Russian Teacakes

This recipe is from the Betty Crocker cookbook I grew up with. Old family favorite. We always make these for CHRISTmas.
*******************
Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Ingredients needed:
1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
2 1/4 cup flour
Powdered sugar

1. Mix butter, sugar, salt and vanilla together.
2. Add nuts and flour.
3. Roll mixture into 1" balls.
4. Place balls about 1" apart on untreated baking sheet.
5. Bake 10-12 minutes.
6. Upon removal from oven, roll in powdered sugar. Once cooled, roll in powdered sugar a second time.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Enjoy!

Carmel(or is it Caramel?) Brownies

This is one of my favorite ways to eat brownies. Chocolate, carmel.........how can you go wrong? Right?
************************
Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients Needed:
1 box brownie mix
1 package carmels
3 tablespoons milk

1. In double boiler, melt carmels with milk.
2. Prepare brownie mix as directed on box.
3. In 9x13 cake pan, pour in half of brownie batter.
4. Pour carmel mix over brownie batter.
5. Pour remaining brownie batter on top of carmel mix.
6. Bake as directed on brownie box.
7. Let cool before cutting, the carmel will be gooey!
*************************
Variations:
Some people like nuts in their brownies. If this is you, feel free to add 1 cup finally chopped nuts to brownie batter, it is your choice the type of nut! You can also add 1 cup chocolate chips to the batter. If you are a choc-o-holic like myself, there is no such thing as too much chocolate!

ENJOY!!

Special K Bars

Ok, this recipe is well known, I got mine from a girl at work. Pretty much everyone I know loves these bars, but doesn't know how to make them, thus I thought I'd post.
************************************
Ingredients Needed:
1 cup sugar
1 ½ cups peanut butter
1 cup clear karo syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
6 cups Special K
chocolate chips
Butterscotch chips

1. Melt sugar and karo syrup in microwave until it is at a rolling boil.
2. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla.
3. Stir in Special K.
4. Spread in 9x13 cake pan.
5. Melt 1/2 bag of chocolate chips and 1/2 bag of butterscotch chips together and spread on top.
*******************************
Variations:
Some make this with rice crispies and its good that way too.

ENJOY!!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Thought I'd give you an extra recipe to go along with Valentine's Day! Enjoy! ********************************
Ingredients Needed:
16 ounces milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves and stems
toothpicks and styrofoam board

1. Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.
2. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth.
3. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.
4. Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.

ENJOY!!

Butter Pecan Ice Cream

This is another one of our favorite ice cream recipes. This one is courtesy of the Food Network's Paula Deen. I am not normally a pecan person, but this was so yummy, I enjoyed them in an ice cream format!
******************************************
Ingredients Needed:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1 (13-ounce) can evaporated milk
1 (3 3/4-ounce) package instant French vanilla pudding mix
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups whole milk

1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan.
2. Add pecans and cook over low heat until they are lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
3. Place on a paper towel to drain and cool.
4. In an 8-cup measuring cup with a spout, combine the remaining ingredients.
5. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved.
6. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturers' instructions.
7. Add the pecans 10 minutes into the freezing.
8. Once ice cream is as firm as it will get, pour into freezer safe container and freeze for at least 24 hours before serving.

ENJOY!!

Pumpkin Bars

Since its that time of year for pumpkin to be in style, I thought I'd post a pumpkin recipe I can tolerate. I do not like pumpkin pie or anything pumpkin flavored, except these bars. Yum!
***************************************
Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients needed:
1 spice cake mix
3 eggs
1 can Libby’s Pumpkin
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup water
1 container prepared cream cheese or vanilla frosting

1. Blend cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, oil and water in large mixing bowl until moistened.
2. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
3. Pour batter onto greased deep baking sheet.
4. Bake for 18 to 23 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
5. Allow to cool. Spread frosting on top.

*********************************
Variations:
This recipe was originally written to be done as cupcakes, but I make them into bars and it works beautifully without the hassle of individualness.

ENJOY!!

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

This is a family recipe from as far back as I can remember. We ALWAYS have these cookies during the holidays. Most people I know that make these do not make them the way we do, they always have hard, crunchy cookies. These are soft and oh so yummy!!
*******************************************
Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients needed:
1 yellow cake mix
1 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup water
2 eggs
1 pkg. Hershey Kisses

1. Mix cake mix, peanut butter, water, and eggs in medium mixing bowl until fairly smooth mixture.
2. Drop one inch balls of cookie dough onto greased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and immediately top with a Hershey’s Kiss.
5. Let cool 5 minutes, than remove from pan.

ENJOY!!

