Last taste of summer produce

The chilly fall air means summer is definitely over (though it never really started here in Michigan) but the produce section at the grocery store if full of sweet summer fruit.  Right now you can get a great deal on sweet peaches, nectarines and plums so buy them up while you can!  I've got the perfect recipe that combines this sweet summer fruit with a taste of fall and will totally impress your friends!  The best part is there is no cooking involved just assembling!

Carly's Peach Cobbler Parfaits
1 package of country style biscuits (pre-baked in bakery section)
6-10 peaches (peeled, sliced and sprinkled with sugar)
2 cans of vanilla pudding (i usually use a higher quailty brand in the baking isle)
1 package of gingersnap cookies (broken up into peices)
1 can of whipped cream
4 tall parfait style glasses or wine goblets ect.

Start by putting a dollop of pudding in the bottom of each glass then topping with crumbled biscuit peices.  Next spoon some peaches and juice over buscuits, top with whipped cream and crumbled gingersnaps.  Repeat this layering process until your glass is full.  Crumble gingersnaps over top.  Chill- Enjoy! 

***If you make these before dinner it will give the biscuits time to soak up the delicious peach syrup!

Michigan VS Michigan State: ways to celebrate!

It's the biggest sports rivalry in the state!  Green and white versus the maize and blue.  No matter if you're unsporty like me or a superfan, everyone will be celebrating! AND what's a celebration without FOOD!  Here is a supercute cupcake I made for the superbowl that could easily be the perfect fit for your game day party in front of the tv or out at the tailgate.  Just decorate them in Green and white and maize and blue! (this recipe is adapted from wilton.com)

FOOTBALL CUPCAKES
Bake 2 dozen cupcakes

Make or buy your favorite white frosting

Tools: (meijer carries these inexpensive tips by the baking pans and kitchen supplies)

•Tip: 5 (medium round tip)

•Tip: 16 (star tip)
•Disposable Decorating Bags

Ingredients:

•Green Icing Color

•PinkIcing Color (light skin tone)

•Black Icing Color

•Yellow icing color

• Blue icing color

 DECORATE:

Ice cupcake cake smooth with pinkish skin-toned colored icing.

Outline helmet with tip 5 and cover with tip 16 stars in the team colors of your choice

Pipe tip 5 dot eyes, pupils and nose; outline mouth and eye "shade".

Pipe tip 5 face mask.

**TIP: if you don't want to buy the icing colors and disposable decorating bags look in the baking isle for tubes of pre-colored icing in the MSU and UofM colors.  You can simply put the tips on these tubes and decorate in a snap!

Fall Decor under $20

I love to be festive around any holiday but hate spending a small fortune on all the cute little things for my house because frankly who has the extra cash for that?! I could get new clothes or go on a fab dinner date or whatever... BUT I can't stand not getting out a box of decorations and putting up all of the fun themed things. So here iis a quick easy way to get a lot of "look" for less!

I recently got inspired while grocery shopping. I saw all of these awesome sugar pumpkins, squash and Indian corn in the produce section and thought to heck with eating these, they would be a great way to decorate the mantel. Then a stop at the Dollar Store for a few cheap strands of leaves and things and I was set. I barely spent $20 for this great fall look!



To get this look for your mantel you'll need:
2- sugar pumpkins (1 orange, 1 green)
2- gourds (1 yellow, 1 orange)
2-mini pumpkins

2-bundles of dried Indian corn

2- strands of fake fall leaves

1- Halloween themed sign or figurine for you focal point (I used a wooden witches hat sign)

Start by putting your Halloween themed centerpiece in the middle of your mantel. Then on each side place your Indian corn upright (use the centerpiece for balance). Next put your orange pumpkin/gourd on the far ends of the mantel. Then fill in the remaining spaces on either side of your Indian corn with your green/yellow pumpkin/gourds. Weave the stands of fall leaves through the pumpkins etc. to fill in the gaps. Finally place your remaining mini pumpkins throughout to add pops of color. (see pic for a visual aid) I also had a fake mum plant wrapped in craft paper that I added to mine in the pics above.

*** SHOPPING TIP-Another great place to get fall decor is Hobby Lobby-- everything is 50% off so it's a great time to pick up a new candy dish or serving platter.

Get your grocery list- you'll want to add this recipe!

Drummm rollll please! This week's it's been all about my favorite snack: Chips & Dip. I've posted recipes all week long and here is my #1 choice! Serve this for a football or Superbowl Party, or a movie night. My husband loves it anytime and it gets me out of going out for wings every Sunday!

#1 Chip & Dip Recipe

Buffalo Chicken Dip

(all recipes.com and picture credit goes to guidespot.com)

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup ranch dressing

1/2 cup FRANK’S® REDHOT® Sauce

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cans White Premium Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained

Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Place cream cheese into deep baking dish. Stir until smooth. 2.MIX in ranch, Frank’s RedHot Sauce, 1/2 cup of cheese and chicken. THen sprinkle remaining cheese over top and BAKE 20 min. or until bubbly. Serve with tortilla chips, carrot sticks and celery sticks.

*** quick note-- I often make this dip using 1/3 less fat cream cheese, fat free ranch, and skim mozzerella cheese and skip the chips... (sorry who am I kiddin', I don't skip the chips) BUT I do try to dip more celery sticks than chips to make it a healthier option. You'd be suprised how good it tastes -- no one will be able to tell you snuck in a reduced fat dip they'll be too busy eating!)