Strawberry Angel Kabobs

Don’t you hate it when you're browsing through Pinterest and you come across something that someone else has pinned that is just like something that you have been making forever and have been saving to post?! That happened recently when I logged on and saw something similar to my Strawberry Angel Kabobs (which I had been saving to post this week.) These are a favorite for Mother's Day Brunch.

This is the perfect dessert for Mother's Day that is low-calorie, (what mom isn't always looking for low-cal?) and easy to assemble (see tips for chocolate striping below). It also has an elegant presentation and tastes delicious! What more can you ask for from a dessert? You could even serve Ice Cream in Chocolate Bowls alongside the skewers. 

If you like brunch that leans towards breakfast foods, try these Personal Frittatas, with  Perfectly Crisp Bacon and Roasted Asparagus on the side. They are always a hit and everyone loves bacon! If your brunch is more of lunch food, here's a new and fun way to serve Caprese Salad. And this Sweet Mango Salsa is delicious served as a salad on a bed of lettuce. And Mom will think you are a gourmet chef when you present her with Chilled Avocado Cucumber Soup. 


So, on to the kabobs...

Ingredients:

Angel Food Cake (check your grocery store bakery for rectangle or square cake-it's easier to cut in squares than round cake)

Fresh Strawberries

Wooden Skewers

Melting Candy - Chocolate & Vanilla

Technique:

Cut angel food cake into squares

Cut tops off strawberries

Slide strawberry onto skewers, followed by cake.

Repeat until skewer is full.

Set skewers close together on a tray.

Squeeze melting candy over skewers, either in stripes back and forth or twisting and circling.

Preparing Melting Candy:

Here's a super easy way to squeeze chocolate or frosting for decorating.

Put chocolate in microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute, then stir. Keep heating in 30 second increments, stirring in between each until melted.

Stand sandwich baggie inside of a small glass, spreading it open over the top of the glass.

Scoop up the melted chocolate and put in inside the baggie.

Pick the the baggie, using your hand to slide the chocolate down into the corner.

Cut a TINY bit off the corner of the baggie. I can't stress TINY enough, if you want to decorate in thin strips of chocolate.

Once you have finished decorating your skewers with chocolate melting candy, repeat the process with the vanilla melting candy.

Happy Mother's Day!

What is your favorite Mother's Day dessert? To leave a comment Click Here.

Chocolate Bowls for Ice Cream Sundaes

Are you looking for a dessert idea that looks way cool but is super simple? These chocolate bowls are great for serving ice cream sundaes. The simplest dessert is just setting out the ice cream, brownies and toppings for people to create their own sundae. People get really excited when they get to create their own...I guess it's kind of like going to an ice cream or yogurt shop where you get to choose your own mix-ins. This dessert works in all settings, from a nice Easter dinner, to a casual night of entertaining, to a fun birthday party.

I like to make both chocolate and vanilla bowls; strange, but some people actually prefer vanilla to chocolate. I typically use candy melts that you get by the bag from Michaels, JoAnns, etc. Most of them are chocolate flavor, but there is always a white one (or white with sparkles in it) that is vanilla flavored.

Toppings could include chocolate, caramel, butterscotch, chopped walnuts, sliced almonds, fresh berries, pineapple, whipped topping, sprinkles and maraschino cherries. And you can never go wrong with crushed Butterfingers or Heath bars and brownies or chocolate chip cookies. For Easter I will serve Tuxedo Bunnies and Chocolate Bird Nests with the ice cream sundaes. On another occasion I might serve Homemade Whoopie Pies  with them. Is your mouth watering yet??

Here's what you need:

Melting Candy

Small Balloons

Wax Paper

Technique:

Blow up balloons to fit into the size of bowl you want.

Put melting candy in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute. Stir. Continue to microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between each interval until melted.

Dip balloon into chocolate. Tilt the balloon to get the chocolate to the depth that you want your bowl. Set balloons on wax paper and allow to harden. Be sure to stir the chocolate after melting, before dipping the balloon (so the hot chocolate doesn't make the balloon burst! (What you don't see is the chocolate that splattered all across the kitchen - floor, wall, counter!) See the orange balloon still in the one on the right? The balloon on the left is completely covered.

