Fresh Watermelon Snow Cone Shots!

Watermelon is the essential flavor of summer. Cool, refreshing and sweet, these little shots are a fun summer surprise! ~Amy

Fresh Watermelon Snow Cone Shots!

Seedless watermelon, cut into medium to small sized pieces, place in large ziploc, and freeze until frozen.

Shot glasses

Variations:
Serve with fresh lime wedges
Super fine sugar rimmed shot glasses
Sprinkle with Tajin Chile Spice
Mint

Use frozen cubes of watermelon in place of ice, and shave according to manufacturers instructions. Quickly fill shot glasses with shaved watermelon and garnish with mint.
Serve immediately.

Recipe by Amy Richardson

Passionfruit, Orange, and Guava Ice Cream!

We’re having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave! Cool down with this traditional taste from the islands! ~Amy

Passionfruit, Orange, and Guava Ice Cream!

2 cups half and half
3/4 cup guava, juice
3/4 cup passionfruit, juice
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 tsp vanilla
1/2 a fresh lime, juiced

1 cup fresh pineapple pieces

A few drops coloring if desired, red and yellow

In a blender, place Guava, passionfruit, and orange juice. Add sugar, vanilla, lime juice, and pineapple. Blend on high, until well mixed. Pour into ice cream container, whisk in half and half an freeze according to manufacture’s instructions.

Makes 1 1/2 quarts

Recipe by Amy Richardson

Cowboy Cookies!

Are you cowboy enough for these cookies?! Bigger than sky country and chock full of chocolate, these cookies will satisfy buckaroos of all ages! ~Amy

Cowboy Cookies!

14 tbsp butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tbsp vanilla

1 tsp coarse salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 1/4 cups flour

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup milk chocolate discs, Guitard or Callebaut
1/2-3/4 cup white chocolate discs, Guitard, or Callebaut

Heat oven to 350

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.

Beat butter and sugar together for 3-5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, and best until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and salt and beat on high.
Add soda and flour slowly, and mix on low until just mixed.
Add chocolate, and either mix in, or stir in by hand.

Using a 4oz scoop, place about 2 inches apart and bake 12-15 minutes.

Recipe by Amy and Madeline Richardson

Tangerine White Chocolate Macarons

These delicious white chocolate tangerine macarons instantly became a favorite after premiering as a take home wedding gift! So pretty, and so popular! ~Amy & Madeline

Tangerine White Chocolate Macarons

Macaron Base:

3 egg whites, at room temperature
5 tbsp granulated sugar
2/3 cup almond flour
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

6-7 drops blush food coloring

In a food processor, process almond flour and confectioners sugar until well mixed. Sift the mixture through sieve, and divide in half.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, whip egg whites until foamy.

While beating on high, slowly add sugar. When soft peaks form, add extracts and food coloring if desired.

Beat until stiff peaks,has a glossy texture, and mixture doesn’t drip from the beaters.

Into the whipped merengue, fold in the first half of the almond mixture. When just blended, add additional dry mixture, folding until mixture is blended, and looks like lava when dropped from the spatula.

Place mixture in a piping bag fitted with round tip.

On to a parchment lined baking sheet, pipe in small circles, about the size of a quarter; leaving room for the batter to spread.

Rap sheet firmly against the counter, or flat surface. This helps the macaron to get it’s pied shape.

Before baking, let batter dry, uncovered for 30 minutes.

Heat oven to 300. Bake for 15-17 minutes. Cool completely.

Pipe a small amount of ganache on the flat side of macaron, top with other half making a sandwich. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen filled macarons.

Tangerine White Chocolate Ganache

1/2 heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cups chopped white chocolate
Zest of 2 tangerines

Place chopped chocolate into a small bowl.
In a saucepan bring cream to an almost boil. Pour over chocolate, and let set for about 5 minutes. Slowly stir until smooth. Add extract and orange zest and whip to desired consistency.

Recipe by Amy and Madeline Richardson

Strawberry White Chocolate Macarons

Strawberries are in full season in my back yard. Perfect for jam, pies or just for eating. My gamache uses a little freezer jam to give it that garden fresh taste! ~Amy

Strawberry White Chocolate Macarons

Macaron Base:

3 egg whites, at room temperature
5 tbsp granulated sugar
2/3 cup almond flour
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

3-4 drops neon pink food coloring

3 drops red food coloring

In a food processor, process almond flour and confectioners sugar until well mixed. Sift the mixture through sieve, and divide in half.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, whip egg whites until foamy.

While beating on high, slowly add sugar. When soft peaks form, add extracts and food coloring if desired.

Beat until stiff peaks,has a glossy texture, and mixture doesn’t drip from the beaters.

Into the whipped merengue, fold in the first half of the almond mixture. When just blended, add additional dry mixture, folding until mixture is blended, and looks like lava when dropped from the spatula.

