Sunday, September 27, 2009

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!