Broccoli Cheese Soup

April 13, 2014 Sharon Leave a comment

Broccoli Cheese Soup

This creamy, cheesy broccoli soup tastes just like Panera’s Broccoli Cheese soup. It’s so easy to make and is filling enough to be a meal in itself. Serve with a baguette or your favorite rolls.

1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 medium chopped onion
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half-and-half cream
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 lb fresh broccoli***
1 cup carrot, julienned
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
salt and pepper

***Cut off the florets from head of broccoli. Peel tough skin off the stem, discard. Dice tender part of stem.

Sauté onion in butter. Set aside. Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly and add the half & half. Add the chicken stock. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat 20-25 minutes. Add salt and pepper. Can be puréed in a blender. Return to heat and add cheese.

*To make this Vegetarian, substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth.

4 Servings

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Sharon Springfield

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Desserts, Holidays

Fluffy Marshmallow Easter Bunnies

April 12, 2014 Sharon 1 Comment

Fluffy Marshmallow Easter Bunnies

To make these cute little fluffy bunnies, frost large marshmallows and cover with coconut. Using frosting as glue, attach mini marshmallows for feet, and candies for the eyes, nose and whiskers. To make the ears, cut a strip from the top edge of a large marshmallow, using kitchen shears, and use frosting to attach to the bunny’s head.

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Sharon Springfield

Fluffy Marshmallow Easter Bunnies

Desserts, Holidays

Easter Peeps Cake

April 11, 2014 Sharon 1 Comment

Easter Peeps Cake

Here’s a cute and easy cake to serve at your Easter party. All you need is a cake mix and frosting, shredded coconut, peeps and some egg shaped Easter candy.

Start with a coconut or carrot cake mix and prepare according to package directions for 2 layer round cake.

When the cake layers have cooled, frost with white frosting, your favorite flavor. (I love buttercream or cream cheese) Arrange the Peeps around the top edge of the cake. Place one peep in the middle.(see photo)

Tint shredded coconut by dropping a few drops of green food coloring in a large ziplock bag. Dump in half a bag of coconut, seal the bag and then shake it up until the shredded coconut is all tinted green. The more drops of food coloring, the darker the “Easter grass” will be.

Sprinkle the shredded coconut over the top of the cake and press onto the sides of the cake. Sprinkle egg shaped Easter candies in the middle of the top of the cake.

And there you have it! An easy and adorable Easter Peeps Cake to be the star of your Easter dinner. 🙂

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Sharon Springfield

Easter Peeps Cake

Desserts, Holidays

Nutter Butter Easter Chicks

April 8, 2014 Sharon 1 Comment

When I was on Pinterest, I ran across this and thought they were just precious! This will be a fun project to do this weekend. (The website this came from is listed on the photo above.)

Easter Chicks made with Nutter Butter Cookies

Nutter Butter cookies
Yellow Candy Melts or Chocolate (melted)
Black Sugar Pearls
Rainbow Chip Sprinkles
5.5″ Wood Coffee Stirrers
Wax Paper or Parchment

Work over the wax paper …

Insert the wood stick about half way up the cookie and separate the cookie … put a small amount of melted candy … put cookie back together and let candy harden. (This step is very important so that the cookies don’t fall off the stick!)

Dip the cookie in melted candy and tap off excess. Lay on wax paper.

Place 2 orange Reece’s Pieces as the feet and 2 yellow ones for the wings. Place 2 black sugar pearls for eyes and 1 orange Rainbow Chip for the beak.

Chill for a few minutes.

Nutter Butter Chicks from Simple Sweet Stuff.com

Happy Easter! 🙂

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Sharon Springfield

Nutter Butter Easter Chicks

Desserts, Holidays

Coconut Macaroon Nutella Nests

April 7, 2014 Sharon Leave a comment

Easter Gifts for Kids

Coconut Macaroon Nutella Nests

Yield: 10 nests Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 17-20 minutes
Coconut cookie nests filled with Nutella and Easter egg candies. These cookies are perfect for Spring and Easter.

2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 large egg white
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 cups sweetened coconut
1 cup Nutella
M&M Speck-tacular Eggs (or other Easter candy)

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat mat.

In a large bowl, stir together the sweetened condensed milk, egg white, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir until combined. Add in the coconut and mix well.

With a spoon, scoop up about 2 Tablespoons of the dough and place the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Form the cookies into the shape of a bird nest. Press down the center with your thumb.

Bake cookies for 17 to 20 minutes, or until slightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and press your thumb down in the center of the nests again. Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes or until they are firm and set. Remove with a spatula onto a cooling rack. Cool completely.

Place about a tablespoon of Nutella in the center of each nest. Place 3 egg candies in the center of the nest. Finish decorating the nests and serve.

Note-you can make these 2-3 days in advance. Store in an air tight container on the counter.

If you like my recipes, be a sweetie pie and share on Facebook,
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Sharon Springfield

Cooking With Sharon Springfield

Monthly Archives: April 2014

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Fluffy Marshmallow Easter Bunnies

Fluffy Marshmallow Easter Bunnies

Fluffy Marshmallow Easter Bunnies

Easter Peeps Cake

Easter Peeps Cake

Easter Peeps Cake

Nutter Butter Easter Chicks

Nutter Butter Easter Chicks

Coconut Macaroon Nutella Nests

Coconut Macaroon Nutella Nests

Coconut Macaroon Nutella Nests

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