Ladybug Recipes

LADY BUG POPS

Steps:

• In a blender, puree the strawberries, orange juice, lemon juice, and honey together until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into an ice cube tray. Place the blueberries in each ice cube cup. Freeze for 1 hour. Insert a lollipop stick into each cup and freeze another 4 to 5 hours until firm. Twist the ice cube trays to remove the ice pops and serve.

LADYBUG'S POPPY SEED CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix together the cracker crumbs, melted butter, and poppy seeds in a bowl. Layer the bottom of a 9x13-inch glass baking dish with 2/3 of the cracker mix. Mix the chicken breast pieces with cream of chicken soup and sour cream until thoroughly combined, and spoon the mixture on top of the crumb crust. Sprinkle remaining 1/3 of the cracker mix over the top of the chicken mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the casserole is hot and bubbling, about 1 hour.

LADYBUG CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Cupcakes:Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in center. Line two standard muffin tins with 18 paper liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in vanilla seeds. Add eggs and yolks, one at a time, beating until each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Reduce speed to low; gradually add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture and beating until combined after each addition.
• Using an ice cream scoop or large spoon, divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each two-thirds full. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until cupcakes spring back when lightly pressed and a tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 16 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
• Buttercream:Combine egg whites, sugar, and salt in the heatproof bowl of a mixer set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved, and mixture is warm to the touch and feels completely smooth when rubbed between fingertips.
• Transfer bowl to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Starting on low speed and gradually increasing to medium-high, whisk until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Continue whisking until meringue is fluffy and glossy, and completely cool (test by touching the bottom of the bowl), 6 to 8 minutes.
• Reduce speed to medium-low and add butter a few tablespoons at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in vanilla. Switch to paddle attachment and beat on low speed until all air bubbles are eliminated, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl with a flexible spatula; continue beating until frosting is completely smooth. Keep buttercream at room temperature if using same day. If not, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Before using, bring to room temperature and beat with paddle attachment on low speed until smooth again, about 5 minutes.
• Reserve 1/2 cup buttercream. Tint remaining buttercream green, adding food color a drop at a time until desired color is reached. If necessary, use reserved buttercream to lighten color.
• Transfer buttercream to a pastry bag fitted with a small multi-opening tip (such as Wilton #233). Starting at the center and moving outward, pipe grass on top of cupcake: With tip on surface of cupcake, squeeze bag, then release while quickly pulling up to form 1/2-inch-long blades. Pipe some slightly longer for a realistic look.
• Marzipan Ladybugs:Tint marzipan red, adding a small amount of food color and kneading until thoroughly incorporated, until you reach desired color.
• Pinch off eighteen 1 teaspoon-sized pieces of marzipan and shape into ovals for ladybug bodies. Using the back of a paring knife, score a line lengthwise along surface of each body to form wings. Place a chocolate chip at one end of each body, point-side out, to form heads. Insert chocolate pearls into wings to form spots. Place a ladybug on top of each frosted cupcake.

LADYBUG CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Generously grease 2-quart round heatproof bowl with shortening; lightly flour. Make cake mix as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs or egg whites. Pour batter into bowl.
• Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around side of bowl to loosen cake; remove from bowl to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• On serving plate, place cake, rounded side up, trimming bottom if needed. In small bowl, mix 1/2 cup of the frosting and the black food color until blended. Mix remaining frosting and red food color until blended. Spread red frosting on two-thirds of cake; sprinkle with red sugar.
• Spread black frosting on remaining one-third of cake for head. Place remaining black frosting in decorating bag fitted with small round tip. Pipe wings and dots on sugared portion of cake.
• Add marshmallow pieces for eyes; pipe pupils with black frosting. Pipe red frosting for mouth. Insert licorice pieces into cake for antennae. Store loosely covered.

LADYBUG APPETIZERS

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
• Add sour cream, chives, parsley and garlic salt; mix well.
• Place 1 tablespoon in a small plastic bag and tint black; set aside.
• Spread remaining cream cheese mixture on crackers.
• Arrange two tomato quarters on each for the ladybug wings.
• For heads, halve the olives widthwise; place one half on each cracker.
• Insert two chives into olives for antennae.
• Use tinted cream cheese mixture to pipe spots onto wings.

LADYBUG

Steps:

• Blend ingredients with crushed ice.
• Serve in a wine glass.

LADYBUG APPETIZERS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Remove 2 tablespoons to a small bowl and tint black. Place tinted cream cheese mixture in a small plastic bag; set aside. , Add the chives, garlic salt and parsley to the remaining cream cheese mixture. Spread over crackers. Arrange two tomato quarters on each for the ladybug wings. , For heads, halve the olives widthwise; place one half on each cracker. Insert two chives into olives for antennae. Use tinted cream cheese mixture to pipe spots onto wings.

