Sugar Free - Just for the Birthday Boy

Today is my dear hubby's 62nd birthday.  He is a proud veteran of the Vietnam War and served 20 years in the military.  He is 100% disabled - including being diabetic - from the effects of Agent Orange.

He is my man of 'steel and velvet', and I'm so thankful God lets me be his wife.

I want to honor him today by sharing our favorite sugar free dessert....and his birthday cake.  Do hope you'll try it.  I have often served it to company, and they have no clue it isn't sugarFULL.

I've made this so many times, I have the recipe memorized.

CREAM PUFF CAKE

1 stick margarine
1 cup water
1 cup all purpose flour
4 eggs
1 - 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 small pkgs. sugar free instant vanilla pudding (we prefer french vanilla)
3-1/2 cups milk
1 8oz. frozen whipped topping, thawed
sugar free chocolate syrup, optional

Preheat oven to 400. In medium saucepan, place margarine and water - bring to a boil.  Stir in 1 cup of flour - I use a wooden spoon - until it makes a ball. Cool 2 minutes, then stir in eggs - by hand - mixing well after each addition. Spread in ungreased 9" X 13" X 2" baking dish. Bake 25 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely. Blend cream cheese, then add milk and instant pudding mix; beat until smooth.  Pour over base, then top with whipped topping. Serve with a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

Favorite Desserts using Crescent Rolls

I love crescent rolls from the can.  

Using them in any recipe is always a sure-fire way to end up with a delicious dish.



Did you know that Pillsbury has come up with a crescent roll 'sheet'? There aren't any seams so they are time-saving for some recipes.  I thought that was one terrific idea! Of course, there are times when you want to have the 'seams'...

Wanted to share these yummy recipes, for starters...and will add more again later. Do hope you'll try these as they are real winners in my book. (And will find their way to my cookbook one day too.)

Fun Make-It-Yourself Playdoh Recipes

 HOMEMADE PLAYDOH

1 cup regular (all purpose) flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 cup water, boiling
1 T. oil
few drops of food coloring of choice

Mix flour, salt and cream of tartar together in glass bowl. Mix water, oil and food coloring, then add to dry ingredients and stir with wooden spoon until well blended.  Let cool, store in Ziploc bags.

This can be mixed and cooked over stovetop too - I just think it's easier to add the boiling water instead.

Peanut Butter Playdoh

2 parts creamy peanut butter (ex; 1 cup)
2 parts powdered sugar (ex: 1 cup)
1 part honey (ex: 1/2 cup)

Mix with mixer or dough hook - add more honey or powdered sugar, a little at a time, to get the right consistency.

Makes sure hands and utensils are clean, then roll out the dough,
and use like playdoh. They can enjoy eating the snack when
they're done playing with it. (It's very rich - they won't eat much of it)

Love those blueberries!

Health Benefits of Blueberries: Nutrition and more Nutrition

Blueberries are rich in Vitamins A, C, E and beta-carotene as well as rich in the minerals potassium, manganese, magnesium. They are very high in fiber and low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. But this is just the tip of the nutritional iceberg, for recent studies tell us that of all fresh fruits and vegetables, blueberries provide the most health-protecting antioxidants, those valuable elements which prevent cancer-causing cell damage and may limit the changes wrought by age related diseases.

Have you ever heard of a Brown Bobby?

I'm doing this post per request...

I have been blessed to inherit a special kitchen 'appliance' from my mother - who inherited it from my dad's mother.  This is a picture of her holding my firstborn - daughter, Deb ~ a month before grandma went to heaven.

This appliance is called a "Brown Bobby Machine."  It has a cloth-covered cord...that should give you a clue to how old it is.

My grandparents purchased this little machine about 1910.  My grandmother made the 'greaseless donuts' and my dad and his siblings sold them door to door, in little cartons, similar to our egg carton today.

This is a picture of the machine ~ it's similar to a waffle iron and makes 6 donuts at a time.

I wasn't able to get a clear picture of the metal plate on the bottom front of the base, but this is what it reads...

BROWN BOBBY

Greaseless Doughnut Machine

Equipped with hold-heet elements

Food Display Machine Corp.

6 Amps  Chicago, USA  105-120 volts

They're really not greaseless ~ they're just not fried in oil like a 'normal' doughnut ~ they’re baked!