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!