Fresh Apple Cake w/Brown Sugar Glaze

Mmm the start of Fall means the start of baking in my kitchen.Pumpkin,apple,zucchini!! Tried this recipe yesterday..mmm yumminess :)


Fresh Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze

Apple Cake:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups finely chopped apples
1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped (optional)


Brown Sugar Glaze:
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
3 Tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon heavy cream


For the cake: Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch pan (round or square) and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.Stir with a whisk to mix everything together.

In a large bowl, mix the eggs with a hand mixer til light in color and foamy. Add the oil and vanilla and beat well.

Stir in the flour mixture with a spoon and continue stirring the batter til the flour disappears. Add the apples and nuts (if using) and stir to mix them into the batter.

Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Place the hot cake on a wire cake. While it's still hot, prepare the glaze.

For the glaze: Combine all the ingredients into a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Cook for 3-5 minutes.

Spoon the hot glaze over the still hot-from-the-oven cake. Let the glazed cake cool completely before serving straight from the pan.Or you can also remove cake while still warm,place on serving dish before glazing.Enjoy!

Potato & Bacon Soup with Dumplings

I first had this soup when my Mother-in-Law,or I should say my Mom,made it for dinner.I was in love instantly! My Father-in-Law taught me how to make it,another reason it is special to me.The recipe has been passed down in his family.I've been making it since last Fall but today I put my own twist on it & added bacon...oh heavenly yumminess!

Rogers Potato Soup with Dumplings


1 onion,chopped
1/2 stick butter
About 10 potatoes,peeled & chopped
Salt
Pepper
1-2 cans evaporated milk
Chopped bacon,cooked (optional)

Cook onions in large pot on medium heat butter till clear.Add potatoes & fill the rest of the pot with water,make sure to leave room for the milk later.Bring to boil & cook until potatoes are tender.

Turn heat down to low.Add salt & pepper to taste.Add evaporated milk.I usually do 1 1/2 cans.

Drop in dumplings(recipe below),Cook until they start to float.



Dumplings

4 cups flour
6 eggs

Mix both together until doughy.Drop into soup.

Hope you enjoy!

Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

As a Law Enforcement Officer my husbands work schedule can change at any moment.As of this past week he is back on night shift...which means my nights are back to being long and boring once my little boy goes to bed.I find myself surfing on Pinterest a lot.Last night I came across a picture of Chocolate No-Bake cookies and realized I couldn't remember the the last time I made them..and I was suddenly starving! And finding I had all the ingrediants I whipped up a batch.So yummy,so simple.Enjoy!


Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

2 cups sugar
1 stick butter
3 TBSP cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups oatmeal

Mix sugar,butter,cocoa,and milk in sauce pan.Boil for one minute.Add peanut butter and vanilla.Mix quickly until peanut butter melts,then add oatmeal and mix until well blended.

Drop spoonfuls onto wax paper or tin foil.Allow to set and cool completely.

Meat Balls

I make these meat balls in spaghetti & also with Sweet & Sour sauce over rice.My husband loves them & they are very simple & quick to make! I double the recipe to make about 24 large meat balls.


Meat Balls


1 lb lean ground beef
1/3 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 egg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix all ingredients together until combined.Shape into balls of your size choice.Place meat balls into a un-greased 13x9 inch baking pan.

Bake uncovered 15 minutes for smaller meat balls,30 minutes for larger  ones.Or until no longer pink in center.

Ground Beef Risotto

You can also make this recipe with shredded chicken,just replace the beef broth with chicken broth!Also,you can add any veggie you like.I usually do carrots & canned french style green beans.Great recipe for sneaking in veggies!

Ground Beef Risotto

1 lb ground beef
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder(can also use chopped garlic)
1/2 tsp onion powder(can also use chopped onion)
1 cup long grain white rice
3 1/2 cups beef broth
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
3 tbsp chopped chives

In large non-stick skillet;cook beef,pepper,garlic & onion.Drain if desired.Stir in rice;cook for 2 minutes stirring constantly.

Stir in broth;bring to boil.Reduce heat to medium-low.Cove & let simmer for 10 minutes.

Stir in carrots(and any other veggies).Cook uncovered 5-7 minutes longer or until liquid is absorbed.

Remove skillet from heat.Stir in cheese.Cover,let stand for 3 minutes.Sprinkle with chives.

