Cooking With Mrs. 101

Watch My Desserts Made Simple Cooking Segment Online

2012-01-09T12:54:00.000-08:00

For those who live outside Tucson or who may have missed my television segment this morning on The Tucson Morning Blend, you can watch it online here.

1/09 Cooking Segment on KGUN9's Tucson Morning Blend

2012-01-09T06:43:00.000-08:00

In case you don't know, I write cookbooks as well as try to find ways to save money. My books are geared to those looking to save time and money in the kitchen. Amazon is quick to ship and offers FREE shipping on any order over $25! You can also "Click to Look Inside" on most of my book titles and check out the table of contents! Feel free to visit my author page on Amazon.

Amazon is offering some discounts on the other books as well. If you have a KINDLE, they have SCREAMING deals on the electronic Kindle downloads of the books.

200 Cake Mix Creations

List Price: $12.99

Price: $11.04 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.

You Save:

$1.95 (15%)

Tune in to KGUN9's The Tucson Morning Blend this morning at 11 a.m. to watch me share easy entertaining desserts that will dazzle your friends and family. Throw the flour on your face and pretend it took all day. Today I'll be sharing recipes from my cookbook, 200 Cake Mix Creations.

Cherry Cheesecake Trifle from 200 Cake Mix Creations

1 white cake mix

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 cup sour cream

½ cup milk

1 small box instant vanilla or cheesecake pudding

1 (8-ounce) container whipped topping

2 (21-ounce) cans cherry pie filling*

Prepare and bake cake according to package directions in a 9 x 13-inch pan; let cool. In a bowl, mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, milk, and pudding mix until smooth and thick. Gently fold in the whipped topping. Crumble half of the cake into the bottom of a trifle bowl. Spread half of the cream cheese mixture over cake. Spread 1 can of pie filling over cream cheese layer. Repeat layers. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

*Any flavor pie filling can be used in this recipe.

Valentine Heart Cookies from 200 Cake Mix Creations

1 cherry chip cake mix

2 eggs

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 container white frosting

Red food coloring and sprinkles (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, use a spoon to mix together the cake mix, eggs, and oil. Scoop 1-inch balls of dough onto a greased cookie sheet and then form each ball into the shape of a heart. Bake for 8-12 minutes, or until light golden brown. Top with frosting that has been mixed with a little red food coloring, if desired, and sprinkles. Makes 30 cookies.

Raspberry Yogurt Cake from 200 Cake Mix Creations

1 white cake mix

1 (6-ounce) container raspberry yogurt*

Topping:

1 (8-ounce) container whipped topping

1 (6-ounce) container raspberry yogurt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the cake according to package directions. Gently stir in yogurt. Pour batter into a greased 9 x 13-inch pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean; let cool for 15-20 minutes and then chill for 4 hours.

In a bowl, mix together the whipped topping and yogurt. Spread over the cake. Store in refrigerator.

*Blueberry, boysenberry, and lemon yogurt also work.

Death-by-Chocolate Cake from 200 Cake Mix Creations

¾ cup sour cream

4 eggs

½ cup oil

1 chocolate cake mix

1 small box instant chocolate pudding

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Powdered Sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, beat together the sour cream, eggs, water, and oil until smooth. Add the cake and pudding mixes. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour batter into a greased tube or Bundt cake pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Invert hot cake onto a platter; let cool. When cool, sift powdered sugar over top.

Here are some of the other books that I have written:

Cake Mix Cooking for Kids

List Price:	$14.99
Price:	$13.49
You Save:	$1.50 (10%)

200 Slow Cooker Creations

List Price:	$12.99
Price:	$11.05 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
You Save:	$2.60 (15%)

101 Things to Do with a Slow Cooker $9.99

Call it a slow cooker, a crockery cooker, or your best friend, the popularity of these handy machines has exploded recently, and "Mrs. 101" Stephanie Ashcraft has stepped up to the plate (or bowl, or serving tray) with an amazing collection of timesaving recipes. From South of the Border Pot Roast to Hearty Vegetable Soup to Cherries Jubilee, now anyone can make hearty, healthy dishes for the whole family the "throw-n-go" way-simply throw several ingredients into the slow cooker, get on with life, and come home to a kitchen filled with the aroma of real home cooking. 101 recipes for main courses, side dishes, desserts, and more are included, along with suggestions for how and what to serve with each dish, time-saving meal preparation tips, and easy modifications to fit your families tastes.

101 More Things to do with a Slow Cooker $9.99

With the continuing slow cooker craze, 101 More Things to do With a Slow Cooker. With two new sections-Vegetarian Delights and Turkey-this book will be flying of the shelves. More great recipes like Raspberry Chocolate Carmel Fondue, Southwestern Chili, Cajun Chicken Pasta, Mandarin Orange Steaks, Apple Cranberry Pork Chops, and Gooey Cherry Chocolate Cake will make your mouth water just by reading the ingredients. So throw a few ingredients in the slow cooker and go have fun with your family and friends-when you're done, your meal will be too!

101 Things to Do with a Tortilla $9.99

101 Things to Do with a Tortilla takes this delicious and nutritious staple of so many countries and brings it into the mainstream with family-friendly recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and more. Tortillas are a no-fail recipe ingredient, and Stephanie Ashcraft and Donna Kelly show that tortillas aren't just for Mexican food anymore!

101 Things to do with Salad $9.95

Everybody knows that a good salad makes a meal complete and now with this new addition to the 101 line, a salad is never more than a few ingredients away! The book includes Leafy Salads, Main Course Salads, Pasta Salads, BBQ and Picnic Salads, Veggie Salads, Fruit Salads, and Dessert Salads, with an amazing variety of recipes and flavors to suit all occasions. Try Sweet Fiesta Salad, Chinese Chicken Salad, Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, Cauliflower Shrimp Salad, Cool Pear Salad, Pistachio Salad, and Best Ever Frog-Eye Salad!

101 Things to Do With a Potato $9.99

One potato, two potato, three potato-four! Introducing the next book in our thriving 101 series, 101 Things to do With a Potato. Each year, the average American consumes close to 140 pounds of potatoes. With that in mind, nothing seems better than a cookbook featuring one of America's major food staples-the potato! "Mrs. 101" Stephanie Ashcraft has ingeniously created simple recipes that take potatoes to a whole new level. Try a Breakfast Burrito in the morning, sample the Sausage Corn Chowder for lunch, have the Italian Potato Chips as a mid-afternoon snack, for dinner try the Potato Crust Pizza, and then savor the Sweet Potato Cheesecake for dessert!

