Tomato Zucchini Salad

I am such a fan of salads that I can keep in my fridge and pull out whenever I have the urge to chow. This one is so so so easy. Paula made it and I tried it. That was two days ago and I have made it twice since then. I loved it that much.

The perfect salad for gardeners...

Tomatoes
Zucchini
Salt and Pepper

Cube the tomatoes and zucchini. Salt and pepper. Toss. Enjoy!

Birthday for Paula

What started out as whipping up a quick batch of cupcakes for my friend's birthday...

I thought and thought and thought about how to make them special and this is what I ended up with:

• I used a round box (I scrounged it at a restaurant, it held a brie wheel... yahoo, for recycling!), and put two layers of ribbon around the edge.
• Decorated the cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, Belgium Chocolate (V-Chocolates), silver dredgees (from Orson Gygi), and sprinkles (by Ghuitard so they look good and don't taste like wax).
• I printed out the "happy birthday paula" and a bunch of words to describe her on the computer.
• I punched them out with circle punches and put them on skewers (for the tall ones) and toothpicks (for the short one).
• I tied ribbons on the sticks of the happy birthday signs.
  
  

Dessert Cheats

Here are a few recipes that take a short cut and use a cake mix or a brownie mixes. I like to stock up when they have those crazy sales so I always have them on hand. So so easy.

I made these tonight for my weekly playdate with Mo and Sara. The kids (and the dogs, whoops) loved them.

Cake Mix Cookies

• 1 pkg. Devils Food Cake Mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 c. vegetable oil (1/2 c. butter also works... and tastes great, of course)

Mix batter. Roll into small balls and place on cookie sheet (use a cookie scoop if you have one. If you don't have one, put it on your wish list). Bake a 350 degrees for about 8 minutes.

You can use any flavor cake mix. Yellow cake mix and white chocolate chips are good.

For these sandwich cookies I used cream cheese frosting, but melted green mint chocolate chips are my favorite.

Brownie Mix Cookies

I love these ones as much as the cake mix cookies...

• 1 (19 7/8 ounce) box brownie mix
• 1 large egg
• 2 T. water
• 1/3 c. vegetable oil

Mix (easy, huh?). Drop by teaspoons (or, of course, by the handy dandy cookie scoop) onto a a greased cookie sheet. Bake about 8 minutes at 375 degrees.

Variations: Add in 1 cup mini chocolate chips. These are great with the mint chips. My favorite with these it to drizzle them with white chocolate and then sprinkle with crushed mint candies or candy canes.

Bundt Cake

My friend made for a get together and we all raved about it and wanted the recipe. She sent it to us and I realized that it is a recipe that I have been making for years. Um, whoops. This is a great moist, rich cake.

• 1 pkg cake mix (I like chocolate, of course, but any flavor works)
• 1 (4 serving) pkg instant pudding
• 1/3 c. oil
• 1 c. oil
• 1 c. water
• 4 eggs

Blend. Mix at medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into greased bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes. Cool for 25 minutes. Invert onto plate.