Apples

Apple Sauce... Apple Cider... Carmel Apples... Apple Pie... Apple Crisp

Those are some of the things I am anticipating baking/ making as soon as I get my hands on some fresh locally grown apples.

I am patiently waiting for a local orchard (only 15 miles away) to announce that their apples are reading for picking! Then my husband and I are going to make an outing of it and come home and bake together.

Does anyone have apple recipe(s) they would like to share?

Roasting a chicken

So, the truth of the matter is.. I have always been intimidated to purchase an entire chicken to cook. I am always buying bags of frozen chicken bones or fresh chicken already cut up to meet my recipe's need. This weekend I really stepped out of my comfort zone and purchased a full chicken to roast.. and oh was it worth the trouble, it was delicious!

First I had to remove the neck (um the head is gone, couldn't they have at least removed the rest of the neck??) And I had to remove the gizzards, thankfully they weren't attached to anything. After doing those two things and getting past the pieces of hair still attached to the skin (yuck) I was able to finish the job.

 The part that looks burnt is actually just the garlic that I removed after the roasting process. I am only posting photos so I can look back and remind myself that it wasn't that hard. Can you believe for a woman in her 30s that loves to cook that this was a first!? With this one chicken I served my family chicken & mashed potatoes for lunch and chicken nachos for dinner!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins Recipe

Another yummy recipe you should try if you like pumpkin!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins the recipe was found here at 'What's for Dinner?' blog.

I made these last week and my family devoured them in minutes. They have the perfect amount of sweetness and an interesting (in a good way) texture. I will be making these again!

Hubby's salmon dinner

Our week's menu got switched around when the hubby offered to make dinner for me tonight. Salmon is one of the delicious things he bakes and tonight it was as delicious as always.

His secret ingredient...

If you like salmon and this is not in your spice cabinet, go buy some! You will not be disappointed. Salmon, butter and this seasoning is all you need for some wonderful baked salmon. If you have never baked salmon before you can follow the easy baking instructions on the back of the 'Magic Salmon Seasoning' bottle.

I am so grateful for a hubby that offers to make ME dinner for no reason whatsoever.

Linking to Wednesday Gratitude.

Monday Meal Planning

Here is our menu for this week!

• Monday -- Chicken Nachos
• Tuesday --Meatloaf w/ mashed potatoes
• Wednesday -- Baked Salmon
• Thursday -- Spaghetti w/ garlic bread 
• Friday -- Bierocks
• Saturday -- Another attempt at Butter Chicken w/ this yummy naan
• Sunday -- Waffle and Bacon Brunch and "Seek and you shall find" for dinner (aka: left overs)

If you missed my post about the Asian home cooking class I hosted this week, check it out here.

Linking to Organized Junkie's Monday Meal Planning.

Carmel Apples

I made the cutest little caramel apple bites that I found on Christy's blog.












 I used a melon baller and made little bite size caramel dipped apples just like she instructed.

All went well until..... I put them in the fridge for a while and all of the carmel mixed with the apple's juice and became a big gooey yummy mess. Note to self.. eat bite size caramel apples right away.. DO NOT TELL family that they can't have them until later. Serve as soon as they are finished!

Indian Naan- a keeper recipe!

If you have never tried Indian Naan (pronounced 'non') you are missing out! Make it and try it today.

I am most often a fan of any bread that is fresh and warm and naan is just that. It's a type of flatbread, which is usually cooked on a grill or oven baked but I cooked mine right on a skillet and it was wonderful! I've made two batches of it already, it's been approved by every member of our household. Even with just four of us, that is a rare accomplishment.

So here is the recipe which I think is even better than the Indian restaurant I frequent. 

Naan

Ingredients:

1 pouch of active dry yeast (.25 ounce)

1 cup warm water, not too warm, don't want to kill the yeast

1/4 cup white sugar

3 T of milk

1 egg, slightly beaten

2 tsp salt

4+ cups of bread flour

2 cloves worth of minced garlic (optional)

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 tsps olive oil, if you are cooking on a skillet like I did.

Directions: In a large bowl dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes. Stir in sugar, milk, egg, salt and majority of flour. Knead for 6-8 minutes on a slightly floured surface, just until smooth. Place the dough in a slightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth and set aside to rise. Let it rise for 1 hour until the dough is larger in volume. 

Punch down the dough and knead in the garlic. Pinch off small handfuls of dough, about the size of an egg. Roll into balls and place on a tray. Cover with a towel and allow to rise for about 30 minutes.

