Recipes to Try

Carrot Bars

2011-11-29T20:35:00.001-07:00

Carrot Bars

Mix:

4 eggs, beaten

1 ½ c. oil

2 c. sugar

13 oz. pureed baby food carrots (use 4 small plastic containers of the Level 2 baby food)

Add:

2 ½ c. flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

Bake on a greased jelly roll pan at 350 for 30 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

3 ½ c. powdered sugar

½ c. butter, softened

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

½ tsp. vanilla

Cheese Ball

2011-11-29T13:52:00.001-07:00

Cheese Ball
2 – 8oz Cream Cheese (softened)
1 – Small Jar Dried Beef (chopped) – I usually get the Armour brand 2.25 oz jar.
1 – Small bunch Green Onions (chopped)
1-2 tsp Soy Sauce
Chopped Walnuts

Mix beef, onion, and soy sauce in a bowl. Work in cream cheese until well blended. Refrigerate overnight. Form into a ball and roll in walnuts. Serve with crackers.

**You can chop the beef and onions any size you prefer. I usually run them in the food processor until they are chopped fine. Soy sauce is to taste. This cheese ball makes several appearances around Christmas because of its yummy taste, but also because the red and green specks of the beef and onion in the white cream cheese just looks festive

Bacon Cheddar Pinwheels

2011-01-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS:

1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations® refrigerated seamless dough sheet

2 tablespoons ranch dressing

1/4 cup cooked real bacon pieces or 4 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled

1/2 cup finely shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)

1/4 cup chopped green onions (4 medium)

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 350°F.
If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate into 2 long rectangles. Press each into 12x4-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut lengthwise into 2 long rectangles. Press each into 12x4-inch rectangle.
Spread dressing over each rectangle to edges. Sprinkle each with bacon, Cheddar cheese and onions.
Starting with one short side, roll up each rectangle; press edge to seal. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 8 slices; place cut side down on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 12 to 17 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Serve warm.

Chef John's Baked Jalapeño Popper Dip

2011-01-20T15:30:00.001-07:00

Ingredients
1/2 cup seeded and finely chopped fresh jalapeño peppers (about 4 medium)
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayonnaise
1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chili peppers, drained
1/2 cup (2 oz.) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup (2 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
25 Keebler® Club® Original crackers , crushed to 1 cup
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Directions

1. In small skillet cook jalapeño peppers in oil over medium-high heat about 1 minute or until softened. Set aside.

2. In food processor bowl combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, green chili peppers, cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese. Cover and process until smooth. Transfer to bowl. Stir in jalapeño peppers. Spoon into shallow 2-quart casserole or 8 x 8 x 2-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.

3. In small bowl stir together the crushed 25 KEEBLER CLUB Original crackers, Parmesan cheese and butter. Sprinkle over cheese mixture. Bake at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with additional crackers.dkitchen.com).

Crockpot Sugared Almonds

2010-10-17T16:06:00.001-06:00

cooking spray

1 1/2 cups sugar (try not to freak out on me)

3 tablespoons cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

1 egg white

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 1/4 cups whole raw almonds (that's what was in the packages I bought; it's a weird measurement)

aluminum foil or parchment paper

The Directions.

Use a 4-quart slow cooker. Spray the stoneware well with cooking spray. In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Set this bowl aside.

In a larger mixing bowl, whisk together the egg white and vanilla extract. Pour the almonds into this bowl and stir well to coat. Add your cinnamon mixture to the top of the nuts and toss with spoons to fully coat (too many nuts to do the plastic bag toss---you'd have to do batches).

Put the almonds into the slow cooker and cover. Cook on high for 2 hours, stirring every 20-30 minutes or so to keep the almonds on the side of the crock from getting too crispy.

When the nuts are all hot and toasty, let them cool fully on a length of foil or parchment paper. When fully cool, store in an air-tight container.

Holiday Morning Buns

2010-10-11T07:37:00.001-06:00

from King Arthur Flour blog

3 1/2 cups (14 3/4 ounces) all-purpose Flour + 1/2 cup (2 1/4 ounces) cornstarch
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons (7/8 ounce) sugar
2 to 2 1/4 cups heavy cream

Coating
7 tablespoons butter, melted, OR 2 5/8 ounces milk
Cinnamon and sugar for rolling (I just mixed my own together)

Lightly grease a 9″ x 13″ pan, line with parchment, and grease the parchment. Parchment isn’t absolutely necessary, but it makes it easier to get the bubbly, sugary buns out of the pan once they’re baked.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Add 2 cups of the cream all at once, then toss and stir the mixture till the dough comes together. If necessary, add additional cream to make the dough cohesive. Gather the dough in your hands and knead it a few times to make sure there are no dry spots.

Place the cinnamon sugar in a small, shallow bowl or pan; or in a plastic zip-top bag. Break off pieces of dough about the size of a ping pong ball, or about 1 1/8 ounces. Dip each piece in melted butter or milk, then roll or shake in the cinnamon-sugar to coat. Place the cinnamon-coated dough balls into the pan of your choice in a single layer; they’ll be touching one another, which is just fine.

Cover the pan with plastic, and place in the freezer overnight, or for up to a week or so. If freezing longer than overnight wrap the entire pan in plastic wrap, then in foil. Next day, remove the pan from the freezer, and let the buns rest at room temperature while you preheat your oven to 350°F. The buns don’t need to thaw.

If you’re baking the buns immediately (not frozen), bake them for 45 to 50 minutes, till the buns in the center are cooked through. You can asses this by taking a toothpick and actually digging into the center bun to take a look; it should look totally baked, not doughy. If the buns have been frozen, bake them for 65 to 70 minutes, testing for doneness as instructed above. Tent them with aluminum foil after 45 minutes of baking. (I actually forgot the “tenting” step and the buns didn’t get burned – phew!)

Remove from the oven, and serve immediately. Dust with confectioners’ sugar, if desired, right before serving.

Slow Cooker Green Chile-Chicken Enchilada Casserole

2010-10-10T19:57:00.001-06:00

2	cans (4.5 oz each) Old El Paso® chopped green chiles
1	can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
1	can (10 oz) Old El Paso® green enchilada sauce or other green chile enchilada sauce
1/4	cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
12	corn tortillas (6 inch), cut into 3/4-inch strips
3	cups shredded cooked chicken
1	can (15 oz) Progresso® black beans, drained, rinsed
2	cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)
2	large tomatoes, chopped (about 2 cups)
2	cups chopped lettuce
1/2	cup sour cream

Spray 3- to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In cooker, spread 1 can of the green chiles. In medium bowl, mix remaining can of green chiles, the soup, enchilada sauce and mayonnaise.
Arrange 1/3 of the tortilla strips over chiles in cooker. Top with 1 cup of the chicken, 1/2 cup of the beans, 1/2 cup of the cheese and 1 cup of the enchilada sauce mixture, spreading to edges of cooker to completely cover tortilla strips. Repeat layers twice, reserving last 1/2 cup of cheese.
Cover; cook on Low heat setting 6 to 7 hours.
Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Cover; cook about 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Serve with tomatoes, lettuce and sour cream.

Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls

2010-10-01T13:21:00.001-06:00

Ingredients

1 quart Whole Milk
1 cup Vegetable Oil
1 cup Sugar
2 packages Active Dry Yeast
8 cups (Plus 1 Cup Extra, Separated) All-purpose Flour
1 teaspoon (heaping) Baking Powder
1 teaspoon (scant) Baking Soda
1 Tablespoon (heaping) Salt
Plenty Of Melted Butter
2 cups Sugar
Generous Sprinkling Of Cinnamon
_____
MAPLE FROSTING:
1 bag Powdered Sugar
2 teaspoons Maple Flavoring
½ cups Milk
¼ cups Melted Butter
¼ cups Brewed Coffee
⅛ teaspoons Salt

Preparation Instructions

Mix the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a pan. Scald the mixture (heat until just before the boiling point). Turn off heat and leave to cool 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the mixture is lukewarm to warm, but NOT hot, sprinkle in both packages of Active Dry Yeast. Let this sit for a minute. Then add 8 cups of all-purpose flour. Stir mixture together. Cover and let rise for at least an hour.

After rising for at least an hour, add 1 more cup of flour, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir mixture together. (At this point, you could cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you need it – overnight or even a day or two, if necessary. Just keep your eye on it and if it starts to overflow out of the pan, just punch it down).

When ready to prepare rolls: Sprinkle rolling surface generously with flour. Take half the dough and form a rough rectangle. Then roll the dough thin, maintaining a general rectangular shape. Drizzle 1/2 to 1 cup melted butter over the dough. Now sprinkle 1 cup of sugar over the butter followed by a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.

Now, starting at the opposite end, begin rolling the dough in a neat line toward you. Keep the roll relatively tight as you go. Next, pinch the seam of the roll to seal it.

Spread 1 tablespoon of melted butter in a seven inch round foil cake or pie pan. Then begin cutting the rolls approximately ¾ to 1 inch thick and laying them in the buttered pans.

Repeat this process with the other half of the dough. Let the rolls rise for 20 to 30 minutes, then bake at 400 degrees (see note below) until light golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.

For the frosting, mix together all ingredients listed and stir well until smooth. It should be thick but pourable. Taste and adjust as needed. Generously drizzle over the warm rolls. Go crazy and don’t skimp on the frosting.

Note: My rolls don’t work for me at 400 degrees anymore. I now bake them at 375 degrees.

Angel Sugar Cookies

2010-09-24T09:54:00.000-06:00

Prep Time: 10 Minutes | Cook Time: 11 Minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Servings: 18

Print Recipe 3"x5" Cards 4"x6" Cards Full Page

Ingredients

2 whole Large Eggs
1 cup Canola Oil
2 sticks Butter, Softened
1 cup Sugar, Plus Extra For Sprinkling
1 cup Powdered Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
4 cups Plus 2 Tablespoons, All-purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Cream Of Tartar

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together eggs, oil, butter, sugars, and vanilla.

Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Cover and refrigerate dough one hour.

Using a cookie scoop, drop balls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Smear a dab of butter all over the bottom of a glass, then dip the glass in granulated sugar. Use the glass to flatten each ball of dough, dipping again into the sugar each time. Repeat until all are flattened.

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until cookies are just barely turning brown. Don’t overbrown!

Allow to cool before eating. Cookies are ultra crumbly!

Lauren’s Thank-You Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-09-21T10:00:00.001-06:00

Ingredients

* 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
* 3/4 cup Packed Brown Sugar
* 3/4 cup Stick Butter or Margarine, softened
* 1 large Egg
* 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
* 2-1/4 cups Flour
* 1 tsp. Baking Soda
* 1/2 tsp. Salt
* 1 package (12-oz.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large bowl, mix sugars, butter, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt. Add chocolate chips.

Use cookie scoop or spoons to drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 7 to 8 minutes per batch. Cookies should be slightly golden but still pale. Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheet before removing to wire rack.

Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies, unless you have a husband who sneaks half the dough before you can bake it.

Best enjoyed within 48 hours of baking.

Read more: http://thehappyhousewife.com/the-18000-cookie/#ixzz10BFLIi00

Pizza Muffins

2010-09-20T20:40:00.001-06:00

2½ cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

½ teaspoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup diced pepperoni

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

4 green onions, chopped

1 egg, beaten

1½ cups buttermilk (a substition for butter milk is a scant or almost full cup of milk with 1 tablespoon lemon juice)

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Line 2 cupcake pans with paper muffin liners. In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, basil, oregano and sugar. Mix in green onions, diced peperoni and 1 cup cheese. In a smaller bowl beat the egg, then whisk in buttermilk. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and stir to combine thoroughly. Spoon batter into paper-lined muffin cups until half full. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese on top of muffins. Bake at 375ºF for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the muffin comes out clean.

Apple Pull-Apart Bread

2010-09-18T15:29:00.002-06:00

1 pkg. yeast
1 cup warm milk
2 Tbsp. melted margarine
1 egg
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
3 – 3½ cups flour

1 medium tart apple peeled and chopped
¼ cup chopped nuts
½ tsp. cinnamon
2/3 cup sugar

Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar
3 – 4½ tsp. hot water
½ tsp. vanilla extract

In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in milk. Add margarine, egg, sugar, salt, and 3 cups flour; beat until smooth. Add enough flour to form a stiff dough. Knead until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise until doubled, about one hour. Combine apples, nuts, cinnamon, and sugar; set aside. Punch dough down and divide in half. Cut each half into 16 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, pat or roll each piece into a 2½ inch circle. Place one tsp. apple mixture in the center of each circle. Pinch edges together and seal, forming a ball. Dip in melted margarine. In a greased 10 inch tube pan, place 16 balls, seam side down and sprinkle with ¼ cup apple mixture. Layer remaining balls and sprinkle with remaining apple mixture. Cover and let rise about 45 minutes. Bake at 350 for 35 – 40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Combine icing ingredients and drizzle over bread.

