Candy Corn Sugar Cookies.

When Heidi asked if I wanted to have a baking party I happily agreed since her and I have not baked together is so long.  Then she told me about the candy corn sugar cookies she wanted to make and I was more excited.  They turned out super cute!!  She always comes up with creative holiday cookies (see reindeer cookies aka most viewed post of all time!!)  They tasted good too!

Candy Corn Sugar Cookies
(Recipe by Heidi)
1 batch sugar cookie dough tinted orange with food coloring (use your favorite recipe...or this one)
1/3 package white chocolate candy melts
1 package milk chocolate candy melts

Prepare cookie dough using your favorite sugar cookie recipe.  If you don't have a favorite yet, use our favorite one!  Tint the dough orange.  Roll dough out on a floured surface and cut out triangles with a cookie cutter or knife.  Bake according to sugar cookie recipe and allow cookies to cool.  Dip the tip of one angle into white chocolate and the bottom in milk chocolate to create "candy corn" cookies.  Allow chocolate to set up and serve.

These would be perfect for a school snack or to hand out to trick-or-treaters!  They come together fairly quickly so you still have time!  Happy Halloween!!

Banana Oatmeal Graham Muffins

I experimented with banana muffins last night in an effort to use up some overripe bananas and lucky for all of you, came with a recipe good enough to share! :)


Banana Oatmeal Graham Muffins

Wet Ingredients:
3 overripe bananas, mashed
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
1/3 cup canola oil
1 egg

Dry Ingredients:
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup almonds, chopped
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup flour
3 graham crackers, coarsely crushed

Streusel Topping:
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 T. flour
2 T. butter
dash cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine all wet ingredients and add dry ingredients to mixture. Place muffin liners in muffin pan and fill liners atleast 3/4 full. Prepare streusel by cutting butter into the remaining topping mixture. Cover each muffin with streusel topping. Bake for 15 - 18 minutes, allow to cool and enjoy! :)

Makes one dozen muffins.

Eight Layer Tortilla Bake.

8 Layer Tortilla Bake



Back in June, I brought this recipe to you without pictures. I made it again last night with a few changes and thought I'd share the visual with you. This is truly a very EASY recipe and really delicious. To get the recipe: Click here!

The changes I made with this one is that I added a can of green chilies to the black beans and refried beans and also two layers of taco seasoned ground beef.

Ham Roll Ups

Ham Roll Ups are one the quickest, easiest and most delicious appetizers you can whip up. I'm not sure where the original recipe came from, but I believe I first had it when my aunt Cindy brought them to a family gathering. Either way, the are really good but quite addictive - you won't be able to only have one!



Ham Roll Ups

Ham - I used cooked ham from a deli, feel free to use prepackaged lunch meat.
Cream Cheese - 4 oz. or however much is necessary, depending on how many you wish to make
Dill Pickles - 12 to 16

1. Let Cream Cheese soften.
2. Spread Cream Cheese on ham slice.
3. Wrap pickle in ham.
4. Slice and enjoy!

See - very easy! :)

Reindeer Cookies

Before I even begin this post, I must share that I can only take credit for MAKING the cookies... not for the IDEA of these cookies. My mom actually gave me the idea and I'm not sure if she thought it up in that brilliant head of hers or if she saw it somewhere else.

Next, I must share that these are SUPER cute and SUPER easy.

And, now, I'll get on with the post! :)


Reindeer Cookies

Ingredients:
1 package Nutter Butter cookies
Candy Quick melting chocolate (or any chocolate for melting)
pretzel twists
mini chocolate chips
red hot candies or if you prefer - red M&Ms (mini or regular)


Directions:
I think it's pretty self explanatory... dip the Nutter Butter cookie into the melted chocolate and place the pretzel towards the top of the cookie to resemble antlers. Next, place the mini chocolate chips towards the middle of the cookie for eyes and the red hot at the bottom for a nose. Let the chocolate set and enjoy! :)

Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas

My favorite food, hands down, is Mexican. Poor Lucas, whenever we go out to eat, my first suggestion is always Mexican (Lucas' is Chinese) and again, when I go to visit him in EC, we usually make something Mexican at least once during the weekend.
I absolutely love playing around with entrees that I've either had, seen or simply heard of. So, this past (Thanksgiving) weekend, everyone was sick of turkey, so they agreed to let me make this recipe that came together in my head:



Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas

2 - 3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (salt and pepper)
2 Tablespoons diced jalapeno peppers (or one small can green chilies)
3/4 cup salsa
1 can seasoned black beans (drained and lightly rinsed)
8 - 10 flour tortilla shells
1 large can enchilada sauce
1 - 2 cups shredded cheese


Use cooking spray to coat 9x13 glass baking dish. Preheat oven to 375. Cook and shred chicken breasts (this is easiest using two forks). Add peppers, salsa and black beans. Fill tortilla with chicken mixture and roll, placing seam side down in baking dish. Fill as many tortillas as fit in one layer in dish. Pour enchilada sauce over and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake for 20 - 30 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned.


