Campfire Tarts and My First Giveaway!

I will just say it people, these Tarts On Fire sticks are the must have cookware of the year! They are the best thing since S'mores. Actually, I never thought I'd say this but S'mores are now a thing of the past, these are going to be my number one dessert choice at campfire cookouts. These Tarts On Fire sticks are a product that is well worth the money, and they are made of stainless steel so these things are built to last.
This is one of those genius inventions that's like, man why didn't I think of that =)? Nic (creator of Tarts On Fire) you have created something phenomenal! Every single person that tried these agreed that not only were they the new "it" thing but the end result of what they can cook is undeniably delicious (and I want to add, normally I'm all about made from scratch. I did not make one thing from scratch with these. I used store bought refrigerated biscuits, canned pie filling and canned whipped cream and these campfire cups left me speechless - for a moment, and then I couldn't stop talking about how awesome and delicious they were =). 
You get a perfectly toasted biscuit tart that's amazingly tender and fully cooked through (I questioned whether they might be soggy inside but they had no sogginess whatsoever), then you fill it with you favorite fruit pie filling and finish it off with sweetened whipped cream. Yes, they're melt-in-your-mouth fantastic! Their deliciousness also got me thinking of everything you could fill them with. You could do the traditional fruit pie filling or pudding, or you could change it up and fill them with sweetened fresh fruit (which I did with one), a cream pie filling, ice cream - with all the toppings of course, pastry cream, or make them S'mores tarts and fill them with toasted marshmallows and chocolate sauce. You could make a savory option and fill them with soup, chili, chicken pot pie filling, cheesy scrambled eggs, or you could make taco bowls and fill them with taco filling. Really the possibilities of what you can create with these are endless.
I wouldn't go on and on raving about a product I didn't absolutely love but I'm telling you I LOVE these Tarts On Fire sticks. And everyone is going to love me when I bring them to the campfire cookouts =). Adults and kids alike had so much fun preparing and enjoying the campfire tarts. I mean really, when was the last time your campfire cookware consisted of something other than a roasting stick, a pot or of roll of aluminum foil? These are new, they're fun, they're easy, and yes like I mentioned before I think these will be the new "it" cookware product. I hope they can keep up with the demand. These are not yet in stores so I'd recommend buying them before you have to pay the marked up store fees. 
As the holidays come near I'm always drawing blanks for an exciting gift to give to a friend or loved one. Well, not this year. These would make the perfect birthday or Christmas gift for men or women alike. 
Take these camping or out to the backyard fire pit and I can basically guarantee they will be a total hit, and like me you will instantly become a huge fan. Entertain in style with these new Tarts on Fire Sticks!

 ...they are like a piece of art.

Tarts On Fire is giving away FOUR Tarts On Fire Sticks to one lucky Cooking Classy reader!

Thanks to Tarts on Fire you don't have to be sad if you aren't the lucky winner of the giveaway because they are kindly giving all Cooking Classy readers a special discount!...

Buy 3 get 1 FREE!
Just head to www.tartsonfire.com and enter: { CKGCLSY12 } at checkout.

How to Enter the GIVEAWAY!!  Giveaway Closed
The winner chosen by Random.org is #63 Lisa, Congatulations!
{mandatory entry} Leave a comment below telling me what kind of filling you would put in these Campfire Cups.

Earn extra entries by completing the tasks listed below and leaving a separate comment below letting me know you did so for each...

1. Pin this post to Pinterest
2. Like Tarts On Fire on Facebook
3. Follow Tarts On Fire on Twitter
4. Share this giveaway on Facebook
5. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter

Details: This giveaway is open to everyone! Contest ends September 15, 2012 at 11:59 PST. A winner will be chosen at random by using random.org and the winner will be announced in this post. The winner will be notified via e-mail, so be sure to list a valid e-mail address when entering. If the winner does not respond withing 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. Good luck! 

disclaimer: Although Tarts On Fire graciously gave me a set of Tarts on Fire Sticks to try out and keep, I was not financially compensated for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

All you need are 3 ingredients, and of course the Tarts On Fire sticks...

 1.Wrap

2. Toast

 3. Fill and garnish

 4. Enjoy and share!

Campfire Tarts
Yields 10 cups

1 package refrigerated, small biscuits (I used Pillsburry Jr. Grands)
2 (21 oz) cans pie filling such as apple, blueberry, raspberry, cherry
canned whipped cream

Special equipment: Tarts On Fire Sticks

Directions:
Evenly wrap and mold 1 biscuit dough around the outside of the stainless steel cup of each Tarts On Fire Stick (no greasing necessary). Roast over an open flame, rotating frequently until golden brown (don't hold them over a smokey area or directly in the fire), about 1 - 2 minutes. Remove toasted biscuit from stainless steel cup (it should easily glide right off), fill with your favorite pie filling and top with whipped cream. Easy as that! Now devour =).

