Dessert Recipe: Buckeyes!!!

So most of you know about these. You don't have to be from Ohio to love them (ahemm, sorry Michigan fans). These are really easy to make, but take some "hands on" and refrigerator time.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of butter
• 36 oz. of creamy peanut butter (jars usually come in 18 oz)
  
• 3 lbs of powdered sugar
• 24 oz chocolate chips
• chunk of paraffin wax (My mom and I use the brand Gulf Wax, which comes in four sheets that total one pound. You really only need 1/4 of one sheet for each batch, maybe a little less)

Directions:
1. Mix butter, peanut butter, and powdered sugar (I usually end up mixing with my hands). The batter should be smooth and stiff.
2. Roll in balls about teaspoon or tablespoon size (you can make them as big or as small as you want) and drop onto cookie sheet covered with wax paper. You can layer these as high as you want as long as you have wax paper in between each layer. Refrigerate until firm 3-5 hours or overnight.
3. Melt chocolate in double boiler with the wax (make sure the wax is fully melted). Using a toothpick dip each of the peanut butter balls into the chocolate until covered 3/4 of the way. Drop onto cookie sheet covered by wax paper. You can layer these the same way with wax paper in between. Refrigerate until set (3-5 hours).

**These are always a crowd pleaser!! If you are short on time you can always use the freezer to set these up.

Dessert Recipe: Fudgy Bonbons

This is the favorite cookie recipe of the holidays!! There's triple chocolate in these! (If you don't eat these freshly out of the oven, microwave them for 5 seconds and they taste all warm and gooey again)

Fudgy Bonbons:

• 1 12 oz package of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup of finely chopped nuts
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 60 milk chocolate kisses (unwrapped)
• 2 oz white chocolate
• 1 tsp shortening

Directions:
1. Preheat oven 350
2. In medium saucepan combine chocolate chips and butter
3. Cook and stir over very low heat until mixture is smooth
4. Add condensed milk (be careful not to scald), mix well
5. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup and level off
6. In medium bowl, combine flour, nuts, chocolate mixture, and vanilla. Mix well
7. Shape dough around each chocolate kiss, covering completely and into ball shape
8. Place each ball one inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet (best thing about this recipe is that you can fill a cookie sheet up and bake them all at once if you have a large cookie sheet)
9. Bake 6-8 minutes (cookies will be soft, but harden as they cool). Cool on wire rack
10. In small saucepan melt white chocolate and shortening. Drizzle over cookies.

**I added a picture of the ones I made for the cookie party last weekend (the white chocolate was not as drizzly as I wanted it to be)

Side Dish: Hawaiian Yams

This is something I learned to make in my high school foods class, that has since been used as our Thanksgiving side dish tradition. Super easy and uses only the microwave (can also use the stove too, but will take longer)

Hawaiian Yams:

Base:

• 2 cans (1 lb 2 oz each) of yams or sweet potatoes drained
• 1 can (8.5 oz) crushed pineapple (do not drain)
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp of cinnamon

Topping:

• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

Directions:
1. Slice the yams into 1/2 in thick pieces.
2. Combine with pineapple, butter, sugar and cinnamon in 2 quart
microwavable casserole dish.
3. Microwave on high for 4 minutes. Stir well.
4. Sprinkle top with pecans and brown sugar.
5. Microwave on high 2-4 minutes or until topping is hot and melting.

Dessert Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Hi All! Sorry for being a little behind posting new recipes. The holidays are always so busy. Nadia, Steve, and I had our annual "Every Belly Needs a Cookie" Party last weekend and I know a lot of you want the recipes from the cookies we made.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars:

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 tsp margarine (softened)
  
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
  
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1 pkg milk chocolate chips(divided)
• Sugar sprinkles (any color)

1. Beat peanut butter, margarine, brown sugar, sugar, and vanilla in large mixer bowl until creamy
2. Beat in eggs
3. Beat in flour
4. Stir in 3/4 cup chocolate chips
5. Bake in preheated oven (350) for 20-25 minutes or until edges are lightly brown
6. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with remaining chips
7. Let stand for 3-5 minutes and then spread evenly. Sprinkle with colored sugar sprinkles

**You can use any kind of chocolate chips for this...the best part is eating these right after the chocolate has melted!
Happy Holiday Baking all!

Dessert Recipe- Basic Cutout/Form Cookie

Hi All! Did you know that October is National Cookie Month?! Arlene had to scold me for not making any on the first day. Of course the entire month got away from me too (silly little thing like the Dublin Marathon had to get in the way). Oh well! In honor of Cookie Month (which by the way shouldn't everyday be a cookie day?!), and the holidays coming up, I am posting the cookie recipe I have used for YEARS (my mom has also used this one for years too) for my favorite cutout cookies.

Form Cookies:

• 4 cups Sifted Flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 4 Tbsp milk
• 2 tsp vanilla

1. Combine flour, salt, and butter and mix thoroughly
2. Add sugar and eggs, soda dissolved in the milk, and vanilla; mix well (if the batter is a little dry add a splash of milk...feel free to mix with your hands at this point)
3. Roll dough 1/4" thick on pastry cloth (or floured surface)
4. Using floured cookie cutters, cut and place on ungreased cookie sheets***
5. Bake in preheated oven (375 degrees) for 10-12 minutes

***If you are planning on icing the cookies and decorating that way move on to step 5. An alternative to this (which is my favorite way to decorate), is before putting them in the oven,brush with egg white and add your favorite sprinkles/jimmies/etc. Sometimes I like the taste of the baked in sugar sprinkles as they tend to melt just a tiny bit in the oven they bake.

