Summer Chicks

Over the summer I pretty much make myself disappear form this place. Some of our die hard chicks pressed on and had a "meeting". They emailed me some of the recipes and pictures from that night. Looks like some good food and fun.

Le Anne Skeen

Skinny Summer Pie (there is hardly any calories in this pie!)

Mix: .3oz sugar free jello
1/3 cup boiling water

Fold In: 2 yogurts
8 oz fat free cool whip
You can add frozen or fresh fruit at this point

Pour into pie shell. Freeze or refrigerate.

I have made this using different kinds of yogurt and jello. My favorites are peach, lime, and raspberry. I have added fresh and frozen peaches and frozen raspberries or strawberries.

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Summer Cheeseball
2 pkg. cream cheese
1 c. powdered sugar
1 small box of vanilla instant pudding
1 small can of crushed pineapple
Drain the juice from the pineapple and add all together. Put in freezer for 5 hours or overnight. Form into ball and roll in crushed pecans.

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BOCCONE DOLCE - Sweet Mouthful

Meringue:
4 egg whites, room temperature
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. superfine sugar (I used regular)

Preheat oven to 225. Beat egg whites, salt, cream of tartar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar and continue beating until meringue is stiff and glossy.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Trace three, eight inch circles on paper.

With a rubber spatula, spread meringue evenly and equally over top of the circles. Bake approximately 2 hours or until meringue becomes bisque colored. NOTE: The low temperature will prevent them from browning too quickly. Then turn off oven, open door and let meringues ‘rest’ in oven another 15 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully peel off parchment paper. Put on rack to dry until thoroughly cool.

Once cooled, meringues may be wrapped in saran and frozen or store in an airtight container if using withing the next 24 hours. You can wrap each meringue in several saran layers, then stack gently in a large plastic container for freezing. Remove from freezer at least an hour before assembling.

Assembling:
6 oz. semisweet or milk chocolate
3 T. water
3 T. powdered sugar
3 c. heavy whipping cream
½ tsp. vanilla
2 pints berries, sliced
chocolate curls for garnish

Slowly melt chocolate, when smooth remove from heat and let cool but not harden. In a large bowl, whip cream until stiff; gradually add powdered sugar and then vanilla.

To assemble, place meringue layer on a serving plate, rounded side down. Spread a very thin layer of chocolate over it - can use a pastry brush. Top chocolate with a layer (about 3/4 inch thick ) of whipped cream. Top cream with a layer of berries. Repeat with second meringue, chocolate, cream and berries. Top with final meringue, rounded side up, and repeat layers. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Garnish with several whole strawberries and chocolate curls. Use a serrated bread knife to cut in sawing motion.

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CILANTRO CABBAGE SALAD


Cut up green cabbage or a pkg of already prepared cabbage

Cilantro Lime Dressing from Fresh and Easy or you can make your own by using Ranch dressing and adding
cilantro and lime juice (blended so it is all finely chopped and it makes the dressing green)

Powdered taco seasoning sprinkled on cabbage or added to the dressing

Tortilla chips broken up or buy the strips

Mix and add dressing and tortilla chips on top, SOOO Yummy

Pieces of grilled chicken in salad can be an option as well

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BREAD PUDDING

9 x 13- 400 degrees for about 1 hr 20 minutes
16 oz half and half
8 oz whipping cream (not whipped)
8 eggs
1 ¼ cups sugar
¼ tsp vanilla
6 slices white bread
3 TBL raisins
½ tsp cinnamon
1 TBL sugar
Mix half and half, whipping cream, sugar, eggs and vanilla.
Arrange bread in 9 x 13 pan.
Pour mix over bead (turn over bread slices so it is soaked in)
Mix raisins, sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the top
Cover pan with foil . Set 9 x 13 pan in a larger jelly roll pan with water in it and keep water in it all the time it bakes so it steams.
PECAN SAUCE
½ cup sugar
½ c brown sugar
½ cup whipping cream
½ cup butter
1 tsp vanilla

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SUMMERTIME PUNCH
1-2 liter 7up or Wal Mart Brand Twist Up (chilled)
1 big scoop frozen lemonade
1 big scoop frozen OJ
1 tsp almond extract
Mix and add ice