Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe comes from a cookbook that my mom got me for Christmas a few years ago.  They're called Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls because the main ingredient is a boxed cake mix...and when I read it, I was sold!  The finished product is moist and delicious, and even a cake-lover like me couldn't tell a cake mix was involved.  Cheating the system without consequences!?  Yay!

1 white or yellow cake mix (I used white)
2 pkgs yeast (or 4 1/2 tsp)
1 tsp salt
2 c flour
--
3+ c flour
4-5 TBSP butter
cinnamon sugar, to taste
frosting of your choice

Combine first four ingredients (cake mix, yeast, salt, and 2 c flour).  Add 2 1/4 cups hot water.  Mix.  Add 3 c flour and knead until well mixed (it took about 4-5 minutes in my KitchenAid, but by-hand is fine for a similar amount of time), adding more flour as needed to avoid a sticky dough (mine took almost 4 1/2 cups).

Let rise until doubled (somewhere between 1-1.5 hrs).

Push down and roll onto flour surface into giant rectangle.

Soften butter and brush over rectangle.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  Roll up and cut into 1 1/2 inch slices.

Let rise until doubled on cookie sheet.  Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.

Frost while still warm with frosting of your choice.

Makes about 18 rolls.

Comments from the cook:  The original recipe called for 3 cups of flour in the 2nd set of ingredients, but I found that it needed closer to 4 1/2 cups.  Other than that, this recipe is just as easy as it sounds, and the result is awesome.

My favorite made-from-scratch frosting consists of whipping together about a TBSP of Crisco, a splash of milk, a dash of salt, a bit of vanilla, and as much powdered sugar as it takes to get the consistency you're going for.  (Vague enough for ya?!)  

Originally found in the "Worldwide Ward Cookbook" by Deanna Buxton.  Recipe attributed to Noryne Moss, and adjusted slightly by yours truly.

Chicken Enchilada Soup

This recipe has been in my "to make" folder for years now.  I got it from a former co-worker, who brought it for lunch one day.  I didn't need to taste it to know that I needed a copy of the recipe. Fast forward about five years, and it turns out I was right.  I'm only kicking myself about not having made it sooner.

While this soup doesn't make for a very beautiful photograph, the taste is enough to put vanity aside! :)

Original recipe calls for DOUBLE these quantities...which would be enough for you to eat for at least a week.  Also, don't be intimidated by the number of ingredients.  The final product is worth it!

1 TBSP canola oil

1/2 c chopped onion

1 tsp minced garlic (or 2 cloves)

1 (4oz) can diced green chiles

4 1/2 c water

1/4 tsp black pepper

2 tsp beef bullion (I used 2 cubes)

2 tsp chicken bullion (same)

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces

1 TBSP A-1 sauce

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp chili powder

12 corn tortillas

3 c cheddar cheese, grated

1/4 tsp paprika

Saute onion and garlic in oil.  Add remaining ingredients (except tortillas, cheese, and paprika).  Bring to a light boil.  Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 min.

Cut tortillas into 1/2 inch pieces, and grate cheese.

After the 20 min of simmering, add tortillas, cheese, and paprika.

Simmer uncovered 10 minutes.

Comments from the cook:  I had a 7oz can of green chiles, and used the entire can.  Next time I'll probably opt for a few less, but it's certainly a way to amp up the flavor.  I also just used 2 cups of grated cheese instead of 3.  The flavor of the soup is so good that the cheese isn't the main attraction, and I think I'll add even less next time.

Reheats really well the next day (with a bit of extra water added).

Originally shared by John Wadley, former co-worker at Provo Craft.

Minestrone Soup

My mom has been making minestrone soup for years, and somehow I hadn't tried it until a few months ago.  I LOVED IT.  Minestrone is a bit like "Ghoulash", in that it seems to mean something different in each household.  This is my version, and the ingredient list is as complete as possible for a "maybe a little bit more of this, little bit more of that" recipe.

1/3 lb ground beef *
1/4 of a white onion, chopped
1 1/2 tsp basil
1 1/2 tsp oregano
5-6 c water
3 cubes beef bullion
4-5 carrots, chopped
28 oz can diced tomatoes
15 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 tsp onion salt
1 tsp garlic
15 oz can kidney beans
15 oz can green beans
1/2 of 15 oz can yellow corn
4 servings pasta, mini-shells shown above
salt and pepper, to taste
fresh Parmesan cheese

Brown ground beef and onion in stock pot until thoroughly cooked.  Add remaining ingredients (except kidney beans, green beans, corn, and pasta), cover, and cook at a low boil until carrots are thoroughly cooked.

Prepare pasta separately (my preference is to make it a bit al dente, so that it doesn't get too soft later) and add to soup after carrots have cooked.

Add green beans and corn and simmer over low heat until ready to serve.

Comments from the cook:  This was my first time making minestrone soup, and I was thrilled with how it turned out.  Brian had to work late that night, and I knew it was my chance to make a big batch of "girl soup".


I experimented quite a bit with flavors, and you'll want to do the same.  In the end, mine was a bit thick, and I should've added a bit more water.  But, thankfully, this soup freezes amazingly...and you can always add more water when you thaw it out and re-heat it.


My mom serves this with fresh Parmesan cheese and warm bread.  


This makes a gigantic batch, but we (Claire and I) loved it so much that it seemed impossible to have too much around!  I realized the other day that we no longer have any in the freezer, so it must be time to make some more...


* We usually divide our ground beef into 1/3 lb increments, but you're welcome to use whatever amount you prefer.  My mom says that Italian sausage also tastes really good in this recipe!

Originally shared by my mom, Alane, who got her version from a dear friend, Donna Harris.

