Baked Donuts

1/2 cup butter softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2  cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

Cream Butter and sugar.  Once creamed add eggs and mix until incorporated.  Add milk and mix until incorporated.  In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients add to wet mixture.  Bake in donut pans that have been greased and floured at 400 degrees for about 8-10 minutes.  Cool on a rack and glaze when cool.

For glaze I did a couple of them.  For the strawberry glaze I used 1 cup powdered sugar a couple tablespoons of strawberry juice that I had from leftover strawberry shortcake and about a teaspoon of caro syrup (this makes them shiny and hardens the glaze).  Add the wet ingredients slowly until you get the consistency you want.  I dipped my donuts in the glaze then set on a rack to drip.

For the Cherry glaze I did the same as above but used Marichino Cherry Juice instead of the strawberry juice.  You could do lemon, lime, really any flavor you want!  For the chocolate donuts I just used chocolate frosting from a can!  I put some in a bowl and microwaved it until it was liquid then just dipped the donuts in like I did for the other glazes.  Hope this all makes sense!

Syndy

Soft Pretzel Bites

This recipe was one that I wanted to try soooo bad but was scared.  I know I'm weird.  As soon as I did it finally I realized how completely EASY and YUMMY it is and have done it several times since!

4 -41/2 cups flour
2 tsp active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
2 TBSP oil
1 tsp salt

Put milk in microwave and "nuke" for about 1 1/2 minutes.  you want it warm around 120 degrees, not boiling but enough to start your yeast proofing.  Add sugar and yeast to milk and let sit until yeast is bubbly, usually around 10 minutes.  Once yeast is proofed, put in mixer and add oil, and salt.  Add flour until dough is moderately stiff, and pulls away from sides of bowl.  Kneed for a few minutes.  Let sit until risen double in size.  When the yeast is almost done rising put a pot of water on to boil.  Turn dough onto floured surface and cut into 16 equal parts.  roll each part into a snake and cut into small bite sized pieces.  Once the pot of water is boiling add 1/3 cup of baking soda.  IT WILL BUBBLE UP LIKE CRAZY SO DO IT SLOWLY!!!  Once it's dissolved you can drop your bite sized pieces of dough into the boiling water and let cook for about 30 seconds.  I can usually get around 14 pieces in a large pot.  Pull them out and let them drain on a rack.  Once all your pieces are boiled put on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for about 10-15 minutes or until brown.  Once they are done remove from cookie sheet and brush with melted butter.  After they are brushed with butter you can toss them in cinnamon and sugar or sprinkle them with salt.

Make 2 batches because they will be GONE in a flash!

Peanut butter hot cocoa

If you want it salted, add a pinch of flaky sea salt at the end.

1/4 cup sugar or honey
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 cup water
3 cups 2% or whole milk (I used 1% and it was fine)
2-4 tbsp. creamy peanut butter
3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (Lindt 70% cocoa is great) (I used semi sweet chocolate chips and they were great!)

In a saucepan, stir together the sugar and cocoa to get rid of lumps; stir in the water until smooth, then whisk in the milk over medium-high heat. Heat until steaming. Remove the pan from the heat and add the peanut butter and chocolate. Let it sit for a few seconds, then blend it with a hand-held immersion blender. Or for individual cups, divide the chocolate among the cups and pour the warm milk over top. Whiz with one of those little frothers to make it very smooth and foamy. I whizzed mine with an immersion blender

Brownie in a mug

1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch salt
2 Tbsp canola or other mild vegetable oil
2 Tbsp milk, coffee or water

In a heatproof mug or ramekin, stir together the dry ingredients until no lumps remain. Stir in the oil and milk until you have a thick paste.

Microwave on high for a minute, checking it after 30 seconds (microwaves vary) – it will be done when it’s springy on top but still a bit gooey – like the very best brownie. Eat warm.

Syndy's commentary:  I made this and it was delish!!  Very dangerous since I usually have all those ingredients and it's getting colder and who doesn't love a warm brownie in the afternoon?  YUM!

Shortbread Tarts

Here's the link to the website where my Mother In Law found these yummy tarts!  They are fabulous and really could be filled with any flavor, or even some whipped cream!  I made mine with cherry and strawberry pie filling.  Heck the shortbread is good enough to eat all by itself.  Click here for link

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 can (21 ounces) raspberry, cherry or strawberry pie filling

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour and mix well.

Shape into 1-in. balls; press onto the bottom and up the sides of greased miniature muffin cups.

Bake at 300° for 17-22 minutes or until set. Cool for 15 minutes before carefully removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Spoon 1 teaspoon of pie filling into each tart. Yield: about 3 dozen

Apple Fritters

Well I've been having a craving.  Usually when that happens my family benefits from it.  I've been craving apple fritters.  When we get donuts most of my family, kids included, chose apple fritters.  We've had them all over and they all unanimously agree that Walmart's bakery has the best fritters in town!  They are kind of expensive and I had the brilliant idea of making them from scratch.  Let me just say that I chose to make them for dinner on a Sunday when we get home from church at 4:30...not my best idea.  I got my recipe here.

