The holidays are fast approaching and everyone is getting ready for those big family dinners.
I found myself looking through cookbooks, or the online virtual version of a cookbook, last week searching for a new fun food recipe to delight my own family.
I came across this awesome Pepperoni Bread idea and recipe!
I am pretty excited about this recipe. It seems like every year I need something to serve between meals.
Someone is always hungry when our family gets together and entire dinners take hours to cook.
Since my entire family loves bread and pizza, this pepperoni bread recipe looks like the perfect in-between meals snack or appetizer.
Sam's Pepperoni Bread Recipe
One of the things I like best about Sam's recipe is that he gives us really easy instructions to follow, which mean just about anyone could make this bread. He starts with a basic and simple yeast bread dough recipe. As with any yeast dough, you will need to let this bread dough rise for an hour, so be sure to plan ahead.
When the bread dough is ready, you simply place the pepperoni and other ingredients on the spread out dough. Sam does an excellent job of explaining exactly how to layer, roll and finish the bread roll to bake a delicious Pepperoni Bread.
Ingredient and Directions for How to Make Your Own Pepperoni Bread can be found by simply clicking this link!
School has started and everyday our children come home hot and tired. Day after day we watch our kids make a bee line for the refrigerator and freezer searching for something to cool them down quickly. I have found the perfect cold afternoon treat!
These Chunky Monkey popsicles can be made in advance and left in the freezer for those precious hands to easily grab. The kids will love them and so will you because they are so fast & easy to make.
How to Make Chunky Monkey Popsicles
I call them Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Popsicles because they are made with peanut butter, chocolate and bananas, but the creator of these popsicles dubbed them Chunky Monkey Popsicles. Perhaps, Chunky Monkey is an easier title. Regardless of the title, they are simply delicious.
Corrinna has featured the recipe for her Chunky Monkey Popsicles on her Glitter 'N' Spice website, which happens to be one of my own favorite sites to visit. She has given us very easy instructions to follow and also featured the needed Pop Maker to make the popsicles. Since it only takes about 10 minutes for the popsicles to freeze, you could even make them right before the children get home so they will be ready and waiting.
Corrinna has also included a Magic Shell Chocolate Coating recipe in case you wish to dip your pops in chocolate and maybe even nuts.
Come to think of it, you just might want to make them long before the kids get home from school. But please, do be kind enough to leave one for each child.
Summer break is drawing to a close even though we still have a few months of hot weather ahead. Many of the children are already back in school, but that doesn't mean we can't have a final summer party before they really have to get back down to work, or perhaps a back to school party. What better way to end the summer break than with a Luau filled will fun, friends and special treats.
Sometimes the simplest treats to create, make the biggest impact at a party. That would be the case with these fabulous Luau Cupcakes Created by Diane. These cupcakes are so easy to make, yet they are perfect for a Luau. This toasted coconut covered cupcake topped with pineapples and cherries capture the essence of Hawaii in a wonderfully tasty treat.
The Luau Cupcakes Recipe
You may think you can replicate this cupcake by simply looking at the picture, but I assure you, Diane does share a few tricks to make these cupcakes more than a simple cupcake. Be sure to take note of the cake mix substitutions and her advice about the toasted coconut. You can find the complete recipe and instructions for Diane's Luau cupcakes on her site Created by Diane.
How to Toast Coconut
Toasting coconut is easy, but does require a bit of patience to achieve that lovely brown toasted shade without burning the coconut. It takes about 10 minutes to toast coconut in a skillet and you will need to constantly stir it. Keep it moving to keep it from burning. There is no need to add any oil or liquid to the skillet. Only the coconut!
Here is a video that I found on Youtube that shows you the "real time" process for toasting coconut.
Orange Sherbet is one of my all time favorite summer treats. Well, actually I eat it year round, but it is especially delicious on a hot summer day, or to sooth a sore throat when hit with allergies.
