Holiday Punch

1 cup frozen concentrated lemonade (thawed)
6 oz  frozen concentrated orange juice (thawed)
2 cups cranberry juice
3 cups water
1/4 cup super fine sugar
2 liters lemon-lime soda, chilled
Freshly sliced lemons and oranges
Ice

Add the lemonade, orange juice, cranberry juice, water and sugar to a container that has a lid. Stir until all of the sugar is dissolved. Cover and chill the mixture for 1-2 hours. When you are ready to serve the punch, add the mixture to a drink server along with the soda, ice, lemons and oranges. Stir and enjoy!

Apple Pie Bread

Ingredients

	Ingredients
½	cup butter, softened
1	cup sugar
¼	cup 1% milk
2	eggs
1	teaspoon vanilla extract
2	cups shredded apples (I used 5 Macintosh)
2	cups all purpose flour
2	teaspoons baking powder
½	teaspoon salt
1	teaspoon cinnamon
	Streusel Topping
¼	cup light brown sugar, packed
3	tablespoons flour
¼	teaspoon cinnamon
½	cup walnuts, chopped
2	tablespoons cold butter

Directions

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 5 bread pan with nonstick spray; set aside. 2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the milk, eggs, vanilla, and apples and mix on low speed until smooth. 3. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add the dry ingredients to the apple mixture on low speed until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly. 4. In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon on low speed. With the mixer on low speed, add little pieces of the butter and mix until blended. Add the walnuts and stir well. Sprinkle the streusel over the bread batter evenly. 5. Bake for 60 - 70 minutes (until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean). Let stand for 10 minutes. Then remove the bread from the pan and cool on a wire rack. Make-Ahead Tip This would be a great treat to keep in the freezer for those times when there's no time to bake. All you need to do is thaw it out overnight. Freezing Directions When the bread is completely cooled, wrap in plastic wrap and place it in a labeled freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible. I recommend using a vacuum sealed bag. Freeze up to 2 months.

Lofthouse Style Frosted Sugar Cookies

Cookies:

6 Cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda 
1 teaspoon baking powder 
1 Cup. butter, at room temperature 
2 Cups. granulated sugar 
3 eggs 
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 Cups Sour cream

Frosting:

1 Cups butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
4 Cups powdered sugar 
6 tablespoons heavy cream 
Several drops food coloring 
Multi-colored Sprinkles

Directions:

In the bowl of a stand mixer with the flat beater attached, cream the butter and granulated sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the eggs, one at a time beating until each is incorporated. Add the vanilla and sour cream and beat at low speed until combined.

Add the dry ingredients and beat at low speed until just combined, scraping down the bowl as needed. Dough will be a bit “sticky”. Divide dough into two sections. Flatten into rectangles about 1 1/2 inches thick, then wrap with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator overnight or at least two hours until firm.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with nonstick cooking spray, set aside.

Use the plastic wrap that you chilled the dough in. Dust the top of the dough and then flip and flour the other side, keeping it on the plastic wrap. With a rolling pin, roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thickness. Using a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out circles and transfer to a baking sheet. Bake for 7 minutes, until pale golden. Immediately transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Best to work in small batches while keeping the remainder of the dough chilled.

To make the frosting, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and vanilla. Slowly beat in the powdered sugar. Once smooth and creamy, add in heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired spreading consistency is achieved. If desired, add food coloring and beat until combined.

Once cookies have cooled completely, frost and add sprinkles. Allow frosting to set, then store in an air-tight container. Let cookies sit for several hours before serving to allow the flavors to develop.

Makes approximately: 5 to 6 dozen cookies (will vary on the thickness of the dough)

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chili

    3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
    1 small onion, diced
    5 jalapeno peppers diced, seeds removed (leave some seeds for extra heat)
    3 cloves garlic, minced
    salt and fresh ground black pepper
    1 + 1/4 pound boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
    2 teaspoons chile powder
    1 teaspoon ground cumin
    1 teaspoon oregano
    pinch of crushed red pepper
    1 (10 oz) can dice tomatoes with green chiles
    1 + 1/2 cups chicken broth
    1 (14 oz) can cannelloni or navy beans, drained
    1 (14 oz) can corn, drained
    8 ounces cream cheese
    1 pound bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled, divided



    In a large saucepan (deep enough for soup) heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil over medium heat and sauté onion, jalepeno, and garlic until tender.
    Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then add to the saucepan adding another tablespoon of olive oil as well. Add cumin, chili powder, oregano, and crushed red pepper. Toss chicken and seasonings together and lightly brown chicken on all sides.
    Stir in can of diced tomatoes, chicken broth, corn, and cannelloni beans and increase heat to bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 30 minutes.
    Stir in cream cheese and stir until completely melted. Stir in 1/2 of the crumbled bacon. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper as needed. **Add more chicken broth if too thick.
    Serve and garnish with cheddar cheese and the rest of the crumbled bacon.

