Buckeye cookies

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• 1 jar creamy peanut butter, 16 ounces
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (I use Mexican vanilla)
• 5 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 bag chocolate chips, 12 ounces (I use a good quality such as Ghirardelli)

INSTRUCTIONS

• Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil and set aside.
• Add the peanut butter and butter to a large mixing bowl and mix with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy.  Mix in the vanilla.  Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until it’s well incorporated.  The dough should be thick and just slightly moist but not sticky.

• Scoop dough up by tablespoons and roll into balls.  You can roll them bigger if you prefer, but I think the smaller ones are a perfect size.
• Refrigerate balls for about 1 hour until they are cold and firm enough to hold together when dipped in chocolate.
• Add the chocolate chips to a deep narrow bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stopping to mix after each one.  In my microwave, it only takes two times before the chocolate chips are melted enough.
• Place a toothpick in the top of each ball.  Dip each ball in the chocolate, turning to coat as necessary.  You can also use a spoon to dip the chocolate up onto the ball.  Allow excess chocolate to run off and drag the bottom of the ball across the edge of the bowl.  Place on the prepared cookie sheet.
• Allow chocolate to set up and place balls between layers of wax paper in an airtight container.
• **I like to use bittersweet or semisweet chocolate.

Cranberry apple cider

 

• 4 apples cored and quartered
• 2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1 lemon sliced
• 2 cups unsweetened apple cider
• 7 cups water
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 tbsp mulling spices
• Honey or maple syrup to taste for sweetness

 Put all of the fruit, along with the apple cider, water, cinnamon sticks and mulling spices (tie these into some cheese cloth so that they are easily removed), into the slow cooker. 

Set on high for 4 hours or low for 8

• Once cooked, remove the cinnamon sticks, the mulling spices and as much of the fruit as possible
  
  Pour the remaining liquid into a blender (I do this in 2 batches), blend, and then pour through a fine mesh sieve  
• Pour the cider back into the slow cooker, and set to keep warm
• Serve warm, and use some honey or maple syrup to sweeten if required Garnish with some cranberries and apple slices to make it pretty (optional)

Remember to tie the mulling spices into a little square of cheese-cloth to make it easily removable. If you don't have any, that's fine - just be sure to use a super fine mesh sieve to get all the 'bits' out of the cider.

Not my recipe but sure sounds good. Found on Whole Food bellies site.

Darn Good Turtle Thumbprint Cookies

 

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter , softened
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 large egg , yolk and white separated
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp buttermilk
• 1 1/4 cups finely chopped pecans
• 15 caramels (such as Kraft)
• 2 1/2 Tbsp heavy cream
• Flaky or coarse sea salt
• 3 oz chopped milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips , or chopped chocolate
• 2 tsp shorteningIn a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder and salt, set aside. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar on medium-high spread until slightly pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in egg yolk (set egg white aside in a bowl in refrigerator) and vanilla extract.

• Blend in buttermilk. With mixer set on low speed, slowly add in dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
• Shape dough into a ball and drop onto a sheet of plastic wrap, flatten dough into a 6-inch disk then wrap with plastic wrap and chill 45 minutes, until slightly firm (or up to 1 day. If chilling longer than a few hours, I'd recommend letting the dough rest a room temperature a bit so the dough isn't too firm and cracking when making indentations).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove egg white from refrigerator and whisk vigorously until frothy. Place finely chopped pecans in a bowl.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls (18 grams each) then working with one at a time, drop into egg white and roll to evenly coat the lift and allow excess egg white to run off and immediately place in bowl with chopped pecans and roll to evenly coat (if necessary, you can gently press into the nuts to help them stick).
• Transfer to parchment paper lined baking sheets and make a deep indentation with thumb in the center of each dough ball.
• Bake in preheated oven until set, about 10 - 12 minutes. Remove from oven then using the bottom of a rounded teaspoon, gently press down on existing indentation (to create more space for caramel). Cool on baking sheet several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the topping:
• Place caramels and heavy cream in a microwave safe bowl. Heat mixture in microwave on HIGH power in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted and smooth. Spoon caramel into indentation in cookies and sprinkle tops with a small pinch of sea salt.
• Place chocolate and shortening into a separate microwave safe mixing bowl. Heat mixture on 50% power in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted and smooth. Pour into a piping bag or Ziploc bag and cut tip of the corner. Drizzle over cookies. Allow to set, then store in an airtight container.
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**Found this recipe on Pinterest.

