Thai Curry Corn Chowder

Yield: 2 Quarts

2 Tb.    Sesame Oil

1 Tb.   Ginger Puree

1 Tb.    Garlic Minced

½ Cp.   Onions Diced

1 Cp.   Carrots Diced

1 Cp,   Potato Diced

2 Cp.    Frozen Kernel Corn (Fresh Corn Cut from Cob)

2 Tb.   Red Curry Paste

1 T   Curry Powder

1 Tb.   Fish Sauce

3 Cp.   Chicken Stock

1 Tb   Brown Sugar

T.T.    Salt and Pepper

1 Ea.    Lime Juice fresh squeezed

1 Tb.   Sambal

½ Cp.   Cream of Coconut

¼ Cp.   Cream

3 Tb.   Cilantro Minced Fine

In sauce pan combine on medium high heat, Sesame oil, Ginger puree, garlic, onions, carrots, potato, and curry powder. Sauté until opaque on medium high heat, add Chicken Stock, Red curry paste, fish sauce, and corn allow to simmer until vegetables are tender.  Add to the soup lime, sambal chilies, sugar simmer adjusting seasoning finish with corn, cream and fresh parsley.

Warm Potato Salad

1 Lb.  Red Skin Potato sliced 
1 Cp.  Carrots Diced Medium
½ Cp   Red Onion Medium Diced
2 cps  Cauliflower Florets Small
6 Slices  Bacon
¼ Cp  Apple Cider Vinegar
½ Cp  Olive Oil
TT  Black Pepper, Salt
3 Tb.  Brown Sugar
3 Tb.  Dijon Mustard
2 Tb.   Herb Parsley Minced
1 Tb.  Chive Minced
1Tb.  Minced thyme
¼ Cup  Green Onion Chopped

In a sauce pan poach Red potatoes and reserve.  Toss Carrots, Onions, and Cauliflower in a bowl with 2 Tb. Olive oil.  Place in a 375 degree oven on a sheet pan and cook until just starting to caramelize. 
Lay sliced bacon on a sheet pan and cook in the oven until crispy. Remove and reserve the hot bacon drippings for dressing and crumble the cooked bacon. 
In a bowl mix Vinegar, Olive oil, Dijon Mustard, Brown sugar, bacon drippings and blend with Fresh herbs and seasonings.  Adjust salt and pepper as needed.
Combine oven roasted vegetables with Potatoes, bacon and toss with dressing. Serve warm.

Apple Crisp

Ingredients

4 Lbs Apples
2 Cps. Tapioca, instant pudding
1 Cp. Sugar, granulated
4 Tb. Corn starch
1 Tb. Vanilla Extract
½ tsp. Almond Extract
1 tsp Nutmeg, ground
2 tsp Cinnamon

Procedure

• Cut the apples into thick slices

• Combine the dry ingredients. Mix with the fruit.

• Sprinkle on the extracts and blend well. If the dry ingredients collect at the bottom, allow the mixture to sit longer, and then re-blend. When the dry ingredients stick completely to the fruit, it is ready to fill the pans.

• Fill the pan and top with the crisp topping

• Bake at 350 degrees approximately 90 minutes or until the fruit is bubbling in the middle



CRISP TOPPING

2 ½ Cp. A P Flour
2 Cp. Granulated Sugar
½ Cp. Brown Sugar
½ LB. Unsalted Butter, chopped in small Pieces, keep cold

• Put all ingredients into mixing bowl with a paddle attachment and mix until it develops a moist crumbly texture.

• Chill

Vegetable and Smoked Parmesan Cheese Risotto

Yield: 3 to 4 servings

3 Cp.  Chicken or vegetable stock 

2 ea.  Shallots, large, minced 

7 Tb.  Olive oil 

1 Cp.  Arborio Rice 

1 Cp.   Zucchini Small Diced 

1 Cp.  Heirloom tomato puree 

1/2 Cp.  Smoked Parmesan cheese, freshly grated 

2 Tbs.  Fresh Parsley, Sage, Thyme minced 

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed

Instructions:

1. Gently sauté shallots in 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan for about 2 minutes, or until softened. Stir in rice and cook an additional 2 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, reheat stock to a gentle simmer. Add to rice, one ladleful at a time, stirring well and adding more stock only when each addition has been absorbed. Cook until rice is just beginning to soften, about 30 minutes.

3. Heat 4 tablespoons olive oil in a sauté pan. Add Zucchini and cook, about 5 minutes. Return rice to saucepan with 2 tablespoons of reserved cooking liquid, stirring well. Cook for about 3 minutes, adding extra liquid if rice looks a little thick. Quickly mix in Smoked Parmesan, stirring until light and creamy. Check seasonings.

