Category: Party Ideas

Microwaving a Perfect Potato for Newbies

First, wash the potato under running water (no soap!). You can scrub it with a vegetable brush or just rub it with your hands. Then pat it dry with a paper towel.

Puncture about four holes in the potato, with the tip of a sharp knife or a fork. This is important, as it allows the steam to escape. Otherwise the potato may explode when you cook it. (Seriously! If you don’t puncture it, the potato will go SPLAT all over the inside of you microwave!)

If you are baking potatoes in the oven, you can rub a small amount of oil on them so that the skin gets nice and crispy. It is not necessary to rub oil on potatoes you are cooking in the microwave oven.

Place the potato on a microwave-safe dish. Check the small print on the back of the dish to be sure. Then place it in the microwave oven. (By the way, microwave ovens do not have to be preheated.)

Many microwaves have moisture sensors inside so that all you need to do is press the button that says ‘potato’ and just wait for the microwave to beep at you.

If your microwave doesn’t have a potato button, a general rule is that one 7-to-8 ounce Idaho potato takes about 7 minutes to cook. 2 will take about 11 minutes.

The microwave will often say REST. That means the potato, not you! You need to just let it sit for a couple of minutes, for it to actually finish cooking.

But remember, each microwave oven is different, so you need to stick a knife in the potato to see if it is done. The knife should slide in easily and you should be able to squeeze the potato without too much resistance.

To open a microwave ‘spud’, it needs a bit of a bash first to break the fibers apart.

First, slice the top with a knife.

Then place a folded paper towel over the microwave potato. Using the bottom part of your fist, give it a bash. Be really careful as the potato will be very hot.

Now if you give it a squeeze it should be nice and fluffy.

You can now top it with your favorite topping.

As my Irish grandfather used to say, “I’ve never met a potato I didn’t like!”

Instructions via Start Cooking

Chicken-Bacon-Ranch Bundles

Here’s the deal. My cousin is infatuated with Pinterest. She found the recipe below from there. She decided to switch it up and add chopped bacon and some ranch dressing mix (the powder kind). She omitted the sesame seeds. The final result was AMAZING!! But of course, she didn’t actually measure, just threw them in as she liked. Feel free to try the original recipe, or adjust to make it your own creation. Happy Eating!

Original Pinterest Recipe:

Ingredients

  • 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
  •  
  • 1-13 oz. can chicken (or equivalent cooked chicken)
  •  
  • 1 Tbs. sesame seeds
  •  
  • 1/4 tsp. parsley
  •  
  • 2 cans Pillsbury Crescent Rolls – leave in fridge until ready to use!
  •  
  • 1 Tbs. finely chopped onion or dried minced onion

 

Directions:

Combine the above ingredients (minus the crescent rolls) and mix well.

Open one 8 count package crescent rolls. DO NOT divide into triangles. Keep every 2 triangles together, forming 4 rectangles.

Pinch the seams closed and pat each one out into a larger square. Note from Brittni… “I forgot to pat them out into larger squares, and so I had to use an extra can of crescent rolls to use up most of the filling, so it might be good to have and extra can handy.” (I changed the ingredient list to 2 cans of crescent rolls just in case!)

Put a spoonful of chicken/cream cheese mixture into the center of each square. Fold the corners up into the center, layering like flower petals so the roll is sealed. (Don’t stress too much on the technique, fold them up press seams together to make a bundle.)

Repeat with all 8 rectangles. You’re going to worry that you’re doing this wrong, but you’re not, just do it, I promise they’ll taste delicious.

Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes.

Cinnamon French Toast Bake

 Check out What’s Cooking Love’s  recipe adaption. Looks super yummy!!

 

1/4 cup melted butter
2 cans refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing
5 eggs
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup maple syrup

1.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2.  Pour the melted butter into an ungreased 13×9 glass baking dish.  Separate both cans of refrigerated cinnamon buns into 16 cinnamon buns, setting the icing aside.  Then cut each cinnamon bun into 8 pieces and place the pieces on top of the butter in the baking dish.

3.  In a medium bowl beat the eggs.  Then beat in the heavy whipping cream, cinnamon, and vanilla until they are well blended. Then gently pour over the cinnamon bun pieces.  Sprinkle the top with the pecans and then drizzle with the maple syrup.

4. Bake for 20 to 28 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool for 15 minutes.

5.  Microwave the icing on medium (50%) for 10-15 seconds or until it is thin enough to drizzle.  Drizzle the icing over the top of the French Toast Bake.  Serve with additional syrup if desired

Flower Colors and Their Meaning

 

Red Love, Beauty, Courage and Respect, Romantic Love, Congratulations, “I Love You”, “Job Well Done”, Sincere Love, Respect, Courage & Passion
Red (Dark) Unconscious beauty
Red (Single) “I Love You”
Deep Burgundy Unconscious Beauty
White Purity, Innocence, Silence, Secrecy, Reverence, Humility, Youthfulness,
“I am worthy of you”, Heavenly
White (Bridal) Happy love
Pink Appreciation, “Thank you”, Grace, Perfect Happiness, Admiration, Gentleness, “Please Believe Me”
Dark Pink Appreciation, Gratitude, “Thank You”
Light Pink Admiration, Sympathy, Gentleness, Grace, Gladness, Joy, Sweetness
Yellow Joy, Gladness, Friendship, Delight, Promise of a new beginning, Welcome Back, Remember Me,  Jealousy,
“I care”
Yellow with Red Tip Friendship, Falling in Love
Orange Desire, Enthusiasm
Red and White Given together, these signify unity
Red and Yellow Jovial and Happy Feelings
Peach Appreciation, Closing the deal, Let’s get together, Sincerity, Gratitude
Pale Peach Modesty
Coral Desire
Lavender Love at first sight, Enchantment
Orange Enthusiasm, Desire, Fascination
Black Death, Farewell
Blue The unattainable, the impossible
Single – any color Simplicity, Gratitude
Red Rosebud Symbolic of purity and loveliness
White Rosebud Symbolic of girlhood
Thorn-less Rose “Love at first sight”


Roses by the Numbers

  • A single rose of any color depicts utmost devotion
  • Two roses entwined together communicate “Marry me”
  • Six Roses signify a need to be loved or cherished
  • Eleven roses assure the recipient they are truly and deeply loved
  • Thirteen roses indicate a secret admirer