Home Made Espresso Syrup

My husband bought me a espresso machine for my birthday last year,and since then I have been making our coffee drinks at home.Although it has been saving us money,we still were spending on syrups..which aren't cheap! So I went online and searched for home made syrup recipes.I tried it yesterday & it is so yummy! And so simple..we will be saving a lot more $ from now on! This made enough to fill a coffee creamer bottle I had saved.

Espresso Syrup

3 cups water
3 cups sugar
3 tsp flavored extract of your choice

Bring water & sugar to boil.Stir until water is clear.Remove from heat & immediately add extract.Let cool completely before pouring into storage container.

Enjoy!

Crock Pot Lasagna

I haven't made lasagna in years & have been wanting to find a good recipe.I got this one in my email & when I saw it was made in the crock pot [my favorite cooking tool] I immediately wanted to try it.I was a little nervous but it turned out great! 

Crock Pot Lasagna

INGREDIENTS

1 pound bulk Italian sausage

1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

3 cans (15 ounces each) Italian-style tomato sauce

2 teaspoons dried basil leaves

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 ounces)

1 container (15 ounces) part-skim ricotta cheese

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

15 uncooked lasagna noodles

Instead of the basil leaves & salt I just added a pack of spaghetti seasoning to the tomato sauce.

Directions:

Cook sausage and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Stir in tomato sauce, basil and salt.

Mix 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and the ricotta and Parmesan cheeses. (Refrigerate remaining mozzarella cheese while lasagna cooks.)

Spoon one-fourth of the sausage mixture into 6-quart slow cooker; top with 5 noodles, broken into pieces to fit. Spread with half of the cheese mixture and one-fourth of the sausage mixture. Top with 5 noodles, remaining cheese mixture and one-fourth of the sausage mixture. Top with remaining 5 noodles and remaining sausage mixture.

Cover and cook on Low heat setting 4 to 6 hours or until noodles are tender.

Sprinkle top of lasagna with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Cover and let stand about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cut into pieces.

Something as simple as chopped fresh parsley will dress up this lasagna. Sprinkle on the parsley just before serving.For lasagna with a kick, look for hot or spicy Italian sausage. Links can be used if bulk sausage isn't available. Just squeeze the meat out of the casings and cook as directed.

Enjoy!

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

I decided to try a new recipe tonight.Something I've never had but always wanted to try..chicken tacos! I found an awesomely easy recipe I could just throw in the crock pot.It turned out so good! Mmmm yummy!

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

1 envelope Taco Seasoning
6 pieces Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 jar Salsa (16 oz)

Dump everything into a crock pot and give it a little stir to blend the seasoning with the salsa. Cook on high for 4 to 6 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours. When done, the chicken should shred easily when stirred with a fork.

For tacos, serve the chicken with soft flour tortillas, lettuce, shredded cheese and sour cream. This is very versatile and can be used for enchiladas, nachos,etc.

Easter Sugar Cookies

I had so much fun making these on Easter while my little boy napped.It's so relaxing to me! Most of them were gone by the end of the day but I managed to pack some away to deliver to the Police Department & my Dad.I used my simple sugar cookie  & butter cream frosting recipes.

Peach Crisp

Peach crisp is probably my all time favorite dessert.I love it hot out of the oven served with vanilla ice cream! It's so easy to make & can be made with fresh peaches in the Summer & canned in the winter.Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Ingredients

FOR THE BASE
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup cold butter or margarine

FOR THE FILLING
4 cups (2 - 16 oz. cans), sliced peaches
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
*reserved juice of canned peaches

FOR THE TOPPING
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
5 tbsp. cold butter or margarine
ice cream or whipped cream or whipped topping for garnish, optional

*Note - You can use fresh or canned peaches for this peach crisp recipe. If you use fresh peaches, instead of the "reserved juice" from the canned peaches, add 1 cup plus 4 tbsp. of water to the pan.

Directions

FOR THE BASE
In a bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar and the salt.

Using a fork or a pastry blender, cut in the butter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Press crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9" x 9" baking dish.

Bake at 350° F for 15 minutes.

FOR THE FILLING
Strain the peaches through a sieve, into a pan and *reserve the juice. Set peaches aside.

To the pan of peach juice add the sugar and the cornstarch.

Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly to avoid burning and sticking.

Boil for 2 minutes, or until mixture is thickened.

Remove from heat, and stir in the sliced peaches.

Pour the sliced peaches in sauce over the base in the baking dish.

FOR THE TOPPING
In a bowl, combine the rolled oats, brown sugar and the flour.

