Stromboli

½ pound ground beef

½ cup chopped onion

1 (32-ounce) package frozen bread dough, thawed and divided

2 tablespoons prepared mustard, divided

12 slices American cheese, divided

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

2 (3 ½ ounce) packages sliced pepperoni, divided

2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning, divided

Vegetable oil

Brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet, stirring until meat crumbles. Drain well, and set aside.

For each Stromboli, place 1 loaf bread dough on a lightly floured surface; roll dough into a 12-inch square.

Spread 1 tablespoon mustard over dough to within ½ inch of edges.

Layer 3 slices American cheese, ½ cup mozzarella cheese, half of pepperoni, and half of beef mixture lengthwise down center third of dough, leaving a ½ inch border at top and bottom of dough; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.

Top with ½ cup mozzarella cheese and 3 slices American cheese. Fold each side of dough over filling; pinch seam and ends to seal.

Transfer loaves to greased baking sheets; brush loaves with oil. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cut each loaf into 4 slices. Makes 8 servings.

** You may substitute shredded 4 cheese blend for the American cheese slices and olive oil for the vegetable oil.

Aunt Gloria's Moon Pie Cake

My Aunt Gloria gave me this recipe in 2003 when I was compiling a cookbook of family recipes. I was making the book as a gift to my sister at her wedding.

I have used this recipe over and over. It is a wonderful cake to give as a gift and to take to parties. On the outside, it looks like an ordinary chocolate cake, but once cut into, has a very scrumptious surprise.

Ingredients:
Devils Food or Swiss Chocolate Cake Mix
1 lb powdered sugar
1 8 oz cream cheese
1 cool whip
1 pkg milk chocolate chips

Bake cake as directed on box in 2 9 or 10 inch round pans. Allow to cool completely.

Mix the powdered sugar, cream cheese and cool whip. Spread between the chocolate layers.


For icing, melt the chocolate chips with a little water. Stir until smooth and pour over cake. Spread icing until entire cake is covered. Serve on a cake stand or wrap as a gift.


Want to read more about this cake? Click here.

Some Very Yummy (and VERY Hot) Shrimp!

I am attending a Christmas gathering tonight where everyone brings their favorite finger foods. This is what I am taking. I made it this afternoon and have already sampled it. I am working quite hard to refrain from eating the rest of it before I leave for the party!

It is most definitely a dish for those who love spicy things....so BEWARE!

My New Favorite Brownie Recipe

I love made from-scratch brownies! The packaged mixes just don't compare to the real, from-scratch version (The Hershey's brownie mix at Sam's is the only exception, in my opinion). Ever since my high school days when my Aunt Melanie would serve her delicious brownies, I have used her recipe any time I needed/wanted brownies.

However, her recipe calls for Crisco, and I think its the only reason I use Crisco. So when I was recently craving brownies and had no Crisco, I went searching for a new from-scratch recipe. I discovered the Add Anything Brownies on Karen's blog. They are very chewy and yummy! I recommend you give them a try!

Pumpkin and Cream Cheese Muffins

8 oz. cream cheese
3 eggs
2 1/2 c. sugar
2 1/2 c. flour
1/4 c. pecans, roughly chopped
3 T. butter, melted
2 1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1 1/4 c. solid-packed pumpkin
1/3 c. vegetable oil
1/2 t. vanilla

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat muffin tins with oil and set aside.

Mix in small bowl and set aside:
8 oz cream cheese
1 egg
3 T. sugar

Toss in medium bowl and set aside:
5 T. sugar
1/2 c. flour
1/4 c. pecans
3 T. butter
1/2 t. cinnamon

Combine the remaining sugar, cinnamon and flour with the salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. Make a well in the center.

Lightly beat 2 eggs, pumpkin, oil and vanilla together in a medium bowl. Pour into the well of the flour mixture. Mix with a fork just until moistened.

Evenly divide half the batter among the muffin cups. Place 2 teaspoonfuls of cream cheese filling in the center of each cup and fill with the remaining batter.

Sprinkle some of the pecan mixture over the top of each muffin and bake until golden and a tester, inserted into the muffin center, comes out clean - 20 to 25 minutes.

Cool on wire racks.

(recipe from Country Living magazine, September 2004)

Banana Walnut Cake

During a recent visit to my parent's home, I had the privilege of eating in the home of Greg and Barbara Vance. After a wonderful meal in her warm and comfortable home, she served this remarkably moist banana cake. I liked it so much, I think it will be my new banana bread recipe. I can't wait to serve it to my family for breakfast.