Apple Fritters

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup milk
• 3 tablespoon butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 2 medium apples, peeled and diced
• Vegetable oil for frying

Glaze

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• milk to make a glaze, about 3-4 Tblspns

Mix all dry ingredients, add milk, butter, eggs, mix well.  Add in apples and mix quickly until combined.  

Heat oil and fry batter by tablespoons full until done.

Syndy's Commentary:

Ok, my first several batches of these did not work well.  I finally switched the oil to my fry daddy and it worked MUCH better.  I had the problem of them being almost burned on the outside and runny on the inside.  So I ended up baking those at 350 for 12 minutes to get the insides done.  


I learned that when frying these you need to let them fry on one side only until the insides stop expanding.  You'll be able to see this happening when you look in the fryer.  When they stop expanding them flip them and fry on the other side for 1-2 more minutes and they will be done perfectly.  I figured this little tidbit out on my 2nd to last batch!


My family ate them ALL, they were great.

Homemade Nesquick!!!!!!!!!!

2/3 C Sugar
1/3 C Cocoa
Pinch of salt


mix together and store in an airtight container or zip lock bag.  Add a teaspoonful or two to a glass of milk.


Syndy's commentary:  I made this the first time and it did not dissolve in the milk at all.  I don't like chocolate bombs in my milk.  So the next time I decided to put it all in a jar and shake it thinking maybe it would mix better, it didn't work.  So I pulled out my immersion blender (stick blender) and stuck it in the milk (with the powder added) and gave it a little blend (well a lot of blend like 20-30 seconds) and it was fabulous!  It mixed perfectly and made the milk whipped and a little thicker!  YUMMO.  NEVER buying Nesquick again!  

Whipped Cream

1 pint whipping cream
1/2-3/4 cup sugar

Put whipping cream into mixer bowl add sugar, whip on high until thick and creamy.

Chris' Commentary:  Add the sugar depending on the sweetness of what you are topping with the cream.  If you are topping tart strawberries add more sugar, if you are topping sweet pie you may not need as much sugar.  Last time we also added 1 tblspn of White Chocolate Jello Pudding powder to the cream before mixing, this gave it a nice flavor and also added some body and made it creamier.

Cream Puff Shells

Cream Puff Shells

1 cup water 

1 cube butter

1 cup flour

Pinch of salt

4 eggs

Bring water and butter to boil, lower heat add flour all at once. Use wire whip, it's easier, or wooden spoon. You want to get all the lumps out. Cook for a minute or so. Stirring the whole time. It will be in a big ball. Remove to mixer bowl. Beat in one egg at a time till well mix then add another, mix etc. Bake at 350 for 20 to 30 minutes depending on your oven. Cook till very golden brown and dry. If you are making these for a party, use a measuring  teaspoon to measure out batter. That way they will be all the same size and bite size.  Remember these little buggers PUFF up pretty big.Just cool completely slice open with a fork remove any " extra" dough. Fill with whipped pudding, garnish with slice of strawberry or what ever you like, white chocolate curls would be pretty. The shells freeze very well just put in plastic bags. If they get to much humidity  they are NOT good!   

Syndy's Commentary:

I found that if you let them cool just a few minutes and then scoop out the insides while they are still warm they come out better, they stay puffed and don't get soft.  Filled mine with whipped cream and they were lovely!

Chipotle Roasted Almonds

I was craving something salty and crunchy and yummy for a snack today so I decided to try and make some flavored almonds.  I looked on line and found that to make smokehouse almonds you need liquid smoke and well frankly who has that lying around?  I have a sick baby and an injured hubby and was not heading to the store for liquid smoke.  SOOOOO long story short I improvised and this is what I came up with.


3 cups of raw almonds
2-3 TBL of Chipotle Tabasco Sauce
Salt to taste

In a bowl mix all ingredients until nuts are completely covered.  Put in shallow baking dish and roast at 350 degrees for 10 minutes stirring once half way through.  Let cool and enjoy!

Syndy's commentary:  These were awesome and very addicting.  I had to put them in the other room so that I wouldn't eat them all in one shot.  I have some Caribbean Jerk marinade that I am dying to try next time on these!  The possibilities are endless.

Candied Almonds (or any ol' nut)

Candied Almonds

2 egg whites (at room temp)

1 cup packed brown sugar

1-2 tspn vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup butter melted then cooled to room temp

1- 1 1/2 lbs nuts

I used almonds for this recipe and I used about 5 cups of almonds and it was perfect.

beat egg whites until they have soft peaks when beater is lifted from bowl. Beat in brown sugar 1/4 cup at a time, vanilla, and cinnamon until stiff peaks form, and they are glossy. Slowly fold in melted butter. Fold in nuts until well coated. Pour nuts out onto ungreased jelly roll pan (or a cookie sheet for all you out there that didn't know it was the same thing!). Bake at 275 for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes to keep the nuts separate.

As they cool stir them also to keep them separate. Make 2 batches cuz you're gonna want to eat a whole one yourself!