Raspberry Crisp

2010-08-11T07:14:00.001-06:00

Ingredients

2-½ cups Raspberries
1 Tablespoon (Heaping) Corn Starch
⅔ cups Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 cup All-purpose Flour
¼ cups Sugar
¼ cups Brown Sugar
⅓ cups Oats
¼ cups Pecans, Chopped
Dash Of Salt
¾ sticks Butter, Cut Into Small Pieces
Whipped Cream Or Vanilla Ice Cream, For Serving

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, combine (rinsed) raspberries, corn starch, 2/3 cups sugar, and vanilla. Stir and set aside.

In a separate bowl (or food processor) combine flour, 1/4 cup sugar, brown sugar, oats, pecans, dash of salt, and butter pieces. Cut together with a pastry cutter (or pulse in food processor) until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Add berry mixture to a small baking dish or pie pan. Sprinkle topping mixture all over the top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until topping is golden brown.

Allow to sit for ten minutes before serving. Scoop out with a spoon and top with sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Magic Vanilla Ice Cream

2010-07-12T15:24:00.001-06:00

from My Kitchen Cafe (www.melskitchencafe.com)

*Makes 1 quart of ice cream

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 ounce white chocolate chips (for best result use Ghirardelli or Guittard brand - white chocolate varies greatly from brand to brand!)

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

pinch of salt

1/4 cup sour cream

1 1/4 cups cold heavy cream

In a large microwave-safe bowl, microwave the sweetened condensed milk and the white chocolate until the chocolate melts, about 1 minute on 50% power. Stir. If the chocolate isn't completely melted, microwave for 20 second intervals at 50% power until the mixture is combined. Set aside and let the mixture cool. When cooled, stir in the vanilla, salt and sour cream. Blend well.

In another bowl, whip the heavy cream to soft peaks with an electric mixer on medium-high speed, about 2 minutes. Whisk 1/3 of the whipped cream into the white chocolate mixture. Using a rubber spatula, fold the rest of the whipped cream into the white chocolate gently until it is fully incorporated.

Place the mixture in an airtight container and freze until firm, at least 6 hours or up to 2 weeks. If you are going to store the ice cream for several days before serving, press plastic wrap or wax paper directly on the surface of the ice cream before freezing it.

Andes Mint Brownies

2010-06-08T07:54:00.000-06:00

*Makes one 9X13-inch pan

1 cup butter (2 sticks)
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cocoa
½ teaspoon salt
1 package Andes mints (24-28 mints)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9X13-inch pan with foil and lightly grease with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa and salt. Set aside.

Unwrap all the mints and coarsely chop. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Remove from the heat and add the sugar, stirring well to combine. Whisk in the vanilla and then the eggs. Blend well.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Gently stir in the chopped Andes mints. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 32-35 minutes, until the brownies are set in the middle but not overbaked. Let cool completely, slice into squares and serve.

Smokin’ Mozzarella Balls

2010-05-29T20:45:00.000-06:00

Vegetable oil for frying

8 oz container Fresh Mozzarella “Ciliegine” (cherry tomato size)

1/2 Cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 egg

2 teaspoons adobo sauce from can of chipotle peppers (add more if you like it spicy)

½ Cup Italian Bread Crumbs

¼ Cup Panko Bread Crumbs

¼ Cup fresh grated parmesan cheese

1 Cup of your favorite marinara or pasta sauce, warmed

1. Pour a couple inches of oil into a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to 350 degrees F. with an appropriate thermometer.

2. Drain liquid from mozzarella balls and pat dry with paper towels. Place flour, salt and pepper into medium size bowl. Place egg and adobo sauce into a second bowl; whisk to combine. Place bread crumbs and parmesan cheese into a 3^rd bowl; mix to combine. Roll mozzarella into flour, then into eggs, then press into bread crumb mixture.

3. Carefully place 4-5 coated balls at a time into hot oil. Use a “spider” to constantly move them around in oil. Cook for 30-60 seconds or until golden. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Continue until all have been fried.

4. Place all balls onto a serving plate along with a bowl of marinara sauce. Serve warm.

4 servings

Lucky Green Velvet Baby Cakes

2010-05-29T20:43:00.001-06:00

1 Box yellow cake mix

4 eggs

1/2 Cup water

1/2 Cup vegetable oil

1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix

1/2 Cup plain yogurt or sour cream

5-8 drops Green decorating paste (food coloring will work, just won’t be as bright green)

Frosting

8 oz softened cream cheese

1 stick softened butter

1 lb powdered sugar

Yellow food coloring or decorating paste is what I used

Gold Pearl Dust or Sprinkles if desired

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a stand or electric mixer, add cake mix, eggs, water, oil, pudding, and yogurt. Beat on medium for 1 1/2 minutes. Slowly beat in 5-8 drops of green decorating paste until you get desired color of green. Scoop batter into paper lined mini cupcake tins. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until cooked through. Let cool completely.

2. To prepare frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Slowly add powdered sugar until creamy and thick. Divide frosting into 2 bowls then add in a few drops of yellow food coloring or decorating paste into one.

3. Frost cupcakes and sprinkle with gold pearl dust or sprinkles if desired.

36 mini cupcakes

Layered Mexican Chicken Rice Bake

2010-05-29T20:32:00.001-06:00

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium white onion, finely chopped

1 anaheim chili pepper (it’s mild), finely diced

1 1/2 Cups chopped sweet peppers

1 1/2 Tablespoons minced fresh garlic

4 Cups cooked/steamed rice

1 Tablespoon ground cumin

2 Cups shredded chicken breast

1/4 teaspoon Lawry’s Garlic Salt

1/2 teaspoon dry Ranch Dressing Seasoning

1/2 Cup prepared Salsa (I used Herdez, mild)

1 can corn, drained

1 can red kidney beans (or any bean of choice), drained

1/2 Cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and peppers for about 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for an additional minute. Stir in cooked rice, reduce heat to low. Transfer mixed rice to a 9×13 inch baking dish.

2. Place chicken breast into a medium skillet over medium heat. Season with Lawry’s, ranch seasoning and salsa; mix and reduce heat to low. Pour corn over rice. Next layer the beans, cilantro, chicken and top with cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted.

3. Serve with hot sauce if desired

8 servings

Oven Fries

2010-05-26T21:51:00.001-06:00

5 large russet potatoes
3 T. oil
Salt and pepper, to taste (I usually use about 1 T. salt and 1 t. pepper)
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese, optional

1. Fill a large bowl halfway full of cold water. Slice the potatoes lengthwise into ovals about a 1/2 inch thick. Then, slice each oval into individual fries. Immediately place the cut fries into the bowl of water. Place the bowl in the refrigerator and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to a few hours.

2. Place 2 cookie sheets in a cold oven and preheat to 400 degrees.

3. Thoroughly drain water from the potatoes and pat dry. Toss with the oil and salt and pepper. Spray the heated cookie sheets with baking spray or lightly brush on some additional oil. Spread the potatoes onto the cookie sheets in a single layer.

4. Bake the fries until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese, if using, and bake an additional 5-8 minutes, until the cheese is caramelized. (If not using Parmesan cheese, flip the fries after 20 minutes and cook an additional 5-8 minutes.)

Salted Caramel Brownies

2010-05-24T08:48:00.000-06:00

FOR THE BROWNIES:
6 ounces, weight Unsweetened Chocolate, Chopped
¾ cups Unsalted Butter, Cut Into Pieces
2 cups Sugar
3 whole Eggs
1 cup All-purpose Flour
_____
FOR THE CARAMEL GLAZE:
½ cups Heavy Cream
2 cups Sugar
½ cups Water
¼ cups Unsalted Butter, Cut Into Pieces
2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
2 packages (about 1 Tablespoon + 1 Teaspoon) Powdered Gelatin Mixed With 1/4 Cup Water

Preparation Instructions

FOR THE BROWNIES:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch pan with butter or baking spray.

In the top of a double boiler over medium heat, melt chocolate and butter, stirring until melted. Add sugar and stir gently until combined. Remove from heat.

In a separate bowl, gently whisk the eggs. Add a small splash of eggs to chocolate mixture, stirring immediately (but still gently). Drizzle in the rest of the eggs, stirring constantly.

Add flour and stir until combined. Pour batter into greased baking pan and spread to even out the surface.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, then remove from oven to cool completely in the pan.

FOR THE CARAMEL GLAZE:

In a small saucepan over low heat, warm heavy cream. Do not boil.

In a separate tall saucepan, combine sugar and water. Do not stir. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Cook until the mixture turns an amber color—not too dark, but definitely amber. Remove pan from stove.

Add warm cream, butter, and salt. Stir gently until mixture is smooth and well combined. When it is smooth and calmed down a bit, pour in gelatin/water mixture and stir.

TO FINISH:

Pour caramel glaze all over completely cooled brownies. Allow to set completely. Cut into small rectangles and serve.

***Lining the pan with foil would allow you to lift the brownies out of the pan after the caramel glaze sets. Then you can use a long, serrated knife and slice more easily.***

Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

2010-05-18T14:14:00.001-06:00

4 c. dry oats (old-fashioned or quick cooking)
1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
3/4 – 1 c. canola oil
4 eggs
1 1/2 c. raisins

1. Dump all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl.

2. Stir, by hand, just until completely moistened and combined.

3. Press into a greased 13×9 casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting into individual bars.

A few notes about this recipe:

~ I’ve always prepared this recipe with 1 full cup of liquid. However, I was running low on oil today and had no applesauce in the house. So, I used 3/4 cup of oil and the bars turned out great! Also, as you can probably tell, I usually use some applesauce in place of some of the oil.

~ If your family isn’t too keen or raisins, you can substitute with other dried fruit. Or, if you’re especially daring, I suppose chocolate chips might work as well.

~ These bars freeze beautifully. I usually wrap the cooled and cut bars individually and then freeze. They can be thawed in about 2 hours, or if you’re in a hurry, cook in the microwave on the defrost cycle for about 20-30 seconds, depending on the size of your bars.

Crockpot Puffy Pizza Casserole

2010-05-11T13:48:00.000-06:00

1 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (1.5) ounce packet of spaghetti mix (if using store-bought, look out for hidden gluten. I like the McCormick brand. You can also make your own using the recipe below)
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup water

for puffy topping:

1 cup all-purpose flour (I use Pamela's Baking Mix as my AP flour)
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
20 pepperoni slices
1/2 cup sliced olives, optional

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Mix
yields 1 packet

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
1 teaspoon granulated white sugar
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons green pepper flakes
3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning

The Directions.

Use a 4 quart slow cooker (if you only have a 6, that's okay, it will just cook faster. Check it after 3 hours on high.)

In a very large skillet, brown beef, onion, and garlic on the stove top. Drain fat, and add spaghetti sauce mix, oregano, tomato sauce, and water. Stir over low heat until tiny bubbles appear. Remove from heat and scoop into the slow cooker (you might want to spray it with cooking spray).

In a mixing bowl, combine the ingredients for your puffy topping: flour, milk, eggs, and cheese. Pour evenly over the top. Place pepperoni slices and olives on top of the topping.

Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, or until the topping has turned golden brown, puffed up, and pulled away from the sides.
I have not tried to cook this yet on low. I'd check it after 6 hours (in a 4-quart, 4 hours in a 6-quart).
If you do opt to cook it on low, I'd love to hear your timing results!

Chicken Tortilla Casserole

2010-05-05T06:53:00.001-06:00

*Notes: Keep the corn tortillas wrapped in plastic or covered with a damp kitchen towel until ready to use – they will dry out quickly. The casserole can be made and refrigerated for up to 2 days. To bake, cover tightly with foil. Bake about 1 hour. Remove foil and bake until cheese has browned, about 10 minutes longer. Cool for 10 minutes.

*Serves 6

2 tablespoons canola oil
1 large onion, chopped fine
2 red bell peppers, stemmed, seeded, and diced medium
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
¾ teaspoon salt
3 medium garlic cloves, finely minced
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, chopped with 2 teaspoons sauce (decrease the amount of sauce to 1 teaspoon if you want it less spicy)
2 (15.5 ounce) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, drained
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts trimmed of fat and cut into bite-size pieces
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons lime juice
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
18 (6-inch) round corn tortillas
Vegetable cooking spray
6 ounces cheddar cheese shredded (about 2 cups)
6 ounces Monterey jack cheese shredded (about 2 cups)

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 450 degrees. Heat the oil in a dutch oven or large pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion, bell peppers, cumin, chili powder, and salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and the onions are golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until golden, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer, whisking often. Add the chipotles with adobo sauce, beans, and tomatoes; simmer until the flavors have blended about 5 minutes. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Stir in ¼ cup cilantro, the lime juice and pepper.

Place a damp paper towel on the bottom and top of the corn tortilla stack. Microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute until they are soft and pliable.

Toss the cheeses together in a medium bowl. Spread 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture in a lightly greased 9X13 inch dish. Layer 6 tortillas on top of the filling, overlapping as needed, and sprinkle with 1 ½ cups of the cheese. Repeat the process to form a second layer.

