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I am addicted to cooking and baking. I love to find and make delicious recipes. Sometimes I create my own and I post them here. Other times I find a recipe and adapt it. I have posted those recipes here as well. Enjoy.

Friday, November 14, 2014

PUMPKIN SPICE & CHOCOLATES FRENCH SILK PIE




Crust:
1 (16 oz.) package gingersnap cookies put through a food processor
½ cup butter, melted
Or
A pillsbury packaged crust baked as directed.

Dark Chocolate Filling:
3 oz. unsweetened chocolate, cut into pieces
¾ cup butter, softened (do not use margarine)
1 cup baker’s extra fine sugar (if available)
1 teaspoon vanilla
¾ cup refrigerated fat free egg product

White Chocolate Filling:
3 oz. white chocolate cut in pieces
¾ cup baker’s extra fine sugar (if available)
¾ cup butter (do not use margarine)
1/3 cup egg product

Pumpkin Spice Filling:
½ of the white chocolate mixture
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/3 cup canned pumpkin


Directions:
Put the gingersnap cookies through a food processor to make crumbles.  Melt butter.  Pour the cookie crumbs into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan.  Add the butter and stir well.  Press the moist crumbs into a crust in the pan.  Use your hands if necessary.
Dark Chocolate Filling: Melt chocolate in small saucepan over low heat; COOL TO ROOM TEMPERATURE.  In small bowl, beat ¾ cup butter until fluffy.  Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy..  Add cooled chocolate and vanilla; blend well.  Add egg product to the dark chocolate mixture, ¼ cup of egg product at a time, beating at high speed 2 minutes after each addition.  Beat until mixture is smooth and fluffy.  Pour into the crust (if using a pastry shell, make sure it has cooled.)

White Chocolate Filling:  Melt  white chocolate in small saucepan over low heat; COOL TO ROOM TEMPERATURE.  In small bowl, beat ¾ cup butter until fluffy.  Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add cooled white chocolate and blend well.  Add egg product to the white chocolate mixture, a little at a time, beating at high speed 2 minutes after each addition.  Beat until mixture is smooth and fluffy.  Separate into two even parts.
Pumpkin Spice Filling:  Take one part of the white chocolate filling and add the pumpkin and the pumpkin pie spice.  Mix well.


With a teaspoon, drop dollops of white chocolate mixture and the pumpkin spice mixture in a circular pattern on top of the chocolate filling.  Using a knife, spiral the white chocolate and pumpkin mixture through the chocolate filling.  Then, using a flat spatula, smooth the top over.  Then, drop a few more smaller dollops and drizzles of the pumpkin spice and the vanilla mixtures and using the spatula, make shallow swirls with the white chocolate and pumpkin mixtues in the chocolate.
Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.  Top with whipped cream and sprinkles.  Store in refrigerator.  Pie may also be frozen for an extra firm filling.  Remove from freezer 15 minutes before serving.


Saturday, November 8, 2014

CHEESY SAUSAGE CHICKEN ROTINI (SKILLET DINNER)


Ingredients:
1 package sausage links (cut into discs) (about 10 links)
3 thin chicken breasts, cubed
Garlic herb Mrs. Dash, to taste
1 garlic bulb, peeled, chopped
3 tablespoons garlic olive oil, or olive oil
1 (12 oz.) package vegetable rotini pasta (plus 1 teaspoon salt)
3 tablespoons lemon juice
½ cup parmesan cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 cup Colby jack cheese

Directions:

Add 1 teaspoon salt to 4 cups water and boil for the pasta.  Peel and chop the garlic.  In a small sauté pan, add the garlic olive oil and the garlic.  Cook on High until the garlic is roasted.  Remove from heat.  Set aside.  Begin boiling pasta.   In a large sautteuse pan cook the sausage discs until it is brown and crispy.  Remove from pan and add to the garlic that has been set aside.  Add the cubed chicken to the pan (cook in the sausage grease) and season to taste with the Mrs. Dash.  Cook just until no longer pink in the middle.  (Drain boiled pasta).  Turn heat to low and  Add the garlic, sausage, lemon juice and rotini to the chicken in the large sauttuese pan.  Mix together.  Add the cheeses and mix until melted.  Serve  warm with broccoli or peas.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

PITA BREAD


adapted from  (PHOENICIAN BREAD from Story of the World V 1 , by Susan Wise Bauer pgs. 58-59)
Ingredients:
6 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon yeast
2 cups warm water
1 - 6 tablespoon honey (depending on how sweet you want your bread)
½ cup sugar
Some butter and extra flour for preparation
¼ cup melted butter
½ cup cornmeal

Directions:
Let the yeast dissolve in the warm water.  Stir the honey in the water and yeast mixture,  then add the salt, sugar and flour, slowly stir until it becomes tough to mix.
Put the dough on a surface lightly covered with flour (a pastry mat).
Knead for about 10 minutes.  Then, place the dough in a buttered bowl (make sure all the sides are buttered).  Spray the dough with cooking spray.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp dishtowel.  Let Rise for 1 to 2 hours or until it doubles in size.
After punching down the dough, shape it into 8 – 10 balls and place on a baking sheet or baking stone that has been sprinkled with cornmeal.  Brush tops with melted butter and sprinkle with cornmeal
Set them aside for about 15 minutes  - then put them into the preheated oven.

