Heavenly Angel Food Cake

 This is Amazing!!! My whole family loved it, and it was pretty easy to make! See the Original Recipe HERE

Heavenly Angel Food Cake:
1 pkg (16 ounces) angel food cake mix
24 large marshmallows
6 milk chocolate candy bars with almonds, chopped (I used without almonds)
2/3 cup milk
1 carton (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided

1. Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cool.
2. For filling, in a small saucepan, combine the marshmallows, candy bars and milk. Cook and stir over low heat until marshmallows are melted. Transfer to a small bowl; cool to room temperature. Fold in 3/4 cup whipped topping.
3. Cut cake horizontally into three layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with a third of the filling. Repeat layers twice. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
4. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining whipped topping.Yield: 12 servings.

Caramel Apples

I've had a few requests for this, so rather than type this out a dozen times, I'm just going to post it here where all can see it.  :)  

CARAMEL APPLES

Ingredients: 

8-10 apples (any kind - but I like green or Fuji the best) washed and dried

1 C. butter (salted)

2 1/4 C. brown sugar

dash salt

1 C. light corn syrup

1 - 15 oz. can sweet cream condensed milk

1 t. vanilla

Directions: 

1. Wash and dry apples.  Pull the stems out entirely (I use pliers and pull as close to the base as possible).  Hammer the sticks into the apples and get it as straight up as possible  (We're not playing around here, people.  :)  Put the apples into the freezer while you make the caramel.  (THIS IS THE SECRET KEY!  THIS MAKES THE CARAMEL NOT RUN OFF THE APPLE.  SORRY I'M YELLING ABOUT IT, THOUGH!! :)

2. Melt the butter.  Add the sugar and salt.  Stir.  

3. Add corn syrup and mix in completely.

4. Gradually add the sweet cream condensed milk - stirring constantly. 

5. Cook on medium heat for 12-15min.  (245 degrees on a candy thermometer.)  

*Plug: get a candy thermometer.  If you use a 40% off Michael's coupon, they're about $7.  They are so worth it.  I ruined many a batch of caramel apples before I got mine and they've been good since.  

6. Remove.  Add vanilla.

7. Here comes the tricky party.  Quickly remove the apples from the freezer and dip the apple into the caramel holding it by the stick.  You may need to tip the pan a little bit to get the caramel to go all the way to the top of the apple.  Once it is covered, twist it as fast as you can with the stick between both hands (picture the way you would do it like you're warming your hands over a fire).  The excess caramel will fly off it (so be careful!).  

8. Set them on parchment paper (NOT wax paper - unless you like the taste of wax paper, because they will stick).  

9. Let them cool for at least 30 min.  (Don't worry your pretty little head if there are bubbles/lumps in the caramel.  It won't show.)

 10. Melt your chocolate.  I use white almond bark (it tastes the best).  Follow the directions on the package and melt it till it's runny.  (If you over-cook it, it will become lumpy and thick.  Thin it out with olive oil.  If it still won't cooperate, start over.  I know it hurts dumping the whole pathetic chunk into the garbage can.  But it is dead.  Let it go and start over.)

11. Once it is properly melted, get a spoon and start drizzling.  The best way to do it is to turn the apple at an angle and then use the spoon like you would use a marker and just quickly draw lines from the top to the bottom of the apple while you rotate it by the stick. Go all the way around.  

12. Drop your toppings on it (the possibilities are endless.  Favorites include: Reese's, Butterfinger, Oreo, M&M's, Reese's Pieces, Snickers, and cinnamon sugar.)  

If your toppings run off the chocolate, stick the chocolate in the fridge/freezer for a minute till it's a little more solid.  Then go at it.  

13. Try not to eat all 8 of them in one night.  I know; I've tried.  :)

Enjoy! 