Pepperoni Pizza Muffins

When I found this recipe online, I KNEW we would need to try it.  I don't know anyone who loves pizza as much as Brian and I do, so it was worth a shot.  I made them one Friday night, and they were excellent.  Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.  Yum!  These would be perfect for a party or get-together with friends...

3/4 c flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1 TBSP Italian seasoning
pinch of salt
pinch of red pepper flakes
3/4 c milk
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup sliced pepperoni (quartered)
marinara sauce

Preheat oven to 375°.  Grease mini-muffin cup pan.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, Italian seasoning, salt and red pepper flakes.  Mix in the milk and egg.  Stir in mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and pepperoni.

Let stand 10 minutes.

Stir batter and pour into muffin cups.  Bake 20-25 minutes.

Serve with marinara sauce of your choice.

Comments from the cook:  I made these into full-size muffins (instead of minis) and the recipe made 12 muffins.  I baked them for about 25 minutes, and they were perfect.  


The original version of this recipe (by Rachael Ray, apparently) did not call for salt or red pepper flakes...but the version I used had them, and I thought they tasted great!

Recipe found here.  Ingredients and majority of instructions taken from her site.

Pumpkin Pie Bars

This recipe comes from one of my old roommates from BYU.  She and I lived together our junior year, and I recall that she was studying dietetics.  We always teased that because she studied dietetics, anything she made was "healthy", and thus safe for consumption!

1 pkg yellow cake mix (save out 1c mix)
1 lb. 13oz. can pumpkin
2 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 c brown sugar
2 eggs
2/3 c milk
1/4 c white sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 TBSP softened butter
1 egg
1/2 c melted and cooled butter

Combine cake mix, 1 egg, and 1/2 c melted butter or margarine and press in bottom of 9x13 pan.

Mix pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar, eggs, milk, and pour over cake mix.

On top of this crumble the following mixture: 1 c reserved cake mix, 1/4 c white sugar, cinnamon, and 2 TBSP of butter.

Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes.  Top with whipped cream or ice cream.  Serve chilled or warm.

Comments from the cook:  Pumpkin pie always seems to be a obligatory part of Thanksgiving for us, but we've decided that this dessert is taking it's place. :)  The cakey crust on the bottom makes these a fantastic alternative to pumpkin pie.  We like to make these for holiday parties with large groups, where lots of people can help eat it!  


We prefer this chilled, with whipped cream on top.  Delish! 

Originally shared by Brenda Malone, roommate from The Park Place, 2002-2003.  Text taken from Brenda's original recipe.

Cheesy Stuffed Shells

My sister-in-law made this recipe for us quite a while ago (2006, when did you become so long ago!?) and I found it in my recipe binder this last winter, and resurrected it. YUM!

24-30 jumbo pasta shells
2 eggs
1 (15oz) container cottage cheese
2 c mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp dried parsley leaves
1 1/2 tsp garlic salt
2 cups marinara sauce

Cook jumbo pasta shells as directed on packaging. Run cool water over them to halt further cooking.

Pour 1/2 cup of marinara sauce into the bottom of a 9x13 pan.

In a separate bowl, combine eggs, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, and garlic salt. Stir until combined.

Spoon a heaping spoonful of filling into each pasta shell. Place in pan, and cover with remaining marinara sauce. Cover with foil.

Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Remove foil, and cook for 5-10 more minutes, or until bubbly.

Comments from the cook: This is an excellent recipe that we love at our house. We think the leftovers might even be better than the fresh product!

I use canned marinara sauce for this recipe, but made it with Brian's homemade sauce a few times ago. It was excellent!

Originally shared by my SIL, Meredith, and adapted from a recipe found in one of her cookbooks (source unknown).

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

My mom told me about these muffins quite some time ago... They're SO EASY - only 3 ingredients! And the taste? Fabulous. I even stockpiled on pumpkin this Fall (heaven forbid there be a shortage again), just so I could make these muffins anytime I wanted...

1 spice cake mix
1 (15 oz) can solid pack pumpkin
1/2 bag mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
water (optional)

Combine cake mix (powder only - no need to add the oil or eggs) and pumpkin with mixer until well blended.

Stir in chocolate chips. Spoon into greased muffin tins.

Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes, or until they pass the "clean toothpick" test.

Comments from the cook: I add about 1/2 cup water to the batter to make it a bit thinner. I suppose if you were going to make these into cookies instead of muffins, you'd probably want the batter to be the original consistency (no water added). But, while we're on the subject, I'll just go ahead and admit that I'll probably always make these into muffins rather than cookies. Muffins sound less guilt-inducing than cookies, no? :)

Also, spice cake mixes can be a little harder to find, but rumor has it that a yellow cake mix will also work and taste fantastic. My mom even used a carrot cake mix once in a pinch.These are a great treat with a cup of hot chocolate in the dead of winter...

Makes about 24 muffins.

Originally passed on from my mom, Alane. (As you can see, she did hers in mini-bundt pans, left out the choc chips, then added caramel frosting and a pastry-dough cinnamon-sugar leaf to hers. MAN, she's always taking things to the next level... I love it!)

S'more Cups

Another Pinterest find! I believe, whole-heartedly, that recipes that produce anything s'more-like are worth trying at least once. And these little "s'more bombs" are sure to make more appearances in the future!

7 whole graham crackers (1 cup finely crushed)

1/4 c powdered sugar

6 TBSP butter, melted

3 (1.55 oz) Hershey bars

12 large marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350°. Crush graham crackers in plastic bag, and mix with powdered sugar and melted butter in small bowl.

Place 1 TBSP of crumb mixture into the bottom of mini muffin pans (makes enough for 24). Press crumbs down with back of measuring spoon to create a shallow cup. Bake 4-5 minutes or until edges are bubbling.

In the meantime, break 2 of the Hershey bars into rectangles. Remove pan from oven and place one rectangle into each cup.