101 Things to do with Chicken $9.95

101 Things to Do with Chicken is a must have for the busy kitchen. Try delicious recipes such as: Blue Cheese Chicken Dip, Curried Chicken Salad, Grandma's Chicken Noodle Soup, Zesty Chicken Burgers, Cranberry Chicken Spinach Wraps, Garlic Lover's Roast Chicken, Balsamic Chicken Stacks, Mediterranean Chicken, Asian Lettuce Wraps, and Chicken Alfredo Pizza.
The average American eats over 80 pounds of chicken each year.

101 Things to Do with a Casserole $9.95

Call it a one-pot, a casserole, or a hot dish, no one can deny the convenience and satisfaction these traditional meals provide! Whether you've had a late night at work, or have limited ingredients and finicky kids, the mighty casserole is the answer to the grumbling in everyone's tummy.

101 Things to Do with Canned Soup $9.95

From creamy varieties to everyone's favorite (tomato, of course!), find 101 new uses for the most popular staple in your cupboard. Easy favorites are simplified with canned soup shortcuts: Classic Tuna Casserole, World's Best-Baked Beans, Chile Verde Enchiladas, and Southwest Black Bean Chili, plus try creative new recipes for Souper Tamale Pie, Upside Down Pizza Casserole, Tomato Soup Cake, Potato Chive Biscuits, and Chocolate Zucchini Cake!

101 Things to Do with Chocolate $9.99

Satisfy all of your chocolate cravings in 101 different ways with the newest addition to the 101 series, 101 Things To Do With Chocolate. Try easy recipes such as Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Bars, Decadent Chocolate Truffles, Chocolate Mint Layer Brownies, and Chocolate Pudding-Filled Doughnuts to give you that needed fix. With sections such as Dessert Pizzas and Ice Cream Cakes, you'll find new and delicious ways to enjoy chocolate in addition to all the old favorites.

101 Things to Do with Ground Beef $9.99

Everybody knows that meat loaf is the ultimate comfort food, but what else can you do with that easy-to-use, affordable, nutritious freezer staple? Here are 101 easy and delicious recipes to make the most out of ground chuck, hamburger, and turkeyburger.

101 Things to Do with Meatballs $9.99

101 THINGS TO DO WITH MEATBALLS ON TOP OF SPAGHETTI, and a whole lot more! In the newest addition to the 101 series, 101 Things to Do with Meatballs is filled with recipes that will become instant favorites among family and friends. Some of the tasty dishes include Breakfast Burritos, Meatball Sliders, Thai Pizza, Feta Meatballs with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce, Tortellini Meatball Stew, Chinese Beef Noodle Soup, Piping Hot Buffalo Subs, Enchilada Meatballs, Chipotle Meatball Pasta, Savory Meatball Lasagna, Tater Tot Kid's Casserole, and Meatball Stroganoff.

101 Things to Do with Pudding $9.99

There's so much more to pudding than just a dollop of whipped cream on top! This all-time favorite treat gets a makeover with 101 Things to Do with Pudding. Now you can try some amazingly luscious, moist, and inventive recipes Such as Sticky Buns, Banana Cream Cookie Salad, No-Bake Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies, Triple Chocolate Brownies, Cream Cheese Chocolate Nut Pie, Red Velvet Cake, Pumpkin Spice Trifle, and a whole lot more!

Yummy Black Bean Salad with Mango Dressing

2011-08-31T19:36:00.000-07:00

I've been experimenting with ingredients that have been coming in my Bountiful Baskets. This recipe is one that I tried making with the mangos that came in the basket. I'll be making this whenever mango go on sale!

2 ripe mangos, peeled and diced
1/2 cup Italian dressing
2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 red or orange bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
Salt and Pepper, to taste

In a blender, blend 1/3 cup diced mango with Italian dressing until smooth. In a large bowl, combine beans, red onion, bell peppers, and remaining mango. Gently fold mango dressing into salad mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes 6-8 servings.

T-shirts for a Great Cause

2011-08-31T11:19:00.001-07:00

We have some great friends, Rob and Emily Matson, who are in the process of adopting 2 children from Ethiopia. They have created these great t-shirts as a means of helping them raise money for their family to go pick the kids up in Africa. If you can help, you can get more information here.

Press Release for my upcoming kid's cookbook

2011-06-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

Mix up some fun!

Bring your kids into the kitchen, and bake up some memories

Tucson, AZ -- June 2011 – New York Times best-selling cookbook author Stephanie Ashcraft’s latest book, Cake Mix Cooking for Kids (Gibbs Smith, $14.99, Spiral bound, ISBN: 978-1-4236-1917-8, August, 2011) helps families share in the joy of baking goodies – together!

A cake mix is the basic ingredient for these delicious recipes, but cake isn’t the only thing kids will learn to make. Give Black Owl Cookies, Candy Cookie Pops, Bubblegum Bars, or Fruity Pizzas a try. Or, if you really want to be creative, bake some Mini Cupcake Kabobs, Delicious Cake Balls, or Tangy and Twisted Trifle. These recipes are a fun and easy way for kids to enjoy time in the kitchen.

These fun-themed recipes are simple enough for kids to make (with adult supervision), and provide step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow for even a novice chef. Once kids try their hand at baking, maybe they will even help cook dinner!

Stephanie Ashcraft, author of 101 Things to do with a Cake Mix, along with fifteen other culinary offerings, has taught cooking classes based on the tips and meals in her cookbooks for more than 20 years. Cake Mix Cooking for Kids is just one of three books that she is releasing this Fall. Stephanie and her family live in Tucson, Arizona.

For more than 40 years, Gibbs Smith has been specializing in beautifully illustrated lifestyle books covering topics such as interior design, architecture, cooking, children’s, home, green/sustainable, and many others.

Pictures from the Satellite Media Blitz

2011-02-11T16:21:00.000-08:00

At the end of January, I flew to North Carolina to do a Slide into Super Bowl Media Blitz which included 16 radio and television interviews in a 5 hour period of time. It was intense and a lot of fun.

I thought some of you might be interested in seeing the behind the scenes pictures taken during a Satellite Media Blitz. Lights, Camera, Satellite Truck, Action! Thanks to all those who made it happen!

You can see them all my books here on Amazon.com.

Click here to view these pictures larger

How to Entertain for The Big Game on a Budget

2011-01-28T09:14:00.001-08:00

Yesterday morning I filmed 16 interviews from Charlotte, North Carolina. I thought I would share what I could with all of you who follow my blog.

Here's the interview from San Diego 6:

You can find all 16 of my cookbooks on Amazon.com. Here is the link for 101 Things To Do With Meatballs.

Here is another interview:

Pumpkin Spice Trifle

2010-12-08T11:04:00.000-08:00

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

I shot this cooking segment for KSL showing how to make it last December.

I made this for Thanksgiving this year, and my brother has already requested that I make it again for Christmas this year. I thought I would share the recipe.

