Rock Candy

 2 cups of water
3 cups of sugar
1/4 cups corn syrup
Food coloring (Optional)
Flavoring (Optional)
Form of stick (pencil)
Lifesavers
A string
A glass jar

Start a pot of water boiling on the stove.

Tie a piece of string around the middle of the pencil/stick/butter knife (I use thin wooden dowels). The string should be long enough so that when the pencil is placed over the top of the glass, the string will come up just short of the bottom.

Wet the string with a little water and roll it in the sugar. Put a lifesaver on the end of the string to act as a weight and help the string stay straight. Lay the stick over the top of the glass jar so that the string hangs down inside the jar, but not touching the bottom or sides of jar.

When the water has started boiling, remove it from the heat and let the water settle.

Stir in the sugar and corn syrup, 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue adding sugar until it starts collecting at the bottom of the pot and won't dissolve even when you stir. This will take a while and a good bit of sugar but not too much.

If you want to add flavoring or color, stir it in now.

Pour the sugar/syrup solution into the glass until it is about 1" from the top.

Place the pencil over the jar and allow the string to dangle into the solution. Don't let the string settle on the bottom or sides of the glass.

Place the glass somewhere that it can sit for a while undisturbed (but do not refrigerate it). After a day or so, you should be seeing crystal growth on the string.

Leave the string in the solution until the crystals are big enough for you or have completely stopped growing.

Remove the string from the glass and let dry.

After you let dry please wait until crystal is formed.

Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

Put the eggs in a single layer in a saucepan, covered by at least an inch or two of cold water. Starting with cold water and gently bringing the eggs to a boil will help keep them from cracking. Adding a tablespoon of vinegar to the water will help keep the egg whites from running out of any eggs that happen to crack while cooking.  Adding a half teaspoon of salt is thought to help both with the preventing of cracking and making the eggs easier to peel. Put the burner on high and bring the eggs to a boil. As soon as the water starts to boil, remove the pan from the heat for a few seconds.

Reduce the heat to low, return the pan to the burner. Let simmer for one minute.

After a minute, remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let sit for 12 minutes. If you are doing a large batch of eggs, after 10 minutes you can check for doneness by sacrificing one egg, removing it with a slotted spoon, running it under cold water, and cutting it open. If it isn't done, cook the other eggs a minute or two longer. The eggs should be done perfectly at 10 minutes, but sometimes, depending on the shape of the pan, the size of the eggs, the number of eggs compared to the amount of water, and how cooked you like them, it can take a few minutes more. When you find the right time that works for you given your pan, the size of eggs you usually buy, the type of stove top you have, stick with it.


Either remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and place them into a bowl of ice water (this is if you have a lot of eggs) OR strain out the water from the pan, fill the pan with cold water, strain again, fill again, until the eggs cool down a bit. Once cooled, strain the water from the eggs. Store the eggs in a covered container in the refrigerator. They should be eaten within 5 days.

Non-Stick Rolling Mat

What a great invention!

You'll think these silicone mats are heaven sent when you roll dough that doesn't stick, bake cookies that don't burn, or clean up the non-stick surface without scrubbing.

Nonstick Rolling Mat, about $49.95, williams-sonoma.com

Silpat Silicone Cookie Sheet Liners, about $25, williams-sonoma.com

Stuffed Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza

This is one of my favorites!  It takes a little work but it SO worth it!

1 pound Italian pork sausage
3 1/3 cups Bisquick mix
3/4 to 1 cup cold water
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 15oz jar of pasta sauce (I use Heinz canned Four Cheese sauce)
1/3 cup Italian breadcrumbs
1 package pepperoni slices

Heat over to 450.  Spray 13x9 glass baking dish with cooking spray.  In 10 inch skillet cook sausage on medium heat until brown.  Drain meat.

In large bowl stire Bisquick mix, cold water, and Italian breadcrumbs until dough forms.  Divide dough into 2 parts, one slightly larger than the other.  Roll larger part into about a 16x14 inch rectangle on a surface sprinkled with Bisquick mix.  Fold into thirds and place into baking dish and unfold making sure bottoms and sides are covered.  Sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese and 3/4 cup of pasta sauce, then the meat mixture, 3/4 of the package of pepperoni, mushrooms and bell peppers cut up, or any other topping you want, and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese.

Roll remaining portion of dough into a 13x9 inch rectangle (my trick to this is to roll it out thin into about the size I need then take a ruler and knife an cut it into the appropriate measurements).  Fold into thrids, lay on top of dish, press edges together with a fork.  Make a couple small slits in top.  Spread remaining pasta sauce, pepperoni and cheese on top.  (When I make this I have a little dough left over.  I cut it into strips and make a lattice design on the top of everything with it).

Bake uncovered for 22 to 25 minutes or until edges of crust are golden brown.

Cheesy Pepperoni Biscuits

1 1/2 cups Bisquick mix
1/2 to 3/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 stick (6 oz) or 1 package pepperoni, diced
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup pasta sauce (I use Heinz canned Four Cheese sauce)
1/3 cup Italian breadcrumbs
2 tbsp ranch dressing

Heat over to 400.  Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.  In medium bowl combine Bisquick mix, egg, milk, 1 tbsp ranch and breadcrumbs until blended.  Add pepperoni and cheese.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown.  Immediately remove from cookie sheets and serve with heated pasta sauce, mix rest of ranch into sauce.

Best Stand Mixer EVER!

Mixer allows you to mix like a professional chef with 575 watts and 10-speed controls. Unique 67-touch point planetary action offers the industry's highest beater-to-bowl coverage for quick and complete mixing and Soft Start mixing feature helps you to avoid splatter. The 6-quart polished stainless steel bowl is ergonomically designed and has an ergonomic handle. Hub cover is hinged for additional attachments. Features all steel gear transmission with all metal construction housing and includes automatic shutoff protection if overload is sensed. Includes pouring shield, burnished flat beater, PowerKnead spiral dough hook and 11-wire whip. Measures approximately 161/2 H x 111/4 W x 14 1/2 D. UL listed. Model # KL26M8XOB

*Drool*  I Want!


You can buy this from Amazon HERE

Amazingly Easy Baked Potatoes

First wash your potatoes, either with a stiff bristle brush or a scour pad, just be sure not to skin the potato with whatever you use.

Lightly coat your potatoes with either olive oil or vegetable oil.  (I pour a little vegetable oil in a bowl, dip my hand and the potato in it, then rub evenly all over the potato)

Take a fork and pierce them 4-8 times depending on the size. (This helps the steam escape)

Place your potatoes on a cookie sheet, sprinkle sea salt on them. (I use a sea salt grinder that I found at the grocery store on the finest setting)

Bake at 400 for about an hour for 4-6 medium potatoes.  Turn about halfway through.

Potatoes are done when you squeeze them in the middle and they are soft.  Cut down the middle with a knife and squeeze ends together to make it open, top with whatever you want.

Baking them this way makes them crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and makes the skin taste delicious!

What I Wouldn't Do for a Set of These

I would love to get my hands on a set of Paula Deen's cookware.  I have heard such great things about it and all the rave reviews are making me so excited to try it out.

Only one problem though...

119.95 @ www.pauladeenstore.com