Cut large marshmallows in half crosswise using kitchen shears and dipping them in cold water. Place one marshmallow half, cut-side down, into each cup. Return to oven for 1-2 minutes, or until marshmallows start to puff up.

Remove from oven to cooling rack. Allow to cool for 15 minutes, then remove s'more cups from pan. Cool completely for 40-60 minutes.

Melt remaining Hershey bar in microwavable bowl (melt for about 1 minute, stirring every 30 seconds). Dip tops of s'more cups in chocolate and allow to cool.

Makes 24.

Comments from the cook: It was less expensive to buy one jumbo Hershey bar, so that's what I used. I cut each rectangle in half, and used small squares in each s'more cup...and they didn't seem short on chocolate at all :) I also chose to flick the chocolate across the top instead of dipping them.

These were amazing right after baking/cooling, and were also pretty good the next day (after being rewarmed in the oven for a few minutes).

Originally found on Pinterest, linked to awesome this website.

Hearty Beef Stew

I wanted to make beef stew the other day, and the seasoning packets at our local grocery store were nearly $3(!), so I tried my hand at homemade. I cracked my Betty Crocker cookbook for a few pointers, and the result was great! For the record, we won't be buying packets ever again...

1 lb beef stew meat

1/2 medium onion

10-12 baby carrots, sliced

1 cup beef broth

1/3 c flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp marjoram

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp garlic powder

6 russet potatoes, cut into 1" chunks

6 c water

Brown stew meat in a frying pan, and add to CrockPot. Add sliced onion, carrots, and potatoes.

Add beef broth and water (6 cups is an estimate...I just added enough to partially cover the vegetables, so they would cook thoroughly).

Add spices and flour. Stir together until mixed.

Allow to cook in CrockPot for 3-4 hours on high.

Comments from the cook: Brian works out of town on Wednesday afternoon/evening, and always needs to take dinner with him. Beef stew is one of his all-time favorites, so I threw this in the CrockPot a little before noon. I was nervous that it wouldn't be done soon enough, but by 3:45 it was perfectly cooked.

I also loved that this stew didn't require any kind of thickening! Adding flour in the initial stages is all you need to do, and the thickness is perfect after 3-4 hours.

Many ingredients/quantities taken from "Betty Crocker's Cookbook - Beef Stew" recipe (found on pg 465)

Chile Verde Burritos

I went to a Relief Society mid-week activity on easy freezer meals, and this is one of the recipes that was shared by the teacher. I knew it sounded like something we'd like, even though it forced me to make amends with my Crockpot. It has quickly become one of our favorites, and I think you'll like it too!

1 TBSP oil

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, diced

6 boneless pork loin chops

7 oz. can diced green chiles

16 oz. jar salsa verde

19 oz. can green chile enchilada sauce

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp chili powder

juice of one lime

salt and pepper, to taste

flour tortillas

Chop onion and bell pepper. Saute in oil (and add garlic) until vegetables are softened.

Add pork, then sauted onion and bell pepper to Crockpot. Continue to add green chiles, salsa verde, enchilada sauce, all spices and lime juice to mixture. Stir together.

Cook on high for 5-6 hours if pork is frozen and 4-5 hours if meat is defrosted.

After pork is thoroughly cooked, shred. Put back into the sauce and add salt and pepper to taste.

Comments from the cook: This recipe makes a LARGE amount, so I have always preferred to half everything. Doing so makes for about 5 burritos at our house, which is enough for us (plus leftovers). You can always make the full recipe and freeze the rest, according to our freezer meals teacher...

I have a very hot Crockpot, so I cooked this recipe for about 2 hours on high, then switched it to low for the remaining 3-4 hours. I also used a pork roast, which worked fine (except for my FATAL error of buying it bone-in...and having to remove the bone myself. Remember how I hate touching meat? Gag, barf, die.)

In order to amp this up even more, we ate our burritos enchilada style. We put the meat and sauce into tortillas, added a little bit of mozzarella cheese to the insides, rolled them up, covered them in sauce, topped them with more cheese and baked them at 400° or so for about 10 or 15 minutes...just to melt the cheese.

Originally shared by JoAnna Moss, freezer meal extraordinaire. :)

Feedback

So, the question is...

Have you made any recipes you've found on this silly little food blog? If so, what did you make, and were you pleased with how it turned out?

I'd love the feedback, and would love for you to introduce yourself too :)

Love,
A

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are a holiday favorite, and Halloween ushers in the need for a good cut-out cookie recipe. These are Martha Stewart's, and we like them too! :)

1 c (2 sticks) butter, softened to room temperature

1 c sugar

1 egg

1 TBSP vanilla

1 tsp salt

2 1/2 c flour

Whip butter and sugar together on high speed for 5 minutes with electric mixer. Add eggs, vanilla, and salt until combined.

Add flour 1 cup at a time, and mix only well enough to combine.

Divide dough into 2 portions and refrigerate in flattened discs (between plastic wrap).

Dough will be slightly crumbly when cold. Quickly form into a ball with hands (try not to warm it up completely), then roll out on a floured surface. Roll out to 1/8" thick, and cut with cookie cutters.

Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes. Cool on a cooling rack, and frost with your favorite frosting.

Comments from the cook: My mom made these last Valentine's Day, and they were delicious. Mine were a TAD overdone (I prefer soft cookies), but the frosting always softens them a bit...especially on the 2nd day.

Love the flavor of these cookies! My husband always looks forward to decorating these with a MAN's touch...hence the cookie covered in only M&Ms!

Originally found here.

Brownie Batter Cupcakes

These may look like ordinary cupcakes, but MAN ALIVE, they're nothing but ordinary... Dropping a frozen mound of "brownie batter" into the middle of a fancy chocolate cupcake before baking it certainly can't send you in the wrong direction, I say!

