April Starr

Or in this case, pumpkin roll? It’s the end of FlourishCafe’s birthday week, but, of course, the proper way to celebrate the completion of year is always with a delicious dessert!  Ah, traditions. :)

I had never made a pumpkin roll until my husband requested one for his birthday – and I was surprised as how easy it actually was! Its a great autumn or winter dessert, and looks pretty to boot.  I’m including the recipe I used at the end of this post.

Thanks for celebrating FlourishCafe’s birthday with me this week – and don’t forget to enter my art giveaway … it ends tonight! In the meantime, here’s a slice of pumpkin roll for you!

Here is the recipe I used … nice and easy! :)

Libby’s® Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling from Allrecipes.com
Ingredients

• 1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup LIBBY’S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional)

I just love chocolate and bananas – it is such a great combination! This is something I came up with this summer – a quick and easy treat using (what else?) chocolate and bananas.  Just make sure you use the shell hardening chocolate syrup … that kind that hardens when you pour it over ice cream.  It wouldn’t work with just regular chocolate syrup. Hope you enjoy! My little girl loved these – its a great kitchen project to do with little ones because it is so easy. :)

What are some of your favorite quick and easy snacks?
Let me know in the comments! I’m always looking for ideas. :)

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Small plates and unusual flavors of soda

I don’t make appetizers very often.  I don’t know, it just seems like a lot of work for something “extra” before a meal.  Sure, I love to eat them, but in cooking, I’d rather make a big pot of curry, or a wok full of stir fry.  I like my food big and bold!

But sometimes for a more formal dinner, or if you’re serving a lot of people, small bites can be a good way to go. Its easier to be able to serve a lot of different dishes and have enough of them all to go around if each serving is, …. well, tiny. :)  And people can always go back for more, but you don’t end up with plates piled high with giant servings of unfinished food at the end of the night, as sometimes happens if servings are very large.

So here are a couple hors d’oeuvre ideas that look good, taste great, and are REALLY easy to make:

Slice the tops off of cherry tomatoes, and gently scoop out the inside. Lay them upside down on some paper towels to drain out some of the extra liquid.  Fill with chicken salad, and garnish with something leafy like parsley. Easy peasy! You can always jazz up the chicken salad a little more with some chutney and a little curry powder.

The one on the left: Smoked cheese and fresh avocado on toothpicks.  Um, how easy is that?! But it is SO good.  As with anything so simple though, the key is quality ingredients – after all, in something as easy as this, there’s nothing else for it to hide behind!  Make sure your avocado is ripe (it should be a little soft when squeezed, not hard) and don’t slice up the avocado ahead of time, or it will turn brown.

Are you a small plates or big plates kind of person?
Do you have easy appetizer ideas to share?
Tell me about it in the comments!!
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