The Village Buttery - Ruidoso, NM

If you are EVER in or near Ruidoso, New Mexico, you won't want to miss this great place!  The name gives away the yumminess, doesn't it?  Well, if you're a butter fan,  it does.  By the way, did you know that Ruidoso really is a village?  That's what the locals say!

This buttermilk pie is delicious!

The chocolate mousse was good, too.  It was too dark-chocolatey for me and my family, but I know some people that would be glad to have that type of dessert.

Here's a close-up!

The owner, Elliott Taylor, makes all of the bread except for the whole wheat variety. His croissants were so good!

Everything was good!

What was neat about the place was that the young guy that owned it seemed to really enjoy doing what he does. He caters, bakes, serves, greets, and gets to know his customers - even if they are only visiting. He was dressed in "Rickie Fowler" golf attire - just like a couple of our boys were! They had a 1:00 p.m. tee time, and Elliott and his waiter/friend had one scheduled for 3:00 p.m., so they saw them on the course.  Too bad they got rained out :(.

What I noticed about being in Ruidoso was that it was much like West Texas and SW Oklahoma - warm, friendly people who were excited to tell you about their town, but also interested in finding out about their visitors.  

If you do happen to go that way, bring me back a piece of that buttermilk pie, okay?  I'll reimburse you! :)

Roasted Broccoli

This is such a good recipe! It's my favorite way to eat broccoli.

2 – Bunches broccoli cut into florets
1/4 Cup – Olive Oil
1 Teaspoon – Salt
1/2 Teaspoon – Pepper

Preheat oven to 425. Wash and dry the broccoli thoroughly. Line a large cookie sheet with foil. In a large bowl, place broccoli and remaining ingredients, tossing to coat well. Pour onto lined cookie sheet and roast until broccoli is tender and edges are browned.  The original recipe says 20 minutes, but in my old (vintage!) oven, it took a lot longer.  Stir after 10-15 minutes.  Serve immediately.

Mexican Fried Ice Cream Dessert

Tonight we had a visiting youth group over for Mexican food. I needed another dessert, but wasn't sure what to make.  Then I found this recipe for Mexican Fried Ice Cream Dessert on life-in-the-lofthouse.com.  It sounded really good!  It was good, though for some, it will be too rich. I've never met a "too rich" dessert!  Too sweet, maybe, but never too rich!\

MEXICAN FRIED ICE CREAM DESSERT

3 cups crushed Corn Flakes cereal

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1  Half-gallon container Vanilla ice cream

1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I used more - to taste preference while mixing)

1/4 cup honey

Chocolate syrup

Caramel sauce

Take the vanilla ice cream out of your freezer and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or so, to soften. Melt butter in a medium skillet, over medium heat. Add the crushed corn flakes and sugar. Stir to combine. Fry mixture for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until cereal is golden-brown. *Be careful not to burn. It may take less than 5 minutes*

Take a 9×13 baking dish and spread 1/3 of the corn flakes mixture into the bottom of pan. Set aside.

In a large bowl, add the softened vanilla ice cream and cool whip. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Using a spatula, stir and mix well to combine. Spread ice cream mixture over the top of the corn flake mixture in the bottom of the pan.

Spread the remaining corn flake mixture evenly over the ice cream. Drizzle the honey over the top. Cover pan, and place in freezer. Freeze ice cream for at least 5 hours, or overnight.

Cut into squares and serve with drizzles of chocolate syrup and caramel sauce. 

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Last week I decided to try a recipe that I had seen often on my Facebook newsfeed - Roasted Brussels Sprouts.  They are easy to make, healthy, and while they won't become my favorite food, they were definitely very good!

Just for fun, and because my oldest son found a ripe ear of corn in garden, I cooked it along with the sprouts.  

ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Recipe source: The Curious Coconut

1 pound Brussels Sprouts 

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375. Rinse sprouts and drain. Peel tough, dark green, outer leaves from each sprout (about 2-4 per sprout). You can save the leaves in a covered container in the refrigerator to make chips (Recipe HERE) from the leaves. Cut the hard stem from the bottom of each sprout and slice each in half lengthwise. Gently coat each sprout half with fat of choice and arrange in a single layer on a cookie sheet or in a baking dish. Roast for 25-35 minutes, turning sprouts over about halfway through.

Sprouts are done when slightly browned and tender when pierced with a fork. Sprinkle with salt and pepper! 

Correction to Strawberry Lemonade Cake!

If you received yesterday's recipe via feed or email, or happened to stop by the home page, I mistakenly wrote "1 cup mix".  That should be "1 cup milk". Oops!

Thanks, Janan! I appreciate you letting me know!

Strawberry Lemonade Cake

In mid-June we were having a group to our home - a group that had come to do some volunteer work at the children's home here.  I decided to make up something new, and liked the idea of using a strawberry lemonade taste.  It turned out really well and was definitely a cool dessert for that hot summer day!

Lemon cake mix
1 box strawberry cream pudding mix
1 cup milk
4 tablespoons melted butter
Eggs according to cake mix box

Mix well and pour into greased 9 x 13 inch cake mix.  Don't over bake, but just until toothpick inserted into center comes out just clean, with a few crumbs.

Allow to cool for 10 or 15 minutes, then poke holes in the cake with the end of a wooden spoon (or something similar).  Mix together the following and pour over the top:

1 can condensed milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 box strawberry gelatin mix (I use Jello brand)

Mix together the following for the icing, and spread over the top:

12 ounce carton Cool Whip
3 tablespoons whipping cream
1 tablespoon strawberry lemonade drink mix

Oreo Lime Dessert

This recipe is my mother-in-law's. She makes this every year at Christmas for my husband's side of the family. And, if she didn't, she'd be in BIG trouble by her grandchildren and most of her six children and in-laws!

Oreo Lime Dessert
1 package Oreos (not Double-Stuff. Save those to eat!)
1 12 ounce can evaporated milk
1 3 oz. package lime jello
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup boiling water
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
Green food coloring (a few drops)

Chill can of evaporated milk in refrigerator overnight (or in the freezer for 3 or 4 hours)

In medium bowl, blend jello and boiling water. Add green food coloring. Add lemon juice and sugar, mixing well. Place mixture in refrigerator and let chill until set.

Crush Oreos (in blender or food processor)and place in medium bowl. Add margarine and mix well. Pat Oreo mixture into 9 x 13 inch casserole dish, reserving 1/2 cup of crumbs for topping.

In medium bowl, pour chilled evaporated milk and beat with electric mixer until thick. Add jello mixture to evaporated milk and whip together until blended. Pour over Oreo crumb crust and chill. Before serving, top with remaining crushed Oreos.