Summertime Pasta Salad

This pasta salad reminds me of summer! It is not your typical pasta salad...but it is so yummy!

Orange Pasta Salad

1 box bow tie pasta
2 bell peppers (any colors-green, red, orange, yellow)
1 can mandarin oranges
1/2 cup Newman's Own Light Lime Vinigarette Dressing
1/2 cup balsamic vinigarette dressing
1/8 cup orange juice
1 tsp. basil

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, run under cold water to cool

2. Chop bell peppers into small pieces

3. Add peppers and whole can (juice included) of oranges to the pasta

4. Add dressings and orange juice (add more/less as desired)

5. Add basil for coloing

6. Mix and chill before serving

Easter Cake Pops

Easter Cake Pops

I got this recipe and design ideas from Bakerella. Hers are definitly cuter than mine, but they came out okay...and they were yummy (According to everyone else, I haven't eaten one yet!)
Find the recipe and directions to make them from Bakerella.

Sugar Cookies

I am not usually a huge fan of sugar cookies, but these are really good! I like them best plain, but that is boring so I found a good icing for them too!

Sugar Cookies

(Recipe from Heather)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks - 24 tbsp.) butter

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup powdered sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1 tbsp. lemon zest

5 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Powdered sugar, for rolling

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (You may want to wait a while to heat the oven since it will take some time to make the dough and cut out the cookies.)

2. Cream butter and sugars in a mixer for 5 minutes.

3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly.

4. Add vanilla, almond, and lemon zest.

5. Sift in flour, baking powder, and salt a little at a time. Do not over mix, this process should take about one minute.

6. Chill dough for up to a week in the fridge, or roll out and cut right away (chill for at least an hour).

7. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and bake cookies for 7-8 minutes. Wait until cookies are cooled before icing.

Royal Icing

Recipe from Wilton

3 Tablespoons Meringue powder

4 cups (1 lb) confectioners sugar

6 tablespoons warm water

** Keep adding water until you get the consistancy you want. I use a thicker consistancy to pipe the edges, then thin it out to fill in the center.

Soft Pretzels

These are my fave....I made them for Easter because my whole family loves them. Next time I will take pictures, don't have any this time.

Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com

Soft Pretzels

4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F)
4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/2 cup baking soda
4 cups boiling water
half stick melted butter
kosher or pretzel salt for topping

1. Dissolve yeast and 1 tsp sugar in warm water and let sit for 10 min (until foamy)
2. Combine flour, sugar, and salt in bowl (I use my KitchenAid mixer) and make a well in center
3. Add yeast mixture and oil, and knead dough until smooth (7 to 8 minutes)
4. Put into lightly greased bowl, cover, and let sit for a couple hours to rise
5. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
6. Boil water, take off heat and add baking soda
7. Roll out pretzels into shape desired, dip into baking soda mixture (let sit for about 10 seconds in mixture) and put onto greased baking sheet(I use parchment paper so they wont stick) Sprinkle with salt.
8. Bake for 6-8 minutes (keep an eye on them, and take out when golden brown)
9. Brush with melted butter and enjoy!