1 box yellow moist
1 c. water
1/3 c canola oil
3 ex lg eggs
1 sm box instant banana cream pudding mix
2 lg or 3 sm bananas

Blend cake mix, water, oil, eggs and pudding mix on medium speed until moistened. Add bananas until blended.

Use spray flour on tube pan, pour in cake and sprinkle crushed walnuts on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 min. or until knife inserted at center comes back clean.

Penne Rustica

My mom found the TopSecretRecipes version of Macaroni Grill's Penne Rustica. Instead of making it in individual servings, she layered the pasta, meat and sauce in a large casserole dish.

It makes a hearty and very yummy dish. Click the link above to find the recipe.

Skillet Cabbage and Ham

2 T. olive oil
1/2 lg head cabbage thinly sliced
2 lg carrots, peeled and shredded
1/2 c. white wine
10 oz. ham steak, cut into bite size pieces
1 lg apple, cored and diced
1 T. cider vinegar
1 1/2 t. caraway seeds
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. black pepper

Heat oil in a lg nonstick skillet over med-high heat. Add cabbage and carrot and cook, covered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in wine and simmer for 1 minute. Add ham, apple, vinegar, caraway, salt and pepper. Simmer on med heat for 5 minutes, uncovered, stirring, until cabbage and apples are tender and most of the liquid has cooked off.

Cover and let stand a few minutes before serving.

Lemon "Poke" Cake

1 lemon supreme cake mix (can also use a yellow butter recipe cake mix)
1 pkg instant lemon pudding
4 eggs
3/4 c. oil
3/4 c. water

Beat together until well mixed. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until done in a 9X13 greased pan.

When cake is done, poke holes in cake with fork and spread icing evenly while cake is hot. Put back in oven for 5 minutes.

Icing:

Mix:
1 small can frozen lemonade
2 1/2 c. powdered sugar

Green Chili Auction Special

12 corn tortillas
1 lb. hamburger meat
1 onion, chopped
1 can crm chicken soup
1 can Pet milk
4 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 can chopped green chilis

Brown hamburger meat with onions.
In a bowl, combine cream of chicken soup and Pet milk.
Fry tortillas just long enough to soften them. Line 9X13 baking dish.
Spread layer of hamburger, green chilis and grated cheese.
Cover with half of soup mixture.
Spread another layer of fried tortillas, the remaining hamburger, green chilis and soup mixture.
Cover with remaining cheese.
Bake 30-45 minutes at 375 or until cooked through.

Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins

These yummy muffins are a wonderful breakfast food. They also make the perfect snack for a crisp fall afternoon.

1 c. canned or cooked pumpkin

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. milk

2 eggs

1/4 c. butter melted

2 c. all purpose flour

2 t. baking powder

1 t. ground cinnamon

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. ground nutmeg

1/2 t. ground ginger

1 c. chopped walnuts

1 c. fresh or frozen cranberries

Beat pumpkin, sugar, milk, eggs and butter.

Combine dry ingredients; stir into pumpkin mixture.

Fold in walnuts and cranberries.

Pour into greased muffin tins.

Cook at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until done.

Allow to cool. (makes 24 muffins)

Cinnamon Rolls To Die For!

I have been making Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls for more than a year now. I really think this is the best cinnamon roll recipe ever. They are fairly easy to make and have become my favorite thing to bake for other people.

Not too long ago, Pioneer Woman featured on her blog a variation of her rolls: Orange Marmalade Rolls! That was all it took to get the wheels in my brain to turning. I started thinking of other variations that might be tasty.

This past summer when the Georgia peaches were in season, I decided to try a peach variation. And most recently, I used the fall apples in an apple roll!

To make these rolls, use Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Roll recipe to make a batch of dough. After rolling out the dough, instead of using cinnamon and sugar, substitute with one of the fillings below. (When the recipe called for 1/2 c. of melted butter to be poured on the dough before the filling, I reduced that about to 2 T.)

PEACH ROLLS

In a large saucepan, combine

about 5 chopped fresh peaches
1/3 c. sugar
dash cinnamon
1 t. butter
1 c. peach nectar (can be found in cans on juice aisle)

Cook over medium heat until it begins to thicken.

Allow to cool completely before using on roll dough.

After the rolls are cooked and are still hot, generously pour the peach glaze over them.

PEACH GLAZE

2 lb. powdered sugar
2 t. vanilla
1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. melted butter
1/4 c. peach nectar
1/8 t. salt

Stir all ingredients together until smooth.


APPLE ROLLS

In large saucepan, combine

2 large cooking apples, chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
and 1/4 cup butter or margarine

Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Cook 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 10 minutes, stirring constantly until thick.

