The latest mixes I've tried to date!

Sorry I've not updated in a while - the kids are keeping me busy, busy!

However, here is a compiled list of the latest and greatest, tried and tested GC mixes to date:

1)Sweet Potato Crunch - I did like this mix, and broiled it a tad longer than it said to on the back. I do think that the next time I make it, I'm going to use 2 cans instead of just the one. I'll follow up w/ another post if I try it like that.

2)Spiced Apple Cake Mix - Okay, being honest here. This was NOT a favorite of mine, but here's why. I am not a fan of raisins. This mix does have raisins, and I didn't pay close attention before I actually made it. My husband does like raisins, and he said it was alright. So I may not be the best critic for this mix. On a good note, it was moist!

3)Lemonade Pie - Oh my! Very, very, VERY Yummy! Here is what I did: I made it according to the back, but I followed the directions for a "creamier, richer pie", which you substitute sweetened condensed milk for one 8 oz. cream cheese! Everyone that tasted it, loved it! I will def. make this again.

4)Bethany's 5 Minute Chocolate Fudge - This is a very easy, and tasty mix to have on hand! It is a yummy fudge recipe that would be great to take to church functions or family get-togethers!

I'm going to try some of the sugar free mixes out next! Stay tuned!

Double Fudge Brownies!

I also made these last Friday night for our first ever scrap booking party at church! The brownies are good and very moist. They do have choc. chips in w/ the mix which gives it an extra chocolaty treat! I made it in the bigger squared Pampered Chef baking dish, and that in turn made them a little thinner than I would like. So I will make them in no bigger than an 8x8 dish next time.

An idea I just now had for this would be to use this mix as a crust for a dessert pizza! After consulting with a friend (thank you, CeeCee) I have learned that putting Parchment Paper down on the pizza stone (cutting it to fit the size of the circle) will prevent the batter from running off. If I get time one weekend coming up, I might try this out! I will keep everyone posted!

Chili Cheese Dip

This was good! We had a scrapbooking night at church this past Friday, and I took this dip and served it with the cracker sticks. It does have a little kick or "bite" to it, but my husband pointed out that if it had some horseradish in it, it would taste just like the bloomin' onion dip served at Outback Steak house! I have been enjoying it still over the weekend! I need to buy some more crackers to dip with!!!

Cheesy Potato Casserole!

I fixed this last Sunday for supper, and it really turned out well. I topped it with the French Fried Onions and some cheese that has bacon bits in it for an extra treat. This would be a great side dish, or a perfect dish for a church function or gathering. Very simple to make!

Bacon dip!

I tried the Bacon Dip out last night at our monthly UMW meeting. I served it with a few choices. I made some bread so that the dip could be spread on it. I also had chips and cracker sticks. Another success! Come back to see what I try next!

Couple more mixes I've tried.....

Strawberry/Lemonade Pie - I really thought this was good! If you like cream cheese, you'll love it, as it takes TWO blocks of cream cheese to make the pie. Once again, IMO, you can never, ever have too much cheese! I did like this, it was very easy to prepare and the only thing it requires it to set in the fridge for about 4 hours before serving. This can also be prepared as a dip!

Fudge Pie - I made this one Saturday night, and my plan didn't go as I'd hoped. I wanted to have this for dessert after supper, and I put it in the refrigerator during our meal and for a while following. When I took it out to cut it that night, it was NOT ready to be cut into! It was still very loose. The directions say it's best to let it refrigerate overnight, and it truly does need that! The next day it had a much better consistency, and my husband has been eating on it ever since! He was very impressed with it.

The next thing I'll be trying is the Bacon Dip for a church gathering on Wednesday night. Check back to see how it goes!

July special!!

For July the special is, Buy a TGC Sugar Cookies Mix and get a free TGC Lemonade Pie Mix and a recipe for Fruit Pizza - a $3.75 Value!

Tried & tested.........

I know it's a lot easier to answer people when they ask what you think about something when you've actually tried it for yourself. So that's why I thought I'd come out here and post about mixes I've tried to date, and let you know mine and other's opinion on them. So here we go with all the mixes so far:

Savory Dips:
1) Baked Potato Dip - This was a winner with everyone who tried it at Adam's birthday party! Everyone asked what it was, and commented on how good it tasted. It couldn't have been easier to put together, just mix the bag w/ sour cream and let it set up a few hours before serving. Very, very good! I will definitely make this again!

2)Spinach Dip Mix - I used this in w/ another recipe to make a Spinach dip inside a bread bowl ( I used the Beer Bread mix by GC). I also tried this out at the birthday party, and it was another complimented food. I'd be happy to share the recipe with anyone who wants it - I'll include it w/ the spinach dip at purchase!

Salads & Dressings
1) Pasta Salad - I made this a few days ago, and liked it. It can be served either warm or chilled. I tried it both ways, and think that I like it better chilled, after it has set up overnight to let the flavors mix. This can be altered according to "diets" to suit your needs - you could use a lite mayo to cut some calories in this dish.

Meals & Soups
1) Mexican Meatloaf - This is one that you have to have an open mind to! I honestly did like it, my husband couldn't make his mind venture from regular ol' meatloaf. (He did have two helpings though!) My mother in law liked it as well. I added more cheese than what the recipe calls for, but in my opinion you can never go wrong with more cheese!!

Side Dishes
1)Au Gratin Potatoes - This was my husbands favorite dish so far! He didn't believe that this was one of the mixes! He also wished that I had made more, which I made one packet of the mix. So next time I will definitely double it and make two. It was very easy, and the potatoes were tender and yummy!!

Desserts
1) 5 Star Coconut Pie - I tried this and will need to tweak it a little next time. It turned out well, however I am not a pro at meringues. I had to put it back in the oven for a while longer to get the meringue done enough. On a good note, it's another item that an overnight stay in the fridge only helped it! It's another item that received a thumbs up from my husband!

Cookies & Bars
Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies - I will admit, I am NOT a raisin person, so I mainly bought this mix and made it for Nathan, because he loves oatmeal raisin cookies. I did try one though because I felt I needed to know how they tasted. After trying the first one, I caught myself overlooking the fact that raisins were even in there! They are wonderful!

**Sugar Free**

I personally have not tried any of the sugar free mixes, but I have a friend that did get a pkt. of the Sugar Free Snickerdoodle Cookie mix and said that she really enjoyed them, and they turned out good. So I will be getting some of the other sugar free mixes to try them out myself.

Breads & Muffins
1) Beer Bread - I mentioned this one earlier on, and it is a very simple recipe to make/use. It bakes into a moist and tasty bread!!

2) Sweet Cornbread - I made these as muffins instead of baking in a regular pan, and they were great. For those of you that have had "Jiffy" cornbread mix, that is what they taste like.

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I will be trying more mixes in the near future, so please come back and check regularly to the latest things that I've tested!!

Welcome!

Welcome to my new & additional blog site! This one will be solely for keeping you updated on all the yummy GC (my new referral to The Gourmet Cupboard) mixes that I've tried, any new updates, sales, etc. that are going on! Since it is 10:30pmEST, I will end this for now. I will update tomorrow with all the goodies that I've tried, and my thoughts on each. PLUS some sales to hopefully get people interested in trying the products out! Please bookmark this site and check back often - as you never know what you may find! For anyone interested in a catalog, email me @: amyshuler72@yahoo.com More news to follow!!!