Dessert: Molasses Cake

One of my friends gave me a book to read and it was one I couldn't put down! In it the characters make molasses cakes and they are something made special for holidays. The author included the recipe and they taste so amazing...

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup molasses
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 dashes ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven at 350. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan
2. In a large bowl cream butter and sugar
3. Beat in egg
4. In a separate bowl combine the milk and the molasses
5. In another bowl combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt
6. Add each of these alternately to the butter mixture beating well between additions
7. Spoon batter into the prepared pan
8. Bake for approx 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean (I ended up baking for 36 minutes, but I have a gas oven)

Reference Note:

This book is the reason I made this: The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. Such a good read and she has such a cool way that she writes (check out the interview with the author at the end)

Dessert: Grandma's Peanut Butter Cookies

So I am not sure where I got this from, but it's one of my favorite peanut butter cookie recipes. Whoever's grandma this is, thank you! (I found this written in my collection of recipes, so I must have kept it from my college days)

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup peanut butter (you can use extra crunchy if you want)
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3 TBSP milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• Granulated sugar (set aside for later, says it's optional- but why would you? That's what makes them Grandma's cookies!)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven at 375
2. Combine peanut butter, shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla. Beat with mixer on medium speed until well blended
3. Add egg and beat well until blended
4. Combine dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda). Add to peanut butter mixture on low speed until blended
5. Form into balls and roll in sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly in a criss-cross pattern with fork
6. Bake in oven for 7-8 minutes, until brown

Note:

I usually like to double the recipe, since I always seem to bring them to work. They tend to go quickly.

Dessert: Cornflake Turtles

Another super easy recipe from Real Simple, that's actually really simple and tasty!

Ingredients:

• Pecans (recipe says 36)
• Small Caramels (12)
• Semisweet Chocolate, melted (2 ounces, although I usually use more)
• Cornflakes (1/4 cup)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. On parchment lined baking sheet (or spray with cooking oil) form 12 groupings of 3 pecans
3. Place a caramel on top of each grouping
4. Bake until caramels melt (7-9 min) and then let cool
5. Dividing equally, spoon the chocolate over each caramel cluster and sprinkle with cornflakes
6. Refrigerate until set (about 15 minutes)

Such a fun recipe and unique when it comes to taste. Enjoy!

Lunch: Asian-Tofu Pasta Salad

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I have lots of recipes to post on here. I am starting off with the prefect recipe to pack for your picnic (I have to give credit to Real Simple for this recipe)...

Ingredients:

• Spaghetti
• Carrots
• Kirby Cucumber
• Firm Tofu
• Roasted Cashews
• Canola Oil
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Toasted Sesame Oil
• Kosher Salt

Directions:

1. Cook spaghetti according to directions (recipe says 5 oz, about 1/3 of a box); drain and run cold water to cool
2. Toss with shredded carrot, sliced/chunked kirby cucumber, tofu cut into cubes (recipe says 4 oz), and 1/4 cup chopped cashews
3. Then toss in canola oil (1 Tbsp), lime juice (1 Tbsp), sesame oil (2 tsp), and kosher salt (1/2 tsp)

*I usually end up making a whole box of spaghetti and tripling the ingredients.

Enjoy!