Making Iced Tea

One of my favorite beverages is iced tea. Here is my suggestion on how to make great iced tea. Boil 5 cups of water. Add 5 or 6 tea bags. Allow to steep 5-8 minutes. Add enough cold water to your liking, usually 4 or 5 cups more. Serve chilled. Many add slices of lemon or sweetner. I don't drink sweetened tea, but for those that do, add the sugar first, then pour the iced tea over and stir. Experiment with different teas. Many people enjoy a slight orange flavor. Some like plain old Lipton tea. Try various teas and find those that you like.

Audrey :)

These cute sandwiches made with peanut butter and jelly (or cream cheese and jelly, or any other fillings) are perfect for parties, lunch boxes, or snacks.

1. For each sandwich, cut two slices of bread into flower shapes with a cookie cutter.

2. Cut a hole in one of the slices by pressing a water bottle cap into the center.

3. Spread the peanut butter and jelly on the whole piece and place the slice with the hole on top.

Thanks to Dana at http://www.entrepreneurmommy.blogspot.com/ for sharing this idea with me.

Audrey :)

Old Salad Dressing

If you're like me, you collect salad dressings and then have small amounts left in many bottles. Use the leftovers as a chicken marinade. Just last night I put chicken into a baggie with leftover creamy garlic salad dressing. I know by tonight the meat will be flavorful with garlic flavor.

Audrey :)

Chocolate Covered Fruit

I think all of us have eaten chocolate covered fruit. It is one of the most wonderful taste combinations, chocolate and strawberries, or chocolate and pineapple.

Making chocolate covered fruit is not only simple but also very elegant looking when preparing desserts for guests.

The simplest way to make chocolate covered fruit is to buy chocolate chips and melt them down. I buy both brown chocolate and white chocolate. I’ll buy either chips or bars and then melt them over a very low fire.

All fruit must be dry before dipping. If you wash the fruit, make sure to paper towel off the water, so that when you dip, the fruit is dry.

I line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and after dipping transfer the fruit to the waxed paper. I then chill in the refrigerator.

Mix and match strawberries, pineapple wedges, maraschino cherries, apples and pears. I’ve also dipped dried food to add to the platter I’m making. If you don’t use white chocolate, try using marshmallows, and dipping half of the marshmallow in chocolate, so that you have a lot of white showing on your platter.

I’ve seen beautiful skewers with mandarin oranges used as spacers. Dip your fruit in chocolate and put the orange slices, un-dipped in the middle of your dipped fruit.

Try dipping strawberries or maraschino cherries and adding them to the top of pudding or ice cream for a very pretty visual look.

Make or buy a pound cake. Cut the pound cake into squares. Dip half of the square in chocolate and mix on the platter with your dipped fruit.

When you use fruits such as strawberries and pineapple you are able to have green on your dessert platter also.

Are you feeling brave? Once you dip the fruit, try sprinkling coconut or chopped nuts over the chocolate. If kids will be eating the fruit, try sprinkling M&M’s or Reeses Pieces over the fruit.

It’s fun to arrange dessert platters with assorted fruits, some in white chocolate, some in milk chocolate, some with nuts on them, and some with coconut on them. Experiment and enjoy a delicious yet very simple dessert.

Audrey :)

Refirgerate Overnight

When making dips and dressings, allow the mixed ingredients to sit in the refridgerator overnight. The flavors will blend together and taste smooth.

Audrey :)

Sifting Dry Ingredients

If you are asked to sift ingredients together, but don't have a sifter, try using a whisk. Often when we are aske do sift ingredients it's to blend them and remove lumps. A whisk can also accomplish this.

Audrey :)

Mashed Potatoes

Mash a bit of boiled carrot and add to your mashed potatoes. The mashed carrot adds some color to the white potato and also adds a bit of flavor.

Audrey :)

Cleaning Your Microwave

To clean your microwave mix together 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1 cup water in a glass dish. Microwave on high for one minute. This will loosen the dirt for you to wipe off and will leave a fresh citrus smell in your microwave.

Audrey :)