Pumpkin Praline

Welcome back to cooking! I'd like to pretend I haven't cooked a meal since I last posted here in May, but I've just been too busy doing everything else. Now that I'm just a stay at home mom again with lots of time on my hands (ha! don't we all wish...) I'm back to enjoying my quickie meals in the kitchen.

This is a GREAT one, and a perfect fall/holiday/Thanksgiving/Make your house smell like Yankee candles dessert.

Pumpkin Praline

16 oz. pumpkin
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 can evaporated milk
3 tsp. pumpkin spice (I use pumpkin pie spice)

Whip all ingredients with a wisk. Set aside.

1 yellow cake mix (dry)
3/4 cube of melted butter
3 oz of your favorite nut, chopped (I put them in a ziplock bag and smash with a rolling pin. my toddler loves this part)

Spray a 9 x 13 pan. Pour pumpkin mixture on the bottom. Spread the yellow cake mix on top. Sprinkle with nuts and spread the butter on top of the entire cake. Bake for 55 minutes at 350 degrees.

I've already made this twice since discovering it last week. It makes your house smell amazing and is great with vanilla ice cream, whip cream, or just plain. I bet it would be great with a spice cake. Try adding a tsp of cinnamon for extra holiday flavor!

Happy baking.

Cocoa-Peanut Butter-Banana Smoothies

This is a Betty Crocker recipe. Perfect for adding some health into dessert, right?

Cocoa-Peanut Butter-Banana Smoothies

1 1/2 cups vanilla yogurt (buy a 2 lb container)
1 cup chocolate milk (or skim milk and chocolate syrup)
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 small bananas, sliced
3-5 ice cubes
1 cup Cocoa Puffs cereal, coarsely crushed (optional)

Place all ingredient except cereal in blender. Cover, blend on high speed about 30 seconds or until smooth. Pour into four glasses, sprinkle with cereal. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Microwave Fudge Pudding Cake

Fudge Pudding Cake (microwave!)

1 c. all purpose flour
¾ c. granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. baking cocoa
2 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
½ c. milk
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. chopped nuts
1 c. packed brown sugar
¼ c. baking cocoa
1 ¾ c. boiling water

1. Mix flour, granulated sugar, 2 Tbsp. cocoa, baking powder, and salt in 2-quart
microwavable casserole.
2. Stir in milk, oil and vanilla. Stir in nuts. Spread evenly in casserole. Mix brown
sugar and ¼ c. coca; sprinkle over batter. Pour boiling water over batter.
3. Microwave uncovered on medium (50%) 9 minutes; rotate casserole ½ turn. Microwave
uncovered on high 5-6 minutes or until top is almost dry. Serve warm with ice cream or
whipped cream.

Stuffed French Toast

Another twist on a traditional recipe. Great for an easy dinner or breakfast in bed (*hint* Mother's Day is coming up! *hint*)

Stuffed French Toast

12 slices French bread (we just used regular and it was still good)
6 Tbsp cream cheese
¼ c. jam (any flavor)
3 eggs
½ c. skim milk
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
Cinnamon and/or vanilla as desired

1. Spread cream cheese on one slice, jam on the other, and make 6 sandwiches.
2. Mix everything else together, dip both sides, and cook.
3. Great with syrup and powdered sugar!

Perfect Cream Cheese Frosting

I've been baking to drive away the stormy gray weather outside, and I stumbled across the perfect mix for cream cheese frosting.

Perfect Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter (1 stick), room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese (1 pkg.), room temperature (I use fat free to induce less guilt!)
2-3 cups powdered sugar (depends on the humidity)
1 tsp. vanilla extract (works better if you have a clear extract or the frosting gets darker)

Mix butter and cream cheese on medium speed until very smooth (about three minutes). Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing. Add the vanilla extract and mix. Slowly add the powdered sugar. Keep adding until you get to desired sweetness.

Want to add decorative frills or writing but don't have the equipment? add a few drops of food coloring into a plastic bag, mix in frosting, and cut a tiny hole in the tip. No messy cleanup--just throw away the used bag!

Quick Chocolate Cake

Here's a quick single serving size cake you make in the microwave! It's not the BEST cake ever, but it's still good and extremely simple. Thanks to Linds for passing this one on.

Quick Chocolate Cake

4 Tbsp. flour
4 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1 Egg
3 Tbsp. milk
3 Tbsp. oil

Mix flour, sugar and cocoa in a microwavable mug. Spoon in 1 egg. Pour in milk and oil, and mix well. Put in microwave for 3 minutes on maximum power (1000watt). Wait until it stops rising (it will rise over the top of the mug!) and sets in the mug. Tip contents out of mug onto saucer and enjoy!

For an extra boost, add a Tbsp. of powdered sugar to the dry ingredients and add a handful of chocolate chips or a drizzle of chocolate syrup before cooking.

