The Easter Dachshund

You've heard of the Peanuts character Charlie Brown

and his dog Snoopy as

the Easter Beagle??

Well,

we

have

an Easter Dachshund :D

She celebrated a little early this year........

Looking rather guilty.........

Yes, caught in the act.

I must admit it was my fault for leaving my purse on the floor

with the zipper open.

The temptation proved to be too much for her to resist.

She stuck her head in,

rooted around

and helped herself to bag of MM Peanuts that I'd tucked in,

as I most always have some sort a little pick me up at hand (fruit, nuts, 100 calorie packs, etc.) to munch on while driving, shopping or at my desk at work.

She sniffed them out

and took them back to her

"nest".

She's very tidy

and even took a packet a Kleenex

to wipe her paws!

Silly Millie, No Chocolate for Dachshunds!


Read more about Millie on my sidebar.
Don't deny yourself the pleasure of listening to
Peter Himmelman's Dixie the Dashchund song.
Just click on Millie's sidebar photo.
I simply cannot listen to that song too many times.
I love it. It makes me smile and sometime
I laugh myself to tears as I envision the lyrics.

Warm Hugs,

Blarney Cakes for St. Patrick's Day

A favorite sweet and salty treat

eaten at St. Patricks Day...... Blarney Stones

White Cake coated with Peanuts,

Here's how I make mine:

I start with a Betty Crocker White Cake Mix

Follow the box directions with the following exception:

The box directions are to add 1 1/4 cups water

I instead add 1 cup water and 1/4 cup milk

Also 1/2 tsp. mild vanilla extract

Bake in a jelly roll pan 11 x 15 inches



When cool, cut into single serving size pieces

I first thought a bar shape like a Twinkie,




But later decided on square.



Frosting ingredients:


32 ounce bag powdered/confectioners sugar
1/2 - 3/4 cup milk
1 cup Crisco White Solid shortening
1/2 teaspoon Clear Imitation Vanilla
1/4 teaspoon Almond flavoring



Combine with stand mixer 'til well blended and smooth
Blend in a few drops of green food coloring, if desired



I found it was easiest to use a piping bag
with a straight or rose tip to apply frosting

Pipe around all 4 sides, then the top.



Using a large spoon, such as a soup or serving spoon,
scoop up finely ground peanuts and
press against sides and top of cake
to coat well.




Grinding the peanuts is a breeze with my Magic Bullet.

To dress up my Blarneys a bit

I made cupcake picks

with these foil stickers I found at a Dollar store.

There were four sheets in the package

each with larger and smaller sized shamrock stickers.

I just peeled one off and applied to a toothpick

Then lined one up on the opposite side

so they stuck together

sandwiching the toothpick inside.

Then just insert into the cake.

Easy, Inexpensive and Cute!

Enjoy!

An Irish Friendship Wish

Even though I'm not Irish, I love all the Irish Blessings that surface this time of year. I received this one from my daughter so I'm passing it along to all of you.......

An Irish Friendship Wish

May there always be work for your hands to do;

May your purse always hold a coin or two;

May the sun always shine on your windowpane;

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;

May the hand of a friend always be near you;

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

May all your wishes come true,

Hugs

I Feel Cheated Somehow........

photo courtesy of Google

I was visiting Liz at Shortbread & Ginger and read her post about "Pancake Day".

Now.....

I have been a practicing Christian Protestant all my life.... attending Sunday School as a child, teaching Sunday School as an adult, singing in the choir, served on committees, etc...

and....

I'm sorry to say that at NO time do I ever recall any mention of the tradition of Pancake Day.....the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday!

So, of course......

I had to do some investigating and found lots of info here at Wikipedia see Shrove Tuesday and scroll down to the Traditions section.

I LOVE pancakes HOT off the griddle with lots of butter and warm syrup and occasionaly layered with applesauce inbetween!!

Although it may not be completely appropriate for Shrove Tuesday as I feel these are a bit more "gourmet", I would like to share my recipe for....

Banana Wheat Pancakes

1 cup wheat flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 Tablespoon granulated white sugar

Sift together the above dry ingredients.

2 Tablespoons butter, melted

1 egg, fork beaten

1 cup milk or just a bit more if you find the batter too thick

Stir together the above wet ingredients in seperate bowl,

then whisk together with dry ingredients.

2 - 3 bananas, coarsely mashed

Fold banana into batter.

Ladle onto med-hot griddle, which was previously wiped with a buttered paper towel. When bubbles appear and cakes look dry around the edges, turn with slotted metal spatula. Remove when underside is golden.

Serving suggestion: Garnish with whipped cream, sliced banana, chopped pecans and ,of course, warm syrup....not that store-bought flavorless kind, rather.......

My Grandma's Homemade Pancake Syrup

makes approx. 1 cup syrup

1/2 cup granulated white sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup water

1 - 2 Tablespoons butter

Bring to a rolling boil and continue with a slightly gentler rolling boil for 1 - 2 minutes. Cooking too long will result in a sticky, stringy syrup. Remove from heat and ladle onto pancakes. Also works fine to make it in the microwave.

Note: If you're having blueberry pancakes, an accompanying syrup can be made by substituting juice from unsweetened canned blueberries for some of the water.

Enjoy!