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Monday, September 30, 2013

37-Calorie Brownies


Source: 


Ingredients:
3/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt (I used vanilla)
1/4 cup skim milk
1/2 cup Cocoa powder
1/2 cup Old fashioned rolled oats (like Quaker)
1/2 cup Truvia (or any natural/stevia based sweetener that pours like sugar)
1 egg
1/3 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch salt

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease a square baking dish (I used 8"x8"). Combine all ingredients into a food processor or a blender, and blend until smooth (about 1 minute). Pour into the prepared dish and bake for about 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before cutting into 9 large squares.


Stacie says: This pic is the exact same pic used in the Lunchroom Lady Iced Brownies, found here: 
http://nowyoucanpinit.blogspot.com/2013/04/lunchroom-lady-iced-brownies.html
If anyone has made these, and would like to submit a REAL picture of these brownies, please let me know! ;)

Soft Frosted Pumpkin Spice Cookies



FB Source: Mike Santos

Ingredients:
Cookies:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Frosting:
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup softened cream cheese
2-3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt; set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup of butter and white sugar. Add pumpkin, egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to butter mixture, and beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls; flatten slightly.
  3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven.
  4. Make frosting: cream butter and cream cheese together. Slowly add powdered sugar and mix with an electric mixer until thick and creamy. Add vanilla and cinnamon.
  5. When cookies are cooled- spread frosting on top with an offset spatula.
Yields: 3 Dozen

Reese's Pieces Cookies


Source: 


Ingredients:
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1-1/2 c. flour
1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
Reese's pieces and/or mini chocolate chips (however many you want)

Directions:

  1. Cream your butter and sugar together. Then mix in your egg and vanilla. Next add the flour, pudding mix, baking soda and kosher salt. Last, add in the Reese's pieces and/or chocolate chips. 
  2. Using a cookie scoop, place as many balls of dough as fits on your pan. Place them all in the freezer until frozen. 
  3. Once frozen, place cookie balls about one inch apart from each other and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Let them cool on a cooling rack. Enjoy!

Rice Crispy Pumpkins 2


Source: 


Ingredients:
1 Stick Butter
2 (10 oz). Packages Marshmallows
12 C. Rice Crispy Cereal
1 tsp. Yellow Food Color
1/4 tsp. Red Food Color
Green Decorating Icing in Tube
Black Decorating Icing in Tube
Decorating Tips
Tootsie Rolls

Directions:

  1. In a large pot on low heat melt the butter then stir the marshmallows in until they have dissolved.
  2. Next, add the food coloring into the mixture and stir until the mixture is a uniform orange color.
  3. Add Rice Crispy cereal to the mix and stir them until they are completely coated in our marshmallow, food coloring mix.
  4. Shape the mixture into into balls either your hands or a spoon.
  5. Place the balls in the refrigerator and leave there until is has become completely chilled and is firm.
  6. Once firm, using the black and green icing, decorate your pumpkins with leaves and add a tootsie roll as your stem.
Ok, these are seriously the cutest Rice Krispie Treats I have ever seen!! These Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats would be the perfect party favor. Make sure to Share this one with your friends Here is the recipe courtesy of: thehighheeledhostess.com

Friday, September 27, 2013

Six-Minute Caramels


Source: 
Melody Murray via Stacey Pollock Folds


Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup light Karo syrup
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
Directions:
  1. Combine all ingredients.
  2. Cook 6 minutes on a medium high heat, stirring every minute.
  3. Stir and pour into lightly greased dish.
  4. Let cool.
  5. Cut, wrap in wax paper & store in an air tight container.
I love caramels and this seems like the perfect, easy solution! Remember to click "share" so this stays on your timeline to go back to at a later use such as Christmas time.

Cookies and Cream Goodness




FB Source: Dawn W Hapney

Ingredients:
1 bag Oreos, crushed
8oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter 
1 cup powdered sugar
3 cups milk
2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding
1/2 tsp vanilla
12 oz Cool Whip, thawed

Directions:

  1. Cream together cream cheese, butter, powered sugar and vanilla.
  2. In separate bowl mix milk & pudding chill until set.
  3. Fold in cool whip after pudding has set. 
    Add in the cream cheese mixture.
  4. Layer with Oreos.
  5. Chill until ready to serve.

