MINI CHERRY CHEESE CAKE TARTS

MINI CHERRY CHEESE CAKE TARTS

1 - package Nilla Vanilla Wafers
1 - can Cherry Pie Filling
2 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese
1 - cup white sugar
3 - eggs
1 - teaspoon vanilla

BLEND: and beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla until smooth.

PLACE: 1 whole wafer in bottom of paper cups(medium size)
TOP: wafers in cups with the cheese mixture to 3/4 full

BAKE: 350 - 15-20 minutes (filling has to set while baking)

COOL: top with pie filling, one cherry, and a little sauce; double the cherries on each when complete, and some are left in the can.

CHILL: until served. keep refrigerated until used; freezes well on single layer w loose wax paper on top in container.. or refrigerated just a few days then the cheese may dry, crack; so make when knowing it will be used.

ENJOY!!

OAT DELIGHTS

OAT DELIGHTS DROP COOKIES

2 cups white sugar
6 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup shredded coconut
3 cups instant oats (not the instant in pouches flavored kind)

COMBINE: sugar, cocoa, milk, margarine or butter in medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Let boil 2-3 minutes stirring constantly; scraping sides as well. Add vanilla(will create a rapid boil)

Remove pot from stove; stir in coconut, stir in oatmeal. mix well, let sit 2 minutes; stir well again... drop by teaspoon-full or use a mini-meatball scoop; onto wax paper lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, cooled. freezes well between layer of wax paper.

Enjoy!!

WITCH'S FINGERS COOKIES - HALLOWE'EN

Right click and save as; the non-color image for printing OR copy paste the recipe below for printing! The fingers in the images above look exactly how the cookies will be.. about the length width of middle finger.

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WITCH'S FINGERS COOKIES!

1 cup - Butter, softened 250 ml

1 cup - Icing sugar 250 ml

1 - Egg 1

1 tsp Almond extract 5 ml

1 tsp Vanilla 5 ml

2-1/4 cups All-purpose flour 675 ml

1 tsp Baking powder 5 ml

1 tsp Salt 5 ml

3/4 cup Whole blanced almonds 175 ml

1 Tube(19g) red decorator gel 1

In bowl, beat together butter, sugar, and egg, almond extract and vanilla;

beat in flour, baking powder and salt.

Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Working with one quarter of the dough at a time and keeping the remaining dough refrigerated, roll heaping teaspoonful(5ml) of dough into finger shape for each cookie.

Press almond firmly into 1 end for the nail. Gently sqeeze in centre to create knuckle shape; using paring knife, make slashes in several places to form knuckle.

Place on lightly greased baking sheets; and bake in 325 degrees F(160C) oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until pale golden. Let cool 3 minutes.

Lift up almond; squeeze red decorator gel onto nail bed and press almond back in place, so gel oozes out from underneath.

Remove from baking sheets; let cool on racks. Repeat with remaining dough.

Yield: about 5 dozen!!

Alternate dough: try sugar cookie dough!! try peanut butter cookie dough oh my, it's endless!!

NOTES: this witch finger's dough is like a soft melt in your mouth cookie, blande for most kids! My sis tried sugar cookie-dough and voila'... hey, make both if the guests-numbers is gonna be big!!

Enjoy! Happy, Safe, Hallowe'en....

BAKED HOBBY DOUGH

BAKED HOBBY DOUGH

Hobby Dough - for Cutouts or Handmolding

3/4 cup of sifto salt
3/4 cup "very" cold water
2 cups flour

MIX: salt and very cold water together
ADD: flour all at once
KNEAD: for 7-10 minutes-will feel grainy(break into smaller pieces of dough to knead if necessary) eventually, form two balls of kneaded dough.

TO STORE: store dough in airtight container to prevent drying out.

TO USE: mold and shape, or use cookie cutters shapes; by first rolling one ball of kneaded dough out like a pastry dough

IDEAL THICKNESS: is 1/r inch, but you can go up to 1/2 inch, paying attention to increase of baking time

BAKING METHOD: set oven at 325 degrees or lower, especially if pieces are thinner than 1/4 inch

ALLOW: 1/2 hour of baking time, per 1/4 inch thickness of dough
example: for 1/2 inch thickness, bake 1 hour

BAKE ON: cookie sheets - place cutouts on the cookies sheets, poke carefully, with a fine tip pin or needle, to let out possible air bubbles, and to prevent bubbling. Mind you, if you want a puffed object shape, don't prick, OR experiment, and prick here and there, for desired flatness, or puffiness? Be adventurous!