Molasses Cookies

This recipe I got from my mother-in-law. These are my hubby's absolute FAVORITE cookies! Super easy to make and absolutely delicious! (similar to a gingerbread cookie)

Molasses Cookies

3/4 Cup Butter/Margarine
4 Tbs. Molasses
1 Egg
1 Cup Sugar
2 Cups Flour
1/2 Tsp Cloves (can reduce if desired)
1 Tsp Ginger
2 Tsp Cinnamon

Cream molasses, egg,  butter/margarine, and sugar. Sift flour, cloves, ginger,and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients slowly to creamed mixture. Depending on dough consistency, add more flour (1-2 Tbs at a time), until you get dough so it doesn't stick to your fingers. Roll into balls, and then roll into cinnamon/sugar. Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes (depending on oven, may need 400)

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cupcakes

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
2 1-oz bottles red rood coloring
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp white vinegar

preheat oven to 350. (This makes 2 9-inch round cakes) In large bow, whisk together dry ingredients. Add oil, buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla and vinegar to the flour mixture. Using an electric mixer on medium=low speed, beat for 1 minute until well blended. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl with rubber spatula. Beat on high speed for 2 minutes. Spread batter evenly into prepared pans, dividing equally. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let cook in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.

McCormick Vanilla Cream Cheese frosting
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
4 tbs butter, softened
2 tbs sour cream
2 tsp Vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar

Mix first 4 ingredients and beat until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until smooth.

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk and Cinnamon Butter

I LOVE sweetened condensed milk. Anything with it is delicious, honestly. It does get a little pricey....so how about making it yourself? It's EASY!

This can be used just like the kind you buy in the store.

Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 cup warm water
1 Cup + 2 T Instant Nonfat Dry Milk
3/4 cup Sugar

Place warm water in bowl. Add dry milk and mix well. Add sugar and mix until smooth. Store in refrigerator in container with a lid.

My 2 favorite recipes that contain sweetened condensed milk?

Fudge Bars

and
Cinnamon Butter..you know the stuff you get at Texas Roadhouse? Yeah, kind of like that! :)

Cinnamon Butter
1 cup Butter, softened
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk, chilled
1 tsp Cinnamon (or more, to taste)
1/2 tsp corn syrup

Fudge Nut Bars

These are seriously AMAZING! But what isn't amazing that contains sweetened condensed milk? Practically nothing...that stuff is delicious!

Fudge Nut Bars

Dough:
1/2 cup (1 cube) butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

Filling
1/2 pkg chocolate chips (I did handful of milk, and a handful of white)
1/2 cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 tbs butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix all dough ingredients together in large bowl. Press 3/4 of dough into bottom of 9x13 baking dish. Cook filling ingredients over a double boiler until everything is melted (Option: you can also put all filling ingredients into a saucepan on your stove on LOW, stirring occassionally, until everything is melted. LOW is important...not 2 or 3, but LOW). Pour Filling over dough. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 of dough over the filling, and sprinkle chopped nuts if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Fruit Pizza

I made this for a fun girly get-together. Love it! It was a huge hit! 

(I halved the recipe because I wanted to make 1 medium-size pizza...it made 8 large slices...and it was perfect. But the individual ones they made on their blog is so cute too!) 

FRUIT PIZZA

Found Here: Six Sister’s Stuff

Sugar Cookie Crust
1/4 C Milk

1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 C Butter or Margarine
4 C Flour
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 1/4 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs

Soften margarine slightly, then add sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir well, then mix in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and milk. Chill dough for about an hour and it will be easier to roll out.

Roll out the dough on a floured surface until it's a little more than 1/4" thick. You can either transfer it to an ungreased pizza pan to make a big pizza or use circle cookie cutters to make mini pizzas. (If you make the large pizza size, you will only use about 3/4 of the dough, so you can make mini ones with the leftovers!) Bake at 350 degrees for 13 minutes. Let the sugar cookie crust cool completely before adding the cream cheese layer.

Cream Cheese Layer8 oz. Cream Cheese (softened)

1 C Powdered Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
8 oz. Cool Whip

Mix together cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth, then fold in the Cool Whip and stir well. Spread cream cheese layer over cooled sugar cookie. Then you can start adding the fruit.

Fruit OptionsStrawberries

Kiwi
Bananas
Grapes
Blueberries
Mandarin Oranges
Raspberries
Pineapple
Or whatever fruit you love!!