Coffee Cake

This is another family recipe that has been around a long time. A staple during the holidays.
************************************
Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Ingredients needed:
Dough:
2 pkg. dry yeast
½ cup warm water
½ cup warm milk
½ cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
½ cup shortening
4 ½ to 5 cups flour

Filling:
Stick of melted butter

1lb finely chopped walnuts
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk

2 cans poppy seed filling

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water, stir in ½ cup milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 ½ cups of flour. Beat until smooth.
2. Mix in remaining flour until dough is easy to handle.
3. Put dough on floured counter. Knead until smooth and elastic.
4. Place in greased bowl, flip over and cover with towel. Let rise until dough is double in size.
5. Punch dough down, shape, cover and let rise until double again.
6. Make nut filling at this point. In small bowl, mix finely chopped walnuts, sugar and milk. Mixture should be sort of thick, but spreadable. May need to add a little more milk.
7. Split dough into four equal portions. Flour a counter and begin to roll into a circle until dough is about ¼ inch thick.
8. Spread butter on dough with basting brush. Spread poppy or nut filling.
9. Roll up into log and tuck ends in.
10. Place on light colored greased cookie sheet.
11. Cover with towel, let rise until double in size.
12. Place in middle of oven, bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until browned medium on outside. When you touch it, it should bounce back when it is finished and sound hollow.
13. Brush butter on top of loaves promptly after pulling out of oven.

Serve warm or cold! Makes 4 loaves.
*************************************
Variations:
You can use whatever you want for filling, the two listed above are the family favorites and we never seem to deviate!

ENJOY!!

Dirty Snoballs

This is a recipe I got back in high school from a friend's mom. Super easy, super fun for kids!
***********************************
Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients needed:
1 can of Pillsbury biscuits
1 pkg. Hershey Kisses
½ stick melted butter
½ cup sugar

1. Wrap biscuit around a Hershey Kiss and roll into a ball.
2. Roll in melted butter.
3. Roll in bowl of sugar.
4. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 8-12 minutes.

ENJOY!!

Peanut Butter Ice Cream

This is a recipe I stumbled onto via the web. It is one of our favorites! I bought an ice cream maker at the beginning of summer and we have really enjoyed trying different recipes. The difference between homemade and store bought is amazing. Not sure I'll ever buy ice cream at the store again!
*******************************************
Ingredients Needed:
1 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup whole milk
1 - 1/3 cups heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Combine the peanut butter and sugar until smooth.
2. Add the milk. Blend on low speed until smooth and the sugar is dissolved.
3. Stir in the heavy cream and the vanilla.
4. Place in your ice cream maker and let it run until it's as thick as it's going to get, then scrape it into a container.
If you let it sit in a freezer overnight, it'll harden up and have the standard ice cream consistency you've come to know and love.
*************************************
Variations:
We used 1% milk and it turned out just fine, so any kind of milk should work. You can add a little more vanilla if you wish. We used smooth peanut butter, but chunky works too.
Also, you can add mix-ins or toppings of your taste, we use mini chocolate chips, mini Reeces peanut butter cups and butterscotch chips. You could also use hot fudge.

ENJOY!!

Dream Cake

This is a combination family/church recipe that has been around for a long time. It is probably my most favorite dessert right next to DQ ice cream cake!!
**************************************************************
Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients needed:
1 stick margarine or butter
1 cup flour
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
2 boxes chocolate pudding
2 boxes vanilla pudding
4 cups milk
16 ounces Cool Whip
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
sprinkles

Crust
1. Melt 1 stick of margarine, add to it 1 cup of flour, and 1 cup finely chopped walnuts.
2. Mix together and press into greased 9x13 cake pan. Bake for 20 minutes.

1st Layer
1. Mix 8 ounces softened cream cheese with 1 cup powdered sugar and 8 ounces of cool whip.
2. Mix all together and spread over cooled crust, Refrigerate for ½ hour.

2nd Layer
1. Mix 2 boxes chocolate pudding with 2 cups milk.
2. Spread over 1st layer. Refrigerate ½ hour.

3rd Layer
1. Mix 2 boxes vanilla pudding with 2 cups milk.
2. Spread over 2nd layer. Refrigerate ½ hour.

4th Layer
1. Spread remaining 8 ounces cool whip over top.
2. Sprinkle with your favorite candies, sprinkles or shaved chocolate.

Serve chilled and keep refrigerated until gone.
**********************************************************
Variations:
You could use any flavor pudding you would like, I like to do chocolate and banana cream together for instance, so be creative and choose puddings you like.
Also, for those who are diabetic, you can buy the sugar free puddings or cool whip and it turns out just fine. Do not however, substitute the powdered sugar for anything that is reduced calorie or fake sugar related(eg. Splenda), it does not turn out.
Cream cheese can be reduced fat or fat free as well if you want to lower the calorie content.
You could also use pecans for the crust if that is your preferred nut.
You can use any kind of milk. Have not tested a soy version, so if you experiment sometime, let me know how it comes out.

ENJOY!!