Pumpkin Spice Trifle
from 101 Things To Do With Pudding
Ingredients:
•1 cup pumpkin puree
•1/2 cup water
•1/2 cup applesauce
•3 eggs
•1 spice cake mix
•3 small boxes instant vanilla or cheesecake pudding mix
•2 1/2 cups cold milk
•1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
•1 cup chopped pecans
•1 cup English toffee bits
Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat pumpkin puree, water, applesauce, and eggs until smooth. Gradually stir in cake mix and 1 box dry pudding mix. Spread batter into a 9 x 13-inch pan prepared with nonstick spray. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Allow cake to cool completely.
In a separate bowl, beat remaining dry pudding mix and milk together for 1-2 minutes until smooth. Chill for 5 minutes. Fold whipped topping into pudding until well blended.

Crumble one-third of the cake in the bottom of a large glass bowl. Spoon one-third of the cake in the bottom of a large glass bowl. Spoon one-third of the pudding topping evenly over cake layer. Sprinkle with one-third of the pecans and one-third of the toffee bits. Repeat all layers two more times. Refrigerate before and after serving. Makes 16 servings

101 Things To Do With Meatballs featured on Fox 5 in San Diego

2010-10-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

I filmed this segment while we were in San Diego, and it aired on Monday.

Amazon is quick to ship and offers FREE shipping on any order over $25! You can also "Click to Look Inside" on most of my book titles and check out the table of contents!

Each book is spiral bound and includes wipe-able covers.

101 More Things to do with a Cake Mix $9.99

What could possibly top the New York Times best-selling cookbook 101 Things to Do With a Cake Mix by Stephanie Ashcraft? Why, more delicious cake mix recipes of course! In 101 More Things to Do with a Cake Mix! Stephanie Ashcraft has done it again, serving up more lovin' for every busy dessert-lover's oven. 101 More Things to Do with A Cake Mix includes simple and delicious recipes-all using cake mix as a main ingredient.

101 Things to Do with a Slow Cooker $9.99

Call it a slow cooker, a crockery cooker, or your best friend, the popularity of these handy machines has exploded recently, and "Mrs. 101" Stephanie Ashcraft has stepped up to the plate (or bowl, or serving tray) with an amazing collection of timesaving recipes. From South of the Border Pot Roast to Hearty Vegetable Soup to Cherries Jubilee, now anyone can make hearty, healthy dishes for the whole family the "throw-n-go" way-simply throw several ingredients into the slow cooker, get on with life, and come home to a kitchen filled with the aroma of real home cooking. 101 recipes for main courses, side dishes, desserts, and more are included, along with suggestions for how and what to serve with each dish, time-saving meal preparation tips, and easy modifications to fit your families tastes.

101 Things to Do with a Cake Mix $9.99
(My book that actually hit the New York Times Best Seller's List!)

Move over Betty Crocker--101 Things to Do With a Cake Mix will amaze your friends and leave them Jell-O green with envy! From Snickers Surprise Cookies to Christmas Rainbow Poke Cake, it's the best thing to happen in the kitchen since your last romantic rendezvous! So what are you waiting for? Grab a cake mix, whip up some goodies, and throw some flour on your face so it looks like you spent days in the kitchen.

Heavenly Coconut Delight

2010-07-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Today I made the Heavenly Coconut Delight on Good Things Utah. My grandma called this Lush. She would make it in several different flavors- chocolate, banana, pistachio, coconut, butterscotch, etc..

Here's the recipe:

Heavenly Coconut Delight- from 101 Things To Do With Pudding

1 cup flour
2 TBSP sugar
½ cup butter or margarine
½ cup chopped cashews or almonds
8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
¼ cup sugar
2 TBSP milk
12 oz pkg frozen whipped topping
2 pkgs instant coconut cream pudding mix
3 cups milk
½ coconut, toasted

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a bowl, combine flour and 2 tablespoons sugar. Cut butter into flour mixture using a pastry blender. Add nuts and continue to work the dough with the pastry blender. Spread mixture in a 9 x 13-inch pan prepared with nonstick spray. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow crust to cool completely.

Using an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and 2 tablespoons milk. Fold in 1 cup whipped topping. Spread the cream mixture evenly over the crust.

In a separate bowl, whisk the dry pudding mix into 3 cups milk for about 1 minute, or until pudding begins to thicken. Spread pudding evenly over cream cheese mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours. Before serving, spread remaining whipped topping evenly over the top. Sprinkle toasted coconut over top. Store in refrigerator. Makes 15 servings.

VARIATION: Chocolate, banana, lemon and butterscotch pudding mixes can be substituted for the coconut cream pudding.

Heavenly Southwest Black Beans

2010-06-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

I made salsa today and was trying to figure out something I could do with my leftover cilantro and onion. I came up with the following recipe, and it was SO good that I thought I would share.

Heavenly Southwest Black Beans

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large onions, diced
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can (15 ounce) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (8 ounce) tomato sauce
1 can (10 ounce) diced tomatoes with green chilies, with liquid
2 teaspoons ground cumin
3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup chopped green onion

In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Add onions and garlic and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes stirring occasionally. Stir in the black beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with chilies, and cumin. Simmer over medium low for 5 minutes. Stir in 3/4 cup cilantro and simmer another 2 minutes. Stir in green onion and remove from heat. Garnish with extra cilantro, if desired. Makes 4-6 servings. Serve with tortilla chips or on warmed tortillas.

Healthy Kids Summer Fanfare

2010-05-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

We are counting the days until summer vacation in our house. This summer I am focusing on finding creative ways to encourage healthy eating in our household. My kids and I need to be eating more fruits and vegetables.

Here are a few of the ideas and/or recipes that I plan to use for lunches this summer to sneak more vegetables and fruits into my kids diets:

1. Cucumber Canapé from 101 Things to do with Rotisserie Chicken by Madge Baird is at the top of the list.

1/2 cup minced rotisserie chicken
2 scallions, minced to make 1 tablespoon
1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
3 tablespoons light mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon horseradish
pinch garlic powder
2 cucumbers

Mix all ingredients except cucumbers until well blended. Peel cucumbers and slice into 24 thick rounds (at least 1/4 inch thick). Spoon 1 teaspoon chicken mixture onto each cucumber slice. Serve cold. Makes 24 canapés.

2. Mango Fruit Salad, Melon Delight Salad, and Almond Cran-Apple Salad from 101 Things to do with Salad are all healthy fruit dishes I plan to make this summer for my kids.

3. Hummus Dipped Veggies and Whole Wheat Crackers is a summer poolside favorite lunch for my friend Jen and her family. Whole wheat crackers (they like TLC brand) and veggies such as baby carrots and sliced cucumbers are dipped in hummus. Wash it down with ice cold water with lemon and lime wedges and all fruit popsicles.