Spread the remaining filling in the baking dish. Cut the remaining 6 tortillas into quarters and arrange over the top and finish off with the remaining cheese. Bake until the cheese is golden brown and the casserole is bubbling, about 15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro before serving. Serve with additional accompaniments, such as salsa, diced avocado, sour cream or sliced green onions. The casserole can be made and refrigerated for up to 2 days. To bake, cover tightly with foil. Bake about 1 hour. Remove foil and bake until cheese has browned, about 10 minutes longer. Cool for 10 minutes.

Cheddar and Herb Biscuits

2010-03-25T07:35:00.000-06:00

Printable Version
Printable Version with Picture

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons shortening
3 tablespoons butter, cold
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/4 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, garlic powder and salt. Cut in shortening and butter until coarse crumbs are formed. Lightly mix in grated cheese. Mix in buttermilk just until moist (dry spots here and there are ok – the biscuits will be tough if they are overmixed). Drop the biscuits onto a greased or lined baking sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until browned and golden. While the biscuits are baking, in a small bowl combine three tablespoons melted butter, 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes, 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder and a pinch of salt. Right when the biscuits come out of the oven, brush the butter/herb mixture over the biscuits evenly (alternately, you can dip the top of the biscuit into the butter mixture). Serve immediately.

Idle Hand Bars (Sweet & Salty)

2010-03-03T08:23:00.000-07:00

½ cups Unsalted Butter

¼ cups Sugar
5 Tablespoons Cocoa
1 whole Egg Beaten
1-¼ cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
½ cups Pecans, Finely Chopped
¼ cups Hazelnuts, Finely Chopped
½ cups Unsalted Butter, Melted And Cooled Slightly
⅔ cups Powdered Sugar
1 cup Smooth, Natural Peanut Butter (no Salt Added)
½ teaspoons Salt
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
5 ounces, weight Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter
Pink Himalayan Salt

Preparation Instructions

1. In double boiler (or a bowl resting over a pot of lightly simmering water), melt the butter, sugar and cocoa.

2. While still over water, add egg and beat to combine (will thicken quite a bit here). Remove from heat and add graham cracker crumbs and nuts.

3. Press into an 8 x 8 cake pan. Set aside.

4. Add peanut butter and butter together in small bowl.

5. Mix in sugar, salt and vanilla to form a thick paste.

6. Dump onto base layer and smooth over, patting down to make a flat, even layer.

7. In double boiler (or microwave), melt butter and chocolate chips together. Stir until completely dissolved and smooth.

8. Pour over peanut butter layer and spread out evenly.

9. Cool in fridge for about 5 minutes (should still be slightly soft on top but not warm).

10. Sprinkle, lightly, with Himalayan salt. Return to fridge (or freezer, if you’re in a hurry like I was), and let cool completely to become hard.

11. Cut into small squares and don’t say I didn’t warn you. These things are addictive.

Magic Peanut Butter Middles

2010-03-03T08:20:00.001-07:00

FOR THE COOKIES:

1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
½ cups Cocoa Powder
½ teaspoons Baking Soda
½ cups White Sugar
½ cups Packed Brown Sugar
½ cups Butter
¼ cups Peanut Butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 whole Egg
_____
FOR THE PEANUT BUTTER FILLING:
¾ cups Powdered Sugar
¾ cups Peanut Butter

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda. In a large bowl, beat together the sugars, butter, and 1/4 cup of peanut butter until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and egg. Slowly mix in the flour mixture. Set aside.

For the peanut butter filling, combine confectioners’ sugar and 3/4 cup peanut butter. Beat together well. Roll filling into 30 small balls. Try to keep the balls all the same size—around 1 inch.

For each cookie, use 1 tablespoon of chocolate dough and roll into a ball. It helps to flour your hands first. Squish the ball of chocolate dough flat and place a peanut butter ball in the center. Wrap the chocolate dough up and around the peanut butter ball to completely cover. Place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. Dip the bottom of a glass into white sugar and use the cup to lightly flatten the cookie balls. Bake for 7-9 minutes.

Bacon, Cheese & Egg Biscuit Cups

2010-03-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

For Biscuit Dough:

2 1/2 c. flour
2 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 T. sugar
1/2 c. butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 c. milk
1 egg, slightly beaten

1. In a large bowl, whisk or sift together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in milk and egg until dough comes together. Knead a few times by hand and set aside.

For Filling:

6 eggs
3 oz. cream cheese
1/2 c. milk
1 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
To taste: hot sauce, garlic powder, salt, pepper…or any other seasonings you’d like to add

1. Whisk eggs in a large bowl. Stir in cream cheese and milk until smooth. Add other ingredients and stir to combine.

To assemble:

1. Using about 2 T. of biscuit dough at a time, press into the bottom, and 3/4 of the way up the sides, of lightly greased muffin tins. Pre-bake at 400 degrees for 3 minutes.
2. Pour 1/4 c. egg mixture into each pre-baked biscuit cup and bake for 12-15 minutes longer, until eggs are completely set and biscuit cups are slightly browned.

Makhani Chicken

2010-02-09T11:35:00.000-07:00

4 pieces Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
5 cloves Garlic, Minced
1 teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoons Black Pepper
½ teaspoons Cayenne Pepper
¼ teaspoons Ground Coriander
¼ teaspoons Cumin
¼ teaspoons Cardamom
1 whole Lime, Juiced
1 whole Onion, Diced
¼ cups Butter
1 can (14.5 Oz. Can) Tomato Sauce
1 can (14.5 Oz. Can) Petite Diced Tomatoes
1 pint Whipping Cream
1 bunch Chopped Cilantro, to taste
2 cups Basmati Rice (or However Much You Want)

Preparation Instructions

Combine first 9 ingredients and marinate overnight.

Saute the onion in the butter until soft. Add marinated chicken and cook about 10 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Cook for 30 minutes over medium-low heat with the lid on. Add the whipping cream (I have used light cream or half-and-half also) and cilantro just before serving over Basmati rice.

Note: this is a little spicy, but you can cut back on the cayenne if you want.

Pretzels

2010-02-04T07:02:00.001-07:00

Dough:
2 1/2 cups (10 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
7/8 to 1 cup (7 to 8 ounces) warm water*

Topping:
1/2 cup (4 ounces) warm water
2 tablespoons baking soda
Coarse salt (optional)
3 tablespoons butter, melted

Place all of the dough ingredients into a bowl and beat until well combined. Knead the dough, by hand or machine, for about 5 minutes, until it is soft, smooth, and quite slack. Lightly flour the dough and place it in a plastic bag; close the bag, leaving room for the dough to expand, and let it rest for 30 minutes (see pictures below).

Preheat your oven to 500°F. Prepare two baking sheets by spraying them with vegetable oil spray, or lining them with parchment paper.

Transfer the dough to a lightly greased work surface, and divide it into eight equal pieces (about 70g, or 2 1/2 ounces, each). Allow the pieces to rest, uncovered, for 5 minutes. While the dough is resting, combine the 1/2 cup warm water and the baking soda, and place it in a shallow bowl or pie plate. Make sure the baking soda is thoroughly dissolved; if it isn't, it will make your pretzels splotchy.

Roll each piece of dough into a long, thin rope (about 28 to 30 inches long), and twist each rope into a pretzel. Dip each pretzel in the baking soda wash (this will give the pretzels a nice, golden-brown color), and place them on the baking sheets. Sprinkle them lightly with coarse, kosher, or pretzel salt. Allow them to rest, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

Bake the pretzels for 8 to 9 minutes, or until they're golden brown. I only bake one baking sheet at a time and let the other rest while the first is in the oven.

Remove the pretzels from the oven, and brush them thoroughly with the melted butter. Keep brushing the butter on until you've used it all up; it may seem like a lot, but that's what gives these pretzels their ethereal taste. Eat the pretzels warm, or reheat them in an oven or microwave.

*Use the greater amount in the winter, the lesser amount in the summer, and somewhere in between in the spring and fall. Your goal is a soft dough.

The Ultimate Breakfast Casserole - Crockpot

2010-02-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

12 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
4 cups toasted (or stale) bread cubes (I used Pamela's Amazing Wheat Free bread)
2 cups shredded cheese (I used a 4 cheese Mexican blend)
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
8 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk (I used fat free cow's, any would work just fine)
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

The Directions.

Use a 6 quart slow cooker. This makes a lot! Cook bacon to desired crispyness, and toast the bread. Set these aside. Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray, and set that aside, too.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded cheese, mushrooms, eggs, milk, salt, and pepper.

Put the bread cubes into the bottom of your sprayed slow cooker, and pour the egg mixture evenly over the entire thing. Place bacon pieces on top.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until eggs have set, or on high for about 3-4 hours. When the eggs have completely set, and your casserole has begun to brown on top and pull away from the sides, take the lid off the cooker and let the steam and moisture evaporate for about 15 minutes before serving.

Refried Beans

2010-01-29T06:53:00.002-07:00

To make refried beans, purchase a bag of dried pinto beans. Soak all day and then cook overnight on low in the crock pot with lots of water. In the morning, drain off most of the water and then put in the fridge to cool. It is important that you fry the beans while they are cold. After the beans have cooled add a small amount of butter or bacon grease to a frying pan.

Then add the cold cooked beans. The amount of liquid in the beans is up to you. The more liquid the soupier the beans.

Cook on a medium heat. While beans are cooking start to mash with a potato masher.

Continue to mash until they are the desired consistency. Your beans should be simmering as you are mashing. Mix in a small amount of salt. I don’t have a measurement because it is really to your taste. If your beans are too runny cook a little longer and the liquid will boil off.

Serve.

We used these beans on open tacos.

If you like to freeze your meals, freeze your beans after they have been cooked in the crock pot but before they have been fried. Thaw in the fridge, fry and serve.

Bread Machine Buttery Rolls

2010-01-13T16:35:00.001-07:00

1 cup warm milk (70-80 degrees)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar (I used sucanat.)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups flour (I used half fresh-ground whole-wheat and half unbleached flour.)
2 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast

Add ingredients in the order list to your bread machine. Run on dough cycle. When dough is complete, divide into 20-24 portions and shape into balls.

Place on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise for 15 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 13-16 minutes until golden brown. Yield: 20-24 rolls

The only thing I think I'll do differently next time is try adding in a little more sucanat or brushing the rolls with a honey/butter mixture as soon as they come out of the oven. My husband and I both thought they would be even yummier if they were a little sweeter.

Yummy Rolls

2010-01-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

2 c. whole milk (if you're in a pinch, you can use 2%, but whole is best. Don't use 1% or skim)
½ c. + 1 Tbsp. sugar, divided
1/3 c. (5 1/3 Tbsp.) butter
2 tsp. Kosher salt
2 pkgs. active dry yeast (or 4 1/2 tsp.), preferably bread machine yeast
2/3 c. warm (105-115-degree) water
8-9 c. all-purpose flour
3 beaten eggs

Combine milk, 1/2 c. sugar, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until butter melts. It's salty. It's sweet. Yum.

Remove from heat. Allow to cool to lukewarm. I usually rub some ice cubes along the sides of the pan or pop the entire pan in a sink full of ice cubes to cool the mixture down because this step can take forever. This step is really important because if the mixture is too hot, it will kill the yeast.

While the milk mixture is cooling, dissolve the yeast and 1 Tbsp. sugar in warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes. If the yeast hasn't bubbled, you'll need to repeat this step.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 c. flour and milk mixture. Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Add yeast mixture and beat on high for 3 minutes.

Add beaten eggs. Why should you beat your eggs first? Same reason you should combine your dry ingredients before adding them to moist ingredients when making cookies and cakes--it ensures everything is well-mixed and can be evenly-distributed through your dough or batter. If you add the whole eggs, your dough may not be as consistent.

Stir in as much remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough. This dough should be very soft--it will be coming away from the sides of the bowl, but it will still stick to your finger when you touch it. Don't worry, it will firm up during the rising process. Part of what makes these rolls so good is that they're so soft and light; if you add too much flour, they will be heavy and dense. Place the bowl in a warm place and cover with a clean towel; allow to rise 1 hour.

Punch down dough. Lightly flour your work surface and turn dough out onto surface. Divide in half.

Spray 2 9x13 glass pans with cooking spray. Roll first portion of dough into a rectangle and then cut it into 12 equal-sized pieces. I like to use a pizza cutter because it has a blade on each side, so it cuts right through dough without sticking to the blade. This dough should be very easy to work with, almost like playdough. Shape each piece into a ball and place in prepared pan. Repeat with remaining dough in the second pan.

Cover with a clean cloth and allow to rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. When dough has about 15-20 minutes to go (depending on your oven), preheat oven to 375.

Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden-brown. When done, remove from oven. Rub a stick of cold butter over the tops of the rolls. You must now eat one. Now. While it's hot. Then pop the rest into a bowl and no one will ever know that you cheated.

