#twEATup Fundraiser for Impromptu Studio

Hello everyone!  I hope you’re enjoying the beautiful fall weather!

To show support for everything they have done for Des Moines, we will be having a Pampered Chef fundraiser #twEATup (a #tweetup with food) for Impromptu Studio (@ImpromptuStudio) on Thursday, October 15 at 6:00pm.  The event will be hosted at Impromptu Studio, so please check out the map if you aren’t familiar with their location.  All proceeds from the fundraiser will go back to Impromptu as a ‘thank you’ for what they have done for the Des Moines community.  Along with the contributions from sales, $3 will be donated for each show booked from the fundraiser.  Please RSVP to this event so we know how many people to plan for.

If you would like to contribute to this fundraiser, but are unable to attend, you may order from my website, then click Shop Online (the top right should read Your Organization: Impromptu Studio, if not, please type Impromptu Studio in the organization box). For more information, contact @ashleymc through DM on Twitter or send your questions to ashleymcmoore@gmail.com.

I hope to see everyone at the #twEATup on October 15.  Please come eat, hang out and show your support while buying fun kitchen stuff for yourself, family and/or friends!

Tropical Torte with Fresh Pineapple

Of the cooking shows that I’ve presented this summer, the Tropical Torte with Fresh Pineapple has been the top recipe pick among hosts.  Tomorrow night, I will make it once again for a pair of hosts out of Stuart, IA.  So what’s the big deal about this recipe?

The tropical torte is a simple and elegant dessert that will impress everyone… and you don’t even have to heat up your kitchen, because there is no baking involved!  I love the combination of pound cake layered with a filling made of whipped topping, dry vanilla pudding mix and mango sorbet, covered with more whipped topping, then sliced and topped with fresh pineapple in a mint-infused mango sauce.  It’s sure to please everyone!

If you would like more information about this recipe, or other recipes like this, please contact me through my website, Twitter, Facebook or my email at ashleymcmoore@gmail.com.

Tropical Torte with Fresh Pineapple

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups melted mango sorbet, divided 1 pkg (3.4 oz) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling 1 container (12 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided 1/2 cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves 1 medium pineapple 1 16-oz frozen pound cake, thawed Additional fresh fruit such as blueberries (optional)

Directions:
1.	For filling, combine 1/2 cup of the sorbet and pudding mix in Stainless (4-qt.) Mixing Bowl; whisk 1 minute or until thick. Fold in 2 cups of the whipped topping using Master Scraper; set aside. For sauce, place remaining 1 cup sorbet in Small Batter Bowl. Thinly slice mint using Chef’s Knife; stir into batter bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1 1/2-2 minutes or until sorbet is hot. Place Strainer over Stainless (2-qt.) Mixing Bowl. Pour sorbet through Strainer and press gently using Classic Scraper; set aside. (Discard mint.)
2.	Slice top and bottom off of pineapple using Santoku Knife, creating a flat base. Stand pineapple upright; use Pineapple Wedger to core and peel. Set aside half of the pineapple for another use. Slice remaining pineapple flesh lengthwise into four strips, then crosswise into 1/4-in. pieces. Place into Classic Batter Bowl and toss with 2 tbsp of the mango sauce.
3.	Lay pound cake on its side on Large Grooved Cutting Board. Using Bread Knife, cut straight down into pound cake to slice lengthwise into three equal layers. Place bottom layer onto Simple Additions® Rectangle Platter. Spread half of the filling evenly to edges using Small Spreader. Place middle layer over filling; spread with remaining filling. Place remaining cake layer on top. Using clean Small Spreader, frost outside of torte with remaining whipped topping.
4.	To serve, slice torte using Utility Knife and place onto serving plates. Top each serving with pineapple, additional fruit, if desired, and about 1 tbsp sauce.
Yield: 10 servings Nutrients per serving: Calories 370, Total Fat 15 g, Saturated Fat 11 g, Cholesterol 70 mg, Carbohydrate 56 g, Protein 3 g, Sodium 230 mg, Fiber 1 g Cook’s Tips: For an interesting flavor variation, substitute 1 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves for the mint.

Daily Product

Through blogging, I’ve found that you can go into great detail about anything.  Instead of writing a complete blog about a product, I have decided to start posting a #DailyProduct on Twitter and Facebook.  This will allow a shorter post on a product that will get right to the point.  I’m hoping that by posting a #DailyProduct, it will help assist any future blog posts through explaining the products.  This will allow me to talk more about the recipe (or other topic) and the tips that go along with it!  I hope to begin posting more often, but for now, look forward to the #DailyProduct each day.

Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser Ordering Information

The fundraiser will officially be held May 1-28.  Ordering is available online, through email and direct messages on Twitter or Facebook.

For online orders, please follow these instructions:
1. Go to my personal website at www.pamperedchef.biz/ashleymcmoore
2. Click on the “Shop Online” box on the website homepage.
3. Enter the organization name as Help Whip Cancer.
4. Next, the page will show “Help Whip Cancer, Debbie Culver.”  Simply click on the text and begin ordering!

Option 2 for ordering is to click “Help Whip Cancer” from the homepage.  Once you choose your first item, you will be asked for your organization name, which again is Help Whip Cancer.

Along with $1 from each Help Whip Cancer Product purchased, The Pampered Chef will donate 25% of the total fund-raiser sales(all products) to The American Cancer Society!  Help Whip Cancer products are available through the Guest Specials section on the website. With your help, we will Help Whip Cancer!

To contribute to the Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser, or for more information on hosting a fundraiser of your own, visit my website, contact me on Twitter, or email me at ashleymcmoore@gmail.com.

Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser!

About a month ago, I posted a blog about the Help Whip Cancer Fundraising program from The American Cancer Society and The Pampered Chef. Over the past month I have received great feedback, along with many requests to hold a Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser. After receiving the feedback, I am pleased to announce that we will be holding the only Twitter/Facebook-based(that I know of) Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser starting today!

So many of us have been affected by cancer in some form, whether it be a personal experience or that of a friend or family member. This is such a great time to get together and show how hard we want to fight! Let’s extend this beyond our network, and see how many people will reach out to Help Whip Cancer! With our help, there will be a cure!

The fundraiser will officially be held May 1-28 (orders may be placed prior to May 1), and ordering is available online , through email and direct messages on Twitter or Facebook. To order online, simply click the online/website link, then choose the “Shop Online” box on the website homepage. You will receive a prompt to enter your organization name, which is “Help Whip Cancer.” The show will come up as “Help Whip Cancer, Debbie Culver.” Simply click on the text and begin ordering!

Along with $1 from each Help Whip Cancer Product purchased, The Pampered Chef will donate 25% of the total fund-raiser sales to The American Cancer Society! Help Whip Cancer products are available through the Guest Specials section on the website, but remember, all items purchased will go towards the total contribution! With your help, we will Help Whip Cancer!

To contribute to the Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser, or for more information on hosting a fundraiser of your own, visit my website, contact me on Twitter, or email me at ashleymcmoore@gmail.com.

Going Green

Today, it seems like everyone is going green.  From light bulbs to paint; make-up to cleaning products; refrigerators to washing machines, it seems like everything is available in a “green” version.  My favorite green products are those that are most useful in our home.  This spring, The Pampered Chef introduced several earth-friendly products to the line up.

Medium and Large Bamboo Platter

With the introduction of several bamboo pieces, Pampered Chef is putting themselves into the green scene.  Besides the mixing spoons, I didn’t use a lot of bamboo in the kitchen.  This past fall, we introduced the Medium Square Bowl, which has been a huge hit in many households!  I use this bowl for serving salad, chips and a lot more!  We also offered a grinder set for salt and pepper, a cutting/carving board, salad tongs and much more.

This spring, we have added several more pieces to our Bamboo Collection: A large bowl, beautiful platters (shown in the photo), snack bowls, a cracker tray and even prep towels made from bamboo!  Bamboo is very durable and perfect for serving and entertaining.  There are many ways you can combine the use of the bamboo products when serving to create fun serving set-ups or centerpieces.  Any items from the Bamboo Collection can be combined with each other or with our Simple Additions Collection!  Bamboo is so versatile that it will go with any decor!

When you host a Pampered Chef Cooking or Catalog Show, on top of the other benefits, you’ll also receive 60% off your choice of one of the selected products from our Bamboo Collection!  If you would like more information on the Bamboo Collection, any of our products, please contact me on Twitter, through my website or by email at ashleymcmoore@gmail.com.

Help Whip Cancer!

Approximately 1 in 8 women has a chance of developing invasive breast cancer in their lifetime.  Thanks to early detection through regular mammograms and effective treatment, the 5-year survival rate has improved to 98% (statistics provided by the American Cancer Society).

