Amber's Confections

Summer Squash, Corn and Bacon Chowder

2012-08-13T20:15:00.000-04:00

I finally took some time over the weekend to go through all of the recipes I've ripped out of Food Network Magazine, Cooking Light and Rachael Ray Magazine over the past three years. I probably have about 300 recipes but only 100 of them are filed in a binder. I'm sure I'll never get around to trying every recipe (or even filing the rest of the recipes), but you never know what kind of recipe an occasion or event will call for.

Summer Strawberry Sour Cream Pie

2012-07-31T18:56:00.002-04:00

So you may have noticed (or maybe you haven't), that I've been MIA from the blog and social networking world for a few months. It's not because I don't like to blog or tweet or obsessively stalk Instagram, it's just that the past two months have been filled with some big life changes. After four years as a communications coordinator for a membership association in Harrisburg, I decided it was time for a career change. I liked my job and I loved the people that I worked with, but I wasn't going anywhere and I needed a challenge. So, I said goodbye to Harrisburg and said hello to a new career in public relations for the largest healthcare system in central and northeastern Pennsylvania. It turns out I wasn't the only one who needed a change and within the same week, Will took a new job in electrical engineering. So, together we packed up the dogs and made the move to his hometown of Mifflinburg.

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Peanut Butter Chia Seed Cookies

2012-06-07T17:00:00.000-04:00

Let me introduce you to my newest little friends - chia seeds. And because I know you're wondering, yes, chia as in the pet. Not only can these little seeds grow a lush head of green hair, but they also are considered a superfood, high in fiber, protein and omega-3s. One of the most versatile seeds of its kind, chia seeds can be used in baked goods, drinks or puddings or used to add a crunch to salads. When added to liquids, chia seeds can expand to 10x their size and have a gelatinous texture, almost like tapioca. Since they're said to be most nutritious in their gel form, I've been adding chia seeds to my greek yogurt for some added nutrition, or to a class of orange juice.
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Birthday Cake Chex Mix

2012-06-03T15:30:00.000-04:00

I love chex mix. Whether it's sweet or savory, I can't keep myself from reaching for a big handful of it at a party. My favorite chex mix has always been the chocolate peanut butter muddy buddies or puppy chow as some people call it. A unique twist on muddy buddies, I found this recipe for cake batter flavored chex mix on Pinterest and decided to whip it up for a friend's birthday cookout. Being for a birthday party, I decided to dub it Birthday Cake Chex Mix to fit the occasion.
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Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cupcakes

2012-05-29T21:19:00.001-04:00

When I first found out about Pinterest last summer, I immediately told my friend Tori about it. Tori, being against most forms of social media including Facebook, decided to check it out but refused to make an account. Instead of pinning her finds, she does it the old fashioned way - with a bookmark. Account or not, Tori is always on top of the latest Pinterest phenomenons. It was no surprise to me that when I asked her what to bring to her annual Memorial day weekend party, she requested these Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cupcakes.
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The Butler Hot Dog Shop Sauce

2012-05-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

As a little girl, I grew up knowing my mom's family was originally from Butler, Pennsylvania. I didn't know much about the area, but I would sometimes go on weekend trips with my grandparents to visit my great-aunts and uncles. One thing I did know about Butler was that it was where "hot dog sauce" originated at the Butler Hot Dog Shop. Hot Dog Sauce is an sweet and spicy, aromatic chili sauce made with hamburger and onions and seasoned with nutmeg, cloves and chili powder. I've watched my family top their hot dogs with the stuff for years. My mom and my grandma are both known to cook up a big pot of hot dog sauce before a picnic or family gathering or just to have a good supply of it in the freezer.
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Chocolate Raspberry Chip Sixlet Cookies

2012-05-02T13:00:00.000-04:00

It's really hard for me to resist buying baking supplies, especially when I find specialty items. I have drawers full of specialty chocolate chips, candies, flours and extracts. When I came across these raspberry flavored chocolate chips at an Amish market, I knew I had to have them. They look just like regular chocolate chips but pack a punch of sweet raspberry flavor. I knew they would be the perfect addition to a dark chocolate cookie.
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Restaurant Fake-Out: Outback Steakhouse Alice Springs Chicken

2012-04-20T07:00:00.005-04:00

If you've ever been to Outback Steakhouse, you've probably seen Alice Springs Chicken on the menu. Named for a town in Australia, it's has to be one of Outback's most popular menu items. I know I've been ordering this chicken since I was a teenager (although back then I would order it without honey mustard because I despised any and all forms of mustard). Today I'd eat a cardboard box if it was slathered in the creamy, yellow dressing.
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Rolo Cake Mix Bars

2012-04-17T22:30:00.003-04:00

Every now and then I disappear from my blog for a week or so. Not because I don't enjoy blogging, but sometimes I just need a break. The past few weeks have been busy, mostly thanks to a new little guy in my life - our rescue puppy, Tucker.
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Peanut Butter & Jelly Muffins

