Peanut Butter Cookie

When looking for cookies inspiration it is no mistake to look to an old Betty Crocker cookbook.  This is one chewy-yet crunchy-satisfying cookie.

Ingredients.
1 stick butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Directions.
1. Cream butter, sugar, egg and peanut butter.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. Mix butter and flour mixture until combined.
4. Roll into one inch balls and roll in sugar.
5. Squish with a fork in a crisscross pattern.
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Cream first 5 ingredients




















Combine dry ingredients



I combine them in the same bowl, less dishes!

Roll dough balls in sugar

Squish with fork and bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Time to enjoy.

Then, time to share..

 

 

 

 

Buffalo Chicken Dip

There are many variations on this spicy appetizer, my recipe comes with a little less guilt (calories) ... go ahead and enjoy!

 

 

Ingredients:

2 medium onions chopped

3 stalks celery chopped
1 jalapeño copped
1 can chicken
1 stick cream cheese
3 Tbs blue cheese crumbles
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1/2 container franks red hot sauce
celery sticks for serving

Directions:

Sauté onions and celery in one tablespoon oil for 10 minutes or until soft.   Add in cream cheese and melt.  Add chicken and jalapeño (if you add the jalapeño with the rest of the veggies you will be coughing).  Stir in Franks red-hot sauce. Pour into baking dish, spread blue cheese and cheddar on top.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Serve with celery slices.  

 

 

 



Taco Plate
There is taco salad, soft shell tacos, taco in a bag, but by far the greatest taco dish -- Taco Plate. 



Ingredients:
Sour Cream
lettuce
bell pepper
onion
taco meat
cheddar cheese
taco sauce
Doritos

Directions:
Prepare one small plate per person (no one really wants to share, do they?). Spread 1 1/2 tablespoon sour cream onto each plate.  Finely chop lettuce, bell pepper, and onion.  Sprinkle vegetables onto sour cream.  Spread with taco meat, cheddar cheese, and taco sauce. 
Eat by scooping the taco plate with Doritos.

Snowball Cookies
These light and crunchy cookies are a desirable and easy holiday treat.  The slight but bright lemon flavor in this airy flakey cookies is the perfect combination.



Ingredients:
1 stick butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 cup chopped pecans
powdered sugar for coating

Directions:
1. Cream butter, sugar and egg.
2. Sift flour, salt, and baking powder together.
3. Combine flour and butter mixtures.
4. Add in lemon juice, zest and pecans, mix until combined.
5. Cool dough in freezer for 10 minutes.
6. Roll into 1 inch balls, bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes.
7. Let cool and roll in powdered sugar.

 

 

 Ruben

Make this Diner classic in the comfort of your own home.  This is sure to mix up your weekly menu.

Ingredients:

1 loaf French Bread
Corned Beef (1 package buddig per sandwich)
Swiss Cheese (2 slices per sandwich)
Sauerkraut (2 tablespoons per sandwich)
Butter

Directions:

Butter bread. 
Warm 1 package of budding corned beef per sandwich in sauté pan.
Assemble Rueben with 2 slices Swiss cheese,  1 package corned beef, and 2 tablespoons sauerkraut.  Grill Rueben over medium heat on sauté pan until each side is golden brown. 
Optional: serve with thousand island dressing. Enjoy!





This is the corned beef I like to use

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Treat yourself and your loved ones to this delicious bread.  The way this bread makes your home smell is reason enough to make it.  There is just something about fresh yeast breads.

























Ingredients:

1/2 cup milk
3 Tbs butter
1 Tbs yeast
1 egg
1/4 cup sugar
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:  Recipe makes 1 loaf, 12 servings.

Heat butter and milk in saucepan until melted, do not boil.  Set aside until and let cool to warm.
Sprinkle yeast and 1 tsp sugar on top of milk and let sit/froth/activate/proof for 10 minutes.
Add egg, sugar, salt and 1 cup flour along with yeast mixture to mixing bowl.  Mix in mixer with dough hook for 5 minutes
Add remaining 3/4 cups of flour gradually of the next 5 minutes and mix until dough begins to climb dough hook and is no longer sticking to bowl. Add flour gradually, if dough remains sticky after 5 minutes and 3/4 cup flour continue to add flour 1 tbs at a time.
Add raisins and mix until combined, about 2 minutes. Shape into ball with hands.
Lightly grease mixing bowl, let dough rise in bowl for 1 hour or until doubled.
Roll dough into rectangle shape and spread with 1 tablespoon butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Roll dough into a loaf the width of your loaf pan. Pinch to seal the seam.
Let rise for 2 hours or until doubled in size.
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.
Enjoy the aroma, and the satisfaction of homemade bread
(This recipe was adapted from thepioneerworman.com)

Yeast prior to proofing

Yeast after proofing

Sit back and let the dough hook do the work

 

Time to rise



Doubled in size, done rising

Role into rectangle and smear with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon

Time to rise

 

Ready to bake

Mmmm, can you smell that fresh out of the oven bread?

Time to enjoy!




Ham and Cheese Popovers

Popovers are an easy and impressive side to make.  This recipe is adopted from my mother-in-law's basic popover recipe. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

3 slices ham chopped

2 slices Swiss cheese chopped

1 Tbs garlic

1/2 tsp thyme

1/2 tsp sage

Directions:

Bring eggs and milk to room temperature, do this by leaving out until room temperature or by microwaving milk and placing eggs in warm water. This is an important step as the popovers won't pop over without room temperature ingredients. 

Pre heat oven to 450 degrees.

Grease popover tin.

Blend milk, eggs, flour, salt, garlic, thyme, and sage in a large bowl with a mixer on high until combined.

Pour mixture into 4 popover tins, about 3/4 full. (I like large popovers, this recipe can make 6 if you like smaller popovers, it can also be doubled. If you have a don't have a popover pan a muffin tin will do, but this recipe will make 6)

Place copped ham and swiss on top of batter.

Place popover tin into 450 degree oven for 15 minutes.  Without opening oven (if you do they will deflate and you will be sad) decrease oven temp to 350 and cook for an additional 20 minutes.

Serve warm with butter.

 

Mmmmm.