Ice Cream Pie with Easy Caramel Sauce

2010-01-12T09:08:00.001-07:00

Prep Time: 25 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Difficulty: Intermediate
Servings: 8
Ingredients
Caramel Sauce
4 Tablespoons Butter
1 cup Brown Sugar, Packed
½ cups Half-and-half
Pinch Of Salt
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
Crust
¼ cups Egg Whites
¼ teaspoons Salt
¼ cups Sugar
1 cup Pecans, Finely Chopped
Filling *
2 pints Ice Cream (1 Pint Each Of Different Flavors)
Preparation Instructions
To make the caramel sauce:
Mix butter, brown sugar, half & half, and salt in a saucepan over medium low heat. Cook while whisking gently for 5 to 7 minutes, until thicker. Add vanilla and cook another minute to thicken further. Turn off heat and pour sauce into a jar. Refrigerate until cold.
To make the crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat egg whites until frothy. Add sugar and salt and beat on high until stiff. Fold in nuts. Spread mixture all over the bottom and sides of a non-glass pie pan, making sure to adequately coat the sides. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, watching toward the end to make sure crust doesn’t get too brown. Remove from oven when crust is golden brown. Allow crust to cook completely.
When crust is cool, remove ice cream from freezer. Allow to soften. When soft, spread one pint of ice cream (I used Butter Brickle) over the bottom of the crust. Spread the other pint (I used Vanilla Bean) over the first flavor. Cover with foil and freeze until very hard.
To serve, cut slices of pie and serve on individual plates with cold caramel sauce spooned over the top. *Note that the crust will be a bit sticky…but it’s oh, so good!

Chocolate Pecan Crumb Bars

2009-12-17T13:43:00.001-07:00

1 c. butter (no substitutes)
2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
2 c. chocolate chips, reserve 1/2 c.
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. chopped pecans

Beat butter until creamy. Add flour and sugar, beat until crumbly. Press 2 c. (reserve the rest) crumb mixture onto the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan.

Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes (until edges are golden).

In a small saucepan, warm (on low) 1 1/2 c. chocolate chips and condensed milk until chips are melted. Stir in vanilla and spread over hot crust.

Stir pecans and remaining chocolate chips into the rest of the crumb mixture. Sprinkle over chocolate filling. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.

** These are very rich. I highly recommend cutting them small. I either cut 8×4 for 32 pieces (easier to measure), or 8×5 for 40 pieces.

Crockpot Green Pepper Chicken

2009-12-16T10:27:00.001-07:00

3 chicken breast halves
2 large green bell peppers, seeded and chopped
1 (7-ounce) can whole or diced green chiles (mine were mild)
1/2 teaspoon basil
1 tablespoon dried minced onion, or 1 large yellow onion, diced finely
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup sour cream (to add before serving)
corn tortillas, optional

The Directions.

I used a 4 quart slow cooker. Put the chicken into the bottom of the cooker, and add the bell peppers and the whole can of chiles. Add basil, onion, salt, and pepper. Stir a bit to combine. Pour in the 1/4 cup of water. Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours, or on high for 3-4.

Before serving, use tongs to remove the chicken, and set aside. Using an immersible blender, blend the peppers and sauce left at the bottom of the slow cooker. If you don't have an immersible blender, carefully(!) pour the slow cooker contents into a traditional stand blender and pulse until fully combined. Pour back into the cooker.

Stir in sour cream until melted. If you don't have sour cream in the house, plain yogurt or cream cheese would work just fine---this is only to thicken the sauce a bit and to mellow out the peppers and chile flavor.

Slice chicken, and return to the cooker. Set to high for 20-30 minutes, or until your dinner is fully hot. Serve the meat in corn tortillas, or over rice.

Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken Stacks

2009-11-24T07:20:00.000-07:00

2 cups frozen corn
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 large frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
1 1/2 cups salsa

Lightly grease the bottom and sides of the slow cooker. Pour frozen corn into the bottom of the slow cooker and place the frozen chicken breasts on top. Cover with beans and salsa. Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours. Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred with forks. Return to the slow cooker and stir until the chicken, corn, beans and salsa are combined.

Serve on a bed of tortilla chips and top with additional garnishes: lettuce, tomato, avocado, sour cream, cheese, cilantro, lime wedges, etc.

Chicken & Cheese Manicotti

2009-11-22T20:17:00.001-07:00

Chicken & Cheese Manicotti

1 box manicotti – cooked, drained and rinsed with cold water
1/2 lb. chicken, fully cooked and cubed (I used 2 chicken breasts, but this would be a great dish to use up any leftover chicken you might have on hand.)
1 15 oz. container ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1 c. frozen spinach
1 t. Italian seasoning
1 t. salt
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/8 t. nutmeg
3 T. butter or margarine
3 T. flour
1/2 c. chicken stock
1 c. milk
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

1. In a large bowl, combine chicken, ricotta, spinach, Parmesan cheese and seasonings.

2. Stir to combine and set aside.

3. Meanwhile, melt butter or margarine in a small saucepan. Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in chicken stock and milk. Bring to a slow boil until thickened slightly, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 c. mozzarella cheese.

4. Pour half of the sauce into the bottom of a 13×9 casserole dish. Fill manicotti with chicken and ricotta filling. (An easy tip for filling manicotti – use a small spoon and fill to the middle of the noodle from one side. Then turn the noodle over and fill the remaining half.)

5. Layer filled manicotti into the casserole dish. Pour remaining sauce on top and then add remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly and cheese is melted.

With all of the filling work involved, this dish probably doesn’t qualify as quick and easy. But it’s definitely stolen moments friendly in that it can be fully assembled whenever you have time, up to 24 hours before baking.

Zucchini Soup

2009-11-10T13:25:00.001-07:00

The soup is incredibly easy to make. In a large pot, I added two tbs olive oil and a quarter onion diced and cooked until translucent. To this I added 8 cups of cubed zucchini and 4 cups of water plus two chicken bouillons. Bring to a simmer and let cook until the zucchini is cooked through. Then I turned into puree in the food processor. I returned this to the pot and added one can of fat free evaporated milk. This makes the soup “creamy” while being “waist” friendly. Add salt and pepper to taste and cooked until warm.

Zucchini rolls

2009-11-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

1 cup coarsely grated zucchini
1/2 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 package rapid-rise dry yeast
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup warm water (120-130F)
1 tbsp vegetable oil.

In a colander, combine the zucchini and salt and set aside for 30 minutes. In a large bowl combine the 3 cups of flour, sugar, yeast and all but one tbsp of the cheese. Press the zucchini to drain well. Add zucchini to flour mixture and combine evenly. Stir in water and oil and mix until you have a soft and manageable dough. Turn into floured surface and knead until dough is smooth and elastic. Use as much of remaining flour as necessary. Shape dough into ball and place in lightly oiled bowl (I used Pam). Cover with clean cloth and set in warm place for 20 minutes. Meanwhile spray with Pam a 12 muffin-pan. Punch the dough down and divide into 12 pieces. For clover leaf rolls like the ones I made, divide each piece into thirds and make three small balls and place balls into a muffin-pan cup. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Cover the pan with a clean cloth and let rise in warm draft-free place until rolls double in size or around 40 minutes. Bake at 400F for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown and sound hollow when tapped with a finger tip.

Slow-Cooked Pepper Steak

2009-11-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

Description:

A flavorful beef steak with bell peppers, prepared in a slow cooker

Yield:

6-8 servings

Ingredients:

2 pounds inexpensive beef steak
2 tablespoons oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
4 large tomatoes, washed and coarsely chopped
2 large bell peppers (any color), cut into thin strips
1/2 cup cold water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Hot cooked rice, for serving

Instructions:

1. Trim fat from meat and cut into thin strips. Brown meat in oil in skillet. Transfer to a slow cooker.

2. Combine soy sauce, onion, garlic, sugar, salt, pepper, and ginger. Pour over beef. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours, or until the meat is tender.

3. Add tomatoes and green peppers, stirring into beef mixture. Continue cooking on low for another 60-90 minutes, until peppers are to desired tenderness.

4. Combine the cold water and cornstarch in a small bowl, until smooth; stir into slow cooker and cook on high until thickened.

5. Serve over hot cooked rice.

Preparation Time:

20-30 minutes

Cooking Time:

7-8 hours

Breadsticks

2009-10-23T10:35:00.001-06:00

1 ½ cups warm water
1 tablespoon instant yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
3 ½ cups flour (I usually use a combination of unbleached all-purpose flour and white whole wheat flour but use whatever you have on hand!)
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, melted (for the baking sheet)

Mix all ingredients (except melted butter) in a large bowl or electric mixer and knead for three minutes. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spread melted butter onto an 11X17-inch baking sheet. Roll out the breadstick dough about 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick and cut into strips with a pizza cutter. Twist slightly if desired and place about 1/2-inch apart on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with garlic salt, herbs of choice (I vary this depending on my mood but it usually consists of rosemary, basil, or thyme in some form and crushed finely) and parmesan cheese. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise 30 minutes. Bake 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees until golden brown.

Stuffed Bread Sticks

2009-10-21T11:53:00.000-06:00

1 t. yeast
1 t. sugar
3/4 c. warm water
1/4 c. olive oil
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. Italian seasoning, optional
2-3 c. flour
8 mozzarella string cheese sticks, cut in half
32 slices pepperoni
2 T. butter or margarine, melted
Optional topping: 2 t. Parmesan cheese, 1/2 t. each garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt

1. Let yeast and sugar dissolve in warm water in a large mixing bowl for about 5 minutes. Add olive oil, 1/2 t. salt and optional 1/2 t. Italian seasoning. Slowly add the flour until completely combined and dough is no longer sticky. Knead for 5 minutes, place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise for 1 hour.

2. On a floured surface, roll dough into a rectangle. (I don’t have any good measurements for you here besides saying not too thin and not too think.) Cut into 16 squares. At the edge of each square, place one piece of mozzarella and two pieces of pepperoni. Roll up and tuck in sides. Be sure to seal well to cut down on cheese melting out during the baking process. Place on a baking sheet. Repeat until done.

3. Drizzle or brush melted butter or margarine over each mini bread stick. If desired, combine the optional topping ingredients in a small bowl and sprinkle on top. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.

I made these into mini bread sticks because I thought that would be fun for the kids. However, you can definitely make full sized ones and keep the string cheese whole.

Tips for freezing pizza dough -

Several people have asked how I freeze pizza dough. I bet there are tons of different answers to this question, so this is just what works best for me.

I prepare the dough as directed and let it rise. Then I punch it down and divide into portions, if needed. I flatten each portion into a disc shape, then I place it in a freezer bag and freeze.

When I’m ready to use the dough, I remove it from the plastic bag and place in an oiled bowl. I cover it with a towel until it’s completely thawed and then use as if fresh. I haven’t run into any problems with doing it this way and the dough always tastes as good as fresh.

My Go-To Cornbread

2009-10-13T19:54:00.004-06:00

Printable Version

½ cup cornmeal
1 ½ cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup oil
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 ¼ cup milk

Add dry ingredients, make a well and add oil, butter, eggs, and milk into the center. Stir until just mixed (batter will be runny - don't be alarmed!). Bake in an 8” square pan at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. This doubles perfectly for a 9X13-inch pan.

Cheese Rolls with Buttery Parmesan Crust

2009-10-13T19:54:00.003-06:00

Printable Version

**If you double the recipe, don't double the amount of yeast - it should stay the same as in the original recipe**

Dough:
4 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 cup lukewarm milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
5-6 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Filling:
8 ounces cheddar or pepperjack cheese, cut into 15 cubes

Topping:
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup Italian-flavored bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water

For the dough, combine all the ingredients and mix and knead until you have a soft, elastic dough (don't add too much flour - the key to soft dinner rolls is a soft dough!). Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover, letting rise in a warm place for 20-30 minutes.

Prepare a 9X13-inch pan by lightly greasing the bottom and sides with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Deflate the dough and divide into 15 pieces. Shape the pieces of dough into rounds and punch a cube of cheese from the bottom up into the center of each piece. Pinch the dough tightly together to close the bottom. Place the rolls, pinched side down, in the prepared baking pan. Cover and let rise again for another 15 to 20 minutes, or until nearly doubled.

While the rolls are rising, melt the butter and stir in bread crumbs and parmesan cheese. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. When the rolls have risen, brush the tops with the egg yolk beaten with water. Sprinkle tops of rolls liberally with the bread crumb mixture. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the tops of the rolls are nicely browned. Remove from the pan immediately and cool on a rack. Serve warm.

Lion House Dinner Rolls

2009-10-13T19:54:00.001-06:00

from The Lion House

2 tablespoons active-dry yeast
2 cups warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter or shortening
1 egg
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk
5-6 cups flour

In the large bowl of an electric mixer, combine yeast and water. Let stand 5 minutes. Add sugar, shortening, salt, dry milk, 2 cups flour and egg. Beat together until very smooth. Add remaining flour gradually (about 1/2 cup at a time) until a soft but not sticky dough is formed. Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and knead until it is smooth and satiny (I simply use my very-well-loved Bosch mixer to knead for me). Return dough to an oiled bowl and cover to let rise until doubled.

Separate dough into three portions. Roll out each portion into a circle and cut into 8 pie-shaped pieces (or 12 pieces if you want smaller rolls). Roll up crescent-style and place on baking sheet (I line mine with a silpat liner or parchment paper). Cover with saran wrap that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes - until nicely browned. Makes 2-3 dozen rolls.