4. Cracker Stackers are a favorite for my friend, Kendra, for late summer when gardens are producing. She purchases the multigrain Club crackers and cuts up all kinds of veggies (snap peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc) and cheese slices to stack on the crackers.

5. Whole Wheat Stuffed Pitas have to be one of my favorite summertime treats. Pitas can be stuffeded with tomatoes, lettuce, and tuna or chicken salad.

Here's to healthy eating this summer!

Bread Machine: Hearty Pizza Crust and Dinner Rolls

2010-03-27T18:15:00.001-07:00

This week I was playing with recipes that I could do on the dough cycle of my bread machine. I topped the pizza with the leftover Byron's Pulled Pork we had in the refrigerator and with shredded Gouda cheese. I would have added thinly sliced red onion except my kids wouldn't have eaten it. The pizza was a huge hit.

Hearty Pizza Crust
7/8 cup warm water
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup wheat flour
1 cup white all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons white sugar
2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Layer the ingredients in the bread maker pan in the order listed. Set bread maker for dough setting and start machine. At the end of the time, press dough onto a greased 12-inch pizza pan or jelly roll pan. Allow crust to rise for 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake crust for 8 minutes. Remove crust from oven and top with your favorite pizza toppings. Bake an additional 8-12 minutes.

Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/4 cups bread flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry or bread machine yeast

Layer ingredients in the bread maker pan in the order listed. Set bread maker for dough setting and start machine. When finished, divide dough into 12 equally sized balls and place them in a greased 12 count muffin pan. Cover with plastic wrap and allow rolls to raise for 30-50 minutes until double in size.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 17-20 minutes until golden brown on top. Rub extra butter over top rolls while still hot. Makes 12 large dinner rolls.

Entertaining for March Madness on A Budget

2010-03-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

I've been busy sharing ideas on how to entertain this March Madness using my cookbook, 101 Things To Do With Meatballs! I wanted to share some of the tips that I have been sharing.

1. Simplify. With a handful of ingredients and little time involved, you can feed a crowd. If you know how many people are coming, visit clubentertaining.com. Enter in the number of guest, and it will help you know how much food you need.

2. Plan the menu. Club Entertaining also provides recipes on the website that you can use for the big game. 101 Things to Do with Meatballs along with my other 13 cookbooks offer simple recipes for appetizers, desserts, and more!

3. Don't spend a fortune! I buy the Casa di Bertacchi meatballs that come in the 6 pound bags at Sam's Club for only $11.98. That's less than $2 per pound. They are made with 100% whole boneless beef and steamed and seared. They come fully cooked which means that in no time at all and with a handful of ingredients you can make something delicious! I also like to use the Byron's Pulled Pork that you can also find at Sam's Club to feed a crowd. One tray will make 30 sandwiches and costs only $11.98. That's $ .40 per sandwich! I love to make BBQ pizza with it as well.

Easy Meatball Nachos

16 Casa Di Bertacchi fully cooked meatballs, thawed
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 can (14.5 ounces) sliced stewed tomatoes, with liquid
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 bag (10 ounces or larger) tortilla chips, any variety
grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
sour cream, optional

Cut meatballs into quarters. In a large frying pan, saute the onion and bell pepper in oil over medium high heat until tender.
Stir in meatballs and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in taco seasoning, tomatoes, and beans.
Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking apart tomato chunks.
Spoon meat mixture over individual servings of tortilla chips. Sprinkle cheese over top and garnish with sour cream.

Makes 8-10 servings.

Variation: Meat filling can also be served burrito style in warm flour tortillas.

FYI-I'm on CRN radio at 8:20 a.m. Pacific Time today

2010-03-17T07:32:00.001-07:00

I'm a scheduled guest today on CRN radio's

What's Cookin' Today with Mike and Paul.

You can stream it online here. I'll be on from 8:20-8:30 a.m. AZ and Pacific Standard Time. 9:20 Mountain Standard Time. 11:20 Eastern Time.

3/11 My March Madness Entertaining Media Day

2010-03-12T12:12:00.000-08:00

This has to be my favorite picture from the trip!

Do you ever wake up thinking, "Did I dream that or did it really happen?" Well, that is exactly what I thought this morning as I got up and got my kiddos ready to take to school. I would still be wondering if the last 2 days happened if I hadn't downloaded all the pictures as proof.

Wednesday, I flew to Charlotte, North Carolina. It was an enjoyable trip despite the 2 delayed planes and arriving 2 hours later than planned. I can't stand to pay more than necessary so I rented the cheapest rental car I could find in Charlotte which was still expensive! After all I just needed it to drive to the hotel, television shoot, and back to the airport the next day. I go to turn on the rental car and the engine light pops on with the wording that one of the tires is low. I unload everything and took the keys back. The lady looks at me and says she's going to make my day. She gave me the keys to a brand new Mustang convertible to drive! My husband and son were jealous.

Lauren Hopkins and Libbie Summers

Thursday I got up at 5 a.m. ET (3 a.m. Tucson time) and was at the kitchen set at 6 a.m.. Lauren Hopkins, the publicist from the Butin Group, and Libbie Summers, Paula Deen's food editor and head food stylist, were already there hard at work getting everything ready for the big production.

Emily McCarty and Marty Snider came in from the satellite truck to brief me on the schedule. You might recognize Marty from his reporting on Nascar. Then, the hair and makeup lady arrived around 6:30 a.m. to get me ready. The hair and makeup artist did hair and makeup for Deborah Norville (from Inside Edition) for 3 years in New York and for ACCESS Holleywood in LA. She did a fabulous job.

Before I knew it, we were off and running doing radio interviews and television interviews until about 11: 45 a.m.. I felt really good about the whole day. Libbie helping made it possible for me to concentrate on the actual interviewing and removed the stress of making sure the food was perfectly arranged and ready. It was such a fun surreal day!

I returned the car and flew home. I'm happy to be home again with my family, back to potty training, and driving my mini-van which allows me to actually see above the cars in front of me. If they ask me to do it again, I'd love it. For now, I'll enjoy my quiet life in Tucson and all it has to offer!

Click here to see one of the interviews I did yesterday with Cleveland's WKYC.

You can find all the recipes we used and tips for entertaining for March Madness on clubentertaining.com.

Click here for information on my 14 cookbooks.

More pictures from the trip:

I was able to see my friend, Jessie, while I was there. She came to see the tail end of the shooting and we were able to go out to lunch afterward. We grew up together and I hadn't been able to see her in years! It was fun to catch up.

