Chocolate Log

With the holiday season coming up, many of us are asked to contribute something to a potluck meal or even bring dessert for a special dinner. This quick and easy dessert looks and tastes good and doesn't take hours to prepare. The recipe is on the box of chocolate wafers but basically you just whip up some whipping cream, add a little icing sugar and a dash of vanilla and ice each wafer then stack them in logs side by side. Slather everything with whipping cream and let it sit for at least 6 hours.

You can sprinkle with some decorations but word of warning, do this just before serving or the whipped cream will make it bleed. Cut on a diagonal to get a nice looking slice.

A very tasty dessert that you can throw together in minutes. Sure to impress.

Poppyseed Chicken

Now that the snowflakes are starting to appear, it's time to break out the comfort food. I call this "mashed potato" weather but it's also a good time to eat egg noodles with this yummy one pot wonder.
It is somewhat caloric but you could always use a lower fat soup and sour cream, just don't cut down the buttered Ritz cracker topping. It "makes" the dish.
Here's the recipe:

Poppyseed Chicken
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup (undiluted)
1 1/2 cups Ritz cracker crumbs
1 Tbsp. poppy seeds
1/2 cup melted butter

Pre-brown chicken in a fry pan with a little butter. Place in a oven proof baking dish.
Mix sour cream and soup, pour over chicken. Mix crumbs and melted butter. Spread cream mixture over top of chicken. Sprinkle poppy seeds. Bake at 350F for 1 hour or until done.
Serve with noodles.

Girl Card

 

I know, that's a pretty lame title but I borrowed this stamp a long time ago and now I can't remember who it is... maybe Penny Johnson? I coloured her using my copics and layered the Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch to make the orange flower. So cute!

Hope in the Colour of Orange

As many of you know, I am very proud of my Dutch heritage. My Dad is a wonderful example of many of the excellent qualities possessed by the Dutch people; hard-working, determined and proud.

I recently signed a book out from the public library called Hope in the Colour of Orange. If you watch the World cup, you will know that at many of the Dutch sporting events, spectators are dressed in orange after their heritage which is the House of Oranje. The title is also associated with oranges which were given to the Dutch children by the soldiers shortly after Liberation.  This book was written by civilian children and young adults who endured the deprivations of the Second World War. I was very interested in this period of history as this is the time my father was a young man in Holland. It was an interesting collection of short stories written by several people who emigrated to Canada shortly after the War and wanted to share their memories.

Many of their stories parallel what I have heard from my relatives. I was very fortunate to travel to Holland with my father in 2000 and was present for Liberation Day where the Dutch people celebrate and remember their freedom and the role Canada played in the Liberation of their country.

What a moving time to see the aging Canadian veterans being cheered by the Dutch people as they paraded past and towns decorated with hundreds of Canadian flags. The Dutch people were yelling out "Thank you for our Freedom!" It was a moment I will remember forever and made me very proud to be a Dutch/Canadian.  I hope as Remembrance Day approaches, we continue to remember these brave men and women; both soldiers and civilians who sacrificed so much for freedom.

Pink Ladies

I thought I would start off with a photo because these squares are just so divine!  I made these recently when I got together with a bunch of the gang to scrapbook for a few hours. This was just the fuel we needed and a favourite sweet. Sometimes these are called Lori's  Neapolitan squares and I used the recipe from Company's Coming- Squares.
They happen to have a Club Pack of coconut at Costco these days. I think it might be time to stock up.

Pink Ladies

1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups, medium grind coconut
300 mL sweetened condensed milk

Buttercream frosting, dyed pink of course

Bottom: Combine first 4 ingredients. Press into 9 x 9 pan with greased sides.Bake at 350F for 10 min.

Middle: In clean bowl, combine coconut with condensed milk. Spread over bottom layer. Bake for an additional 20 minutes or until a light tinge of brown. Allow to cool before frosting.

Icing: 2 cups icing sugar
4 Tbsp. butter, soft
Maraschino cherry juice or red food colouring

Give them a whirl. VERY tasty.

Graduation

The first of Lindor's puppies are completing Advanced training and are starting to be placed with their families as full service dogs. They are two years old tomorrow. Of course, I had to make up a small parcel to send out with them, some pictures of Mom, some Lindor chocolates, of course, and a treat or two for the puppies.

Eli and Ember have been placed with their forever families, Elvis and Charlie need a little more fine tuning before they begin their careers or are career changed to Post Traumatic Stress dogs or Companion animals for Special Needs children and adults.

Here's Eli, I called him Big Red as he was the largest of the E litter and a sweet, gentle pup.

From our first fund-raising crop, we made enough money to sponsor TWO puppies, Epcot from Lindor's E litter and Chester from Equoia's C litter. Kathryn donated her birthday money in lieu of gifts so she was able to name and sponsor a puppy. She came with me to Graduation so she could see for herself what a difference her thoughtfulness has played in the life of a deserving family.

Many years of success to the families that have a new friend in their lives.

Apple Cutie Card

Well, this is my 100th post. It's been fun sharing some favourite recipes and talking about one of my favourite topics... the dogs. I have a few people that I know that faithfully check out my blog; thanks Mary Ann, Keri, Corrina and sister-in-law Lisa. I think I have one or two other viewers too, lol, I hope you're enjoying my journey also.
Here's a cute card from Your Next Stamp, Apple Cutie. It's hard to see but the stamped portion overlaps the back part of the card. I coloured with Copics and glossy accented her adorable rubber boots. Simple but tasteful. I hope you agree.

Well, I'm off to take the dogs for a long run in the country on a beautiful fall morning. Great to get some fresh air and exercise, then maybe a couple canines will sleep all afternoon and I can make some more cards.