Updates and Cake Wrecks

I hope you've gotten a chance to try some of the recipes from the past few weeks! They're all tried and trued but up for tweaking. Please let me know if you change something and love it! I made the Taco Quiche the other day with a few revisions and it was great! I prepared the meat the same way, but added a can of corn, a can of black beans, and mexican rice (if you haven't tried the cheapo rice sides mixes, you're missing out!). It was delicious and much improved.

Second bit of news: the 5 Things Cooking giveaway is still going for one more day! Thanks for those of you who have submitted recipes and keep them coming! Please add your votes to the poll in the sidebar as well. I'm always looking for new things to try so they might as well be things that interest you as well...

Third, I have to pass on one of my favorite blogs, which isn't really a cooking blog, but celebrates the worst of professional cake decorating. If you're looking for a good laugh on a gray day, this is it. Cake Wrecks. Check it out--I promise you won't regret it! Click on the "best of" links in the sidebar to see some of the most popular wrecks.

Homemade Brownies

I'll admit it, I usually use brownie and cake mixes. Let's be honest, though, mixes only save you a few ingredients! So here's an easy recipe for great homemade brownies that don't require a mix.

Homemade Brownies

2 squares butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
dash salt

Beat together everything except the flour and salt. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

For an extra treat, sprinkle chocolate chips on top before baking!

Rice Pudding

This is a classic dessert that's a great way to use leftover rice. This one comes from my mom, which means it's tailored for a quick fix in the microwave!

Rice Pudding

2 cups cooked rice
2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 cups sugar
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
Raisins (optional)

Beat eggs and milk well. Add sugar and cinnamon, beat again. Stir in rice and raisins. Microwave covered on high for 15-20 minutes or until it's the texture you prefer!

Cream Cheese Frosting

This frosting is super simple and quick to make--great with spice or carrot cake!

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 pkg cream cheese
powdered sugar
milk/evaporated milk

Beat cream cheese (helps if it's slightly warmed). Add milk and powdered sugar until it reaches the desired consistency--it should be spreadable but not liquid.

The actual amounts of milk and sugar depend on your taste (some people like things sweeter) and the temperature and humidity. This one requires lots of tasting to know when it's right!

Orange Creme Cake

Ready for a variation on sponge cake? Try an orange twist!

Orange Creme Cake

1 round 10" angel food cake (buy one or use this easy 5 things recipe)
2 6 oz. containers of orange creme yogurt
1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
2 tsp. powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. frozen orange juice concentrate

1. Cut cake in half horizontally; separate layers.
2. Spread yogurt between layers and re-stack.
3. Beat cream and sugar to stiff peaks. Add OJ concentrate until just blended. Use as frosting or serve by the side.

Blue Ribbon Sponge Cake

This is a no fail recipe--works every time and super easy!

Blue Ribbon Sponge Cake

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 heaping tsp. baking powder
1 cup hot water

Beat eggs, add sugar, and beat well. Mix flour with baking powder (don't skip this step!) and add to egg mixture. Pour in hot water all at once and beat until smooth. Pour into bundt pan sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes until cake springs back when touched lightly. Cool 15 minutes and tip out of pan.

Serve with strawberries and whip cream!

Dessert Fondue!

Variations on a theme, perhaps? This chocolate marshmallow fondue is irresistible!

Chocolate Fondue

16 oz. chocolate (chocolate candy bars or regular chocolate chips work great)
30 large marshmallows
1/3 cup milk
1/2 pint whipping cream

Grease crockpot with 1 tablespoon butter. Cook marshmallows, chocolate, and milk on high for ~10 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring occasionally. Gradually add cream. Cover and cook on low 2-6 hours.

Can also be made in a fondue pot. My favorite treats to dip are graham cracker (reverse s'mores!), strawberries, bananas, and mangoes.

Peach Crisp

This is a perfect pick-me-up dessert that works great with any type of fruit!

Peach Crisp

1 quart fruit, sliced
1 box cake mix (spice or yellow work best)
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine

Pour fruit--with juice--into 9" by 11" baking pan or casserole dish. Pour cake mix (just the dry portion!) on top. Slice butter into small chunks on top of the cake mix to help it brown. Bake at 375 for ~10-15 minutes until the top is nicely browned.

Best served warm with ice cream, but also great cold. Can even be microwaved! Again, this works with any kind of fruit: peaches, pears, plums, cherries, etc.

Banana Muffins

Ok, i'm violating my "5 things" rule but these are worth it. A nice but reasonably healthy treat.

Banana Muffins

1 stick butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
2 medium bananas, mashed
1 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. water
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and bananas. Dissolve baking soda in water, add with flour. Stir in vanilla. Bake at 400 for 12 minutes. Makes 12 medium-sized muffins.