2012-04-06T15:15:00.006-04:00

I've never been much of a breakfast person. Don't get me wrong, I love eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes and all those other amazing breakfast foods, but I rarely have time to eat them. If I'm lucky enough to eat breakfast at all, I grab a granola bar or eat a greek yogurt. On occasion I'll eat cereal (though I still think that eating cereal everyday as a kid made me have an aversion to it as an adult).
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Coconut Cream Eggs

2012-04-02T20:30:00.002-04:00

You know it's Easter in central Pennsylvania when you find baskets of homemade peanut butter eggs for sale beside every cash register in every restaurant or store. Somewhere in church basements, ladies gather to make hundreds and hundreds of peanut butter and coconut eggs to sell. You'll find them wrapped in colored foil or in wax paper bags, and they're so reasonably priced you'll find yourself buying them by the dozen. And if you're like me, you'll be eating them by the dozen too.
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Nutter Butter Flip Flops & Sandy Bottom Pretzels

2012-03-24T07:00:00.013-04:00

+ Beach Themed Party or Shower Ideas

My coworker Jen is getting married in May in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Traditionally, our office holds small after-work parties to celebrate events such as upcoming weddings and babies. My fellow coworkers and I began planning Jen's shower about a month ago and last Thursday was the big day. We scrounged up all of our beach themed decor, made some creative homemade favors and threw a really great shower on a small budget.
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OXO 5 Pound Food Scale Giveaway!

2012-03-21T21:00:00.003-04:00

A food scale has been on my list of must-buy kitchen gadgets ever since I learned that weighing dry ingredients such as flour and sugar can help improve the taste and texture of baked goods. Not only is a food scale helpful for baking, but it's also essential for portion control and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I know I could definitely benefit from some portion control! So imagine my excitement when OXO gave me the opportunity to add a food scale to my kitchen and give one lucky reader the chance to win one too!
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Grasshopper Fudge Cake

2012-03-16T10:00:00.001-04:00

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This guest post comes to you from my friend Maggie. Maggie and I were roommates at Elizabethtown College. I had the privilege of being a bridesmaid in her beautiful wedding last year. We share a mutual love of baking and she has quite possibly the biggest sweet tooth of anyone I know. When I started the blog, I immediately went to Maggie and asked her if she would be interesting in writing some guest posts. Maggie and her husband Preston live in Lambertville, NJ.

When Amber asked me to make something for her blog, with St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, my mind naturally wandered to wanting to make something green and seasonal. Preston and I have been doing a lot of cooking with beer lately and in particular, Guinness. I started off by making him a Guinness Chocolate Cheesecake for Valentine's Day, we then made Chicken and Risotto with Guinness and finally a beef stew with Guinness. At this point I'm a little Guinness'ed out, but I still wanted something celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
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Cookies 'n' Creme Bar Brownies

2012-03-13T14:35:00.002-04:00

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I'm writing this post from sunny Orlando, Florida. I'd brag about how great the weather is down here but apparently everyone back home is having great weather too. So I'm going to keep this post short and sweet because I'm on vacation and I'd much rather be basking by the pool than attached to my laptop.
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Mango Guacamole for One

2012-03-04T20:30:00.015-05:00

Or two... if you like to share.

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I HATE CILANTRO. There. I said it.

You will never, ever find so much as a speck of that vile green plant in any of my recipes. I know, I know. Probably 99% of the universe loves cilantro, but I am not one of them. It's not my fault though. There have been studies that prove that some people's brains are genetically predisposed to registering cilantro as a soapy taste and smell. Even Julia Child hated it, so I'm in good company.
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Bananas Foster Bread with Cinnamon Butter Rum Glaze

2012-03-01T20:00:00.004-05:00

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Last week we celebrated National Banana Bread Day. And national pancake day... and tortilla day... margarita day... pistachio day and kahlua day. Oh and then we celebrated pancake day again this week (thanks, IHOP). It seems that every food has its own holiday lately. Tomorrow is banana cream pie day. So being late to banana bread day, and early to banana cream pie day, I'll stick to the banana theme and combine two familiar banana desserts - bananas foster and banana bread.
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Chocolate Cheddar Cheese Scones

2012-02-27T07:00:00.002-05:00

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Ever heard of Instagram? It's an iPhone app that allows you to add vintage filters to your photos and share them on a social network. Think Twitter, with hipster pictures and Facebook style commentary. Since I follow a lot of my fellow food bloggers, Instagram helps me stay up to date with the new foodie products in stores. When you see something new in the store you snap a pic, post it on Instagram and let the "ooohs and ahhhs and where did you find that?!" commence. Case in point, Trader Joe's Chocolate Cheddar Cheese.
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What I'm Loving This Week

2012-02-24T07:00:00.022-05:00

Food and otherwise.