Pumpkin Spice Trifle

2009-12-22T22:08:00.000-08:00

Here was my 26th television interview shot in December.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Pumpkin Spice Trifle
from 101 Things To Do With Pudding
Ingredients:
•1 cup pumpkin puree
•1/2 cup water
•1/2 cup applesauce
•3 eggs
•1 spice cake mix
•3 small boxes instant vanilla or cheesecake pudding mix
•2 1/2 cups cold milk
•1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
•1 cup chopped pecans
•1 cup English toffee bits
Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat pumpkin puree, water, applesauce, and eggs until smooth. Gradually stir in cake mix and 1 box dry pudding mix. Spread batter into a 9 x 13-inch pan prepared with nonstick spray. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Allow cake to cool completely.
In a separate bowl, beat remaining dry pudding mix and milk together for 1-2 minutes until smooth. Chill for 5 minutes. Fold whipped topping into pudding until well blended.

Crumble one-third of the cake in the bottom of a large glass bowl. Spoon one-third of the cake in the bottom of a large glass bowl. Spoon one-third of the pudding topping evenly over cake layer. Sprinkle with one-third of the pecans and one-third of the toffee bits. Repeat all layers two more times. Refrigerate before and after serving. Makes 16 servings

FunnySpoon.com

2009-08-29T23:00:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that one of my favorite hobbies next to saving money is cooking! I have written or co-written 14 cookbooks including one New York Times Best Selling book, 101 Things To Do With A Cake Mix.

I’m proud to announce a new partnership with a simple cooking website, FunnySpoon.com. I’ve provided the site with a few of my salad recipes from 101 Things To Do With A Salad and encourage all of you to check it out. FunnySpoon.com is full of simple, fantastic recipes created with busy parents and professionals in mind. If you’re hungry and short on time then FunnySpoon.com has a meal solution for you!

8/28 KVOA Savvy Savings Segment

2009-08-29T17:12:00.000-07:00

Here's the clip from my appearance on KVOA's 4 p.m. news today! I shared numerous birthday freebies available for kids. I'll be back to KVOA in September sharing how to save money in the grocery store one week and couponing tips another week in September.

My KVOA Birthday Freebie Segment

2009-08-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

For those of you who missed it, here is the clip from my appearance on KVOA's 4 p.m. news! Huge thanks to Paul, the amazing cameraman who helped me film the first of the clip! I also have to say that Kristi Tedesco is as nice behind the scenes as she looks on camera. What a sweet heart! I look forward to working with the team at KVOA in the future. Next appearance will be Friday, August 28th on KVOA's 4 p.m. news!

Good Things Utah

2009-07-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

On Friday, I went on to Good Things Utah to promote my most recent cookbook, 101 Things To Do With Meatballs. I thought I would post the segment for anyone who was interested in viewing it.

Click here to view the segment! Click on 07/10/09 Southwest Taco Salad & Sweet and Spicy Meatballs.

Gingerale Meatballs

2009-07-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

I had a great visit with KIDK in Idaho Falls yesterday. We featured one of the dressed up meatball ideas from 101 Things To Do With Meatballs.

Ginger Ale Meatballs

39 ( 1 1/2 pounds) frozen, fully cooked meatballs
2 cups ginger ale
2 cups ketchup
1 teaspoon minced garlic

Place frozen meatballs in a 3- to 4-quart slow cooker prepared with nonstick cooking spray. In a bowl, combine ginger ale, ketchup, and garlic. Pour mixture over meatballs. Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3 hours. Serve with toothpicks as an appetizer, on hoagie buns, or over hot cooked noodles.

Colorful Ice Cream Sandwiches

2009-06-25T22:19:00.000-07:00

Last June I shot this segment with Good Things Utah. I just realized that they have it available on line to watch! Click here to see the recipes!

Yogurt Cake

2009-06-25T10:05:00.000-07:00

My oldest son turned 11 yesterday! This picture was taken at his birthday party in 2007. He is such an amazing kid. He is a great big brother especially to his baby sister Emma! She adore him and the fact that he'll stop what he's doing to play with her.

Every year he request the same cake for his birthday. He loves the Yogurt Cake recipe from 101 Things To Do With A Cake Mix! He likes it when I use blueberry, boysenberry, or raspberry yogurt. Lemon is also wonderful in this recipe with a lemon cake mix.

Whenever I take this recipe somewhere, I get so many requests for the recipe. I hate to admit how easy it is! This light luscious cake is definitely the summer dessert recipe you have been searching for!

Yogurt Cake
Cake:
1 white cake mix
8 ounces flavored yogurt (I love using the fruit in the bottom kind. 6 ounces works as well.)

Topping:
8 ounces whipped topping
8 ounces flavored yogurt (same flavor as used in cake)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With electric mixer, slowly mix cake ingredients according to package directions. Gently stir in yogurt with spoon or plastic spatula. Pour batter into a greased 9 x 13-inch pan.

Bake 30-35 minutes, until golden on top. Use a toothpick to determine if cake is done. Chill the cake in the refrigerator 4 hours.

Before serving, stir whipped topping and yogurt together and frost cake with it. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Saucy Meatball Grinders

2009-06-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

My newest book, 101 Things To Do With Meatballs, has to be my simplest books yet! If loved the ease of the recipes from 101 Things To Do With A Cake Mix, you will love this new cookbook! I used the Casa Di Bertacchi© frozen fully cooked meatballs in all 101 yummy recipes! You can find the meatballs in 6 pound bags at Sams Club in the freezer section.

The book was recently reviewed by Marye Audet from Baking Delights! You must read THE REVIEW on her blog! Thanks, Marye!

Saucy Meatball Grinders

14 oz pizza sauce
1/4 cup apple jelly
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
30 FarmRich frozen meatballs
6 hoagie rolls, split
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

Combine all sauce ingredients in a pan. Warm up, stirring, until smooth and the sauce begins to simmer.
Carefully add meatballs.
Cover and simmer about 20 minutes, or until meatballs are heated through.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place 5 meatballs in each roll. Spoon sauce over and sprinkle on cheese.
Heat until the cheese is melted.

Serves 6

Grandma's Chocolate Lush

2009-05-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever met a true "Super Woman"? I was blessed to have one as my grandmother. My grandma, Margery Woertz, passed away 5/16/09 after a short fight with cancer. She was 91, and we prayed that she wouldn't have to suffer. Our prayers were answered and she passed away in her sleep about a month after she was diagnosed.

My grandma was truly amazing. As a child and teenager, I could barely keep up with her. She was always busy doing good whenever and wherever she could. She did everything from driving the tracker, to handling the cows, to canning their home grown produce and to serving others in whatever way she was able. She raised 4 pretty amazing kids, one of which was my mother.

My grandma was an amazing cook! She loved to make food for others and in her later years she loved to feed the missionaries. It wasn't uncommon to hear that she had 8-10 missionaries out to her house for dinner. She loved the missionaries! She also loved having the family at her home for dinners for holiday and regular occasions! We all loved her different Pudding Lush recipes- the chocolate variation can be found in 101 Things to Do With Chocolate and other variations which will be published in my soon to be released 101 Things To Do With Pudding.