Using a pastry blender, or a fork, cut in the butter or the margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Sprinkle over the filling in the baking dish.

Bake at 350° F for 25 - 30 minutes, or until golden, and bubbly.

Makes 6 - 8 servings.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Today is the first day of Spring...and it's snowy,rainy wet outside.But it is the perfect day to bake up some cookies.Today I picked just plain good chocolate chip.Nothing fancy but so delicious!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter,softened to room temperature
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt (If you use salted butter,just leave this out)
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.
In a large bowl beat butter,sugars,vanilla and eggs until light and fluffy.Stir in flour,baking soda and salt.Stir in chocolate chips.

On an ungreased cookie sheet,drop dough by tablespoonfuls two inches apart.Flatten slightly.

Bake 11-13 minutes or until light brown.Cool 1-2 minutes,remove from cookie sheet to a cooling rack.

Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

Cheesy Chili Taco Bake

Before becoming a SAHM I worked in a deli.They had this pre-made frozen casserole that was awesome.I decided I had to go home and make it myself.My recipe isn't exactly the same but it comes darn close!

Cheesy Chili Taco Bake

1 cup uncooked rice
1 can Nalley Thick Chili
1 lb ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
1 can sliced olives
1 can corn (optional)
1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375

First in a pot bring 2 cups of water to a boil.Turn heat down to low and add rice.Simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is cooked.

While the rice is cooking,in a separate pan brown ground beef.Add taco seasoning and about 1/3-1/2 cup water.Mix well and add chili,olives and corn(If desired.I like it with corn but Rob is anti-veggie so I leave it out).Let simmer for a couple minutes.

Add rice to ground beef and mix till combined.Pour into 8 x 11 baking pan.Sprinkle cheese on top.

Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted.Serve with sour cream,hot sauce and corn bread.

St.Patrick's Day Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

This was my first time making chocolate mint cupcakes.They turned out so yummy! I used my cupcake recipe and just added cocoa powder and 1/3 cup more milk.The frosting is my Butter Cream recipe with mint extract added.

Chocolate Cupcakes

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
3 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

Combine flour,sugar,baking powder,cocoa powder,and salt in a large mixing bowl.

Add shortening,milk,and vanilla.Beat for 1 minute on medium speed.Scrape side of bowl with spatula.

Add eggs to mixture.Beat for 1 minute on medium speed.Scrape bowl again.Beat on high speed for 1 minute 30 seconds until well mixed.

Spoon cupcake batter into paper liners until 1/2 to 2/3 full.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool 5 minutes in pans then remove and place on a wire rack to cool completely.


Mint Butter Cream Frosting

4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter,softened
1/2 cup shortening
2-3 tbsp milk
2 tsp mint extract
Green food coloring

In a large bowl,beat powdered sugar,butter and shortening with an electric mixer on low speed until blended.Beat in milk and mint extract on medium speed until smooth.Stir in milk until spreadable.Add food coloring until you reach your desired color.

Makes about 3 cups of frosting.

I made a light shade of green,frosted the cupcakes,then added more food coloring to the remainder of the frosting for a more darker green.Then I put the frosting in a small Ziploc bag with a small corner snipped off to pipe the shamrocks onto the cupcakes.You could also use Andes candy to top the cupcakes if you aren't doing a St.Patrick's Day theme.

Oven Fried Chicken

Growing up in a big family I used to make two big pans of oven fried chicken to feed every one.Now with just my husband,toddler and I eating I only need to make a few pieces.It's taken me a couple years to learn to switch to making smaller meals..even then I still sometimes automatically make a huge pot of whatever I'm cooking.

Oven Fried Chicken

Chicken (thighs and legs work best)
Canola oil (Vegetable will also work)
1-2 cups flour
2 tsp Pepper
2 tsp Garlic Powder
2 tsp Onion Powder
1 tbsp Seasoned Salt
2 tsp Chili powder
2 Eggs

I don't measure my seasonings for the flour mixture..I just pour them in till it looks right,so the measurements are just my guess.You'll have to play with the recipe to fit how much chicken you are making also.

Preheat oven to 375.Pour about an inch of canola oil in a skillet and heat on medium high.
In a glass cooking pan or bowl add flour and seasonings.Mix well.

In another dish crack eggs and beat.

When oil is hot,dip chicken in eggs..then the flour mixture and put in skillet.Brown both sides of chicken.This will only take a couple minutes for each side.Place chicken in glass baking pan.Cover with foil and place in oven.