Brownie Batter:

1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup milk
1 devil’s food cake mix

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix on medium speed for 2 mins until well combined.

Using a cookie dough scoop (or small spoon), drop rounded balls of batter onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze overnight.

(Makes about 30 dough balls.)

Cupcakes:

1 devil’s food cake mix
1 small pkg instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1/3 c canola oil
2/3 c applesauce
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 325°. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners.

Combine all ingredients in mixer and mix on medium speed for 2 mins until well combined.

Using a large scoop (about 3 tbsp) drop batter into the cupcake liners, filling about 2/3 full.

Remove brownie batter mounds from freezer and press into the cupcake batter. Bake for 22-28 mins. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Makes about 30 cupcakes.

Frosting:
You'll never guess which one I used... :) Click here to find it.

Comments from the cook: My in-laws were here for the weekend, and I had been waiting for about a month to try these out. I knew we needed to have LOTS of mouths around to help eat these...or we'd have been in a whole heap of trouble!

The original recipe called for 1 cup of oil, and I substituted part of it for applesauce (I have a hard time pouring 1 cup of oil into ANY recipe...amazing or not!). The original recipe also called for chocolate chips in the cupcake batter, but I forgot to add them, and never felt like final product was lacking anything. Much the opposite, actually! Obviously, the chocolate frosting from the HoHo cake has become my new favorite. If you wanted to use the frosting from the original recipe, you certainly could. I just never hesitate to stick with something I KNOW will work...

These were good the first day, but were even more amazing the next evening. The brownie centers softened and the frosting was more set up.

Oh, and one last thing... I had ONE more cupcake than I had dough balls, so I threw a frozen ball of chocolate chip cookie dough into the center of the last cupcake. It was INCREDIBLE. Perhaps an idea for next time. :)
Originally found on Pinterest, which linked it back to this site (recipe said to have been adapted from Cook's Illustrated).

Density Bars

Our dear friends, M+B, made these for us mannnnny years ago...and I've been meaning to make them for a long time now. They're called "Density Bars" for a reason, so if you make them, be sure to make sure there's milk in the fridge! :)

1 c brown sugar
1 c white sugar
1 c butter
2 eggs
1 c peanut butter
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
2 c quick oats

Preheat oven to 325°.

Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs; beat until smooth. Add peanut butter and blend.

Sift together flour, soda, and salt; add to sugar mixture and mix until smooth. Add oats and vanilla.

Put into 9x13 pan (I use a jelly roll pan, which has sides that are just 1" high). Bake at 325° for 20 minutes.

**Frost with chocolate frosting of your choice.

Comments from the cook: YUM. These are excellent, and their mere existence in your house can make you do careless things that you wouldn't otherwise do (one bar in each hand, alternating bites!).

**I would recommend using the chocolate frosting from the HoHo cake (found here). We had a little bit of it left over in the freezer, and used it to frost a few of these. It was delicious. When it ran out and I took these to a little shin-dig, I needed another frosting...so I used some hot fudge (the kind you put on ice cream) from my fridge.

I put the hot fudge in my KitchenAid, then added a splash of milk, a little vanilla, and a bit of salt. Then I added powdered sugar until I got it to the consistency I wanted. In retrospect, the taste was good...but I should've just gone with another batch of the HoHo cake frosting. :)

Special thanks to my dearest friend Brittany, for introducing us to these little darlings. They're now part of my arsenal!

Originally shared by the fabulous Brittany. Most text taken from her original recipe.

Éclair Cake

Brian's family has a dear friend named Vickie. She makes the most mouth-watering desserts ever, and her wedding present to us (6 short years ago) was a packet of her recipes. We've taken good care of them, and this is one of our very favorites.

Cake:
1 box graham crackers, unbroken (generic ok)
2 small boxes instant french vanilla pudding
3 1/2 c whole milk
1 (8oz) container CoolWhip

Frosting:
2 unsweetened liquid chocolate packets (or 2 - 1 oz. squares unsweetened chocolate melted and cooled)
2 tsp corn syrup
2 tsp vanilla
3 TBSP softened butter
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
3 TBSP milk

Spray bottom of 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

Line bottom of pan with whole graham crackers.

Beat pudding mixes with 3 1/2 c whole milk for 2 minutes at medium speed. Blend in CoolWhip.

Pour half of pudding mixture over crackers.

Place second layer of graham crackers over pudding, and pour remaining pudding mixture over crackers.

Cover pudding with third layer of crackers. Mix frosting, then pour over crackers and spread evenly.

Refrigerate for at least 8 hours and serve chilled. (If possible, chill for 24 hours, as crackers soften more and more with time.)

Comments from the cook: I didn't have unsweetened chocolate on hand (a certain FSP is probably to blame!) and our grocery store wanted an arm and a leg for a package of it. But I remembered that the Hershey's cocoa has directions for substituting cocoa (+ oil) for unsweetened chocolate. So, I did that, and couldn't tell any difference. And it was much cheaper!

I'm sure you could probably get away with using sugar-free pudding and reduced fat milk (and CoolWhip) in this recipe. But, if I remember clearly (and I do), I was told from VERY early on that this cake shouldn't be tinkered with! And so far, there've been no complaints about how it tastes...so we'll just continue to leave well-enough alone. :)

Originally shared by Vickie L, dessert master and family friend

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

I found these online, and knew that Brian would LOVE them. I made a batch for our anniversary last week, and they were a hit. They will be a great, inexpensive treat next time we need to take dessert to a BBQ...

1 lb strawberries, washed and hollowed out
1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, softened to room temperature
3/4 c powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
3/4 c whipped topping
4-6 graham crackers
1 TBSP sugar

Wash strawberries. Using a small paring knife, hollow out insides. Allow to dry on towel.

