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)

Lemon Raspberry Cream Cupcakes

These next two recipes were from a bridal shower my sister hosted while we were in town:


The Cakes:
Lemon cake mix (I used Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme)
1 cup sour cream
½ cup water
¼ cup milk
¾ cup oil
4 eggs
1 small box instant lemon pudding mix

Raspberry Cream:
½ cup butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese
1/3 cup Raspberry jam or jelly
Red food dye
1 ½ -2 ½ cups powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, beat eggs.
3. Add oil, water, and milk and beat again.
4. Stir in sour cream and then cake mix and pudding mix until well blended.
5. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 20-28 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. As soon as your cupcakes, place them on a cooling rack for about 5-7 minutes and then seal in an airtight container to make sure they stay perfectly moist. The container will steam-up inside, but won’t worry…
7. Raspberry Cream: Beat butter and cream cheese for 5 minutes.
8. If your jam is not seedless, strain it and then add it to the butter mixture. You can always add more if you want a stronger taste.
9. Add a few drops of food dye to get a pretty red color and then as much powdered sugar as you desire.
10. Refrigerate your Raspberry Cream if it is too loose to pipe or spread on your COOLED cupcakes.

*I used a 1M piping tip and the rosette piping technique

From- http://www.yourcupofcake.com/2011/03/lemon-raspberry-cream-cupcakes.html

Berry Tart

Ingredients:
24 Nilla Wafers

Filling:
1 lb (2 8oz packages) Cream Cheese
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Beat all filling ingredients together. Put Nilla Wafers on the bottom of a cupcake cups and pour cream cheese mixture on the top (to 2/3 of the cup). Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes (or until light brown). Top with your favorite fruit filling and fruit.

Makes 2 dozen

Nanaimo Bars

These are a Canadian favorite that I first had on my mission. They are so good, and SO easy to make. You will love them. Oh, and I don't like coconut on a regular basis, but love these. So even if you don't particularly like coconut, you still need to try them.

Bottom Layer

1/2 c. unsalted butter

1/4 c. sugar

5 Tbsp. cocoa powder

1 egg, beaten

1 3/4 c. graham cracker crumbs

1/2 c. finely chopped almonds

1 cup coconut

Melt first 3 ingredients in top of a double boiler. Add egg and stir to cook and thicken. Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, nuts, and coconut. Press firmly into an ungreased 8x8 pan.

*if you don't have a double boiler, I just used a normal sauce pan on med-low heat stirring constantly.

Second layer

1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temperature

2 Tbsp + 2 tsp heavy cream

2 Tbsp Bird's vanilla custard powder

2 c. powdered sugar

Cream butter, cream, custard powder, and sugar together well. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.

*Bird's vanilla custard powder is really only available in Canada and the UK (or online for a rediculous price). But a good substitute is instant vanilla pudding powder, which is what I used.

Topping

4 squares semi-sweet chocolate (1 oz. each)

2 Tbsp unsalted butter

Melt chocolate and butter over low heat. Cool a little. When cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in the refigerator until set.

*I used semi-sweet chocolate chips which is a little less than a cup for 4oz. And I also did it in the microwave which only meant instead of pouring the chocolate on, I had to spread it. But remember, you don't want to over heat chocolate. I probably heated it for no longer the 45-50 seconds.

Lemonade Pie

This is an easy summer dessert we made last night:

1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust
1/2 Can of Frozen from Concentrate Lemonade (I used pink lemonade)
1 Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 8 oz tub of Cool Whip, thawed

Blend lemonade and and sweetened condensed milk. Fold in cool whip. Spread mixture into pie crust and freeze for no less than 4 hours before serving. Store in freezer.


*I wanted it to be more pink, so I added about 4-5 drops of red food coloring.
*You could also add frozen strawberries and/or raspberries and garnish the top with zested lemon peels
*Some recipes switch out the condensed milk for ice cream, but the milk gives it a creamy texture and not an overly frozen hard filling

Cinnamon Cheesecake Squares

My sister's recipe to which her husband says, "It's like a cross between a cheesecake and a cinnamon roll!"