DRY BAKED PIECES: on wire cake racks

AIR DRYING(no-bake method_ - after cutting, molding shapes, let dry for 48 hours or until dough is rock-hard and white in appearance

STAINING/PAINTING: your baked piece - mix one quart of water with 6 bags of tea. Let steep to desired darkness-the darker it is, the darker the stain-this technique calls for time and patience, with 2-6 coats, letting dry 48 hours before applying another. Brush each piece on both sides, watch out for running!!

After each coat, apply a spray of laquere. This means it will take you almost one week, to apply one tea and one laquer coat.... but, it's so worth it people!! so work it!! : )

Seal with final coat of laquer before gluing on cloths, hats, ornaments.

My favorite staining method is the tea-stain! brush baked/dried objects with strong tea, one coat at a time, 48 hours apart from applying a new coat--nice longgg project, but so worth the effort!! Tea-staining, gives the appearance of brownish baked.. so you can make yours as dark or light as you like. I like to add hearts in this method, onto gifts, or cards I give away...

PAINTING: apply white base coat to where added colour will be--let dry 48 hours or until not sticky - spray with laquer once dry. The more coats, the better, so another time-constraint, but a rewarding finished product!!

Time is what is needed here with this project, but oh, the finished project can be anything!! Try twisted loaves, with white runny paint, and cherries on top!! put a metal holder which will hold a tealight; in center when baking; push at least half way through dough, but not all the way to bottom!! spray the metal

also, don't forget to poke a hole for hanging like I did, on the christmas tree.. all hearts, angels and christmas shapes!! makes a pretty old-fashioned tree.. later, I tied on ribbons, etc.. and wood-bead garlands I made from old beaded car-seat covers!!

enjoy your creation!! : )


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The Christmas Tree in this post is decorated with one batch of this hobby dough! i also made heart cutouts, solid ones, hollow ones with cookie cutters! Make greeting cards, do a handprint or footprint of your child in a square of hobby dough and bake it to preserve it!

Don't forget, if you do NOT tea-stain the dough.. the dough will be very white!

Starlight Cake

STARLIGHT CAKE and VARIATIONS

2 - cups all purpose flour
1 + 1/2 - cups sugar
3 + 1/2 - teaspoons baking powder
1 - teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening softened(half butter or margarine if desired)
1 - cup milk
1 - teaspoon vanilla
3 - eggs

HEAT OVEN: 350.
GREASE AND FLOUR: baking pans to be used

BEAT: all ingredients in large bowl on low speed, scraping bowl constantly, 30 seconds.
BEAT: 3 minutes high speed, scraping bowl frequently.

POUR: into pan(s)
BAKE: until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

OBLONG PAN: 40-45 MINUTES
LAYER CAKES: 30-35 MINUTES
CUPCAKES: 20 -MINUTES

COOL: FROST or DUST with icing sugar if desired, or use the Fluffy Frosting recipe on this blog.

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VARIATIONS:

ORANGE STARLIGHT:
Substitute: 1 tablespoon grated orange peel for the vanilla.

EGGNOG CAKE:
Substitute: rum flavoring for the vanilla. Beat in 1-teaspoon nutmeg and 1/4-teaspoon ground ginger.

STARLIGHT CUPCAKES:
Pour batter into paper-lined medium muffin cups, filling each about half full.
Bake: 20-minutes - Yield: 3-dozen

Lemon Supreme Pound Cake

LEMON SUPREME POUND CAKE

CAKE:

1 - package lemon cake mix(515g)
1 - package lemon instant pudding mix(4serving size)
4 - eggs
1 - cup water(250ml)
1/3 - cup oil(75ml)

LEMON GLAZE 1:

1 - cup icing sugar (250ml)
1 - tablespoon(15ml) milk or lemon juice
STIR: until smooth, drizzle over cake

OR

LEMON GLAZE 2:
2/3 - cup ready made vanilla tub icing (150ml)
1 - teaspoon lemon juice (5ml)
COOK: heat together at medium heat until thin; drizzle over cake


PREHEAT OVEN: 350 degrees(180c)
GREASE AND FLOUR: baking pan(s)

COMBINE: cake mix, pudding mix, water, eggs, oil in large bowl.
BEAT: at low speed with electric mixer until moistened.
BEAT: at medium speed 2 minutes

POUR: into prepared greased, floured pan(s)
BAKE: 350(180c) for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

COOL: cool the cake in the pan 25 minutes on wire rack before removing cake from pan; especially when using a bundt or tube shaping cake pan(s)

FROST: with lemon glaze recipe above- or dust with icing sugar once cooled and removed from cake pan, or look for the "Fluffy Frosting" recipe on this blog.

