Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Chocolate marshmellow cookies

I made these today, and let me tell you they are d-lish! I am going to have to send leftovers to school with Eric tomorrow so I don't eat them all.


I got the recipe from here.

1 chocolate cake mix (I used Pillsbury devils food)
1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening (I used butter because I didn't have any)
2 eggs
12 large marshmallows
1/2 c. melted butter
1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 c. evaporated milk (I used regular 1% )
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350. Combine cake mix, eggs, and shortening in the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer and mix until well combined. Drop dough by the tablespoon onto a baking sheet and bake for about 8-10 minutes or until the cookies appear done but are still soft in the center.

While the cookies are baking, use a pair of kitchen shears to cut each marshmallow in half. When the cookies have baked, remove the pan from the oven and place a marshmallow half on each cookie, cut side down. Return the pan to the oven for about 2 minutes. Remove from oven and very gently push each marshmallow down. Allow to cool completely and repeat with remaining cookie dough.

When the cookies have cooled completely, combine the powdered sugar and cocoa powder in a large bowl. Add melted butter, vanilla, and evaporated milk and beat on high until smooth, light, and fluffy. Transfer the frosting to an icing bag fitted with a large tip and swirl onto the cookies. Makes 24 cookies.

And these are what hers looked like. The shortening makes a difference in how they turn out. I think mine stayed poofier because of the butter, but still are amazing. I also think these would be devine with brownie cookies (made from a brownie mix)



Sunday, February 12, 2012

Sparkling Cranberry Brie Bites

So we have started a little tradition in our family and that is that we only eat appetizers on New Years Eve. (We also do this during college football season) So needless to say, we have tried a LOT of appetizers. This by far was one of my favorites, and I will definitely make it again and again.

Just as a brief explanation it is a toasted baguette, with a slice of brie slightly melted, topped with an absolutely delicious cranberry chutney, and topped with sparkling cranberries.

I got the recipe from here.

Sugared Cranberries

2 cups fresh cranberries
1 cup good (like real, not Aunt Jemima) maple syrup
1 cup granulated sugar

Rinse cranberries and place in a medium bowl. Heat syrup in a small sauce pan just until warm. Pour over cranberries when syrup is warm, not hot, or cranberries may pop. Cool, cover, and let soak in the refrigerator overnight. Drain cranberries in a colander. Place sugar in a large bowl or baking dish. Add cranberries in 2 batches and roll around until lightly coated in sugar. Place on a baking sheet until dry, about 1 hour.

16 crackers (We used toasted baguette)
8 oz Brie cheese
cranberry chutney or cranberry relish
fresh mint for garnish

Assemble crackers with one slice of brie, a light layer of cranberry chutney, and 4 or 5 sugared cranberries. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.

Cranberry chutney

1 orange peeled, tough membrane removed (all the white stuff, basically you just want the pulp)
1/4 c. orange juice
1 c. fresh cranberries (you really can use frozen once they are thawed)
3/4 c. sugar
1 med golden delicious apple, peeled, cored, and chopped (I used a crispin because that is what I like)
1/4 c. chopped walnuts (as fine as you like them)
1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a large sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer stirring occationally for 5-8 min. Or until cranberries are bursting. (the last time I made this I could actually hear the cranberries pop, it was fun) Chill until serving time. You can freeze in small containers for later use.

Also tasted really good on chicken, pork and turkey. Yum, let me tell you. Makes your house smell good too.

Mini Crab Cups

Mini Crab Cups

1 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp honey
2 tsp canola oil
30 gyoza skins
1/2 c. finely chopped celery
1/2 c. chopped seeded tomato
1/2 c. light mayo (I used regular)
1/4 c. chopped fresh chives
3 Tbsp finely chopped cilantro
1 tsp minced seeded jalapeno pepper (I left this out)
1 tsp grated lime rind
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 lb lump crabmeat, shell pieces removed
cilantro leaves (optional)

Preheat oven to 375. Combine first three ingredients, stirring with a whisk. Brush mixture evenly over both sides of each gyoza. Fit 1 gyoza into each of 30 mini muffin cups pressing firmly into the base. Bake at 375 for 12 min. or until lightly browned. Cool in pans on a wire rack. Carefully remove cups from pans.

Combine celery and next 10 ingredients (through crabmeat) in a large bowl. Toss gently. Spoon 1-1/2 Tbsp crab mixture into each gyoza cup. Garnish each with a cilantro leaf.

The crab mixture can be made a day ahead.




Salmon Patties


I have a wonderful friend by the name of Melissa (great name eh?) and I follow her cooking blog fairly closely, although I am not quite as dedicated to healthiness as she is. But I got this recipe from her blog and was definitely not disappointed. We made sliders out of them instead of big ones. My kids also gobbled them up like there was no tomorrow.

1 can salmon (14.5 oz), drained and flaked (I just used 3- 5oz cans)
2 eggs
1/4 c. bread crumbs
1/4 c. dry potato flakes
1/4 c. finely diced red onion
juice of half a lemon (a little more than 1 Tbsp)
5 dashes hot sauce
1/4 t. garlic powder
salt and pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
lemon wedges and/or tartar sauce for serving

Preheat skillet over medium heat. Mix all of the ingredients through salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Roll a golf ball sized amount in your hand and flatten to a little less than 1/2 an inch thick. Pour 1 Tbsp oil in the pan and allow to heat. Place patties in pan and cook about 5 minutes on each side until browned. Repeat with remaining mix and oil. Enjoy.