Monday, December 30, 2013

BREAKFAST CUPCAKES



BREAKFAST CUPCAKES

This is a really easy dish to prepare, and it looks so darn cute! It is also a great dish to serve on a buffet table because each serving is completely self-contained and can just be picked up and popped on a plate.
1 20 ounce package pre-shredded hash brown-style potatoes
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
4 tablespoons flour
1 small sweet onion, coarsely grated
2 thick slices deli ham, chopped into small bits (about 1 cup)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 dozen eggs, scrambled*
chives for garnish
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F., and lightly spray a 12-cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Mix the first eight ingredients together in a large bowl. Spoon potato mixture into each prepared muffin cup until about 1/3 full. Gently press the potato mixture down in the middle and up the sides of each cup. Bake until golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. If the nests have puffed up too much in the center, scoop out a little with a teaspoon. Spoon a few tablespoons of scramble eggs into each nest and top with chives.

Fruit Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing



Fruit Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing 

1 pt. container strawberries
1 pt. container blueberries
1 bunch (about 1 1/2 lbs.) seedless grapes (green, red or a mixture of both)
1/4 cup honey
juice from 2 limes (about 2-3 tablespoons)


Rinse strawberries, blueberries and grapes.

Gently pat dry the fruit. Hull strawberries, then cut each in half; if large, cut into quarters.

Remove stems from blueberries, if any.

Remove grapes from stems.

Gently combine all three in a large bowl or aluminum tray. Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together honey and lime juice. Pour over fruit.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Cream Cheese Cookie Bars



Cream Cheese Cookie Bars

1- 8 ounce brick cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 t. vanilla
1 egg
3 cups chocolate chip cookie dough

Preheat oven to 350°. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, mix the first four ingredients until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes on med-high speed. Into an 8×8 inch greased baking dish, evenly press 2 cups cookie dough. Pour cream cheese mixture over top and spread to edges of dish. Break the remaining dough into small pieces and sprinkle over top of cream cheese mixture. Lower oven heat to 325° and bake bars for 35-40 minutes or until tester comes out (almost) clean. Let cool completely out on the counter before cutting into 16 equal pieces. Chilling in the refrigerator for one hour before removing cut bars prevents breakage. Refrigerate leftovers (if any!)

Baked Apples in a Bag


Baked Apples in a Bag

Quick and easy snack when you're craving something sweet but want something decently healthy. 
1 apple,
1 tsp sugar, 
1 tsp water, 
1/4 tsp cinnamon, 
1/4 tsp cornstarch. 

Put in bag and microwave 2 min.

59 calories.

Friday, December 27, 2013

I Eat Cake Because It's Somebody's Birthday Somewhere


I Eat Cake Because It's Somebody's Birthday Somewhere

Listen Here Noob


Listen Here Noob

An old, well decorated military man talking with a young military man with only a few medals.

Hard....Baked (like boiled)



Hard....Baked (like boiled)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Once oven is heated, place the eggs directly on the wire rack in the oven, or arrange eggs in a mini muffin pan and then place in the oven.
Bake eggs for thirty minutes at 325 degrees. Remove eggs from oven and immediately submerge eggs in a pot full of icy water. Allow the eggs to cool for ten minutes before removing from water to dry off and continue cooling.

S'mores Brownies



S'mores Brownies

Ingredients 
1 pkg Chewy Fudge Premium Brownie Mix
1 pkg Creamy Home-Style Milk Chocolate Frosting
1 cup graham crackers, crumbled
1 pkg miniature marshmallows

Baking Instructions
1.Prepare and bake brownies according to package directions.
2.Mix graham crackers with Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate Frosting and spread generously on cooled brownies.
3.Cover top entirely with mini marshmallows and broil until golden brown.

