam to cool and harden, instead of just laying it on a piece of wax paper. This will prevent the chocolate from running to one side of the strawberry and creating a flat side. It just doesn't look as pretty with a flat side of chocolate.

These strawberries were laid to cool on a piece of wax paper. You can see how the chocolate has slightly run down and made the bottom side flat. When you pick it up, it doesn't look nearly as pretty as it does with an even coat of chocolate.

MUDDY BUDDIES/PUPPY CHOW FOR KIDS

2009-08-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

I've heard a lot of names for this recipe, but not matter what you like to call it, it still tastes GOOD. This is a great snack for kids because they love it. WARNING: These are very addicting!
Ingredients:
9 cups Chex or Crispix cereal
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
In large bowl, measure cereal and set aside. In microwavable bowl, melt together butter, peanut butter, and chocolate chips uncovered for 1 minute on High. Stir and microwave for another 30 seconds or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Add to cereal and stir until evenly coated. Pour into a 1 to 2 gallon size plastic, resealable food-storage bag. Add powdered sugar, seal bag, and shake until well coated. Spread on wax paper to let cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

ROOT BEER FLOAT CAKE

2009-08-10T09:47:00.001-07:00

I love root beer! So I was so excited to try this recipe. It is VERY yummy and definitely worth trying. The topping is the best. It kind of tastes like the foamy ice cream part of a root beer float. I would recommend this cake to everyone who likes a good root beer float!

Ingredients for cake:
1 box yellow cake mix
2 eggs
2 cups root beer
3 oz. box instant vanilla pudding
1 tsp. root beer extract
Ingredients for topping:
8 oz container whipped topping, thawed
1 cube melted or soft butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. root beer extract
5 crushed root beer flavored candies

Directions:
Mix the above ingredients for the cake part together in large bowl. Pour into two round greased cake pans and bake at 350 degrees for 30-34 minutes. Let cake cool for 10 minutes and then remove onto wire rack to cool for an additional 30 min.
Frost cake by spreading half of the frosting on bottom layer of the cake. Add top of cake. Top with remaining frosting. Sprinkle with crushed root beer candy for decoration. Store covered in refrigerator. Serve cold with a root beer candy stick broken in half and inserted into each serving of cake to look like a straw. A scoop of ice cream on the side is delicious too!

CARAMEL APPLE PIE

2009-08-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

This is a recipe that I got from Rhodes. So YUMMY! It's actually supposed to be made in a 12 inch deep dish pizza pan. I used a 9 inch pie pan and I used a package of 9 cinnamon rolls instead of 12. I also cook it a lot longer than the recipe called for... otherwise it turns out partially uncooked.
Ingredients:
12 Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls or 12 Rhodes Anytime! Cinnamon Rolls thawed, but still cold
1 large granny smith apple, peeled and diced
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons chopped pecans
1 packet cream cheese frosting (included with cinnamon rolls)
3 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping

Directions:
Cut each roll into four pieces and arrange in a sprayed 12-inch deep dish pizza pan. Cover loosely with sprayed plastic wrap and let rise 2 hours in a warm place (if using Anytime rolls you do not need to let them rise). In a small bowl combine apple, brown sugar, cinnamon, graham cracker crumbs and pecans. Remove wrap and sprinkle apple mixture over the risen dough. Bake at 350° 20-25 minutes (more like 30-35 minutes) or until WELL BROWNED. Combine one packet of cream cheese frosting with the caramel topping. Drizzle over top of apple pie.

PLAY DOUGH/LOLLIPOP COOKIES

2009-07-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

These were so much fun! I made these for my little boy to share with his friends. They all thought they were the coolest cookies. I got the lollipop sticks and baggies at Robert's and then bought some ribbon to tie them off with. These cookies are always a big hit... especially with kids!

INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup butter, softened
3 ounces cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
assorted colors of paste food coloring (I used normal food coloring and it worked great too)
24 lollipop sticks

DIRECTIONS

In a bowl cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until smooth. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir till soft dough forms. Divide dough into fourths. Tint each with a different food color. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Working with half of each color, shape dough into 3/4 inch balls and for each cookie place 1 pink, 1 green, 1 blue and 1 orange ball together to make 1 large ball. Shape into a 12 inch long roll (like a snake), starting at one end, coil roll to make a 2 3/4 inch round cookie. Place cookies 3 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Carefully insert lollipop sticks into bottoms of cookies. Bake cookies for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool and store in an airtight container.

CUPCAKES ON A CONE

2009-07-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to make these. I saw a recipe on the back of an ice cream cone box, but with that recipe the cake was level with the top of cone. I didn't think it looked as fun. So I decided to make the cupcakes the usual way but before I baked them I put the ice cream cones upside down on top of each cupcake. While they were baking I noticed that the cones were slightly tipping, so every so often I opened the oven and carefully straightened the cones.
This was a really fun dessert and the kids loved them.

GIANT COOKIES

2009-07-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

It seems like most guys like really big cookies. However, as we all know, if you make the cookie too big it doesn't turn out very good. This is a great way to get that perfect big cookie.
Just make your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, put half of the dough in a 12 inch pizza pan and bake it. Bake it on the same temperature that you normally would but you may need to bake it a little longer... about 5-10 minutes longer. When it's golden brown on top it should be done!