Chocolate Lush from 101 Things To Do With Chocolate
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional
1 package (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 container (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed and divided
2 small boxes chocolate instant pudding mix
3 cups milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine butter, flour, and nuts, if desired, with pastry blender until crumbly. Press mixture into a glass 9 x 13-inch pan. Bake 10 minutes; cool completely.

In a bowl, mix together cream cheese and powdered sugar. Fold in 1 cup whipped topping. Spread cream cheese mixture over cooled crust. Mix together pudding mixes and milk until pudding starts to thicken. Pour pudding over cream cheese layer. Spread remaining whipped topping over top. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, or until ready to serve. Makes 20-24 servings.

My Mom's Lemon Squares

2009-05-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to a celebration dinner for Ryan Alexander, who recently returned from serving a 2 year mission for our church. We took along one of his dad's favorite treats to share. This is one of the simplest recipes that my mother taught me how to make when I was 10 years old. It still remains a favorite today with my own children!

Lemon Squares from 101 Things To Do With A Cake Mix
1 lemon cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable, canola, or olive oil
Powdered Sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, mix together cake mix, eggs, and oil. Mixture will be stiff. Spread mixture evenly into a greased 9 x 13-inch pan. Bake 13-15 minutes until slightly golden on top. Cool, then sprinkle powdered sugar over the squares.

5/8 KVOA News Story

2009-05-09T00:18:00.001-07:00

Tracking down the best deal

By: Sandy Rathbun

Published May 8, 2009

"In Stephanie Ashcraft’s home everything has a story. As she plays air hockey, she says, “This is the activity table that we were able to get for a screaming deal. They’re usually over $1,000 for a nice one, and this one we were able to pick up for just over $500.”

Across the room, she says, “We got our $2,300 sofa set for 1,000 bucks.”

“I have to find the deal,” she says. “If it’s not 50 percent off or more I hardly look at it at all.”

How does she do it?

Ashcraft says, “Tip number one is use cash and don’t be afraid to walk away.”

She says that’s how she and her husband bought a $200 dollar keyboard for their four young children.

Ashcraft explains, “They had a floor model left at one of the warehouse stores. We asked the manager, we have 100 bucks, that’s all we have. Are you willing to take that with the tax and everything?” And he was.

Her tip number two is “Be willing to ask for a deal.”

That’s how she bought a wooden organizer for her hobby room. She says, “My scrapbook organizing system never [goes] on sale. [So] I just contacted the owner and I said is there any way you can give me a 25 percent discount if I just pay you in full? And she said yes, we’ll do it, so don’t be afraid to ask. The worst they can say is no.”

Ashcraft’s tip three is to research prices.

She says, “The Internet is one of the best money saving tools out there right now. Within minutes you can have the lowest price on pretty much about anything.”

For example she pulled up prices for a cookbook she wrote called “101 Things To Do With A Salad.”

She demonstrated, “You look it up on pricerate.com or bizrate.com. The lowest price is $5.91. That includes the shipping.”

Suddenly she proclaims, “That’s cheaper than I can get it as the author.”"

FREE Food Storage Reference Guide

2009-05-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

University of Utah has a free downloadable Home Food Storage guide that you can save, print etc! It is only 21 pages long, so you can print it off to have on hand if you like! It is in PDF format.

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT

One of my other favorite food storage references is:

funwithfoodstorage.net

They have great excel worksheets to help you get started and organized! Click here to get to the worksheets!

My Mom's Honey Wheat Bread

2009-05-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Paige, my cousin-in-law, asked me if I had a good bread recipe that she could use. This is my all time favorite bread recipe. Probably because I have great memories of coming home from school to the smell of this bread baking. This bread warm with butter and honey was my all time favorite after school treat! This bread is dense which I love.

Even my kids who don't like wheat bread love this recipe!

My Mom's Honey Wheat Bread
1/2 cup warm water
2 tablespoons or 3 envelopes yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
5 cups hot tap water
8 cups wheat flour
2/3 cup vegetable, canola, or olive oil
2/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons salt
4 cups white flour

In a 1-quart bowl, stir together 1/2 cup warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let yeast mixture stand 10 minutes while combining other ingredients. Yeast mixture will bubble and expand. In a Bosch kitchen machine, combine 5 cups hot water, wheat flour, oil, honey and salt until blended. Add yeast mixture and white flour. Knead for 10 minutes on low speed. Spray hands with cooking spray and divide dough into 3 greased loaf pans. Let dough rise in pans for 40 minutes. Then, bake bread for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm with butter and honey or peanut butter and jam. Makes 3 loaves.

Frozen meatballs: not just for spaghetti anymore

2009-05-05T22:33:00.000-07:00

Frozen meatballs: not just for spaghetti anymore

By Caroline Dipping

Friday, December 12, 2008

"From party appetizers to family dinners, frozen meatballs have got you covered. Keeping a bag in the freezer means you've always got the building blocks for an array of quick and easy dishes.

This week's ingredient: Frozen meatballs

Fast food: Frozen meatballs are already fully cooked, so heating them up can take less than five minutes in the microwave.

Budget buy: A 96-ounce bag of Casa Di Bertacchi meatballs is $12.88 at Sam's Club.

Trivia: Amazon.com has “101 Things to Do With Meatballs” by Stephanie Ashcraft for $9.99. Chipotle Meatball Pasta, anyone?

Dish 1: Berry Barbecue Meatballs

In a 3 1/2-quart slow cooker sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, place 2 pounds frozen meatballs, 1 (16-ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce and 1 cup barbecue sauce. Cover and cook on low 5 to 6 hours.

Dish 2: Meatball Stroganoff

Heat 1 1/2 pounds frozen meatballs according to package directions; drain liquid. Add 2 cans cream of mushroom soup, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup water, dash Tabasco, 1 cup sour cream, 1 small can drained mushrooms. Simmer over medium heat 20 minutes. Stir occasionally. Serve over hot cooked egg noodles.

Dish 3: Philly Meatball Sub Sandwiches

Saute 2 sliced green bell peppers and 1 chopped onion in olive oil until tender. Microwave 16 meatballs with 2 tablespoons water for 4 minutes. Drain liquid. Combine 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 cup steak sauce with the meatballs. Divide veggies over 4 toasted sub rolls, add 4 meatballs and a slice of provolone cheese to each sandwich."

The Travel Lady Reviews 101 Things To Do With A Tortilla

2009-05-05T22:16:00.000-07:00

^TM

Tortillas Aren’t Just for Mexican Food Anymore!

Wrap ‘n’ Roll with 101 Simple Recipes for Tortilla Treats

Reviewed by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

"I can boil water. I can make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I can nuke frozen food in the microwave.