Finding an Orange Sherbet Recipe was like receiving a gift at just the right time for me. I recently had a bad encounter with tainted orange sherbet from the grocery store. Unbeknownst to me, the brand I had purchased was believed to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The product had been recalled in several states, but not in my state, so it was still on the shelves being sold. It has since been recalled here as well, but not before my purchase and subsequent reaction.
Since I actually prefer most things homemade anyway, I have to say there was definitely a silver lining to that black cloud for me. I had never even considered making my own orange sherbet before.
Orange Sherbet Recipe
With a few really simple ingredients, in addition to real oranges, now I can make my own orange sherbet and have no fear associated with my favorite treat.
I selected to try the Orange Sherbet Recipe from A Simple Pantry first, but there are additional orange sherbet recipes listed below that you may prefer due to your own dietary preferences.
In addition to the oranges, this recipe calls for sugar, vanilla extract, lemon zest, kosher salt and heavy whipping cream and can be made with or without an ice maker.
Be sure to checkout the comments on the original recipe above for recommendations by readers who desired a stronger orange taste.
Many of us remember the big ice cream makers of our youth that required constant attention, adding ice and salt until the mixer slowed down and we checked to see if the ice cream was frozen enough. Our family actually set the ice cream maker on the concrete outside and took turns overseeing the process.
However, today there is a much improved ice cream maker available. No ice or salt required to use this baby! Plus, it can sit on the kitchen counter without making a big mess.
With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, I went in search of a "green" treat for my family.
I was thrilled when I discovered these Chocolate Mint Shamrock Squares by Corrinna Johnson on her site, A Sprinkle of Glitter, A Dash of Spice.
These delicious treats are pretty fast and easy to layer for a wee bit of your own magic to serve to your family and friends on St. Patrick's Day.
Since the squares are made by melting ingredients, laying them in a baking dish and then refrigerating them until they are set, this would be a great recipe to make with kids. After all, they will love adding the green food coloring and watching the butter and sugar turn green.
Chocolate Mint Shamrock Squares Recipe
Corrinna shares her recipe and gives us excellent instructions to create these fabulous Chocolate Mint Shamrock Squares. She also offers several wonderful suggestions for display and presentation which would be perfect for a St. Patrick's Day party.
Not only are these Chocolate Mint Shamrock Squares pretty for St. Patrick's Day, they are fun to make and delicious to eat.
One of the easiest Fun Food creations I have recently made, is my Banana Bread Flower Muffins. Not only are they are lovely muffins to set on any table, but they are quite delicious. They are a guaranteed hit in my home since the recipe I used is my own banana bread recipe, which my entire family loves. Any bread recipe could be used to make these muffins. The secret to the beautiful design is in the baking mold. Obviously, you will want to select a bread or muffin recipe that does not require icing which would distort the flower design. I will be baking and freezing my Banana Bread Flower Muffins before the holidays so I can simply pull the prepared muffins out of the freezer the night before and serve them for breakfast to my holiday guests. I do love things that make the holidays easier.
My Banana Bread Recipe
If you would like to bake your flower muffins using my banana bread recipe, which has proven to be a successful recipe to use for these muffins, you will find my recipe here: Banana Bread Recipe by Sylvestermouse.
Sadly, like a fresh rose bud, these pretty flower banana bread muffins won't last long because they are so delicious. But, like the gorgeous flower itself, they will leave a lasting impression of beauty in the minds of your family, friends and holiday guests.
The Baking Mold Needed to Create the Flower Muffins
I love featuring fast and easy cupcakes that we can all make. I especially love them when the children can help with the creative fun from our kitchens.
These Spooky Spider Cupcakes are not only fast and easy, but they would be adorable for any Halloween party or as a special treat for our favorite trick or treaters.
Spooky Spider Cupcakes
Kraft Food, via My Food & Family, provides use with an easy step by step pictorial tutorial to create our own Spooky Spider Cupcakes. With such delicious ingredients, these cupcakes are sure to be a hit with every generation. Doesn't everybody love Oreos and M&M's? Plus, her pudding blend in the cupcakes sounds like a super special delight. Yes, these cupcakes will be an awesome addition to my Halloween table, and yours too!