Breakfast burritos

Breakfast Burritos

tator tots

maple sausage

eggs

onions

milk or half and half

salt and pepper

Tortillas

Slice and fry onions until caramelized. Mmmmmm

Bake tutor tots according to package instructions.

Fry sausages until done.

Using milk or half and half mix with the amount of eggs you will need for your family. Scramble eggs as you normally would do, nice and fluffy.

Now time to assemble…….

Warm the tortillas on moist paper towels in the microwave for about 20 to 30 seconds. Depending on how many you use. You just want them warm, not HOT.

 Place a heaping spoonful of egg mixture onto the middle of a warm tortilla, top with a little caramelized onions, 1 sausage link, 3 tater tots, a little salsa, and about 2 tablespoons cheese per burrito. Tuck in the sides and roll the tortilla closed. Wrap in a foil sheet. Repeat with the rest of the ingredients. Keep warm in the oven in foil pans until ready to serve. Serve with salsa or the hot sauces.

**Picture and tweeked recipe from Pioneer Woman. Tasted tested and approved by my husband.

Enchilada Casserole

 1 lb ground beef I prefer 93 %

1 medium onion chopped

3 cloves of garlic chopped

1 tsp salt

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

3 Tbls. water

1/3 cup fresh cilantro **OPTIONAL chopped ( I do not use because I don’t like it)

2 10 ounce cans red enchilada sauce  

15 corn or flour tortillas

2 1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese. You could also use pepper jack or monterey Jack

Preheat the oven to 350°

In a large skillet brown and crumble the ground beef, drain any excess grease.

Add the onions, garlic and salt saute' for about 5 minutes until the onions are slightly softened.

Stir in the 3 tablespoon water, 2 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin.

If using the cilantro, stir it in now. Remove the pan from the heat.

Layering……

In a large 9×13 casserole dish pour 1/3 cup enchilada sauce across the bottom, spread it so it coats the bottom of the dish.

5 tortillas (the last one split in half at the end of the pan to meet the end of the pan; cut side to the end of pan)

Top with half the beef

Pour 3/4 cups enchilada sauce over top

Sprinkle with a heaping 1/2 cup cheese

5 tortillas

remaining beef

3/4 cups enchilada sauce

heaping 1/2  cup cheese

5 tortillas

Remaining enchilada sauce

Remaining cheese

Cover with foil and bake at 350º for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes. Let it cool slightly, about 5 minutes or so then cut into serving sizes. Serve and enjoy.

**We like chopped green onions on the top after baked.

Taco Casserole

 

Taco Casserole

1 pound ground beef I use 93% lean

1/2 cup onion finely diced

1 packet taco seasoning

1 can Rotel original with diced tomatoes and green chillies

 1 1/4 to 1 1/2  cups tortilla chips crushed about 1/2 inch in size just not too small.

1 1/4 cups cheddar cheese shredded

Toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomato and sliced olives

cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 350º. Coat a 9 inch square pan or 2 quart baking dish with cooking spray.

Fry ground beef as you would do to make taco’s and then add the taco seasoning as directed on package.

Add the onion and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes or until onion is translucent.

Stir in Rotel, Simmer for 3-4 minutes.

Place a layer of broken tortilla chips in the bottom of the prepared pan.

Pour the beef mixture over chips and top with the cheese.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted. 

Add toppings if desired, then serve and enjoy. 

This does reheat and freezes well.

Sweet Cornbread

1 cup all-purpose flour 

1 cup yellow cornmeal

2/3 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 egg 

1 cup milk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 400º F (200º C). Spray or lightly grease a 9 inch round cake pan.

In a large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. Stir in egg, milk and vegetable oil until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.