Alien Cupcakes



Alien Cupcakes

Ingredients 
•24 French Vanilla cupcakes baked in foil liners
•2 cans Creamy Home-Style Classic Vanilla frosting
•Neon green food coloring
•12 marshmallows
•24 plain doughnut holes
•48 black candy coated chocolate covered sunflower seeds
•Black licorice laces, cut into 1 inch pieces
•48 clear plastic drinking cups (8 ounces)

Baking Instructions
1.Tint the vanilla frosting an appropriate alien green with the neon food coloring. Cut the marshmallows in half crosswise with clean scissors.
2.Spread a thin layer of the green frosting on top of the cupcakes and attach the marshmallow half in the center, cut side down. Place the doughnut hole on top of the marshmallow using the green frosting to secure. Spread additional green frosting over the marshmallow and donut hole to fill gaps and smooth.
3.Place assembled cupcakes in the freezer for 15 minutes or until slightly frozen.
4.Working in batches, spoon 1 cup of the green frosting into a 1 cup glass measuring cup. Heat the green frosting in the microwave for 10 to 15 second intervals, stirring frequently, until frosting is the consistency of slightly whipped cream (do not overheat).
5.Holding chilled cupcake by foil liner, dip one at a time into the green frosting just up to the foil liner. Allow excess frosting to drip off. Carefully invert cupcake and place on cookie sheet. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes. Reheat frosting in the microwave for several seconds, stirring well, when consistency becomes too thick. Add more green frosting and heat as necessary.
6.Press the black candies onto the head area pointed end facing each other, to make the eyes. Make 2 holes in the top of each donut hole with a toothpick and insert a piece of licorice in each holes to make the antennae
7.Carefully place each cupcake into plastic cup and top with another cup, inverted, to look like a space ship.

Jello Cookies

Jello Cookies

Ingredients
3.5 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1.5 cups salted butter softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
4 (3 oz) pkg jello You can use any flavors you want

Instructions
Beat butter in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and vanilla. Mix flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Gradually beat in flour mixture.
Divide dough into 4 sections. Sprinkle 2 Tb of jello onto each section. Knead together with dough. You may want to add a few drops of food coloring to make the dough more vibrant.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in the extra jello from the packets. Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets. Flatten with bottom of bowl.
Bake 8 to 10 min at 350 on lined baking sheets. Cool on baking sheets 2 min. Remove to wire racks and cool completely.

PEEPsicles



PEEPsicles 

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut or 1/2 cup peanuts (about 2 ounces), finely chopped
12 wooden craft sticks, available at candy-making–supply stores
12 PEEPS® Bunnies, any color

1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper.
2. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth.
3. Place the coconut or nuts on a plate.
4. Insert 1 craft stick about halfway into the bottom section of 1 Bunny. Dip into the chocolate, turning to coat completely. Holding the dipped Bunny over the bowl of chocolate, use a knife to scrape the excess chocolate off the back and bottom of the Bunny, letting it fall back into the bowl. Hold the Bunny over the plate of coconut or nuts and sprinkle to cover all sides.
5. Place the Bunny on the prepared baking sheet and repeat to dip the remaining Bunnies. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. Serve frozen. PEEPSicles can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 week. 

Easy Breakfast Bake



Easy Breakfast Bake


Ingredients
1. 2 packages (12 oz each) bulk pork sausage

2. 1 medium bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)

3. 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

4. 3 cups frozen hash brown potatoes

5. 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

6. 1 cup Original Bisquick® mix

7. 2 cups milk

8. 1/4 teaspoon pepper

9. 4 eggs

Directions
1. Heat oven to 400°F. Grease rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches. Cook sausage, bell pepper and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Stir together sausage mixture, potatoes and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese in baking dish.

2. Stir Bisquick mix, milk, pepper and eggs until blended. Pour into baking dish.

3. Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 1 to 2 minutes longer or just until cheese is melted. Cool 5 minutes.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Popcorn Cake



Popcorn Cake

Ingredients:
Hard margarine 1 cup
Large marshmallows 32 pcs.
Popped popcorn (about 1 cup kernels)
Small gumdrops (no black) 1 cup
Chocolate covered peanuts 1 cup
Smarties (or other coated candy) 1 cup

Method:
1.Melt the margarine and marshmallows in the sauce pan on low,stirring often
2. Put the popped popcorn into the bowl. Pour the hot marshmallow mixture over the top. Quickly stir before the mixture starts to harden.
3.Quickly add the remaining 3 ingredients. Mix well. Packed into the greased tube pan .Cool completely. Cuts into 12 wedges.

*Can Also use Rice Krispies (2 cups) To Create A very Yummy and Cool Rice Krispy Cake.*

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Pudding Cookies



Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Pudding Cookies
Makes 70-80 cookies!