Combine cream cheese and powdered sugar in mixer and beat until smooth. Add vanilla. Then fold in whipped topping.

Crush graham crackers in plastic bag (with rolling pin) and add tablespoon of sugar to mixture. Place in bowl.

Place cream cheese mixture in freezer bag, cut corner off of bag, and pipe into strawberries. Dip in graham cracker mixture.

Serve chilled.

Comments from the cook: The original recipe for these looked really good. When I started mixing it together, I tasted the mixture and thought it needed a little bit more sugar. I also added whipped cream to create a lighter texture (akin to our favorite cheesecake recipe).

Instead of making an entire batch at once, we prepared these a few at a time, and just left the ingredients in the fridge. This made for nice fresh berries each time. Delicious!
Originally found here. Recipe found here.

Butterfinger Blondies

This is another one of the recipes I found on Pinterest. We had a friend from Utah stay with us one night last week, and thought it would be fun to try these out when he arrived. They were excellent!
1 c butter
1 c brown sugar
1/2 c granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp coarse sea salt
2 c coarsely chopped Butterfinger Bars (approx 16 “Fun Size” bars)
Butterfinger pieces for topping

Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and sugars together. Add the vanilla and eggs until mixed.

Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then add to mixture.

Stir in chopped Butterfinger pieces.

Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray. Spread dough in pan, and bake for 25 minutes.

Remove from oven and cool completely. Top with frozen yogurt and additional candy pieces.

Comments from the cook: The original recipe (found here) calls for a buttercream frosting on top, but my general preference is that frosting live on top of CAKE. :) So we topped these blondies with frozen yogurt and extra candy pieces, and they were delicious.

The texture of the Butterfinger candy softens and disappears in the bars during baking, so adding them on top brings back the texture you expect from a Butterfinger dessert...a step I wouldn't recommend skipping.

I undercooked these just a bit, and they fell after baking. If cooked for the full 25 minutes, they will be quite a bit thicker.

Originally found on Pinterest, and posted here (some text taken from site).

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

I recently joined Pinterest, and I LOVE IT. The number of gorgeous-looking, mouth-watering recipes is enough to do a girl like me in! I found these cupcakes a few weeks ago, and knew I had to try them. The cupcakes and icing turned out perfectly, and I'll be making these again for sure. (And I'll honestly say I'm in love with this picture - that we took on our kitchen table yesterday!)

Cupcakes:

1 c all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c canola oil
2 egg whites
1/3 c thawed frozen Pink Lemonade Concentrate
1/4 c buttermilk
3 drops red food coloring

Preheat oven to 350°. Put paper liners in muffin tins.

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.

If you don't have buttermilk, make the substitute (1/4 cup milk and just under 1 tsp lemon juice) and allow it to sit for 5 minutes.

Combine sugar, oil, egg whites, and lemonade concentrate in mixer. Whisk until combined. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk (3 additions of flour mixture, 2 of buttermilk) until smooth.

Add 3 drops red food coloring (or amount desired) to color batter.

Pour into liners (about 3/4 full) and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out cleanly.

Allow to cool before frosting.

Pink Lemonade Frosting:

3 c + 3 TBSP powdered sugar
1 stick butter (at room temperature)
1/8 tsp salt
3 1/2 TBSP pink lemonade concentrate
2 drops red food coloring
pink sanding sugar

Combine powdered sugar, butter, salt, and lemonade concentrate together. Whisk until smooth. Add food coloring until desired color is reached.

Pipe onto cupcakes, and dust with sanding sugar.

Makes 9 cupcakes.
Comments from the cook: I doubled the recipe for cupcakes (and made 18), but left the quantities as they were for the frosting. I found the amount of frosting to be perfect for the double-batch of cupcakes, and mine were generously frosted.

I added more lemonade concentrate to both the cupcake batter and icing than the original recipe called for (text above indicates increased quantities), but you could scale back a bit if you're going for more subtle flavors.

Originally found on Pinterest, which directed me to the recipe posted here (some text taken from her site).

Toffee Cowboy Cookies

As a general rule at our house, we try to wait for weekends to bake goodies. And, this weekend? We wanted something GOOD, but needed it to be something with ingredients that were already in our cupboards. So I went for a Cowboy Cookie recipe, threw in some toffee bits, and voila!

1 c butter, softened
1 c brown sugar
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 c oats
1 c milk chocolate chips
1/2 c milk chocolate coated toffee chips

Cream the butter and sugars together until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla.

Sift flour, baking soda and powder, and salt together. Add to batter.

Stir in oats, chocolate chips, and toffee bits.

Spoon onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 ° for 10-12 minutes.

Comments from the cook: Toffee has an amazing way of really jazzing up a cookie! I cooked these for just over 9 minutes, because I prefer cookies super-chewy instead of crispy. They turned out perfectly, though they always look like they might be underdone when they first come out.

As is usually the case, refrigerated dough will take a little bit longer to cook, but cooks up wonderfully also.
Original "Cowboy Cookie" recipe found in the Worldwide Ward Cookbook by Deanna Buxton (nuts omitted and toffee added). Some instructions/text taken from cookbook.

Ice Cream Cake

My husband loves ice cream cake. So, this year, I decided to tackle one for his birthday. I found this recipe in an issue of the Food Network magazine, and it turned out wonderfully. Mine didn't look as glamorous as theirs, but that's something I can work on with more practice :)


2 1 1/2-quart containers vanilla ice cream
2 rows from a package of Oreos (white stuff removed and discarded)
1 (7 to 8oz) bottle Magic Shell ice cream topping
1 1 1/2-quart container chocolate ice cream
5 cups whipped cream (Cool Whip)
sprinkles (optional)
9-inch springform pan


Put springform pan in the freezer for 15 minutes. While it gets cold, allow one container of vanilla ice cream to soften at room temperature.

