Gooey Carmel Bars.

My family LOVED this one.

For the bar:
2 cups of Flour
12 Tbs of butter. ( no, you didn't read that wrong.)
1 Cup of butter.
1/4tsp. Salt
Mix until it looks like course crumbs
Press into a 13x9 pan
( line with Foil first.)
bake at 350
18-20 min

LET COOL COMPLETELY
then start step 2

CARMEL:
2 sticks of butter.( seriously your eyes are fine.)
1 cup of Brown sugar.
1/3 C. of Caro syrup
Bring to a boil
Stir frequently till it comes to a boil.
let boil for 2 min.
Immediately pour on top of of cooled crust. spread it around so it hits all corners.

Let Cool Completely. before starting step 3
( I put mine in the freezer to speed it along.)

Chocolate Spread:

1C. chocolate chips
2 Tbs of butter.
Melt down choco. chips in microwave. or double broiler.
( takes about 2 min in my microwave, I stop and stir them alot.)
just when they are about melted and in for the last round of heat add the butter. Mix in well
And immediately spread across the top of cooled Carmel.
Let it cool completely before cutting.

Make sure you have LOTS people to share this one with.. It is about 4 cubes of butter after all!!

Spinach Wreath

( I apologize that his picture sucks to bad. I will make this this week and take a real picture of what it looks like. This was the closest pic I could find to represent.sorry.)

This was simple and quick. one that looks pretty if done right. It also easy to mix it up and put in what ever you feel like. endless options!

1-2 cans of croissant rolls. ( go for the big and flaky)
1 pkg of crm cheese.
3-4 green onions chopped.
1 1/2 C. of chopped ham ( I think you could do this with chicken cubed too.)
1 pkg of frozen spinach, thawed.. drained well.( I use paper towels to really soak up the extra moisture. and you will have to almost squeeze it.)
Tomato sliced.

steps
On a pizza pan ( or stone plate.)
Roll out all croissant roll triangles- Start arranging them in a circle about 1 in from the edge. The point of the roll will hang off the edge ( I think it looks like a sun.) Over lap them just bit and pat them together well.
Put a spoon of mixture in the middle. and top with a slice of tomato grab the tip of the roll and fold it around the mixture. and tucking it in under

Repeat until all rolls are wrapped up, making it look like circle.
Bake @ 350
For 15-20 min * till golden brown and puffy.



Credit: Pamperd Chef recipe

French Bread Pizza

Okay I love this one! It's fast, yummy.. and a classic( well it was one of my childhood fav's. and my kids love it too.)

-1 loaf of french bread split in half horizontally. Place on a cookie sheet
-Spread some butter over each half ( it helps so the pizza sauce won't soak into the bread)
-Spread evenly on each half 1 can of tomato sauce with sprinkled basil and parsley
Or just use your favorite pizza sauce.
-Lots and lots of Mozzerella cheese shredded.
-Toppings of choice.
( really your combo options are endless. Alfredo sauce with spinach..ooh I think I'm going to try that one next time.)
Sausage. Peperonni. Hamb. Ham, Mushrooms. ( what ever floats your boat.)

Place in oven at 350 degrees. for about 20-25 min ( when the cheese is nice and bubbly.)
cut it up and serve.

Credit: my mom.

Boston Creme Pie

Okay .. this baby is delicious and this is coming from a girl who doesn't care for this cake or pie desserts!You are going to have 3 steps. It looks more time consuming then it is. I promise.

Step One- Cake:
1 C. sugar
1/3 C. Shortening
1. egg
1 teaspoon of Vanilla
1-1/4 C. Flour
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 C. Milk

Beat sugar and shortening till fluffy, Blend in eggs & vanilla. Add the rest of dry ingrediants beat..then add milk.Beat again until well mixed.
Pour into a well floured & Greased 9 inch round cake pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-35 min.( toothpick test it.)
Cool in pan for 10 min, then cool on rack till completely cool.


( while cake is baking)
Step Two-Creme Filling:

2 egg yolks in a bowl set aside.slightly beaten

In a sauce pan combine
1/3 C. Sugar
2TBS. cornstarch
1/4tsp. salt
Gradually stir in 1-1/2 C. Milk.( whisk the WHOLE time you are adding milk.)
Cook over medium heat. stirring constantly, until mixture thickens & comes to a boil.
Boil for about a 1 Min.
Add a few large spoonfuls to the 2 slightly beaten egg yolks.( I stirred the mixture after every spoonful.)

Return egg yolk mix to saucepan & bring to a boil for about 1 min. Stir Constantly.
Remove from heat and stir in 2 teaspoons of Vanilla.
( reminds me of vanilla pudding both taste and texture.)
Chill.