Ingerdients:
2 Cans of Crescent Rolls
¾ Cup White Sugar
2 (8 oz. each) Packages Cream Cheese
1 tsp. Vanilla

Topping:
¼ Cup White Sugar
1-2 tsp. Cinnamon

Directions:
Spread 1 crescent roll package on bottom of GREASED 9 x 13 cake pan. Mix together 2 packages cream cheese, ¾ c. sugar, and 1 tsp. vanilla and spread on top of crescent roll. Spread 2nd crescent roll package on top of mixture. Mix ¼ c. sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon and sprinkle on top of 2nd crescent roll. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Cool for awhile, then pop into the fridge until completely cold (I liked them warm too). Cut into squares and enjoy!

Rice Pudding

1/2 cup uncooked enriched long grain white rice (not instant)
3 cups boiling water
1/2 teaspoon salt
14-oz.can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup raisins, if desired
1/4 cup butter (or margarine)
1 tablespoon vanilla

In top of double boiler, combine rice, water and salt. Cook over medium heat about 40 minutes or until rice is tender stirring a few times. Do not drain. Stir in condensed milk, raisins and butter. Cook, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened, about 20
minutes.
Remove from heat and add vanilla. Serve warm or cold. It feeds about 6 to 8 people.

*I used leftover rice, and it worked just as well. I don't have a double boiler, so I just used a sauce pan. Jacob likes it without rasins, so you can also add raisins after the vanilla step to whoever wants it. You can also garnish with cinnamon.

Peanut Butter Bars

I have found my new favorite cookie bar:

1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Cup Butter
3 Eggs
1 Cup Peanut Butter

2 Cups Flour
2 Cups Quick Oats
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt

Cream first five ingredients with mixer until smooth. Mix the dry ingredients separately and then add to wet and mix. Press into your biggest cookie sheet. Bake for 12-18 minutes at 350 until lightly golden. Don't over bake. Let cool and then add the peanut butter layer, then the chocolate layer.

Peanut Butter Layer:
1 1/2 Cup of Powdered Sugar
1/4 Cup of Peanut Butter
2 Tablespoons of Milk

Chocolate Layer:
1/4 Cup of Margarine
2 Tablespoons of Cocoa Powder
1/2 Bag of Powdered Sugar
2-3 Tablespoons of Milk

Or use your favorite chocolate frosting.

Maple Pecan Pie

Ingredients:

3 slightly beaten eggs

1 cup pure maple syrup

1/2 cup packed maple sugar

2 tablespoons melted butter

2 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon vanilla

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped pecans

(optional: whole pecans to layer on top of pie)

1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell

1. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, sugar, syrup, butter, flour, vanilla, salt. Beat the mix until smooth.
2. Stir chopped pecans into mix.
3. Fill pastry shell with combined mixture.
4. [Line up whole pecans on top layer of mixture for pretty presentation]
5. Bake @ 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.
6. Enjoy a yummy slice :)

Donuts

Here are the donuts that we had at our Halloween party for those that want it.

Dough
2 T. yeast
1/4 cup water (105-115)
1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk (scalded, then cooled)
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup shortening
5 cups all-purpose flour
canola oil

*If I were going to make them again I would only add 4 1/2 c. flour then just let the flour from rolling it out and kneading it help with the rest.

CREAMY GLAZE
1/3 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4-6 tablespoons hot water

Dissolve yeast in warm water in 2 1/2-quart bowl. Add milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening and 2 cups flour. Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Cover and let rise until double, 45-90 minutes. (Dough is ready when indentation remains when touched.) Turn dough onto floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour. Gently roll dough 1/2-inch thick with floured rolling pin. Cut with floured doughnut cutter (Or a wide mouth canning ring and one of Macey's blocks for the center...) Cover and let rise until double, 20-30 minutes. Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer to 375°. Slide doughnuts into hot oil with wide spatula. Turn doughnuts as they rise to the surface. Fry until golden brown, about 1 minute on each side. Remove carefully from oil (do not prick surface); drain. Dip the doughnuts into creamy glaze set on rack.