4. Fold in tomato Puree, and minced herbs adjust seasoning as needed.

Fresh Tomato & Wala Wala Onion Pie

Yield 1 pie

5Lbs.    Slice tomato
2 1/5Lbs.  Sliced Onions
T. T.  Salt and Pepper
6 Tb.   Olive oil (for sautéing and oiling baking dish)
8 oz.   Panko Bread Crumbs
8 oz.   Romano Cheese
4 oz.  Pesto Basil 
3 Cp.  Sour Cream
6 ea.  Whole Eggs


In a sauté pan, heat up olive oil and caramelize the onions and set aside to cool for pie. 
Oil your cake pan or pie dish with olive oil.  Arrange slice tomatoes in the bottom of the pan, sprinkle with caramelized onions, Panko crumbs, salt, pepper and Romano cheese.  Repeat process until you have adequate layers to reach nearly to top of pan reserving room for soufflé top.  
In mixing bowl combine pesto with sour cream and egg, beat with a whisk until incorporated.  
Pour soufflé mixture over layered tomatoes.  
Bake uncovered in a 300* degree oven for 45 Minutes approximately.  Allow to rest for ½ hour before serving.

Honey Peach Cake

Yields: One 10-inch cake

Ingredients

Unsalted butter, softened, for pan
1 ¾ Cp.   All-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
¾ tsp.  Baking powder
½ tsp.  Baking soda
1 tsp.  Coarse salt
½ tsp  Ground cinnamon
2 ea.  Large eggs
½ Cp.  Granulated sugar
¼ Cp.  Packed light-brown sugar
½ Cp.  Honey
2 Tb.  Honey Combined with above
½ Cp.  Milk
½ Cp.  Vegetable oil
1/2 tsp.  Freshly grated lemon zest
2 Cp.  Fresh Peaches Sliced

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 10-inch spring form pan. Dust with flour; tap out excess. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and soda, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl; set aside. Mix eggs and sugars on high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until pale and thick, about 3 minutes.

Whisk together honey, milk, oil, and zest. With mixer on low, add honey mixture to egg mixture; mix until combined, about 1 minute. Add half the flour mixture; mix until smooth. Mix in remaining flour mixture. Pour batter into pan.

On top put the fresh peaches or pear cut in slices without the skin.

On top the fruit add the crisp topping.

Bake until dark golden brown and a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes. Run a thin knife around edge of cake; carefully remove sides of pan.

Crisp Topping

5 Cp.  A P Flour
4 Cp.  Granulated Sugar
1 Cp.  Brown Sugar
1 Lbs.  Unsalted Butter, chopped in small pieces, keep cold

Put all ingredients into mixing bowl with a paddle attachment and mix until it develops a moist crumbly texture.  Chill

Fresh Peach Gazpacho Soup

Fresh Peach Gazpacho Soup

4 Lb. Suncrest Peaches, Pitted
2 Tb. Fresh Lemon Juice
2 Tb. Fresh Lime Juice
1 Tb. Apple Cider vinegar
1⁄4 Cp. Apple Cider
3 Tb. Extra virgin olive oil

1/2 Cp. Cucumber, Peeled and seeded, Small Diced
1⁄4 Cp. Red Onion, Fine diced
1 tsp. Garlic, Minced
1 Tb. Jalapeno Pepper, minced
2 Tb. Honey
1⁄4 Cp. Green bell pepper, Fine Diced
1⁄4 Cp. Red Bell Pepper, Fine Diced
1⁄4 Cp. Yellow Pepper, Fine Diced
3 Tb. Cilantro Minced
TT Salt

1. Pulse peaches in a food processor until thoroughly blended, being careful not to incorporate too
much air. Add vinegar, citrus juices, apple cider, olive oil, Honey and pulse until incorporated.

2. Strain purée through a fine-mesh strainer, discarding pulp.

3. Add garlic, onions, peppers, cucumber, cilantro, chilies, to purée. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Cover mixture tightly and reserve, refrigerated, for at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to blend.