Aren't these Flip Flop cookies fabulous?!!! And, they are so very easy to make! I discovered these Flip Flop Cookies a few months ago and immediately knew they would be the perfect summer feature on Fun Food.
These cookies are another awesome creation by Diana Wenzel. I don't mind telling you that I had a very hard time keeping quite about them until now.
How to Make Flip Flop Cookies
You will be surprised how very easy these pretty little cookies are to make. They would certainly be perfect for any summer party, especially those summer luaus and swimming parties.
Renaissance Woman gives us simple instructions on how to make and assemble these totally awesome Flip Flop cookies.
I am certain these cookies will be the hit of many summer parties! Kids and adults are sure to love them and creating these adorable cookies is almost as easy as slipping on our flip flops for the party.
Recipe & Image Credit: Flip Flop Cookies Recipe by Diana Wenzel
One of my son's favorite desserts is Tiramisu. He has always had to purchase his Tiramisu at restaurants simply because I did not have a Tiramisu recipe.
I am not sure why I haven't thought to search one out before now, but as soon as I saw Lynne Schroeder's recipe, I knew I had found a recipe I had to keep.
Tiramisu Recipe
Sharing a recipe from her own personal travel diary, Lynne Schroeder tempts us to dive right into making our own temptingly delicious Tiramisu.
According to Lynne, the traditional Tiramisu recipe uses brandy, but she opts to use Kahlua instead. Could that be the secret to her tiramisu recipe becoming a family favorite?
Non-alcohol Tiramisu Recipe
Knowing that some of my readers prefer Non-alcohol Tiramisu, I did seek out a alternate recipe just for you! This recipe also sounds divine!
Spring and summer just make me think of root beer floats, which were a huge part of my childhood days. Today, they evoke memories of floating down the river or summer day special treats.
Now, if I could just think of a way to keep them from melting!
Root Beer Float Cupcakes
Actually, a good friend has done that very thing for me. Diana Wenzel has given us a whole new twist on the traditional root beer float by offering us recipes and presentation suggestions for Root Beer Float Cupcakes that look and sound temptingly delicious. My personal favorite tip from RenaissanceWoman2010 is how to make a delicious root beer butter cream frosting. You simply can't go wrong with butter cream frosting and as she says, "It actually looks like the froth you get on a root beer float beverage."
These Root Beer Float Cupcakes are sure to be a hit at our summer parties and celebrations!
Recipe & Image Credit: Recipe for Root Beer Float Cupcakes by Diana Wenzel
Today on Fun Food, I want to share my all time favorite cupcakes!
Panda Cupcakes are perfect for anytime, any occasion, any birthday, or just for the pure fun of creating a fun food masterpiece.
I first made these Panda cupcakes several years ago with my daughter. We had a blast working together and even more fun serving this adorable cupcakes to our family and friends. Everyone loved them. Not only are they adorable, they are also delicious!
How to Make Panda Cupcakes
Oh, and did I tell you they are really easy to make! By combining and decorating two cupcakes, one small and one large, you get the adorable panda shape. Oreo cookies provide the perfect way to create the panda's paws.
Panda Cupcake Faces by Sylvestermouse
Each cupcake is unique because you a are giving each one their own face with a few dabs of decorating gel. But, they are all adorable! They make you want to hug them instead of eat them. If you are looking for a cupcake that is fabulous, yet easy, adorable and fun, these Panda Cupcakes simply cannot be beat. They are perfect for a child's birthday party, a classroom party, or simply created for your family. I highly recommend letting children help you decorate these panda cupcakes. They can easily add the chocolate chips for the nose and eyes even if they are not old enough to handle the decorating gel. This also gives you the opportunity to teach children about working in the kitchen. Baking cupcakes together is a great way to introduce them to the world of baking. With the Panda cupcakes, you might even get the chance to teach them how to correct or cover decorating mistakes. Kids love being included when creating Fun Food!
