Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Cake Batter Cookies



CAKE BATTER PUDDING COOKIES


Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 sticks (or 3/4 cup) butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 3/4 cup yellow cake mix
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2-1/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • sprinkles

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Stir together flour, salt and baking soda and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars together.
Add in pudding package and cake mix and beat until well blended.
Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.
Add flour mixture slowly until well incorporated.
Mix in sprinkles sprinkles.
Roll into 1" balls and place on greased baking sheet.
Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Avocado Fries

My sister-in-law visited recently and I'm not sure if she really enjoys it but, one of the things I really like doing with her is finding something yummy to cook together.  Either way, she's a good sport and pretty much does anything I say with a smile on her face and then acts like she loves whatever I cook.  So do her kids.  Making them my all time favorite guests.
We found these fries on Pinterest and decided we had to try them for Super Bowl.  They didn't disappoint.



Avocado Fries
Printable Recipe
Recipe Adapted from Sunset Magazine
http://circle-b-kitchen.squarespace.com
Canola oil for frying
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp kosher salt
2 large eggs, beaten to blend
1 1/4 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
2 firm-ripe medium avocados, pitted, peeled, and sliced into 1/2-in. wedges
Grated parmesan for serving (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 200°. In a medium saucepan, heat 1 1/2 in. oil until it registers 375° on a deep-fry thermometer.
2. Meanwhile, mix flour with 1/2 tsp. salt in a shallow plate. Put eggs and panko in separate shallow plates.
3. Sprinkle the avocado slices with the remaining ½ tsp salt.  Dip each slice in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in egg, then panko to coat. Set on 2 plates in a single layer.
3. Fry a quarter of avocado slices at a time until deep golden, 30 to 60 seconds. Transfer slices to a plate lined with paper towels. Keep warm in oven while cooking remaining avocados. Sprinkle with salt and a little grated parmesan.

Stovetop Macaroni & Cheese

I found this on the Brown Eyed Baker.  Very creamy.  Ignore my mix of elbow and shells...I didn't have enough for just one type and had to get creative.
http://www.browneyedbaker.com



Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes
2 eggs
1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk, divided
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon water
½ teaspoon salt, plus additional 1½ teaspoons for pasta water
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
8 ounces (2 cups) elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 ounces mild Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
4 ounces American cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
1. In a small cup, dissolve the dry mustard in the water; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, 1 cup of the evaporated milk, dry mustard mixture, salt, and pepper; set aside.
3. Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a large Dutch oven. Add the pasta and 1½ teaspoons salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Drain the pasta and return to the pot over low heat. Add the butter and stir until completely melted.
4. Add the egg mixture and three-quarters of the cheese mixture to the pasta and toss until thoroughly combined and the cheese starts to melt. Gradually add the remaining evaporated milk and remaining cheese mixture, stirring constantly, until the mixture is hot and creamy, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies


Wicked Good!

Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
-15 marshmallows (cut into thirds)
-2/3 Cup cocoa powder
-2 Cups flour
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1 teaspoon salt
-1 Cup sugar (plus 1/2 Cup sugar for rolling)
-1 Cup crisco
-1/2 Cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
-2 unbeaten eggs
-1 teaspoon vanilla
1. Cut marshmallows into thirds (I use scissors), and place in freezer while preparing the cookie dough.
2. Measure and Sift together with a whisk the: flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, cream together the: sugar, brown sugar and crisco.
4. Blend into the sugar bowl the 2 unbeaten eggs and vanilla. Beat together well.
5. Stir in the dry ingredients.
6. Roll the dough around each marshmallow third sealing it in a small ball.
7. Roll each ball in sugar.
8. Place on a cookie sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart.
9. Bake at 400 for 4 1/2 to 5 minutes, then set out to cool.
That’s it! They bake for such a short time, and it’s better to under cook than over cook them. They freeze really well too. They are a good mix of salty sweet. I hope you try them!


Peanut Butter Sheet Cake

Pinterest is making cooking fun again.  
I found this linked to The Girl Who Ate Everything...one of my favorites.
The only reason it is iced so pretty is because my sister-in-law actually made it.



Peanut Butter Sheet Cake
by Nina Jones

Mix in pan and bring to a boil:
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter

Sift the following and add to the above mixture:
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda

Mix and add to the above mixture:
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla

Stir well and pour into greased or parchment lined cookie sheet pan (jellyroll pan). Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

Frosting
Mix in pan and bring to a boil:
3/4 cup butter
6 Tbsp buttermilk
1/2 cup peanut butter
Take off stove and add:
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 1 Tbsp vanilla. Pour over warm cake.