Remove springform pan from freezer, and proceed to spread a 1/2 inch thick layer of softened vanilla ice cream on the bottom and up the sides of the pan. (If the ice cream gets too soft, return to the freezer.) Freeze until firm, about 45 minutes.

In the meantime, pulse the Oreos in a food processor to break into large crumbs. Add the Magic Shell topping and pulse until the crumbs are moist, about 5 pulses; set aside.

Let the chocolate ice cream soften at room temperature, about 15 minutes. Spread over the vanilla layer, firmly packing the ice cream into the pan. Spread the chocolate crumb mixture over the chocolate ice cream. Freeze until set, about 1 hour.

Remove the remaining container vanilla ice cream from the freezer 15 minutes before assembling the final layer. Spread the ice cream over the crumb layer, packing it tightly, then smooth the top. Freeze until firm, about 2 hours.

To remove from springform pan, wipe the outside of the pan with a hot cloth, then run a hot knife around the inside; unlatch and remove the side. If the ice cream cake is too soft, refreeze 20 minutes.

Spread 3 cups whipped cream over the top and sides of the cake. Freeze until set, about 20 minutes. Put the remaining 2 cups whipped cream in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip; pipe along the top and bottom edges of the cake and decorate with sprinkles. Return to the freezer; remove 15 minutes before serving.

Slice with a hot knife.

This cake melts quite quickly after the assembly process, and was somewhat messy when sliced. It needed to be returned to the freezer immediately after slicing.


On day 2, however, the cake was solid and sliced much more cleanly (besides it being much colder and more difficult to get a knife through).


Comments from the cook: This was a hit! We shared it with Brian's family, and will be sure to find a group to share it with if we make it again. It makes a sizable cake!

After a bit of a miscommunication (my oops, Debby!), we ended up with whipping cream instead of Cool Whip for the frosting...and I tell you, it was an awesome mistake! I whipped up enough whipping cream (added a bit of powdered sugar to sweeten) for about 3 cups and then folded in some Cool Whip (about 2 cups) to balance the richness. In the end, it was fantastic...

Around here, we're just trying to figure out how to celebrate next year's birthdays a bit sooner! This one may become a tradition... 

Originally found here. (Most text and ingredient list taken from there.)

HoHo Cake

I recently discovered this awesome recipe website, and found this beauty of a recipe. We tried it the other night, and it is everything you'd want from a HoHo cake :) It's super rich, really moist, and makes a HUGE pan full.

For the cake:
1 chocolate cake mix (original recipe calls for Devils Food)

For the white layer:
1 c butter
1/2 c milk
3 c powdered sugar
1 TBSP vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt

For the chocolate frosting:
1/2 c butter
3/4 c cocoa
3 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
8-10 TBSP of water, added one at a time

Prepare cake mix according to directions and bake in a jelly roll pan (what we call a cookie sheet - with sides) at 350° for 15-20 minutes.

Remove from oven after it passes the clean toothpick test, and allow to cool for 30 minutes.

While it cools, prepare the white layer. Cream butter and gradually add milk and vanilla. Add powdered sugar and salt. Beat until mixture is thick and spreadable (mine needed a lot more powdered sugar...almost twice what the recipe called for). Spread on chocolate cake. Freeze for 15 minutes while you make the chocolate frosting.

For chocolate frosting, cream butter and vanilla. Add cocoa powder and powdered sugar (mixture will be dry and powdery). Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until frosting is smooth (mine took about 9 TBSP).

Serve chilled, and store leftovers in fridge.

Comments from the cook: I didn't have a chocolate cake mix on hand, so I got super ambitious desperate and made this one from scratch.

As mentioned previously, my white layer required almost 6 cups powdered sugar. The texture wasn't right, but I stuck with it (I didn't want to waste the butter!).

Other than that, this recipe was worth the steps, and we have really enjoyed the results!

Originally found here (ingredient lists and some text taken from her site...though my cake-stacking skills need some work to look like the original!)

Bacon Tomato Capellini

Holy grown-up bacon recipe! I saw this recipe on Tasty Kitchen, and thought it sounded amazing. Grown-up food with bacon as a main ingredient?! How could it fail, really? Turns out, it couldn't. A.MAZ.ING.

1 pkg (16 0z) bacon
¼ c bacon grease (from the bacon you cook)
1 large can (28 oz) diced tomatoes (we prefer petite diced)
¼ c fresh basil, chopped
1 clove minced garlic
½ bunch green onions, chopped
1 tsp salt (optional)
1 box (16 oz) capellini or angel hair pasta

Fry bacon in a large frying pan until done, but not crispy. When finished, allow bacon to cool on a paper-towel-covered plate. (Reserve 1/4 cup of bacon grease.)

When bacon is cooled, tear or cut it into small pieces. Set aside.

Pour tomatoes into large bowl. Mix fresh basil in. Set aside.

Put 1/4 cup bacon grease back in pan, and heat to medium. Add minced garlic and green onions. Once garlic has turned to a tan color, add the bacon pieces. Saute at low heat for 10 minutes.

Pour in the bowl of tomatoes and basil. Stir together and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt if necessary.

Meanwhile, in a large pot, boil pasta. Drain noodles and set aside.

Right before serving, toss bacon/tomato sauce with noodles. Top with fresh Parmesan cheese.

Serves: 6-8

Comments from the cook: I made this dish on Sunday, and it was enough to eat for 3 nights! It is an excellent leftover, and reheats very well.

I didn't have green onions on hand when I made this, so I just used a dash or two of onion powder as a substitute.

We loved this, and will definitely be adding it to our recipe arsenal!

Originally found here, on this amazing recipe website.

