The Best Freezer-to-Table No Bake Dessert for Summer Delizza Cream Puffs & Mini Eclairs

Memorial Day starts the summer cookout season. From here until the fall, most of our weekends will be spent around the grill with good food and great friends. This time of year, it's especially nice to have some extra yummy treats stashed away for spontaneous gatherings and last-minute barbeques. That's why I absolutely love Delizza Desserts. I can keep a couple boxes of their cream puffs and mini eclairs in the freezer, and just pop them out 30 minutes before I need them...so easy and so super yummy. They really are the Best Summer No-Bake Dessert!

In the summer, I also love to keep a stack of bandanas around for fun napkins. They really brighten up the table at a cook out and give it a little extra panache. The cloth bandanas are super casual and little fancy at the same time...kind of like Delizza Desserts - easy and elegant. That's why it seemed perfect to decorate my Delizza Desserts boxes with a bandanas, so they're always barbeque ready whenever I need them.  Of course, I couldn't stop there, I had to design some cute printables for the extra special summer cookout holidays - Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

Freezer-to-Table No Bake Dessert for Summer 
Supplies: 

• Delizza Desserts Cream Puffs or Mini Eclairs, two boxes for a bountiful display 
• One bandana
• Elastic, 2 feet
• Safety pin

Create a 2-3 inch overlapping fold in the center of your your bandana.

Turn and create another 2-3 inch overlapping fold in the center of your bandana on the opposite side to create a smaller square.

Place your box of Delizza Desserts in the center of the folded bandana, so that the flat sides of the box are centered on the points of the bandana.

Tightly wrap your length of elastic around the top center of the box, creating an inch of overlap. Secure elastic with a safety pin.  Make sure the elastic band is tight around the box and remove.

Gather the points of the bandana to the center of the Delizza Desserts box lid.

While carefully holding in place, lift the box up and place on top of your elastic band. The safety pin should be centered on one of the sides of the box.

Slowly slide the elastic band up around all four sides of the box to hold the bandana in place.  (This is how I store my box in the freezer until I need it.)

Fold the sides of the bandana down to completely cover the elastic band.  Pop the lid off and enjoy! 

For a really full box, I like to add the contents of a second Delizza Desserts box.  It's fun to mix in two different types like the cream puffs and mini eclairs for extra variety like I did in my photos. Plus, that gives a little something for everyone.

Isn't this so super cute?!  For the the big summer holidays like Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day, you can use these summer printables to create a fun sign to pop into the box.

A couple months ago when Delizza Desserts approached me about trying their products and blogging about them.  I was super excited because I love serving their cream puffs at baby showers and parties all winter long.  They're a really easy way to expand a menu and add an elegant touch.  I had never even thought about how perfect they'd be for summer parties, though. They're cool and refreshing (at least they are if you can't wait for them to completely thaw like me...so yummy!), and they keep you from having to cook in a hot kitchen.

I'm really excited to have Delizza Desserts as a new no-bake dessert in my entertaining arsenal for the summer, and I hope you will, too.  In fact, I've got two chances for you to win a Delizza Dessert item of your choice.

How to Enter to Win:

1. Head over to Delizza's website at www.delizza.us, and check out all their yummy flavors.  
2. Then stop by my Facebook page, and post a comment to tell me which Delizza Dessert is your favorite or the one you plan to try if you win.  Leave your comment on my Facebook page by midnight central on June 7th.

I'll draw two winners on June 8th to receive a coupon by mail redeemable for a free Delizza Dessert.  If you win, I'll message you to get your mailing address.  Good luck and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Cinco de Mayo Recipe: Easy Chicken Verde

I can't believe it's almost Cinco de Mayo again!  One of the biggest hits at our Cinco de Mayo Margarita Party last year was my husband Roger's Easy Chicken Verde. In fact, almost everyone at the party requested the recipe. It's so good that I keep trying to convince Roger to cook it at least once a week. Instead, he decided to teach me how to make it this week, so I could share it with you.

This recipe is so perfect for a fiesta or a week night meal. To be honest, I really don't enjoy cooking meals or anything with meat in particular, but this really was pretty easy and fast. I could definitely make this for company.

Easy Chicken Verde Recipe

2    tablespoons olive oil
      salt
4    chicken breasts or thighs, boneless (1-1.5 lbs)
1    cup onion, diced
1    16 oz jar Frontera Tomatillo Salsa (available at Target)
¼    cup cilantro, chopped

Heat oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat.  Salt both sides of chicken breasts and place in pan. Brown on both sides for about two minutes. Remove chicken from skillet.

Brown onion in the skillet.  Pour tomatillo salsa on top and stir until the sauce thickens a little.  Place chicken back in the skillet, cover, and simmer on medium heat until chicken is cooked thoroughly, approximately 8 minutes. By the way, if  you want to take pity on my old coil stove, please visit my online store and make a purchase to support the "Betsy Needs a New Stove" Fund.

Shred chicken. Garnish with cilantro before serving. Serve with tortillas and sour cream, if desired.

When we made this Chicken Verde hours ahead for our party, we placed everything in a casserole dish covered with foil, so we could keep it warm in the oven until it was time to serve.  According to my husband's Mexican Cooking Bible, Rick Bayless's Mexican Everyday, thighs will stay juicer in the oven like this, but we always use chicken breasts. I think the sauce keeps them moist enough.

Download the Easy Chicken Verde 3x5 Recipe Card

Here are a few shots of the Chicken Verde at our Cinco de Mayo Margarita Party.  All of the lovely photos below are by Click Photo Designs by Sarah Brewer, who I absolutely love working with on special events.

 

 See more photos and details from this Cinco de Mayo Margarita Party.

• Cinco de Mayo Margarita Recipe (our own house mix)
• Easy Fried Ice Cream Recipe
• DIY Mexican Paper Flags: Easy Papel Picado Alternative

Easy Kite Brownies on a Stick

It doesn't get any easier than these super cute Kite Brownies on a Stick for spring...especially since Little Debbie does most the work! These would be absolutely perfect for a school kite day!

Taking a cue from my friend Melissa at Buckets of Grace, who made some adorable skewered Little Debbie hearts for Valentine's Day, I was instantly inspired when I saw these Little Debbie Kite Brownies at my grocery store.

To make this display, I used:

• Little Debbie Kite Brownies
• A jar filled with glass beads
• Bamboo skewers (long and medium lengths)
• Long lengths of organza ribbon
• Short strips of a accent ribbon (mine were satin and grosgrain)

I recommend storing the skewers horizontally on a tray and waiting to assemble vertically right before your event. The brownies are soft, and I did have one of the brownies fall off its stick.  However, it held tight for about a hour before that happened. I'm sure your brownies will be snatched up before that happens.

If you make some Kite Brownies on a Stick, I'd love to see a photo!  Leave a comment on post on my Facebook wall.

Wish Your Friends Happy Birthday on Facebook with Shareable Greetings

I've got a fun new way to wish your friends Happy Birthday on Facebook - Shareable Greetings by Belly Feathers.  You can now share a handmade greeting created by yours truly on your friends' timeline.  Check out this video to see how fun and easy it is. 



Now that you've seen how fun Shareable Greetings are, head over to facebook.com/BellyFeathers to get started and enjoy!

Mardi Gras Moon Pie Cake

Fat Tuesday is this week, and I've got a super cute and easy Mardi Gras Moon Pie Cake to help you celebrate.

You may not know this but Mardi Gras originally started in my home state Alabama (in the city of Mobile to be exact). While I've never been to a Mardi Gras parade myself, I know they throw out Moon Pies out during the parades along with beads and other treats. So, I knew a Mardi Gras dessert focused on Moon Pies would be a perfect way to celebrate Fat Tuesday this year.  Plus, Moon Pies are delicious and any excuse to have one is a good day!!!

This Mardi Gras Cake is really as simple as it looks!  Just stack your favorite Mini Moon Pie flavors (mine is vanilla; my husband likes banana) on a cake plate and stick in this super easy topper using my printable fleur-de-lis below.

Mardi Gras Moon Pie Cake Recipe

Ingredients & Supplies
6   8" sections of sheer organza ribbon in purple, green, and gold
     two lengths of each color
1   Bamboo skewer or thick toothpick
1   Mardi Gras Printable Cake Topper (below)
1   Pair of scissors
1   Glue dot or other adhesive
4   Boxes of Mini Moon Pies

Stack five ribbon lengths on top of each other. Using the remaining ribbon, tie and knot the stack of ribbons to your bamboo skewer or toothpick, leaving enough room at the top for your fleur-de-lis.

Click on the Mardi Gras Printable Cake Topper image below to view the full-sized file, save to your computer, and print.  In case you want to make your cake topper double-sided, I've included the reverse of the image.  For simplicity's sake, I just made mine single-sided.

Cut and glue the fleur-de-lis to your bamboo skewer or toothpick.  The knot in your ribbon should be facing the back of your fleur-de-lis.

Fluff out the ribbons, so you have some sticking out in all directions like a tutu.  Trim the ribbon edges at an angle.

Stack your Moon Pies on a cake plate. I used six Mini Moon Pies per layer on a medium cake plate.

Stick your topper in the center, and as they say at Mardi Gras, laissez les bons temps rouler...or, let the good times roll!

If you make a Mardi Gras Moon Pie Cake, I'd love to see a photo.  Please share on my Facebook wall or send via Twitter!

Happy Valentine's Day - Heart Shaped Tree

This is a photo of a tree in my neighborhood that I pass every day.  I can only imagine how surprised the tree trimmers must have been to see this surprise, and as I drive by it every day, I'm reminded that God leaves little surprises just like this to remind us of his love.

Happy Valentine's Day - may you have lots of reasons to smile and share love today!

Candy Acorns for Thanksgiving

These Candy Acorns are as yummy as they are cute! Butterscotch and toasted pecans make a delightful flavor combination...I can't even begin to describe how good these are!  These acorns are sure to make the perfect decoration for your Thanksgiving treats and fall gatherings.

I originally saw these cuties on the cover of Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade magazine. The steps outlined in the magazine made the process of creating these Candy Acorns a bit frustrating, so I streamlined the process. Now, they're super simple and joy to make.

Candy Acorns Recipe
40    pecan halves, toasted
1      cup butterscotch morsels, melted
½     cup  finely ground pecans, toasted

With a small amount of melted butterscotch, attach flat sides of 2 pecan halves to make a whole.  Place on a waxed-paper-lined baking sheet in the freezer for 10 minutes to set.

Dip  ⅔ lengthwise of each whole pecan into melted butterscotch and set on waxed paper.  Place in the freezer for 10 minutes to set.

Dip uncoated ⅓ of pecan into melted butterscotch, and roll in finely ground pecans.  You may want to use your fingers to push the ground pecans into a uniform shape for your acorn tops.

 Set on waxed paper, and place in the freezer for 10 minutes to set. Enjoy!

These candy acorns are so easy and delicious!  I can't wait to decorate my pumpkin pie with these for Thanksgiving.