Old Fashioned Fried Grufa Bow Ties Recipe - Dare you to just eat one!

Last weekend my husband was having a craving for a childhood sweet treat his Mom use to make him.  It is called Grufa.

I can just imagine those reading this post asking themselves what is Grufa?  I had the same question many years ago.  Trust me one you try these..you will not forget the name of the heavenly taste.

It is very special moment when I think about this recipe and the history.  My husband's mother had help from many women making LOTS of batch of this goodness for her Bridal Shower.  What a Labor of "LOVE".  Once you see the recipe, you will understand why I say "Labor".

Ingredients:

8 Egg Yokes
1 Egg
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 Tablespoon Whiskey
2 Cups All-purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt

Directions:

Place all the wet ingredients in a large bowl.

(Photos are from a batch and a half)

Add all the other ingredients and blend well.

Dough is very stiff and tough to work with - but well worth your time an effort in the end.  ****Burn off the calories before you eat them :)****

On a lightly floured work surface, knead the mixture for a good long while into a smooth dough.


Roll out 1/16th inch thick.  This will take awhile as the dough likes to retract - Excellent work out - or a great work out for your husband!



Love using a pizza cutter to make the long cuts.

Slice into 1 1/2-inch wide strips. Cut the strips diagonally into 5-inch lengths. In each strip, cut a one-inch slit the long way, in the middle of the strip.

Pull one end of the strip through the slit so that it looks kind of like a bow tie.

The dough is tough enough - that I even let my 5 year old help out tying with no problems.



Check out the flour covered arms :)

Heat the frying oil to 350 degrees.

Fry the bow ties in small batches until they turn light golden, turning once.

Drain on paper towels or a wire rack and allow to cool.

Dust with confectioners sugar.

Grufa is tender and crispy .  Light and sweet with the powdered sugar (hope you don't mind the sugar raining down on your shirt - it will happen).  It is soooo hard to stop eating this pastry like sweet.

Happy List - WooooHooo

Well - My first item to add to my Happy List this week is......

Thank God! My computer is back from being fixed and I no longer have to try to manage on a borrowed TINY Notebook computer from a dear friend.  Wow - It so reminds you how much technology means.

I have my hair cut scheduled for Monday -

Time to get my long "locks" cut off so I can donate them to Locks of Love and go to the media with the news to help spread the message about Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.  I am excited and a bit nervous to go back to short hair - but it is well worth it!

By the way have you gotten your pap this year???

Was a extremely busy week at work - Glad the weekend is hear to enjoy with my family.

And only 5 more days until I am on my way to LA - Thanks again Coffee-mate!

My Mom's 7 Minute Sticky Frosting Recipe with swirled Chocolate Chips on top of Betty Crocker Dark Chocolate Cake :0

I will never forget after meeting my husband we would talk about childhood memories and still do.  One of my fond memories involved Birthday Cake.  My mom would make an awesome chocolate cake and top it with "too die for" 7 minute Sticky Frosting.  She always added chocolate chips in the end and swirled them around gently.  I start to drool just thinking about it.  My husband always said "yuck".  He made it  very clear he didn't like cooked frosting. 

So being the good wife that I am.....I never made it until........I was pregnant with our 3rd son.  I wanted it so badly I decided even if I had to eat the whole cake myself I was going to make my mom's 7 minute sticky frosting.

The way we ate chocolate cake at our house changed from that day on.....My husband LOVED IT!!!  He asked why I never had made that frosting before.  I reminded him of the comments he had made years ago.  He explained he had never had cooked frosting like this before. 

Now it seems like almost monthly - like clock work he asks for this sweet treat - and so do our little boys. 

So first I made a wonderful box dark chocolate cake - but it is not just any dark chocolate cake - it has to Betty Crocker Dark Chocolate Cake mix with 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips sprinkled on top of the cake batter before baking.

Recipe for the 7 Minute Frosting.

Ingredients:

1 cup Granulated Sugar

1/2 cup Light Corn Syrup

3 Tablespoons of Cold Water

3 Egg Whites

1/4 teaspoon Cream of Tarter

1 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

1/2 cup Chocolate Chips

Directions:

Over a large double boiler - I like to use a pot of water boiling on the stove with an large metal bowl over the top.

Beat all ingredients except the vanilla and chocolate chips.

Beat until peaks form - usually around 7 minutes - hence the name.

Remove from heat and continue beating while adding the vanilla.

Gently fold in the chocolate chips - they will begin the melt due to the heat of the frosting.

Frost the cooled cake - I like to coat the cake in a double batch of this addicting sticky frosting.

