Drunken Cherry Waffles {and a giveaway!}

Everyone knows that eating breakfast does a body good.  Everyone also knows that eating fresh fruit does a body good.  What some people don't realize, is that eating fresh fruit that has been soaked in a liqueur and cooked into a caramelized state - then poured onto pretty much anything, makes breakfast even better. 

I do want to clear the air and note that despite the name of this drunken cherry waffle recipe, these waffles won't get you drunk.  Unless of course you consider yourself to be drunk with happiness after realizing how delicious they are.  

(my husband is the lovely hand-model-syrup-pourer-taste-tester pictured above) 

Pitting cherries can be hard work....but luckily OXO came to my rescue with the help of their handy dandy Cherry Pitter that they sent me along with 10 lbs. of cherries from Northwest Cherry Growers for participating in this blogging challenge! Thank you OXO & Northwest Cherries!  I feel so lucky - especially since cherries are one of my favorite fruits and they can be expensive to purchase in the store. :) 

For this 10 lb. Cherry Challenge that I am participating in, OXO will be posting all participants' posts in a photo album on their OXO Facebook page on Monday, August 12th for fans to vote via "likes."  The post with the most "likes" wins some pretty *sweet* OXO products and will be a featured Facebook post the following week! 

So - I need YOUR help!  Please help me win this 10 lb. Cherry Challenge by visiting OXO's Facebook Page next week and "liking" my photo & recipe!  In exchange for your help, you can enter to win my giveaway! The lucky reader will receive a brand new OXO Cherry & Olive Pitter!

  

THE GIVEAWAY

There are multiple ways to win!  Make sure to check them out below:

1) "Like" my photo on the OXO Facebook Page for the #10lbcherrychallenge 

2)Leave a comment on this blog 

3) Like my Facebook page (if you haven't already) and leave a comment on the Facebook page!

4) Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment on this blog that you are a follower 

5) Follow me on Pinterest and leave a comment on this blog that you are a follower

6) Post about this giveaway and recipe on your blog or Facebook page and link it back to me!

You will be entered once for each method you choose!  Winners will be selected randomly (using a lifeless random number generator) and announced the week of August 19th.  I will ship the cherry pitter to the winner for free within the U.S.

Good luck! 

Here is the box of premium cherries that arrived on my doorstep!

Here is OXO's Cherry Pitter being put to good use!

And last but not least...here is the recipe for the delicious drunken cherry waffles:

Drunken Cherry Waffles

Serves 2-4

Homemade Waffle Mix: 

Dry ingredients (makes enough for multiple uses – use within 3 months)

4 cups all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons sugar

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Pour and store in an air-tight container.

To make waffles:

Ingredients

1 cup dry pancake mix (from above)

1 egg

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon light olive oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon lemon zest

Directions

In a bowl, combine dry pancake mix, egg, milk, oil, vanilla extract, cinnamon and lemon zest.   Mix just until combined.  Heat waffle iron and lightly grease with butter or cooking spray. Pour batter on waffle iron. Cook until lightly brown and crispy.  Top with drunken cherries and maple syrup.

Drunken Cherries

Ingredients

1 ½ cups pitted whole sweet cherries

About 1 cup Amaretto Liqueur (plus 2 TBS. more for cooking)

1 Tbs. unsalted butter

1 Tbs. sugar

Directions

Pit cherries and place in a mason jar.  Fill jar with amaretto liqueur and seal tightly.  Place jar in refrigerator and let cherries soak for 1-2 nights (or as desired).  After cherries have soaked, remove cherries from the amaretto and set aside (do not toss the amaretto!).  Chop or mash cherries in a small bowl.  Over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the cherries and cook, gently turning them occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle in the sugar and cook until it melts, about 1 minute. Gently stir in the 2 TBS. amaretto and cook until the liquid has reduced slightly, about 1 minute.  Serve waffles immediately and top with a spoonful of the drunken cherries & maple syrup. 

Check out some of the other great cherry recipes from the other bloggers that participated in this 10 lb. Cherry Challenge!

1.    www.thesweetsensations.com

2.    www.girlichef.com

3.    noblepig.com

4.    hungrycouplenyc.blogspot.com/

5.    appetiteforchina.com

6.    eat-your-heart-out.net

7.    www.nibblesandfeasts.com/

8.    diethood.com/

9.    www.blushandjelly.com

10.  www.foodinjars.com

11.  eat-drink-love.com

12.  www.seaweedandsassafras.com

13.  www.crunchycreamysweet.com/

14.  www.tasteloveandnourish.com

15.  www.mrsregueiro.com

16.  www.natashaskitchen.com

17.  maedeforyou.blogspot.com/

18.  52kitchenadventures.com

19.  www.brighteyedbaker.com

20.  sweet-remedy.com

21.  www.panfusine.com

22.  www.meandmypinkmixer.com/

Hand beater giveaway winner announced!

This week's giveaway featured this lovely hand beater from OXO...

...and the winner is....

Nicki Behnke!  

Congrats Nicki...happy mixing :)  

FUN-fetti Cupcakes & a FUN giveaway!