*Freezable: I freeze the baked rolls in freezer-safe ziploc bags. I microwave the frozen rolls (about 6 at a time) for 2 minutes before serving.

French Bread Rolls

2009-10-13T19:53:00.001-06:00

adapted from allrecipes.com

1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups all-purpose flour

In a large bowl, stir together warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

To the yeast mixture, add the oil, salt, and 2 cups flour. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough has pulled away from the sides of the bowl. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat. Cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Deflate the dough, and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 12-14 equal pieces, and form into round balls. Place on lightly greased baking sheets at least 2 inches apart. Cover the rolls with a damp cloth (or greased saran wrap), and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Bake for 12-13 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

*Can freeze the rolls after baking - microwave on high for 2 minutes before serving.

Parker House Rolls

2009-10-13T19:52:00.000-06:00

*Makes enough rolls for one 11X17-inch sheet pan

1/2 cup sugar
2 cups hot water
1/2 cup oil
6 - 7 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 tablespoons instant yeast

1/4 cup butter, melted, for shaping rolls

Add hot water to sugar and oil and beat with electric mixer (or by hand). Add eggs and salt; beat well. When mixture is lukewarm, add yeast and keep beating. Add flour until a soft dough forms. Do not knead. Let rise in covered, oil bowl for one hour.

Form rolls. To make Parker House rolls, roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness and cut circles with round cutter, about 3 inches in diameter. Holding dough circle by the edge, dip both sides into melted butter. Fold in half on baking sheet and pinch edges together to seal (don't be afraid of this step - use your index and middle finger to indent the edges of the roll together all the way to the bottom of the sheet pan otherwise they will pop open while baking). Arrange folded dough in rows in pan, each nearly touching the other. Cover and let rise for 30-45 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Brush tops with melted butter, if desired.

Blueberry Breakfast Crumble

2009-10-05T21:29:00.000-06:00

2 c. oats
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. sliced almonds, optional
1/4 c. flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. butter or margarine, melted
2 c. blueberries, fresh or frozen
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. flour
1 t. almond or vanilla extract
1 c. flour
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 c. butter or margarine, cut into small pieces

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, 1/2 c. brown sugar, 1/4 c. sliced almonds, 1/4 c. flour, baking soda and 1/2 t. cinnamon. Pour in melted butter or margarine and stir to combine. Press into 2 greased cake pans (or 1 13×9 casserole dish).

2. In the same bowl, toss blueberries with sugar, 1/4 c. flour and almond or vanilla extract. Spread onto pressed crust.

3. Wipe out bowl and combine 1 c. flour, 1/2 c. brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter or margarine until crumbly. Sprinkle over the blueberries.

4. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-35 minutes, until set and golden brown on top.

--cut into bars for quick breakfast

stuffed pepper boats

2009-09-24T15:11:00.001-06:00

3 medium to large green peppers
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup instant rice
1-26oz. jar spaghetti sauce
1 envelope onion soup mix
8oz. shredded mozarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350. While oven is preheating, cut peppers in half vertically. Remove seeds, stems, and insides of peppers. Wash and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine uncooked ground beef, onion soup mix, and rice. Blend by hand until mixed well. Put cut peppers in 11x15 baking dish in two horizontal rows. Stuff each pepper with ground beef mixture. After stuffing peppers, pour entire jar of spaghetti sauce over them. Top with shredded mozarella cheese. Cover with aluminum foil, and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Zucchini Muffins

2009-09-18T10:25:00.001-06:00

1-⅓ cup Sugar
½ cups Oil
2 teaspoons Vanilla
2 whole Eggs
2 cups Flour
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
1-½ teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
2 cups Shredded Zucchini
1 cup Chopped Walnuts

Preparation Instructions

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease bottoms of muffin cups. Mix sugar, oil, vanilla and eggs in a large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients just until combined. Divide batter into 12 regular or 24 mini muffin cups. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes for regular muffins or 12 to 15 minutes for mini muffins or until golden brown.

Apple Cake in an Iron Skillet

2009-09-15T10:07:00.001-06:00

Apple Cake in an Iron Skillet
Adapted from Sara Moulton

4 to 5 small Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into six equal slices
1 3/4 sticks butter
3/4 cup sugar

1 stick butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 small Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and chopped finely

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a 9 to 10-inch skillet, melt butter over low heat. Add 3/4 cup sugar to the pan and stir around, then place apple slices, wedge side down, in the pan. Don’t pack them too tightly, but try not to leave overly large gaps. Allow this to cook over low/medium-low heat while you make the cake batter.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat 1 stick of butter and 2/3 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla and eggs. Add sour cream and mix well. Gradually add flour mixture until just combined. Gently stir in 1 chopped apple.

Remove skillet from heat. Spoon batter over the top, then spread gently so batter is evenly distributed. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until cake is golden brown and bubbly. Allow cake to sit in skillet for five minutes, then invert onto a serving plate. Don’t worry if some of the topping isn’t perfect—it’ll taste perfect!

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Pepper Jack Cheesy Macaroni

2009-09-13T19:23:00.002-06:00

2 cups uncooked macaroni
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups pepper jack cheese (divided)
1-12 oz. can evaporated milk
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2-1 cup broken tortilla chips
1/4-1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper

-Preheat oven to 350*. Lightly grease 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Cook macaroni, drain, and return to pan. Add cheddar cheese, 1 1/2 cup pepper jack, pepper, and evaporated milk to macaroni; stir until combined. Pour into prepared dish. Combine remaining pepper jack, tortilla chips, and red pepper flake in bowl. Mix. Sprinkle over top. Cover tightly with foil. Bake 20 minutes then remove foil and cook an additional 10 minutes until golden brown.

Double Chip Cookies

2009-09-09T21:12:00.001-06:00

1 c. butter or margarine
1 1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
1/2 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla
1 egg
2 c. flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
2 c. chocolate chips or 1 c. chocolate chips & 1 c. peanut butter chips

1. Cream together butter or margarine and sugars until fluffy. Add vanilla and egg and beat until well combined.

2. In a separate bowl, add flour, baking soda and salt. Whisk together. Add to mixing bowl and mix just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips or chocolate chips and peanut butter chips.

3. Scoop about 1 rounded tablespoon of dough for each cookie onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 14-17 minutes, rotating cookie sheets halfway through the baking time.

Zucchini Muffins

2009-09-09T12:38:00.002-06:00

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup nonfat milk
2 egg whites (or 1 whole egg)
1/4 cup vegetable oil (or unsweetened applesauce)
1/2 cup brown sugar (optional)
1/4 cup honey
1 cup grated zucchini

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease muffin tins lightly with oil or spray with a non-stick cooking spray.
Combine whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt and ground cinnamon, mix thoroughly.
Mix the milk, slightly beaten egg whites, oil, honey and shredded zucchini together. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir until just barely moistened. Batter should be lumpy. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full with batter.
Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

Bacon Onion Cheddar Biscuits

2009-09-07T09:22:00.000-06:00

10 slices thick cut bacon, fried and crumbled
1 cup finely diced onion
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vegetable shortening (Crisco, etc.)
10 tablespoons milk (whole milk is best)
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg
1 heaping cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry cutter, cut in shortening until all combined. Combine milk, oil, and egg in a separate bowl. Whisk together.
Combine flour mixture, milk mixture, bacon, onions, and cheddar cheese in a large bowl. Stir gently until all combined.
Spoon batter into greased muffin tins.
Bake for 20 to 22 minutes on 375 until golden
Remove from pan and serve warm.

Peanut Butter Cookie Candy Bars

2009-09-06T13:48:00.000-06:00

Cookie Base
1	pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® peanut butter cookie mix
3	tablespoons vegetable oil
1	tablespoon water
1	egg
Filling
1/3	cup light corn syrup
3	tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
3	tablespoons peanut butter
1	tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons water
1 1/4	teaspoons vanilla
	Dash salt
3 1/2	cups powdered sugar
Caramel Layer
1	bag (14 oz) caramels, unwrapped
2	tablespoons water
1 1/2	cups unsalted dry-roasted peanuts
Topping
1	bag (11.5 oz) milk chocolate chips (2 cups)

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$1.00 off TWO Betty Crocker® Cookie Mixes

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About Concordance™

1.	Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until soft dough forms. Press dough in bottom of pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
2.	In large bowl, beat all filling ingredients except powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy and smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until well blended (filling will be thick). Press filling over cookie base. Refrigerate while preparing caramel layer.
3.	In 2-quart saucepan, heat caramels and 2 tablespoons water over low heat, stirring constantly, until caramels are melted. Stir in peanuts. Spread evenly over filling. Refrigerate about 15 minutes or until caramel layer is firm.
4.	In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips uncovered on High 1 to 2 minutes, stirring once, until melted. Spread evenly over caramel layer. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until chocolate is set. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered at room temperature.

Chocolate-Stuffed Peanut Butter Brownies

2009-09-06T13:45:00.001-06:00

1 1/3	cups packed brown sugar
2	Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
1/2	cup creamy peanut butter
1	teaspoon vanilla
3	eggs
1 1/2	cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/2	teaspoon baking powder
1/4	teaspoon baking soda
1/2	teaspoon salt
36	miniature chocolate-covered peanut butter cup candies, unwrapped (from 15.6-oz bag)
1/2	cup milk chocolate chips



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	About Concordance™

1.	Heat oven to 350°F (if using dark or nonstick pan, heat oven to 325°F). Grease bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with shortening or spray with cooking spray.
2.	In large bowl, beat brown sugar, butter, peanut butter, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well blended. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut 12 of the candies into fourths (about 3/4 cup). Stir cut-up candies and chocolate chips into batter. Spread in pan.
3.	Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately press remaining 24 candies in brownies in 4 even rows of 6 candies each. Cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours. For brownies, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Decrease butter to 2 tablespoons and baking powder to 1/2 teaspoon.

Peanut Butter Muffins

2009-09-04T22:15:00.000-06:00

2 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. brown sugar
1 T. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 c. milk
2 t. vanilla
1/4 c. applesauce or oil
1/2 c. peanut butter

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flours, sugars, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, milk, vanilla and applesauce or oil. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and beat until combined.

2. Add the peanut butter and mix well.

3. Fill greased muffin tins 3/4 full and bake at 375 degrees for 15-17 minutes, until lightly browned on top. Makes approximately 2 dozen muffins, depending on size of muffin tins.

Fried Zucchini Strings

2009-09-04T10:14:00.001-06:00

1 whole Zucchini
4 cups Canola Oil For Deep Frying
Sea Salt

Preparation Instructions

Using a julienne peeler, cut the zucchini into very thin pasta-like strips. Discard the center core with the seeds. Blot with paper towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Heat 3 inches of oil in a deep fryer to 375. Add the zucchini strands without over filling the pan. Turn when the zucchini strands are golden brown. Brown the other side; remove and drain on paper towel. Sprinkle with sea salt and serve at once.

Peanut Butter Cupcake Goodness

2009-09-04T10:12:00.001-06:00

CUPCAKES
1 stick Butter
1 cup Water
½ cups Creamy Peanut Butter
½ cups Oil
2 cups All-purpose Flour
2 whole Eggs
2 cups Sugar
½ cups Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
FROSTING
1 stick Butter
⅓ cups Milk
½ cups Peanut Butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla
4 cups Powdered Sugar

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees (yes, I said 400!)
Place cupcake liners in 2 cupcake pans (I cook 2 dozen at a time side by side in my oven and they do just fine).

In small saucepan, combine butter, water, peanut butter and oil and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, pour in large bowl and add remaining ingredients.

Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full. (There is usually a little bit of batter left over, so you could technically bake about 28 or so cupcakes, but I usually just make 2 dozen). Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 min. Test w/ toothpick to make sure they’re done.

FROSTING:

Heat butter, milk and peanut butter just to a boil in a large pan. Add vanilla and powdered sugar and mix until desired consistency. I like to make it a bit thicker so I can pipe it on the cupcakes, so you may need to adjust the powdered sugar amount.

(These would also be delicious with a Hershey’s Kiss hidden in them)

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

2009-09-03T13:28:00.000-06:00

1/2 c. butter or margarine
1/2 c. peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 c. flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
40something mini Reese’s peanut butter cups (you can eat the extras )

Beat butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add to wet ingredients. Roll into 1 inch balls. Place in greased mini muffin pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes. When done, place peanut butter cup onto cookie and press down. Let cool in pan before removing. Yields around 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

French Bread

2009-09-02T20:03:00.001-06:00

2 tsp yeast
4 tsp Kosher salt
8-10 cups bread flour (this is white bread flour; all-purpose flour will work in a pinch but doesn't rise as high)
1 cup warm water (between 105 and 110)
5-6 cups warm water

Proof the yeast by putting the yeast in the 1 cup of warm water. Check the temperature of the water first by checking it with a thermometer. I use a candy thermometer. Hotter than 110, you will kill the yeast. Lower than 105 and the yeast doesn’t grow much. You want the yeast to be nice and bubbly, so let it sit for about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, measure the salt in a mixing bowl. I like ceramic; the dough doesn’t rise enough for me in a metal mixing bowl (it seems to be too cold).
Add flour. Add yeast mixture and enough water to mix so that all the flour sticks together.