Prepare your skillet with olive oil and bring to medium-high heat.  Next to your skillet roll out one ball of dough into a thin circle. Place dough in skillet, cook for 2-3 minutes or until puffy and lightly browned (think of a pancake). Brush the uncooked side with the melted butter and flip over. Brush the cooked side with butter and cook until browned, another 2-3 minutes. Remove from the skillet and continue the process until all the naan is prepared. Keep what you have cooked somewhere warm (I stick on a plate in microwave and add to the plate as I go.) Serve warm!!

Meal Planning Monday- Again, trying out some new recipes

Monday- Basil Cream Spaghetti and meatballs. This is very easy, it just consists of cooking your spaghetti sauce with a 1/2 of block of cream cheese and some fresh basil. Serve over cooked spaghetti noodles and meatballs.

       Meat Balls (tried and true): Ingredients- 1 lb lean ground beef, 1 egg, 1/2 cup crumbled bread

       (I use whatever  bread I have on hand), 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp black pepper,   1/2 tsp garlic salt

       Preheat over to 350, combine all, except meat in large bowl. Add meat and mush with your fingers to combine. Form into 1" meatballs, place on a broiler pan (so oil drips away from balls) in oven. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes until meat is no longer pink in middle. Cool and freeze if you want to save for another day, or serve.

Tuesday- Chinese Cabbage Salad and Chicken Fried Rice.

Someone brought this salad to work last week and it was so good, I decided I will make some for the family.

         Chinese Cabbage Salad: Ingredients- 5 green onions, chopped*; 1/4 cup margarine*, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds*, 1 small bag of sliced almonds*, 2 pkgs crushed ramen noodles*. (*you will saute these first ingredients until light brown). Then you will mix 1 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup white wine vinegar, 1 cup sugar, 2 tsp soy sauce. (Shake these last 4 ingredients before serving). Serve both the first ingredients and the dressing over 1 Full Head of Chinese cabbage, chopped.

Wednesday- I will be out of the house this evening and also fasting for appointment the following morning so the hubby will probably make his specialty, omelets for him and the boys.

Thursday- I will be attempting to make for the first time every my favorite dish, Indian Butter Chicken. YUM, YUM, YUM. I sure hope it turns out! I will be serving it over rice along with homemade Naan which I am also attempting to make for the first time.

Friday- Hamburger and Bratwurst on the grill served with a Strawberry Spinach Salad.

Saturday- Leftovers for lunch and we have a wedding reception to attend in the evening.

Sunday- Hubby's melt in your mouth smoked BBQ ribs, weather permitting!

I also have a few desserts on my wish list to make this week, my Aunt Mary's Kolache Cookies, Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, and Strawberry Cream Pie. I prefer baking over cooking any day of the week, if only we could live on sugar and flour (I know, I know, that's a horrible idea)..

Oh and P.S. I started drinking coke again. :(  Do you see how sneaky I was getting that out there! It is just so addictive!

Check out Menu Plan Monday at Organized Junkie for a BUNCH of menu plans!

Mexican Meat Loaf- I suggest you try it!

We tried a new recipe this weekend, orginally cut out of a magazine (I think the March issue of BH&G). It turned out very good, so good that I didn't get a chance to take photos. I changed a few things to cater to our family, so if you want the original recipe which included onions check out the magazine.

Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 can (12 oz) crushed tomatoes
1 cup crushed tortilla chips
3 cloves of garlic
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
dash of salt and black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground pork
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
3/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeno peppers, shredded

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In large bowl combine lightly beaten eggs, crushed tomatoes, and tortilla chips.
Stir in garlic, cumin, chili powder and dash of salt and dash of pepper. Add beef, pork and corn; mix well. Shape into a loaf and bake at 350 degrees F for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F. Sprinkle with cheese and let melt in over before removing.  I served it with tortilla chips, sliced alvocado and salsa.

Pizza on a Stick

I just adore Christy over at From Glitter to Gumdrops, when I need something fun to make I head straight to her blog. I saw her Pizza on a Stick a while back and I knew I'd give them a try when the right time arose. Well, I finally have a good occasion to share them so tonight I tried them out.

Check out her recipe and DON'T cook them on foil like I did. Foil and cheese are like glue and paper.

They make for a pretty good snack food. And they are very unique! Thanks for sharing Christy!

