Coconut Pineapple Dip

Do you love coconut shrimp? Here is a dip you gotta try. I love Red Lobsters coconut shrimp and their pineapple dip that comes with it. I decided to try and make my own. It's very easy and delicious. Get out your blender and whip up a batch for dinner tonight.

1 cup fresh pineapple
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup coconut milk
3/4 cup shredded coconut

Put all ingredients into your blender and blend for 1 minute. Pour into serving dishes and enjoy with coconut shrimp. I am experimenting with coconut shrimp and will hopefully have a recipe up soon.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract is one of my favorite cooking ingredients. When I read Laura's blog on making your own homemade vanilla extract I thought I would give it a try.

Pure vanilla extract can be very expensive. The last bottle I bought from Whole Foods cost $5.00 for a 2 oz. bottle. I did some calculating and figured out that making your own is way cheaper. Buying the vodka, vanilla beans and the 2 oz. bottles will only end up costing you around $2.00 a bottle for pure vanilla extract.

It takes around six months before your vanilla will be ready to use. Just in time to get them bottled up and ready for Christmas presents. I can't wait to see how this project turns out. I love making things from scratch and Heavenly Homemakers is a great inspiration to me. Thanks Laura for all you do. Go check out her blog!!!

Honey Wheat Hamburger Buns

When I was doing my menu planning for the week I didn't realize that we didn't have any hamburger buns. So, I headed to the store to buy some (can we say "lazy"). The store wanted $3.29 for a package of 8 hamburger buns. I couldn't bring myself to buy them.

I went home and got out the bread machine and decided to make my own. I have tried this once before and they turned out really thick and yucky. The recipe I used is from my bread machine book for honey wheat rolls. Here is how I made them into hamburger buns.

Recipe:
1 cup water (room temperature)
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup honey ( I used Agave)
1 egg
2 cups bread flour
1 1/4 cups wheat flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Add all ingredients to bread machine and select dough cycle. When bread is done, knead it for 2-3 mins. of floured surface. Tear off a chunk of dough and roll in palm of hand until it's approx. 3 inches round. Keep doing this until you use up all the dough. Place on greased cookie sheet and cover with a clean cloth. Let rise for 1 hour. Push down on dough gently to release the air. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 mins. Makes approx. 14 buns.

I then cut one in half to make sure it was not dense and thick inside. Perfect! I think the bread flour helped a lot. No more store bought hamburger buns for us.

Free shipping on Tropical Traditions Gallon Coconut Oil

Tropical Traditions is offering FREE ground shipping on their Gold Label Virgin Coconut oil in the gallon containers. It is also on sale for only $69.00.

About six months ago I tried Tropical Traditions virgin coconut oil and feel in love with it. The jar didn't last long when I started making my own tortilla shells. Let's see how long this gallon of coconut oil will last me.

Hurry this FREE shipping offer ends Thursday Feb. 24th!!!

FYI: Tropicana Juicy Rewards expire Feb.28

Tropicana Juicy Rewards will expire Feb. 28, 2011. There are still some great deals to get or you could donate your points to help the rain forest. Every 3 points you donate help rescue 100 square feet of rain forest.

I don't know much about the rain forest but I do know it needs our help. Here are some facts you can learn about the disappearing rain forest.

Super Bowl Cake: Packers vs. Steelers

Ahh, the big game is almost here!!

I don't follow football much, but I do love the super bowl. I like to watch the half time shows and the commercials. Another great benefit to super bowl is eating. Just another reason to be in the kitchen cooking up some yummy treats.

My super bowls are spent at work so we just bring the party there. I will bring in my t.v. and my two managers and I cook up some yummy treats for all the employees. This year I am making deviled eggs, cheese and cracker tray, apples with caramel dip and a super bowl cake. Not much cooking going on in the kitchen, but it's still fun. What are your favorite super bowl dishes?

Cheesy Chicken Alfredo

This is a simple and quick dinner meal. I love making dishes that are easy to reheat. We don't have a microwave and that means a lot of dirty dishes when heating up leftovers. Although I don't mind doing dishes I would rather be cooking instead of cleaning. I know, I know, cooking means cleaning up.

Cheesy Chicken Alfredo:

1 lb. boneless chicken breast
1 8 oz. package cream cheese
1 cup milk
1/2 lb. cooked pasta
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tbsp. parsley
Parmesan cheese to top it off


Cook your pasta according the the box, drain and set aside. Cook your chicken breast in skillet or grill. Cut into bite size pieces. In a large skillet add cream cheese, milk, garlic, salt, pepper and parsley. Cook on medium heat until cream cheese is melted. Add cooked pasta and chicken. Pour into casserole dish and top with Parmesan and more parsley.