Now I have a new cookbook that makes me feel like a culinary genius.

101 Things to Do with a Tortilla takes this delicious, nutritious, no-fail recipe ingredient and proves that tortillas aren’t just for Mexican food anymore! Featuring recipes such as Italian Roast Beef Wrap, Tortilla Sushi Rolls, Green Chile Tortilla Soup in a Hurry, Tortilla Quiche, and Peanut Butter S’mores, this collection of distinctive and inventive tortilla treats is the perfect addition to every busy kitchen. Most recipes have less than 10 simple ingredients and all can be found at the local supermarket.

Tortillas are second only to fresh breads in U.S. sales and outsell bagels two to one. From burritos to wraps and chalupas to tacos, this staple of Mexican and Southwestern cooking is revolutionizing mealtime across the world. In 101 Things to Do with a Tortilla (Gibbs Smith, Publisher; $9.95; Spiral-bound paperback with spill-proof plastic cover; 1-58685-469-0; 5 ¼ x 7 ¼ in; 128 pp; April 2005), Stephanie Ashcraft and Donna Kelly offer 101 yummy recipes to tempt the appetite, fill the tummy and simplify mealtime.

With Helpful Hints, Appetizers, Quesadillas and Wraps, Kids and Snacks, Soups and Salads, Breakfast, Main Dishes, Mexican Favorites and Desserts, 101 Things to Do with a Tortilla is the go-to guide for quick, easy recipes for every busy life. For a simple, tasty solution to snack-time, try the Peanut Butter S’mores, Happy Clown Faces or Creamy Fruit Roll-ups. Perfect for appetizers or game-time goodies are Pepper Jelly Bites, Never-Fail Nachos or Tortilla Pinwheels. BLT Wraps, Open-Face Pesto Quesadillas or Tuna Melt Triangles make a good alternative to the tired old sandwich for lunch, and Green Chile Tortilla Soup or Seafood Tostada Salad are healthy snacks for that mid-afternoon craving. Don’t forget classics like Mom’s White Enchiladas, Shredded Beef Tacos and Chicken Flautas, plus new classics like Southwest Lasagna, or Polynesian Bundles with Chocolate Raspberry Burritos for dessert.

101 Things to Do with a Tortilla joins the best-selling “101” Series that has sold over 750,000 copies. Also available in the series is 101 Things to Do with a Cake Mix, 101 More Things to Do with a Cake Mix, 101 Things to Do with a Slowcooker, 101 More Things to Do with a Slowcooker, 101 Things to Do with a Potato and the also-new 101 Things to Do with a BBQ.

Stephanie Ashcraft, author of the original 101 Things to Do with a Cake Mix, was raised near Kirklin, Indiana. She received a bachelor’s degree in family science and a teaching certificate from Brigham Young University. She lives in Idaho; this is her sixth book. Donna Kelly was born and raised in tortilla country – Southern Arizona. She has four children and works as a prosecuting attorney. This is her first book.

Founded in 1969, Gibbs Smith, Publisher specializes in books on design and architecture, and also features titles from categories including western, holiday, cooking, inspiration and children’s activity (featuring the celebrated Sierra Club Books for Children series). Additional cookbooks from Gibbs Smith, Publisher include Three Guys from Miami Cook Cuban, American Sandwich, El Farol: Spanish Tapas and Cuisine, and The Golden Door Cooks Light and Easy.

Author Biography

101 Things to Do With a Tortilla
Stephanie Ashcraft never expected to sell thousands of copies of the book of recipes that she and her husband once assembled by hand in their small living room in Utah. She created the first copy of her first book 101 Things to Do With a Cake Mix, as a college class project. Over 200,000 copies of that first book have now sold to date, and sales of all her books combined now top 750,000 copies.

Stephanie is a full-time homemaker and mother, and has been creating and perfecting her recipes since she was a child. She grew up in Indiana, and then moved to Utah to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Family Science. She has taught cooking classes for the last seven years. Stephanie lives in Idaho and looks forward to finding venues to teach and share her cooking skills with people across the nation. This is her sixth book.

Donna Kelly was born and raised in tortilla country – Southern Arizona. She has a lifelong passion for southwest cooking and grew up making tortillas, tamales and all varieties of Mexican food. Tortillas are still a staple in her kitchen, and she has spent 30 years taking traditional recipes and giving them her own southwest flair. Her greatest food critics are her very patient husband, Jim, and four children, who all dine on tortilla dishes on a regular basis. Donna works as a prosecuting attorney in Utah. This is her second book.

Stephanie and Donna teamed up when Donna found the other “101” titles. The two are an ideal team for this book, with Donna’s passion for southwest cuisine and Stephanie’s knack for simple and practical recipes of all kinds. They spent nearly two years collaborating on the recipes, improving and refining them to perfection and streamlining them for minimal preparation time with maximum flavor.

Tortilla Facts and Helpful Hints

Tortillas are second only to fresh breads in U.S. sales and outsell bagels two to one. Industry experts predict that by 2004, tortillas will be the most popular bread product in the U.S.
Americans eat 7 billion pounds of tortillas a year, the equivalent of one tortilla per person per day
47% of all households purchased tortillas in 2001
Flour tortillas are a low-fat food (about 4 grams of fat, 157 calories each) and are available in a low-carb variety. They contain iron and other B vitamins as well, and come ready to eat in a variety of shapes and sizes
Corn tortillas are low in fat and sodium (average 120 calories and 1.5 fat grams). They also contain calcium, potassium and are a natural source of fiber. Generally, corn tortillas come in a standard 6-inch size and must be cooked before being eaten
To heat and soften tortillas before use, place one at a time on a medium-hot, ungreased, non-stick skillet, turning frequently until hot. To heat in a microwave, place up to 4 tortillas at a time on a plate and cover with a paper towel. Microwave 20-30 seconds, or until tortillas are soft and bendable
Store tortillas in a sealed package. Dry storage tortillas will last at room temperature for about 5 days. In a refrigerator, flour and corn tortillas can be stored for about 60 days. Frozen tortillas can be stored for approximately 90 days
There are about 300 U.S. tortilla manufacturing companies, but tortillas are booming in Europe, too: A Mexican operates a successful tortilla company in Germany, capable of cranking out up to 2 tons of tortillas per day (Mexican and TexMex restaurants and food are becoming increasingly popular abroad)"

Gimme the Bundt and No One Gets Hurt

2009-05-05T22:03:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Carem Bennett

"101 Things to do with a Cake Mix is as stylish and fun as its packaging. The book comes in a 7 1\2 by 5 1\2-inch size, with spiral binding and a plastic cover. The binding makes the book extremely useful -- no propping the pages open or worrying about wrecking the cover by dropping cake batter all over it. All cookbooks should be this easy to have in the kitchen.