Trotolle Pasta Salad with Vegetables and Sherry Vinegar Dressing

1.5Lb.  Trotolle Pasta (Cooked in Salted Water Al Dente)
.75Cp.  Sun Sugar Cherry Tomatoes (Halved)
1.5 Cp.  Heirloom Tomatoes (Large Diced)
1 Cp.  Armenian Cucumber (Medium Diced
.5 Cp.  Gita Pole Bean (Blanched and Cut)
.5 Cp.  Gypsy Peppers (Small Diced)
.25 Cp.  Red Onions (Small Diced)
.5 Cp.  Capers
.5 Cp.   Parmesan Cheese (Shredded)

1 Cp.   Olive oil
.5 Cp.  Sherry Vinegar
.25 Cp.  White Balsamic Vinegar
3 Tb.  Garlic
2 Tb.  Dijon Mustard
1 Tb.  Brown Sugar
TT  Salt
TT  Pepper

In a large mixing bowl combine oil and vinegar and mix vigorously. Add all seasonings; mix well. Add cut vegetables; mix well. Stir in cooled pasta. Serve Chilled.

Baby Kale and Arugula Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette, Feta Cheese, Bulgur, Candied Pecans

Ingredients

3 oz.  Salad Mix
1 oz. Feta Cheese Crumbles
1 oz. Cooked Bulgur
½ oz.  Candied Pecans
½ oz.  Dried Cherries
1.5 oz.  Cherry Vinaigrette Dressing

Mix the ingredients together in a bowl and serve immediately chilled.

Dried Cherry Vinaigrette

¾ Cp. Olive oil
¾ Cp. Dried Cherries
¼ Cp. Cherry Juice
1/8 Cp. White Balsamic Vinegar
3 Tb. Malt Vinegar
TT. Sugar
TT. Salt
TT.  Pepper

Soak the dried cherries in cherry juice until plump, combine with all other ingredients and blend thoroughly.  Adjust salt, pepper, and sugar as needed.  

Cooked Bulgur

½ Cp. Toasted Bulgur
4Cp. Vegetable Broth
1 Tb. Ginger, minced
1 Tb. Garlic, minced
2 Tb Salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  While oven is preheating combine broth, ginger, garlic and seasoning to a sauce pot and bring to a simmer.

Add Bulgur onto a sheet pan and bake in the oven stirring occasionally while toasting.  Cook to a golden brown color and remove from oven. 

Pour bulgur into simmering broth and cook until tender.  Drain after cooked and cool and reserve for use in the salad.

Candied Pecans

10 oz. Pecans
1 ea. Egg whites
1 Tb. Water
½ Cp. Sugar
1 Tb. salt
Oiled Sheet pan

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Mix sugar, and salt together in a bowl.

Whisk egg white and water together in a separate bowl until frothy. Toss pecans in the egg white mixture. Mix sugar mixture into pecan mixture until pecans are evenly coated. Spread coated pecans onto a sheet pan.

Bake in the preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, until pecans are evenly browned, roughly 45 minutes.

Zucchini Bread

INGREDIENTS:

3   LB  GRANULATED SUGAR

4  TBL   VANILLA EXTRACT

4+2/3  CUPS  CANOLA OIL

8  EACH  EGGS

5  CUPS  BUTTERMILK

3+1/4  LB  ZUCCINI, GRATED

1  LB  WALNUT, PIECES

4  TBL  CINNAMON, GROUND

4  tsp  NUTMEG, GROUND

5  LB  A.P. FLOUR

4  TBL  BAKING SODA

2+2/3  TBL  SALT

DIRECTIONS:

In a mixing bowl with the whip mix the sugar, vanilla extract, canola oil and eggs for about 5 minutes.

Sift the flour, baking soda and salt, add the zucchini and the walnuts and incorporated all together.

Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture, in 3 parts, alternating addition with the buttermilk. Bake at 300 F for about 30-40 minutes or until the tooth pick will come clean on the middle.

Oh, what do we do in the summertime?

By: Amberly Asay

Summers in Provo are some of the most fun summers ever.  There are so many things to do and so many adventures to have.  I suggest making a list of 50 things you want to do this summer.  There are also many day trips that you can make to National Parks.  Gather your friends into a car, all pay for gas and then you are set.  Write them all down and put them in a mason jar.  Every couple of days pick one of the slips of paper and make sure you do the event that week!  Below I have gathered some great and fun ideas:

There are 8 Utah Restaurants that are worth the trip try to visit most of them, especially when you are traveling to different state parks: http://www.newscastic.com/news/8-utah-restaurants-worth-the-trip-1337644/

THINGS TO DO

1. Visit the "Up House" in Herriman, Utah
2. Canyoneer the Subway at Zion National Park
3. Swim in the Crater at the Homestead
4. Visit the Four Corners! (Where Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado all meet) 
5. Visit Bryce Canyon 
6. Visit Arches National Park 
   