HOMEMADE CHEEZ-ITS

HOMEMADE CHEEZ-ITS

(Recipe from BHG)

*Makes about 100 crackers*

YOU WILL NEED:

8oz shredded cheddar cheese (I used sharp aged white cheddar)

1 cup all-purpose flour

4 tbs unsalted butter, softened

1 tsp salt

3 - 4 tbs ice water

DIRECTIONS:

1. First, mix together the shredded cheese,  half of the salt and the softened butter. (I used sharp aged white cheddar cheese, but you can use whatever kind of cheese you like. I shredded my own cheese just because I think it has better flavor and melts better, but you can use pre-shredded too to save some time!) Add in the flour and mix until the dough looks like little fluffy clumps. Then, with the mixer running begin adding the ice water and mix until a soft dough forms. (use as much ice water as you need for a dough to form).

2. Divide the dough in two, form each into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for about 30 minutes. Then, roll the dough out on a floured surface into about an 1/8 inch thickness and using a fluted pastry cutter, cut the dough into about 1 inch squares.

3. Preheat your oven to 375 deg F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. Transfer your little cheez-its onto the parchment paper, make a hole in the center of each with a toothpick, then sprinkle them with the rest of the salt. Bake for about 7 - 10 minutes (baking time will depend on your oven, just watch them carefully so they don't burn!), or until they have puffed up and the edges begin to brown. Let cool before eating. (They are best eaten right away, but you can store them in an airtight container).

These homemade Cheez-Its are so quick and easy to make, and if you love the store bought version, these taste almost exactly the same! And from start to finish they only take about an hour to make! But I warn you, even though it may look like you have lots and lots of little Cheez-Its lined up on your baking sheet, they will be gone very quickly! Because they really are addicting!

Happy Baking, Everyone!

Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

Ingredients

1 ½ c. pineapple juice

4 ½ tsp. active dry yeast

2/3 c. granulated sugar

1/2 c. butter, at room temperature, plus extra for brushing rolls

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large eggs

5-6 c. bread flour

1 tsp. salt

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, heat pineapple juice over medium-low temperature until juice reaches about 105 F.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, stir together yeast and 2 tablespoons of sugar.
3. Once the pineapple juice is at temperature, add to the bowl. Stir, and let the yeast mixture stand for 5-10 minutes, or until foamy.
4. Once the yeast is foamy, add the remaining sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and eggs; stir to combine.
5. Switch from the paddle attachment to the dough hook, and add 3 cups of flour and salt. Stir on low.
6. Continue adding flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough clears the sides of the bowl. The dough will feel slightly sticky. It takes 5 1/2 cups of flour for my rolls.
7. Once the dough comes together and clears the sides, continue to knead for about 1 minute.
8. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, and let it rise until dough has doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
9. Shape dough into rolls. If you would like smaller, dinner-sized rolls, shape into 24 rolls. If you would like larger, bun-sized rolls, shape into 12-18 rolls depending on desired size.
10. Cover rolls with plastic wrap, and let rolls rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
11. Toward the end of the second rise, preheat oven to 350 F.
12. Bake rolls for about 20 minutes (for dinner-sized rolls), or until rolls are golden brown.
13. Immediately brush rolls with butter.
14. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Pizza Crust

Basic Cheese Pizza
Prep Time: 1 hrs Total Time: 1 hrs 13 minsServes: 8, Yield: 1 pizza

Ingredients
1/4 ounce dry yeast
1 cup water, lukewarm
1 teaspoon sugar
3 cups bread flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup tomato puree
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese
Directions
Dough:.
In a glass or plastic bowl, combine yeast, water, and sugar (the water can just be water from the tap, make sure it's below 100°F).
Stir to dissolve the yeast and let the yeast "bloom" for 15 minutes.
Stir in 1 cup flour, add salt, and then stir in another cup of flour (the remaining cup of flour will be your "bench" flour and added flour).
Dump mixture onto kneading board and work in last cup of flour, kneading until dough is soft and elastic, but not sticky. Form dough into a ball.
In another bowl, pour in the 1 tbsp olive oil and spread around.
Coat ball of dough with oil and cover bowl with a damp towel and let dough rise for 40 minutes.
Punch down dough and knead on board about 2 minutes. Dough is now ready to spread in the pan.
Page 2 of 2Basic Cheese Pizza (cont.)
Directions
To avoid sticking of crust, lightly spray pizza pan with olive oil or vegetable oil spray and then work dough to pan (or use free form pan) - this dough is enough for 1 14-in pizza with a thin bottom crust and enough dough around the edge to munch.
Sauce:.
Combine pureed tomatoes, tomato paste, minced garlic, and basil.
Spread onto prepared pizza dough.
Top with sliced mozzarella cheese and bake at 500°F for 11-13 minutes.

Navajo Tacos Filling

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic finely minced
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 (15 oz) can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 (4 oz) can diced green chilis
• salt and pepper, to taste

Restaurant Eve’s Cake

Restaurant Eve’s Cake--sugar cookie cake
from The Washington Post, April 2006

My favorite part of this recipe is how hard it is to mess up: you’re actually told not to worry about overmixing. Doesn’t that make you excited? Let your mixer do the work, and you reap the benefits.