Are you ready to give the gift of delicious homemade love!
It is hard to believe that it is almost Valentine's Day and I have not made my sweetheart a special treat yet. I went in search of something new to make for Valentines Day this year and look what I found! I have to admit, I am pretty excited to get started.
Valentine Cookie Balls Recipe
These fast and easy cookies are the perfect gift and treat for Valentines Day. I think it would be awesome to make a batch of these Valentine Cookie Balls and place them in a heart shaped box to give to our sweethearts.
Homemade gifts are often so much better than a store bought cookies or candy, if for no other reason than that they are fresh. Plus, the recipient knows you cared enough to go to that little extra trouble to make something special just for them.
I know what I am making now for Valentines Day! How about you?
Decorate this paper mache box exclusively for your sweetheart!
It would be perfect for your Valentine Cookie Balls.
Just in time for Christmas!
These fun and healthy fruit snacks or appetizers are such to be the delight of the day and bring a smile to every face. Even the Grinch would have to smile!
What fun it would be to serve these Grinch fruit snacks at a Christmas party or for Christmas morning breakfast since the kids are always too excited to actually sit down at the table for a meal. I have to admit myself, anything to make Christmas morning a little easier, is definitely a gift to me.
The Grinch that Stole Christmas Healthy Snacks for Kids
Not only are they fun, but they would be so fast and easy to assemble.
Best-Gifts-Top-Toys wrote a fabulous step by step tutorial, which includes the fruit slice sizes for best fit, for all of us to follow to make "The Grinch that Stole Christmas Healthy Snacks for Kids"
Watch out though! I do think these Grinch fruit snacks will be "stolen away" rather quickly. You might have to hide a few for yourself.
Recipe & Image Credit: The Grinch that Stole Christmas Healthy Snacks for Kids by Best-Gifts-Top-Toys
If you are searching for a truly gross cake for your Halloween party, you have come to the right place!
KimGiancaterino's Kitty Litter Cake is a perfectly disgusting cake for Halloween without being grotesque.
It would be an excellent choice for a kids Halloween party. It is just gross enough to make you question what you are about to eat, without being gory. In fact, I happen to personally know a few college students who absolutely love this Halloween cake.
Kitty Litter Cake Recipe
Kim shares the recipe so you too can make this delicious "mess" of a cake for your Halloween party or upcoming event.
Basically, you simply crumble & combine two baked cakes & vanilla cookies: one German chocolate & one vanilla cake to make the "litter". Stir in prepared large box of vanilla instant pudding mix. Add shaped tootsie rolls, sprinkled with additional cookie crumbs. (shape the tootsie rolls by softening them in the microwave.) It may look unappealing, but it is actually delicious. Truly the perfect choice for any Halloween party treat.
Although they would be perfect for any occasion, I think they would be purely awesome for the upcoming holidays.
Mini Quiche Recipe for Mini Quiche Flowers
Most of us entertain a lot during the holidays and we are always searching for fast and easy recipes that make a favorable impression on our guests. Not only does this Mini Quiche recipe sound delicious, but the quiches themselves are just adorable.
Blessedmomto7 gives us excellent step by step instructions as well as the quiche recipe for making these fabulous mini quiche. Why not add these pretty "little flowers" to your next luncheon, tea, reception, or party. They would make a lovely breakfast for your overnight guests too!
A great recipe and a really fun food shaping suggestion!
I have used candy molds for shaping chocolate many times, but I have never used a candy mold for shaping maple syrup :) RedHairedRockHead shared her recipe for making maple candy and her most excellent suggestion ofmolding the maple candy to look like leaves.
Suggestions for Maple Sugar Candy Leaves
The recipe is easy, the candy is delicious and the leaves are beautiful. You could use these tasty leaves to decorate cakes, cupcakes, cookies, mixed into edible arrangements or simply as a stand alone candy treat.
Beautiful and delicious! The perfect combination for fun food!
The holidays are fast approaching and everyone is getting ready for those big family dinners.