Step 3-Chocolate Glaze:
In a medium sauce pan combine:
Combine 2 Ounces of unsweetend chocolate ( I didn't have this, I use Milk Chocolate chips and it worked and tasted great. And it wasn't overly sweet. so just use what you have.)
3 Tbs. of butter
Stir over low heat until melted remove from heat and add:
1 Cup of powdered sugar. and 1 teaspoon of Vanilla.
stir in 3-5 tsp. of milk til it looks Slightly runny. ( think glaze. NOT frosting.)
Cool slightly
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER:
Once Cake cools completely Cut in half horizontaly to make 2 thin layers.
Spoon creme filling over bottom half of cake.
Set the top half of cake back on.
Spread Top with Chocolate Glaze.
Refrigerate til glaze is completely set.

Credit: My 101 chocolate recipe book.

Fresh Wheat Bread

( This isn't my bread.. But when I make another load I'll put mine up.)

1 & 1 TBS of warm water
1 TBS. of honey
1 tsp of Yeast
1 tsp of vital wheat gluten ( found by the flour in baking aisles.)
2 Tbs of butter
1 Tbs of of powder milk
2 Tbs if brown sugar
9 oz of red wheat berry*
9 oz of white wheat berry*
( I use a plastic 9 oz plastic cup to measure, it turns out to be about 1-1/2 C. ground.)
If you need a bit more flour, you can grind a bit more or you can just fill in the rest with normal ol' wheat or white flour.
1Tbs of Salt

Let your yeast, gluten, sugar/honey disolve in warm water til foamy add rest of ingrediants.
Let raise for about 30-45 min or double in size.
At first the dough will look like.. well, not dough but a garbled mess.. that okay.. keep mixing it and it will start to ball up just like a good dough should. give it 10 min or so.
you dough will shape easilly and will be firmer then reg. white.
Punch down and shape into loaf. raise again for about 30-45 min
Bake @350 for about 30 min
Makes 1 Loaf

YOu don't have a wheat grinder? well, go get one!!! you can get a hand grinder one for about 50-75 bucks at a kitchen store and it only takes 10 -15 min. to grind all you need. (electric one are super cool,super fast... but super expensive.) Trust me it is soo fresh and very worth it.


If you just want to use regular wheat flour that works too.( I won't claim it's Just as good. But since you won't have the freshly grounded wheat to compare it too. It's still really pretty tasty.)

Credit : Nadine Bailey. The queen of yummy breads!

* I don't know if you can get wheat berry in a store or not. But if you jump online and go to LDS homestorage webstite. I think you can order from there. Or if you live close to Amish country.. they have great prices and huge bulk on both. ( it's where I got mine.)

Chicken Manicotti

Manicotti -at least one package.
Raw chicken breast cut into small strips ( small enough to fit IN the manicotti roll)
1 Jar of marinara sauce
1 lbs of sausage cooked and drained
1 to 1-1/2 cups of mozzarella shredded
1 can of mushrooms drained ( opt.)

In an uncooked manicotti stuff 1 slice of chicken breast on the inside. Repeat steps to how ever many you want or need.

In a casserole dish
add a 1/2 the jar of marinara sauce to the bottom of pan PLUS 1/2 cup of water.
place stuffed mani's on top of sauce.
Add remaining sauce all over the top
Then sprinkle on Mozzarella
Sausage and mushrooms
Cover with Tinfoil
bake at 350 for about 45 min to an hour

The manicotti will soften with both the sauce and water mix as well as as juices from the chicken. Super easy super yummy.

Yummy White Bread

So I have turned my family into Bread snobs.. And I'm not sure I like it... Since I now have to make bread ALL the time.. But who wants to go back to store bought when you can have home made bread right?
This is one I found that I thought was both simple and tasted pretty good. This is a good white bread. Pretty light and fluffy.






3 Cups of Warm Water (105-110 degrees)
1-1/2 TBS of Yeast.
1/3 C. of Sugar
Mix together and let stand for about 5 min till yeast foams.
Add:1/3 Cup melted Butter or shortening.
1 Heaping Tablespoon of Salt ( I've done 1-1/2Tbs.. and think it works out pretty good.)
5-6cups of Flour ( start and 4 and see what your dough looks like.. you want pretty soft and a little sticky looking. you will add more flour when your knead it.)
Turn over in a large GREASED bowl, Cover and let raise for about an hour.
Flip out and a WELL FLOURED surface and Knead for about 5 min. ( add more flour if your dough is still pretty sticky and knead it in.)

Cut dough in 1/2 ( makes 2 loaves.)

Roll out in a square ( not quite 13x9 size)
And roll up to fit in a 9 in bread pan. ( grease your pan!)
Cover,Let rise for another hour.
Bake at 350 degrees. for about 30 min.
If you like a softer crust, Brush with melted butter as soon as they get out of the oven.
Move to a cooling rack.