Friday, October 17, 2014

Ice Cream Cone Treats for a Birthday Party

I just noticed this blog post that I never posted from June 19, 2013, well over a year ago so I am sharing this now just like I made these treats yesterday!




Wow, It has been a long time! Lots of changes, good changes, and less free time. A few weeks back, my nephew Jason, reminded me that I have a blog and I have I have been ignoring that blog! Guilty as charged!

Last month our youngest grandson, Ivan, turned 4! We headed north for his birthday party but I always feel the need to take something special to share. Here are some quickly shot, random pictures of the treats I made. They aren't that great. I was using my ipad and they needed a flash. I got word that there were 27 kids in his class, and amazingly, I ended up with 27 treats! I was releaved when they all turned out!

A funny story - Ivan's teacher confessed to my daughter that one of the kids was absent that day. She had put his treat into his desk so he could have it the next day. On her way out at the end of the day, she went to the little boys desk, opened it up and took that treat right out of his desk! She took it home for herself! She couldn't resist!! 

Too Funny!! 

Back to reality...

Here we are October 2014 and I found photos of birthday treats I made for Wiley quit some time ago! This is the last time I made cone treats. Big kids and little kids seem to love anything in a cone!

I poke holes in the empty cone boxes so that I can stand them up until they are firm.

To make these, I pick a flavor/color cake mix that I think the kids will like. You you bake the cake according to directions in a 9x13 pan. Let it cool completely. When cool, crumble all the cake into a large bowl. Sounds strange doesn't it! Next you mix about 1/2 a tub of frosting into the cake crumbs and start stirring. Continue with this process until all the cake crumbs are moist with frosting. It usually takes about 3/4 tub of frosting or to your preference. You don't want it to be to wet because it will make the dipping very difficult as they will soften too fast. Trust me, I learned this by trial and error.

Before you start the next phase, I would suggest having all your ingredients and tools out and ready to use. Have all your candy melts in bowls, ready to melt when you are ready for them. Now you will need an ice cream scoop to scoop out balls of cake mixture and place the cake balls on a baking tray or trays lined with wax paper or parchment paper so they wont stick. Place them in the freezer for about 1-2 hours or until very firm to the touch. If you use too much frosting, the cake balls will melt when you dip them into the warm candy melts. 

When the cake balls are completely frozen, one at a time, dip the cones in melted Wilton candy melts in what ever color/flavor suits your fancy. Place the cake balls onto the cones and let them cool in the cones in the upright position until the melts have hardened and the cake ball is firmly attached to the cone. (This is where I use the cone boxes.) This works best if the temperature in the area you are working in is cool, not warm because the cake balls will be wanting to melt.  Continue until all the cones you are making are dipped and have a cake ball on top. At this point, I usually place the cones on a small tray and keep them in the refrigerator to keep them cool. I then take out a couple at a time to dip into the next color.

Now you are ready to do the next dip. Use the picture above as a guide. You want to dip your cone into the next color, leaving as much of the melt on the cone as possible. Put them in the refrigerator until they are all completely firm and to keep them firm until you are ready to do the last dip.




After your last dip, you will want to add your sprinkles or gumdrop or what ever you want on top so that it can cool and be attached to the top. That's about it! I like to put mine in bags so they are easy to transport. These can be made over a period of days or hours. They aren't hard to make but they do take time. I don't keep them in the refrigerator once they are all finished unless your home is very warm. 

Have fun making a little someones day a bit more special!

Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Our Favorite Go-To Treat

This is the best treat ever! Sometimes you just need (want) a little something sweet or chewy or crunchy. This recipe won't satisfy your need for a crunchy treat but it definitely works when you want a little something sweet but healthy at the same time. That is why this treat is the best! It has no added sugar, no flour, no egg, no butter, no dairy! It mixes together in 5 minutes or less. You don't even need to measure if you don't feel like it. Just guesstimate! I can have these mixed up and scooped out on a cookie sheet by the time the oven reaches 350!


The base for this recipe is the lovely banana. It's adds the sweetness, the thickener, the stabilizer, etc. I don't know of any other fruit that is this versatile. You can add whatever you want to the banana /oatmeal mixture. Your favorite spices, flavorings or add-ins. You are going to love these!

Before baking


Healthy Banana Treats

Ingredients:
3 mashed ripe Bananas, mashed
A big spoonful of Fresh Ground Peanut Butter, approx 1/3 to 1/2 cup, more or less (you can use store bought)
About a teaspoonful of Vanilla, more or less
A heaping teaspoonful of Cinnamon, more or less
About 2 cups Rolled Oats,  more of less
About 1/2 cup of Dark Chocolate, more or less
About 1/4 cup Coconut, Almond or Hazelnut Milk, I have used them all

In a bowl, mash your bananas. 
Add the peanut butter and stir the two together until they are completely mixed. 
Add the vanilla and cinnamon and stir well.
Add the rolled oats and stir until they are completely coated.
 Stir in the chocolate. 
Add enought of the coconut/nut milk until it makes a good scooping texture. 

Scoop the mixture out on a parchment covered baking sheet or you can scoop them into lined cupcake pans to make them muffin style.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Baking time varies from the size scoop you use.

After baking

I let them cool and then I store them in the refridgerator or the freezer.

This recipe doubles very well and is a very forgiving recipe. You can add just about anything you want to the base and it will turn out well. Don't add too much liquid because you don't want the dough to be soupy or wet. 
I have also used Greek yogurt as the emulsifier in place of the milk. 
You can leave out the peanut butter but make sure your batter isn't too moist before you scoop it on to your baking sheet. I would suggest letting it sit on the counter for a few minutes before scooping. That gives the oatmeal a chance to soak up the extra liquid.

Enjoy!

Monday, October 13, 2014

Monday, Monday, It's Here...

We have managed to keep our sunshine in the Pacific Northwest, but they are telling us it is ending today. Not too bad considering they originally told us the "Pineapple Express" headed our way last Friday. I have never seen a "Pineapple Express" type rain in person, but I have seen the pictures. I am familiar with torrential, pounding El Nino rain that dumps 2 inches in an hour, so I am bracing myself!

Here are a couple pics from our weekend.

It was a beautiful, warm and sunny day spent at Bauman Farms with family. I love my family!
On the way home I was taking pictures of the unusual cloud formations in the sky. All of a sudden, I watched a stream of light burst out from behind the clouds and shoot up with tremendous power into this amazing array! It was a most incredible experience that touched my soul!



Time to bring out the boots and set the sandals aside!

Have a great Monday!