Pumpkin Muffins 2


Source: 

These are seriously some of the best muffins I've ever ate. They last about 10 minutes at my house.
***USE 1 15OZ CAN OF PUMPKIN PER BOX OF CAKE MIX***


Stacie says: I have a couple of friends discussing this one. One suggested using a Spice cake mix, so that you've got spices. Otherwise, there isn't much flavor to it. However, you can also add Pumpkin Pie Spice to it, I'd recommend using just 1/4 tsp, and add more, if needed. Since it doesn't have any eggs, it's okay to sample the flavor of the batter after adding more spice, to make sure that it's to your liking.

Cream of Tartar Tips and Tricks


Source: 


In my little world, items like cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) are not simply a super way to stabilize egg whites but also scandalously inexpensive cleaning secrets.
  • This long-forgotten gem of a cleaning agent may be used with a little water or vinegar to lift even the most stubborn stains. Unattractive grout driving you batty? Mold and mildew stains got you reaching for the Prozac? Burner pans and casserole dishes giving you fits? Cream of Tartar is your new best friend.
  • Cream of tartar is one of nature’s best bleaching agents. Cream of tartar, a.k.a “crusted wine,” is mixed with baking soda to create baking powder (bet you didn't know that.. okay, some of you probably did, you smartypants). While it is an acid, it’s not harmful. It’s an acidic salt which comes from grapes.
  • Use a few tablespoons of cream of tartar with hot water or hydrogen peroxide and clean any aluminum pans which have discoloration or any rusty drains, pans, or stains.
  • Do you have copper kettles? Mix some cream of tarter with lemon juice and rub the copper with it. Rinse and be amazed!
  • How about a porcelain sink, tub, commode? Rub the porcelain surfaces with cream of tartar and watch the stains disappear.
  • Fabric stains? No prob. Mix a few teaspoons of cream of tartar with some glycerin and use like spray-and-wash. The results? Well, I’m here to tell you that this stuff cured the ring around Joshua’s shirt collars.
  • Just need a great nonabrasive cleaner? Mix 2 teaspoons of vinegar and 2 teaspoon of cream of tartar in a small dish (use 3 or 4 teaspoons of vinegar and 3 or 4 teaspoons of cream of tartar if you have more items to clean). Apply with your cleaning rag or scrub brush and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Scrub. Wash with hot soapy water.

Kneaders' Pumpkin Bread Pudding


Source: 

Now that Fall is officially here, we're dying to share September's Recipe of the Month! Butter those 9x13 pans for cinnamon sweet Pumpkin Bread Pudding!

French Toast Breakfast Muffins



Source: Chrissy Kelley


Ingredients:
1/3 c. butter, melted
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg (preferably room temperature)
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 c. milk

Topping (option: cut topping in half*)
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter, melted
1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. In a medium-large bowl, sift together all dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and stir just until combined, but still a bit lumpy. Do NOT overmix; overmixing will ruin the texture of the finished muffins.
  3. Scoop batter into muffin tins that have sprayed with cooking spray. Using a large ice cream scoop, I got 8 medium-large muffins out of this batter; I think you could get 10-12 muffins by distributing the batter a little less generously. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until they just start to turn a bit golden at the edges.
  4. For the topping, mix sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Place melted butter in another small bowl. Dip the warm muffins in melted butter (you can dip just the top, but it's even tastier to dip the whole muffin!), then dip/roll the muffin in cinnamon sugar.
*May have left-over topping; the extra topping can be used for dipping, while eating the muffins (oh my). Another option is to cut the topping ingredients in half.

CONSUME, ENJOY, GO CRAZY! 
These are amazing!! Taste exactly like French toast!!! Made with skim milk and light butter was only 121 calories a muffin if you make 12!

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Caramel Cheesecake Bites


Source: 


Ingredients:
Crust:
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 cup almond meal/flour
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp fine Sea Salt
1/4 tsp ground Cinnamon
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup melted butter

Cheesecake:
19 ounces cream cheese
3 eggs
1/4 cup 
granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Caramel:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup evaporated milk

Directions:
Cheesecake Bites:
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Crush your slivered almonds. 
  3. In a mixing bowl whisk together the almond flour, almonds, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and sugar. Add the butter and combine with a spoon.
  4. Line a muffin tin with liners. Push the almond mixture into the bottom of the liners. 
  5. Bake for 10 minutes to set. 
  6. Turn oven down to 300°.
  7. In a mixing bowl, add cream cheese, 
    eggs
    sugar and
    vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. 
  8. Spoon mixture into the muffin tins with prepared almond crust.
  9. Bake for 40 minutes. 
Caramel Sauce:
  1. While cakes are cooking, start on the caramel. Combine granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until sugar dissolves, stirring gently for 3 minutes. 
  2. Stop stirring and continue cooking 10 minutes or until the color of light brown sugar. Remove from heat; carefully stir in butter and milk. Place pan over medium-high heat until caramelized sugar melts. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute. 
  3. Remove pan from heat; cool caramel to room temperature. Cover and chill 1 hour or until slightly thickened. 
  4. Take cheesecakes out of the oven when they are done. Once cool, the middle will slightly fall and this is the perfect indent for the caramel.
  5. Spoon about 1 tablespoon caramel over each cheesecake.