7. Visit the Kennecott Copper Mine 
8. Dress up like Safari Guides and take a trip to the Hogle Zoo
9. Go and float down a river and then soak in some warm water by visiting Lava Hot Springs  
10. If you want to be really ambitious visit every Utah Temple!  This will not only be a memorable experience for you and your friends but also be spiritually strengthening
11. Find someone with a boat and visit Lake Powell!  Or just go to Lake Powell and enjoy the water
12. Take a trip, and be a part of history by visiting the Anasazi Cliff Dwellings 
13. Take a trip to Cedar City, and go back over 400 years by attending the Shakespeare Festival . You will not only be entertained, but you will take part in a really fun celebration.
14. Probably one of the most popular things to do in our community, attend the Twilight Concert Series! Admission is only $5, and all events are held in Pioneer Park.
15. Take a nice relaxing drive through the Alpine Loop.
16. Join Carrie Underwood and enjoy the Stadium of Fire.
    
17. If you thought Drive-In Movies were gone, then you are wrong!  They are still in West Valley and a great date or group activity. 
18. Cool off at Seven Peaks- Provo's Water Park.
19. Rock climbing is available to people of all ages in Provo.  There are several indoor facilities as well as many outdoor routes in Utah County.
20. Be sure to visit Bridal Veil Falls.  It's a breathtaking double cataract waterfall.  Great for hiking, and there are even some bike trails. 
21. Eat a snow cone! Thankfully Provo has many shacks which offer such treats. 
22. Want to have a fun date roasting treats but don't want to make a fire?  No problem just light some candles and roast fruit snacks (which crystalize very nicely) and candies over the flame.  
23. Visit one of Utah county's reservoir or lakes.  You can go swimming or fishing.  You can purchase your fishing permit at Wal-Mart or online.
24. Hike the Y! If you hike it around twilight, you can watch the sun set and see the city below light up.  Remember to bring a flashlight or headlamp for the hike back down.
    
25. Go to the Mormon Miracle Pageant- June 19-21 and 24-28
26. Wishing you were spending the summer near an ocean?  Don't worry here in Provo you can have the beach.  Just go to the Provo Beach Resort for surfing, ropes courses, arcade games, virtual golf, bowling, croquet and much more. 
27. Want to become more cultured and learned over your summer holiday but don't want to go to school?  Don't worry!  The Springville Museum of Art offers several free concerts, tours and relaxing days in the sculpture garden. 
28. Dive into the depths of the sea by visiting the NEW Living Planet Aquarium in Draper.  They just opened March 25 and are a fun activity for people of all ages. 
29. Get an individual annual pass to Thanksgiving Point.  For just $55 (the price of one decent dinner date), you can get yourself free admission to the gardens, museums, and Farm Country for the whole year.  Then, every time you bring a date, you only pay half price for your date's admission and nothing for your own, which makes for some inexpensive dates with a fun and often romantic atmosphere.  There are additional benefits like discounts on food and retail purchases, discounts on classes, early admission to the TGP gardens, early notification for classes, events, and other programs, a passport that gets you free admission to hundreds of museums nation wide, and the opportunity to support a local community cause.   
    
    

Potato Chips and Dip

By: Amberly Asay


Going to BYU we really have no use for a wine glass or a margarita glass, but there is one trick that will make you want to use one.

Use a large bowl and fill it with your favorite types of potato chips.  Put the wine glass or margarita glass in the middle of the bowl and fill it with your favorite instant chip dip.   This makes it easy to dip and gives you more space on your counter.

Soda Pop Ice Cream

By: Amberly Asay

Soda Pop Ice Cream is easy and affordably!  It is the perfect treat for a hot summer day.
Things you will need:

• 2 liters of your favorite soda
• 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
• Ice Cream maker

Put all of the ingredients into your ice cream maker, and turn it on for 30 minutes.  You will then have a creamy blend of delicious, refreshing ice cream.  You can use orange soda for a dream sickle taste or root beer to give you a root beer float taste.  The possibilities are endless! 

BYU is Number One!

All Things Mango

By: Amberly Asay

Summertime is here and it is time for delicious mango recipes!  We have gathered a few links to mango food ideas for you to check out before you go and create your own amazing dishes.

1. Chicken Mango Tacos
2. Mango and Yogurt Smoothies
3. Make your own dried mango
4. Grilled Tilapia with Mango
5. Mango Salsa
6. Fish tacos with mango salsa
7. Chicken and Mango Kebabs 
8. Mango pancakes

Cinco de Mayo

By: Amberly Asay

Cinco de Mayo is upon us, and there are a lot of really fun things that you can do in order to have a great party.  We have gathered some great ideas and recipes.  But the most important thing is to have many different types of salsa and to have lots of friends!

