Monday, March 30, 2009

Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies You will not be disappointed in this cookie everyone who eats it gives it 5stars. It's one to give to impress!!!

INGREDIENTS
1
(19.5-oz.) box Pillsbury Brownie Classics Traditional Fudge Brownie Mix
1/4
cup butter or margarine, melted
4
oz. cream cheese (from 8-oz. pkg.), softened
1
egg
1
cup powdered sugar
1
cup creamy peanut butter
1/2
(16-oz.) can chocolate fudge ready-to-spread frosting

Sorry had to take picture with my phone again:)

DIRECTIONS
1.
Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, beat brownie mix, melted butter, cream cheese and egg 50 strokes with spoon until well blended (dough will be sticky).
2.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets to make 24 cookies; smooth edge of each to form round cookie.
3.
In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and peanut butter with spoon until mixture forms a ball. With hands, roll rounded teaspoonfuls peanut butter mixture into 24 balls. Lightly press 1 ball into center of each ball of dough.
4.
Bake at 350°F. for 10 to 14 minutes or until edges are set. Cool on cookie sheets at least 30 minutes.
5.
Remove from cookie sheets. Spread thin layer of frosting over peanut butter portion of each cooled cookie.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft) Before baking, flatten cookies slightly. Bake at 350°F. for 11 to 15 minutes.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

LOW CARB THURSDAYS!!!

Okay I found this recipe on a low carb Atkins website and it is so amazing and so very yummy I'm starting to crave it everyday now...You'll have to give this one a try, I had my niece take a bite and the she wanted a pizza for her self, truly yummy I give it an A+ for the low carb rating!!!
You Won't Believe it's Cauliflower Pizza Crust
1 cup cooked riced or mashed up cauliflower
1 egg
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp fennel
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
**pizza or Alfredo sauce
toppings (make sure meats are cooked)mozzarella cheese

Delicious and easy.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.In a medium bowl, combine cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Press evenly on the pan. Sprinkle evenly with fennel, oregano and parsley.Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven. To the crust, add sauce, then toppings and cheese.Place under a broiler at high heat just until cheese is melted .


You can hold it in your hand, But I use a fork

Notes:*I use frozen cauliflower prepared according to package directions. After cooked and slightly cooled, I shred cauliflower with a cheese grater or you can smash it with a fork, and then measure for the recipe. (Don't pack down the cup with cauliflower. Just fill it with a spoon or the cup itself.) so far I have only tried Alfredo for the pizza sauce


Super Veggie Supreme:
Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo little mozzarella chopped, fresh tomato sliced, fresh mushrooms purple onion, chopped frozen spinach.
Reheats nicely and can still be held in the hand, even the next day.
Pizza crusts can be frozen after the initial baking and used later.
Makes 4, 1-slice servings. Can be doubled for a larger pizza

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Weight Watchers Wednesday Recipe

Easy Pumpkin Spice Cookies
1 box spice cake mix
1 can pure pumpkin (15oz. can)

Non-stick cooking spray Preheat oven to 350. Spray cookie sheets with non- stick cooking spray.In a large bowl mix together the cake mix and the canned pumpkin.Drop cookie dough onto cookie sheets and then bake for around 10-12 minutes.

Makes 48 cookies at 1 WW point per cookie. You can add chocolate chips but that will add points. Quick and easy recipe... Try making cookies have a few and freeze the rest for a treat later!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Magleby's Buttermilk Syrup


If you haven't tried Magleby's buttermilk syrup then you must make it. I love, love this yummy syrup I don't think there's any syrup that can beat it. I found this recipe on a copycat site.

Buttermilk Syrup
1 cube butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. corn syrup
1/2 tsp. baking soda
Bring first five ingredients to a boil. Remove from heat immediately and add Baking Soda. To avoid boil over I use a fairly deep, heavy pan.

Friday, March 20, 2009

EASY HOMEMADE PIZZA CRUST

Way easy and so yummy
Homemade Pizza Crust
1 package of yeast
1 C warm water
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 T oil
2 1/2 C flour
2 T cornmeal (optional for sprinkling on cookie sheet)
Dissolve yeast in warm water (add a couple pinches of sugar to proof it... you will know it's good if you get foam). Let yeast sit about 10 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Beat vigorously 20 strokes. Allow dough to rest 5 minutes in a bowl with saran wrap or a towel over it. Preheat oven to 425, spread dough onto a lightly greased baking sheet sprinkled with corn meal (optional).