Meal Planning Monday- Some New Recipes

This is my first week joining Organizing Junkie for her Meal Planning Monday. 

Here is my meal plan for the week..

Monday- Tacos

Tuesday- Bierocks

Wednesday- Sloppy Joes

Thursday- Leftovers

Friday- friend's wedding rehearsal dinner

Saturday -friend's wedding

Sunday- Shrimp Alfredo

Is it obvious hamburger meat is on sale in our area?

And now for some keeper new recipes I've recently tried.

Mango Pico de Gallo

Ingredients:

3 cups small mango cubes

2 large jalapeno peppers, chopped (seeds removed)

1/2-3/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 med size red onion, chopped

juice of 2 limes

Just mix the ingredients and store in the fridge in a jar overnight before serving with tortilla chips. My hubby hates onions and somehow really likes this recipe a lot.

Corned Beef Cream Cheese Spread

Ingredients:

2 - 8 oz. softened cream cheese

1 1/2 package- Buddig Corned Beef, chopped

1 tsp onion powder (recipe called for 1/2 of a onion chopped, by the hubby hates onions)

1/2 cup chopped green olives (more or less depending on the taste you want)

2 Tbsp Miracle Whip or Mayo

Mix it all together and refrigerate before serving. This is a recipe from a lady at my work and I think it is just delicious! Great served with Ritz Crackers or bread.

Moink Balls

I found this recipe in my local newspaper, it's a keeper. It said it is from "BBQ Makes Everything Better". I tripled the recipe when I made it and cooked half in the oven and half on the grill (grill was better!)

Ingredients

12 precooked italian-style meatballs (I made mine from scratch, I'll share that recipe on another day)

6 strips bacon, cut in half

1 Tbsp brown sugar

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 cup barbecue sauce

1/2 cup grape jelly

Wrap each meatball with a half strip of bacon and secure it with a toothpick. Combine the brown sugar and cayenne pepper and sprinkle over the bacon-wrapped meatballs. Smoke over indirect heat at 250 degrees for about 1 hour until the bacon is done to your liking (you can also use direct heat on a grill for 10-15 minutes but this method requires close attention (this is what I did with half, the other half I cooked in the oven at 350 until the bacon was crispy.) Bacon grease is highly flammable, so you will need to rotate the meatballs constantly to prevent scorching. While the Moink balls are cooking, combine the barbecue sauce and the grape jelly in a saucepan and heat until blended. (opps I missed that heat stage, I just whisked them together.) Five minutes before removing the balls from the smoker, baste them with the glaze. Serve immediately. (or eat them later straight from the fridge, that is how my mom liked them best!)

Watermelon Sugar cookies

I can't remember where I found this recipe originally (one of the blogs I follow but for the life of me I couldn't figure out which). So... I had to google for it and found a the recipe here.

The sugar cookie ingredients from this link made a pretty good dough, I'm going to use it again for just plain iced sugar cookies. I've been hunting for a fluffy sugar cookie recipe for years. 3/4 cups all purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup butter or margarine, softened, 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla extract. Refriderate dough for 2 hours before rolling.

My 5 nieces ages 9 and under really enjoyed these watermelon cookies and they were very fitting for the 4th of July. For some reason my mom didn't believe me when I told her I made them (really not sure why.. she knows I love baking!)

Chocolate Chip Icing (sorry no picture)
I always hate when I am out of a tub of chocolate icing and can't make a chocolate cake or cupcakes because of it. I finally found a good alternative since I do usually have chocolate chips on hand.
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (about a half of bag)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except chocolate in saucepan over medium high heat. Stir constantly until melted. Bring to a boil for 1 minute, still stirring. Remove from heat. Add in chips and stir until completely melted. Spread on cooled cake.

Happy cooking/baking!

Garden themed Bridal shower a success

My balloon lady/ friend taught me how to make these balloon flowers. Aren't they just adorable? They take about 5 minutes each to do but they were very fitting for a garden themed bridal shower.

 

I put some on the front porch right before the guests arrived. I also decorated with fresh flowers throughout the house (just didn't seem to get pictures of them).

I used my friend's chocolate fountain again, I think at this point I have used it more than she has! I just love the thing, probably because I like chocolate so much.














We played a few games including splitting up into groups and designing wedding dresses out of paper towels, toliet paper and tape with a 10 minute time limit. This is what our brides looked like. Trashy eh?


















