Month: December 2021

Candied Bacon

Candied Bacon

My sons love bacon cooked just about anyway, so when I saw this recipe I had to try it.  I don’t normally eat bacon but even I couldn’t resist this breakfast treat. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 1 12 ounce can soda ¾ cup 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

My kids favorite cookie is chocolate chip cookies so they went crazy over these truffles.  The recipe suggested microwaving the flour for 2 minutes to reduce the risk of food borne illness.  Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 2/3 cup (1 1/3 sticks) butter room 

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

If you love cranberry as much as I do then you need to try this cake.  This cake is easy to make and utterly delicious.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

Caramel Topping

¾ cup sugar

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

3 cups fresh cranberries

Cake-

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking poweder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

Pinch ground cloves

4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature

½ cup truvia or 1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon orange zest

2 large eggs

½ cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt

¼ cup fat free or almond milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. Butter the sides of a 9 inch cake pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Add sugar and 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.  Stop stirring and allow to cook until the mixture is amber colored in 6-8 minutes.
  3. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter. Be careful it sometimes bubbles.
  4. Pour the caramel sauce in the base of the cake pan. Allow it to cover the whole pan.
  5. Spread out the cranberries on top of the sauce.
  6. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and cloves in a medium bowl.
  7. Add the butter and sugar to a stand mixer and mix on medium until light and fluffy about 4 minutes.
  8. Add the eggs 1 at a time scraping down the sides as needed.
  9. Mix the yogurt and milk. 
  10. Alternate adding the dry ingredients and milk mixture until fully incorporated.
  11. Add the orange zest and mix in.
  12. Spread the cake batter gently over the cranberries.
  13. I placed my cake pan on a rimmed sheet pan to bake in case it bubbled over.
  14. Bake 60-75 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  15. Cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes. 
  16. Use a knife to gently loose the sides on the cake.
  17. Then place a 9 inch pie plate on the cake and gently flip the cake over.  It should slide right into the pie pan or onto the platter.
  18. Enjoy! I topped mine with whipped cream.
Zucchini Cake Muffins with Candied Pecan Topping

Zucchini Cake Muffins with Candied Pecan Topping

I make a different kind of muffin every week and I have to say these are one of my all time favorites.  The grated zucchini and carrot make them healthy, the pecans add a lovely crunch, and the spices make these burst with flavor.  Ingredients: 

Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies aka Nutter Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies aka Nutter Butter Cookies

These are without a doubt my favorite cookie!  The peanut butter cookie with a peanut butter filling is impossible to resist.  These disappear quicker than I can make them. I rolled these in red and green sugar for Christmas.  You can use regular sugar which 

Oreo Truffles

Oreo Truffles

These are simple to make and a treat my children go crazy over.  This time I used colored melting candies, but I have melted chocolate chips in the past.  You can decorate sprinkles, colored sugar, or Oreo crumbs.  Any variety of Oreo will work for this recipe.

Ingredients:

16 ounce package Oreos any variety

8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (or melting candies)

Directions:

  1. Add Oreos to a food processor and pulse until cookies are mostly crushed.  Reserve some crumbs if you want to coat the truffles in Oreo crumbs.
  2. Add crushed Oreos and cream cheese to a stand mixer and mix until combined.
  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  4. Use a cookie scooper to form tablespoon size balls.
  5. Refrigerate balls for at least 45 minutes.
  6. Place melting candies in a microwavable safe bowl and melt according to package directions if using melting candies.
  7. If using chocolate chips add chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon coconut oil to a small saucepan and heat on low until warmed.  Gently stir to create a smooth sauce.
  8. Dip the balls in one at a time using a spoon and a fork.  Gently tap the fork a few times to help excess drip off the balls.  Then transfer to the baking sheet.
  9. If you are going to sprinkle with colored sugar or sprinkles do that immediately before the balls harden.
  10. Transfer balls to the refrigerator to set. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until the truffles disappear.
Snickerdoodle Truffles

Snickerdoodle Truffles

Snickerdoodles are one of my favorite cookies.  I remember making these with my mom growing up.  These truffles are a decadent snickerdoodle coated in melted cinnamon chips.  If you can’t find cinnamon chips white chocolate works too.  The recipe suggested microwaving the flour for 2 

Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies

Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies

If you like gingerbread cookies then you have to try these.  The filling makes these irresistible.  I ordered the gingerbread cookie spice and cookie butter on Amazon since I could not find them in my local store. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: Gingerbread Cookies- 

Hawaiian Burgers

Hawaiian Burgers

I always order Hawaiian burgers when we go to Red Robin, so I decided to try making them at home.  I ate mine on bibb lettuce and served them on buns for my family.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

2 pounds lean ground turkey

1 cup shredded/diced carrots

½ sweet onion diced

½ cup panko breadcrumbs

2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce

1 can sliced pineapple

1 bell pepper cut into rings

Sliced provolone cheese

Sauce-

½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce

1 tablespoon honey

Serve on bibb lettuce or on buns

Directions:

  1. Spray a nonstick pan with olive oil spray.  Add the onion and carrots with 2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce.  Cook on medium for 10 minutes to soften.
  2. Add ground turkey to a large bowl and break up. 
  3. Add carrots, onions, and breadcrumbs and mix together well.
  4. Divide mixture into 7-8 patties.
  5. I freeze the patties for 15-20 minutes before cooking to firm them up.
  6. Air fry the pineapple and sliced pepper at 400 for 15 minutes flipping once.
  7. Preheat grill to medium heat.
  8. Grill burgers for 4 minutes per side.  Add cheese last minute of grilling.
  9. Sauce- Mix together yogurt, teriyaki, and honey.  Serve on burger.
  10. Place burger on bun or lettuce and top with pineapple, pepper, and sauce.
  11. Enjoy!
Sticky Toffee Pumpkin Crunch Pie

Sticky Toffee Pumpkin Crunch Pie

OMG! This pumpkin pie is amazing!  The crust has a kick of pumpkin flavor with a little pumpkin spice seasoning, the filling is sweet and luscious, the pecans add some crunch, and the toffee topping just finishes this to make in incredible slice of pie.