50 Household Tips


Source: Jennifer Park


Most people are watching their dollars and working off a budget to make ends meet. Many are also now looking for natural alternatives to live a more wholesome and chemical free life. Following are a few ways in which you can have both of the above. These uses are becoming more prevalent and are easy to do it yourself. So, here are great easy uses for common household items to make your life more chemical free and your wallet a little fatter.

1) Toothpaste: Buff a CD/DVD
Apply toothpaste to a cotton ball and wipe the disc. Wash with water afterwards and you've got a brand new disc!

2) Cornstarch: Untangle Knots
Sprinkling cornstarch into tough knots, such as shoe laces helps loosen them.

3) Walnut: Buff Dings out of Wood Furniture
Get rid of unsightly scratches and dings on wood furniture by rubbing a walnut on the areas. The blemishes will vanish quickly and your furniture and pocket book will be saved.

4) Club Soda: Make Your Breads Fluffier
When baking, where recipes call for water, add club soda instead to make pancakes, waffles and any other breads fluffier.

5) Salt: Keep Windows Frost Free
Pour a cup of salt into a liter of water. Sponge the liquid onto the inside of window to prevent frost from forming during the winter months.

6) Rubbing Alcohol: Remove Permanent Marker
Dab the surface that has the permanent marker on it with a cloth or cotton ball covered in rubbing alcohol to make it disappear quickly.

7) Chap stick: Stops Bleeding When Nicked Shaving
Cut yourself shaving? Just swipe some chap stick over the cut to stop that constant bleeding. No more tissue squares!
8) Apple Juice: Removes Dandruff
Don’t ask how it works, but it does! Instead of buying a special shampoo, just wash your hair in apple juice to rid your scalp of pesky dandruff.

9) Aspirin: Get Rid of Armpit Stains on T-Shirts
Grind up an aspirin tablet or two, then make a paste out of it using water, lemon or vinegar. Spread the paste on the stained area and let sit for an hour before washing.

10) Olive Oil: Make Pets’ Coat Shinier
Add a bit of olive oil to your pet’s food to give them a healthier, shinier coat of fur.

11) Newspapers: Clean Windows and Mirrors
Instead of using a spray and a streaky cloth, use only newspaper to clean off your mirrors and windows for a streak-free finish.

12) Baking Soda: Remove Bugs from Windshield
Mix baking soda with warm water to make a paste. Spread the paste over your windshield for fifteen minutes. Then wipe or spray off with a hose.

13) Bleach: Extend Life of Flowers in Vase
Add a few drops of bleach to vase water to prevent the build-up of the slime caused by bacteria. It works just like chlorine in a swimming pool.

14) Kitchen Dish Soap: Flea-Killing Dog Shampoo
Kitchen dish soap (not dish detergent) can double as dog shampoo for its flea killing abilities.

15) Coke: Remove Blood Stains from Clothing
Soak the stain in coke until the stain is dissolved, then wash the clothing as usual. Wash before the coke dries, though.

16) Honey: Remove Blemish Overnight
Have a blemish you need to get rid of by tomorrow? Put a dab of honey on the blemish and cover it up (it’s best to use a Band-Aid) and the honey’s natural antibacterial properties will clean out the bacteria by the morning.

17) Wax Paper: Clean Can Opener Gears
Run a few small strips of wax paper through the can opener to clean out of the bits and pieces that have built up in the gears throughout the year. The wax will also rub off on the gears to protect for future use as well.

18) WD-40: Remove Crayons from Walls
Use the lubricant and a cloth to remove stubborn crayon marks from the walls just by spraying the wall and wiping with a cloth.

19) Chalk: Keep Ants and Slugs Out of the House
Ants and Slugs Won’t Touch Chalk. So, simply draw a line in front of your doorway where you are having problems with these pesky critters and they won’t cross it, meaning they won’t be able to get into your house.