(To make into pita pockets, shape them into 6” or 7” round shapes (like mini pizza crusts).)

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.  Place dough on a cookie sheet (baking stone).  Bake for 10 to 12 minutes on the lowest rack in the oven.  Makes about 8 – 10 pita bread rounds.


Remove from oven (test to see if they are done by tapping them with your knuckle.  If they sound hollow, they are done) . For Pita Pockets, Using a bread knife, make a horizontal cut partway in the bread to make a pocket.  Stuff with butter, cheese, bacon, broccoli, etc.  Enjoy.

Monday, October 20, 2014

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH ULTRA GEL


Ingredients:
14 oz. can of sweetened condensed
8 oz. milk chocolate, premium chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped
7 tablespoons Ultra Gel (for Cold Recipes)

Directions:

In a heavy sauce pan, heat the sweetened condensed milk just until it boils (continually stirring).  Turn it to low and add the chocolate.  Let the chocolate melt, stirring while it melts.  Remove from heat and set aside and let cool to room temperature (approximately 2 hours).  Whip the Heavy Whipping Cream with the Ultra Gel and the vanilla.    Whip it just until it is SUPER THICK.  In a blender, blend the chocolate into the whipping cream.  Pour into serving containers and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.  Serve with sliced strawberries, raspberries or peppermint whipping cream and candy cane chips. Enjoy.  

Saturday, September 20, 2014

SLUSHY LEMONADE PUNCH



INGREDIENTS:
1 container Simply Raspberry Lemonade
Approximately ½ container Simply Limeade
1 cup frozen strawberries
½ cup frozen pineapple
½ cup Country Time strawberry lemonade crystals

DIRECTIONS:

Pour 1 container Simply Raspberry Lemonade into a gallon pitcher.  Add ½  container Simply Limeade.  Stir.  Just before serving, blend frozen strawberries, frozen pineapple and country time lemonade crystals together in a blender.  Pour into the pitcher and stir.  Serve well chilled.

CARAMEL APPLE DUMP CAKE


Ingredients:
6 – 8 apples, peeled and thinly sliced (I use Granny Smith and Honey Crisp for a tart and sweet combo)
Or 1 can of apple pie filling
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon Cornaby’s Thick Gel, or corn starch
½ teaspoon apple pie spice
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 cake mix (I used a Caramel Apple Cake Mix, but a spice cake mix or a yellow cake mix would work)
1 cube butter (1/2 cup), cut into very thin squares.
7 squares of caramel, cut in pieces

Directions:
As you peel and slice the apples, place them in a large bowl with lemon juice, stirring as you add more.  Once you are finished slicing the apples, add 1 tablespoon Thick Gel or 1 tablespoon cornstarch, ½ teaspoon apple pie spice and ½ teaspoon cinnamon.  Mix well. 

Pour apple mixture into a 13X9 inch baking dish.  Cover  apples with the dry cake mix.    Place the thin squares of the butter evenly over the cake mix.  Toss the pieces of caramel over the butter.  Bake for approximately 45 – 50 minutes or until golden brown.  If you are using the apple pie filling, your baking time will be approximately 35 – 40 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients

Apples in Baking Pan

Covered in Caramel Apple Cake Mix, Butter and Caramel Pieces

Just Out of the Oven
Piece Missing

Ready to Eat

Thursday, July 31, 2014

FROZEN SOUR PEAR PIE




INGREDIENTS:
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1 ½ drams  = 1 ½ teaspoons (.125 oz. bottles) LorAnn Super Strength Pear Flavoring LorAnn Oils
4 teaspoons Tart & Sour  Fruit Flavor Enhancer – LorAnn Gourmet  LorAnn Oils
 Neon green food coloring , 4 - 6 drops (optional)
1 ¼ cups whipping cream, whipped
1 shortbread crust (9 inches)

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk, pear flavoring and tart and sour.  Mix well.  Add a few drops of green food coloring and mix in.  Add more or less food coloring depending on the desired shade and intensity of green.   

Whip 1 ¼  cups whipping cream. Fold a fourth of the whipped cream into grape mixture; fold in remaining whipped cream.   Spoon about 1/8 cup into a small bowl.  Add a few drops of green food coloring and stir. Set aside.  Pour the remaining mixture into the crust.  With a teaspoon drop dollops of the brighter green mixture on top of the pie.  Using a knife, make swirling motions to make a swirled texture of greens in your pie.  Cover and Freeze over night.