Creamy Glaze: Heat butter until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.

Peach Dessert

Mix in a saucepan:
3 Tablespoons Corn Starch
1 Cup Sugar
Add: 2 Cups of COLD water, stir and boil.
Then add: 1 Package of Orange Jello (3 oz) and set until chilled.
After that add: 4-5 Cups of FRESH peeled square-shaped-sliced peaches and chill in fridge.

Crust
Mix well (drys first and then the butter) and put 1/2 of mixture on bottom of a 9x13 and save the rest for the top layer:
2 1/2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
6 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar
1 Stick of Softened Butter

Cream Mixture
Cream together:
1 Package of Cream Cheese (8 oz)
1/2 Cup of Powdered Sugar
Then add: 8oz Tub of Cool Whip

Put down later of crumbs, all fruit mixture, then cream mixture, and rest of the crumbs on top. Great dessert for peach season!

Raspberry Chocolate Torte

For those of you who want something fancy that is really easy to make, here you go. I made this for our anniverary this year and have had some requests for the recipe. I will add a picture soon.

1 c. butter, softened
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
1/3 c. baking cocoa

Glaze:
1/4 c. boiling water
4 tsp raspberry gelatin (jell-o)
2 Tbsp seedless rasberry jam

Topping:
2 c. semisweet chocolate chips
2 cartons (8 oz each) frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 c. fresh raspberries

Line a greased 15 x 10 x 1 in cookie sheet with waxed paper, grease paper. In a lare bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour and cocoa, gradually beat into creamed mixture. Spread onto prepared pan.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 min. or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool 5 min before inverting on to wire rack to cool completely. Carefully remove waxed paper. (I had to leave it to cool the entire way in the pan and it still turned out fine, but it is up to you)

For glaze stir water and gelatin until disolved. Stir in jam. Brush evenly over bottom of cake. Trim edges (I used a pizza cutter) and cut cake widthwise into thirds.

For topping, in a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips (30 seconds at a time) and stir until smooth. (In my microwave it took 1 min 10 secs) Fold in half of the whipped topping until blended then add the remaining.
**Just a note, it would work better if your whipped topping doesn't come straight from the fridge. It makes the chocolate solidify a little and harder to mix in. Try to get it closer to room temp before mixing with the chocolate but never microwave it. You don't want soup.
Place one cake layer on serving platter. Top with 3/4 c. topping. Repeat with layers. Frost and decorate with raspberries and remaining topping.

Peanut Butter Dreams

For Melissa and Hugh :) These are so yummy and simple. The only dilemma you may run into is if you don't own a miniature muffin pan. I couldn't make these until after Christmas this year ;)

Peanut Butter Dreams Aunt Bev
½ c margarine
1 tsp vanilla
½ c creamy peanut butter
1 ¼ c flour
½ c sugar
½ tsp salt
½ c brown sugar
3 tsp baking soda
Miniature Peanut Butter Cups

Cream together and put small spoonful into lined mini muffin tin. Bake at 350 for 5-6 minutes. Insert peanut butter cup in each cookie and bake 1 minute longer.

Mooshy Carmel corn

This is my favorite carmel corn recipe because it is gooey. I have never had it get hard (unlike my other recipe which is hard to begin with), but that may only be because it doesn't last long at my house. I hope you enjoy!

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 cube) butter-I use margarine
1/4 cup light Karo syrup
1 Tbsp Mexican vanilla (I use whatever I have, normally regular vanilla extract)
1/2 can sweetened condensed milk
2 packages microwave popcorn (buttered and salted)

Pop popcorn and pour in a large bowl; remove unpopped kernels as you pour. In a saucepan, bring brown sugar, syrup, butter, and vanilla to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes stirring constantly. After 5 min, add sweetened condensed milk and bring back to a boil. Boil for 2 more minutes stirring constantly. Pour over popcorn and mix gently (It's hot!) Let cool 5-10 minutes.

Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Pie

This has been my favorite pie to make lately, and you can use the cheesecake layer with any other pie as well. (We made a blueberry cheesecake pie and it was absolutely delicious.) Sorry I don't have a picture.

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pie crust (unbaked, you can buy them but I usually make my own)
1 1/4 c. chopped pecans
1 c. caramel ice cream topping

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, 1 egg and vanilla until smooth. Spread into pastry shell, sprinkle with pecans.

In a small bowl, wisk remaining eggs; gradually wisk in caramel sauce until blended. Pour over pecans.

Bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes (I usually do closer to 40 but I think that is just my oven). Or until lightly browned. (loosely cover with foil after 20 min if pie browns too quickly. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight before slicing. Refrigerate leftovers.


And here is the pie crust I use:

3 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp salt

Combine in a bowl or mixer. Knife in 1 1/3 c. shortening. In a separate bowl beat 1 egg, 3 Tbsp ice water and 1 Tbsp white vinegar. Add to dry mixtures. Mix until well blended. Roll out on flourered surface to desired size and place in (ungreased) pie pan.

5 in 1

I know this is a little lame but I have wanted to post a couple of things and just haven't so now I have like 5 recipes to post. So I thought I would do it all at once. Here you go.

Punkin Pancakes

2 1/3 c. bisquick

1/3 c. canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)

1 1/4 c. milk

1/4 c. oil

2 Tbsp. sugar

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

2 eggs

Mix with a wisk until blended and cook like normal pancakes

Chicken, Broccoli, and Pasta

this is a recipe I got from someone who would change her recipes all the time so there aren't that many measurements so just do what you think (which is why I hesitate to even post it). I haven't gone wrong with it yet. Just do what your family would eat.

1 lb chicken breast, cooked and chopped

1 bunch of broccoli, steamed

fettucini noodles, cooked

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can water

1/2 c. mayo

garlic powder

salt and pepper

Mrs Dash

Cheddar cheese

bread brumbs

butter

Toss cooked chicken, steamed broccoli and cooked noodles in your baking dish (usually use a 2 qt dish and fill it). In another bowl mix soup, water, mayo and seasonings until somewhat smooth. Pour sauce over noodles and toss to coat. Sprinkle cheese over top. Melt a small amount of butter to stir into bread crumbs and sprinkle over cheese.

Bake at 325 for 30-45 minutes.

Stuffed Meatloaf

2 lbs hamburger

1 box stuffing

6 oz mushrooms, sliced

1/2 green pepper, chopped

1/2 small onion, chopped

Preheat oven to 350

Season meat like you would for normal meatloaf. (I usually use season salt, pepper, and 1 egg) Cook stuffing according to directions on box. Saute mushrooms, green pepper and onion in frying pan until tender, but firm.

Pat out hamburger on wax paper to form a rectangle (you want the meat fairly thin). Spread stuffing on top then sprinkle mushroom mix on top. Lifting the wax paper, carefully roll the hamburger and place into baking dish. Cover and cook for about 1 hour.

Farmhouse BBQ Muffins

2 tubes Jumbo flakey biscuits (16 biscuits total)

1 lb ground beef

1/2 c. ketchup

3 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tbsp cider vinegar

1/2 tsp chili powder

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Separate dough and roll out into slightly larger circles. Press each biscuit into greased muffin tin and set aside. (I usually only end up using 12 biscuits because that is as far as my meat goes. Then I just make cheesey biscuits with the remaining 4 for my kids)

In skillet cook hamburger thoroughly and drain. In a small bowl mix ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and chili powder until smooth. Add the meat and stir to coat. Divide meat mixture among biscuits. Sprinkle cheese over top.

Bake at 375 for 18-20 min or until golden brown.