Big hats and mustaches for a photo booth. 
Parties these days tend to have a photo booth.  You can't just go to the party. You have to go and have proof that you were there.  Putting mustaches on a stick and providing big sombreros will help set the mood for your party pics.

Homemade Piñata - Or you can just buy one
What would be a party without a piñata? It is really easy to make and it can be loads of fun for you and your friends.

What you'll need:

• Flour
• Water
• Salt
• Balloon
• Newspaper
• Colored tissue paper
• craft glue
• design accessories

Directions:

You'll need enough flour to be able to mix 5 parts of water for every 1 part flour.  Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in am medium saucepan.  Mewanwhile, in a separate bowl, mix 1 cup of flour with 1 cup of water until the lumps are gone.

Once the water is boiling, add the separate flour/water mixture to the pot and stir constantly with a silicone spatula while it boils for about 3-5 minutes.  The mixture should be smooth and thick like glue.  you can add more flour/water in small amounts if needed to achieve desired consistency.    Add 1-2 Tablesppons of salt to help prevent mold and stir.  Remove from the stove and cool.  Once it's at a comfortable temperature you can use it for your paper mache piñata! 

Use your homemade paste to glue strips of newspaper to the balloon until it is covered all over with the paper mache.  Let it dry.  When it is dry, you can cut a hole in it and pop the balloon leaving the cavity free to fill with candy and toys.  Fill it up, plug the hole.  Then use your favorite craft glue to attach colored tissue paper to your piñata, and decorate it however you like.  You can embellish your design with things you have around the house or add crafty bits like rhinestones, glitter, and buggy eyes.  Remember to add a hook, wire, or some means of attaching the piñata to a rope.

Mexican Parfaits- 7 layer dip
Lots of people know how to make the delicious 7 layer dip, but here is an even better idea.  Make the 7 layer dip in individual parfait cups.  That way everyone can get one and you won't have to worry about double dipping!  You will need: refried beans, olives, salsa (or pico), cheese, sour cream (mixed with taco seasoning) and guacamole.  In each cup but the ingredients down in order.  A layer of beans,  a layer of sour cream, a layer of guacamole.  Then sprinkle cheese over the top, add your pico and top with olives.  Then you have your delicious Mexican parfaits and an easy clean up for you!


Mexican "Unfried" Ice Cream 
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
5 cups coarsely crushed corn flakes
2 Tbls butter, melted
4 Tbls sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.  In a large bowl, combine corn flakes, butter, sugar and cinnamon.  Mix well and spread on the baking sheet.  Bake for 5 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp.  It amy help to stir it around or turn it once while baking.  Remove from oven and cool.  In a 9x13 casserole dish, spread 1/2 of the corn flake mixture evenly across the bottom.

Open the cardboard ice cream box and lay it flat.  Cut ice cream into seven slices that are almost one inch wide.  Lay the slices in the pan to cover the entire pan.  As the ice cream will soften a bit in the process, use a knife or spatula to smooth the pieces together.  Cover the ice cream with the remaining corn flakes mixture and pat it down.  Cover the ice cream with the remaining corn flakes mixture and pit down.  Cover the pan with tinfoil and freeze for 2-3 hours until firm.  Serve with honey on top.

Celebrate graduation!

Now serving smothered burritos!

Foods to eat to survive finals.

By: Amberly Asay

Finals can be a really rough time for all students, and it can be even more difficult if you are not putting the right foods into your body.  We have identified four state of beings that you might get in during finals and the foods you can eat to make you feel better!

SLEEP PROBLEMS
Cherries - The melatonin in cherries helps increase sleep time and improve sleep efficiency. For best results drink cherry juice one hour before bed.  Cherries can also ease gout and combat cancer.

Walnuts - Full of melatonin and tryptophan that improves your quality of sleep. The antioxidants included in walnuts also help protect the body against diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and type-2 diabetes.

Kiwi - Is high in vitamin C, potassium, antioxidants and fibre.  Studies have found that eating a kiwi before going to bed improves the quality and quantity of sleep.  It can also boost the immune system, respiratory function and improve heart health.

POOR CONCENTRATION

Leafy greens - are full of Vitamin E which have been proven to improve your mental focus and help protect your brain cells from damage.  Some leafy greens include: romaine lettuce, kale, collard greens or spinach.

Whole grains - Eating a whole grain cereal for breakfast helps you stay more focused compared to eating refined carbohydrates or sipping breakfast.  Whole grains can also help you lose weight and reduce sugar cravings.

