Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Elephant Ears

 These are so easy!! Too easy!! Dangerously easy!! You've been warned!
Perfect with coffee or tea!

 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar, divided
  • Pinch kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 sheet puff pastry, defrosted (recommended: Pepperidge Farm)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Combine 1/2 cup of the sugar and kosher salt and pour it over a flat surface such as a wooden board or marble slab. Unfold the sheet of puff pastry onto the sugar mixture.
Combine 12 cup of the sugar and the cinnamon and spread it evenly on the puff pastry. This is not about sprinkling, it's about an even covering of sugar. With a rolling pin, lightly roll the dough until it's a 13-inch square and the sugar is pressed into the puff pastry on top and bottom. Fold the sides of the square toward the center so they go halfway to the middle. Fold them again so the two folds meet exactly at the middle of the dough. Then fold one half over the other half as though closing a book. You will have 6 layers. Slice the dough into 38-inch slices and place the slices, cut side up, on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
Bake the cookies for 6 minutes, or until caramelized and brown on the bottom, then turn with a spatula and bake for another 3 to 5 minutes, until caramelized on the other side. Transfer to a baking rack to cool.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Sweet Heart Cupcakes

Gotta love cupcakes on Valentine's Day. This little recipe is easy and yummy, plus people are surprised when they bite in. There are so many different toppings you could add; M&M's, pick candy corn, candy hearts; my favorite was the decorated oreos. Enjoy!
 
recipe image
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
Servings: 24
Ingredients:
1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 egg whites
8 drops red food coloring
2 drops raspberry candy oil
Directions:
1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a standard muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
2. Beat the cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and egg whites together on low speed for 30 seconds, then on medium for 2 minutes, until smooth. Fill cupcake liners 1/3 full with white batter; set aside.
3. Stir 4 drops of red food coloring into the remaining bowl of batter to make the batter pink, stir in the raspberry oil. Pour 1/2 of pink batter into a resealable plastic bag and set aside.
4. Mix more food coloring into the remaining bowl of pink batter until it is an orange/red color and pour the batter into a resealable plastic bag. Cut a corner off the bag, stick the open tip into the center of each cup of white batter and squeeze in about two tablespoons of red batter.
5. Cut the corner off the bag with the pink batter, stick the open tip into the center of the red batter and squeeze about 1 tablespoon pink batter into each cup.
6. Bake the layered cupcakes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool completely before frosting. Top with your favorite frosting and decorate.
 
 

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Oatmeal Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oatmeal Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

My husband loves these cookies! After our bananas start to get a little brown he refuses to eat them so I pop them in the freezer. After I have about 4-5 I make a batch of these cookies. I use whole wheat flour and dark chocolate because I think they're a little better for you that way! :)  
Try them - I think you'll love them too!

 
3/4 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 c. mashed banana (2 very ripe and one slightly browned)
1 3/4 c. oatmeal (quick oats)
1 1/2 c. flour (I like whole wheat)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. all spice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Chocolate chips (I like dark!!)

Preheat over to 350*F
Cream together shortening and sugar, add egg & banana, stir in oats. In a separate bowl mix flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Add to wet ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips until combined. Use cookie scoop and drop onto ungreased cookie and bake for 8-10 min. Enjoy!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Santa's Suicide a.k.a. Slutty Brownies

Brownie batter poured over Oreos sitting on chocolate chip cookie dough - yes - it IS that good!! Get the recipe here: Slutty Brownies

PS - I did have to bake mine about 10-15min longer then it said - it is going to be doughy which is the AWESOME part!!  :-)

Monday, January 9, 2012

Rosemary Chicken


Just made this AMAZING dinner - Rosemary Chicken - I added the sweet potato - good addition!! Get the recipe here: Yep more chicken

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Candy Trays & Ornaments

Such a cute and easy idea - you can make trays, ornaments, or decorations! Get the directions here:  http://tuttobellablog.com/2011/12/19/diy-serving-tray-2

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

 Need I say more?!?!? 
 

 Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes 24 gigantic cookies
Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 13 minutes 
Ingredients
• 1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 package Double Stuff Oreo cookies
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together with a mixer until well combined.
 Beat in eggs and vanilla.
In medium bowl mix the flour, salt, and baking soda. 
Slowly add to wet ingredients along with chocolate chips until just combined.
With a cookie scoop, form balls with the dough.
Place one ball on top of an Oreo cookie, and another ball on the bottom. Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until Oreo cookie is fully enclosed with dough.
Place onto parchment or silpat lined baking sheets and bake cookies for approximately 13 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.
 These are the ones I made - if the dough is too sticky to roll into balls add a little more flour - Enjoy!