Another fun thing that we did was wrote down phrases the bride said while she was opening her presents without her knowing and after she was all done we passed around the list and each person read one of her phrases after saying.. "This is what Nida will say on her wedding night..." It was VERY funny taking what she said out of context. Here is the soon to be bride listening and highly embarrassed. ;)

Check out what I put my gift in. I found this at Home Goods  and it's made out of recycled magazines. My friend (the soon to be bride) is big into making things out of other things so I thought she would like this. It even had the little chalk board tag already on it.
















To drink I served lemonade, fruit punch, bottled water and June Bugs (recipe here).

To eat I served crackers and cheese, fresh veggies with ranch dipping sauce, the chocolate fountain with lots of dipping items including fresh fruit and for her cake I made Banana Split Cake, which was perfect for a steamy hot day! Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture before it was half way eaten, sorry!
















Here is the recipe if you want to give it a try...

Banana Split Cake
serves 15

Ingredients:
2 cups crushed graham crackers
1 stick margarine
2-8 oz. pkgs of cream cheese (softened)
1- 1lb box powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
5 bananas
1- 20oz crushed pineapple
8oz cool whip
optional 1 cups chopped pecans for topping
optional 1 small far mar cherries for topping

Instructions: Combine melted margarine and graham cracker crumbs. Press into bottom of 9x13 pan/ dish. Combine softened cream cheese, powered sugar and vanilla. Blend until smooth; spread over crust. Slice bananas over cream cheese mixture, then spoon pineapple over bananas. Spread Cool Whip over all and top with pecans and halved cherries if desired. Refrigerate overnight before serving.

'June Bug'- a cold yummy southern drink

At the pool this afternoon I was flipping through one of my favorite magazines, Better Homes and Gardens. In this June issue, I ran across this yummy southern drink called 'June Bug'. I figured if nothing else my family would enjoy the name, so I fixed us each a glass tonight. It turned out good enough to share the recipe.

Here is what you need for 4 servings:
3 cups giner ale
4 Tbsp. grenadine
4 Tbsp. orange juice
3 scoops orange sherbert
(for alcohol version add 1/2 cup white rum)

The boys had virgin drinks, the hubby and I had the rum in ours. It's good both ways. You just blend it all together and pour into ice-filled cocktail glasses. I suggest you give it a try!

Chocolate Kahlua Cake

If you like chocolate like I do, this is a great recipe! A friend gave it to me about 10 years ago.

Chocolate Kahlua Cake

1 package devil's food cake mix
1 1/2 cups sour cream

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup Kahlua (the alcohol will cook out and the flavor will stay)

2 eggs

1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix

powdered sugar for dusting on finished cake
or a tub of chocolate icing

 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray pam in a 12 cup bundt pan.
Combine all cake ingredients in a large bowl.
Beat with mixer about 2-3 minutes. (it's very thick!)
Spoon into bundt pan.
Bake about 45 minutes or until tester comes out clean.
Cool 15 minutes.
Remove from pan.
When cool, dust with powdered sugar or drizzle chocolate icing over it.

Refrigerate for best flavor (Kahlua flavor gets stronger the longer it sits).

Cheesecake Sopapillas

I found a yummy recipe recently at Christy's blog, From Glitter to Gumdrops.

My family thought it was so delicious I decided everyone needs to know about them. I made just a few small changes (mainly a little less sugar and butter since I'm trying to drop some pounds). They are so easy, give them a try!

Sopapilla Cheesecake

Ingredients:
2 cans Crescent seamless dough (the new stuff, very cool!)
1 8oz pkg of cream cheese
1 1/2 cup Sugar
1 1/4 sticks Butter
Cinnamon

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Unroll one can of the new crescent seamless dough to cover the bottom of the pan. Mix cream cheese, 3/4 c. sugar, and 1 stick of softened butter. Spread over crescent rolls.
Unroll second can of dough over cream cheese mixture. Melt 1/4 stick of butter, add 3/4 c. of sugar and pour over top and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Bake at 350 degress Farenheit for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Let cool, cut into squares and serve.

Off to Christy's blog I go to find some new recipes!

Easy homemade bread- if there is such a thing

In preparation for a Valentine's dinner I am cooking this evening I made some homemade bread.

In my opinion bread is never 'easy' to make but this recipe is one of the easiest I've made and it is yummy! Recipe yields 2 large loafs.