1. Sole Society "Karla" Shoes - If there's something I love even more than shoes, it's FREE shoes. Every Tuesday, Sole Society hosts a Tuesday Shoesday giveaway on Twitter (#SSTuesdayShoesday) and Facebook. A few weeks ago, I won the Twitter contest and received this beautiful pair of polka dot booties in the mail. I've told you all about Sole Society before. It's a monthly shoe club that just yesterday, got rid of membership fees so now there's no obligation to buy! It's not like the other clubs where you have to skip the month. So check out Sole Society; I can't say enough about the quality of their shoes.

Iced Coconut Sugar Cookies

2012-02-21T18:00:00.003-05:00

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It's Fat Tuesday and though I don't have fastnachts, I have a big fat cookie to help you get through the day. Traditionally, Fat Tuesday is the day to get the lard and fat out of the house before lent. I used all my shortening to make these, so the tradition lives on in my house (if you don't count the chocolate, girl scout cookies, ice cream and copious amounts of butter I have lying around). These big fat sugar cookies are laced with sweet shredded coconut and topped with a light fluffy frosting. Think Lofthouse sugar cookie meets coconut macaroon.

Waldorf Astoria Red Velvet Cake with Pudding Frosting

2012-02-13T18:30:00.007-05:00

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It's no secret that I have an obsession with all things red velvet. In fact, today I caught myself eyeing a "red velvet burrito" on a Mexican restaurant menu, desperately hoping that it was some sweet rolled up concoction oozing with cream cheese filling. Turns out it's really just a spicy red tortilla filled with the usual burrito ingredients. I think that qualifies as false advertising, but who am I to argue with a chain of restaurants?

I've never been to the Waldorf Astoria. Only two things come to my mind when I think of the swanky hotel; Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl and that weird salad with apples and mayonnaise. I really can't vouch for how closely this cake resembles theirs. I do know that this cake is dense, yet moist with that slight hint of cocoa, which is exactly how any red velvet cake should be. The addition of this light and fluffy pudding frosting makes it a surprisingly light slice of cake. And even though it's light and fluffy, the frosting still has as slight hint of tang from the cream cheese which is why it pairs perfectly with red velvet.
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What I'm Loving this Week: Super Bowl Edition

2012-02-02T18:00:00.071-05:00

Word on the street is there's a big football game coming up. I think it's called the Super Bowl (though I can't agree that either of the two teams playing are "super"). Since my work football pool ended about 7 weeks ago, I've lost all interest in watching the games. I guess I'll tune in for the commercials, but I don't even have halftime entertainment to look forward to since we're flashing back to the 80's this year with Madonna. So really, all I care about this year is the food and the premiere of The Voice after the game.

And to those of you who plan to watch The Voice this season, keep an eye out for my childhood friend, Ducky Duke, who announced his audition will be airing on the premiere. He can't say whether or not he made it as a contestant, but he's got an outstanding voice and stage presence, so I'm betting that he did! Check out some of his music on his Facebook Page and give him a "like!"

Also, a shameless reminder to vote for my Butterfluffer Cupcakes in the Celebrations Cupcake Crown! You can vote once a day until February 11th.

Back to the food... Will and I are staying in to watch the game on Sunday night. That doesn't mean I'm going to compromise and miss out on all the yummy snacks you'd find at your typical Super Bowl Party. On our menu so far is buffalo chicken dip, pizza muffins and take-out wings.

Still looking for ideas for your party? I scoured Pinterest to find some great recipes, perfect for the Super Bowl! Check out the cheesy, beer laden, dressing drenched and sweet snacks below.

Source: blogs.babble.com via Amber on Pinterest

This cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip is a spin on the classic version I'm used to making, but you can never go wrong with more cheese.

Marshmallow Nutella Hand Pies

2012-01-29T21:30:00.002-05:00

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The inspiration for these cute little pies comes from a lattice pocket pie press I bought at Williams-Sonoma last year. The press creates the cutest little lattice hand pies, but it's a real pain to use. Then I remembered these cute little Valentine's day cookie cutters I bought a few years back and decided to make my own little pies. So what's a hand pie? Well it's the size of a cookie, with the taste and look of a pie!
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Whole Wheat Chicken Sausage and Mushroom Pizza

2012-01-24T17:30:00.062-05:00

Where's the cake??

I know, I know. This is Amber's Confections and lately I haven't posted any confections. It's not that I don't want to bake sweet, delicious treats and share them with you, it's just that I don't want to eat them. Along with everyone else who made a New Years resolution to lose weight, I'm trying to eat a little healthier and get back to the gym. So for the last week or so, I've curbed the baking (aside from a failed cookie attempt yesterday) and instead I'm loading up my plates with fruits, veggies and whole grains. I promise that next week I'll have something sweet to share. But in the meantime, here's a healthy pizza!

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Pasta e Fagioli

2012-01-19T07:00:00.005-05:00

Apparently it's soup week here at Amber's Confections. You see, last Saturday I went a little crazy. I decided I was going to be one of those super organized cooks who makes meals on weekends to freeze and eat throughout the week. I had the day to myself, so I devised a long list of recipes, bought all the ingredients and stocked up on a years' supply of Gladware containers and freezer bags.
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