Remove from freezer 10-15 minutes before serving.  

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

OREO COOKIE DOUGH BITES



Adapted from http://family.go.com/food/recipe-639377-cookie-dough-bites-t/#memberViews
Ingredients:
1 cup salted butter, softened
¾ cups packed light brown sugar
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla paste or extract
¼ teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
7 Oreo Cookies, crushed
Directions:
Using a mixer, Cream butter and sugar together.
Add remaining ingredients and mix well .
Roll into 1-inch balls.
Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.

Store in the refrigerator.

OREO COOKIES & CREAM ICE CREAM



Ingredients:
1 cup Half and Half, well chilled
¾ Teaspoon Xanthan Gum
¾ cup sugar

2 cups Heavy Cream, well chilled
1 teaspoon vanilla paste or extract
½ of a 14.3 oz. package of Oreo Cookies, crushed

Directions:

In a Large bowl,  in a mini blender, blend Half and Half with ¾ cup sugar and xanthan gum .  Mix until sugar dissolves (about 1 – 2 minutes).  Pour into a medium bowl and Add the heavy cream and vanilla paste (or extract) then mix until thick and creamy.  Pour into your ice cream maker’s freezer bowl and let operate according to manufacturer’s directions.  Meanwhile, place the container you will be freezing your ice cream in into the freezer to chill. About 5 minutes before the ice cream is done churning (about 20 minutes in) ADD the crushed Oreo Cookies. Once the ice cream has finished churning, pour ice cream in your prepared container and freeze for 5-8 hours.  Enjoy. 

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

SOUR WATERMELON ICE CREAM



Ingredients (for a 2 quart ice cream maker)
1 ½  cups Half and Half, well chilled
1 Teaspoon Xanthan Gum
1 cup sugar

3 cups Heavy Cream, well chilled
1 teaspoon Watermelon Flavoring   LorAnn Oils
3 teaspoons Tart and Sour flavor enhancer  LorAnn Oils
Magenta or Pink Food Coloring, optional
                                                                                                                            
Directions:
In a Large bowl, or in a mini blender, blend Half and Half with 1 cup sugar and xanthan gum .  Mix until sugar dissolves (about 1 – 2 minutes).  Pour into a medium bowl and Add the heavy cream, flavoring, tart and sour and optional food coloring  then mix until thick and creamy.  Pour into your ice cream maker’s freezer bowl and let operate according to manufacturer’s directions.  Meanwhile, place the container you will be freezing your ice cream in into the freezer to chill. Once the ice cream has finished churning, pour ice cream in your prepared container and freeze for 5-8 hours.  Enjoy.



FROZEN BUTTERED POPCORN SWIRL PIE




INGREDIENTS:
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
¾  - 1 teaspoon Buttered Popcorn Flavoring LorAnn Oils
1 ½ cups whipping cream, whipped
Yellow food coloring , 2 drops (optional)
1 shortbread crust (9 inches)

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk and the  flavoring.  Mix well.  Whip 1 ½  cups whipping cream. Fold a fourth of the whipped cream into buttered popcorn mixture; fold in remaining whipped cream.  Pour 7/8 of the mixture into the crust.  With the remaining  1/8 of the mixture stir in optional yellow food coloring,  With a spoon, pour dollops of yellow mixture onto pie.  Swirl around with a knife.  Cover and Freeze over night.



Remove from freezer 10-15 minutes before serving.  
Ingredients

Dollops of Yellow

Ready to Freeze



Monday, July 14, 2014

FROZEN REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER PIE




INGREDIENTS:
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons LorAnn Super Strength Peanut Butter Flavoring LorAnn Oils
A little of every basic food coloring to make brown, or brown food coloring (optional)
1 ½  cups whipping cream, whipped
1 cup mini Reese’s peanut butter cups
1 shortbread  or  chocolate graham crust (9 inches)

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk, and peanut butter flavoring.  Mix well.  Add food coloring and mix in. 

Whip 1 ½   cups whipping cream. Fold a fourth of the whipped cream into peanut mixture; fold in remaining whipped cream. 

On the bottom of your crust, place half of the Mini Reese’s peanut butter cups.  Pour the Creamy Peanut Butter Mixture over the mini peanut butter cups.  With the remaining mini peanut butter cups, place them on the top of the pie.


 Cover and Freeze over night.