Fried Ice Cream

1 qt. Vanilla Ice Cream

about 2 c. crushed cornflakes

cinnamon sugar

1 egg, wisked until there are no blobs

oil for frying

The day before form ice cream into 4 balls of whatever size you want. (we didn't use the whole container of ice cream of course. We just made 4 solid scoops.) Round them out in your hands, put on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and put back in the freezer overnight.

When ice cream balls are frozen hard again, dip into crushed cornflakes to coat. Make sure you cover entirely, and place back in the freezer for at least 1 hour. Combine remaining cornflakes with some cinnamon sugar. Once hard again, dip into egg to coat then into cornflakes again for a second coating. Work with only one ball at a time, then place back in freezer as soon as possible.

Heat oil to between 375-400 degrees. When oil is ready, take ice cream from the freezer, and place in oil (one at a time) for about 10-15 seconds (if you do it too long the ice cream will melt). Roll onto paper towel to drain then promply into bowl. Top with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, caramel, etc. What ever you want.

Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

Cinnamon Sugar Muffins
*Nothing too fancy about these muffins but kids love them so we make them a lot at my house!*

1 ¾ cups flour
1/3 sugar
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 egg
¾ cup milk
¼ cup oil

cinnamon and sugar mixed
melted butter (I usually melt half a stick)

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in center of dry mixture, set aside. In another bowl combine egg, milk and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to the flour mixture. Stir just till moistened (batter will be a little lumpy). Spoon batter into greased muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden. (I use mini muffin pans and they bake for about 12 minutes).
Put melted butter and cinnamon sugar into separate bowls. When your muffins come out of the oven dip the tops into melted butter and then into cinnamon sugar.
Then enjoy!!

Pumpkin Cookies

2 1/2 Cups of All-Purpose Flour

1 teaspoon of Baking Powder

1 teaspoon of Baking Soda

1 teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

2 teaspoons of Pumpkin Spice

1/4 teaspoon of Salt

1/2 Cup off Softened Butter

1 1/2 Cup of White Sugar

1-1 1/2 Cup of Canned Pumpkin Puree

1 Egg

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and wisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin spice and salt in a medium bowl

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together. Then add the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla and mix well. Add in the dry mix.

Drop Tablespoons of dough on a cookie sheet and slightly flatten and smooth out. Cook for 12 minutes.

Cool completely and add your choice of frosting by drizzling on top of cookie with a fork. I combined:

1 Cup of Powdered Sugar, 1 1/2 Tablespoons of milk, 1/2 Tablespoon of melted butter, and a few drips of vanilla extract to taste as well as 1 drop of red food coloring with 4 yellow to make an orange shade.

Oreo Truffles

Oreo Truffles

1 package Oreo cookies

1(8 oz) block of softened cream cheese

1 tub of Dolci or Bakers melting white chocolate


Blend package of Oreo's in food processor to make into a fine powder (looks like dirt). Add softened cream cheese to oreo's and blend with a fork until it makes a sticky dough. Roll into quarter size balls and place on wax paper (makes about 25). Put the oreo balls into the freezer for atleast 20 minutes before dipping them in the melted white chocolate. The chocolate will harder in about 15 minutes. Keep in fridge (we like to keep ours in the freezer)

Crème Brûlée

1 pint (2  cups)  whipping cream
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup   granulated sugar
1 Tbsp.  vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degree.
Heat cream over medium heat until bubbles form around edge of pan.
Beat egg yolks and sugar together until thick, about 3 minutes.
Gradually beat cream into egg yolks.  Stir in vanilla.
Pour mixture into 6 six-ounce custard cups. 
Place cups in baking dish that has about 1/2 inch water (don't place too much water, so water won't get into custard dishes) in the bottom.
Bake until set, about 45 minutes.

Mix 4 Tbsp. granulated sugar and 1 tsp. brown sugar.  Sprinkle each custard with about 2 tsp. sugar blend.
Place on top rack under broiler.  Cook until topping is medium brown.
Chill before serving.