Red Velvet Cake Pops

I made you all a treat: Red Velvet Cheesecake Pops...they're even Heart shaped!! :) 

Red Velvet Cheesecake Pops:

1 Red Velvet Cake Mix, cooked according to box directions 

1 recipe (or can) of your favorite Cream Cheese Frosting

Once cake is cooked and cooled, dump entire cake into a large bowl. Stir in your cream cheese frosting to make a "paste"-type substance. I put the mixture into some heart-shaped ice cube molds I got in the dollar-bin at target. You can also use a cookie scoop to make small balls, and just put them on a cookie sheet or onto wax paper. Put in freezer for at least 2 hours (you can leave them in there for several days even, if you need to!). 

Once they're frozen, you can melt some white chocolate (baking squares, chocolate chips...whatever floats your boat). If it's too thick to dip, you can add a small amount of shortening. DO NOT add water!

I put the melted chocolate into a cup, to make it easy to dip. I buy the sucker sticks (they come in packages) at Walmart...usually they are near the wedding stuff. Put your sticks into your frozen cake pops, then dip in white chocolate. Place on cookie sheet or wax paper and allow chocolate to harden. Put back into the fridge or freezer, and enjoy as you desire! YUM!!!!! Hope you enjoy them! ;) 

The. Best. Lemon. Meringue. Pie.

This recipe is seriously DELICIOUS!!! Best lemon meringue pie ever!!! You can find the recipe here.

Lemon Meringue Pie

Ingredients

• 1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked (homemade, frozen, refrigerated...whatever you prefer)
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/3 cup water
• 4 eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 
  
• Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Combine 1 1/2 cups sugar, salt, and 1 1/2 cups water in a heavy saucepan. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and 1/3 cup water to make a smooth paste. Gradually whisk into boiling sugar mixture. Boil mixture until thick and clear, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolks and lemon juice. Gradually whisk egg yolk mixture into hot sugar mixture. Return pan to heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in grated lemon rind and butter or margarine. Place mixture in refrigerator and cool until just lukewarm.
4. In a large glass or metal bowl, combine egg whites and salt. Whip until foamy. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar while continuing to whip. Beat until whites form stiff peaks. Stir about 3/4 cup of meringue into lukewarm filling. Spoon filling into baked pastry shell. Cover pie with remaining meringue.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, until meringue is slightly brown. Cool on a rack at for at least 1 hour before cutting.

Peggy's Chocolate Chip Cookies

I made these cookies for primary last month and was asked to put the recipe on this blog. So here it is for all of you who liked them :)

• 2 C shortening
• 2 C sugar
• 1 C brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 4 tsp vanilla
• 5 C flour
• 1 bag chocolate chips

Mix everything together. Drop by the spoonful (I use a cookie scoop) onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 min.

German Chocolate Cookies

A bakery catered my little sister wedding luncheon and they had these delicious German chocolate cake style cookies. I decided to make up a recipe for them, meaning I changed up some other recipes to make it work. They turned out great! If you like German Chocolate cake you will love these!

Cookies:
2 c brown sugar
1/2 c shortening
1/2 c butter
3/4 c cocoa
4 c firmly packed flour
3 eggs
1 c milk
1 t baking soda
1/4 t salt

Cream the shortening, butter and sugar. Add the cocoa, mix. Then add the eggs and milk, mix. Slowly add flour, baking soda, and salt, mix. Place tablespoon size dough on a GREASED cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Cool.

Frosting:
1 c evaporated milk
3 egg yolks
1 c sugar
1/2 c butter
1 t vanilla
1 c chopped pecans
1 c coconut

Mix evaporated milk, egg yolks, sugar and butter. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes in a pot, on the stove over medium heat. Stir often so it doesn't burn on the bottom. After the 10 to 15 minutes, then the rest of the ingredients. Spread on cooled cookies.

Peanut Butter Fingers

One words. YUMMMMMMMM!

¾ cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter
1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
3 cups flour
3 cups old fashioned oats

Cream together the butter, brown sugar and sugar. Add the eggs and peanut butter. Mix the baking soda, salt, flour and oats together and add to the creamed mixture, 1 cup at a time. It gets really thick near the end of mixing (I always end up using my hands). Spread into a jelly roll pan and bake for 15-17 minutes at 325 degrees.