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (3.4 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup Reese's Pieces candy
1 cup peanut butter chips

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or a Silpat.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and pudding; set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Add eggs, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add vanilla extract and honey and beat until combined.
Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture, beat to combine.
Add chocolate chips, Reeses pieces and peanut butter chips and mix until incorporated.
Roll a tablespoon or so of dough into a 1inch ball between your palms and then place it on the prepared baking sheet.
Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the balls about 2 inches apart (you should be able to fit 12-16 cookies on each sheet).
Using your palm, gently flatten the dough balls until they are about ¾ inch thick.
Bake 10 minutes.
Remove from oven, let cool for a couple minutes and enjoy!
These cookies keep well and stay soft.

Banana Bread Brownies



Banana Bread Brownies

Ingredients:
Banana Bread Bars:
1-1/2 c. sugar
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. butter, softened
2 eggs
1-3/4 (3 or 4) ripe bananas, mashed
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

Brown Butter Frosting:
1/2 c. butter
4 c. powdered sugar
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 tbsp. milk

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375F. Grease and flour 15x10-inch jelly roll pan. For the bars, in a large bowl, beat together sugar, sour cream, butter, and eggs until creamy. Blend in bananas and vanilla extract. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and blend for 1 minute. Stir in walnuts.

2. Spread batter evenly into pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

3. Meanwhile, for frosting, heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Let the butter turn a delicate brown and remove from heat immediately.
4. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk. Whisk together until smooth (it should be thicker than a glaze but thinner than frosting). Using a spatula, spread the brown butter frosting over the warm bars (the frosting will be easier to spread while the bars are still warm). 

Monday, December 23, 2013

Chocolate Filled Strawberries


Chocolate Filled Strawberries
Ingredients:
Punnet of strawberries
Milk or dark chocolate chips

Directions
1. Cut the stems off your washed strawberries and scoop out the centre of the berry.
2. In a glass bowl, heat the chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until completely melted.
3. Spoon/pipe the melted chocolate into the strawberries - you can use an egg carton to hold them upright.
4. Place in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes until they harden a bit

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Monster Cookie Dough Dip



Monster Cookie Dough Dip

Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
½ cup butter, slightly softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ½ cups rolled oats, old fashioned or quick (see Note)
2/3 cup plain M&Ms (give or take)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips


Instructions
With a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, and peanut butter until smooth.
Add in the powdered sugar, brown sugar, flour, and vanilla.
Using the paddle attachment on your stand mixer or just a wooden spoon, mix in the oats. You may want to use more or less here. I really like the oats in it and a thicker dip so I added a lot. Remember that the dip will also firm up a bit in the fridge.
Add the M&Ms and chocolate chips.
Store in the refrigerator until serving. Serve with pretzels, graham crackers, or apple slices. You can dip or spread this depending on how thick you made your dip. Try not to eat it all like I did!
Note: You can use more or less oats to adjust the thickness of your dip. Start with about 1 1/2 cups oats and keep adding until you reach your desired thickness. If you use quick oats you might use less since it's finer and will make the dough thicker.

Crayon Name Party Bags



Crayon Name Party Bags

1.Bring a small saucepan filled 1/6 with water to the boil then reduce to a simmer
2.Place a tin can inside the saucepan and then fill with broken crayons
3.When melted remove tin and saucepan from stove. Take tin out of saucepan and pour into alphabet chocolate molds and allow to set.
*Tin will be hot so use oven mitts.
4. Remove from molds and wrap in cello bags for crafty fun! 

Avocado Bacon and Eggs



Avocado Bacon and Eggs

1 large avocado
2 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
2 eggs
Cut the avocado in half. Scoop out the avocado so the hole matches the size of your eggs to prevent spillage. Crack an egg into each half of the avocado, resting the edge of the avocado on the side of the cookie sheet to help keep the avocado steady. Top with bacon crumbs and place in the oven at 425d (210 c) for 15 minutes or until eggs are cooked to your likings. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

No Bake Snickers Pie



No Bake Snickers Pie

1 chocolate cookie pie crust or graham cracker pie crust (9-inch)
2 cups fresh whipped cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk
8 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup dulce de leche, plus 1 tablespoon for drizzling
3 Snickers Bars, roughly chopped.