This May, The Pampered Chef is teaming up with the American Cancer Society to Help Whip Cancer!  While you enjoy food, fun and friends at your Cooking Show, the money you raise will support the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer education and early detection programs.  When your Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser show sales total over $500, 25% will be contributed!

Cancer has affected all of us in one way or another, some in more ways than one.  This is our opportunity to come together with family and friends to Help Whip Cancer!  With our support, there will be a cure!

The Pampered Chef has come out with exclusive Help Whip Cancer Products that are available to everyone.  They also have Hostess Specials, which include special products for anyone who hosts a Cooking Show!

For more information on hosting a Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser, visit my website, contact me on Twitter, or email me at ashleymcmoore@gmail.com.

Holiday Treats

It’s that time of year when the snow starts to fall, and ovens heat up our homes from baking wonderful holiday treats.  This year all of our Christmas celebrations are going to be the “bring your favorite snack” kind of parties, which means I will be baking like crazy.  Along with that, we will be attending a game night/cookie exchange tonight, so on that note, I’m trying to decide what I will be making this year for the holidays.

Last year, let’s just say I went a little overboard.  When you’re indecisive, it’s easier to make everything, rather than choose one or two recipes.  I ended up making a variety plate for each party that consisted of about ten different desserts.  This year I’m going to make it a little more simple.

I have a few ideas of what to make for this weekend.  The first recipe is a must for our party tomorrow night.  I’ll be making Candy Cane Brownie Lollipops, which are brownie balls covered in chocolate with a candy cane sticking down through the middle.  Typically I make pretzels dipped in almond bark, but I think I’ll save these for later.

Now we’ve come to the difficult part.  I’ve narrowed down my recipes to Fudgy Mint Cookies, Cherry Surprises, Raspberry Almond Sandwich Cookies and cake cookies.  I made the Fudgy Mint Cookies and Cherry Surprises last year along with Candy Cane Snowballs and a Peppermint Angel Food Cake, among other things.  All of the desserts were a big hit, and everyone asked that I PLEASE narrow down my selection next year.

Fudgy Mint Cookies are great for people who love chocolate and mint.  Made with peppermint patties, these cake cookies are a simple crowd pleaser.  Cherry Surprises are delicious sugar cookies with a hidden maraschino cherry in the middle and chocolate drizzled over the top.  Anyone who loves cherries will love these cookies.  Like the Fudgy Mint Cookies, these are very simple to make.  Cake cookies are also extremely simple and only involve a box of cake mix, 1/2 cup of butter and an egg.  You can use any type of cake mix that you prefer.  My favorite is Cherry Chip.

Raspberry Almond Sandwich Cookies are a new recipe that I would like to try out.  As a raspberry lover, anything that involves the slightly tart taste of raspberry will win me over.  Then add in almond, and it starts to sound like the perfect recipe.

Since I’ll have a couple of hours available for baking tonight, I may just have to go crazy once again and make five holiday desserts for this weekend.  Maybe next weekend I’ll try out one of the cakes or candies that are on my “to bake” list.  With that said, I hope all of your holidays are filled with happiness and plenty of holiday treats!

www.pamperedchef.biz/ashleymcmoore

The Beginning-Tiramisu Brownie Trifle

I held my first cooking show on November 8th for my mom.  We discussed different recipe options and decided to make the Tiramisu Brownie Trifle.  She had 17 guests at her cooking show, plus 2 children.  Before the guests arrived, I arranged different products around the table that would be used in each step of making this delicious dessert.  As the guests arrived, they washed their hands and sat down around the table, not knowing that they would be making the recipe.

We started by brushing a small amount of Kahlua over the brownies that we had prepared ahead of time, which were sitting on the Stackable Cooling Rack.  This was followed by cutting the brownies into one inch cubes and chopping dark chocolate with the Food Chopper.  By the time it came to mixing the filling, all of the guests were having a great time, especially my grandma, who decided that she should add some Kahlua to her cup of coffee.  Once the filling was mixed, we layered brownies with a delicious cream cheese filling, that had a hint of coffee, into the Trifle Bowl.  To top off the recipe, the guests added whipped cream and grated chocolate to the top of the trifle.  The finished product was so mouthwatering that the guests couldn’t wait to dig in.  By the end of the party, more than half of the guests had requested the recipe.

Coffee liqueur makes a bold statement in this dramatic dessert.

The next weekend was my open house.  I knew my guests would love this recipe just as much as my mom’s guests did, so I couldn’t resist making it.  I also made taffy apple tartlets, elegant artichoke cups and three cheese garden pizza, which I will share in the future.

