Strawberry Margarita Parfaits Recipe

Strawberry Margarita Parfaits

Prep Time 35 Minutes

Total Time 2:35 Hrs
Makes 6 serving

1/4

cup fresh lime juice

2

tablespoons orange juice

1

teaspoon unflavored gelatin

1

tablespoon tequila

1

tablespoon orange-flavored liqueur

2

teaspoons grated lime peel

1

(14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

1

cup whipping cream, whipped

1

quart (4 cups) fresh strawberries, sliced

1. In medium saucepan, combine lime juice and orange juice. Sprinkle gelatin over top; let stand 1 minute to soften. Heat over low heat until clear and dissolved, stirring occasionally. Cool 5 minutes.
2. Add tequila, liqueur, lime peel and condensed milk to gelatin mixture; mix well. Fold in whipped cream.
3. Rub the outside rims of your glasses with a cut lime and dip each glass lightly into a plate of sugar.
   
4. Divide one-third of the strawberries among individual 10-oz. parfait glasses. Top with half of the tequila mixture. Top with half of the remaining strawberries and all of the remaining tequila mixture. Top with remaining strawberries. Cover glasses with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
5. Top with an extra dollop of whipped cream sprinkled with grated lime peel. 
   

Ingredient Substitution

If you prefer a nonalcoholic dessert, use 2 tablespoons orange juice in place of the tequila and orange liqueur.

This dessert provides nutrition and great taste, thanks to 2/3 cup strawberries per parfait. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C. They also contain antioxidants that can help maintain healthy cells.

Nutrition Information:

1 Serving (1/6 of Recipe)

• Calories 375
• (Calories from Fat 160),

• Total Fat 18g
• (Saturated Fat 11g,
• Cholesterol 65mg;
• Sodium 100mg;
• Total Carbohydrate 46g
• (Dietary Fiber 2g,
• Sugars 44g),
• Protein 7g;

Percent Daily Value*:

• Vitamin A 14.00%;
• Vitamin C 50.00%;
• Calcium 22.00%;
• Iron 2.00%;

Exchanges:

• 2 1/2 Starch;
• 1/2 Fruit;
• 3 1/2 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choices:

• 3 ;

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Mosaic Picture Frame

With Father's Day right around the corner, I thought it might be fun to post this great Mosaic Picture Frame craft to do with your kids.  It can get messy when doing with little ones, so either do this on your porch, or spread out tons of newspaper (or in my son's case, a giant tarp).  All the supplies can be either purchased at your local craft store, or you can be more eco-friendly and use found items.

Materials:
Wooden picture frame
Heavy duty craft glue
Grout (to save a step, try using pre-mixed grout with the sealant already in it)
Sealant (unless your grout has sealant included)
Tiles, upcycled china, sea glass, found items, etc
Large sponge or rag
Wooden popsicle stick
Tile cutter or nips (only if you are not using precut tile pieces or plate pieces)
Your favorite photo

1) Make sure your picture frame is clean.  Remove the glass so that it won't get scratched or dirty.  If it is an upcycled frame, make sure it is cleaned off well so that the adhesive will stick.
2) Unless you want a random pattern, draw a design to follow (such as shapes, maybe the word Dad, anything you want to stand out from the rest of the frame) on the frame.
3) If you are using uncut tiles or china, use tile nippers to cut pieces off in random sizes and shapes (do this prior to including the kids and make sure you wear protective goggles).  Do this by fitting the nippers over a section of the plate/tile and squeeze the handles firmly until a piece snaps off.  Repeat until you have the plate/tiles in ans many large and small pieces as you want.
4) Lay out the pieces of cut tiles, plates, sea glass, stones, etc on your frame, forming the design and pattern you want.  If you have a pattern laid out, do that section in a different color than the rest of the frame to make it stand out (ex, blue glass for background, yellow glass for the sun pattern, green for the word Dad, etc).  Lay them close together, but not touching, so that there are small spaces between.
5) Once you have the entire frame covered in a pattern you like, begin gluing each piece down in place.  Let it dry overnight.
6) Mix grout according to package instructions.  Using the wooden popsicle stick, spread the grout evenly over the mosaic frame.  Use fingertips to press the grout deep into all crevices.  Allow to dry a couple of minutes, and then carefully wipe off excess grout with a damp sponge or cloth (be careful not to wipe out any grout from the crevices).  Switch to a dry rag to wipe off any residual grout.  Let it dry overnight.
7) If you didn't use grout with sealant mixed in, wipe the mosaic frame off well, removing any left over dried grout and apply the grout sealant  according to package instructions.  Wipe off any excess and let it dry overnight.
8) Wipe down mosaic with a damp rag, and then polish with a dry rag to make the mosaic shine.  Replace the glass, put in your favorite photo, wrap, and wait for dad's big smile!

Margarita Flan Cake Recipe

Miracle Margarita Flan Cake

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
3 eggs
3 tablespoons Grand Marnier
1 teaspoon very finely grated orange zest
Vegetable oil cooking spray
1/2 cup cajeta (Mexican caramel sauce) or caramel ice cream topping
1 (18.25 ounce) box butter cake mix, plus ingredients called for on box
1/2 cup Sauza Gold tequila
1 teaspoon very finely grated lime zest
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Heat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a large bowl, whisk the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, eggs, Grand Marnier and orange zest together. Set aside.