20) Vinegar: Kills Weeds and Helps Flowers Grow
Vinegar is a magic wonder when it comes to gardening. It not only kills weeds but they help flowers grow as well. Douse vinegar all around your garden to prevent weeds from popping up and to help your flowers to grow healthy and strong.

21) Mayonnaise: Remove Bumper Sticker
Spread mayonnaise on the bumper sticker and let sit for at least thirty minutes. Then, rub the sticker off with a towel, leaving a clean bumper!

22) Tin Foil Ball: Replace Dryer Sheets Permanently
Instead of using a dryer sheet ball up one or a few sheets of tin foil and toss it in the dryer. It removes the static electricity from your clothes and one can last up to a year.

23) Banana Peel: Polish Leather Shoes
Use the inside of a banana peel to give shoes a professional and natural shine that will last for quite some time.

24) Mouthwash: Cure Athlete’s Foot
Pour mouthwash on cotton balls and then swab your feet. The alcohol will disinfect the bacteria completely if you continue this for a week or so.

25) Baking Soda: Clean BBQ Grill
Mix a cup of baking soda with half a cup water to make a paste. Dip your brush into the paste and scrub the grill. The caked on pieces and black residue will come off much quicker and using baking soda is much safer and cheaper than using cleaning chemicals.

26) Coffee Grounds: Fertilizer
Coffee is full of nutrients and vitamins that are very beneficial to soil. That’s why some people include it in compost piles. If you want to get the most out of your coffee, pour the grounds on areas where you want more grass or flowers.

27) Olive Oil: Shaving Cream
The smoothness of the oil can replace the need for shaving cream, and it also provides great moisture.

28) Dryer Sheets: Gets Rid of Static Electricity
Use dryer sheets to remove static electricity from things such as clothing, TV screens or your own hair. Tame fly away strands by running a dryer sheet over them.

29) Freezer: Freeze Candles to Make Them Last Longer
Put candles in the freezer for at least 2 hours before using. Once you burn them, the wax will melt at a much slower pace, making them last much longer!

30) Two glasses of water: Cure Headache
Water is the cure to most common headaches. To make the headache go away quickly, drink two cups of water very quickly.

31) Lemons: Deodorize Garbage Disposal
Toss whole slices of lemon into the garbage disposal then run it. The acidity of the lemon will rid your sink of all odors and leave a fresh scent that usually lasts for a few months.

32) Alka Seltzer: Remove Burnt-On Grease and Food Stains
When letting your pots and pans soak, throw in one or two Alka Seltzer tablets and the caked on residue from cooking will come off easily when you scrub/wash.

33) Apple Cider Vinegar: Relieve Diarrhea
Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into eight ounces of water to soothe your stomach. The taste may not be the greatest, but the antibacterial properties of the vinegar will end the unpleasantness of the bowel problems.

34) Toothpaste: Remove Scratches from Glass
Apply toothpaste to scratch, then rub with a cloth until the scratch is gone. Make sure the glass is clean beforehand.

35) Cheerios: Relieve Pain from Poison Ivy, Chickenpox and Sunburns
Pound one to four cups of Cheerios into a powder and add to your bath to soothe your skin while you soak. You may not feel relief while in the tub, but you will soon after.

36) Buttons: Sort Earrings
Organize your earrings and prevent them from becoming entangled by using spare buttons as holders for each pair.

37) Corn Oil: Prevent Hairballs for Pets
Add a few drops of corn oil to your pets’ food to prevent hairballs from forming. The thick oil helps the fur pass through the animal’s system much quicker and easily.

38) Whipped Cream: Remove Gum from Hair
There are many remedies for removing gum from hair, but this is a lesser known one. Give it a try rather than peanut butter the next time you’re in need.

39) Coke: Remove Oil Stains from the Driveway
Oil stains are very difficult to remove pavement, but one method guaranteed to work is Coke. The highly acidic drink will eat away at the oil until clean.

40) Brown Sugar: Facial Scrub
A scrub is good to do about once a month to remove dead skin and bacteria built up in pores and remove excess oil from the skin. Brown sugar does just as well as expensive products and will definitely result in a clearer and smoother complexion.

41) Dryer Sheet: Lint Brush
You already know that dryer sheets remove lint in the dryer. Well, it can do the same thing out of the dryer, too. When you’re in a fix, use a dryer sheet. It works just as well as a lint brush, and if you like the scent, it’s an added bonus.