Sardines - Contain omega 3 fatty acids which give the brain a boost while improving concentration and memory.  It also helps cholesterol.

FATIGUE
Raw chocolate - and cocoa can boost energy and help brain function. Fatigue is a common symptom of a magnesium deficiency in the body. Stay away from processed chocolate because it isn't as healthy as cocoa.  It also treats irritability!

Red pepper - Contains iron and help increase the body's heat production and intake of oxygen. High in Vitamin C.

Oats - rich in calcium, magnesium, Vitamin E and Vitamin B, potassium and protein, so they give you a great boost! Start the day with a bowl of porridge and beat the tiredness you feel in the morning.


RELIEVING STRESS
Mushrooms - great source of vitamin D and proven to help improve your mood and boost your energy.

Dark chocolate - Eating 1.5 ounces of dark chocolate a day for two weeks has been proven to lower stress level.  The magnesium content can help treat depression, menstrual cramps and irritability.

Nuts - stress runs you down which leaves you sick.  Almonds, pistachios and walnuts boost your immune system.  A handful of plain nuts will do the trick!

Avocado and Banana - these fruits are loaded with potassium, a vital mineral for keeping blood pressure low.

Easter Egg Pretzels!

By: Amberly Asay

My favorite food to eat at Christmastime is rolo pretzels:
http://mix.byu.edu/2013/08/rolo-treats.html

Although it is not the Christmas season, there are some Easter treats that I've recognized as another favorite.

Things you will need:

• Pretzels (preferably square pretzel)
• White chocolate Hershey Hugs
• Colored Decorator Sugar
• Easter Peanut M&Ms

Get a baking sheet, and lay wax paper on it.  Put down your pretzels, and place one white chocolate Hershey Hug on each pretzel.  Set your oven to 175 degrees, and bake for seven minutes.

Remove your pretzels from the oven, and quickly sprinkle them with colored decorator sugar. The final step is to press a Peanut M&M into the hug and let it cool.  Then you eat!

Here is a link to Perry's Plate blog to get a view of these delicious Easter Treats: http://www.perrysplate.com/2010/02/white-chocolate-pretzel-buttons-some-new-friends.html

Strawberry Carrots

By: Amberly Asay

Do you love chocolate covered strawberries?  Most people do so this is a really cute idea that will be great for Easter Dinner.  Make chocolate covered strawberries that look like carrots but taste better!

If you have never made dipping chocolate you can use Betty Crocker's recipe for chocolate: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/chocolate-dipped-strawberries/b8b85c58-e5b3-405a-889f-9e997996738d

Simply melt some white chocolate and add some orange food coloring.  When you are satisfied with the shade of orange dip your strawberries in the chocolate and let them dry.  Then put them on a plate and you have delicious easter chocolate strawberries!

Melt in your mouth Cupcakes

By: Amberly Asay

It is your turn to bring a treat, and you are unsure on what to bring.  You could bring cookies, brownies or cupcakes.  But everyone is tired of the same cupcake right?  Well, it is time to spice it up
again with a delicious batch of white chocolate cupcakes.

For a delicious white chocolate cupcake recipe click on this link: http://www.bakedinaz.com/2013/11/white-chocolate-cupcakes.html

If you want to use your own recipe, that is fine as well. When you get your cupcakes out of the oven, simply cut an X into the top of the cupcake and put a Lindor truffle down inside.  Push it until it is even with the cupcake.  Then frost your cupcakes and enjoy this delicious treat!

Chick Pics

 Come and get the Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap. Sliced grilled chicken breast, nestled in a fresh mix of Green Leaf lettuce with shredded red cabbage and carrots and a blend of shredded Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, tightly rolled in a flaxseed flour flat bread. Served with Avocado Lime Ranch dressing.

You can't get the wrap without some delicious waffle fries.

Tis the Wedding Season

By: Amberly Asay

Wedding season has arrived, and it is time for bridal showers, bachelorette parties, weddings and of course wedding receptions.  We have a couple of drink ideas that will surely make your parties an even greater hit.

The Milk and Cookies Cocktail

This will change the way you eat cookies and milk forever.  Simply get a cocktail glass and dip the rim of the glass into melted chocolate.  Then dip the chocolate part of the glass into sprinkles.  Fill the glass with milk and enjoy with a delicious cookie.



Tiffany Punch
Fruit punch is always a good idea for any party.  Tiffany Blue is a very common color this season for weddings.  This is a delicious recipe that makes the perfect color.  Mix a jug of Blue Hawaiian Punch with a jug of Lemonade.  It is not only the perfect color but is delicious tasting as well.