Bake chicken for 45 minutes with foil on,take foil off and bake for another 15 minutes.

Easy Mini Pizzas

Mini Pizzas are one of my all time favorite quick dinners to make.I could eat a whole pan to myself! I used to make them with english muffins but recently my father-in-law told me of a different way of making them..Grands Jumbo Buttermilk bicuits! They turned out amazing and we will no longer be using english muffins for this recipe. :)

Easy Mini Pizzas

One package Grands Jumbo Buttermilk Biscuits[Makes 8 pizzas]
1 jar pizza sauce
Shredded cheese
Pizza toppings of your choice.[I used chopped olives and pepperoni.You can buy mini pepperoni but since I already had a package of regular size in the fridge I just cut it up.]

Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Flatten each biscuit dough with hands and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Layer pizza sauce,cheese and toppings.
Cook for 10-12 minutes.Let cool and enjoy!

Banana Bread

I love love love banana bread.Especially on cold Fall/Winter mornings.So yummy hot out of the oven with melted butter on top.My mouth is watering just thinking of it.I had to experiment with several recipes for banana bread before I found one I liked.I don't think there is a better way to use up over ripe bananas!

Stephanie's Banana Bread

3-4 ripe bananas
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups flour
Walnuts[optional]

Preheat oven to 350

Mix butter into mashed bananas.Stir in sugar,egg,and vanilla.Add baking soda and salt.Mix in flour.
Pour into greased bread pan and bake for 1 hour.

Remove from oven and let cool.

Taking on Pies

I started cooking around the age of ten.I am now 24 and during those 14 years I had never once made a pie.They terrified me! I always thought they were hard to make.Well I met my husband in the Summer of 2008..and learned he was a pie man.We've been together for almost 4 years now..I'd cooked him everything..but his favorite dessert..apple pie.Until a couple months ago that is.We moved into a house with a huge,beautiful kitchen.I decided that if I couldn't make a pie in an awesome kitchen like that,then I never would be able to.So I got my grandmother-in-law's pie crust recipe and set to it.It was extra special because Rob helped me.I made the crust and mixed the apple seaonings,he peeled and cut all the apples for me.It was so much fun! I couldn't believe how easy it was..and why I had waited so long to try it! My first one turned out good..tasted great,the crust on the top was a little thick though.Since then I have gotten the hang of it and it's one of my favorite things to make.I love being able to put a plate of fresh hot apple pie that came from my kitchen in front of my husband. :)

Stephanie's Apple Pie

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Apple Filling
8 apples[of your choice]peeled and cut into 3/8-inch slices
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp unsalted butter

In a large mixing bowl mix sugar,salt,flour and cinnamon to combine.Add apples and toss.Make sure all the apples are coated in mixture.

Grandma's Pie Crust
3 cups flour
1 1/3 cups shortening
1 tsp salt
1 egg
water

Mix flour,shortening and salt.Add eggs.Then add just enough water to make a dough.Cut in half.

Roll one half of the dough out and line your pie plate.Add apple filling.Dot the fruit mixture with butter.Then cover the top of the pie with secong half of dough.Seal edges and cut vents in top of crust.

Place the pie plate on a cookie sheet.Bake on lowest shelf in oven for 55-65 minutes,or until golden brown and the liquid in filling is bubbling.

Remove and let cool.

Valentine's Day Goodies

Mmm Valentine's Day is one of my favorite times to bake! All the pink[my favorite color] and red..hearts and sprinkles! I made two batches of cupcakes this year..this is what I call the 'Sweatheart Cupcake'.Made with my yellow cupcake recipe and strawberry icing,pink sprinkles and candy hearts!

These are the second batch..I call these 'Red Hot Heart Cupcakes'.Also made with my yellow cupcake recipe..then topped with cream cheese icing,red hot candies and red sprinkles!

And what Valentine's Day would be complete without heart shaped sugar cookies??? I had so much fun making these..can't wait to deliver them!

Stephanie's Cupcakes

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

Combine flour,sugar,baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

Add shortening,milk,and vanilla.Beat for 1 minute on medium speed.Scrape side of bowl with spatula.

Add eggs to mixture.Beat for 1 minute on medium speed.Scrape bowl again.Beat on high speed for 1 minute 30 seconds until well mixed.

Spoon cupcake batter into paper liners until 1/2 to 2/3 full.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool 5 minutes in pans then remove and place on a wire rack to cool completely.