Syndy's French Fried Onions

French Fried Onions:

1 onion cut into small strips

1 /2 c. flour

2 c. milk

1/4 c. Parmesan cheese (I was cheap and used the canned sprinkle kind)

salt and pepper to taste

oil for frying

Put cut onions in milk and let sit for about 5 minutes.  

Mix flour and Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.  Dredge onions in flour mixture and put into hot frying oil.  (only do a few at a time they need room to move around.).  Fry until crispy. 

I used these instead of the canned ones for a green bean casserole and they were great.  I'll never spend $2.99 on a can of onions again!

Stuffed Mushrooms

Syndy's Stuffed Mushrooms

36 large mushrooms (you can use more or less) remove stems and chop them finely
3 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1 lb sausage

1/4 onion chopped

1/4-1/2 cup Italian Bread Crumbs

Make It

cook, crumble, and drain sausage. Sautee chopped onions, and stems in butter until tender. Add sausage and bread crumbs. You need the mixture to stick together so you may need to add more crumbs to achieve this. Use table spoon to spoon mixture into mushroom caps. place in 9x13 baking dish and bake for about 25 minutes at 350. These are SOOOO good.

Naughty Hot Cocoa!!

Naughty Hot Cocoa

1/3 C. unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 C. White sugar
1 pinch of salt
1/3 C. boiling water
3 1/2 C. milk
3/4 Tsp vanilla
1/2 cup half and half or heavy cream

Combine the cocoa, sugar and salt in saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it does not scorch. Stir in milk, and heat until very hot, but do not boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs and add the cream to the mugs to cool to drinking temp.

Snuggle up by the fire with a good book and ENJOY!

Hush Puppies

Hush Puppies (better than Long John Silver)

2 quarts vegetable oil for frying
1 (15 ounce) can creamed corn or whole kernel that you have pureed in the blender
2 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon minced onion
2 cups self-rising flour again I made my own
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
2 tsp sugar

DIRECTIONS



In a deep fryer, heat 1 inch of fat or oil to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C).
In a medium mixing bowl combine all other ingredients, blend well and let stand for 10 minutes.
Use a serving spoon to scoop up tablespoon size pieces of batter and gently drop them into the oil. Rise the spoon as needed to keep the batter from sticking.
Cook the hush puppies, 8 or 10 at a time, until brown. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and roll on paper towels to briefly drain. Serve hot.

Marshmallow's

Marshmallow's

2 1/2 tbl gelatin
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. corn syrup
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbl vanilla powdered sugar.

Combine gelatin and 1/2 c. cold water and let stand 30 minutes

combine sugar, syrup, salt and 1/2 c. water. Stir until sugar dissolves. Cook w/o stirring until reaches 244 degrees about 15 minutes.

Remove from heat and add to gelatin. Beat on high until 3x the size. Add vanilla. If using an electric stand mixer be aware that when you add the vanilla the mixer will automatically speed up so don't stand too close or you will get hit with marshmallow.

grease 9x13 pan with butter, dust with powdered sugar spread mixture into pan sprinkle with more sugar. After it cools flip in onto a cutting board and let sit for a few hours to dry out a little. cut into squares, I use a pizza cutter that has been greased and it works well. roll each square into powdered sugar so all sides are coated, this keeps them from sticking together while storing.

Funnel Cake

Funnel Cake Just like at the Fair but without the price tag

2 eggs
1 1/2 c. milk
1/4 c brown sugar
2 c. flour
1 1/2 tspn baking powder
1/4 tspn salt

combine ingredients. Heat a skillet with oil, pour batter into funnel make sure your finger is over the whole. Hold over hot oil and pour moving around for that "snake" look. cook until brown then flip. Top with powdered sugar, jelly, honey, syrup anything you like.

Sharon's Carmel Popcorn (Microwave)

Sharon's Carmel Popcorn (microwave style)

2 bags microwave popcorn
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c. light corn syrup
1 tspn vanilla
1/2 c butter
1 c brown sugar
1/2 tspn baking soda

Place butter, salt, brown sugar, and corn syrup in microwaveable bowl. Cook on high for 1-2 minutes until caramel mixture bubbles. Cook on high 3 more minutes stirring after each minute. Add baking soda and vanilla and stir. Place popped popcorn in a brown grocery bag and pour caramel mixture over all. Fold the bag down and cook on high 1 minute, shake the bag. Cook 1 minutes more shake the bag. cook 30 seconds, shake. Cook 30 seconds then pour out on greased cookie sheet to cool.

Veggie Squares

Veggie Squares

3/4 c mayo
2 packages 8oz cream cheese
1/2 c. sour cream
1 env ranch dressing mix
2 cans crescent rolls

flatten crescent rolls into baking sheet bake 7-8 minutes. Mix above ingredients together spread over rolls and sprinkle with copped veggies. Chop veggies very small, could be carrots, broccoli, green onions cauliflower, water chestnuts, tomato's mushrooms whatever you like.

Tortillas

3tbl shortening
1 tsp salt
2c flour
3/4 c. water

combine, roll into rounds, cook on greased griddle about 20 seconds each side.