Food On A Stick

Hey there! So everybody and their mother knows that Cake Pops are extremely popular at this moment, right? Of course. Well, I found something that takes the whole Cake Pop idea to the next level. If we can put cake on a stick, why can't we put other things on a stick that look cute too? WE CAN!! Maybe I'm the last one to catch this train, but I honestly never thought beyond a Cake Pop and I was a-mazed when I saw these fantastic foods on a stick. What makes them better than regular foods, you may ask? Um... because they are small and on a stick! Duh! Ladies, with these you will have the cutest parties, I promise. I know you're probably wondering if I have ever heard of a shish kabob, and yes I have, but these are different! I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. They are so darn cute! Tell me what creative foods you want to put on a stick!

Poptarts on a Stick
Bakerella

FOR THE TWO-BITE POPTARTS1 c. fresh cherries, pitted and diced
3 T. sugar
2 T. cornstarch
2 T. water
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 pkg. prepared pie crusts

FOR THE POPS
wooden popscicle sticks

FOR THE GLAZE1 c. powdered sugar
1-2 T. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
food coloring and sprinkles (optional)

In a small saucepan, combine cherries, sugar, cornstarch and almond extract. Heat on stove over medium heat until mixture has thickened. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool. Unroll pie crusts and using a pizza cutter to slice them into 1 1/2″x 2″ rectangles (I used a ruler to measure mine into equal sizes.  Just use a butter knife to score your pie crust before cutting). 

Place a wooden popscicle stick on top of one of the cut rectangles, then spoon a small amount (about 1 1/2 tsp.) of cooled cherry filling into the center of the pie square, taking care not to get it near the edges.   Gently lay a second rectangle over the top of the cherry filling.  Press the edges of the rectangles together with a fork.  Transfer to a baking sheet.  Bake poptart pops in an oven preheated to 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or just until the edges begin to brown. 

In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make glaze.  Tint with food coloring, if desired.  Spoon over cooled poptart pops, sprinkle with colored sugar, and allow to the glaze to harden slightly before serving. Enjoy!

Pizza on a Stick

Artisan Bread in Five

Makes about 24

1 pound (grapefruit size) piece of dough (I used the Master recipe (page 25), but Olive Oil dough (page 134), Whole Wheat (page 74-9) or even Brioche (page 189) would be great!)

1/2 cup pizza sauce or crushed tomatoes

1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

pepperoni or other favorite toppings

preheat the oven to 400 degrees

Set up 2 0r 3 baking sheet pans with parchment or Silpats, set aside.

Roll the dough out to a 1/4-inch thick rectangle, using enough flour so the dough doesn’t stick.

layer on the sauce, cheese and pepperoni. Leave some of the cheese exposed so that it can melt and act as a glue, to hold the pizza rolls together.

Roll the dough into a log, starting at the long end.

Using kitchen shears, cut the dough into 1/2-inch thick buns. (I only baked 16 and then wrapped the rest of the log, refrigerated it and will bake it later this week. You can also cut and freeze the individual pizza rounds to thaw and bake within the next 2 weeks.)

Place them on the prepared sheet, leaving plenty of space for them to expand when they bake. Allow them to rest on the counter for about 15-20 minutes.

Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown and the cheese has melted and caramelized a bit.

Put them on a stick or let them cool and pack them in a lunch box!

S'mores Pop

Bakers Royale

No recipe for this dessert. Just a few notes:

• You will need a bag of jumbo marshmallows, crushed graham crackers and some melted chocolate.
• You can of course make these without roasting the marshmallows, but really, marshmallows taste so much carmelized.
• Assembly: Stick a popsicle stick in one end and slowly turn the marshmallow 1/2 inch above the flame until golden. Dip the roasted marshmallow in melted chocolate and then roll it in crushed graham crackers. That’s it – enjoy!