Serve with toppings of your choice. Ideas: shredded lettuce, black olives, sour cream, etc.

This recipe is SUPER easy to make and really tasty! If you like Mexican food as much as I do (or, even if you don't), you will like this recipe. Enjoy!

Cream Cheese Cut Out Cookies

Our neighbor (Jean) makes the BEST cream cheese cookies ever, but they aren't a cutout recipe, and I really wanted to make cute, Halloween cutouts... so, I found this recipe in one of Holly's Christmas Cookie Cookbook/Magazine and tried it out. They turned out cute, and were pretty good, but I'll search for an even better one or perform a little "test kitchen" on my own! :) Enjoy!


Cream Cheese Cut Out Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Combine butter and cream cheese. Beat with an electronic mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, vanilla, and almond extract until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Cover and chill about 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out images.

Place cutouts 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheets for 1 minute. Tran sfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool.

Apple Pie

Apple Pie

This pie is the second pie I have ever made, and my first one with a homemade crust! We haven't tried it yet but it smells absolutely delicious and looks pretty darn good also. We're getting together tomorrow to have apple pie a la mode - so I'll update you with the results! :)

I started off by searching for a pie crust recipe and adapted my recipe from one listed on SimplyRecipes.com.

Perfect Pie Crust

2 1/2 cup flour, plus additional flour for rolling out dough
2 sticks butter, frozen and cubed
1 teaspoon sugar
4-8 Tablespoons ice water

Combine flour and sugar in food processor; process to mix. Add butter and pulse 6 to 8 times, until mixture forms pea-sized pieces of butter. Add 1 Tablespoon of water at at a time (not exceeding 8 Tablespoons), until it begins to clump together. If you can pinch a small amount of mixture together and it holds, it is ready. It should resemble the image below.


Separate the mixture into two equal mounds on a clean service. Gently knead the mixture into two formed discs - do not over-knead. You should see small chunks of butter, these chunks of butter are what helps the crust flake. Sprinkle these disks with a little flour and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator for at least one hour (can sit for up to two days). Remove one disc from fridge and allow to get to room temperature - 5-10 minutes to make rolling easier. Sprinkle surface with flour and roll out pie crust. Carefully place into 9 inch pie plate. After adding filling, repeat with the second disc.

Apple Pie Filling

3-5 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1/4 cup apple pie liquor
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 425. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour in crust and sprinkle with additional brown sugar, if desired. Cover pie with top crust; press crusts together, trim the edges and press fork around the outside edge. Cut 3-4 slices or designs on top crust to allow the steam out while baking. Bake 45 minutes. After removing from oven, cover with glaze.

Apple Pie Glaze

3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 to 2 Tablespoons water
pinch of cinnamon

Combine all ingredients, mix well and place on top crust. Enjoy!

Salisbury Steak

This weekend I traveled to Eau Claire again to visit Lucas and some of our friends. It was an extremely busy weekend, sharing the news of our engagement with everyone that I barely had anytime to make something good for Lucas! I was able to today however, because the Bears are on TV... So, today I will share with you a good Football Sunday (or any Sunday) lunch. On the menu was: Starter Salad, Garlic Smashed Potatoes (which you can find on this blog already... they're to die for!) and Salisbury Steak.



Salisbury Steak

1 - 2 pounds Cube Steak
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon season salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Original Blend
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 stick butter
1 can french onion soup
1/2 soup can water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, salt, pepper, Mrs. Dash and chili powder. Place butter in frying pan. Coat portions of cube steak in flour mixture and brown both sides in butter. Place in baking dish, add soup and water. Bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until tender. Enjoy!

Quick Fix Salsa

Well, if you lack ambition or time and can't make Holly's delicious salsa recipe below...

check this recipe out. All you need is two fresh tomatoes or a can of diced tomatoes and the salsa packet pictured above. My mom picked up the salsa packets at Fleet Farm and we haven't seen them elsewhere, so Fleet is definitely your best bet.



One the tomatoes are added, you only have to stir, and let it sit for 10 minutes (or longer) and then you can enjoy it! :) It keeps for quite a while in a sealed container in the fridge also.

