Color Swirl Cupcakes

Ok I have to admit, I saw this on pinterest and pinned it...only to find out the link did not lead to how to actually make these. So I decided to make my own and add directions so everyone can use it. It is simple and you can be very creative with this idea.

First you need a white or yellow cake mix. Follow directions on box for making batter.

I filled the cupcakes about half full and added a surprise (chocolate and butterscotch chips). Then simply finish adding batter.

I added one drop of food coloring to each cupcake. One row per color since I had red, green, yellow, and blue.

Take a toothpick and have fun! Be creative!

I added some of the more pronounced colors to the yellow since it was so pale on the yellow cake mix. This is what it looked like before putting them in the oven.

Here is what they look like when they come out.

Remember only the tops are colored, the rest is simply a yellow cupcake. Like I said mine contain a surprise since I made these to take to a Girl Scout meeting for young girls.

From our kitchen to yours, Mary

Boiled Cookies

Thought I would start off with a tried and true recipe that is easy and a great go-to. As you can see the recipe is on a card, my original recipe book is a small photo book (I will post it later). This recipe was written for me by my mom years ago.

First gather your ingredients: 2c sugar, 1/2c milk, 4tbsp(tablespoon) cocoa, 1 stick butter, 1tbsp vanilla, 1/c peanut butter, 3c quick cooking oats.

This is how I made them...you can also add 1/2c nuts and lower oatmeal to 2  1/2cups or use crunchy peanut butter.

While gathering go ahead and find your wax paper, get out your pot, and something to go under the wax paper. When you put the hot cookies on the wax paper the wax will melt, it works best to put something under the paper...news paper works well. If you don't have wax paper foil will work.

Before you start cooking go ahead and lay out the wax paper. When you start cooking things go quickly and you want to be prepared.

Next mix the first four ingredients: 2c sugar, 4tbsp cocoa, 1/2c milk, and 1 stick butter.

Bring to a boil over medium heat.

Boil for 1 minute. Set a timer for best results.

If you don't boil long enough your cookies will end up gooey. They taste great but you will be eating them with a spoon out of the fridge. If you boil too long they will be dry. 

Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients. 1tbsp vanilla, 1/2c peanut butter, 3c oatmeal. I add them in that order, mix well.

Drop cookies onto wax paper by spoonfuls. You decide how big or small you would like your cookies.  They cool very quickly so you want to work quickly getting them out of the pot and onto the wax paper.

Leave them alone and let them cool completely. This part is the hardest, they just look so good...

Store in an air tight container and enjoy!

From our kitchen to yours, Mary

Recipe Book

This is my daughter's recipe book. I love this book and it makes life very easy for me to add her favorite recipes for her to have when she grows up.  It also makes a great cookbook for adults. It is simple yet perfect!

You can choose your favorite designed 3-ring binder. The kind with the plastic outside works best so spills can be wiped away easily.

 Next purchase a simple pack of sheet protectors.  Then start printing!  Use your favorite tried and true recipes.  I also add recipes that I have printed off the web and tested...if they are keepers then they are added to the book. No need to stash them away till you have time to re-write them to a card. The protectors also make clean up easy when you spill something while cooking (don't we all).

Think of it...no need to rewrite recipes onto little cards (which I still use if already written). A great way to easily add recipes and rearrange according to your present whims.

Also a great wedding gift, add a few of your favorite recipes to get them started

then leave the rest of the pages blank so they can add their own.

From our kitchen to yours, Mary