Knead for 10-12 minutes on a floured surface, by hand, turning and folding well. When dough is ready it will be elastic-y and will not stick to the counter much.

Pull all sides of the dough into the center, making a big ball. This stretches the gluten and makes a higher loaf. Put the dough in the bowl with the smooth side on top.

Put back in bowl to rise with damp cloth over the top for 1 hour.

Take dough out of the bowl, and flatten it to about 2 inches tall. Separate dough with dough cutter into 4 equal parts for 4 rounds, or 8 parts for longer loaves (or a combination).

Take each section and pull the edges into the middle all the way around to make a ball. This stretching is important; you will see some bubbles pop. Put the smooth side up as you set each ball on the counter. Cover all the sections with the damp cloth and let sit for 10 minutes.

Wash your bowl.

Spray 2 cookie sheets with Pam; I use airbake sheets.

Shape loaves: Flatten loaves again to about 1 inch thick (just flatten---do not stretch the dough out, just flatten it). Fold one side of the circle of dough to the almost the other side so you have a smile. Then flatten again. Fold both sides in, overlapping, so that the dough is folded in thirds. Flatten again.

For round loaves, pull edges in to the center like before, working all the way around the dough. Grab dough together at center to make a "foot" so that the loaf is sticking together. Turn dough over and gently "round" so that the middle is not sunken.

Put loaves on the cookie sheets to rise again.

(For long loaves, instead of pulling the edges to the center (after folding), you will roll and stretch the loaf to be as long as you would like.)

Cover loaves on the cookie sheets with the damp cloth and let rise about 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat oven to 400º so that it is ready to go at the end of the second rising.

Put a pan (I use the broiler pan) of water on the bottom shelf. This will steam the bread and give it a nice crust.

When second rising is done, take a serrated knife and quickly and lightly slash the loaves.
This helps the loaves rise more in the oven.

If the loaves deflate when you slash them, they rose too long on the second rising. They will still cook, but watch next time so that you will get a higher loaf.

If you have an egg, you can mix an egg with a little water and lightly brush the loaves all over using a pastry brush with the egg wash. If you do not have an egg, the crust will be less crunchy, but will still be tasty.

Put loaves in the oven and cook until a nice browned top is there. Better to have them a little darker than you think they should be, or they will be doughy.

Take loaves out of the oven. After a couple minutes, turn loaves over on the cookie sheets so the bottoms can dry (or else they stay wet on bottom, even after an hour).

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-08-27T12:01:00.000-06:00

1 1/8 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg, room temperature
6 ounces chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Method:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Using the paddle attachment beat until creamy and fluffy. Beat in egg. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix well. Still in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Remove from baking sheet and let cook on a wire rack. Makes about 20 cookies.

Multi Grain Pan Rolls

2009-08-22T19:01:00.000-06:00

2 cups water
1/2 cup bulgur
1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1 cup warm milk (110° to 115°)
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
1/3 cup honey
2 eggs
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2-1/2 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons each celery seed, fennel seed and sesame seeds
1 teaspoon poppy seeds

In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in bulgur. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain.

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add the oats, honey, eggs, salt, pepper, cooked bulgur and whole wheat flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough all-purpose flour to form a soft dough.

Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until elastic, about 6-8 minutes (mixture will be lumpy). Place in a bowl coated with cooking spray, turning once to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/4 hours.

Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 22 pieces. Roll each into a ball.

Brush two 9-in. round baking pans with some of the oil. Arrange 11 balls in each pan; brush tops with remaining oil. Combine the celery seed, fennel seed, sesame seeds and poppy seeds; sprinkle over rolls. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes.

Bake at 375° for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks. Yield: 22 rolls.

Pizza Bread

2009-08-15T08:06:00.001-06:00

6-7 c. white flour
1 T. yeast
2 c. milk
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. butter or margarine
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 t. salt
2 t. Italian seasoning
3/4 c. pizza sauce
20 -25 slices pepperoni, cut into small pieces
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/2 c. flour with 1 T. yeast and set aside.

2. Add milk, water, butter or margarine, sugar and salt to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until warm. Pour into large bowl with the flour and yeast. Stir or beat until well combined. Slowly work in remaining flour and Italian seasoning. Knead (by hand or with an electric mixer) until dough is smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes. Cover and let dough rise for 1 hour in a lightly greased bowl.

3. Divide dough into 2 or 3 portions, depending on how big you want your loaves to be. Roll each ball of dough into a rectangle.

4. Spread about 1/4 c. pizza sauce on each section of dough.

5. Sprinkle the diced pepperoni and cheeses on top of the pizza sauce.

6. Roll dough tightly, jelly-roll style, and pinch the seams shut.

7. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Simple Pull-Apart Rolls

2009-08-12T22:08:00.001-06:00

3/4 c. butter or margarine
3/4 c. sugar
1 c. boiling water
1 T. + 1 t. yeast (or 2 packets)
2 eggs
1 t. salt
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
7 - 8 c. flour

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter or margarine with the sugar until creamy. Add the boiling water and mix to combine. Cool to room temperature.

2. While that cools, dissolve yeast in 1 c. warm water. Add to mixing bowl along with the eggs. Mix well. Stir in the salt, baking powder, baking soda and 5 1/2 c. flour until combined.

3. Working with 1/2 c. at a time, add remaining flour until dough comes together. It’s okay if the dough is still a little sticky. Knead on a floured surface for about 8 minutes.

4. Roll the dough into evenly shaped balls, about the size of a golf ball and place into 3 round cake pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, 1 to 2 hours.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.

Brownies

2009-08-11T22:10:00.001-06:00

* 1 c. sugar
* 1/2 c. butter or margarine
* 2 c. chocolate chips
* 3 eggs
* 1 1/2 c. flour
* 1 t. vanilla
* 1/4 t. baking soda

1. Heat sugar and butter in a medium pot over low heat until butter is completely melted, stirring often. Remove from heat, stir in 1 1/2 c. chocolate chips until melted, and let cool to room temperature.

2. In a small bowl, briefly whisk the eggs. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of chocolate mixture to the eggs and stir to combine, just to temper the eggs. Then pour all of eggs into the pot with the melted chocolate. Stir to combine.

3. Stir in flour, vanilla and baking soda until well blended. Pour into a greased 13×9 casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 22 minutes.

4. When brownies are done and still hot, sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips on top. Cool completely in the refrigerator before serving, if you can wait that long.

Chocolate Mint Pinwheels

2009-08-08T12:10:00.000-06:00

1	pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2	cup butter or margarine, softened
1	egg
1/4	cup unsweetened baking cocoa
2	tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/2	teaspoon mint extract
2	to 3 drops green food color



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	About Concordance™

1.	In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and egg until dough forms. Divide dough in half. Stir cocoa into one half. Stir flour, mint extract and food color into other half. Place chocolate dough on 17x12-inch sheet waxed paper. Top dough with second sheet of waxed paper. Roll dough to form 12x7-inch rectangle. Repeat with green colored dough.
2.	Remove top sheet of waxed paper from both doughs. Using waxed paper to lift green dough, invert onto chocolate dough. Gently press layered dough to 14x8-inch rectangle. Remove top sheet waxed paper. Use bottom sheet waxed paper to help roll doughs up together tightly, beginning at long side. Wrap tightly in waxed paper; freeze at least 2 hours or until very firm.
3.	Heat oven to 375°F. Unwrap dough; cut into 1/4-inch slices. Place slices about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until set. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Decrease butter to 1/3 cup. Bake 8 to 10 minutes.

Fruit Salad

2009-08-02T20:58:00.001-06:00

1 cup green seedless grapes, halved
1 cup red seedless grapes, halved
1 cup chopped fresh peaches (or nectarines)
1 cup pineapple tidbits (fresh or canned)
2 kiwi, halved and sliced
1 cup quartered fresh strawberries
1 can peach pie filling (the secret ingredient for the yummy glaze)
2 sliced bananas

Combine fruit (except bananas) with pie filling. Chill in refrigerator. Add bananas just before serving.

Bacon Cheese Dip in a Bread Bowl

2009-07-29T21:40:00.001-06:00

1 round loaf of bread (any kind)
12 slices of bacon crisply cooked and crumbled (I use bacon bits from Costco)
8 oz shredded colby/mont. jack cheese
1 cup mayo
1 cup grated parm cheese
1 glove garlic, minced

Cut top off bread and remove center, leaving a 1 inch thick shell. Mix remaining ingredients and spoon into hollowed out bread. Cover with top of bread. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Serve with crackers.

Taco Grande

2009-07-27T07:01:00.001-06:00

1 pound hamburger
1 package taco seasoning
12 oz. salsa
(8) 6-inch flour tortillas
2 cups shredded colby-monterrey jack cheese
1 green onion, sliced
lettuce
tomato
sour cream

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray 9×9 (or similar-sized) baking dish with cooking spray. A round dish makes for very pretty presentation!
Brown hamburger. Drain.
Add taco seasoning and 2/3 cup water. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 cup salsa.
Arrange 4 tortillas in the bottom and up the sides of the baking dish. (Tortillas will overlap on bottom but not all of the sides need to be covered.)
Spoon meat mixture evenly over tortillas. Sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese and 1/2 of the onion.
Top with remaining 4 tortillas, overlapping slightly to create a scalloped edge effect. Press tortillas down over filling.
Spread remaining salsa over tortillas. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and onion.
Bake 30 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Garnish with lettuce, tomato, and sour cream.

Apple Pie

2009-07-23T14:24:00.001-06:00

Flaky Pie Crust

Makes 1 full pie crust (top and bottom)

2 c. flour

1 c. shortening

1 t. salt

1/4 c. water

Measure 1 2/3 c. of flour into a bowl, then add the salt and mix. Add the shortening, and using a pastry cutter, cut it into the flour until mixture is in small crumbs. In a small bowl, mix together remaining flour and water until well blended. Mix the paste into the shortening/flour mixture (by hand) until it sticks in a loose ball.

Apple Pie

1/4 c. flour 6 c. (about 5 lg or 6 med) thinly sliced apples

1 c. sugar 2 T. marg. or butter

dash salt 1 t. cinnamon

Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, mix sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in apples. Pour into a pastry lined pie plate, dot with butter, and then cover with top crust. Seal edges and cut a few slits in the top. Cover edge with a 3 in. strip of foil. Bake in hot oven 30 min. (Crust should begin turning brown. Place a sheet of foil over the top. Bake until you can poke through the top apple (about 30 more minutes. Then remove the foil from around crust and top – bake 6-7 more minutes.

Pineapple Zucchini Cake

2009-07-22T09:00:00.000-06:00

1 cup All-purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour (can Use All White Flour If You Don't Have This)
1-¼ cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 Cup Sweetened Flaked Coconut
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
Freshly Grated Nutmeg, To Taste (1/4 To 1/2 Tsp?), Optional
1 Pinch Ginger (about 1/16 Tsp Or So), Optional
3 tablespoons Canola Oil
2 whole Large Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Cups Grated (unpeeled) Zucchini (*see Note)
1 (20 Oz.) Can Crushed Pineapple In Juice, Drained (reserve In Case You Need It For The Cake Batter Or The Frosting)
FROSTING
2 Tablespoons Butter, Softened
8 Ounces Low-fat Cream Cheese, Softened (can Use Full-fat Cream Cheese)
2 Cups Powdered Sugar, Approx.
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
Splash Of Milk Or Pineapple Juice, If Necessary
Chopped Walnuts Or Pecans (optional)

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare cake, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, coconut, baking soda, salt, and spices in a large bowl; stir well with a whisk.

Combine oil, eggs, and vanilla; stir well. Stir egg mixture, grated zucchini, and pineapple into flour mixture. Batter will be stiff and dry but keep folding it and it will all come together. If it still seems too dry, just add a little splash of the pineapple juice.

Spoon batter into a 13 x 9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for about 33-35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs and cake is pulling away from sides of pan. Cool completely on a wire rack.

To prepare frosting, combine butter and cream cheese in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla just until smooth. Add a splash of milk or pineapple juice if necessary. Spread frosting over top of cake. Can garnish with chopped pecans or walnuts, if desired.

NOTES : If your zucchini are huge, scrape the seeds out of the center before you shred it so it’s not too watery. Also, I spread it all out on layers of paper towel to drain it and dry it off a bit. Then I measure out 2 cups. Not sure if this is critical though. Nuts can also be added to the cake batter if desired. This recipe makes a very generous amount of frosting.
And this recipe can be turned into a Carrot Cake just by substituting shredded carrots for the zucchini.

Easy & Creamy Italian Skillet Dinner

2009-07-19T13:25:00.000-06:00

1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 green pepper, diced
1 t. salt
1 t. garlic powder
1 T. Italian seasoning
1 80z. can tomato sauce
1 15oz. can diced tomatoes
1 16oz. container ricotta cheese
1/2 lb. pasta, cooked and drained (I used bowtie pasta)
1 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded

1. In a large skillet, cook ground beef with onions and green pepper. Season with salt, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Drain when browned.