Kid's Candy Cookies

I recently found this recipe in the May issue of The Food Network Magazine. I DIED when I saw them, and had to try my hand at making them. I made a few changes to the list of ingredients, and love how they turned out!

2 1/4 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 sticks butter, at room temperature
1 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
1 tsp salt
1 TBSP vanilla
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
1 c plain M&M'S
3 oz mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup toffee pieces
3/4 cup butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine the flour and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.
Cream the butter, brown sugar and white sugar in mixer on low speed until incorporated, then increase to high speed and beat until light and fluffy.
Add the salt, vanilla, whole egg and egg yolk to the mixer; beat until thoroughly combined. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Mix in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, toffee pieces, peanut butter chips, and M&M's.
Bake the cookies until the edges are golden brown and the centers are no longer wet, 11 to 13 minutes. Cool completely before serving.
Comments from the cook: These were a major home-run at our house, and will find their way to many BBQs and parties from now on...where they can be enjoyed but SHARED! A whole batch is too big for 2 of us :)
Originally found here (most of text taken from site), adapted to our tastes and on-hand ingredients.

Ultra-Lemony Lemon Bars

Crust:
3/4 c butter (cold)
1 3/4 c flour
3/4 c powdered sugar
3/4 tsp coarse salt

Slice butter into small pieces. (Original recipe says to freeze butter, then grate it.) Combine with other crust ingredients and work with a pastry cutter (or maybe a fork?) until crumbly. Press into bottom of a 9x13 pan. Freeze for 15 minutes. Then bake at 350° for 16-18 minutes.

Filling:
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/3 c granulated sugar
3 TBSP flour
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 c lemon juice
1/4 c milk

Whisk eggs, sugar, flour, and salt together. Then add lemon juice and milk. Stir together, then pour over hot crust.

Reduce oven heat to 325° and bake for about 18 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.

Dust with powdered sugar. Serve chilled.

Comments from the cook: I was dying to make lemon bars a while ago, and called my mom for a recipe. This is the one she gave me. (I think she said this one is from Martha Stewart, though I wasn't able to find it on her site.)

I usually find that lemon bars don't have much kick. But these babies have 3/4 cup lemon juice...and they have plenty of kick!

My only word of caution? These really are best when they're chilled. When left out and eaten at room temperature, they are a teeny bit "egg-y" tasting. At least that's what I thought. But, when they're cold? Good grief, they're good.
Originally found in a Martha Stewart cookbook.

Are you making one?

I've got my cake mix, frosting, and sweetened coconut all ready to go... (note to self: buy jelly beans and licorice for the face!)

Question is...are you making a bunny cake this weekend too?

Super-Soft Snickerdoodles

1 c shortening (or butter)
1 1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 3/4 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
cinnamon-sugar mixture (1 TBSP sugar + 1 TBSP cinnamon)

Preheat oven to 400°.

Cream shortening, then gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs; beat well. Stir in vanilla.

In a separate bowl, sift together flour, soda, salt, and cream of tartar. Add to creamed mixture and stir until well blended.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll through cinnamon sugar mixture**. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.

Bake for 6 minutes at 400° or until lightly browned.

Comments from the cook: I'm a huge fan of soft cookies. And, to me, Snickerdoodles HAVE to be soft.

I searched for a Snickerdoodles recipe for a while, finally found this one, and loved it. Why? Because of the oven temperature and cook time. Cooking them at 400° for only 6 minutes (MAYBE 7 min) cooks them just enough to be done...and leaves them extra soft inside.

**My least favorite part of making these has always been rolling them through the cinnamon-sugar mixture. We keep a small shaker with cinnamon-sugar in it, and I just sprinkle that over the cookies after they've been rolled into balls (instead of rolling them through it), and then one more time after they've cooked. Almost the same result, but much easier!

Originally found here. Some text taken from the same site.

Fluffy White Cheesecake

Crust:
1 package graham crackers
3-4 TBSP melted butter
3 TBSP sugar

Filling:
2 (8 oz.) pkgs cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 small container whipped topping

Crush graham crackers in ziploc bag with rolling pin. Add sugar, then melted butter. (Leave in bag. Seal after sugar and butter are added, then knead with hands to blend.)

Press crust into bottom of 9x9 pan. (Add more butter for a more solid crust.)

Whip cream cheese with mixer until smooth. Add sugar and mix until blended.

Fold in whipped topping. Pour over graham crust.

Allow to refrigerate overnight and serve with fresh fruit or pie filling.

Comments from the cook: This recipe is one that my mom has been making for as long as I can remember! It's super easy, and is always a crowd pleaser.

When I made it this time, the crust was a bit more crumbly than I usually prefer, so next time I'll add a bit more melted butter. I have also added more whipped topping in the past, and stretched it to a 9x13 pan.

My favorite topping is cherry pie filling, but Brian likes fresh strawberries best. He won this time. :)

Originally shared by: Alane Sleight, my mom!

Key Lime Bars

1 white cake mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 egg yolk
4 eggs
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon lime zest

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9x13 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Reserve 1 tablespoon cake mix.

Pour remaining cake mix, melted butter and egg yolk into a large bowl. Blend for 1-2 minutes with an electric mixer until well mixed and crumbly. Press mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes.

While crust bakes, whisk together 4 eggs, condensed milk, lime juice and reserved tablespoon of cake mix until smooth.

Stir in lime zest. Spread the lime mixture over the warm crust. Return to oven and bake an additional 20 minutes or until topping is set.

Cool completely and refrigerate until cold before serving. Top with whipped cream and zest, if desired.

Comments from the cook: I found this recipe on this cool site (along with dozens of other recipes I'd like to try!) and knew I needed to give it a whirl. My mom and I made them while we were in Utah, and they were very tasty.