 I’ve always loved Funfetti cake…cupcakes…and cookies.  I just thought that Funfetti was only possible with a box mix. 

 It was not until recently that I realized just how easy it is to make homemade Funfetti!  It is essentially a vanilla cupcake recipe with added sprinkles!  How fun.  Literally.  J

This is a quick and easy recipe to make for any occasion – kids and adults will love them, trust me. 

To make the cupcakes, I used my trust OXO hand beater to mix the batter and frosting.  I LOVE THIS THING.  I love it so much that I want you to have one too!  Courtesy of their Blogger Outreach Program, OXO sent me a free OXO hand egg beater and also sent me an extra one to giveaway to one lucky reader!  Thank you OXO :)

I use the hand beater for everything – it so easy to use and it’s less hassle than getting out my electric mixer.  You can use it for cupcake batter, beating eggs, whipped cream, you name it!

Here’s what OXO has to say about the beater:

“The smoothly rotating gears are enclosed in the upright handle for protection and easy clean-up. The turning knob and contoured handle have a soft, comfortable, non-slip grip for easy operation even with wet hands. The two stainless steel Beaters can be removed for individual cleaning or to offer a taste of whipped confections. The base detaches by simply pressing two side buttons and can be tossed into the dishwasher. A stainless steel bridge extends slightly longer than the Beaters to rest against the bottom of the mixing bowl to reduce arm strain. Eggs, light batters, whipped cream and more are now such a breeze to whip up that even the next generation may want to take a turn.”

There are multiple ways to win!  Make sure to check them out below:

1) Leave a comment on this blog…(Funfetti related or any comment will do!)

2) Like my Facebook page (if you haven't already) and leave a comment on the Facebook page!

3) Follow me on twitter (my handle is @maedeforyou)

4) Post about this giveaway and recipe on your blog or Facebook page and link it back to me!

You will be entered once for each method you choose!  Winners will be selected randomly (using a lifeless random number generator) and announced on Saturday, May 19th, 2012.  I will ship the hand beater to the winner for free within the U.S.

Good luck!  

Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes

½ cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 whole eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1½ cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon orange zest

1/3 cup milk

1/3 cup assorted brightly colored sprinkles (save some for top of frosting)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream butter and sugar in bowl with OXO hand beater or mixer until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl, including zest. Add half of the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Add the milk. Once mixed, add remaining dry ingredients. Fold in assorted sprinkles.

Pour into cupcake tins and fill 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Let cool, then frost. 

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

2 sticks of butter, softened

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon of milk, if needed

Cream butter in bowl with OXO hand beater or mixer until creamy.  Mix on low and add in powdered sugar slowly.  Add vanilla, and then beat for 2-3 minutes, scraping down sides and bottom of the bowl. If frosting is too thick, add milk 1 teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.  If it’s too thin, add sugar gradually until it thickens. Frost cupcakes and top with sprinkles. 

 

 Source: adapted from how sweet it is

Berry & Bacon Walnut Salad - and a giveaway!

Courtesy of their Blogger Outreach Program, OXO sent me a free "Good Grips" green salad spinner and also sent me an extra one to giveaway to one lucky reader!  Thank you OXO :)

 This is what OXO has to say about their new salad spinner:  

For fun and easy salad preparation, try the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner, now available in green. Simply press the soft, non-slip knob to start the basket spinning. Easy, one-handed operation makes this Spinner a pleasure to use, and a built-in brake stops the Salad Spinner so you can unload it. A non-slip ring keeps the bowl steady on the countertop, and the basket and bowl can be used separately.

There are multiple ways to win!  Make sure to check them out below:

1) Leave a comment on this blog about your favorite thing about spring (or any nice comment will do!)

2) Like my Facebook page (if you haven't already) and leave a comment on the Facebook page!

3) Follow me on twitter (yes, I caved and created a twitter account…my handle is @maedeforyou)

4) Post about this giveaway and recipe on your blog or Facebook page and link it back to me!

You will be entered once for each method you choose!  Winners will be selected randomly (using a lifeless random number generator) and announced on Friday, April 6^th, 2012.  I will ship the salad spinner to the winner for free within the U.S.

Good luck!  

Berry & Bacon Walnut Salad

Ingredients:

Spring mix lettuce

Sliced strawberries (1/2 pint) 

2 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)

1/4 cup walnuts (toasted if desired)

Freshly shredded Parmesan for topping

Raspberry Walnut dressing for topping 

Directions:

Wash and dry lettuce using OXO Salad Spinner.  Toss all ingredients together in large bowl and serve.  Enjoy!

Giveaway winner - "be a good cookie spatula"

I am happy to announce the winner of the "be a good cookie" spatula giveaway contest!  Check out the Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookie recipe and find out more about how the "be a good cookie" spatula helps fight pediatric cancer.

The winner is....Renee Jacobson!  She left a lovely comment on my facebook page and was randomly selected as the giveaway winner.

Thank you to everyone for your wonderful comments and entries!  Check back for more giveaways in the future!

Congratulations Renee - and happy baking! :)