Stay Soft Caramel Corn

I love this recipe because it stays pull apart soft and just a touch chewy...*sigh*

Caramel Corn

1 c. Karo syrup
2 c. brown sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 stick butter
2 batches of popcorn

Boil Karo syrup and sugar for 2 min. Add sweetened condensed milk and butter. Stir until melted. Pour over popcorn!

Best if you let it set up for about an hour before trying to eat it...

No Bake Cookies

There are lots of no-bake recipes out there, but this is my personal favorite. Despite my addiction to peanut butter, I prefer the plain "fudge" variety. This recipe only calls for things I usually have handy and always sets up.

No Bake Cookies

2 c. sugar
1/2 c. evaporated milk
1 stick butter/margarine
3 Tbs. cocoa
1/2 tsp. salt
3 c. oatmeal (not instant kind!)

Heat everything except the oatmeal on medium, stirring regularly to avoid burning the sugar. Boil one minute. Remove from heat, add oatmeal. Drop by spoonful on wax paper.

Makes 2-3 dozen.

Some of my favorite recipes call for evaporated milk (see: Meatloaf, fudge frosting) so I try to make these in the same week.

Who likes Eggnog???

So, I'm married to the unofficial Eggnog King of the Universe. Since we're cutting costs this year, we haven't bought eggnog (or eggnog ice cream...), but I knew he couldn't make it through finals week with his head on straight without it.

Here's what we came up with, and it's expert approved.

Homemade Eggnog

6 eggs
3 cups milk
8 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, ground

In a large bowl, beat the eggs using an electric beater. Alternate adding milk & sugar,
Continue beating until mixture thickens slightly.
Add in the vanilla essence & ground nutmeg.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled (at least 3 hours).

I actually whipped it up in a plastic pitcher using our handheld mixer with the wisk attachment.

Serves: 8 (or one Eggnog-loving husband)

World's Best Peanut Butter Fingers.

Another violation of the 5 things rule, but it's junk food so it's TOTALLY worth it. I'm participating in the Virtual Cookie exchange, so feel free to browse for other great recipes!

Word of warning, this is my grandma's recipe, so without scaling it down it makes 2 full pans--better get them out of the house quick!

Peanut Butter Fingers

2 squares butter
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. peanut butter
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. oatmeal

Mix all ingredients and press into two 9 x 13 pans. Bake at 350 for 13 minutes. Cool 5-12 minutes and frost with peanut butter and chocolate frosting. Best with the fudge frosting below!



Chocolate Fudge Frosting

1/3 c. evap. milk
1 c. sugar
5 large marshmallows
1/2 c. chocolate chips
1 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla

Cook milk, sugar, and marshmallows until melted on medium heat. Remove from heat, add remaining ingredients. When chocolate chips melt pout immediately (great on cake as well!)

You can add mint to part if you want to make double layered mint/chocolate frosting (i.e. brownies).

Sweet tooth

Ok, anyone who knows me understands that I am a complete dessert junkie...so I have MILLIONS of recipes (though some violate the 5 ingredient rule...)

I don't make a lot of "basic" cookies, and I usually use cake and brownie mixes. So, here are some of my favorite unique desserts...

Mint Meringue Cookies
2 egg whites (post a comment if you're not sure how to separate eggs)
1/8 tsp cream of tartar
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp peppermint flavoring (i've also used mint, orange, and almond!)
1/8 tsp food coloring (totally optional, but i like green so people expect mint!)
3/4 c. sugar
1 c. chocolate chips

Beat egg whites w/ cream of tartar until it forms soft peaks (i.e. when you poke it it lifts up and the tip folds over into a peak that's till fairly soft). Gradually add sugar, beat until the meringue holds shape. Fold in color, flavor, and chocolate chips.

Drop spoonfuls onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Bake at 250 for 15 min, let cookies cook in oven (i.e. turn it off but don't take the cookies out). These are best warm and melt in your mouth....makes 24 small.

Easy Pie Crust--making homemade pies is actually really easy!
1 c. shortening
2 c. flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 c. cold water

Blend shortening, flour, and salt with fingers. Should be moist but crumbly. Add water and mix. Roll out, place in pie tin, prick with fork, and bake at 400 for 15 minutes. Fill with chocolate pudding, banana pudding and sliced bananas....whatever sounds good! Makes 2 bottom pie crusts.

For a great fruit pie, put the bottom crust in the pie tin, prick with fork, and add a can of pie filling (i prefer apple or peach). Roll out the second crust and use cookie cutters to make a decorative top (small stars or hearts typically work best). Make it extra creative by attaching the cut out portions to another part of the crust with a drop of water. Cover the pie, pinch edges together to seal, and bake at 400 for 15 minutes.

Yes, it's probably best to make apple pie with real apples, but the cost and time of growing, slicing, and cooking them doesn't always seem worth it...and most store bought fillings are actually pretty good.