Beat together the condensed milk, cream cheese and dulce de leche until completely smooth. Fold in the whipped cream until just incorporated. Scatter 1/3 of the Snickers Bars on the bottom of the pie crust. Fold 1/3 of the Snickers pies into the no-bake filling. Spread the filling into the pie crust. Finally, drizzle the top with the remaining dulce de leche and scatter the remaining 1/3 of Snickers pieces on top. Chill the pie for at least 3 hours before slicing and serving.

Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Roll Ups



Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Roll Ups

3 cups chopped cooked chicken 1/4 cup milk
1 cup Ricotta cheese 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese 8 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 cups Prego Spaghetti Sauce
Yield: 8 Servings

Directions
Prep: 1 hour 10 min (70 mins) Total:
Try Kitchen View! Take your computer to the kitchen and view this recipe full-screen, with step-by-step directions. Enter Kitchen View
1 In medium bowl, combine chicken, cheeses, milk, and pepper
2 Spread 1/2 cup mixture on each lasagna noodle; roll jelly-roll fashion
3 In a 13 by 9-inch baking dish, spread 1 cup spaghetti sauce
4 Arrange lasagna rolls, seam-side down in sauce in baking dish
5 Top with remaining spaghetti sauce
6 Cover
7 Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes or until hot
8 Serve, if desired, with additional Parmesan cheese.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

All Hat and No Cattle


'Round here, we like to say All Hat and No Cattle.

President Obama in a cowboy hat.

The Face You Make


The Face You Make

When you see a car with an Obama 2012 sticker.

Pregnancy Cookie Dough



Pregnancy Cookie Dough

Egg-less cookie dough to eat. Not to bake. Just to eat.

Every woman should have this recipe on hand.
Eggless Cookie Dough
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened 
1/4 tsp. vanilla 
1/4 cup milk 
1 cup flour Pinch salt 
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Saturday, December 7, 2013

FOR THOSE DAYS WHEN YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE COOKIE



FOR THOSE DAYS WHEN YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE COOKIE

1 tbsp. butter melted 
1 tbsp white sugar 
1 tbsp. brown sugar 
3 drops of vanilla pinch of salt 
1 egg yolk 
1/4 c. flour 
2 tbsp. chocolate chips 

MICROWAVE 40-60 SEC IN A CUP OR BOWL. Single serving deep dish chocolate chip cookie!

PEANUT BUTTER CAKE WITH PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING



PEANUT BUTTER CAKE WITH PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING

2 & 1/4 CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR 
2 CUPS LIGHT BROWN SUGAR (packed)
1 CUP PEANUT BUTTER
1/2 CUP BUTTER (room temperature)
1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER
1/2 TEASPOON BAKING SODA
1 & 1/4 CUPS MILK
2 TEASPOONS VANILLA EXTRACT
3 EGGS
Preheat your oven to 350 and grease and flour a 10 x 15 cake pan. In a large bowl, mix the first 4 ingredients with an electric mixer; blend at low speed until crumbly. Add the next 5 ingredients and blend at low speed until everything is wet, then beat at medium speed for 3 minutes.

Pour into prepared pan and bake, in the middle of your oven, for 35-40 minutes or until the toothpick test comes out clean.

Let the cake cool (in the pan) for 10 minutes, then spread the frosting on the hot cake (recipe follows) and sprinkle one cup of mini-chocolate chips over the frosting.

PEANUT BUTTER-HONEY FROSTING
1/2 CUP PEANUT BUTTER
2 TABLESPOONS HONEY
1 TEASPOON VANILLA EXTRACT
2 CUPS POWDERED SUGAR 4 to 5 TABLESPOONS MILK

Warm the peanut butter and honey in the microwave just until it gets soft and easy to stir, then add everything else and beat until smooth. Spread over hot cake and sprinkle with one cup of mini-chocolate chips.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Black Friday Is Great


Black Friday Is Great

So many disappointed people.

Comparing Health Insurance and Their Character Representations


Comparing Health Insurance and Their Character Representations

Geico - The Gecko
Aflac - The Duck
Obamacare - Daffy Duck with his head scrambled, with a cast on his foot, and walking on crutches.