Enjoy the quick fix!

Season Premiere Cookies

So, Lucas (my boyfriend) is a HUGE Chicago Bears fan. Two weekends ago when I went to visit him I made him the College House Brownie Bars (recipe can be found on this blog!) and these cookies. I went to visit him today and found that he had saved (froze) some of the cookies for the big game which will take place in a few hours!
I usually play the neutral card when it comes to football because the rest of my family are Packer fans which is who the Bears happen to be playing today. Good luck to both teams! :) And, here is the recipe:

Season Premiere Cookies

1/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 sticks butter
2 eggs
1 box chocolate pudding
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup blue and orange m&m's (or your teams colors)
1/2 cup chocolate chunks

Combine all ingredients and bake 12 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Enjoy! And, Happy Football Season!

College House Brownie Bars

After an extended absence for no better reason than being busy, I am back with a recipe for brownie/chocolate lovers. :)
I came up with these last night after wracking my brain for something new I could make for Lucas. He just completed his first week of his last year of college in Eau Claire and I finished my second week of my internship in Abbotsford, so for the extended weekend I headed to EC to visit.
Now, you have to understand that in the kitchen of four college-aged guys... the baking supplies are few and far in between... so, I did what I could. These would be even better if I had made homemade brownies rather than box mix - so, I challenge you try doing that as well. Either way, I will promise a delicious product!


College House Brownie Bars

1 pkg family size brownies (my personal favorite are Duncan Hines brand - Chocolate Fudge)
3/4 cup peanut butter - I used chunky but would personally recommend creamy (but Lucas liked the chunky)
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
2 handfuls of M&Ms, chopped
4-5 Oreo Cookies, crushed
2/3 cup white chocolate chips

Follow the directions on the box and place in a greased 9x13 pan. Then, mix the peanut butter, egg and sugar together. Spoon globs onto unbaked brownies and then using a butter knife, cut mixture into brownies to create a swirled effect and so that there will be peanut butter in each bite! Top with remaining ingredients and add some additional ones if you wish! Bake about 5 minutes longer than box requires. Enjoy!

Garlic Smashed Potatoes

These potatoes are probably the best I have ever made... they are VERY tasty and you should probably try them out tonight with fresh potatoes from your garden or tomorrow if you have to run to your nearest farmer's market or grocery store to get some baby red and yellow potatoes.

I served these with Jamaican Jerk beef strips (a sirloin roast, sliced into strips and marinated), corn on the cob and garlic bread.

I will warn you in advance that I did absolutely no measuring, so I encourage you to do the same, as my measurements are only approximations anyway... make them to your liking and use this as a guide. :)


Garlic Smashed Potatoes

10-12 baby red and yellow potatoes, rinsed and halved -- leave skins on!
2/3 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1 - 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon season salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Boil potatoes in salted water until fork is easily inserted into potato. Drain water and return to pot. Add remaining ingredients and mash with spoon, leaving some lumps. Enjoy! :)

Banana Pancakes

Do you have some ripe bananas lying around? You'll want at least two... to make some banana pancakes! The banana flavor is just right - not too much, but not too little...

Here is an absolutely delicious and super easy recipe for banana pancakes...


Banana Pancakes

1 cup flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
2 Tablespoons oil
2 ripe bananas

Combine beaten egg, milk, oil and bananas. Add dry ingredients. Mixture will be a bit lumpy. Coat skillet with cooking spray and cook.


I told you it was simple. :)

I made these pancakes in the middle of the afternoon because I decided I needed to use up some of my ripe bananas. I tried one, to be sure they were delicious and then cooled and froze the rest to leave in Eau Claire for Lucas because very soon he will be fending for himself, as I will be home (in Mosinee) for my practicum. They froze very well; I cut wax paper squares to separate each of them. I also took one out of the freezer and reheated in the microwave to make sure they would still be delicious and it turns out that they were! So, Lucas will at least be able to eat a good breakfast for a few days even if I'm not there to cook for him. :)

Peanut Butter and M&M Cookies

Earlier in the week I went on a two-day pre-practicum canoe retreat with 30-something other classmates to discuss any last minute detail practicum "stuff" before we arrive to our sites in late August. I made these cookies to share with everyone and they received raving reviews! I will definitely continue to make this recipe and won't alter it at all.


Peanut Butter and M&M Cookies

1 stick butter
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup M&Ms (I sorted my M&M's out and only put orange, yellow, brown and red ones in these cookies)

Combine all ingredients and bake in a 375 degree over for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy! :)

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Occasionally, when I go to Subway, I ruin the concept of "eating healthy" with their white chocolate macadamia nut cookies - they are SO good. I had one recently and decided I need to try to recreate them. The recipe I came up with isn't really close, but they are still tasty cookies. Hope you like them!