Stir in 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg.
Allow to cool completely before using on roll dough.

After the rolls are cooked and are still hot, generously pour the apple glaze over them.

APPLE GLAZE

2 lb. powdered sugar
2 t. vanilla
3/4 c. milk
1/4 c. melted butter
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/8 t. salt

Stir all ingredients together until smooth.

Thanks, Pioneer Woman for the inspiration!

Praline-Apple Bread

My friend, Judy, recently made this bread and posted a picture of it on Facebook. It looks sooo delicious and I can't wait to bake it myself. Posting it here is the easiest way to keep up with it, so here it is:

Judy modified the recipe a little, so be sure to check out her modifications at the bottom of the post.

• 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans, divided
• 1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups finely chopped, peeled Granny Smith apples (about 3/4 lb.)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350°. Bake 1/2 cup pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 6 to 8 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring after 4 minutes.

Beat sour cream and next 3 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until blended.

Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients. Add to sour cream mixture, beating just until blended. Stir in apples and 1/2 cup toasted pecans. Spoon batter into a greased and floured 9- x 5-inch loaf pan. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup chopped pecans; lightly press pecans into batter.

Bake at 350° for 1 hour to 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, shielding with aluminum foil after 50 minutes to prevent excessive browning. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack.

Bring butter and brown sugar to a boil in a 1-qt. heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat, and spoon over top of bread; let cool completely (about 1 hour).

Note: To freeze, cool bread completely; wrap in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.

Recipe from Debbie Grusska, Hobart, Indian

This recipe can be found here

Judy modified the recipe by using light sour cream. She also substitued 1 1/3 AP flour + 2/3 cup whole wheat flour for the 2 c. AP flour.

Homemade Pretzels

I really want to try making these soon!

Bunny Munch

Remember when I made this?


Moose Munch is one of our favorite snacks!

So you can imagine how thrilled I was to find the Easter version called Bunny Munch.


For the recipe, click here, and enjoy snacking on it this week!

Frosting Filled Cupcakes

I was recently asked to provide a snack for my daughter's church children's choir rehearsal. I decided to make mini cupcakes with a filling inside.

This idea came from my friend, Judy.

I used the DeMarle mini muffin to bake these cake mix cupcakes. I then used a cake decorator tip to inject the inside of the muffin with homemade icing. I will share the icing recipe I used, but any filling can be used.


After injecting the cupcakes, I changed the decorator tip to a flower, and decorated the tops with a single flower. Because of the Easter season approaching, I used pastel colored icing.

Frosting recipe:

¼ c. meringue powder (dried egg whites)

· 2/3 cups water

· 12 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (approx. 3 lb.)

· 1¼ cup solid vegetable shortening

· 1 teaspoon Clear Vanilla Extract

· 1 teaspoon Clear Butter Flavor

· ½ teaspoon Clear Almond Extract

· ¼ to ½ cup milk

In large bowl, whisk meringue powder and water until peaks form. Add about 4 cups of the powdered sugar; whisk into meringue.

Add about half of the shortening and cream in electric mixer. Add vanilla, butter flavor and almond flavor.

Add another 4 cups of powdered sugar; mix, beating well on medium speed. Add remaining shortening; mix.

Add final 4 cups powdered sugar and ¼ cup milk; mix.

Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. To reach desired consistency, add remaining milk gradually and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth until ready to use.

For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored 2 weeks. Rewhip before using. YIELD: Makes about 8 cups

My thanks to Kelley for the frosting recipe!

Potato Rolls

This favorite bread recipe was given to me by my friend, Lynn. She is a frequent bread maker, and I was honored when she gave me a handmade booklet of all her bread recipes. I recently made this roll for supper co-op and was very pleased with the results.

This is a bread machine recipe. You will need to follow your machine's instructions about what order to add ingredients.

1/2 c. mashed potatoes
1/4 c. potato water
1/4 c. canola oil
1 c. warm milk
1 egg
1/4 c. sugar
1 1/4 t. salt
4 c. bread flour*
2 1/4 t. yeast

*I modified the amount of flour: 3 1/2 c. bread flour and 1/2 c. whole wheat flour*

I place all these ingredients in bread maker and use the dough cycle. Then shape into rolls, cover in a warm place and allow to rise until double in size. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown.

Potato Casserole

This very yummy side dish was served at my hubby's 40th birthday party. It got many rave reviews! I'm posting this recipe for all the people who requested it. Thanks to Judy for sharing it with us.