Frosting:
½ cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ cup milk
2 cups powdered sugar
¼ cup cocoa

Mix with a hand mixer and spread on cooled bars.

{cupcakes cupcakes}

Who doesn't love a cupcake every now and again? Well, I am always on the look out for a fun and new cupcake recipe, and I got {this} yummy cupcake recipe book for my birthday last year-and have loved it!

We made these cupcakes last night, and if you are an Oreo lover...then you will definitely dig these tasty little cakes.

And the best part of all, is the surprise that you will find inside!

So here is the recipe:

1 box chocolate cake mix (I used Devils food)

1 cup sour cream

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

24 double stuffed Oreo cookies

Mix together the cake mix, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla. Place a spoonful of batter on the bottom of each paper liner. Place the whole Oreo cookie on the bottom lying flat. Cover the remaining batter until 3/4 full.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Allow cupcakes to cool on a rack completely.

Buttercream Frosting:

1/2 cup butter

4 c. powdered sugar

1/4 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix together the frosting and sprinkle crushed up Oreo bits on the top. (I used about 12 cookies to crush up)

And these next cupcakes, I made for my son's birthday last year! I used the jellybean rock candy for the "dinosaur eggs" and bought the mini dinosaurs at the dollar store to top each one. I also crushed up Oreo cookies for the "dirt." Let me just say that they were a huge hit with all of the kids at the party!

Happy cupcake making!

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

(This is for you McKenzie!!) These are "The Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies" everyone always asks about. I brought these to multiple summer picnics, and they were voted "The Best Cookie" at several ones (even if Luke Webb was the only one who voted!) Anyhow, they are hands down the best chocolate chip cookie....they have 3 types of chocolate chips in them. I will warn you though, measuring the chocolate chips is IMPORTANT, otherwise your cookies will be too chocolatey....and gross. Just trust me.

Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Yield: 16
1/2 c Butter, Softened (not in the microwave...let the butter sit on your counter)
1/2 c Sugar
1/2 c Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed
1 lg Egg
1/2 t Vanilla
3/4 c Flour
1/2 t Salt
1/2 t Baking Powder
1/2 t Baking Soda
1/2 c Rolled Oats
1 1/4 c Chocolate Chunks, Milk, Semisweet & White Chocolate Chip mixture

1--Preheat Oven to 350°. Lightly grease two large baking sheets.
2--Combine the butter and sugars in a large bowl. Beat with a wooden spoon or electric mixer set on medium speed until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Set aside.
3--Sift the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda into a small bowl. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating continuously. Stir in the rolled oats and chocolate chunks.
4--Spoon tablespoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake cookies until lightly browned, 8-10 minutes. Let cookies cool for 1 minute before transferring to wire racks.

Delicious Crepes

We had crepes for dinner tonight. We love this recipe! The husband can't wait to get enough of them and he isn't even a big sweet eater. If you want to try something fun for breakfast or have breakfast for dinner this is a fun change and very easy!!!

CREPES

1 cup flour
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
*Beat the above ingredients until well mixed. Spray Pam or cooking spray on frying pan and then pour about 1/4 cup of batter into the center. Tilt the pan so that batter covers the entire bottom of the frying pan like the picture below. Cook each crepe on low/med heat (my stove is set to about a 3 or 4 when cooking them). When the crepe starts to look dry on top it is ready to flip sides. (In the pic below the crepe is almost ready to flip you can see the right side is still slightly wet). Then prepare the filling.

Filling:

1/2 pkg of cream cheese softened

3/4 carton of cool whip

1/2 c. powdered sugar

*Combine and spread in the center of a crepe and then roll crepe up. Top with berries! Enjoy

Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

I got this from a good friend. I made these for Christmas Eve and brought it to a party and they were a huge hit!