My husband and Son loved this recipe so much and it was so easy to make and I had it on the table with out stress. Its an awesome recipe I got at real moms kitchen. You have to try it out!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

LOW CARB THURSAY'S

I got this recipe off of Kill the gluten. Such great recipes!
Gluten-Free Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies.

Gluten-Free Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
pinch of salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups rice flour I tried it with with coconut flour
Directions:
Cream butter and cream cheese together until fluffy; add sugar and cream well. Add egg, salt, vanilla, and almond extract; mix well. Add flour and mix until incorporated. Chill dough for several hours or overnight. Roll batter into a ball with hand (think silver dollar size) and press flat with fingers. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 375 degrees just until edges begin to brown (this is 12 minutes in my oven)
Here is the frosting recipe I use from a Betty Crocker Cook Book:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter
1 + 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1-2 tablespoons milk

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Weight Watcher Wednesday Recipe!

For everyone out there wanting to loose a few pounds. I'm going to be posting helpful recipes on Wednesdays and Thursdays called "Weight Watcher Wednesdays" and "Low Carb Thursdays" I'm on a health kick right now and I want to keep it up. I'm not on the weight watchers program but I use some of there recipes and I believe I benefit.



If you haven't tried this recipe you should. They are so yummy that I could eat the whole pan of them by my self, so instead I make a batch, have one and then rap the rest individually and freeze them for a sweet treat when I want one. That way I don't get carried away. They really are yummy hard to believe they're only 121 calories



Junior Mint Brownies




Junior Mint Brownies


3 Points Per Serving


Cooking spray


1/4 cup butter or stick margarine


32 (about 3 ounces) creamy, small-size mints in pure chocolate (such as Junior Mints)


1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda


1/8 teaspoon salt


2/3 cup sugar


1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa


1 large egg


1 large egg white


Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Combine butter and mints in a 2 cup glass measure; microwave at HIGH 30 seconds or until soft.


Stir until smooth, and set aside.Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife.


Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl.Combine sugar, cocoa, egg and egg white in a large bowl; beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended. Add mint mixture; beat well.


Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean; cool completely on a wire rack.


NOTE: Two large (1.5 ounce) mints or 6 miniature chocolate-covered peppermint patties (such as York) may be substituted for 32 junior mints.


Makes 16.


Serving size:


1 brownie Per serving: 121 Calories, 2.1 g Protein, 0.2 g Total Fiber, 3.9 g Total Fat, 19.5 g Carbohydrate, 81 mg Sodium, 14 mg Cholesterol

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

MARTHA'S BANANA BREAD WITH MY TWIST!

This is the best banana bread ever, I think even if you're not a fan of banana bread you will still like this!

Martha Stewart's Banana
1/2 c butter (1 stick), at room temperature
1 c sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 c very ripe bananas, mashed (~3 bananas)
1/2 c sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

My twist is simple, make the above recipe and add Cinnamon chips( can get at Albertsan's)
and a streusel topping you can use any recipe you choose but here is mine.

For the streusel topping
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
2 teaspoons cinnamon


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 9x5x3 inch loaf pan; set aside. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat to incorporate. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix until just combined. Add mashed bananas, sour cream and vanilla; mix to combine. Stir in nuts (I didn't put this in) Add the Cinnamon chips and pour into pan put the streusel on top. Bake until cake tester inserted into center of loaf comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.


Sorry about the pictures, I'm having to take some of them with my phone camera.



Sunday, March 8, 2009

Scandinavian Almond Cake

When I lived in California, I went to my church Christmas choir practice and for refreshment we had this yummy almond cake that was so Delicious that I had four pieces. I have wished for that I would have asked for the recipe at the time. I have been trying to find a recipe that was it twin and I think I've found on that's pretty close. I got the recipe from www.lefsetime.com
You have to try this yummy cake. Its so good that I can eat a whole cake all by my self!!



Scandinavian Almond Cake
1 1/4 c sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
2/3 c milk
1 1/4 c flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 stick melted butter

Beat together sugar, egg, extract and milk. Stir in flour and baking powder. Then add butter. Mix well. Spray cake pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle slivered almonds into bottom of pan if desired. Pour into a greased pan( I used an 8 inch round cake pan). Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or till edges are golden brown. I checked on it after 35 min. Cool cake in pan completely before removing. Dust with confectioner sugar if desired.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Rocky Road Cake!