Place mixture in a piping bag fitted with round tip.

On to a parchment lined baking sheet, pipe in small circles, about the size of a quarter; leaving room for the batter to spread.

Rap sheet firmly against the counter, or flat surface. This helps the macaron to get it’s pied shape.

Before baking, let batter dry, uncovered for 30 minutes.

Heat oven to 300. Bake for 15-17 minutes. Cool completely.

Pipe a small amount of ganache on the flat side of macaron, top with other half making a sandwich. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen filled macarons.

Strawberry White Chocolate Ganache

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cups chopped white chocolate
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup strawberry freezer jam, or preserves

Place chopped chocolate into a small bowl.
In a saucepan bring cream to an almost boil. Pour over chocolate, and let set for about 5 minutes. Slowly stir until smooth. Add extract and whip to desired consistency. Beat in strawberry jam until light and fluffy.

Recipe by Amy and Madeline Richardson

Skewered! A Summer Sandwich Party!

Saddle up, and round up your family and friends for the best darn party of summer!~Amy

Skewered!
A Summer Sandwich Party!

Party Menu:

THE BLUE ROOSTER

Ciabatta rolls, mini or cut into quarters
Roasted chicken, deli style, sliced
Sliced apples, red or green
Blue cheese, sliced or cubed
Butter Lettuce leaves
Long skewers

Dipping sauce:
BLACK PEPPER HONEY MUSTARD

Mustard recipe:
1/2 cup honey mustard, purchased
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tbsp honey
1/8 tsp black pepper

Place all ingredients in a blender or small food processor, and blend on high for 30 seconds or until well blended.

THE COWBOY

Kaiser Rolls
Roast Beef, deli style, sliced
Wisconsin cheddar cheese
Hickory smoked Bacon
Avocado, sliced
Leaf lettuce

Dipping sauce:
HICKORY BBQ RANCH

1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce, Sweet Baby Rays Hickory Brown Sugar, or other purchased brand
1/2 cup Lemon Ranch sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce and lemon ranch sauce until smooth. Thin with additional lemon juice or warm water if a thinner consistency is desired.

THE CABALLERO CLUB

Sourdough, toasted and buttered
Smoked Turkey, sliced
Honey glazed ham, sliced
Hickory smoked bacon, cooked
Pepper jack cheese, sliced
Avocado, sliced
Beefsteak tomatoes, sliced
Iceberg or leaf lettuce

Dipping sauce:
LEMON RANCH

3/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 package Hidden Valley Ranch mix
1 cup buttermilk
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream and mayonnaise. Add mix and blend well. Add buttermilk and lemon juice and whisk until completely blended. Refrigerate until ready to use.

EASY BLACK PEPPER PARMESAN KETTLE CHIPS

Black pepper kettle chips
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated

Open bag of chips, sprinkle chips with parmesan cheese. Close bag and gently shake to coat.

WATERMELON RASPBERRY FRUIT JARS

6 small jars
6 small skewers
4-6 cups watermelon cubes
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 lime, cut into six wedges
Fresh mint leaves

Place watermelon and raspberries into jars. Top with a lime wedge, mint and serve with a skewer.

HOMEMADE CHERRY LEMONADE

1 3/4-2 cups sugar
8 cups water
1 1/2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/4-1/2 cup maraschino cherry juice
Crushed ice

In a large beverage jar, dissolve sugar in to water by stirring vigorously. Add lemon juice, add crushed ice and pour juice over the top for a layered look, or stir to mix.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM SANDWICH SKEWERS with HOMEMADE HOT FUDGE SAUCE

Short skewers
Purchased chocolate chocolate ice cream sandwiches, Fat Boys
Chocolate Fudge Sauce, recipe follows*

Cut fat boys into quarters, skewer each section through the middle, making a tower. Serve immediately with homemade fudge sauce.

Hot Fudge Sauce:

1/2 cup butter
1 cup semi sweet, bittersweet, milk chocolate pieces, or a combination
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

In a medium sized saucepan, melt butter.
Add chocolates, evaporated milk, and sugar.
Cook over medium heat, stirring until smooth.
Bring to a simmer, remove from heat, and add vanilla.
Mixture will thicken as it cools,

Makes about 2 cups

Recipes by Amy Richardson

Strawberry Passionfruit Breakfast Parfait Pops!

Summertime breakfast on the go! School’s out, let’s have some fun! ~Amy

Strawberry Passionfruit Breakfast Parfait Pops

1 cup sliced strawberries lightly puréed
2 tbsp sugar or honey

1 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup passionfruit juice

1/4 granola, homemade or purchased

Blend strawberries with sugar or honey. Set aside.

Whisk together yogurt and passionfruit juice together. Set aside.

Pour into layers freeze according to manufacture’s instructions. When frozen, remove from molds and place in individual bags or wrap in wax paper to keep. Or just eat!

Recipe by Amy Richardson