Works Everytime

12 Ways To Say "I Love You" With Food

 A dozen recipe ideas for you to  

Spread the L♥ve on Valentine's Day

Recipes via Taste of Home

 1-Child

Children look at Valentine's Day through heart-shaped glasses. These cut-out Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are sure to gain approval from your little ones on Valentine's Day.

2-Classmates

Bring a batch of these cute Mice Cupcakes to the class Valentine's Day party or any other group activity. Little ones are sure to nibble them right up!

3-Teacher

You'll garner most-loved parent status by delivering a couple of Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cakes to the teacher's lounge along with a bag of gourmet ground coffee for the community coffee pot.

4-Neighbors

How would you feel if your neighbor baked a loaf of bread for you? Live by the golden rule and share the love with your neighbors by taking over a loaf of Moist Banana Bread.

5-Relative or Friend

Let someone know you care by delivering these easy-to-make homemade Raspberry Patch Crumb Bars. The companionship they'll attract is like giving your loved one a hug all day long.

 6-Parents/Grandparents/In-laws

Warm the hearts of your parents, grandparents or in-laws by dropping off some breadsticks and a pot of hot Wintertime Beef Soup.

7-Sister or Female Friend

Show your sisterly love by having friends over to share a little girl talk and these almost sinful Mocha Latte Parfaits.

8-Brother or Male Friend

Who can resist a homemade pie? Make your brother or friend feel downright spoiled with a cheery Fresh Cherry Pie.

9-Husband

How sweet it is to be loved by you when you serve this tasty Golden Chicken Cordon Bleu meal to your dear hubby.

 10-Wife

Waking up to a delicious breakfast in bed of Puffy Oven Pancakes will surely have your wife starting out the day with romance on her mind.

11-Girlfriend/Boyfriend

One of the easiest ways to show you care for that special someone — without a big commitment — is by making them a delicious dessert like Walnut Chocolate Hearts.

12-Pet

Fido is always there for you. Tell him he's a good boy with these bark-worthy Beefy Dog Treats.

Tuesday Tip - Fabulous Felt Circles

Felt Pads are Fabulous!

via Real Simple

You know those little circle felt furniture pads ...   they're sold in the hardware department. 

I put them on the bottom of the legs of our Dining Room chairs.  They have saved the wood floor in there. 

I LOVE these great uses from Real Simple Magazine!

• Secure slinky garments. Stick a felt circle onto each arm of a hanger to keep clothes from sliding off.

• Prevent tabletop scratches. Attach a circle to the bottom of a vase so it doesn’t scuff surfaces .

• Keep your kitchen quiet. Hush a banging cabinet door by sticking a circle on a corner on the inside of the door.
• Protect the walls. Position felt on each corner of a picture frame so the edges won’t mark the paintwork.

The first and last are my favorites!

Tuesday Tip-Birthday Candles

Spaghetti as a Candle-Lighter!

photo via Beatriz da Costa

Lighting multiple candles?
If you don't have

extra-long matches on hand...

  TRY A PIECE OF SPAGHETTI

via Birthday Cake-s

Ta Dah

No toasted fingers. 

Soft Hearted

Are you feeling soft-hearted this Valentine's Day?

via Martha Stewart

Reach for some marshmallows and transform them into confections of affection. Start by greasing a heart-shaped petit four cutter or aspic cutter with vegetable oil or cooking spray. Cut several marshmallows in half horizontally, and then press the cutter into the center of each one. Float the marshmallows and the cutouts on hot chocolate.

Garlic-Herb Mac & Cheese

This recipe is the perfect comfort food on a cold day!

Garlic-Herb Mac & Cheese

recipe from King Arthur

Ingredients:

Macaroni

• 8 ounces (about 2 cups) uncooked pasta (elbows, trumpets, rigatoni, ditalini, cavatappi, ziti... anything tubular)
• 1/4 cup Signature Secrets Culinary Thickener or King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 2 3/4 cups milk
• 1/2 cup Vermont cheese powder
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard powder, optional
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste

Topping

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons garlic oil, optional
• 2 teaspoons Pizza Seasoning or rosemary and thyme
• 1 1/2 cups Japanese panko (coarse bread crumbs)

Macaroni

• 8 ounces (about 2 cups) uncooked pasta (elbows, trumpets, rigatoni, ditalini, cavatappi, ziti... anything tubular)
• 1 ounce Signature Secrets Culinary Thickener or King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 22 ounces milk
• 2 ounces Vermont cheese powder
• 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard powder, optional
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste

Topping

• 2 ounces butter
• 2 teaspoons garlic oil, optional
• 2 teaspoons Pizza Seasoning or rosemary and thyme
• 2 1/2 ounces Japanese panko (coarse bread crumbs)

Directions

1) Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease four 1 1/2 to 2-cup ramekins, or one 2-quart baking dish.

2) Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente (slightly firmer than you would normally eat it). Drain and rinse with cool water. Set aside.

3) In a large saucepan set over medium heat, whisk together the Signature Secrets, or flour, milk, and cheese powder. Bring to a boil.

4) Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese and seasonings. Stir occasionally, until cheese is completely melted.

5) Stir the pasta into the cheese sauce. Spoon it into the baking dish(es).

6) Melt the butter and garlic oil together, then stir in the pizza seasoning and panko bread crumbs. Sprinkle a thick layer over the pasta and cheese.

7) Bake the casserole for 25 to 35 minutes, until bubbly and browned. Remove from the oven, and serve hot.

Yield: 5 1/2 cups, about 4 servings. Notes: If you like a mellow-flavored mac and cheese, don't add the extra 2 cups cheese; instead, add an extra tablespoon Signature Secrets or flour to thicken the sauce.

Baked Chicken Tortilla

Baked Chicken Tortilla Casserole

Serve a veggie packed chicken tortilla casserole that bakes for only 15 minutes. Add cheese at the end of baking so it has time to melt, but not brown.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 roll)

Ingredients

• 1  cup  bottled salsa, divided
• 1  (8-ounce) carton low-fat sour cream
• 6  (10-inch) flour tortillas
• 1 1/2  cups  chopped cooked chicken breast (about 3/4 pound)
• 1/3  cup  chopped tomato
• 1/3  cup  chopped green or red bell pepper
• 1/4  cup  chopped onion
• Cooking spray
• 3/4  cup  (3 ounces) shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine 1/2 cup salsa and sour cream in a small bowl, and spread evenly over each tortilla. Divide chicken, tomato, bell pepper, and onion evenly down center of each tortilla, and roll up. Place rolls, seam sides down, in an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with 1/2 cup salsa. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese; bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese melts.

Tuesday Tip - Recover from the Holidays

recover from the all the holiday goodies

via Cypress Dental

 (via Real Simple)

Make it your New Year’s resolution to opt for foods high in fiber

(apples, peppers, and whole grains, to name a few),

An Apple A Day

An apple a day really does keep the doctor away.

exercise (try a 30-minute brisk walk),

via odd industries

and get a full night’s rest.

  

image

These three efforts combined will eliminate excess water and leave you feeling refreshed.

Happy New Year from Pineapple Hill

For You

Photo by Daniel Farmer ~ Sarah Kaye

“Another fresh new year is here...
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!
This bright new year is given me

To live each day with zest . . ..
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!
I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”

~William Arthur Ward

Remember.... "Whoever is happy will make others happy too. "
~ Anne Frank

Wishing you all the best in 2010!