Hi Everyone,  
     Yes, it has been a really long time since I posted here on my blog.  A lot has happened in my life.  In September of 2015 the Lord called my husband into the ministry.  He is now the pastor of Homewood Baptist church near Ford City, PA.  Now as a pastor's wife I am very busy.  Along with support him, I am the church's secretary.   I also teach our Ladies Bible Study and I am one of the leaders of the Ladies Ministry at church.    What a joy it is to serve the Lord.  I will try to post some pictures.
     I hope to start posting more.

Janet November

Happy New Year 2015

Hi Everyone,

I hope all are enjoying the first day of 2015.  My pork roast with kraut is in the oven and the house is starting to have this delicious aroma tickle the taste buds.   I hope all of you had a blessed Christmas as we celebrated the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  The past couple of months I have been busy doing many things preparing for the holidays, especially in the kitchen, so I thought I would share some pictures and recipes from this holiday.

These are my Strawberry/Lemonade Cookies and they are made from two different cake mixes.

For each cake mix (separately) add to cake mix 1/2 c. oil, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla.  Mix in separately.  Form into balls the size of acorn.  Then press the two together, roll in powder sugar and bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes.  Cool and enjoy.

These are my Tropical Cupcakes.  See recipe below.

These are my Chocolate Mint Cupcakes.  See Recipe.


Tropical Cupcakes

Mix Pineapple Cake mix (I use Duncan Hines) according to package directions except I substitute Pina Colada Mix for the water.  Pour into cupcake papers and bake according to package directions.  When cool core a hole in the middle and fill with pineapple preserves.  Frosting with coconut butter cream frosting.  I sprinkle colored sugar on top.


Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

Mix a Dark Chocolate Fudge cake mix according to directions.  Fill cupcake papers and bake according to package directions.  When they are cool core a hole and fill with mint M & M's.  Frosting with chocolate butter cream frosting.  Sprinkle with crushed candy canes.


Well these are some of the recipes I have been busy making.  Try them out and let me know how they turned out for you.  Thanks for stopping by and visiting me here in Nana's Kitchen.  Stop by and any time you are always welcome.

Love, hugs and God bless you,
Janet

New Cake Recipe

Hi All,

Just wanted to check in a share an old, new recipe with everyone.  It is a cake I made yesterday and it was a hit here at my house.  It is chocolatly, sweet and very good.  But of course i love chocolate covered cherries so this cake was just right.  I call it Chocolate Covered Cherry Cake and the recipe is oh so easy.


Chocolate Covered Cherry Cake

1 box of Betty Crocker Cherry Chip Cake Mix
1 can of cherry pie filling (pulse slightly in food processor to break of cherries)
2 eggs slightly beaten
2 T. of butter melted
1 12 oz. bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix all together, spread in a 9 x 12 greased cake pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes.  Test to see if it is done, bake more if needed.  Let cool before frosting.

I use the Wilton butter cream frosting recipe except I used cherry extract instead of vanilla.  I also colored it pink (my favorite color).

Give it a try.  It is so good.

Well I am going to close.  Thanks for stopping by here in Nana's kitchen and visiting.  You are always welcome to stop by, stop anytime.  Let me know it you give the recipe a try.  Enjoy the pictures.

Love, hugs and God bless you,
Janet

Before

Warm out of the oven.

Frosted

Busy September

Hi Everyone,

I hope all of your are enjoying the beginning of the fall season.  Fall is a beautiful time of the year and it is also a very busy time.  This month I have been doing some baking, which I love to do, and I wanted to share some of the recipes and pictures with all of you.

Spicy Caramel Apple Cupcake

This is so easy and taste just like fall.  Take one spice cake mix, substitute 1 cup of apple juice for the 1 cup of water.  Mix and bake according to package directions.  Make an apple compote using macintoch apples, peeled, cored and chopped small.  Mix with desired amount of brown sugar, cinnamon and apple juice and cook until slightly thickened, let cool.  Once the cupcakes are cooled, core a small hole in the top and fill with the apple compote.  Top with caramel butter cream frosting, (I use the Wilton butter cream recipe and I substitute caramel extract for the vanilla). Drizzle each cupcake with caramel sauce and sprinkle finely chopped pecans.  Yummmmy!  They were a hit at our Ladies Bible Study as well as the church office.

Orange/Strawberry Cupcakes

Here is another easy recipe.  Mix an orange cupcake mix substituting orange juice for the water and mix and bake according to package directions.  I used strawberry jam for the filling (I blended it in the food processor first) and filled each cooled cupcake like I did the Spicy Caramel Apple cupcakes.  I topped each cupcake with strawberry flavored butter cream frosting.  I always use the Wilton butter cream frosting recipe, but I may alter it sometimes depending on how I want it to taste.)  The Wilton recipe is the best.

Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies

2 c. packed dark brown sugar                                 1 tsp. salt
1 16 oz. can of pumpkin                                          1 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. vegetable oil                                                     1 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. vanilla                                                            1/2tsp. ginger
4 c. flour                                                                 2 c. raisins
2 tsp. baking powder                                              1 c. chopped pecans (my substitution)
2 tsp. baking soda                                                   1 bag of chocolate chips (my substitution)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a cookie sheet.  In a large bowl, beat sugar, pumpkin oil and vanilla until blended.  Combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt and spices; stir into sugar mixture.  Stir in raisins, pecans and chocolate chips.  Drop by rounded teaspoon 2 inches apart onto cookie sheet.  Bake 12-15 minutes until set.  Remove to rack to cool.  Makes about 7 dozen.  (This recipe is from Quick & Easy Christmas Cookie Exchange along with my two substitutions).

Please enjoy these yummy treats.  Thank you for stopping by and visiting me here in Nana's Kitchen.  Stop by any time you are always welcome here.

Love, hugs, and God bless you,

Janet  

A New Cupcake Recipe

Spicy Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Hi Everyone,

Yes it has been too long since I posted here on my blog.  However, I do have a new recipe for you all.  It is for my Spicy Caramel Apple Cupcakes.


Spicy Caramel Apple Cupcakes

1 box of spice cake mix (any brand, I use either Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines)
Follow the cake recipe on box with the exception of water, replace that with 1 cup of apple juice.
Fill cupcake papers and bake according to package directions.  Then let cool.  Fill, frost, drizzle and sprinkle.   Before filling cut a small hole in middle of the cupcake about 1/2 through the cupcake for the filling.

Filling:

Cut, core, peel and coarsely chop 4 MacIntoch apples.  In a sauce pan pour 1 cup of apple juice and add apples.  Mix in 3/4 - 1 cup of dark brown sugar, 2 pinches of salt, and 2 T. of flour.  Cook and mixture thickens.  Let cool before filling the cupcake.

Frosting

Use a basic butter cream recipe, but instead of using vanilla use caramel extract.  The extract is a thick dark brown which will make your frosting a light tan color which gives it a caramel color.  Then drizzle caramel sauce over cupcakes and sprinkle with almost finely chopped pecans.

ENJOY!!!

Well thanks for visiting me here in Nana's kitchen.  You are always welcome to stop by.

Love, hugs, and God bless you,
Janet

Zucchini Bread

Hi Everyone,

It has been a while since I posted a recipe on my kitchen blog.  This morning I made homemade zucchini bread, with zucchini from our garden  I used a recipe from one of my cookbooks, but I altered the recipe a little.  Below is the recipe.  The original recipe is from "Old Pioneer Recipes"  by Bear Wallow Books.

Zucchini Bread

3 eggs, well beaten
1 3/4 cups of brown sugar *
1/4 cup white sugar *
1 cup of oil
1 tsp. of orange extract *
2 cups grated raw zucchini,drained
2 cups of flour
1 Tbs. of cinnamon
1/2 tsp. of nutmeg and ground cloves *
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 package of Salad Pizazz! Orange Cranberry Almondine chopped *
1/4 cup of orange juice *

Combine beaten eggs, sugars, oil and orange extract.  Beat mixture thoroughly.  Stir in grated zucchini. Chop Salad Pizazz and add orange juice and then add to wet ingredients.  Add remaining ingredients.  Pour into 2 well greased and floured loaf pans.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 60 minutes.

You can serve warm so the butter will melt.

ENJOY!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the recipe.  Stop by any time you are always welcome in Nana's Kitchen.

Happy Baking,
Janet

Baked Mashed Potatoes

Hi Everyone,

Have you ever had left over mashed potatoes and did not know what to do with them.  Here is an idea you might find delicious, I know my husband Jim did.

Baked Mashed Potatoes.

I took my leftover basil mashed potatoes (about 3 cups) added 1/3 cup of half & half, 1/4 cup of Marzetti's Sweet Vidala Onion Dressing and a 1/2 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, season with some slat/pepper, onion/garlic powder and a little thyme.  I love spices and herbs.  Mix all together and pour into a greased (I use spray oil) top with more shredded sharp cheddar cheesed and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until golden brown on top and just a little crispy on the edges.   They will be very soft and delicious.   Enjoy!!!

Well this is the recipe for this post.  don't throw those leftover mashed potatoes away.  Create a dish that your taste buds will love.  Give it a try.  Thanks for stopping by and visiting me here in Nana's Kitchen.  You are always welcome, stop by anytime.


Love, hugs, and God bless you,
Janet (Kristy, Abby, Dulcie, and Ngan's Nana)