Saturday, February 5, 2011

Crostini

Makes 24
Bake Time: 10 min.

6 T. olive oil
6 T. prepared pesto
3 T. fresh grated Parmesan cheese
French bread baguette (10 oz.), cut into 24 slices
8 bacon strips, cooked and diced
Shredded mozzarella cheese

Combine oil, pesto and Parmesan in a bowl. Then spread on baguette slices. Broil 3-4 min. Remove, sprinkle with cheese. Broil a minute or two more. Top with bits of bacon and serve warm.

Breakfast Cookies

Serves 4
Prep. Time: 10 min.
Bake Time: 20 min.

1 1/2 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/4 c. applesauce
1/2 c. yogurt
1 t. baking powder
pinch of salt
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. butter
1/4 c. peanut butter
chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325. Mix together wet ingredients. Add dry ones. Form into four big cookies. Bake for 20 minutes.

Honey Bun Cake

Serves 12+
Prep. Time: 15 min.
Bake Time: 40 min.

1 package yellow cake mix (Duncan Hines is really good!)
3/4 c. vegetable oil
4 eggs
8 oz. sour cream
1 c. brown sugar
1 T. ground cinnamon
2 c. powdered sugar
4 T. milk
1 T. vanilla

Preheat oven to 325. Combine cake mix, oil, eggs and sour cream. Stir 50 strokes until most large lumps are gone. Pour half into ungreased 9" x 13" glass dish or a greased bundt. Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the batter in the pan. Spoon rest of batter on top. Twirl the butter with a knife. Bake for 40 minutes. Mix together frosting and frost while cake is still warm. Serve warm.

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

I found this on a blog somewhere (?) and I rarely make brownies any other way these days. Yum!

Makes 12 really big brownies
Prep. Time: 15 min.
Bake Time: 30-50 min. depending on brownie box mix

1 box brownie mix (Ghirardelli!) for a 9" x 13" pan
1 c. creamy peanut butter
1/3 c. sugar
4 T. butter, melted
2 T. flour
1 t. vanilla
1 egg

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9" x 13" pan. Prepare brownie mix according to directions on box. Prepare peanut butter swirl in mixer using the rest of the ingredients. Spread 2/3 brownie batter in pan. Drop peanut butter mixture in dollops on top. Top with remaining brownie batter. With tip of knife, cut swirls into the mixture. Bake anywhere from 30 to 50 minutes, depending on your brownie mix.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 2-3 dozen
Prep. Time: 10 min.
Bake Time: 10 min. each batch

1 c. chilled butter, sliced into smallish pieces
1/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla (*real* Mexican vanilla will really make amazing cookies)
2 1/4 c. flour
3.5 oz. package instant vanilla pudding
1 t. baking soda
12 oz. chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, m&ms, or whatever yummies you can find

Preheat oven to 325. Put your stone in the oven now too, if you have one. Cream together butter and sugar (make it really well creamed together!). Add eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips and/or whatever else. Roll into balls and bake at 325 for 10 minutes. I like to bake mine on my preheated pizza stone.

Meat Loaf

Serves 8
Prep. Time: 10 min.
Bake Time: 60  min.

1 envelope Lipton Onion Mushroom Soup Mix
2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 c. breadcrumbs
2 eggs
3/4 c. water
1/3 c. ketchup

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients in a bowl with your clean hands. Shape into a tight loaf and put in a  greased loaf pan. Bake 1 hour and let stand 10 minutes before slicing and serving.