As the frosting cools the chocolate chips will set up and make tasty ribbons of goodness throughout the frosting.

The only problem with this recipe, but well worth it....It makes a big splattery mess...as you can see by the photo below.

Honored to be part of Mamarazzi’s Pinktastic Swaptastic

As my title to this post states...I am so honored and Excited to be part of

 Mamarazzi’s Pinktastic Swaptastic



My mind is busy coming up with possible PINK ideas for my unknown swap partner.  This is going to be so awesome.  If you are interested in joining, click above and see if you will qualify to be part if this Blushing good time.

Winner of a Beautiful Pair of Lucite Earrings is......

I am pleased to announce the winner of my second blog giveaway for A pair of Lucite Earrings made my AZbeadgirl .



Thanks to the help of...

True Random Number Generator


Min: 1

Max: 133

Result:

68

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

So #68 is........

Hotsnotty2 said...


I love the Lime green lucite flower earrings on sterling silver earwires with Swarovski crystals

Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com

Congrats Hotsnotty2 and Thank you all who entered.

1st Happy List for 2011

Wow - it is time to write my first Happy List of 2011.  There are so many things I am Happy and Thankful for this week...so it is going to be hard to just select a few...but here it goes....

The top of my list is I love Christmas - but I am EXCITED the Christmas tree is finally put away - (as of a few hours ago!!!)  Now there is more room for my boys to play.

I am Thrilled to be hosting my second giveaway on my blog site.  Don't miss out - it ends tonight (01-08-11 at Midnight MST).  So check it out for your chance to win a pair of AZbeadgirl Lucite Flower Earrings.

Let's see the last Happy List item for the week would be my flight to LA is officially booked - thanks to Coffee-mate Brew Crew!!!  I still can't believe I am one of the lucky 10 selected for this Trip of a Lifetime.  Less than two weeks and I will be in Sunny LA.  Wow!  I can't believe I just typed that and it's about me! 

So I know what my Happy List is going to be about in a few weeks - a HUGE recap of this awesome trip with my husband (yes, just with my husband - no children along- I am going to be soo lost without them, but what a great opportunity ) -thanks to Coffeemate.

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

I hope 2011 has blessed everyone with a positive and healthy beginning.  The New Year arrived in Blizzard fashion here in Nebraska.

Allens Veggies asked me to share a Good Luck recipe on my personal blog - Sandhills Black Eyed Pea Salsa

Besides this recipe being delicious - It coud be considered a bowl of Cancer Fighting Agents.  Here is why:

*Antioxidants are essential for destroying free radicals and offers the body protection against heart disease, cancer and aging. According to some studies, Black Beans are so rich in antioxidants that it ranks in first place when calculated on a gram for gram basis, above other varieties of beans.

*Red peppers are one of the few foods that contain lycopene, a carotenoid whose consumption has been associated with lowering the risk of prostate cancer and cancers of the cervix, bladder and pancreas.

*Brightly colored bell peppers, whether green, red, orange or yellow, are rich sources of some of the best nutrients available. Peppers are excellent sources of vitamin C and vitamin A (through its concentration of carotenoids such as beta-carotene), two very powerful antioxidants that are thought to help ward off cancer.

*Consuming foods rich in beta-cryptoxanthin, an orange-red carotenoid found in highest amounts in red bell peppers, pumpkin, corn, papaya, tangerines, oranges and peaches, may significantly lower one's risk of developing lung cancer.

*Tomatoes carry really high amounts of betacarotene and lycopene that help fight off cancer causing cells.

*Studies show that the organic ingredient of garlic, allyl sulfur, another active ingredient in garlic, are effective in inhibiting or preventing cancer development.

Well now that I am starting my New Year off on a lucky and healthy note thanks to my new recipe - we must not forget how important it is throughout the year to make positive food and health choices. January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, which I take very seriously as a proud cervical cancer survivor. I want to share a few reminders during this important month...

Pap test screening is the first line of defense against cervical cancer. Pap tests are recommended for women every other year after the age of 21. Regular gynecological Pap tests detect most cell changes due to HPV long before they become cancer. Early detection of these precancers can be effectively treated before they become malignant. Unfortunately, four out of five women do not receive their regular Pap Test. In 2010 more than half of the women diagnosed with cervical cancer either never had a Pap or were not screened in the last five years.


In recent years, breakthrough vaccines have been developed that protect against the HPV types responsible for an estimated 70% of cervical cancers.