Generously spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with vegetable-oil spray. Spread the cajeta or caramel sauce in the bottom of the pan. Set aside.

Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions, substituting the 1/2 cup tequila for 1/2 cup of the required water, and adding lime zest. Fold coconut into the cake batter. Pour the batter on top of the cajeta in the pan. Gradually pour the milk mixture over the batter (the milk mixture will sink and the batter will rise).

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Unmold onto a serving platter. Let cool completely.

Makes 12 to 14 servings.

Per serving: Cal 366 (23% fat) Fat 9 g (5 g sat) Fiber trace Chol 58 mg Sodium 359 mg Carb 58 g Calcium 226 mg

Picture Puzzle DIY Craft

I don't know about the rest of you, but my son has become crazy about puzzles...especially when it's of something he loves.  So this is a great way for you and your children to make your own puzzles cheaply and with some great images as well.

Supplies:
Print out on letter sized paper (8 1/2" x 11") any photo you want (can be a family photo, a coloring book page off a website, a picture from a magazine...go crazy!)
8 1/2" x 11" piece of cardboard
Glue
Markers
Safety scissors

What to do:
Glue your photo onto the cardboard piece, making sure to spread the glue out evenly to get a solid connection.
On the back of the cardboard draw puzzle lines.  Make them as big or as small as you'd like, the more wavy and creative the more it will stimulate your child's mind.
Once the glue has dried, cut out your pieces along the lines you drew.
Flip it over, and your puzzle is ready to be reassembled over and over.

French Toast Bread Pudding Recipe

I've been craving bread pudding lately, and my son has been on a breakfast all day long kick (I swear, the kid goes thru a box of waffles a day!).  So, when I recently bought a box of Farm Rich Cinnamon French Tast Sticks at Sam's Club, it had this recipe on the side.  So I tried it out (with a few modifications of course) and man is it yummy.  In fact,my husband described it tasting like "cinnamon raisin french toast and apple pie had a love child". So here you go (and warning, it is best if you prep it the night before, which actually makes breakfast easy...just pop in the oven and eat!).

Ingredients:
1 cup brown sugar (not packed)
1 16ox box Farm Rich Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
1 cup heavy cream
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup raisins
1 apple diced


Cut the toast sticks into 1 inch pieces.
Layer the bottom of a 9" x 13" baking pan with brown sugar
Sprinkle raisins and apples over the brown sugar
Lay the toast sticks onto the sugar (cinnamon sugar side up)in a single layer.  Press any extra pieces into the sides and corners, filling any gaps.
In a large bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, eggs, vanilla, salt, and water.
Pour mixture over the toast sticks, pressing them down to wet them thoroughly.
Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 350*
Bake for 30-40 minutes.
Raise temperature on your oven to broil and cook an additional 2-3 minutes to carmelize the sugar.
Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes.
Invert onto a serving plate and dig in!

Pina Colada Fruit Dip Recipe

As I sit at my computer working all night on networking and orders and the such, I realize I am STARVING!  So, I go to my recipe box, and found this one hiding.  Yes, I know I have to let it sit for 30 minutes before I eat it, but it is so worth it.  Plus, with all that I am doing, 30 minutes will fly by.  So for those who want to join me in my late night snack....

Ingredients:

1 20oz can crushed pineapple (don't drain)
1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes
1 4-serving size instant vanilla pudding
1 cup cool whip
fresh fruit
graham crackers

Mix pineapple, coconut, and dry pudding mix together. 
Gently fold in the cool whip. 
Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Enjoy with fruit dipped in, on graham crackers, or with a huge serving spoon ( my favorite way :)  )

Baked Pancake & Hash Brown Casserole Recipes

Wow! Things have been so crazy around here lately, that I have completely neglected posting things for everyone, and for this I apologize. But, it has been good crazy, so I'm not too sorry :)

So, to make up for it, here Are two recipes to try out this weekend. They take awhile, but trust me, they are soooooo worth it!

Apple Dutch Baby Pancake

Ingredients:
2 tbl butter
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbl brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 cup thinly sliced granny smith apples

Heat oven to 400*
Melt butter in a 9" pie pan, brushing butter on the sides
Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on top of the melted butter, and then arrange the apple slices on top.
Beat eggs slightly with a whisk
Beat in remaining ingredients until throughly mixed
Pour into pie plate on top of apples
Bake 30-35 minutes or until puffy and deep golden brown
Immediately loosen from pan and turn upside down onto a serving plate
Serve with powdered sugar


Hash Brown Casserole
1 2lb package frozen Hash Browns (or you can grate 2lbs of potatoes in a food processor for fresh...that's what I do!)
16 oz sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 stick butter cut into small cubes
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup bacon pieces
Salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 350*
Place potatoes in a greased 9x13 baking pan
Season with salt and pepper
In a bowl, mix together the onions, sour cream, and soup mix.
Pour soup mixture over the potatoes
Sprinkle with the cheese and butter cubes
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until all is completely cooked and cheese is bubbly
Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving