Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Bean Paste?

I recently got a recipe that called for Vanilla Bean Paste and I had never heard of it. Since it is way more expensive than Vanilla extract I thought I didn't want it for just 1 recipe so I started reading. Vanilla bean paste is a lot thicker and resembles a thick syrup. I would never lick my fingers with vanilla extract on it but with Vanilla  bean that's a different story.It is really good to use in ice cream , cupcakes, cookies and frosting. It has little brown flakes in it making it look a lot more like vanilla. I am sure Ben and Jerry's vanilla bean ice cream has paste instead of extract in it. That's what the brown flakes are Vanilla Bean. It is harder to find than extract but you can get it at Williams-Sonoma and  Sur La Table. Now that I have used this I LOVE IT!

Need Help Fancing up That Meal

We were having Fish Tacos and my Daughter Darcey

decided we need to spice up the meal with her food Art

Lemon Fish to decorate the table.

They are cute. Do you ever do Food Art?

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Winner Winner Easy Chicken Dinner

2 10 3/4-oz. cans of cream of chicken soup

1/4 cup milk

2 10-oz. cans chicken, drained

15 1/4-oz. can peas, drained ( I like frozen better)

8-oz. can sliced mushrooms, drained (I use fresh saute mushrooms)

8-oz. pkg pasta, cooked ( angel hair or egg noodles are good)

Mix soup, milk, chicken, peas and mushrooms together in a saucepan;

heat through. Spoon over cooked pasta.

Serves 6 to 8.

This is a nice easy fast recipe. And the Kids loved it.

My husband even said I could make it again...LOL

Great Food Find

I was at Costco, our favorite place to spend ALL the paycheck,

and found theses "Have to haves" They are so good you will want to eat the whole box.

If you haven't tried them run over and pick some up you r won't be sorry. I am sorry I didn't

buy 2 boxes....

French Breakfast Puffs

This Recipe is so good and easy! And they aren't a muffin or a cupcake...more like both....

Grab a cup of tea to go with them ....so yummy!

I just pretend I am sitting at a fancy Breakfast house...

French Breakfast Puffs

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
1 egg
1/2 cup milk

Topping

1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
6 tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups or line cups with paper muffin liners. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, cream together 1/2 cup sugar and shortening. Beat in egg. Stir flour mixture into shortening mixture alternately with milk. Beat well. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. While muffins are baking, combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Remove muffins from oven and muffin pan. Immediately, dip the tops of the muffins into the melted butter, then into the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Repeat with each muffin, until all muffin tops are covered. Serve warm.

Here's another great with "Tea" Recipe:

Banana Chocolate Chip Tea Bread

This is so good warmed up for breakfast with a cup of cold milk or a cup of your favorite tea.
This tea bread is also a great snack or dessert.

1 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream or 1/4 cup buttermilk
1 cup ripe bananas, mashed (about 3 medium sized bananas)

Several handfuls of semi-sweet chocolate morsels, about 2 cups (3-5 handfuls depending on how chocolaty you like it!)  Preheat oven to 350° F.
Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Combine butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Add sour cream or buttermilk, and blend together with an electric mixer (or by hand) for 1-1 1/2 minutes. Add mashed bananas to the mixture and then add flour mixture. Mix thoroughly. Add several handfuls of the chocolate morsels and mix in gently for about 60 seconds. Fill 2 greased and floured loaf pans about 1/2 to 2/3 full.
Bake 30-35 minutes.