1 pkg. frozen hash browns, thawed (cubed or shredded)

16 oz. sour cream

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2 stick butter or margarine, melted

2 cups shredded Colby jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together all ingredients until mixed well. Pour into greased 13x9x2 inch pan. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour until potatoes are tender.

Breakfast Banana Split

I mentioned in a previous post the cookbook our daughter got for Christmas.

This was the first recipe she wanted to make from it. Both the kiddos worked together to make these and have asked for them over and over.

Here's how you can do it, too!

1 banana
1/2 c. of your favorite crunchy cereal, divided
1/2 c. fruit flavored yogurt
1/4 c. blueberries or strawberries, sliced
1/4 c. pineapple chunks, drained
maraschino cherries (optional)

Peel banana and cut down the middle lengthwise with a butter knife.

Place banana in a cereal bowl or a banana split dish.


Sprinkle half of the cereal over the banana, but save the other half for sprinkling on top.

Spoon yogurt over the banana and cereal.


Add the rest of the cereal and fruit on top. Add cherries, if you like.

Lemon Mascarpone Cake

A friend's mom prepared this for us. It is her attempt to copy an Olive Garden dessert. It is VERY yummy!

White cake mix
1 whole egg
instant lemon pudding mix

Bake cake mix according to directions using only 1 egg and adding 1/3 box of lemon pudding mix.
Bake in two layers.

Filling:
**Mascarpone cheese (about 1/3 of small tub)
1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
1 t. clear vanilla
1/3 c. sugar
1 T. of instant lemon pudding mix

Mix filling ingredients. Spread between cooled cake layers. Sprinkle powdered sugar over top of cake.


**Mascarpone cheese substitution:
Blend 8 oz. soft cream cheese with 1/4 c. heavy cream and 2 T. softened butter. Use 1/3 of this as substitution for mascarpone cheese in filling.

Valentine Pancakes

Our daughter was given the Gooseberry Patch cookbook, "Kids in the Kitchen" for Christmas. We have had fun reading the cute jokes, looking at the eye-catching illustrations and preparing the yummy recipes in it.

Our daughter's favorite breakfast is pancakes, and so on this Valentine's Day she asked if we could use the pancake recipe from her new cookbook. The recipe said to put the batter in a squirt bottle and use it to draw shapes, and letters. I didn't have a squirt bottle so I used the cake decorator tool.


We also used cookie cutters to make heart shaped pancakes.


Our daughter was thrilled with the results and was very excited to surprise her Daddy with this message.


Our son giggled at the happy face on his plate when he came to the table. He was also very excited when I gave him a pancake in the shape of his first initial.


In case you need it, here is the recipe for the batter. I liked this batter..it was not as runny as the one I usually use. This made it easy to use the cake decorator. It also made a very fluffy pancake.

1 egg
1/2 c. milk
2 T. butter, melted
1 c. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking powder
2 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt

Whisk egg, milk, butter together in a mixing bowl.

Combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt and pour into the egg mixture. Stir just enough to wet the flour.

Pour batter into plastic squirt bottle or cake decorator tool.

Squirt batter into sprayed skillet or onto griddle over medium heat and draw shapes or letters.

Cook on one side until the bubbles stop popping. Flip and continue cooking briefly on the second side until golden.

Baked Ziti

While visiting my sister this Christmas, we were served this delicious dish! Our whole family enjoyed it so much that I begged for the recipe (didn't really have to beg). I've already made it for a large dinner party at my house!

1 box penne pasta noodles
olive oil or salt
spaghetti sauce
Ricotta cheese
meatballs
shredded mozzarella cheese
dried parsley

Bake the noodles according to package directions (with salt or olive oil). Place a thin layer of spaghetti sauce on bottom of lasagna pan then pour in the cooked noodles. Spoon Ricotta cheese over the noodles every inch or so. Next place the meatballs on top and pour more sauce over them. Cover with mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with dried parsley. Bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly.

Serve with extra sauce on the table.

Spaghetti Sauce

*This very yummy recipe is used by my sister's mother-in-law. She found it in a 1960's McCall's magazine*

1/3 c. olive oil or salad oil
1 1/2 c. finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 can (2 lb. 3 oz) Italian tomatoes, undrained
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
2 T. chopped parsley
1 T. salt
1 T. sugar
1 t. dried oregano leaves
1 t. dried basil leaves
1/4 t. pepper

In hot oil in 5 quart Dutch oven, saute onion and garlic 5 minutes. Mix in rest of sauce ingredients and 1 1/2 c. water, mashing tomatoes with a fork. Bring to boiling and reduce heat. Simmer mixture, covered and stirring occasionally, 1 hour.