Ingredients

Mini Cups on Bottom

Ready to Freeze



SOUR GREEN APPLE ICE CREAM (HOME-MADE)


Ingredients:
1 cup Half and Half, well chilled
¾ Teaspoon Xanthan Gum
¾ cup sugar

2 cups Heavy Cream, well chilled
1 teaspoon Green Apple Flavoring  LorAnn Oils
2 teaspoons Tart and Sour flavor enhancer LorAnn Oils
Neon Green Food Coloring, optional

Directions:

In a Large bowl, or in a mini blender, blend Half and Half with ¾ cup sugar and xanthan gum .  Mix until sugar dissolves (about 1 – 2 minutes).  Pour into a medium bowl and Add the heavy cream, flavoring and tart and sour and optional food coloring  then mix until thick and creamy.  Pour into your ice cream maker’s freezer bowl and let operate according to manufacturer’s directions.  Meanwhile, place the container you will be freezing your ice cream in into the freezer to chill. Once the ice cream has finished churning, pour ice cream in your prepared container and freeze for 5-8 hours.  Enjoy. 

Thursday, July 10, 2014

MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP HOMEMADE ICE CREAM



Ingredients:
1 cup Half and Half, well chilled
¾ Teaspoon Xanthan Gum
¾ cup sugar

2 cups Heavy Cream, well chilled
½  teaspoon Mint Chocolate Chip Flavoring LorAnn Oils
Green Food Coloring, optional
¼ cup Crushed Andes Mint Pieces
¼ cup Mini Chocolate Chips

Directions:

In a Large bowl,  in a mini blender, blend Half and Half with ¾ cup sugar and xanthan gum .  Mix until sugar dissolves (about 1 – 2 minutes).  Pour into a medium bowl and Add the heavy cream, flavoring and optional food coloring  and mix until thick and creamy.  Pour into your ice cream maker’s freezer bowl and let operate according to manufacturer’s directions.  Meanwhile, place the container you will be freezing your ice cream in into the freezer to chill. About 5 minutes before the ice cream is done churning (about 20 minutes in) ADD the crushed Andes Mint pieces and the mini chocolate chips. Once the ice cream has finished churning, pour ice cream in your prepared container and freeze for 5-8 hours.  Enjoy. 

PEANUT BUTTERFINGER OREO ICE CREAM (HOME-MADE)



Ingredients:
1 cup Half and Half, well chilled
¾ Teaspoon Xanthan Gum
¾ cup sugar

2 cups Heavy Cream, well chilled
¾  teaspoon Peanut Butter Flavoring  LorAnn Oils
6 crushed Reese’s Peanut Butter Oreos (or just Oreos)
6 oz. crushed Butterfinger Candy

Directions:
In a Large bowl,  in a mini blender, blend Half and Half with ¾ cup sugar and xanthan gum .  Mix until sugar dissolves (about 1 – 2 minutes).  Pour into a medium bowl and Add the heavy cream and the flavoring and mix until thick and creamy.  Pour into your ice cream maker’s freezer bowl and let operate according to manufacturer’s directions.  Meanwhile, place the container you will be freezing your ice cream in into the freezer to chill. About 5 minutes before the ice cream is done churning (about 20 minutes in) ADD the crushed Oreo pieces and the crushed Butterfinger candy. Once the ice cream has finished churning, pour ice cream in your prepared container and freeze for 5-8 hours.  Enjoy.


Thursday, July 3, 2014

FROG'S EYE SALAD (FRUIT PASTA SALAD)


Ingredients:
1 ½ cups dried acini de pepe pasta
1 (20 ounce) can of pineapple chunks in juice
3 tablespoons corn starch or (THICK GEL - a modified corn starch)
¼  teaspoon salt¼  cup sugar
1 cup whole milk
1 cup whipping creamBlue 
Food Coloring (a few drops) for Patriotic Version
¼  cup plus 3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
½  tablespoon vanilla extract or paste
½ teaspoon vanilla powder
1 (11 oz) can mandarin oranges
2 cups mini marshmallows
½ cup Coconut
2 cups sliced Strawberries 
Directions:Bring 2 quarts of water to a rapid boil. Cook pasta according to directions on package. Drain pasta and rinse in cold water. Add pasta to a large bowl. Open can of pineapple. Strain juice over pasta and stir to mix and coat the pasta. Set pineapple aside.

In a medium saucepan combine cornstarch, salt and sugar. Mix to combine. Slowly add milk and whipping cream and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar and avoid any lumps. Add food coloring if desired.  Once sugar has dissolved whisk in sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Stir constantly until mixture forms a thick pudding. Remove from heat pour into a medium bowl, place plastic wrap or waxed paper over the top of the bowl so it is flush with the pudding to avoid developing a skin. Place in refrigerator to cool for about an hour. Pour pudding into bowl with pasta mixture, stirring well to completely coat the pasta. 

Just before serving mix in pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, strawberries, coconut and marshmallows (if desired). Serve chilled.
Ingredients for salad assembly

stirring pudding into pasta

In a Big Bowl