Ingredients:

5 lb bag of all purpose flour -you won't quite use it all

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 tablespoon Crisco

1 cup of cold milk

3 cups of boiling water

1 package of dry yeast

In a tall glass pour about 4 ounces of almost hot water-not too hot or it will kill the yeast. Add a small pinch of sugar and the package of yeast, stir and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl place the salt, sugar and shortening. Add three cups of boiling water and stir until dissolved.

Add the milk and stir.

Check the yeast; it should be bubbly and almost to the top of the glass. Add to the milk mixture in the large mixing bowl and stir well to distribute the yeast evenly.

Add flour a cup at a time, and stir well after each addition. When dough becomes too difficult to stir with the spoon, start balling it up with your hands. Add enough flour to keep your hands from sticking to the dough-don't over flour-it will make the bread hard! Keep the dough the consistency of a marshmallow. You won't need to use the whole bag of flour!

Knead this dough, in the bowl is fine. Knead the dough until it is smooth and soft-about seven minutes. You will know the dough is ready for the first raising, when you can poke your finger into it, and the hole springs back at you.

Grease the dough all over with a used margarine wrapper; cover with a towel. Set in a warm place near the fireplace- a temperature of 85 degrees is ideal.

When the dough has doubled its bulk-punch down and knead again but don't add more flour. Divide dough into even sized balls, roll each ball out for braiding (you can search youtube for braiding bread instructions) and place on a greased baking pan or place formed dough into loaf pans.

Cover again with a towel and set in a warm place for the second raising.

When raised, bake in a 400 F degree oven for about twenty minutes, until golden brown. The bread will be done, when it makes a, "hollow" sound when tapped.

On removing from the oven, grease all sides of the bread crust with butter or margarine and allow to cool. 

Enjoy!

Resale Store- New finds

I spent $4 total recently at a resale store. Here are my finds....

A few metal, handpainted pieces of artwork for a bathroom that has been in need of a special touch. Approximate size 14"x14" each.They sort of have a rustic french feel to them.

My soon to be hubby probably thinks they have a bit of a femine feel, but hey what can I say? I am girlie girl, and I like flowers! And for .99 each, I couldn't pass them up!

I also found two new corningware dishes (.49 each) and a square vase (.99). I like to snatch up interesting vases when I can. They leave my house just as fast as they arrive. I really enjoy surprising friends with arrangements.

Yummy Cookie Recipes!

I hosted a cookie exchange with my baking friends in December and we enjoyed a lot of yummy cookies. I'm sorry to just be getting around to posting the recipes.

Peppermint Fudge Cookie Sandwich

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 candy canes or 8-10 peppermint hard candies (about 1/4 cup crushed)

1/4 cup white or semi-sweet chocolate morsels

10-12 mini foil-wrapped peppermint patties, unwrapped

1)Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line large sheet pan with parchment paper. Combine chocolate morsels and butter in medium bowl. Microwave for 40-60 seconds or until smooth, stirring after 20 second intervals. Add sugar and egg to bowl, mix until well blended. Add flour; mix just until flour is incorporated. Using a small scoop, drop 20 level scoops of batter, 1 in. apart onto pan. Bake 9-11 minutes until edges are set (do not overbake). 2)Meanwhile, place candy canes in a plastic bag and crush using something hard. Place white chocolate morsels into a bowl and microwave uncovered 30-60 seconds or until melted and smooth, stiring once. Set aside. 3)Remove pan from oven to cool. Immediately turn over half of the cookies; top with peppermint patties and top with remaining cookies to form 10 sandwiches. Drizzle chocolate over cookies and immediately sprinkle with crushed candies. Transfer to platter. Line pan with additional parchment and scoop remaining batter, bake 9-11 minutes and assemble as directed above.

Potato Chip Cookies  -(one of my favorites!)

1 pound of butter (4 sticks)

1 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups flour

1 1/2 cups crushed potato chips

powdered sugar (enough to sprinkle on finished cookies)

Beat butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar & beat well. Mix in vanilla then add flour gradually. Stir in crushed potato chips. Drop teaspoon size onto cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees F. Coat with powdered sugar while cookies are still warm.

Mincemeat Cookies

1 cup shortening

1 1/2 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1- 9 oz. package of mincemeat crumbled.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Beat shorening and sugar. Add eggs and beat well. Stir in dry ingredients. Gradually add mincemeat, stirring as you go. Drop 2" apart on greased baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes.

Easy Six Layer Bars

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 cup graham crackers (crushed)

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup butterscotch chips

1 cup coconut

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Melt butter in 9x13. Sprinkle each of the above in pan in order. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes. Slice.