And here's what happens when you have extra chocolate. (I said I would make chocolate treats, I never said I wouldn't play with it.)

To get them to set faster. set them on a tray and put them in the fridge. 

After the chocolate is completely set, pop the balloons and peel them out of the chocolate shell.

Every bowl will be different...that's part of the coolness of them.

Some of the balloons peeled out very easily, some of them didn't (I had to use my fingernail to scrape and help it along.) Be sure to hold the bowl very gently while peeling the balloon; the chocolate is still somewhat soft and will crush in your hand. Some of the bowls may have a "hole" in the bottom from where the balloon touched. Just put a dollop of chocolate on top of it. It will be covered up with ice cream.

You can set the bowls out with the toppings, or you might find it easier to set the chocolate bowls on a small plate or in a bowl and scoop the ice cream or frozen yogurt into them. That makes it easier for people to pick one up as they walk down your toppings bar or they can be passed out at the table and the toppings passed around the table.


Update: Every time I serve these bowls I plan to get pictures of peoples creations as they make them. But it never fails...they dive into eating it so fast, it is literally impossible. I managed to get these two pics as he was lifting it to eat it...lol!!

For more recipes and fun holiday ideas Click Here and Here.


To leave a comment Click Here.

OREO BARK/PEPPERMINT BARK-2nd HOLIDAY TREAT

Here is the 2nd of several quick and easy treats to make for the holidays. Can whip these up in a matter of minutes for last minute guests or to fill goodie bags. If you missed the 1st treat, you can see the Pretzel Kisses here.


Today's recipe has variations so you can actually create multiple flavors quickly. Here I will show Chocolate Peppermint Bark and Oreo Bark.


This process is so quick and easy. Start by crushing candy canes and Oreos in gallon size baggies before starting.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT BARK

Purchase Almond Bark in chocolate and vanilla. You can also use 'melting chocolates' or 'candy coating'...different names in different stores. I found Candy Coating at Fry's and Almond Bark at Walmart. Michaels, JoAnn's and all grocery stores will carry one or the other.

Almond Bark typically comes in a 1 pound package.
Break it in half and put one half in a microwave safe bowl.
Microwave for 1 minute. Use a plastic knife or silicone spatula to begin stirring. Continue to microwave in 15 second intervals until melted. It will continue to melt as you stir.

Now you can use a variety of containers to create the candy. I prefer a flat plastic storage container because I can twist it to pop the hardened candy out. You can use several small ones or a larger (9x13) size flat container. You could also use a cookie sheet, you just need to be able to twist it a little. I spray my plastic container with non-stick cooking spray. I'm not sure it is necessary but I do it anyway.


Pour the melted chocolate into the plastic container. Spread to about 1/8 inch thick.

Next put 1/2 pound of the Vanilla Almond Bark in another bowl and melt. Start with one minute in the microwave and stir. Add 15 seconds increments, stirring between each one.


Pour the melted Vanilla Bark on top of the Chocolate. I like to dribble it all over. It will not spread as you pour, so it's important not to dump it all in one spot. If you do, you will end up with a 'dirty' mixture of black and white as you try to spread it. That's not so bad, you can cover it with candy and it still tastes great. After dribbling the white on, take a plastic knife and gently cut through it, which spreads it and creates cool designs. You can do it nice and neatly, or a little chaotic.

Next, pick up a handful of crushed Peppermint and sprinkle on top. It's important to have the candy already crushed because you don't want the chocolate to harden while you are busy crushing candy canes.

Now, stick the plastic container in the fridge to harden.


Next I take 1/2 pound of Vanilla Bark (white), put it in microwave bowl and melt. Same process...start with one minute, stir, add 15 seconds, stir, etc.


When melted, add a couple handfuls of crushed Oreos and gently fold in. Pour into another flat plastic container and spread gently with the plastic knife. Put it in the fridge to harden.

When hardened (only takes a few minutes), twist the container so you can pick up the entire piece of bark. Gently break into pieces of whatever size you want. Here is a plate of peppermint and Oreo bark side by side.

This is great in goodie bags for neighbors, friends, co-workers, car-pool buddies, postal carrier, hair dresser, and well, anyone! It is also great to set out at a party broken into small pieces. It is always the first to go!
Merry Christmas!!