Fluffy Frosting

FLUFFY FROSTING

1 - cup cold milk
1 - package (4-serving size) Jello-O instant pudding mix
- vanilla and lemon work best, chocolate stays grainy
1 - tub (8 ounce) Cool Whip, frozen whipped topping, thawed

POUR: milk into medium bowl
ADD: pudding mix
BEAT: with wire whisk 2 minutes
GENTLY: stir/fold in thawed cool whip topping
SPREAD: on cake at once, chill

Alternative: use as a fruit dip, or cube pound cake, layer cake and frosting, and sliced/diced strawberries; top with whole strawberry, instant strawberry shortcake!

Enjoy!!

SOCIETY'S CHILD

SOCIETY'S CHILD

I saw a child today;
crying, from hunger and pain.

She lay there curled up like a ball;
oblivious i was there at all.

I watched her tears
as they'd swell;
from haunting eyes,
then they fell.

I wanted to reach out,
to embrace;
and offer, to take her place.

What happened next suddenly is;
she stopped, when she noticed me;

then she wiped a tear from her eye;
lifted her hand, and said: "Hi"

then, she asked if i'd like to stay;
and she would split her rice,

two ways!

D.D.S/North (8-15-2000)

Dedicated to the children of Haiti, 2010,

from my hope, and with my love!

Donna D.S./North

THE PAINTING SKY

Four days now the sun did scorch,
it's blazing heat upon earths porch.

Many grew ill, so thick was the air;
my son, could not eat nor drink.

We all prayed to God, to us do send,
His miracle of rain;
send rain-clouds from heaven!

At dusk, my friends, among twilights grande display;
a miracle unfolded, on this day!

In my truth, I proclaim; what I saw in my view;
was God's magic Hand, at sky-painting, anew!

He painted the sky in twilight shades of azure blue;
pinks and reds, were the descending suns hue.

I saw before me, not too afar;
a splashing of silver twinkling stars.

Gracing the azured sky they'd appear,
to an unheard tune, not heard by mortal ear.

And I wondered for a moment,
if they were God's splashes of tears?

He added clouds of golden mist reaching,
toward my window, they advance!

And I leapt from my chair to the patio window;
as my home lit from golden clouds...
and I danced!!

All the more splendid as lo, to my behold;
golden clouds streamed from the suns unfold.

In clouds arched like a rainbow, much to my delight;
I danced with the show, of God's hand-painting sight!

And I laughed aloud, as tears in my eyes swell;
as splash's of grey were added, as well.

Towards me now, they appeared with quick advance,
and my heart skipped to a beat, of an unheard cosmic dance.

My ears strain to hear the tune, to which I prance,
but, it's unknown to me, so I continue, entranced.

Over my roof-top the clouds did reach,
as the sun strained for one more final peek;
and let out it's final display of yellow-gold.

I gasped in awe and noticed I was not cold.

The clouds drizzled raindrops over me,
but not anywhere else though from where I can see.

I looked to my left then I looked to my right,
to see how far I could see;
and yes, I was right;
the clouds were sprinkling, but only on me!

I laughed, clapped my hands,
and I danced;
to show God, my appreciation...

For the magic show, of His love and live-painting,
of his beautiful creation.

And soaked I became, in the Glory Be,

as raindrops from heaven, felled

Blessing Me!

DDS/North -07-07-2002

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NOTE: this poem is not to be copied or used without written permision from the author; otherwise if you are caught; legal action will be taken. All copyright remains with the author: DDS/North

THE PAINTING LEAVES OF FALL (poem)

THE PAINTING LEAVES OF FALL

"Fall is here!"
proclaimed the trees -
by displaying changing-coloured leaves.

Above the houses, row on row -
between the branches, I behold;

such golden-yellow leaves;
oranges and reds too, if you please!

Imagine much, to my delight,
to hold such splendour,
in my sight!

With open eyes, I have now seen -
the painting sky -
and now,
The Painting Leaves!

Rains of fall are ever-present,
to wash the earth,
before winter is sent.

So, imagine if you can -
as I sit here and I write -
the whole sky, is painting white,
but with a dash and a splash of grey;
beneath such a sky, in full display.

As raindrops slowly fall,
I watch nature's miracle, call -
By beckoning the changing of leaves,
to announce that winter is near;
and I reach for my lap-blanket, and shudder
with un-ease;

from the thought of
six-months of winter-freeze!

So I place the blanket
across and down my knees,
and watch the ever-changing
painting leaves.

DDS, 10-04-2002

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NOTE: this poem is not to be copied or used without written letter of permission from the author; otherwise legal action may be taken. All copyright remains with the author: DDS/North