Another Cooking Class...at NIGHT!

If you missed the Holiday Cooking class at Lane-Agri Park a few weeks ago, you have another chance!  The UT Extension in Cannon County is hosting another class this Thursday night!  We will be giving away SAMPLES, DOOR PRIZES and RECIPE BOOKLETS!  There will also be a few awesome vendors, I checked out some of their products at the last class, and I was very impressed!  Perfect gifts ideas for the holidays as well as some fun, easy, and lightened up holiday recipes.  I will actually be demoing some of the other recipes in the booklet if you came to the last class, so bring a friend or your kids and and come again!  Oh and guess what?!  This class is ONLY $5, here all all the details:

When: Thursday December 2, 2010
Time: 6pm-7:30pm
Where: Senior Center Community Room, 612 Lehman Street in Woodbury, TN
Cost: $5, payable at the door
Registration: Email ksmith@utk.edu or call UT Extension at 615-563-2554

Hope to see you there!

Double Chocolate Chip-Pumpkin Cookies

I have had a few requests to add these cookies to my blog, so here they are!  I love pumpkin, and even though Thanksgiving is over, these cookies are wonderful anytime.  The flavors of the pumpkin, ginger, and chocolate together are really dynamite.  Everyone loves them!  They actually don't have any butter in them, but they do have canola oil.  I based this off of a recipe from Allrecipes.com, but I have changed it so much I think I can probably call it my own now.  One of the changes I have made was lowering the amount of oil from 1/2 Cup to 1/3 Cup and add two Tbls of Apple Sauce.  If you don't have applesauce you may want to go ahead and use 1/2 C oil.  They are great both ways!

 Double Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:

• 

• 1 Cup Canned Pumpkin Puree (not Pumpkin pie mix!)
• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 1/3 C Canola Oil
• 2 Tbs Unsweetened Apple Sauce
• 1 Tbs Vanilla
• 1 egg or 2 egg Whites
• 2 Cup All Purpose Flour
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 3/4 C Chocolate Chips (mini if you have them)
• 3/4 C White Chocolate Chips

Directions:

1. Combine first 6 ingredients in a bowl 
2. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, and cinnamon
3. Add flour mixture to wet just until combined, fold in chocolate chips
4. Spray cookie sheet, drop Tablespoons of dough on sheet, and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes
5. Cool on a wire rack, keep refrigerated.

My TODAY Show Experience!

Here is the link to my segment on the Today Show: April's Cooking Segment on TODAY Show

For the RECIPE click here: Hot, Sticky, and Sweet Potatoes

Me and Mere! She was extremely nice!

Well, I'm back!!  It was a short, but VERY eventful trip to NYC.  I am so glad Zach was able to come with me because, I would have been pretty much on my own in the Big Apple for the first time if he wasn't there.  As I said before we got there on Sunday, checked in at our hotel right across from Rockefeller Center.  The city was amazing, Zach and I absolutely LOVED it!  We met the producer and 2 other cooks that afternoon to do a run through.  They producer took us through the prep kitchens and gorgeous cooking studio!  Then we went into the actual TODAY Show Studio where a table was set up with each of our stations.  Post-it notes labelled each ingredient bowl or plate to make sure we had everything right.

We ran through it with the producer a few times, and the food stylists asked a few questions about how we wanted our "beauty" dish displayed.  It was very straight forward.  They were all very nice, but also assertive...They definitely know what they are doing!  They had my ingredients layed out perfectly, and they made it so easy on me to demo!  it is funny how TV looks so glamorous, but other than the actual studios backstage was nothing too amazing.  All of the money goes into what will be seen on TV.

Meredith' s Dressing Room

After the run through we walked to Times Square (AMAZING) and ate a little Italian place called Serafina.  It was a neat place with good food, but we were both tired and trying not to spend too much money.  We just got the Calamari and a Basil, Prosciutto, and Egg Pizza.  It was very fresh and not too heavy which was nice since it was pretty late.  We we went back to the hotel and passed out with a wake up call of 6 am, not too bad for a morning show.

Walking to the studio for the Show!