As we all know there always are exceptions to the rules. I was one of the exceptions with how the beginning stages of my cancer were some how missed by all.  But that is why yearly exams and paps are a necessity!  If you are a woman - have you had a pap within the last 12 months? If you haven't ----stop reading this post right now!!----Pick up your phone and make what could be the most important phone call of your life. Schedule your yearly exam and pap.  If you are a man - have those special ladies in your life had their pap's completed within the last year?  Don't be afraid to ask - It just shows you care.

I am excited to show everyone how long my hair has grown.  Later this month I will be making my hair donation to help out fellow cancer patients.  I look forward to showing everyone my new hair style very soon.

Happy New Year Everyone!

2nd Giveaway Thanks to AZbeadgirl - Lucite Flower Earrings - Enter today

I am sponsoring my 1st Giveaway of 2011 thanks to Dandelion Wishes and AZbeadgirl . 

Let me explain...I was lucky enough to win a $20 gift certificate from a giveaway on Dandelion Wishes blog site **Which I would like to exclaim is one of my favorite blogs to follow**.  The gift certificate was for an Esty shop called AZbeadgirl.  I picked the most beautiful and well made bracelet.

It is called a fresh water pearl and red glass bracelet.  It is such a perfect addition to my jewelry collection.  I was amazed at the quality craftsmanship and speed of the shipping.  I will definitely be back to place an order in the future. 

Along with my order AZbeadgirl included a free pair of beautiful Lucite Flower Earrings for Pierced Ears.  I do not have pierced ears so.....I contacted AZbeadgirl and asked if I could use them on a giveaway on my site.  She gave me the go ahead....so one lucky person is going to win this beautiful pair of earrings - retail value $16.00.




I was able to find this photo on AZbeadgirl's site.  They look like the same pair I am giving away other than the back of the ear ring is just a straight hook through your ear.


Here is how to win!




Open to US residents only age 18 or over. You must complete the Mandatory Entry to be eligible. This giveaway will close on January 8th, at Midnight MST Time. Please leave a separate comment with email for each entry that you complete.

*** Mandatory Entry - Please go over to AZbeadgirl and look around. Come back here to Fishful Thinking and let me know what product you would love to try or have tried!


Bonus Entries:

Follow Fishful Thinking Blog on Google Connect (one the right side of my blog).

Write up your own post about this giveaway along with live links to Fishful Thinking Blog and post it on your blog (leave link)
Tweet about the Giveaway: You can copy and paste the following Tweet over on Twitter once per day.

Copy and Paste Tweet:
You can #win AZbeadgirl Lucite Flower Earrings value $16 on @busch0218 blog!  http://t.co/vDN3R0R Ends 01/08 Midnight MST #giveaways

Please leave a separate comment with email for each entry that you complete -PLEASE!

Good Luck Everyone and Happy New Year!

New Years Eve Good Luck Recipe for Sandhills Black Eyed Pea Salsa w/ Allens Veggies

How many of you have a family recipe or a traditional Good Luck recipe - that you made every New Year's Eve or New Years Day?

It is amazing how these recipes continue in hopes of blessing loved ones with wealth and health to name a few things in the New Year.

I was "Lucky" enough that Allens Veggies asked me to share a Good Luck recipe for New Year's Eve/Day on my blog.  I searched online to see what others do to ring in the new year.  I found many incorporated Black Eyed Peas - Many may asked - Why Black Eyed Peas?

Well...

Eating Black-eyed Peas "Coins" Meant Wealth

In the southern United States, black-eyed peas have long been a New Years Eve staple. The shape and abundance of the legumes was compared to coins; eating the ‘coins’ symbolized gaining wealth.

So I decided to come up with my own Black Eyed Pea Good Luck Recipe.  I like to call it...

Sandhills Black Eyed Pea Salsa

Ingredients:

1 - can drained and rinsed Allens Black Eyed Peas
1 - can drained and rinsed Allens Black Beans
1 - can drained diced, pealed tomatoes
1 - can drained Allens whole kernel corn
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1/2 cup chopped orange pepper
1 Tablespoon minced fresh garlic
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tablespoons Red wine vinegar
1 - fresh lime
*Optional* 1 - 4oz can died jalapenos

Directions:

Add all ingredients in a large bowl - except the lime.

Mix gently to incorporate.

Cover and refrigerate over night to let the flavors come together.

Squeeze fresh lime over top before serving.

Can be served with tortilla chips or just on the side as a relish.

This recipe turned out wonderful.  It was beauitful to look at and even better to eat.  The textures of the crunchy veggies and the firm beans were a match made in heaven. I think I am going to use this recipe in the summer time to pair with grilled chicken breasts.

The only down fall to this recipe is it didn't stick around long.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!