Campfire Meals

By: Amberly Asay

Camping season is among us, and it is time to get outdoors.  Being in nature is one of the best feelings in the world, and it is great to eat some great meals cooked by a campfire.  We have gathered some non-traditional campfire treats to try the next time you go camping.


Campfire Cake in an Orange
Cut the tops off of an orange, and scoop out the fruit (this is delicious to eat so don't just throw it away).  Fill each orange just a little bit past halfway with cake mix.  Put the tops back on the orange and wrap it in foil.  Set the oranges in the campfire coals for 20 minutes.  The cake bakes right in the oranges is very moist with some delicious light orange flavoring.

Cinnamon Roll in an Orange
Start with a tube of ready-to-bake cinnamon rolls from any supermarket.  Take an orange, cut it in half, and scoop out (and eat) all the fruit.  Place a cinnamon roll from the tube into the orange rind. Wrap it in foil.  Place it on a campfire for 10-20 minutes, and then enjoy your delicious cinnamon roll.



Smore Croissants
Start with a tube of ready-to-bake croissants.  Put a few chocolate chips and a few marshmallows in your croissant and roll it up.  You can bake these in your oven (on a baking sheet) or put them in foil and cook on the coals.  Then enjoy your delicious croissant!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

By: Amberly Asay

St. Patrick's Day is on Monday, and if you want to win the best roommate award, you can surprise your roommates with the best breakfast ever!  You can make green pancakes or waffles along with green eggs and ham.  (Food coloring is going to be your best friend).

For a drink, get some delicious milk from the Creamery, and dye it green.  Then, get some fruit loops.  Pick one of every color, and put them in rainbow succession on a straw.  They should fit snugly around it.  You will end up with a delicious rainbow straw to go with your milk.  This is not only cute but it help completes the ensemble.

St. Patrick's Date

By: Amberly Asay



A St. Patrick's Day themed date is a fun idea for a couple and a good way to celebrate the holiday.  We suggest making one of the following: corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, Irish soda bread, Colcannon (potatoes mashed with cabbage and leeks) or Shepherd's pie.  Go to the following to look at Chef John's recipe for soda bread: http://mix.byu.edu/2010/03/irish-soda-bread.html

For dessert make some delicious rainbow cake. All you need is two white cake mixes and some food gel coloring.  Not food coloring, but gel food coloring. Make your cake mixes and separate them into six different bowls.  Take your food gel, and place into each bowl: green, blue, purple, yellow, orange and red.  Mix the food coloring in the batter.  Place each color of batter into its own cake pan.  Cook each cake for fifteen minutes, or until it is done.  Let all of the layers cool before frosting with cream cheese frosting.Immediately after frosting your cake, be sure to cover it with rainbow sprinkles.  The most effective way to frost and sprinkle it is by frosting two layers together and then rolling it in a pan of sprinkles.  Do that with the three different cake layers and then stick it all together.

After you have stuffed yourself full of a delicious Irish meal then it is time to settle down and start watching a festive holiday movie. Two of our suggestions include Finian's Rainbow or Darby O'Gill and the Little People. 

St. Patrick's Day Party!

By: Amberly Asay

St. Patrick's Day can be a really fun holiday.  It can be especially fun if you throw a party for all of your friends!  Have them dress up in their favorite green outfits and even provide face paint to paint four leaf clovers on their face. When everyone shows up you can make a St. Patrick's Day Photo Booth.

When it gets to the food time, we are in the business of throwing an all green party!  Food coloring is going to be your best friend. Here are suggestions for snack food that is naturally or artificially green:

• Guacamole and chips (you can sometimes find green tortilla chips as well)
• Green M&M's
• Cupcakes or cookies dyed green or with green icing
• Jell-O squares or shamrocks
• Green veggie dip with bell peppers, broccoli and celery
• Grinch drink- green sherbet mixed with Sprite or 7 Up 

Fun games to play: 

A game of luck

The gist of this game is that everyone has to bring some article that brings him/her luck.  Items you're sure to see are shamrocks, horseshoes, dirty socks and maybe even a rabbit foot. It should be very interesting to see what people bring. Award the winner with a wish bone or lucky object. 

A pot of gold

Pin the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  This is similar to pin the tail on the donkey. Make a rainbow and pin it up on your wall or door.  Give the person a pot of gold and blind fold them.  Spin them around until they are dizzy and see if they can pin the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Rainbow friendship bracelet
You can't have a friend party without making friendship bracelets.  Gather together some yarn and beads that are every color of the rainbow.  Let your friends make matching rainbow bracelets to prove your friendship.