I used the juice from 5 limes, and it still wasn't enough to fill 2/3 cup, so I used lemon juice for the remainder. Also, the zester we had made pretty large pieces...and the bars needed whipped cream on top so they wouldn't look like quiche bars! :)

These were excellent. Try them out!

Originally found here on this site.

Homemade Hostess Cupcakes

Cupcakes:
1 dark chocolate cake mix (+ cake mix ingredients)

White gooey filling:
4 TBSP butter, room temperature
1 c powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
3 TBSP heavy cream
1 cup marshmallow creme

Chocolate ganache:
6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c heavy cream
1 TBSP butter
2 tsp vanilla

White frosting (for squigglies/words):

1 stick butter
2 TBSP milk
2 c powdered sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla

Prepare cupcakes as directed on back of dark chocolate cake mix (using cupcake papers). Allow to cool.

For the filling: Using a mixer, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Beat in 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar. Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon heavy cream; beat until smooth. Beat in the remaining 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar and 2 tablespoons heavy cream in batches, alternating after each addition. Beat in the marshmallow creme; set aside or refrigerate.

For the ganache: Place the chocolate in a stainless-steel bowl. Heat the cream and 1 tablespoon butter until just boiling, then pour over the chocolate; let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla; let stand until cool but still glossy and liquid.

Now that your ganache is cooling, spoon white gooey filling into an icing bag with a star tip attached (or a freezer bag with a star tip, if you're like me!). Poke star tip through the top center of the cupcake, then squeeze until the cupcake gets heavier. If extra white stuff pools at the top, scrape it off with a knife. (You want the tops to be smooth.)

Once ganache is cooled but still glossy, dip tops of cupcakes into ganache. If desired, dip more than once for thicker chocolate layer. Cool in fridge.

For the icing: Using a mixer, beat the remaining 1 stick butter, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, the milk and confectioners sugar until smooth, adding more milk if needed. Spoon into a pastry bag with a small tip. Pipe onto the cupcakes to decorate. (This recipe makes LOTS of icing. You can always freeze the rest and use it on the next batch!)

Makes about 24 cupcakes.

Refrigerate any leftovers (if you have any!).

Comments from the cook: I'd seen these beauties before, and knew that they would be a wonderful treat when our families were both in town right before Valentine's day. So I set out to make them...

And, I don't know WHAT happened, but the cupcake recipe on the site listed below did NOT work for me. In fact, the result was a horrific mess in my oven, a waste of 24 suuuuper cute cupcake papers (biggest tragedy), and a somewhat traumatic memory. :)

But that's what cake mixes are for! And, for the record, the dark chocolate cake mix made for amazing finished cupcakes. Easy peasy...and no mess!

After completing the cupcakes (icing and all), I removed the cupcake papers. The ganache I made was somewhat runny, and ran down the sides of many of the cupcakes. They looked a LOT better sans papers. But, just so you know... removing the papers will make the cupcakes more prone to drying out if you plan to store them for a while.

These were fun to make, and the taste? OUT OF THIS WORLD.

Originally found here. Most text taken from the same site.

Raspberry Swirl Blondies

2 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 c butter
1 1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 c raspberry jam

Heat oven to 350°. Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in bowl and set aside.

Melt butter in microwave. Stir sugar into melted butter until dissolved. Whisk in eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture and stir until combined.

Pour batter into pan. Drop spoonfuls of jam into pan and swirl with knife or toothpick.

Bake 25-30 min or until toothpick comes out clean.

Comments from the cook: I tried this recipe after finding it on a cooking website. My dad loves all things raspberry, so I made them for him...and he LOVED them. They are wonderful!

Originally found here. Text taken from the same site, and changed slightly.

Ooey Gooey Cheesecake Bars

1 yellow cake mix
3 eggs
1 stick of butter, softened
1 lb. powdered sugar (1/2 of regular bag)
1 pkg (8 0z) cream cheese, softened

Combine yellow cake mix, one egg, and stick of butter to form a crust. Smush into bottom of 13x9 pan.

Combine two remaining eggs, powdered sugar, and cream cheese and pour mixture over crust.
Bake for 35-40 min in 350° oven. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and allow to cool.

Comments from the cook: I got this recipe from an old roommate when I was at BYU. It's also commonly known as Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, or Ooey Gooey Lemon Cake (when made with a lemon cake mix instead of yellow). It's a tasty one, and the crust gets me every time... Mmmmm!

Originally shared by Tierra Phillips, Clover Haus roommate circa 2005

PW's Mozzarella Sticks

8 sticks mozzarella string cheese
1/4 cup flour
1 egg
1 1/2 TBSP milk
1 cup Panko Japanese bread crumbs
1/2 TBSP parsley
salt
canola oil
marinara sauce

Prep:

Unwrap string cheese. Cut in half.

Put flour in small bowl/plate.

Mix egg and milk in a small bowl, stirring with fork.

Add a few shakes of salt (from the salt shaker) to a small bowl or plate holding the Panko crumbs.

How to:
Roll cheese through flour to coat.

Dip flour-coated cheese in egg/milk mixture so that egg/milk is absorbed into flour coating.

Roll through Panko crumbs to coat.

When finished coating, place prepped cheese sticks in freezer for 20-30 min (to flash freeze).

Fry in 1-2" canola oil until golden brown. Allow to dry on paper-towel.

Serve with marinara sauce.

Makes 16 mozzarella sticks.

Comments from the cook: I found this recipe on The Pioneer Woman's website, and INSTANTLY knew that these would become a favorite at our house. Brian loves cheese sticks more than most appetizers, so we gave them a try! They turned out AMAZINGLY, and we've made them multiple times since and have not been disappointed!

How-to found here, printable version here. (Special thanks to PW for a never-ending supply of amazing recipes!)