42) Newspaper: Deodorize food containers and Food Drawers in the Refrigerator
For that stinky Tupperware or smelly refrigerator drawer that is too much to deal with, toss in a sheet of newspaper overnight before you deal with it. The paper will absorb the smell greatly reducing it or eliminating it completely.

43) Olive Oil: Unstick a Zipper
The oil will help the zipper slide more easily, fixing the problem!

44) Salt: Cool Something Quickly
You know that feeling when you’re having a BBQ and someone asks for a drink and you realize that no one has put them in the cooler? There’s nothing worse than a warm drink on a hot day. Chill a drink quickly, by adding salt and water to your ice. The drinks will be cold in a matter of minutes; saving your party and making you look smart all at once.

45) Scotch Tape: Prevent Wall from Chipping When Nailing
The wall can leave unsightly chips when hammering in a nail. Prevent this by simply placing a piece of scotch tape over the area you’re going to nail. The wall will be held tighter, preventing chips from occurring.

46) Alka Seltzer: Soothe Insect Bites
Dissolve two tablets into a glass of water. Then use a cloth or cotton ball to apply it to the affected area. The red will go down and most importantly, the itchiness will vanish usually in fifteen minutes.

47) Lemon: Whitens Whites
Add about half a cup of lemon juice to your load of whites to makes them extra white. You can use lemon juice with bleach or detergent, so don’t worry about mixing chemicals with the acidic lemon.

48) Banana Peel: Whiten Teeth
This may sound a little odd, but rub the inside of a banana peel on your teeth twice a day for two weeks and you will receive the same effect from a teeth-whitening kit. Plus, you’ll save yourself money and the hassle of using chemicals.

49) Hair Dryer: Free Photos Stuck on Pages
If you have a photo stuck on a page that you can’t get free, try using a blow dryer on the back of the page. It will loosen the photo from the page and the adhesive holding it there.

50) Banana Peel: Heal Most Skin Problems
Bananas are the magical fruit, because they heal many common problems on the skin. By rubbing the peel on your skin, you can heal bruises and cuts and eliminate rashes, itching and warts. Basically if you have a common skin problem, it can be cured by this fruit.

I hope you can put some or all of these to good use to save money and make your home a safer environment. There are tons more DIY uses for common household items like these. make sure to share the info with your friends!

No-Bake Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies


Source: Susan Smith


Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter (1.5 sticks)
2/3 cup milk
1 (3.4 oz) box instant pumpkin spice pudding mix (if you can’t find sub vanilla pudding & 1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice)
3 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. In a saucepan, combine sugars, butter and milk. Bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes.
  2. Remove from heat and add in the pudding mix, stirring to combine completely.
  3. Add in pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and oats. Stir to combine and let stand for 5 minutes.
  4. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper, and allow to cool completely.
Store in airtight container.
These cookies freeze well.
Servings: 36 cookies

Broccoli Patties


Source: Ty Jackson


Ingredients:
2 tsp vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic - minced
1/2 onion - chopped
1 (12 ounce) bag frozen broccoli - defrosted
3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
2 eggs - beaten
salt/pepper

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
  2. Heat the oil in a small pan over medium heat, add in the garlic and onions. Season with salt/pepper to taste. Sauté until onions are garlic are tender, set aside to cool.
  3. Add the broccoli to a kitchen towel. Wrap the towel around the broccoli and squeeze out the extra moisture. Pour the drained broccoli into a large bowl.
  4. To the same bowl, add the panko, the cheeses, eggs, sauteed onion and garlic, and salt/pepper to taste.
  5. Mix together and form into patties, place on the prepared baking sheet.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Flip and bake for another 15 minutes or until browned and crispy.

New Way to Tie Your Scarf


Source: Charie Villa

new way to tie your scarf  when bored.

Banana Bread In a Jar


Ingredients:
2/3 cup shortening
2 2/3 cups white sugar
4 eggs
2 cups mashed bananas
2/3 cup water
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves (I used half a teaspoon because I didn't want mine too ‘clovey’.)
2/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
You will also need:
12 250 ml canning jars - sterilized
funnel