After you have taken pictures, stuffed yourself full and played lots of fun games, it is time to cozy on up with one of your favorite St. Patrick's Day movies.  

41 Non-candy Valentines Day sayings.

Sometimes you need to do something out of the ordinary like giving a Valentine that doesn't include a piece of candy.  Below we have some Valentines sayings, that are a little cheesy but include gifts that are not candy!

1. "You are the highlight of my day."

• Highlighter
  
2. "Happy Valentines day for crayon out loud."
• Crayons
  
3. "You're #1 in my book."
• A bookmark or book
  
4. "Valentine, I pick you."
• Fresh picked flowers
  
5. "I think you are just write."
• Pen
  
6. "I wheelie like you."
• Matchbox cars
  
7. "I'm stuck on you." 
• Stickers
  
8. "You make my heart swirl."
• Crazy straw
  
9. "You make my heart bounce."
• Bouncy ball
  
10. "What are the chances I have a shot at being your Valentine."
• Nerf gun
  
11. "Love is a battlefield."
• Nerf gun or GI Joe
  
12. "Doh you want to be my Valentine?"
• Play Dough
  
13. "You make my heart glow."
• Glow sticks
  
14. "You light up my life."
• Candle
  
15. "I've had my eye on you."
• Magnifying glass
  
16. "You blow my mind."
• Bubbles
  
17. "Valentine, never lego my heart."

• Legos
  
18. "May the force be with you this Valentines Day."
• Lightsaber or glowstick
  
19. "I'm so glad we are in the same school."
• Goldfish crackers
  
20. "Spread the love."
• Peanut Butter and Jelly
  
21. "I'm gonna pop you a corny question, will you be my Valentine?"
• Popcorn
  
22. "You're the apple of my eye."
• Apple
  
23. "You're the Kool-est"
• Kool-Aid
  
24. "Will you o'fish-ally be my valentine?"
• Goldfish or Swedish Fish
  
25. "I have a crush on you."
• Crush Soda
  
26. "Yoohoo wanna be my Valentine?"

• Yoohoo Drink
  
27. "Valentine, you are the raisin I'm smiling."
• Raisins
  
28. "I think you are a real cutie."
• Cuties
  
29. "I'm going bananas over you."
• Bananas
  
30. "We make the perfect pair."
• Pears
  
31. "Bear hugs."
• Golden Grahams
  
32. "You are my lucky charm."
• Lucky Charms Cereal, four leaf clover, or a rabbit's foot.
  
33. "I'm not playing Trix, I really like you."
• Trix cereal
  
34. "Wishing you love trust, and pixie dust."

• Pixie Dust (glitter) or the book Peter Pan
  
35. "Don't ever change."
• Coins
  
36. "We're the perfect pair."
• Pears
  
37. "Bee mine."
• Beeswax lip balm
  
38. "You make me feel better."
• Band-aids
  
39. "You make the world sparkle."
• Sparklers or glitter
  
40. "I can't smile without you."
• Toothbrush
  
41. "You are sew special to me."
• Sewing kit

"Heart in Your Hands" Card

Valentine's Day is a fun but stressful time for a lot of people.  Boys are particularly stressed because shopping for girls can be very difficult.  Cards can be cheesy, but who isn't on Valentine's Day?  This card is really easy and can mean a lot, make a heart out of your own hand shapes! The steps are easy to follow. 

Hey, if a fancy dinner doesn't fit into your budget, maybe you could treat your special someone to lunch at a BYU Dining Services restaurant.  An ice cream from the BYU Creamery or something from one of our Jamba Juice location might also be a good way to sweeten the day.  It would certainly provide a good opportunity to surprise your valentine with your handmade card.  Who knows, maybe Captain Literally would literally give you a high five for that one!

1. Fold a paper in half













2. Trace your hand on the paper with your thumb and index finger touching the folded line.













3. Cut out your hand.













4. But be sure to not cut through the folded part with your thumb and index finger.

5. Unfold your paper and you have a hand-heart card. Write a cute little message and you are done!

Valentine Cupcakes

By: Amberly Asay

Valentine's day is practically here and it is time to get ready for it!  If you are like me, you don't have very much time to be super crafty.  This little craft will dress up your cupcakes, and everyone will love them.  Simply take a bamboo skewer (or in my case a pipe cleaner) cut a feather out of paper and glue it to your stick.  Then put your "arrow" in your cupcake, and you have a cupid inspired treat.

Chinese New Year

$1 Drinks for a Limited Time at the Museum of Art Café