I hope to add a few more recipes as the holidays near. So excited to taste that Turkey soon! Happy Baking all!

Dessert Recipe: Snickerdoodle Bars

Super easy and fast!

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks butter
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp sugar-cinnamon mixture, to sprinkle on top

Directions:
Preheat oven 350 degrees. Grease 13x9 in pan.
Cream butter and sugar with electric mixer at high speed until fluffy. Add baking soda, cinnamon, and salt then mix at low speed to blend. Add eggs, vanilla and beat on medium speed until just incorporated. Add flour and mix on low speed until blended.

Scrape dough into pan, smoothing into an even layer. Bake until lightly golden and set in center (about 25-30 minutes). Transfer pan to a rack, and if desired sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture and then cool completely.

Comments:
This is something that has a light taste and loved by everyone.

Dinner Recipe: Creamed Chicken

I absolutely LOVE this recipe. My Aunt Sandy passed this onto me and she makes this for a lot of family gatherings. I made it for my roommates and they always say this is their favorite dinner.

Ingredients:

• 4 Tbsp chicken fat or butter (I usually use margarine)
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 1/4 cup milk
• 3 cups diced cooked chicken
• 1 tsp of salt
• dash of pepper

Directions:
Blend flour, butter, milk, broth in large saucepan. Cook until smooth, stirring constantly. Add chicken, season with salt and pepper. Heat thoroughly, serve over biscuits.

Comments & Additions:
This is an easily adaptable Vegetarian recipe (replace chicken with your favorite frozen veggies, and chicken broth with vegetable broth).
For me I always have issues with thinking it will not be thick enough so I always add flour. Problem with that is it tends to stick to the bottom and burn the flour/batter. I use Bisquick biscuit mix and make drop biscuits. Yummy!

Cookie Recipe: Corn Flake Chews

I have been making this recipe since I was in junior high. This is another one of my favorite no bake cookies!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup light karo syrup
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 2 cups corn flakes
  

Directions:
Mix corn strup and sugar in medium-large saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil up once while stirring (I usually let it come to a rolling boil and then wait for 30 seconds). Remove from heat. Add peanut butter and stir until smooth. Stir in corn flakes. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper.

Comments & Additions:
I usually double this recipe since they tend to go fast! Something I look for when the sugar and karo syrup is boiling is that it looks clear. Enjoy!

Recipe: Peanut Butter Banana Bread

This has to be one of the best recipes where you can experiment with quantities and ingredients and it will always taste wonderful!!

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 2 or 3 mashed ripe bananas (1 cup)
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
  
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 1 6oz. package Chocolate Chips (I use 12 oz. usually)
  

Directions:
Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon (I never use a sifter, but I mix with a fork). Mix both sugars, oil, egg, bananas, milk, peanut butter, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients to sugar mixture, then stir in chocolate chips. Mix well.
Divide between 2 greased 8x4 inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes.

Comments & Additions:
So this has to be one of the best breads that can double as dessert. I always bring this into the office and both loaves are gone in about 24 hours. A couple things I change up are the sugars (either all brown sugar or all granulated), I will substitute chocolate milk for regular milk, or even adding peanut butter chips. Enjoy!

Dessert Recipe: Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

Almost everyone's favorite recipe!! My mom handed this to me a long time ago and it's the number one requested baked good I get.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups Flour
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 cup Butter
• 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 3/4 cup packed Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 1 package of Instant Pudding (any flavor)
• 2 Eggs
• 1 12oz. package Chocolate Chips

Directions:
Preheat oven 375 degrees. Mix flour and baking soda, set aside.
Combine butter, sugars, and dry pudding mix in large bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy.
Beat in eggs. Gradually add in flour mixture, then stir in chocolate chips. Dough will be stiff.
Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Comments & Additions:
This is a great recipe to experiment with. You can use any type of chocolate chips, any kind of pudding mix(think chocolate base with mint chocolate chips). The best thing about this recipe if you want to cook a little longer even if they are very golden they will still be soft.

Dessert Recipe: Chocolate No Bakes

One of the easiest, but a tricky desserts to make:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Oats
• 2/3 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 2 cups Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 cup Margarine
• 1/2 cup Milk
• 1/3 cup Cocoa
• 2 tsps Vanilla

Directions:
In medium saucepan mix together on medium heat: margarine, milk, sugar and cocoa. Bring to a boil and stir constantly. Once at a rolling boil time for one minute and remove from heat. Add vanilla and peanut butter. Once smooth add oats. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper. Allow to set-up and cool.

Comments & Additions:
I have been making this recipe since I was a kid (my mom is a big influence and started my love of sweets and baking). Be patient when you are waiting for the mix to boil (do not turn up the heat, etc.) as I have had many many times scalded the mix and it tastes crunchy/burnt or removed from heat too early and you can taste/feel the sugar crystals.
You may want to add raisins when you add the oats (Nadia loves this!) or you can always use crunchy peanut butter. The possibilities are really endless.

My favorite recipes!

I have been meaning to start this for a very long time. I LOVE to cook and bake and everyone is always asking me to send them the recipe of something they tried. This is the first time I have ever created a blog so please be nice to me until I figure out how this thing works. Thank you all!