Rolls:

3 T yeast

2 C warm water

1/2 C Sugar

1/4 C oil

1 1/4 t Salt

1 egg

2 C Flour + enough to make good soft dough

Inside:

Butter and cinnamon to your liking

Caramel:

2/3 C Brown Sugar

1/4 C Butter

4 T Corn Syrup

1/4 C heavy whipping cream

Brink to boil till smooth then add cream

put in greased baking dish

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 block cream cheese, softened

3 heaping T powdered sugar or to the consistency you like or sweetness you like

If you want it a little runny you can add milk

mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth

then add milk and mix

Instructions:

Sprinkle yeast over warm water and sugar. let rise for 10 min

Add sugar, oil, salt, and egg. Mix together

Add flour and more till soft dough ball forms

Kneed on floured surface 8-10 min

put in greased bowl and side for 1 - 1 hour 15 min (till doubles)

roll flat approximately 10 x 20 in

smear with softened butter and cinnamon sugar liberally

makes about 12-15 rolls

roll up (length wise) and cut with floss

Spray 9x13 cooking dish with nonstick spray

pour caramel on bottom

place rolls on top

cover with clean towel and turn on oven to 350

let raise for 15 min

bake till golden brown

let rolls cool and then smear with cream cheese frosting

Then enjoy!

{homemade apple crisp}

I made apple crisp this past weekend....and boy was it delicious!!

The key to making this dessert perfect---- is using a wide variety of apples. I used:

Granny Smith

Golden Delicious

Gala

Johnny Gold

10 cups of apples, peeled, cored and sliced

1/2 cup white sugar

1 T. flour

1 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. nutmeg

1/2 cup of water

1 cup quick-cooking oats

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 t. baking powder

1/4 t. baking soda

1/2 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the sliced apples in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix the white sugar, 1 T. flour, and cinnamon and nutmeg together, and sprinkle over the apples. Pour water evenly over all. Combine oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and melted butter together. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture. Bake at 350 degrees (covered) for about 50 min or until top is golden brown.

{licorice caramels}

Black licorice caramels

We made these tasty little treats last month for the holiday's.....and man are they addicting! Even if you don't necessarily love black licorice---I am betting that you will like these!

1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon anise extract (licorice)
black food coloring

Line a 9x9 inch dish with buttered foil.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in sugar, milk, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Continue to heat, without stirring, to 242 to 248 degrees F (116 to 120 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a firm but pliable ball. Remove from heat and stir in anise and food coloring. Pour into prepared pan. Let cool completely, several hours.
To cut, turn out of pan and peel away foil. Cut with a buttered knife. Wrap pieces in waxed paper or candy wrappers.

Pumpkin Trifle

I got this off of Studio 5. Made it for Thanksgiving. PERFECT! I'd half the recipe next time because it makes way more than needed! I also used mini loaf pans and had 2 loaves leftover. Also I threw away half the whipping cream. So yeah, half the recipe. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
•1 loaf Pumpkin bread, cubed (recipe below)
•Caramel ice cream topping
•Toffee bits
•1 qt. heavy whipping cream beaten with 1 ½ c. brown sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla
Method:


Create trifle by layering above ingredients. Start by placing half of the pumpkin bread cubes in the bottom of the trifle dish. Drizzle caramel sauce over the pumpkin bread. Next, sprinkle toffee bits over the bread and caramel. Spread a generous layer of the whipped topping over the pumpkin bread. Repeat all of the above for the second layer. Garnish as desired.




Pumpkin Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
•3 1/3 cups sifted flour
•4 tsp. Pumpkin pie spice
•2 tsp. Baking soda
•1 tsp. Baking powder
•1 ½ tsp. Salt
•2/3 c. cooking oil
•2 2/3 c. sugar
•4 eggs
•1 (1 lb.) can mashed pumpkin (about 2 cups)
•2/3 c. water
Method:


Sift together flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside. Using an electric mixer, beat together sugar and oil in a bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in pumpkin. Add dry ingredients and water alternately to your sugar mixture, beating well after each addition. Pour batter into 2 greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 55 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Cool in pans on racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool on racks. Makes 2 loaves

Orange Creamsicle Cookies

ORANGE CREAMSICLE COOKIES

2 1/2 Cups Flour

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 Cup softened butter

1/2 Cup sugar

1/2 Cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla

2 Tbs orange zest (about 2 oranges)

2 Cups vanilla chips

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt and set aside. Cream butter and sugars and then beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture. Stir in orange zest and chips. Bake on cookie sheet at 375 for 8-10 minutes. YUMMY!!!!