OK I haven't made this Cake in years but I was having a dinner party at our house tonight and thought this would be the best cake to make. It was such a hit!! "My husband just couldn't get enough of it" enjoy! :)

Rocky Road Cake
2 sticks butter
1cup water
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
4 Tb. Coco
1/2 cup butter milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1/3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla

Bring to boil in pan 2 sticks butter with 1 cup water boil til blended together pour over 2 cups sugar 2 cups flour 4 Tb. coco "blend them all together" Add: 1/2 cup butter milk, 2 eggs "Slightly beaten" Baking soda, vanilla, baking powder.
Before baking add chocolate chips on the top of the cake- Then:
Bake in large Pan "oil/flour pan" Bake 30 Min's in 350' oven.

Frosting:
1 stick butter
1 box powdered sugar
4 T Cocoa
2 t vanilla
6 T Milk
1 Cup nuts
1 cup mini marshmallows
*beat the 1st five til smooth
add nuts and marshmallows;
Spread on while cake is hot! Then cover cake while it's still hot with tin foil let cool!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Do-Ahead Ravioli Sausage Lasagna!

Get a jump start on a delicious casual dinner. Make a pasta casserole the day before and tuck it in the fridge for next-day baking. I got this recipe from good old BETTY CROCKER. I wasn't able to take a picture because it was eaten up so fast.
Do-Ahead Ravioli Sausage Lasagna
I did it the day of and it was yummy!

1/4
lb bulk Italian pork sausage(I used jimmy dean)
1
jar (26 to 28 oz) tomato pasta sauce (any variety)
1
package (25 to 27 1/2 oz) frozen cheese-filled ravioli(I used fresh from the pasta/cheese section at the store and cooked it before hand)

I also add a large container of cottage cheese in between layers, my favorite.
2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (10 oz)
2tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1. In 10-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink; drain.
2.
In ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish, spread 1/2 cup of the pasta sauce. Arrange single layer of frozen ravioli over sauce; evenly pour 1 cup pasta sauce over ravioli. Sprinkle evenly with 1 1/2 cups sausage and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers with remaining ravioli, pasta sauce and sausage.
3.Cover tightly with foil; refrigerate at least 8 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
4.Heat oven to 350°F. Bake covered 45 minutes. Remove foil; sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella and the Parmesan cheese. Bake about 15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and lasagna is hot in center. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.
Success Let pasta casseroles stand a short time after baking for easier cutting and serving.
Serve With
Serve with thick slices of garlic bread and a tossed green salad. If you still have room for dessert, offer scoops of raspberry and chocolate sorbet.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Sweet Cinnamon Rolls!!

These are super yummy cinnamon rolls!! My friends and husband are always asking me to make them!! I hope you like them too!! :)

Sweet Recipe:
3 Tbsp. Yeast
4 cups milk (Warmed)
2/3 cup sugar
12 to 14 cups of Flour
3 to 4 tsp salt
4 eggs
2 sticks butter (Melt butter)
1 cup warm water

Cover with a cloth in a warm place, let it rise until doubles in size..Then pinch it down and the roll it out like the photo below and spread "Butter" half melted over it then sprinkle it with "Cinnamon and brown sugar" roll it up like a long bat and then cut about 3" thick rolls and put them on a pan like below and let them rise again for about 35 mins!


Let them double in size before putting them in the oven!
Frosting:
Melted butter
add powdered sugar
milk
vanilla
FROSTED BANANA BARS
from taste of home.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Dash salt

FROSTING:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions: In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, bananas and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into creamed mixture just until blended. Transfer to a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack. For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Frost bars. Yield: 3 dozen.





I'm more of a pumpkin, carrot cake, or zucchini bread fan. I like banana bread a lot too. These are more like dessert bars though!









Sunday, March 1, 2009

Birthday FOOD

Chili's Southwestern Egg rolls
Ingredients
1 chicken breast fillet
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp minced red bell pepper
2 tbsp minced green onion
1/3 cup frozen corn
¼ cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
2 tbsp frozen spinach, thawed and drained
2 tbsp diced, canned jalapeño peppers
½ tbsp minced fresh parsley
½ tspn cumin
½ tspn chili powder
¼ tspn salt
dash cayenne pepper
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 5 x 7" flour tortillas
1. Preheat barbecue grill to high heat
2. Rub chicken breast with some vegetable oil then grill it on barbecue for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until done. Lightly salt and pepper each side of chicken while it cooks. Set chicken aside until it cools down enough to handle.
3. Preheat 1 tbsp of vegetable oil in a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat. Add red pepper and onion to pan and sauté for a couple minutes until tender.
4. Dice cooked chicken into small cubes and add it to pan. Add corn, black beans, spinach, jalapeño peppers, parsley, cumin, chili powder, salt, and cayenne pepper to pan. Cook for another 4 minutes; stir well so that spinach separates and is incorporated into mixture. Remove pan from heat and add cheese; stir until cheese is melted.
5. Wrap tortillas in a moist cloth and microwave on high temperature for 1½ minutes or until hot.
6. Spoon approximately one-fifth of mixture into center of a tortilla. Fold in ends and then roll tortilla over mixture. Roll tortilla very tight, then pierce with a toothpick to hold together. Repeat with remaining ingredients until you have five eggrolls. Arrange eggrolls on a plate, cover plate with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.