White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

2 sticks butter
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 small box instant white chocolate pudding, not prepared
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/4 cup flour
1 package white chocolate chips
1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped or halved

Combine all ingredients and bake in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.

Blueberry Coffee Cake

This coffee cake is absolutely amazing. If you are on a diet - I would suggest making it for a get together so you won't have any leftovers because it definitely does not meet any healthy recipe standards! :) But that's okay every once in awhile...

You can find the original recipe at www.allrecipes.com



Blueberry Coffee Cake

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 5/8 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen will work)

1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch bundt pan (I didn't have a bundt pan on hand so I used an 8x8 glass dish). Combine first set of ingredients. Add half of the mixture to the pan. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on first layer and add the rest of the batter. Bake for 55 - 60 minutes.

Sausage Egg Bake

This egg bake is SUPER easy and really delicious! It's a very basic recipe, so feel free to add a lot more fresh ingredients. I will make this again and again!


Sausage Egg Bake

2 packages Brown and Serve breakfast sausages (this is what I had on hand, I just cut the links into bite size pieces. It would be equally good with ground italian sausage)
2 cans cream of potato soup (feel free to use any cream soup)
9 eggs
3/4 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Fry sausage and add cream of potato soup. Beat eggs with milk and add the salt, pepper and 3/4 cup cheese. Add soup and sausage to egg mixture. Place in greased glass baking dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 45 minutes to one hour.
I served this with salsa.

When I make it again, I will add mushrooms, onions, green peppers, etc.

Zucchini Quiche

...to stick with Holly's zucchini theme. :)

So, I have to admit, I've had quiche only one other time and I absolutely hated it, but this quiche is another story! For our dinner group, I made this Wednesday night as my vegetarian entree, but it is delicious for anyone! Please, don't be afraid to try it, it is simply delicious and you could very easily add any additional ingredients to your liking.

Zucchini Quiche

1 deep dish pie crust
2 Tablespoons butter
1 pound zucchini (1 -3 zucchini depending on size)
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup half and half
3 eggs, beaten
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
paprika (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 425. Pick holes in bottom of pie crust; bake for 7 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 350 degrees.

Saute zucchini in butter. Meanwhile, combine the rest of the ingredients. Drain zucchini and place 1/2 in the bottom of pie crust. Top with half of the cheese. Carefully pour egg mixture over zucchini and cheese. Top with remaining zucchini and cheese. Garnish with paprika. Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

I do apologize for not having a picture, but we were a little late with getting supper on the table for everyone and I forgot my camera. There also wasn't any leftovers to photograph it after supper! I will make this again, and I'll be sure to take a picture then and post it. :)

Spaghetti and Meatballs

You absolutely must try this recipe. Not only was it good on spaghetti noodles, but it was also delicious when I used the leftovers to make meatball subs the next day. :)

When I was eating this, it reminded me of the cute, romantic scene in the movie Lady and the Tramp. :) This spaghetti and meatball recipe is all homemade and honestly takes VERY little time. I prepared it in the morning and let it cook in my crock pot on low all day. You could also prepare it from start to finish in only an hour if you prefer to not use a crock pot.

I made this recipe all on my own and just looked at a variety of recipes on www.allrecipes.com to get an idea of what I might use. I was a little leary when i saw that almost all the recipes put the raw meatballs in the sauce without ever even browning them. Trust me- it's worth it. The meatballs were so delicious and not a single one fell apart!

FYI: this does make a large amount ... enough for at least 10 people.


Spaghetti and Meatballs

Meatballs
1 pound ground beef
1 pound italian sausage
1 2/3 cup italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 Tablespoon minced onion
2 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
3 eggs

Sauce
5 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 can (28 oz.) tomatoes, diced
1 can (16 oz.) tomato sauce
1 can tomato paste
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
3/4 teaspoon dried basil
*I also added about 1/4 pound Italian Sausage that I had already dried earlier in the week

Place all ingredients for spaghetti sauce together in a crock pot. Prepare meatballs using all of the meatball ingredients and shape into balls. Add meatballs to sauce (without precooking or browning them) and let cook on low all day (or at least 6 hours). Serve with thin spaghetti noodles. Enjoy! :)

If you do not want to cook in crock pot; allow to simmer for 45 minutes and the meatballs should be thoroughly cooked.

And remember to use the leftovers for meatball sandwiches the next day. :) That is, if you have any leftovers!