Chocolate Walnut Wafers

1 cup margarine

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

4 squares of unsweetened chocolate

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups chopped walnuts

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/3 cups flour

Cream butter, add sugar, add eggs (well beaten), add melted chocolate. Add nuts, salt, vanilla and flour. Drop from tip of spoon onto a greased cookie sheet 1" apart. Bake in oven at 350 degrees F for 12 minutes. Remove from the pan quickly. Make 10 dozen. Note: Cookies spread a lot- do not put big drops on pan.

Holiday Cake Bon Bons

1 box red velvet cake mix + ingredients to make as instructed on box

1 container prepared frosting

3 oz. vanilla or chocolate candy coating or bark

Option: 1/4 c. of Bailey's Irish Cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. (325 for dark or non stick pan). Spray bottom only of 13x9 pan with Pam. Prepare cake and bake as directed on box. Cool 15 minutes. In large mixing bowl, crumble warm cake. Stir in frosting until well blended (if using Bailey's add to the mix now). Refrigerate 2 hours. Roll into balls and put on foil covered cookie sheet. Freeze 30 miutes. Microwave bark on high 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until smooth. Dip the balls in candy coating, one at a time. Place on fail covered cookie sheet. Decorate as desired. Refrigerate to set. Serve at room temperature.

White Chocolate Pumpkin Dreams

1 Cup Butter, softened

½ Cup each sugar and packed brown sugar

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 Cup all purpose flour

3 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon each baking powder and baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 package (11 ounces) vanilla or white chips

1 cup chopped pecans

PENUCHE FROSTING:

½ Cup packed brown sugar

3 tablespoons butter

¼ cup milk

1 ½ - 2 cups confectioners’ sugar

STEPS

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and the pumpkin. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the chips and pecans.

2. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes or until firm. Remove to wire racks and cool.

3. For frosting, combine brown sugar and butter in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook over medium heat for 1 minute or until slightly thickened. Cool for 10 minutes. Add milk; beat until smooth. Beat in enough confectioners’ sugar to reach desired consistency. Spread over cooled cookies.

YIELD: About 4 ½ dozen

Peanut Butter Snickers Cookies

1 cup margarine

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

60 miniature (bite-size) Snickers candy bars

Preheat oven to 350 F. Cream margarine, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and add to peanut butter mixture. Take 1 tablespoon of dough and flatten into round shape in palm of your hand. Place Snickers bar in center and fold dough around it. Roll in palms of your hand to form a smooth ball with the Snickers bar totally covered with the dough. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet and place on a wire rack to cool.

Lemon Shortbread Bars -(another one of my favorites!)

Crust:

nonstick vegetable oil spray

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teasppon salt

3/4 cups (1 1/2 sticks) chillled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

2 large egg yolks

Lemon Filling:

6 large eggs

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 teasppon baking powder

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

4 tsp. finely grated lemon peel

Streusel toppping:

3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pices

powdered sugar

FOR CRUST: Preheat ove to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat 13x9x2 inch metal baking pan with nonstick spray. Blend flour, sugar and salt in processor to combine. Cut in butter, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add egg yolks and blend until moist clumps form. Press mixture onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake until just beginning to turn golden brown around edges, about 10 minuites. Remove crust from oven; reduce temperature to 325 degrees. WHILE CRUST IS BAKING, PREPARE LEMON FILLING: Whisk eggs and sugar in large bowl to blend. Whisk flour and baking powder in medium bowl to blend. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, whisking to blend. Whisk in lemon juice and peel. Immediantly pour lemon filling over hot crust; bake at 325 degrees F until filling is set, about 30 minutes. Maintain oven temperature. FOR STREUSEL: Blend flour, 1/2 cup sugar and salt in processor to combine. Cut in butter, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle topping over hot lemon bars; continue to bake until just golden, about 25 minutes longer. Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool completely. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into bars. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature). Makes 16-20 bars. Note: If puff- poke down with cake tester.

Snickerdoodles

2 3/4 cups flour

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teasppon salt

1 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

Sift flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt together. Set aside. Cream shortening. Gradually beat in sugar and eggs. Stir in dry ingredients. Chill dough. Form into balls the size of a small walnut. Roll inot a mixture of sugar and cinnamon (2 tablespoons sugar & 2 teasppons cinnamon). Place 2" apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees, until lightly browned; about 8-10 minutes.