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease insides of a dozen 250ml canning jars. (I wiped mine down with vegetable oil.)
  2. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Mash bananas--Beat in eggs, bananas, and water.
  3. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves.
  4. Add to banana mixture and mix well.
  5. Add nuts and stir them in with spoon.
  6. Insert canning funnel into mouth of jar and pour mixture into greased jars, filling half full. Do NOT put lids on jars for baking. Be careful to keep the rims clean, wiping off any batter that gets on the rims.
  7. Place jars directly on rack in oven. Bake for 45 minutes. Don’t worry if a few rise over the top of the jar a bit. You can press it down with the lid after it has finished baking.
  8. While jars are still warm, add lids. Screw on tightly.
  9. Listen for the ping once you have added the lids; this means that the jar is sealed. If you miss the “ping”, wait until they are completely cool and press on the top of the lid. If it doesn't move at all, it’s sealed.
(adapted from allrecipes.com)
Author's note: If you put a canning lid on them when they first come out of the oven, they seal, and they will stay good for about two months. Make for a great Christmas gift. You can do it with any moist bread or cake....pumpkin bread, carrot cake, and applesauce cake!

(Makes one dozen 250 ml jars)

Death-by-Butter Cookies




Ingredients:
1 box Duncan Hines butter recipe cake mix,
1 stick butter,
1/4 tsp vanilla extract, 
1 pkg cream cheese @ room temperature (8 oz. pkg),
1 egg

Directions:
  1. Combine all ingredients with electric mixer until well blended.
  2. Chill dough for two hours.
  3. Roll into balls (about walnut size).
  4. Roll balls in powdered sugar.
  5. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet in 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.
  6. Dust with powdered sugar when completely cooled.
These are also called: 
Gooey Butter Cookies

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Kiss Pies




Ingredients:
1 refrigerated pie crust, thawed
14 Hershey Kisses of choice, I used Mint Truffle today
1 egg white whisked with 1 Tbsp water
Powdered sugar for dusting

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Roll out pie dough onto a lightly floured counter top.
  3. Place 10 kisses around the edges of pie dough, about 2 1/2 inches apart (as in the photo above).
  4. Take a knife and cut a 2 1/2-3 inch circle around kiss.
  5. Fold half of pie dough around top of dough and pinch edge around top of kiss. Now, fold up both sides of remaining dough up to the tip of the kiss pinching edge. Now press together edges and form crisscross as shown in photo, step 3. 
  6. Continue cutting dough around kisses until all dough is used up. 
  7. Brush all little pies with an egg white wash then sprinkle with granulated sugar. 
  8. Bake for 20-28 minutes or until little pies are golden.
  9. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.
  10. Dust each with powdered sugar and serve.
Makes about 14 little pies.

Chile Relleno Casserole




Ingredients:
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
1 diced onion
3 cans green chilies
1 cup cubed cheese
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups milk
4 eggs
Pinch of salt
Pinch of pepper

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Layer chicken, onion, green chiles and cheese in a 9 x 11 baking dish.
  3. Mix together flour, milk, eggs & salt and pepper. Pour over the chicken layer.
  4. Bake 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Hot Apple Dumplings




Ingredients:
2 Granny Smith apples
1 cup water
1 cup sugar divided
1 stick butter
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
8 canned biscuits (I use Pillsbury buttermilk)
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Peel, core and slice apples vertically into 8 slices each. Cover with cold water to keep them from getting brown while you prepare the rest of the recipe. 
  2. In a medium saucepan, mix the water, 3/4 cup of the sugar, butter and vanilla over heat and bring mixture to a boil. 
  3. Separate each biscuit in half. Wrap biscuit dough layer around a slice of apple, stretching it to slightly overlap and seal the bottom.
  4. Place the wrapped slices sealed side down in a 9 X 13 baking pan. Pour the hot sugar mixture over the apple slices. 
  5. Mix the remaining 1/4 cup sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle over the tops of the wrapped apples. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!
(Not sure on who this recipe comes from, if you know who the owner is please let us know so we can give them proper credit)

Grandma's Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce



Ingredients:
4 cups (8 slices) cubed white bread
1/2 cup raisins
2 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Sauce Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon vanilla

Directions:
Pudding:
  1. Heat oven to 350°F. 
  2. Combine bread and raisins in large bowl.
  3. Combine milk and 1/4 cup butter in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted (4 to 7 minutes). Pour milk mixture over bread; let stand 10 minutes. 
  4. Stir in all remaining pudding ingredients.
  5. Pour into greased 1 1/2-quart casserole.
  6. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until set in center. 
Sauce:
  1. Combine all sauce ingredients except vanilla in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens and comes to a full boil (5 to 8 minutes). 
  2. Take off the heat and stir in vanilla. 
To serve, spoon warm pudding into individual dessert dishes; serve with sauce. Store refrigerated