I got myself ready, and we walked over to the Studio.  We went into the Green Room (where show guests sit and wait for the there appearances.)  We ate a little breakfast, then they called me up for Hair and make-up.  They have so many guests it was like an assembly line up there!  The lady did my hair in probably 6 minutes, and it was BIG let me tell ya.  Haha I definitely felt glamed up, then another lady touched up my make-up.  Zach liked the make-up, he kept asking if I can do it that way at home :).  I'll sure try!

Next the we know we are walking into the studio with each of our dishes prepped and ready to go, with a beautiful finished dish for each of us.  Meredith came by a about 30 sec to introduce herself and tell us to have fun.  Then before we knew it we were on!  It went fast, but it was lots of fun.  At one point Zach was trying to take a picture and Matt Lauer was trying to get by him, Zach's face was hilarious.

After our segment ended, we went out to watch Bruno Mars play some songs.  He was awesome by the way!

Then the producer in charge of us said "Alright so great to meet you all! Your cars will be at the hotel to pick you up at the time on your itinerary.  Thanks so much, great job!"  And we were back on our own on the streets of NYC again just like everyone else.  It was pretty funny, I had just been on national TV, and then BAM it was over.  I kind of wanted to people on the street know I was kind of a big deal, I had just been on The TODAY show and everything. haha I don't know that they would have been to impressed. Lastly we went to FAO Schwarts where somehow we ended up spending $23 on candy.  I still don't know how that happened.

 Then we ate at Burger Heaven...it really was a little piece of Heaven I think!  And we were off back to Nashville and real life.  This morning I turned on the TODAY Show, and thought "yep I was on that yesterday!"

Today Show Update

The MAIN question I have wondered and many of you have asked me is what time will I be on the TODAY Show on Monday?  Well I have just talked with Bruce (the producer, and yes we know each other on a first name basis now! ha)  just told me as of RIGHT NOW I will go on at 7:36 Central Time with Matt Lauer!!  It is live TV so there is a possiblity that something could change.  If so, I will try to let someone know to get the word out to anyone who wants to watch.  It will be a SHORT segment, but who cares?!  I am very excited for the whole thing!  We are flying in on Sunday, and we will meet at the studio to do a run through that afternoon, then I will have to be there at 7am on Monday!  Our hotel is right around the corner from the studio, so I am sure we will enjoy just being in that area for the night.  However, I can't stay out to late, we all know I am not exactly a morning person...I wouldn't want to be a grouch to Matt! haha Thanks again for all of your sweet messages and comments.  This has been such fun!

Thanks again to everyone who came to the Cooking Class yesterday!  It was so much fun, and you were such a fun group!  I hope you all enjoyed yourselves as much as I did.  If you have any questions or commenets about the recipes, feel free to let me know!

Also, Channel 4 News will be here today!  They are doing a little story for the 10pm news tonight, so tune in!  Now to finish cleaning the house!! :)

Have a great weekend!

Apple-Turkey Rolls and Scrapbooking!

I just want to start off by telling you I am a big fan of Apples!  I just love the crisp, sweetness of a good apple, and there are so many varieties!  I probably eat a salad with apples, blue cheese crumbles, and cranberries for lunch at least 3 days of the week.  I actually put them in all kinds of things, chutneys to go over Pork, salads, sandwiches, and desserts!  However, this kind of gets on Zach's nerves, he informed me after work the other day to quit putting apples in his lunch!  I just can't understand why he doesn't like them like I do!  I keep thinking if I continue to add them in things he will eventually see it my way, and love apples as much as me!  haha  I don't really think that's how it works...Oh well  

Anyway this is just a fun, simple recipe for lunch, a picnic, or a light party food.  I actually made a bunch of these to take to my Aunt Gina's scrapbooking club tonight.  She has these scrapbooking parties, and it really seems like lots of fun!  Not to mention the things they make are so adorable, tonight they were making custom Christmas cards!  If you are interested in scrapbooking or want to be check out her blog GMBScrapper.blogspot.com

Apple-Turkey Rolls

Makes 8 Mini Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 2 oz 1/3 Less Fat cream cheese
• 1/4 C light sour cream
• 1 Tbs Maple Syrup
• Juice of half a lemon
• Pinch of Salt and pepper
• 16 thin slices of Turkey
• 1 apples, thinly sliced
• 8 Brown Rolls or Hawaiian Rolls

Directions:

1. Mix together first 5 ingredients
2. Split the rolls in half and spread cheese mixture on inside of rolls
3. Layer 2 turkey slices and two apple slices on top, close them up and you done!