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Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls

What do you get when you combine banana bread with cinnamon rolls? These incredible Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls! A cinnamon roll and banana bread in one, how could these not be good? Then when they are slathered generously with cream cheese frosting and finished off with toasted nuts, all I can say is wow yum! This is breakfast done right. Enjoy and be sure to eat them warm. 

Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls
Yields 1 dozen

Ingredients:

3 medium overripe bananas
1 tsp lemon juice
2/3 cup milk (I used whole)
3 Tbsp butter, diced
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 large egg yolk
3 3/4 cups bread flour, divided 
1 Tbsp cornstarch
3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
6 Tbsp butter, melted

1 recipe Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows
toasted walnuts or pecans, chopped (optional)

Directions:
Puree bananas in a food processor along with 1 tsp lemon juice until mixture is smooth and no chunks remain, set aside (you should have just over 1 1/3 cups pureed bananas). 
Heat milk and 3 Tbsp butter in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Cook stirring occasionally until butter has melted. Remove from heat and pour mixture into the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Whisk in vegetable oil and allow mixture to cool to 110 degrees. Whisk in yeast, stirring until dissolved and allow mixture to rest 5 minutes. With the paddle attachment, mix in granulated sugar, salt, egg yolk, 2 cups bread flour and pureed bananas. Switch mixer to a hook attachment, add 1 1/2 cups bread flour and sprinkle in cornstarch, then knead mixture on medium low speed until a smooth and elastic dough forms (dough will be sticky). Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise to until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. 
In a small bowl whisk together light-brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, set aside. 
In a separate small bowl, whisk together remaining 1/4 cup bread flour and baking powder. Return bowl with dough to electric stand mixer, pour in flour/baking powder mixture and knead dough with hook attachment until mixture is well blended and smooth. Roll dough out on a floured surface (dough should be slightly sticky so I floured the surface fairly generously) to a 16 x 20 inch rectangle. Using the back of a spoon, spread 6 Tbsp melted butter evenly over the top of the dough. Sprinkle top evenly with brown sugar mixture and spread into an even layer, coming within a 1/2 inch of all edges. Starting on the 16 inch side, snugly roll dough to opposite end. 
Cut rolled dough into 12 equal pieces (I cut it in half first, then halves into halves, then those halves into thirds). Arrange rolls in a buttered 13 x 9 inch baking dish (reshaping flat sides as needed). Cover baking dish with plastic wrap and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (I do this during the last 10 minutes of rising) and bake rolls in preheated oven for 22 - 26 minutes until golden. Allow to cool slightly then cut into rolls and frost with Cream Cheese Frosting and sprinkle with optional chopped nuts.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
6 Tbsp butter, softened
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
2 - 3 tsp milk

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, using an electric and mixer, whip together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Pour in milk and mix until well blended. 

Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

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Browned Butter Almond Pesto

Is there anything like the delicious taste and incredible scent of fresh, homemade pesto? If you've got basil in the garden at its prime then I think you're going to want to try this recipe. This definitely isn't your ordinary pesto. The typical pesto uses all extra virgin olive oil (rather than half olive oil half butter), pine nuts, no lemon juice and one type of cheese, which is usually Parmesan. I wanted to change things up and make new and exciting pesto, so I chose to add none other than one of my favorite ingredients, browned butter. Then I wanted to switch out the typical nut and use my favorite nut which is almonds. I also decided rather than using whole almonds to use almond butter because of it's smooth texture and light sweetness. Then for a very slight fresh tang I added a little squeeze of lemon juice. 
Spread this pesto over some freshly boiled pasta along with a light sprinkling of cheese and you'll create a meal worth remembering. So simple yet so divine. It's amazing what fresh basil and browned butter can do especially when combine together. Enjoy!

Not your average deep, vibrant green but it's sooo good...

Browned Butter Almond Pesto
Yields about 1 cup

Ingredients:
2 cups fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup finely grated Romano cheese (1 oz)
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese 
2 Tbsp almond butter*
1/4 cup butter, browned and cooled until just warm to the touch**
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 light squeeze lemon juice
3 - 4 Tbsp warm water
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:
Add basil to a food processor and pulse a few times. Add garlic, Romano cheese, Parmesan cheese and almond butter, then with motor running, stream in butter and olive oil and pulse until well blended. Pulse in lemon juice and enough warm water to reach desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve over your favorite pasta. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 3 days.

*I used Maranatha brand, it has a little bit of added cane sugar in it which I thought complimented the natural sweetness of the basil, but you can use unsweetened almond butter instead. Alternately you could use whole roasted almonds, about 1/4 cup, just pulse them in the food processor several times before adding in the basil and other ingredients.
**After browning the butter, I poured it into a bowl and set the bowl over an ice bath and swirled the bowl and it cooled much quicker then just letting it rest at room temperature.

Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

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