A word on the frosting: As sweet and delicious as this frosting is, I have decided, I think officially, that I do not prefer buttercream. Next cake, it will be whipped, and that’s a decision I will stand by.

Ingredients:
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus additional to grease pans
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 eggs at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk (may substitute low-fat or nonfat)
Frosting (recipe follows)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.

Melt butter and let it cool to room temperature.

Combine the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt in the large bowl of a stand mixer. (A stand mixer is preferable for this recipe, though a hand-held electric mixer may be used.) On medium speed, add the butter, incorporating in several additions. Beat for about 2 minutes, or until combined; the texture should resemble cornmeal.

In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, vanilla extract and milk. Add to the flour-butter mixture in two batches (scraping the bowl once), and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, or until smooth.

Distribute the batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 20 minutes. Remove cakes from pans to cool completely. Frost the cake. It can stand at room temperature for 1 hour; otherwise, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Frosting
Ingredients:
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 pounds (7 1/2 -8 cups) confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup heavy cream, (may substitute whole, low-fat or nonfat milk)
Food coloring (optional)

Directions:
In a stand mixer on medium speed, beat the butter until fluffy. On low speed, add the sugar in batches, increasing the speed to high after each addition is incorporated. Scrape down the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla extract and cream in a steady stream on low speed until incorporated. Add a few drops of food coloring, if desired. (Restaurant Eve uses red to make pink.) Beat on high speed for 8-10 minutes, until light and fluffy.

Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins

"When we were growing up, my mom made these warm, delicious muffins on chilly mornings," recalls Tory Ross of Cincinnati, Ohio. "I'm now in college and enjoy baking them for friends."

12 ServingsPrep: 15 min. Bake: 20 min.

Ingredients

• 2 cups biscuit/baking mix
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the biscuit mix and 3/4 cup sugar. In a
• small bowl, combine eggs and sour cream; stir into the dry
• ingredients just until combined. Fold in blueberries.
• Fill greased muffin cups three-fourths full. Sprinkle with remaining
• sugar. Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes
• out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire
• rack. Yield: 1 dozen.

The Best Ground Beef Tacos

YIELD: SERVES 4-6

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 to 3 garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced fine (alternately, you can add hot pepper sauce to taste or canned jalapenos OR just leave out the heat altogether, although I think the meat really needs a little kick and adding the jalapeno without seeds didn't make the dish overly spicy)
• Taco shells
• Additional taco garnishes

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add the oil and chopped onion. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking up the meat into smaller chunks, until it is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Off the heat, drain the grease from the meat.
2. Return the skillet to the heat and stir in the garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, salt and pepper. Cook for about 30 seconds and then add the tomato sauce and jalapeno. Turn the heat to low and simmer the meat mixture for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve in taco shells with your choice of toppings.

Delicious Ground Beef {or Turkey} Stroganoff

YIELD: SERVES 4-6

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey
• 1 small onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 8 ounces sliced white button mushrooms
• 4 ounces light cream cheese, cubed
• 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 1/2 cup lowfat milk
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 cup light sour cream
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cooked egg noodles or rice for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large nonstick skillet, cook the meat, onion, garlic, salt and pepper, on medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to break up the meat into small pieces, until the meat is almost cooked through but still slightly pink, about 5 minutes. Drain excess grease. Add sliced mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms are soft and browned and the meat is cooked through, another 5 minutes or so.
2. Add the cubed cream cheese and let the cream cheese melt over medium heat, about 2-3 minutes, before stirring in. Mix gently until the cream cheese is incorporated throughout the meat mixture. In a large liquid measuring cup, combine the beef broth and milk. Whisk in the flour until the mixture is smooth and there are no lumps of flour remaining.
3. Stir the beef broth/milk mixture into the meat and cook over medium or medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Let the mixture bubble and simmer until slightly thickened, 3-4 minutes. Stir in the sour cream and add additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve over cooked egg noodles or hot, cooked rice. Sprinkle each serving with fresh parsley, if desired.

To Die for Crock Pot Roast

By yooper on May 03, 2002

Photo by Marg (CaymanDesigns)

1527 Reviews

• 
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 9 hrs 5 mins
• Servings: 8

About This Recipe

"Amazing flavor, and so simple! No salt needed here. In fact, you may wish to use half the ranch dressing mix to cut back on the saltiness. Found this Crock-Pot pot roast recipe on of a website called www.recipegoldmine.com. It's all the rage there, so I thought I'd try it."

Ingredients

• 1 (4 -5 lb) beef roast, any kind
• 1 (1 1/4 ounce) packages brown gravy mix, dry
• 1 (1 1/4 ounce) packages dried Italian salad dressing mix
• 1 (1 1/4 ounce) packages ranch dressing mix, dry
• 1/2 cup water

Directions

1. Place beef roast in crock pot.
2. Mix the dried mixes together in a bowl and sprinkle over the roast.
3. Pour the water around the roast.
4. Cook on low for 7-9 hours.