TODAY Show

First of all, I just want to say how thankful and excited I am to tell you that I will be on the TODAY Show on Monday November 22!  It was just confirmed to me to yesterday, and I am on cloud nine!  I entered my photo and a recipe called "Hot Sticky and Sweet Potatoes" into a contest to perform a Thanksgiving cooking demo on the Today Show.  And they actually picked me!  I do not know all of details yet, but I do know I will be flown there by Sunday for a run through and then for the show Monday!  

  I really want to say thank you for every one's support and encouragement.  For anyone who has made one of my recipes or read my blog, I am so grateful!  Sometimes, I wonder why I am doing all this or if I will really get somewhere with it.  Is it just a childhood dream that will fade out and then I will go on the something more "adult?"  Maybe it is, but I would not give this up for anything right now!  I have to believe God has a plan for all of it, and he is way better at planning than I'll ever be.  I also want to sat thank you to Zach, without him (and my PARENTS) believing in me I probably wouldn't be doing any of this.  He has encouraged me and told me to go for it even when it causes us to struggle a little more financially more than we would if my focus on something else.

My goal/dream is to host my own cooking show, whether it is local or national, that is my absolute dream.  I have truly prayed that God would lead me in the right direction, and that he would guide me through the right doors if it was meant to be.  I have seized any opportunity he has presented, and He has blessed me greatly!  I have taken some risks to follow my dream, and it seems clear I am heading in the right direction!  I will follow this up with more details when I know them!  Thank you all again for reading my blog and trying my recipes, I am so very humbled.  I'll be giving that little cooking demo everything I've got!! 

Best!

Holiday Cooking Class

I am so excited to announce that I will be teaching a "Lighter Holiday Cooking Class" at the Rutherford County Agricultural Center.  (This is the building in front of the Farmers' Market on John Rice Blvd)  I will be making/teaching the dishes below, as well as providing samples of them all!  There will also be a booklet with a copy of all of the recipes made, provided to each participant.  It is going to be lots of fun, and a great way to share tips about how to lighten up traditional holiday staples as well as new ideas for holiday dishes!  I would love for you to come, even if it is just to eat some good food!  It will be featured in the Daily news Journal next Wednesday.  

Here are all of the details:

Time:  Thursday November 18

Time: 10am-12am

Place: 315 John R Rice Blvd # 101

Murfreesboro, TN 37129-4105
Phone: (615) 898-7710

Cost: $10

For more information, Contact me at AprilMac611@hotmail.com

Also we are looking for vendors to come set up tables to showcase as well as sell their products!  If you or someone you know has a small jewelry/craft/food/fashion personal business contact me ASAP!  This would be a great way to get some exposure and show off your products! 

Here Are the Dishes I will be making and you can try at the Class!

Maple-Sage Roasted Acorn Squash

This is a great recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas!  It has the wonderful warm flavors of the season, and it looks beautiful on any holiday table!  By using Real Maple syrup we are getting an intense Maple flavor, without too much sugar and only 2 tablespoons of butter!  Oh and did I mention how easy it is too make?!

Plum, Prosciutto, and Walnut Pizza

This festive pizza has got all the right ingredients to make your taste buds dance!  It is the perfect combination of sweet and savory flavors.  It combines fresh plums, earthy walnuts, and delicious Prosciutto.  Guests will think you’re a gourmet chef, when you bring out this beautiful pizza!

 Oven-Dried Tomato, Basil, and Goat Cheese Crostini

This dip, bursting with mouthwatering flavor, will be a huge crowd pleaser for your next holiday party!  Instead of making the usual mayo based dip, we are using light cream cheese and naturally lower fat goat cheese as our base.  So try this sophisticated, yet simple dip pre-portioned atop whole-wheat baguette slices. 

Pear-Cranberry Chutney

I have to say sometimes during Thanksgiving the cranberry sauce is not the most exciting dish on the table.  Not to mention the loads of sugar that goes in most cranberry sauces.  However this chutney really adds something unique and special to top your turkey, ham, or pork loin with!  The rich flavors of fresh ginger, apple cider, and dried cranberries make this the perfect sweet and tart topping!