LADYBUG CAKE

Steps:

• Place the first cake on 1 of the cardboard rounds on a rack over a sheetpan. While the ganache is still warm, pour over the cake. Using a palette knife sparingly, gently swipe 1 or 2 times to spread the ganache evenly over the top and so that it runs down the sides and covers them. Let the cake sit until the ganache sets up, about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• While the ganache is setting up begin making the wings. Cut the remaining cake in half, lengthwise. Cut the remaining cardboard round in half as well and place each cake half on one of the cardboard halves. Using the red buttercream and a palette knife, frost both halves completely. Try to make the frosting appear to be as smooth as possible. Place the black licorice rounds on the wings to make ladybug spots.
• Once the ganache is set up, assemble the ladybug. Allow 2 inches in the front of the ganache cake for the ladybug's face. Place the 2 halves behind the 2-inch face with 2 corners touching right behind the head and at an angle to each other. The wings should be in position for the ladybug to fly away. Place the candy wafers on the ganache cake to create eyes. Using a small dab of leftover frosting, secure the candy coated chocolates to the wafers to make pupils. Cut the licorice whip to the desired length and lightly press into the ganache to create a mouth. Use the remainder of the licorice whip to create antennae. ***To cut this cake for serving, remove the wings and cut separately.

LADYBUG CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for cupcakes, using water, oil and eggs. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely.
• In medium bowl, mix frosting and food color. Frost cupcakes. Sprinkle with sanding sugar. Attach small round tip to tube of black decorating icing. On each cupcake, pipe wings and dots on wings. Attach cookie for head. Use black icing to attach candy eyes to cookie. Use red icing for mouth. Insert 2 licorice pieces into each cupcake for antennae.

LADYBUG CAKE AND CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease bottoms and sides of 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with shortening or cooking spray. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• Make cake mixes as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs. Divide half of the batter between cake pans. Divide remaining batter evenly among muffin cups, filling about two-thirds full. Bake as directed on box for 8-inch rounds and cupcakes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Reserve 5 cupcakes; save remaining cupcakes for later use. For easier handling, refrigerate or freeze cake 30 minutes to 1 hour or until firm.
• On serving plate or foil-covered tray, place 1 cake layer, rounded side down. Remove paper liners from 3 of the reserved cupcakes; position cupcakes against front of cake, slightly angled, for ladybug's head. Spread thin layer of chocolate frosting over bottom cake layer and cupcakes to seal in crumbs. Refrigerate or freeze 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• In another medium bowl, mix vanilla frosting and red food color. Spread second cake layer with red frosting. Cut second layer in half crosswise; frost rounded top and cut sides. Refrigerate or freeze 30 minutes to 1 hour. Frost bottom cake layer and 3 cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Position red cake halves, rounded side up and slightly angled, on bottom layer to look like ladybug's wings. Place peppermint patties on red cake for spots.
• Cut marshmallow crosswise in half; push 1 blue candy into each. Attach marshmallows to ladybug's head for eyes. Insert licorice twist pieces for antennae.
• For baby ladybugs, cut off and reserve rounded tops of remaining 2 cupcakes. Spread flat cupcake tops with chocolate frosting. Spread cutoff tops with red frosting; cut each crosswise in half. Position red halves, rounded side up and slightly angled, on cupcakes to look like wings. Add brown candies to wings for spots. Flatten gumdrops; attach 1 gumdrop to front of each cupcake for head. Use frosting to attach blue miniature candies for eyes. Insert string licorice for antennae.

THE LADYBUG (WATERMELON DRINK)

Steps:

• Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

HOMEMADE LADYBUG COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter, oil and sugars until light and fluffy. Add two eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cream of tartar and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle., On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a 3-in. round cookie cuter dipped in flour. Place 1 in. apart on lightly greased baking sheets. , In a small bowl, beat remaining eggs. Add red food coloring; mix well. Brush over cutouts. , Bake at 375° for 8 minutes. With a small new paintbrush and black food coloring, paint two lines, forming wings., Arrange four chocolate chips in a half circle on the top third of each cookie. Randomly place 16 chocolate chips on the lower part of the cookie for spots. Return to the oven for 1 minute or until chips are melted. Spread the four chips to form the head. , For eyes, position two white chips, pointed side down, over melted chocolate. Return to the oven for 1 minute or until slightly melted. Place one miniature chocolate chip in the center of each white chip. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

APPLE LADYBUG TREATS

Steps:

• Slice apples in half from top to bottom and scoop out the cores using a knife or melon baller. If you have an apple corer, core them first, then slice. Place each apple half flat side down on a small plate.
• Dab peanut butter on to the back of the 'lady bug', then stick raisins onto the dabs for spots. Use this method to make eyes too. Stick one end of each pretzel stick into a raisin, then press the other end into the apples to make antennae.