Over the Top Apple Crisp

 Quick recipe for a delicious apple crisp, perfect for fall!

11 Cups sliced apples, peeled if desired (appx. 7 large apples; Grannysmith works well)
1/2 Cup sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon

Mix sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Pour over apples and toss to coat. Place coated apples in greased 9x13 dish. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Crisp:

1 Cup flour
1 1/2 Cups brown sugar
2 Cups quick cooking oats
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Stir above ingredients in medium bowl.

3/4 Cup cold butter, cut into chunks.

Cut butter into flour/oat mixture and spread on top of apples. Bake for 50-60 minutes until apples are cooked.

Squirrel Bars!

These are insanely delicious!

1/2 C peanut butter
1/3 C butter
3/4 C brown sugar
3/4 C sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 C flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 ounces chocolate chips

Mix together first four ingredients. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and baking powder. Spread mixture into greased 9x13" pan. Sprinkle chips on top. Bake 3 minutes at 350 degrees. Take out and swirl chocolate chips into batter (marbelize). Return to oven for another 18-20 minutes. Cool completely. Cut into bars to serve! YUMMMM!

Dessert Nachos

 Make the dessert chips and drizzle with melted chocolate. Top with strawberries and whipped cream.




Dessert Chips:

Preheat oven to 350.
Lightly brush one side of a tortilla with melted butter or butter spray. Then sprinkle on some cinnamon sugar to your liking. Cut the tortillas into wedges and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in the oven for about 10-12 minutes. ENJOY!

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 ts vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips (semi sweet or milk chocolate)
2 cups flour

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

In a bowl with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugars for about 3 minutes.

Add the egg and vanillas.

Mix in remaining ingredients.

Use a small ice cream scoop and scoop them onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Don't flatten, they will flatten perfectly while baking.

Cook for 10-11 minutes, no longer! They might seem like they need to brown more, but don't let them!

Cake Mix Cookies

For the Cookies:
1 Box Cake mix
2 Eggs
1/3 Cup Oil

For the Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix all three ingredients, use a cookie scoop and drop on an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes. Makes a little more then 2 dozen!!

I always have all the ingredients on hand...they are super delicious, chewy and bake up super quick!! Make a simple {fast} visiting teaching gift too!! Other variations I have done before:

Yellow {or white} mix...add chocolate chips!!
Chocolate mix...add peanut butter chips!!
Lemon mix...dust with powdered sugar!!

Key Lime Coconut Cupcakes with White Chocolate Frosting

I just made these for a baby shower...they were delicious!! Instead of regular size cupcakes though I did mini's instead, it makes 48 mini out of this batter recipe!! Very simple and as you can see, present very well!! Try them you wont be disappointed!!

For the Cupcakes:

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 heaping teaspoon grated key lime zest
1 1/2 tablespoons key lime juice (bottled or freshly squeezed)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/3 cups loosely packed sweetened coconut flakes (3.5 ounces)

For the Frosting:
5 ounces good quality white chocolate, chopped into small chucks
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon key lime juice (bottled or freshly squeezed)
1/4 cup sour cream
Finely grated key lime zest, for garnish

For the Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla extract, key lime zest and juice and mix well. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In 5 parts total, alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold the coconut into the cupcake batter.
Line a muffin pan with paper liners and fill each liner almost to the top with batter. A spring loaded 1/4 cup ice cream scoop works great for this and ensures the cupcakes are all the same size. Bake for 25 minutes or until the tops begin to brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Remove cupcakes from oven and allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then transfer cupcakes to a baking rack to cool completely.
While the cupcakes are cooling you can make the frosting. In a small heat proof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, carefully and slowly melt the white chocolate. Remove from heat and let cool until just slightly warm. Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, gradually add the powdered sugar until well combined. Add the salt, vanilla extract, key lime juice, and sour cream and mix until very smooth. Add the melted white chocolate and mix just until incorporated.

Frost the cupcakes and garnish with a bit of grated key lime zest. Enjoy!

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER!

I've been a lazy blogger and totally have been ignoring the recipe blog. I am excited to get back in there. Since the holidays are coming up I am sure we will have plenty of great recipes posted...

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER:

Cream together:

1-1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup sugar

1-1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

ADD:

1-1/2 teaspoonful vanilla

3 eggs beaten

1-1/2 teaspoonful salt

1 1/2 teaspoonful baking soda

1 teaspoonful baking powder

Fold in 1 cup at a time 4-5 cups sifted flour

Fold in 1/2 package of chocolate chips

Bake at 375 for 7-8 minutes, do not over cook, makes 6 dozen

*For optimal results I make round balls of dough with my hands and I usually cook them for 6 min. and 30 sec.

Sugar Cookies

I seriously LOVE these cookies!! The dough may seem a little crumbly, but I just form it into a brick like shape and chill it for about 30 minutes...you wont be disappointed!!

1 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Cream together butter and sugar until "fluffy". Add egg and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, then add to the butter mixture. Mix well and chill for 30 minutes. Roll out dough to 1/4" and cut out cookie shapes. Preheat oven to 350 F and bake for 8-10 minutes. Makes approximately 4 dozen 3" cookies!!

Soft Sugar Cookies

Cookie Dough
Cream together...
2 cups of white sugar
1 cup of butter

Add...
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla
3 eggs
5 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt

Sift in 1 cup at a time...
5-7 cups of flour

Roll out 1/2 of the dough onto floured board, try not to roll too thin, cut into desired shape with cookie cutters

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown

FROSTING
Combine...
1 lb. powder sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 egg white

Add milk for thickness

{Caramel Popcorn}

I LOVE caramel popcorn! My absolute favorite is my grandma's recipe, but it takes forever to make, so when I have no time, but want yummy caramel popcorn, I use this quick and easy recipe.

You will need:
1 Bag of microwave popcorn
1/2 cup of butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
10 large marshmallows

Prepare popcorn in microwave according to package directions.
Then melt together butter, brown sugar, and marshmallows.
While the ingredients are melting, you can sift out the kernels from the popcorn.

Once the butter, brown sugar and marshmallows are all melted together, you pour it over the popcorn and mix together!

Now you have a Yummy treat!

Chocolate chip toffee cookies

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats (finely chopped in food processor)

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking sods

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup soften butter

1 cup brown sugar packed

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

4 ounces English toffee candy (ie. Heath bar) finely chopped

1 (12 ounce)bag of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325. Mix the butter and sugars together until fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Add flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until just blended. stir in toffee and chocolate chips. Drop onto cookies sheets and cook for 15 mins then let them cool on the cookie sheet for 5 mins this will finish cooking them!

I love these cookies I think they are my favorite!

Stawberry Soup

2 pints frozen strawberries (moderately defrosted)
2 cups plain yogurt (or any yogurt of your choice)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup water or ice cubes for a more smoothie like texture
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom


In a blender, combine the strawberries, yogurt, orange juice, sugar, (blend first without water and add accordingly if it is to thick) and ginger or cardamom (spice). Puree until well mixed. Chill and serve.

Can even be frozen into Popsicles!