The Tiramisu Brownie Trifle is a great recipe for potlucks, family gatherings, such as Christmas or Thanksgiving, or if you’re craving a rich chocolate dessert. If desired, use the nonalcoholic variation, as shown below in the Cook’s Tip.  Also, the ingredients in this recipe may be substituted for a healthier option, such as fat free cream cheese or fat free pudding mix.

Tiramisu Brownie Trifle

Ingredients:

1 pkg (18-21 oz) fudge brownie mix (plus ingredients to make brownies) 1 container (16 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided 2 bars (1.45 oz each) dark chocolate candy, divided 1/2-1 cup coffee liqueur (see Cook’s Tip), divided 1/2 cup water 3 tbsp instant coffee granules 2 pkg (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened 1 pkg (3.3 oz) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling

Directions:
1.	Preheat oven to 375°F. Line Large Sheet Pan with a 20-in. piece of Parchment Paper; set aside. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. Pour batter into pan; bake 20-22 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove brownie from pan to Stackable Cooling Rack.
2.	Meanwhile, attach open star tip to Easy Accent® Decorator. Fill with about 3/4 cup of the whipped topping; set aside. Chop 1 1/2 of the chocolate bars using Food Chopper; set aside. For filling, combine 1/2 cup coffee liqueur, water and instant coffee in Small Batter Bowl; stir until dissolved using Stainless Whisk. In Stainless (4-qt.) Mixing Bowl, whisk cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add coffee mixture to cream cheese; whisk until smooth. Add pudding mix to cream cheese mixture; whisk until mixture begins to thicken. Fold in remaining whipped topping and chopped chocolate using Master Scraper; set aside.
3.	Cut brownie into 1-in. cubes using Pizza Cutter. If desired, using Chef’s Silicone Basting Brush, brush brownie cubes with additional 1/2 cup coffee liqueur.
4.	To assemble trifle, place one-third of the brownie cubes into Trifle Bowl. Layer one-third of the filling evenly over brownies. Repeat layers two more times. Pipe whipped topping in rows 1/2 in. apart over filling. Grate remaining chocolate bar over whipped topping using Rotary Grater.
Yield: 20 servings Nutrients per serving: (about 1/2 cup): Calories 390, Total Fat 25 g, Saturated Fat 11 g, Cholesterol 45 mg, Carbohydrate 36 g, Protein 4 g, Sodium 190 mg, Fiber 1 g Cook’s Tips: To make a substitution for coffee liqueur, combine 3/4 cup water, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tbsp instant coffee granules and 1 tsp rum extract in Large Micro-Cooker®. Microwave on HIGH 2-3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Chill before using. www.pamperedchef.biz/ashleymcmoore

New Adventure

After getting married in October, I started to want more out of life than what I had accepted thus far.  First, let’s back up a couple months to August.  My aunts and bridal party decided to throw a Pampered Chef Bridal Shower for me.  I received a TON of products, including the Executive Cookware, the 5-piece set at 50% off, and the 7-piece set at 60% off.  We had registered for other cookware, but after much research, I decided that Pampered Chef’s lifetime guarantee was pretty hard to beat.  They’ll even replace it if we accidentally grab a metal utensil and scratch the bottom of one of the pans.  After much anticipation, we received all of our products about a week later.  I was very eager to get rid of all of the crappy kitchen products that I had been using since I left for college.

7-Piece Executive Cookware Set

Now let’s fast forward a couple months.  We had been using our new kitchen products for a couple months, and were REALLY enjoying them.  I personally loved them so much that I wanted everyone, including other new couples, to be as happy as I was with the products and service that we had received.  After many weeks of thinking it through, I decided that right after the wedding, I was going to become a Pampered Chef Consultant, because I love the products so much.  Sure, the extra money was a little bit of a motivation for me, but more than that, I wanted people to receive products that they would absolutely love and would last longer than your average kitchen product.

Now fast forward another month to now.  I’ve been selling Pampered Chef products for almost a month.  My first couple shows were a success and I really enjoyed helping family and friends find things that they would enjoy.  I’m really looking forward to the future as a Pampered Chef Consultant.  I still love cooking and baking and plan to continue to do so frequently, which is why I started this blog.  So, if you’re into cooking or baking, watch for new posts, because I’ll be sharing some great recipes along with information about the products that I use to make them in my future blogs!

www.pamperedchef.biz/ashleymcmoore