2. Add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes to skillet. Simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in ricotta cheese until combined. Stir in pasta.

3. Sprinkle cheese on top, cover and remove from heat. Let sit for 5 minutes, until cheese is melted. Serve and enjoy.

This is super Stolen Moments friendly. After step 2, place in refrigerator. Warm over low heat on the stove, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with cheese once warmed and serve.

Fettucine Alfredo

2009-07-16T07:33:00.001-06:00

1 pound fettuccine
1 stick butter
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
dash of salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions.
In a saucepan or skillet, warm butter and cream. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Grate Parmesan cheese and place half of it into a large serving bowl. Pour warm butter/cream mixture over the top.
Drain pasta and immediately pour it into the bowl.
Toss a couple of times, then sprinkle in the other half of the Parmesan. Toss to combine, thinning with pasta water if necessary.
Serve immediately as a main course or accompaniment to meat or salad.

Pioneer Woman

Garden Chicken Dinner

2009-07-11T07:55:00.001-06:00

4 carrots, cut into 2-inch lengths
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup sliced celery
2 cups cut green beans (or 1 15-oz can)
4 skinless chicken breasts
4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces, fried and drained
5 regular potatoes, cut into big chunks
1 1/2 cups hot water
2 tsp. chicken bouillon granules
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves, crushed
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. pepper

Layer in slow cooker, in order, carrots, onion, celery, green beans, chicken, bacon, and potatoes. In a small bowl stir together the rest of the ingredients pour over potatoes. DO NOT STIR. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours or until vegetables are tender and chicken is done. Transfer chicken and vegetables to a platter. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Buster Bar Dessert

2009-06-23T09:11:00.000-06:00

2 c. powdered sugar
1 1/2 c. evaporated milk (12 oz. can)
2/3 c. chocolate chips
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. oreo cookies (crushed)
1/2 c. melted butter
1 1/2 c. Spanish peanuts
1/2-3/4 gallon vanilla ice cream (softened)

Mix powdered sugar, milk, chocolate chips, butter, and vanilla together in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil for 8 minutes, stirring constantly (I use my whisk). Cool completely.
Crush oreos and add melted butter. Spread in a 9×13 cake pan. Refrigerate.
When oreo crust is set, spread softened ice cream on top.
Freeze until ice cream is firm.
Top with chocolate mixture and peanuts.
Freeze overnight.

Ranch Chicken & Bacon Pasta Salad

2009-06-10T21:39:00.000-06:00

1 c. mayonnaise (lowfat or fat-free work just fine for this)
1 c. Ranch salad dressing
2 c. veggies of choice (I used peas this time. Tomatoes, peppers, olives, green onions and cucumbers, or any combination thereof, are also great options.)
1/2 lb. shredded or diced fully cooked chicken
1/2 lb. diced and cooked bacon
1 lb. corkscrew pasta, cooked and rinsed with cold water
1 c. shredded cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste

1. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and Ranch dressing. Add the veggies, chicken and bacon. Stir to combine.

2. Add the chilled pasta and toss to coat. Stir in the shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

It’s really as simple as that. The mayo/ranch combo mixed with the chicken and bacon is a surefire winner no matter what else you put with it. Experiment and have fun!

Poppy Seed Dessert Bread

2009-06-08T13:26:00.000-06:00

3 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 1/4 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 c. milk
1 c. and 2 Tsp. cooking oil
1/2 c. poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 1/2 tsp. butter flavoring (NOT real butter; this is found with the spices)

Add ingredients in order in large bowl. Beat well for 2 minutes. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake at 350° for 45-55 minutes. Glaze while warm in pan.

Glaze:

3/4 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 tsp. butter flavoring
1 Tbsp. milk (approximately — going for a drizzly/thin consistency)

Quick & Easy Apple Tart

2009-06-08T07:33:00.001-06:00

1 sheet puffed pastry, cut into half OR thirds
3 to 4 apples, cored, halved, and sliced (but not peeled)
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 415 degrees.

Place puffed pastry rectangles onto a baking pan that’s been sprayed with nonstick spray.

Add sugar and salt to apples. Stir to combine. Allow to sit for a few minutes.

Arrange apple slices on the pastry rectangles in a straight line, overlapping as you go.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until pastry is puffed and golden brown.

Remove from pan immediately and place on a serving platter. Serve plain, with caramel topping, whipped cream, or a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

PW’s Corn Fritters

2009-06-08T07:29:00.001-06:00

4 generous cups corn kernels: fresh, frozen, or canned
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk, more to thin if necessary
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
Canola oil, for frying

Optional ingredients: Powdered sugar, maple syrup

Mix flour, sugar, and baking powder. Add eggs, milk, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir together to make a batter.
Add corn and chives to batter. Fold together to combine.
Heat canola oil to 365 degrees. When oil is heated, drop spoonfuls of batter and cook, flipping to the other side, until golden brown.
Drain on a towel-lined plate. Serve alone, with dipping sauces, or sprinkled with powdered sugar or drizzled with maple syrup.

Mozzarella Wedges

2009-06-08T07:14:00.001-06:00

1/2 lb. block mozzarella cheese, cut into thick slices (about 15)
1 1/2 c. breadcrumbs
1 t. salt
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. Italian seasoning
1/4 t. pepper
2 eggs
2 T. cold water
dash hot sauce, optional

1. Mix the breadcrumbs and seasonings in a shallow bowl.
2. Whisk together the eggs, water and optional hot sauce.
3. Dip each cheese wedge in eggs, then breadcrumbs. Repeat twice for a total of 3 layers of batter.
4. Fry in 1″ hot oil in a skillet for 45 seconds. Flip and fry another 30-45 seconds.

Hot Pockets

2009-06-07T17:16:00.000-06:00

Dough Ingredients:
9 cups flour
4 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
4 1/2 tsp. yeast
1 1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cup water
1 tsp. salt
2 sticks melted butter

Put 9 cups flour in a large bowl, make a well in the center.

In a separate bowl beat 4 eggs, than add 1/2 cup sugar and 4 1/2 tsp. yeast.

In another bowl, scald 1 1/2 cups milk in microwave for 3 minutes. Then add 1 1/2 cups water. Add this mixture to the egg mixture. Stir in 1 tsp. salt. Mix all ingredients well.

Pour this mixture into the well of flour in the large bowl. Do not stir. Put lid on and let sit for 45 minutes.

After 45 minutes, add 2 sticks of melted butter and mix well.

Cover and let sit for 1 hour. Now that your dough is made you are ready to make hot pockets.

Egg Mixture:
12 eggs
2 Tbs. butter
1 roll of breakfast sausage
2 cups cheddar cheese
1 half onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper chopped

While you are waiting on the dough you can be making the breakfast mixture. Using butter or margarine, scramble 12 eggs over a skillet. In another skillet, cook and crumble 1 roll of breakfast sausage.

In another bowl combine scrambled eggs, sausage, onion, bell pepper, and cheddar cheese.

To Make the Hot Pockets:

Pull off a round of dough about the size of a baseball and flatten on counter. Place about 1/2 cup of mixture in the middle of the hot pocket (or about 1/4 cup if you are using crescent rolls). Bring opposite sides together and pinch together. Then do the same with the other two sides.

Place onto a greased cookie sheet, or baking stone. Let rise for 30-40 minutes and then bake at 350 degrees for about 20-30 minutes.

Now, all your prep work and cooking are done! Once these are baked and cooled, you can freeze your hot pockets. When you are ready to eat them, just pop them in the microwave until warm.

This recipe yields 30-36 hot pockets, depending upon how large you make them.

Cheese Muffins

2009-06-07T17:13:00.002-06:00

1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 cups shredded cheese
1 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup melted butter

-In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients. Next, stir in all three cups of cheese. In a separate bowl, whisk egg, milk, and butter together. When mixed thoroughly, pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon to combine. Bake in greased muffin tins in a 375* oven for 20-25 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.

Cinnamon Rolls

2009-06-07T17:12:00.002-06:00

Mix 1 quart of whole milk, 1 cup of vegetable oil, and 1 cup of sugar in a pan. "Scald" the mixture (heat until just before the boiling point.) Turn off heat and leave to cool 45 minutes to 1 hour. Go fold laundry or sculpt or play Twister with your mailman or something.

When the mixture is lukewarm to warm, but NOT hot, sprinkle in 2 packages Active Dry Yeast.

Let this sit for a minute so the yeast gets all warm and moist and happy.

Then add 8 cups of all-purpose flour.

Stir mixture together. Cover and let sit for at least an hour.

Now add 1 more cup of flour…

1 heaping teaspoon baking powder…

And 1 "scant" (less than a full) teaspoon baking soda and 1 heaping tablespoon of salt.

Stir mixture together. At this point, you could cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you need it—overnight or even a day or two, if necessary. Just keep your eye on it and if it starts to splurge out of the pan, just punch it down. Or, of course, you can just go ahead and make the rolls.

Sprinkle surface generously with flour.

Take half the dough and form a rough rectangle.

Then roll the dough thin, maintaining a general rectangular shape. Rectangle should increase in both width and length as you roll it out.

Now drizzle 1 1/2 to 2 cups melted butter over the dough. Don’t be shy; lay it on thick, baby. You know you want it.

Now sprinkle 1 cup of sugar over the butter…

…followed by a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.

Now, starting at the opposite end, begin rolling the dough in a neat line toward you. Keep the roll relatively tight as you go. Some of the butter/sugar/cinnamon mixture may ooze out toward the end, but that’s no big deal.

Next, pinch the seam to the roll to seal it.

Spread 1 tablespoon of melted butter in seven round, foil cake or pie pans. Then begin cutting rolls approximately 3/4 to 1 inch thick and laying them in the buttered pans. Repeat this process with the other half of the dough. This recipe makes approximately seven pans of rolls.

Let the rolls sit for 20 to 30 minutes to rise, then bake at 400 degrees until light golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.

While the rolls are in the oven, make the maple frosting.

To a mixing bowl, add 1 bag of powdered sugar.

To this, add about 2 teaspoons maple flavoring…

1/2 cup milk...

1/4 cup melted butter… Also add 1/8 teaspoon (a generous pinch) salt.

The mixture should be thick but pourable. Taste and adjust as needed.

Generously drizzle frosting over warm rolls after you pull them out of the oven

Peanut Butter Fudge

2009-06-07T17:11:00.001-06:00

1 2/3 cup sugar
1 can (5 oz. size) evaporated milk
16 large marshmallows
1 cup peanut butter, chunky style
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Mix sugar, milk, and marshmallows in a medium saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils. Boil and stir 5 minutes.

Add peanut butter and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Pour into a buttered 8-inch square pan. Cool. Cut into pieces.

Notes: If preferred, use creamy peanut butter and add a few chopped nuts.

Peppermint Spritz Cookies

2009-06-07T17:10:00.001-06:00

1	roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookies
1/4	cup all-purpose flour
1/4	to 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
	Red sugar

DIRECTIONS

1.	Heat oven to 350ºF. In medium bowl, break up cookie dough. Stir or knead in flour until blended. Add peppermint extract; stir or knead dough until well blended.
2.	Place about half of dough in cookie press fitted with star tip. Press dough into 5-inch strips on ungreased cookie sheets. With fingers, shape top of each to resemble candy cane. Sprinkle with red sugar. Repeat with remaining half of dough.
3.	Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 7 to 9 minutes.

Peanut Butter Cup Surprise Cookies

2009-06-07T17:08:00.004-06:00

Peanut Butter Cup Surprise Cookies

1 Cup creamy peanut butter

1 Cup sugar

1 egg

12 mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, unwrapped

36 mini marshmallows

1 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips

2-3 Tablespoons heavy cream

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place peanut butter, sugar and egg into a large bowl and mix until well combined. Scoop dough evenly into a 12 count mini cheesecake pan or mini muffin pan. Cook for 13-15 minutes until almost done. Remove from oven and press a peanut butter cup into each cookie. Top each cookie with 3 mini marshmallows and return to oven for 2-3 more minutes or until marshmallows are puffed. Remove and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

2. Place chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals until melted smooth. Stir in 2-3 Tablespoons heavy cream until silky and smooth. You can return back to microwave for 15 seconds to get a thinner consistency. Spoon chocolate over top of puffed marshmallows.

12 cookie cups

Ooey-Gooey Turtle Bars

2009-06-07T17:08:00.003-06:00

INGREDIENTS

1	roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookies
1	bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
3	cups Fisher® Chef's Naturals® Chopped Pecans
1/2	cup LAND O LAKES® Butter
1/2	cup packed light brown sugar
1	jar (12.25 oz) SMUCKER'S® Caramel Ice Cream Topping
1	cup graham cracker crumbs (16 squares)

DIRECTIONS

1.	Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Press cookie dough evenly in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan.
2.	Sprinkle 1 cup of the chocolate chips and 1 1/2 cups of the pecans over dough; lightly press into dough. Set aside.
3.	In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Stir in brown sugar, caramel topping and graham cracker crumbs. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Pour over crust in pan; spread evenly. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 1/2 cups pecans.
4.	Bake 25 to 32 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown and pecans are lightly toasted. Cool on cooling rack 30 minutes; loosen sides from pan, but do not cut. Cool completely, about 3 hours longer. (For firmer bars, let stand an additional 2 hours.) For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 27 to 34 minutes.