101 Things to do with a Cake Mix will please a wide range of bakers, but parents will value this book as a treasure chest of family fun. The final chapter of the book is "Children's Delights." The recipes include "Delicious Dirt," which is a recipe for a chocolate pudding cake, covered with "dirt" (crushed Oreo cookies). There are seasonal recipes for holiday activities, such as "Valentine Cookies," "American Flag Cake," "Halloween Spider Cake" and even a "Peppermint Cake." The children's chapter is filled with fun for cooking with your children during the holidays.

Two recipes in 101 Things to do with a Cake Mix particularly stand out: "Heavenly Brownies" and "Sweet Delights." "Heavenly Brownies" is a classic cream-cheese brownie recipe, without the brownie mix. Ashcraft substitutes a chocolate cake mix in place of the traditional brownie mix. These brownies bake wonderfully, they are moist and decadent. The "heavenly" twist in the name makes them ideal for church bake sales and Sunday school classes. I pack them in tins and give them away as "care packages."

The "Sweet Delights" recipe is a sure kid-pleaser. My test audience was my one-year-old nephew. He gobbled these cookies down, leaving behind nothing but a chocolate-covered giggle and fudgy handprints on his highchair. The cookies are moist, chewy and don't involve measuring a large amount of ingredients. The recipe relies solely on a cake mix (of any flavor, I chose Devil's food), brown sugar, oil, eggs and chocolate chips. They were almost too easy for how good they tasted. A winning recipe.

For fans of bundt cakes, Ashcraft includes recipes for eight different varieties. The recipes include classic favorites such as "Death-By-Chocolate" and "Luscious Lemon." Newer favorites include "Pistachio Pound Cake" and "Cream-Cheese Lemon Pound Cake." The variety of bundt cakes in this chapter seems designed to please every palate.

On the whole, 101 Things to do with a Cake Mix relies on readily accessible ingredients: cake mixes, brown sugar, eggs, oil, chocolate chips, powdered sugar, nuts and flour. Some recipes, however, require planning as they use ingredients that you may not keep handy. Cherry pie filling, lemon instant pudding, wheat germ, cream cheese and sour cream are examples of ingredients I did not have stocked as I perused the recipes.

My one difficulty with using this book is that there are no pictures. Not one. There's not even a smiling picture of the author. Not having a reference for colors and textures is aggravating; you have to guess your way along unfamiliar recipes. There is also no guide for decorating ideas. This requires a fair bit of experience and creativity on the part of the reader. However, it's an inexpensive book: the cover price makes it a bargain purchase, pictures or no pictures."

January 2003

Carem Bennett is a freelance writer and cake decorating enthusiast.

Caesar Meatball Kabobs

2009-05-05T18:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Melissa, for posting the following to Gibbs Smith, Publisher's blog! "There are so many easy and tasty recipes in one of the newest additions to our 101 series, you're bound to be surprised! The seasons of spring and summer bring many days of barbecuing with them. The first recipe you should try this season is from 101 Things To Do With Meatballs by Stephanie Ashcraft. I hope you enjoy!

Caesar Meatball Kabobs

18 frozen, fully cooked meatballs, thawed

1 medium yellow or green bell pepper, seeded and cut into 12 equal pieces

1 large or 2 small summer squash, cut into 12 (1 1/2 to 2-inch) slices

12 whole mushrooms

12 cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup Caesar dressing

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

On a long metal skewer, thread a meatball, bell pepper slice, squash slice, mushroom, and tomato. Repeat pattern ending with a meatball. Repeat for 5 more skewers. Combine Caesar dressing and black pepper. Place meatball skewers directly on a hot grill. Baste the kabobs with the dressing. Grill for 6–8 minutes, turning and basting every 2–3 minutes until done. Makes 6 kabobs.

Note: If using bamboo skewers, soak in water for 30 minutes prior assembling kabobs."

These are so yummy! We'll definitely be making these simple kabobs again soon.

Cherry Jubilee

2009-05-05T18:05:00.001-07:00

I know the cobbler pictured isn't cherry, but this goes to show you how versatile my recipes can be. I was in the mood for dutch oven cobbler, but there was no way I was going to go to that much trouble to make it. So, I used the Cherry Jubilee recipe from my book 101 Things To Do With A Slow Cooker. It's Dutch Oven made easy!

I debated using peach or apple pie filling and finally settled on apple. Good choice! It was delish! We served it warm with whipped cream, but hot with vanilla ice cream is amazing as well. Here is the original recipe!

Cherry Jubilee
2 cans (21 ounces each) cherry pie filling
1 package (18 ounces) yellow cake mix
1/2 cup melted butter or margarine

Spread pie filling in the bottom of greased 4 1/2 to 6-quart slow cooker. Sprinkle dry cake mix powder over the top. Pour melted butter over the top. Cover and cook on high heat 2 hours or on low heat 4 hours. Makes 10-12 servings.

Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping.

Cook Once, Eat Twice

2009-05-05T17:44:00.000-07:00

Those who know me well know that I love my 9 slow cookers and use them quite often! Maybe that is the reason there are two 101 Slow Cooker books written by Janet Eyring and myself.

Sunday I made the Burritos recipe from my book 101 Things To Do With A Slow Cooker. I was in the mood for easy Mexican. I already had 1 pound ground beef that had been cooked, drained, and frozen. This made this recipe even easier! In less than 5 minutes, I had dinner simmering. It was nice coming home from church to a dinner that required mainly setting the table! We served the filling nacho style over tortilla chips with grated cheese sprinkled over the top! It was delicious!

Tonight we are serving the leftover filling over warmed pita bread as Navajo Tacos with shredded cheese and diced tomatoes. Yummy! Or you could just follow the recipe as written.

Burritos
1 pound ground beef, cooked and drained
2 cans (16 ounces each) refried beans
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
flour tortillas

Combine all ingredients except tortillas in greased 3 1/2 to 5-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat 4-6 hours. Spread hot bean mixture on flour tortillas. Fill with favorite burrito toppings. Fold and enjoy. Makes 4-6 servings.

Burrito toppings might include tomatoes, whole kernal corn, green onions, cheese, guacamole, caramelized onion, and red or green salsa.

Cooking With Mrs. 101

2009-05-04T18:13:00.000-07:00

To my fellow foodies, I thought I would share some of my adventures in cooking. My name is Stephanie Ashcraft. I am the creator of the 101 Things cookbook series from Gibbs Smith, Publisher. We have 22+ books in the series. I have authored or co-authored 13 of them. I just finished writing book #14.

My specialty is frugal quick and easy. As a mother to 4 young children, my time is extremely limited. My hope is that my recipes can save you time and money in your kitchen as well! I hope you enjoy my new blog!