for avocado-ranch dipping sauce :
¼ cup smashed, fresh avocado (about half of an avocado)
¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
1 tbsp buttermilk
1 ½ tspn white vinegar
1/8 tspn salt
1/8 tspn dried parsley
1/8 tspn onion powder
dash dried dill weed
dash garlic powder
dash pepper for garnish :
2 tbsp chopped tomato
1 tbsp chopped onion
1. While eggrolls freeze prepare avocado-ranch dipping sauce by combining all of ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Preheat 4-6 cups of oil to 375°F. Deep fry eggrolls in hot oil for 12-15 minutes and remove to paper towels or a rack to drain for about 2 minutes. Slice each eggroll diagonally lengthwise and arrange on a plate around a small bowl of dipping sauce. Garnish dipping sauce with chopped tomato and onion
Macaroni Grill's Lemon Passion tres leche Cake
Tre leche
12 oz Evaporated milk
1 cup Sweetened condensed milk
1 cup Heavy cream
1 tsp Vanilla
1 Tbsp rum extract
Cake
1 box of french vanilla (super moist) cake mix.
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1/2 cup oil
3 eggs
water recommend on the cake box. I think its 1 1/2 cups of water.
1/2 tsp. lemon extract
mousse
1 lemon -- zested and juiced
2 tablespoons simple syrup( I used light caro syrup)
1 package unflavored gelatin
1 cup heavy cream -- chilled
1 cup lemon curd ( I bought mine at smiths)
2 cups heavy cream topping(fold this in gently)
Topping
2 cups sweetened whipped cream
Mix the cake Ingredients and bake using the box directions.
Cool completely.
While cake is baking combine the ingredients for the tres leche and set aside.
After cake has cooled use the end of a wooden spoon and punch wholes through out the cake, Drizzle some of the tres leche sauce over the cake but not so much as to make it soggy.
In a small saucepan combine the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons simple syrup and gelatin. Stir to soften the gelatin. Place over low heat and cook until the gelatin dissolves, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and pour into a mixing bowl add the heavy cream. Whip the cream until soft peaks form. Combine the gelatin mixture, lemon zest and lemon curd.
Mix well. Add the lemon mixture to the whipped cream. Continue to beat until the cream forms stiff peaks. Spread lemon cream over cake and place in the refrigerator to set - 3 to 4 hours. To serve, pour tres leche sauce on a plate, top with a square of the cake and dollops of the whipped cream. Drizzle with a tiny bit of the sauce.

CALIFORNIA EGGS BENEDICT

2 English muffins, toasted( I used left over focaccia bread I would recommend it)

4 strips bacon, cooked crisp

1/2 ripe avocado, peeled and sliced

4 eggs 3 tbsp.

Directions
Prep time: 15 minutes, Cook time: about 15 minutes total Top muffins with avocado and bacon; set aside. To poach eggs, break into buttered custard cups and set in a pan filled with 2 inches of simmering water. Cover and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until eggs are cooked as you like. Alternatively, poach in 4 inches water with a little rice vinegar.

Hollandaise Sauce
4 egg yolks
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted (1 stick)
Pinch cayenne
Pinch salt

I also used some basil.

Directions
Vigorously whisk the egg yolks and lemon juice together in a stainless steel bowl and until the mixture is thickened and doubled in volume. Place the bowl over a saucepan containing barely simmering water (or use a double boiler,) the water should not touch the bottom of the bowl. Continue to whisk rapidly. Be careful not to let the eggs get too hot or they will scramble. Slowly drizzle in the melted butter and continue to whisk until the sauce is thickened and doubled in volume. Remove from heat, whisk in cayenne and salt. Cover and place in a warm spot until ready to use for the eggs Benedict. If the sauce gets too thick, whisk in a few drops of warm water before serving.

Spoon sauce over eggs and top with pepper. Makes 2 large or 4 small servings.