A beautiful day for STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

It is sooooooooooooooooooooo nice outside.  I really wish I wasn't living in this apartment right now and I could have a GRILL and make brats for supper - yum - they sound so good right now.  Unfortunately, I do live in the apartment and I can't have a grill so I am NOT having brats for supper - I am having this for dessert though!  Get out there and enjoy this weather - the next few days don't sound so good....

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKES
strawberries, hulled and quartered, sprinkle with a little sugar, set aside
1 pt. whipping cream, whip until still peaks form, add in some sugar and vanilla, refrigerate.

Cakes:
1/2 c. melted butter
1 egg (crack this into a 1 cup measuring cup)
fill the cup with enough milk to reach the top
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder

Melt the butter.  Stir in the sugar.  Add in the milk and egg.  Stir in the flour & baking powder.  Bake in Muffin tins or a 8" cake pan.  Bake @ 350 for about 20-25 minutes or until just lightly golden brown!

Super Tasty Supper

Not last night, but the night before -ha, I have heard that somewhere before.  Anywhoooo, I did make this for supper two nights ago, and I must say it was simple to make, and very tasty too.  Another weekend is upon us and here in NW Minnesota, the sun is TRYING to shine for us.  Next week it is supposed to be in the 70's again - YES, I can't wait.

Pasta with Broccoli, Tomatoes and Sausage
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. minced garlic
3 italian sausages, sliced
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
Broccoli, I actually used Celery since I didn't have broccoli and it was GOOD!
1# Pasta, *you can use Penne, Dilatini, Farfalle, etc.
shredded parmesan, optional

Heat water in a large pot for your pasta, salt your water.  Bring to a boil and add pasta.  Cook until not quite the doneness you prefer.  Drain.

In a seperate saute pan, Saute together your olive oil and garlic, add the sausage, stir in the can of tomatoes and broccoli.  Cook together until sauce becomes slightly thickened and whatever veggie you use is the doneness you like.  Stir in your pasta.  Cook together a few minutes to incorporate your flavors.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve!

S'more Please Whoopie Pies :)

While I was exercising away, walking on the treadmill, here is a recipe that I found!  Yes, that's right I am always on the lookout for you and me to try new things, including exercise - ha!  It's  not my favorite thing to do by any stretch of the means, but I do it so I can keep eating this kind of thing and keep my lovely, already round shape.

S'more Please Whoopie Pies
9 whole graham crackers
1 c. + 2 tbsp. flour
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. cold butter, cubed
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 Hershey bars (or more if you like)
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
1 c. marshmallow cream (or marshmallow fluff!)


Heat oven to 375.  Puree graham crackers.  (aka turn into crumbs).  Add flour, brown sugar, baking soda and salt.  Add cold butter and beat until coarse crumbs form.  Add egg and vanilla.  Beat until combined.  Shape dough into a  ball - using a lightly floured surface roll out dough into a 12 x 10 rectangle.  Cut into 2" squares.  Arrage them on baking sheets.  Chill 15 minutes.  Bake 8 minutes or until done.  Cool slightly.
Beat powdered sugar, more vanilla and marshmallow fluff together.    Place part of a chocolate bar on one cookie.  Spread some fluff on another cookie and sandwich together!


EAT and then EAT S'MORE!

WINDY day BROWNIES :)

Well, last night, here in Fergus Falls, the wind was blowing so hard that in my apartment here up on the third floor, pelting the rain against the windows, between the wind and the rain, I am one sleepless girl.  UGH.  So loud I could not get to sleep and then when I finally did, the hubby's alarm went off and woke me up again.  So - if the white's of my eyes see the 10:00 news tonight it will be amazing! If you like your brownies, like I like mine - you will enjoy this recipe, chewy, fudgy and chocolately.  ENJOY!

BROWNIES
1/2 c. butter
4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
4 oz. bittersweet or milk chocolate
1 c. brown sugar
pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1/4 c. all--purpose flour
1 c. chopped, toasted, pecans

Preheat your oven to 325.  Spray an 8" cake pan with cooking spray.

Melt the butter and chocolate together.  Stir well.  Add the sugar, salt and vanilla.  Beat in the eggs one at a time, then beat in the flour and stir in 1/2 of the pecans.  Pour into pan and sprinkle with the remaining pecans.  Bake 35-40 minutes. 

A cookie A Day - Cream Cheese & chocolate double deckers :)

Birthday, Easter, Birthday, Birthday - that has been the last 10 days here in our household!  Plus, the eldest daughter from San Diego, CA is HERE.  That has been fun just having her here and being able to be here for birthdays and Easter is an added bonus.  She is taking me out for lunches and such which is always fun so there hasn't been much cooking going on here - except for breakfasts.  Yesterday she wanted pancakes so I made pancakes.  Today, Heather turned 21 and she wanted caramel rolls for breakfast so that is what I made today for breakfast!  In case your house hasn't been like mine filled with birthday's and treats  - here is a treat you can whip up for lunch boxes and dessert after supper too!

Cream Cheese & Chocolate Double-Deckers
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. cream cheese, softened, 4 oz.
1/4 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
3 1/2 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, melted

Filling:  1/2 c. (4 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat your oven to 350.  Mix together your dry ingredients.  Beat the cream cheese, butter and egg together.  Add in the melted chocolate and mix.  Add your dry ingredeints.  Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheets and bake 10 to 12 minutes - until firm around the edges.  Cool.
Beat the filling ingredients together.  Spread onto cooled cookie.  Top with another cookie!

An Easter Dinner Dessert - Orange Cream Mini-Cheesecakes!

Found this recipe in a copy of a Woman's Day magazine and had to share with you - it is so bright and springy looking and it combines Orange and Cheesecake - how can you go wrong?  Plus they are simple to make so when you are pressed for time, you can still whip out an impressive dessert.

Orange Cream Mini-Cheesecakes
Sugar cookie dough - you can make your own favorite recipe - or use the Pillsbury sugar cookie  dough in a tube.
1 pkg. no-bake cheesecake dessert mix (such as Jell-O brand)
1 1/2 c. milk
2 tbsp. grated orange zest
1 tsp. vanilla
whipped cream or whipped topping for garnish (and orange slices)

Heat oven to 325.  Using 8 small tea cups or 8 muffin cups with paper liners.  Bake cookies as directed and cool.  Fit a cooke into bottom of each teacup or muffin cup.  Beat cheesecake filling mix and milk together.  Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes.  Stir in zest and vanilla.  Spoon over cookies.  Refrigerate at least one hour.  Garnish as desired, with whipped cream, orange slices, or another cookie!

A cookie today :) Sweet & Salty Cookies

Since Sunday morning, I have been dealing with sickness in this house.  First my daughter and then my husband.  I walk around with Clorox disinfecting wipes and try to wipe down anything they have touched.  UGH.  So far, I have not fallen victim to this and I surely don't want to now.  My daughter that lives in San Diego will be here Saturday for a week and I don't want to be sick during her visit.  So, even though the hubby thinks its futile, I keep taking my multivitamin and wiping every surface with Clorox wipes - so far it has worked.

Sweet & Salty Cookies
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. Crisco shortening
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 c. chocolate chips (or white chocolate chips) or a combination!
2 c. broken ripple potato chips
1 c. broken pretzel pieces

Preheat your oven to 350.  Mix together your wet ingredients, add in your dry ingredients,  Stir in the chocolate, chips and pretzels.  Bake for 9-11 minutes.  Cool.