Mint Filled Cookies

2009-06-07T17:08:00.001-06:00

Cookies
1	roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookies
3/4	cup chopped unwrapped thin rectangular créme de menthe candies
Frosting
2 1/4	cups powdered sugar
1/4	cup butter or margarine, softened
1	to 2 drops green food color, if desired
2	to 3 tablespoons milk
Garnish
24	thin rectangular créme de menthe candies, unwrapped

DIRECTIONS

1.	Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, break up cookie dough. Stir or knead in 3/4 cup chopped candies. Shape teaspoons of dough into balls; place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
2.	Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until set and edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
3.	In small bowl, mix frosting ingredients until smooth, adding enough milk 1 teaspoon at a time until desired spreading consistency. Spread 1 teaspoon frosting on each cooled cookie. Cut each créme de menthe candy in half crosswise; cut each half diagonally into 2 triangles. Garnish each cookie with 2 candy triangles to form a tree.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 11 to 14 minutes.

Frosties

2009-06-07T17:07:00.003-06:00

1-1/2 to 2 cups ice water
1-1/2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 1-1/2 trays of ice cubes, as much as you can spare
2 tablespoons corn oil plus a 5-second squirt of non-stick spray for emulsification purposes

Place all of the ingredients into the blender, including the oil and the non-stick spray. Use less water for thicker milk shakes and more water for shakes that are easy on your blender motor. The blender should be about 3/4's full. Place the lid on. Process for a full 2 minutes. Pour into cups and serve. Makes 4 - 12oz servings. For preparation tips please see below.

I love this recipe because it makes very rich milk shakes without any ice cream. I don't always have ice cream in the house because the kids eat it so fast. With this recipe we can have delicious frosty milk shakes for a fraction of the cost of those using ice cream. And all the ingredients are on the pantry shelf.

Reader's Tip: A reader named Chris made these with Splenda replacing the sugar measure for measure and said they turned out perfectly. If you like Splenda, then this tip would be a great way to reduce the calories and make them sugar-free. Thanks for sharing Chris!

Variations:

Add 1 tablespoon of instant coffee for a mocha shake
Add 1 very ripe banana for a chocolate banana shake
Add a big spoonful of peanut butter for a decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake.
Add a few broken red and white candy mints for a refreshing Chocolate Mint shake.
To make Vanilla Milk Shakes, omit the cocoa powder, reduce the sugar to 1/2-cup and add 1 tablespoon (yes a full tablespoon) of vanilla flavoring. For a french vanilla milk shake crack in an egg too.

A few tips and a long rant:

I get more email about this recipe than I do about almost anything else. The people who love it always add the oil and the nonstick spray. The people who hate it seem to think they can get by without these ingredients. Let me make things clear. Fat makes things creamy. It may seem weird to add vegetable oil to a beverage, but manufacturers do it all the time. Coffee creamer has oil and shortening it. Fancy coffee mixes and hot cocoa mixes have oil and shortening added. Whipped topping and many ice creams have added vegetable fats. Read the labels if you don't believe me. Dairy fat tends to go rancid when it is dried so it is seldom used in commercial products. Instead food manufacturers use vegetable fats, usually of the hydrogenated variety. They are cheaper than dairy fats, don't require refrigeration, and are easier to use.

Fat is added to foods for many different reasons. For this recipe it acts as a flavor carrier and adds richness and depth to the texture and flavor of the finished shake. Oil is the ingredient that makes your milk shakes thick and creamy. If you make it without any added fat you will not get a milk shake that resembles Wendy's Frosties. You will get chocolate ice. Chocolate ice is nice, but it isn't a rich, creamy Frosty.

Think about how creamy mayonnaise is. It's 99% vegetable oil. All of that creaminess comes from mixing oil with a small amount of vinegar and an emulsifier (eggs in the case of mayo). Then it's all whipped to creamy perfection. To make your milk shakes creamy you need to emulsify the milk and the oil, the same way the oil and vinegar must be emulsified for mayonnaise. To emulsify something is to mix it up really well, so the particles won't separate on standing.

Nonstick spray contains liquid lecithin as it's active ingredient. Lecithin is found in eggs and in soybeans, both of which are natural emulsifiers. You can buy liquid lecithin at your local health food store or online from natural food resources. If you liked, you could use 1/2-teaspoon of liquid lecithin instead of the nonstick spray. Most folks don't have liquid lecithin laying about the house though, so I give you the option of using nonstick spray instead.

Liquid lecithin is derived from soybeans. It is a fat; a healthy fat. When manufacturers discovered that liquid lecithin has nonstick properties they put it in a can with a propellent and thus invented nonstick spray. Before manufacturers discovered this, old hippies and health food freaks were using lecithin to grease their baking pans and adding it to salad dressings so they would stay mixed longer. Today, some vegans use liquid lecithin as an egg substitute in baking. Most store-bought chocolates and salad dressings have liquid lecithin added to give them the creamy satiny quality that we all look for in these products.

Which brings us back to this recipe. If you want a luscious, satisfying milk shake then follow the recipe and add the oil and the nonstick spray as directed above. br />
Before you write me and complain that this recipe advertises something that it doesn't deliver, please check the recipe to see if you left anything out or fudged on any of the ingredients or directions. Try the recipe again, being sure to measure everything carefully. If you don't add enough ice, then the recipe won't be very thick. If you add too much water, then your blender will be overloaded. If you don't add enough dry milk, then it will taste watery. If you only blend it for a moment or two, then it will be chunky instead of creamy. If you omit the oil and nonstick spray then you won't get a milk shake. You'll have something similar, but it will fall short of the mark. The directions are specific for a reason. If you follow them then you will have satisfying results. Assuming you doing everything as written and you still are not pleased, then you may write me and complain. I may be able to help out. Thank-you.

Peanut Butter Cake

2009-06-07T17:07:00.001-06:00

Every time I eat at Macaroni Grill, I face the same problem… I’m always way to stuffed to order dessert! The solution? I prepare some of my favorite Macaroni Grill desserts at home. Enjoy this delicious chocolate peanut butter cake.
3/4 cup Unsalted butter
3/4 cup Creamy style peanut butter
2 cups Packed brown sugar
3 Eggs
2 cup Unsifted all purpose flour
1 tablespoon Baking powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla

Peanut Butter Filling:
1 cup Cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup Creamy style peanut butter

Chocolate Glaze:
1/2 cupWater
4 tablespoons Unsalted butter
1/2 cup Cocoa
1 cup Unsifted powdered sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9″ cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and peanut butter until it becomes
fluffy. Mix in brown sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after
each addition.
3. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour
mixture to butter mixture with milk and blend. Add vanilla.
4. Pour batter into pans. Bake until cake tests done, about 45 minutes.
Cool on wire rack to room temperature before frosting the cake.
5. Spread 3/4 cup peanut butter filling over tops of each cake. Let chill.
6. Spread half of warm Chocolate Glaze over peanut butter topping
on each cake, using metal spatula dipped in hot water. The glaze will
cool as it thickens.
Peanut Butter Filling: Cream ingredients together until fluffy.
Chocolate Glaze: Place water and butter in small saucepan. Bring to
boil.Add cocoa, sugar and vanilla to water mixture. Mix until
smooth.
Makes 2 Cakes

Cookie Wreaths

2009-06-07T17:04:00.003-06:00

1	roll (18 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar or peanut butter cookies
	Green decorator sugar crystals
	Assorted small candies or candy-coated chocolate pieces
	Red fruit leather or red licorice strings
	Gummi bears
	Tinted decorating icing, if desired

DIRECTIONS

1.	Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with foil. Remove half of dough from wrapper; refrigerate remaining dough until needed. Cut dough into 18 slices about 1/4 inch thick.
2.	Arrange slices, slightly overlapping in circle with 12-inch outer diameter on foil-lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle with sugar crystals. Bake 9 to 14 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on foil. Repeat with remaining half of dough.
3.	When completely cooled, carefully remove foil. Decorate with candies and/or icing as desired.

Cornbread

2009-06-07T17:04:00.001-06:00

Ingredients:
1 (16 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (16 oz.) can cream style corn
1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles
16 oz. container sour cream
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup margarine or butter, melted
2 boxes Jiffy cornbread mix (7 1/2 oz. each)
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

In a large bowl, combine cornbread mix, sour cream, butter, whole kernel corn, cream style corn, diced chiles, and eggs. Place in a lightly greased 9" x 13" baking dish and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.

Bake at 350 F for 45 to 50 minutes, or until golden on top and cooked through.

Chocolate and Cinnamon Chip Crunchy Granola Crispers

2009-06-07T17:03:00.005-06:00

2 sticks softened butter
¾ Cup brown sugar
¾ Cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ Cup whole wheat flour
1 Cup all purpose flour
¾ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1.5 oz package Oats and Honey Crispy Granola Bars, crushed with rolling pin
1 Cup chocolate chips
1 Cup cinnamon chips (or other chips of choice if cinnamon is not available)

1. In a stand or electric mixer, beat butter and sugars until well combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined, scraping edges of bowl. In a large bowl combine the flour, salt, soda and crushed granola bars. Slowly add to wet ingredients then add chips only until just combined. ***CHILL dough for at least 1 hour or freeze for 30 minutes.***

2. Once dough is chilled, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Using a medium cookie scoop, arrange onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until cookies are just barely golden around edges. Remove and let sit on baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

2009-06-07T17:03:00.003-06:00

Ingredients:

1 15.5 oz box Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate Chunk Brownie mix
1/4 C all purpose flour
1/2 C butter, melted
1 egg
1 Tsp vanilla
1 quart Vanilla Ice Cream, or your favorite flavor

Method:

Preheat oven to 375 Degrees. In a large bowl, stir together brownie mix and flour. Add butter, egg, and vanilla; stir until blended. Let dough stand 15 minutes for easier handling. Shape dough into 24 1 1/2 inch balls. dough will be soft. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased large cookie sheet. Bake 10-13 minutes or until set and tops appear dry. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, for about 30 minutes. Set out ice cream to soften about 5 to 10 minutes into cooling time. Spoon 1 scoop of ice cream between 2 cookies to create a sandwich. Cut waxed paper into 4-inch squares and place on either side of cookie sandwich. Place in a plastic bag and freeze. repeat for remaining cookies.

Makes 12 ice cream sandwiches

Crockpot Rice

2009-06-07T17:03:00.001-06:00

--1T butter

--1 cup white basmati rice (I'm listing this kind because that is what I used. I would imagine that any kind of white or brown rice would work, but I haven't actually tried any other out yet.)

--2 cups water

--pinch of salt

The Directions:

--rub butter on the inside of your crockpot stoneware

--put in rice

--stir in water and salt

--cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, checking every 45 minutes or so.

I cooked the above batch for 2 hours, 15 minutes and checked on it twice.

Crockpot Fajitas

2009-06-07T17:02:00.001-06:00

--2 lbs of thin cut stir fry beef (you could use chicken)
--1 or 2 packets of fajita seasoning mix (I said one or two because I've found that it's awfully spicy if I use 1 packet per pound of meat as directed on the label--use what you think is right for your family.)
--1 onion
--2 bell peppers (I used 1 orange, 1 yellow)
--1/2 cup of water

The Directions.

Dump your meat into the crockpot. It can be frozen or thawed. Cut the onion and the peppers in strips, and add to the crock. Add the seasoning and water. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours, or high for 6. The meat is done when it reaches desired tenderness. I like to cook on low for as long as possible, because I don't like to chew forever. Serve with your favorite fajita fixens'. We really like squeezing some fresh lime over the top of the meat before doctoring it up.

Crockpot Apple Crisp

2009-06-07T17:01:00.001-06:00

Ingredients used:

--9 smallish apples

--1/4 cup butter

--1/3 cup brown sugar plus another 2 T for crumb topping
--1/4 cup orange juice

--2T vanilla extract

--1 cup crumb topping:

since we're gluten-free, I used GF gingersnap crumbs mixed with crushed Perky-O's. You could use anything that you normally use for a crumb topping---smashed cereal, graham crackers, oats, cookies--whatever.

Preheat your crock on high, and butter the inside of the stoneware. Chop up the apples and plop them in the bottom and cover with the remaining ingredients. Cube your butter.

Toss the orange juice, cubed butter, brown sugar, vanilla and apples together.

Smash up your topping of choice and add 2T of brown sugar. Layer on top of apple concoction.

Cover and cook on high for approximately 3 hours, or until apples are sufficiently tender.

If you like your crumb topping crunchy (I do!) broil the uncovered stoneware on the lowest rack of your oven for 4-7 minutes.

Serve with vanilla ice cream.